Chapter 21: Punish The Darkness Part 1

Cynthia POV

Another day, another morning for me to hate.

Damn this game of wonky realism that I never desired to participate in myself. Currently, I am washing myself in this river near that empty cabin I found last night. They didn’t even have a shampoo—one of the most basic necessity a girl should have—and I was left using this herbal extract that is thick and gooey as hell. I hate hate hate hate hate hate hate this damn world. Even though brother said these sensations are too real, I refuse to believe all of this nonsense is true.

“Whoever used me as a beta tester in this virtual reality world, he or she will pay. A lot!” I grumble to myself while kneading my arms with this stone. The water is cold and I don’t have soap.

“It’s about time you face reality, Cynthia.” A familiar voice echoes in this silent woods.

“Nm?!”

Shocked by the sudden intruder, I grab my compact pistol on top of my folded clothes and point it towards the direction of that voice. Over her black dress-like uniform that grips her figure like a glove, she wears a brownish hooded cloak that pretty much hid everything else from plain sight.

“So energetic in the morning,” the figure says with a grin. “And so brave too,” her gaze directed at my naked chest went down slowly to my knees.

“Shut up,” I push my gun forward, gritting my teeth. “You tried to include me in that death count, didn’t you? You witch!”

She lowers her hood, revealing the visage of a woman no older than twenty-five. With her short and fluffy brown hair on top of her baby face and that petite figure, no one would doubt her words if she says she’s in her teens. Not even me.

Being a commerce student at Asia’s top ranking university and surviving its hellish requirements for three long years, it was obvious, without a question, she’d lost her sanity a long time ago. Barely getting by with a few hours of sleep, the simple task of waking up to get dress and attend her classes had taken an extreme toll on her mental health. One more year, she needed one more year to finish her bachelor’s and she can say goodbye to her current lifestyle that was hell.

However, one simple morning, it all ended. Light-headedness, migraine, or whatever it was that made her cross a busy street on a red light caused her dreams to end in an instant. Just like me, she too suddenly ended up in this game-like world, out of her own volition, after her supposed death. But I am not one to think that we died. It takes one’s imagination to the extreme, but I believe our real bodies are currently on a comatose state. Fed on a diet that can make one puke just by imagining it.

“Oh, will you kill your benefactor now?” She says in a mocking tone that is effective on hitting my nerves.

“I’ve done my end of the bargain, Serina! We’re on even terms now. If you want someone to assist you in your despicable hobbies, you can find somebody else.”

“But… this is all a game to you, isn’t it?”

“It might be, but game or not, only a lunatic would find pleasure in killing.”

I cannot believe that I let her talk me into doing something so inhumane once. Yes, my benefactor and my friend she may be, it’s still not right. We may have our reasons to hate, but I do not believe that lashing out our troubles on these NPCs is right.

“Is it because of your brother’s influence that you’ve decided to think differently? What about our dream to escape out of this death game? Or are you finally accepting this world as a reality?”

“Keisuke has nothing to do with this.”

“Without me, you would’ve lost yourself a long time ago. And you wouldn’t have met your brother that you so love,” she says with a wry smile, reminding me of that time she saved me when I was alone and confused.

Indeed, without her presence to support me, I would’ve gone insane by myself. However, no matter how big of a favor I owe her, I do not want to involve myself in those killings anymore. I had enough carnage for one month.

“Count me out of your crap,” I shrug and shake my head.

“So you’ll leave me as well?” She ask in her voice that is starting to shake.

This implies that she too, is just as insecure as I am. Just as afraid to be left alone in this unknown world that we know nothing about. I cannot even begin to fathom what will happen after we part, but I need to let her know how I feel.

“Sorry,” I walk next to her and embrace her. As her dearest friend, I need to give her this much at least. “It might be too late to apologize now, but it’s not too late to start over. Come with me, Serina. We can travel across the sea, or we can start some place else. Your choice. This way, we won’t have to separate to each other.”

In all of those ideas, she remain silent. But, in the next instant, she wraps her arms around my waist and bury her tear-stained cheeks on my shoulder. I smile unseen and rub her delicate back, giving her the comfort she seeks.

“Honestly, I am getting cold here. Are you coming with me or not?”

“I can’t,” she mumbles in a faint tone. “I can’t.”

“But your plan failed and the triplets lived, there’s nothing that we can do now. And even if it did succeed, how can you be positive that you’ll inherit their wealth?”

“You’re still young, you don’t know how scary money is. But for me—”

“No buts,” I stop her words. Living a life of poverty her whole life, her reason for loving money can be justified. However, as her dear friend, I won’t allow it. “And don’t even begin to tell me that you’re planning to marry that perverted and baldy old man.”

“He is rich though.” She murmur back. Gosh, I want to spank her greediness.

“Wait up, I’ll get dress.” I break away from her hug and start wearing my clothes. My panty is still a little damp, but I wear it anyways. Damn the lack of washer and dryer in this world. I hate it.

“But I haven’t told you I’m coming.” Serina says to me in a giggly tone.

“You don’t have a choice.” I reply, as I fasten this short skirt on my waist.

“I guess I don’t.” She smiles at me, no doubt amused at what I just said.

Following that, I put on this black robe that she bought on a discount bin. She even got me some black boots and stockings to match with it! I hate to admit it, but it seems like I’ve turned into her gothic doll without me realizing.

“You have some things you need to pick up in that mansion, correct?” I ask after buckling my boots on.

“Some of my earthly belongings. You didn’t tell me about this plan beforehand after all.”

I laugh a little. “No matter, let’s head to Berkut while it’s still early.”

Amidst the trees and nature mystified by the singing of birds, the two of us start our march to exit the woods. Perhaps it is just me, but I cannot shake the feeling that we’ll stumble on something troublesome. Either on the way in, or on the way out.

A glimpse on their status screens, if you’re curious.

Minor spoiler ahead.

Spoiler :

Status-Screen

Cynthia: LvL [26]

Class: Innovator

Title: Broken Hearted Childhood-friend

Alignment: Neutral Evil

Skill-List:

All-A [Type: Absorption Skill], [Passive]

Kill-Switch [Type: Innate Skill], [Active]

Re:Code [Type: Innate Skill], [Active]

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Status-Screen

Serina: LvL [38]

Class: Disruptor

Title: Two-Face

Alignment: Chaotic Evil

Skill-List:

All-A [Type: Absorption Skill], [Passive]

Kill-Switch [Type: Innate Skill], [Active]

Soul-Gaze [Type: Innate Skill], [Active]

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Status-Screen

Reimuz: LvL [16]

Class: Manipulator

Title: Inhuman

Alignment: Neutral Evil

Skill-List:

All-A [Type: Absorption Skill], [Passive]

Wind-Cutter [Type: Blessing Skill], [Active]

Kill-Zone [Type: Innate Skill], [Active]

Status-Screen

Wein: LvL [??]

Class: ???

Title: Dreadlord

Alignment: ???

Skill-List:

All-A [Type: Absorption Skill], [Passive]

Endurance [Type: Absorption Skill], [Passive]

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And yes, Cynthia is one of those girls that calls their childhood friend, "Nii-san" :D