Chapter 28: True Regret

There was something beyond 'techniques' that I'd been missing in my fighting style and martial arts.

I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but there was something beyond common sense that filled up.

Making me more complete as a fighter.

Of course, I realised there was still a long way to go from now on. Maybe I had to start from scratch.

After all, my techniques were now useless.

No matter how hard I tried to copy Frankenstein's 'Royal Guard' Fighting Style, it was always plain.

All half-baked compared to the genuine article.

"Don't look at me with those eyes. I've taught you everything. Now… you just need something beyond your pride to protect." When Frankenstein said it in such a way, I somehow couldn't ignore the insult.

"You think I'm only doing this for my pride?" I didn't know how much he knew, but this was a joke.

Did he know how much I had given up for them?

Frankenstein tripped me over with a slight push of his foot, then looked down on me after I fell over.

"You're joking." (Frankenstein)

"I should be saying that." I said while getting up.

"You think you're a protector?" He chuckled.

"And why shouldn't I?" (Adam)

"…Fine. Think what you want." Frankenstein didn't give me any closure and continued to teach me.

He gave me a look I never experienced before.

I couldn't quite tell what he was trying to convey by this, or what purpose his words ultimately chased.

It seemed too hard for me to describe.

The hatred I'd felt for him and his crew had lessened and grown in a cycle over the years.

But that gradually made me more confused.

Frankenstein gave his all to teach me the inner workings of magic beyond simple application.

The 'common sense' too abstruse for me copy.

We would never sleep, but there were times Frankenstein would give as a break every so often.

The timing only lengthened as time passed.

Until one day he suddenly disappeared on me. I was left to my own devices in this senseless world.

Unable to return back from where I came from.

There was one thing that Frankenstein said that stuck to me even now. Despite him not being here.

"Have you bothered to look after the things you left behind?" Were the words the doctor spoke to me.

A horrible feeling overcame me.

It was to the point I had to suppress that sadness with apathy. Trying to keep my head cold and stiff.

Even if that meant dulling my own senses.

My thoughts were likely in disarray, which was probably why my 'Narration' ability activated itself.

Forcing me to switch my perspective again.

…..

….

…

..

.

Please… Don't leave like this.

Adam, what did I do wrong? Why leave?

I looked at the door he had left open without turning back. To think he wouldn't even look back.

Was that all we were worth to him?

I wanted to feel angry at him, but seeing how Mum and Dad were calm… I couldn't embarrass myself.

This sadness was suppressed.

The desire to grab onto his arm and tell him to not leave. That I wouldn't be able to sleep anymore.

And that was exactly what had happened.

When the day ended, I found myself red-eyed in front of the bathroom mirror. Unable to shed tears.

Deciding to respect his choice.

…..

….

…

..

.

The sudden Perspective Shift was a lot shorter than others, but it was the most impactful to me.

I couldn't say a word.

Now that I'd become more sensitive, I couldn't pretend to not know my absence had hurt them.

Not only my older brother, but my parents too.

'…Were things set wrong from the beginning?' I couldn't help having this thought after a while.

If only I could go back further…

Then maybe… I could treat the time I had with my family more valuably. Not chasing after an illusion.

I didn't want to become no 'Demon King'.

It was this thought that gradually caused my Curses to stagnate. The apathy no longer cold.

I hated my actions…

Steam started to erupt from my body from the shame. My eyes rolling around erratically.

Until I finally stopped.

There was no need for pretentious facades and delusions anymore. I decided to cut out the fat.

My body started to 'devolve' back to its original form. Something that had been a long time coming.

"Looks like I was wrong about you." In this crucial moment where I was left vulnerable, Frankenstein had returned to see my body fall apart. The useless strength I didn't need anymore unraveling itself.

I was becoming 'Human' again.

"So you want to go back further? Is that why you're doing this? I could abandon you to the wolves right this second." Even though he said this, I could tell that he wasn't being serious with his threats.

"You won't. If you're going to help me anyway, then tell me how to go further." I straightened my back.

The scales on my body fell off, and the handsome features of an Incubus had left my body fully.

What was left was only the Evil Attribute, and the suppressed Gifts that I'd 'devoured' with the DNA.

'Blood Nurturer' was used to gobble up the excessively distorted Incubus DNA, then spat out as a single miniature horn on my forehead. Able to be hidden by the fringe of my messy hairstyle.

"Alright… As you've already understood, you will need to let go of many things you attained after leaving home." Frankenstein sighed, only to not seem content with just this: "This is not enough."

"I've already given up being a higher species. Is that not enough?" Did I have to give my Gacha too?

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"Your Gifts… They must also be released." When he said that, I couldn't help but scrunch my face up.

"Is there something wrong? You WANT to be able to go back further, right?" Frankenstein frowned.

"I do… but there is a problem." (Adam)

"Tell me. I'll try figuring something out." He seemed ready to help, but I'm wasn't sure how to explain it.

"You see… I have the souls of many on my body right now. They are in my Third Star." (Adam)

"You mean… A branch ability using a Gift as your Ornate Star? You used it to…" (Frankenstein)

"No, I didn't 'devour' them. This was just how my ability worked. I decided to call it the 'Sex Demon Gu Pot'. Able to mature True Demons." I gave a brief explanation of how it worked honestly.

"Then you're saying you've already got existing souls on your body?" Frankenstein held his head.

"…I know this sounds bad." (Adam)

"This changes literally everything… but don't worry about. For now, fully release your Ornate Stars."

"But I just told you-"

"Releasing your Ornate Stars doesn't mean your Defiance Stars will disappear. I'll help you maintain your Gifts another way, but your younger body won't be able to handle three complete Gifts."

"Hah… Fine." I gave up and decided to do what I was told. Allowing my powers to release out of me.

Three stars appeared out of my body.

Floating in front of me.

"Alright, it's time to meet that person now." The doctor lead me back to that distant star space rift.

The door to another's domain.

"What about my Gifts?" (Adam)

"That guy will be able to help you." (Frankenstein)

I suddenly felt bitter when he said this.

To think that I'd eventually forget about trying to kill him. Even though he technically started my misery.

His actions kept making me unable to act.

Why did he have to act like someone who wasn't downright evil? Even though he started everything.

Working with Odin to destroy all I held dear…

I was a little embarrassed to leave just because I was being told to. My feeling held me back.

I didn't want to go… Not yet…

My body turned to face my opponent: The person I'd been thinking about killing for a long time now.

Only to find him… deteriorating.

"What's happening to you?" I wasn't sure why I felt such shock when seeing his body turning to dust.

Specks of light that were devoured by dreams.

"Actually, I was kinda pissed that my friends wanted to go off without me." (Frankenstein)

"What bullshit are you saying?!" (Adam)

"Haha… You sound so sad. Didn't you think about wanting to kill me for a long time?" (Frankenstein)

"T-that's… Then why train me? Why help?" (Adam)

"I just wanted to." (Frankenstein)

"Don't you bullshit me! No one want to die. No one wants to sacrifice… Be serious!" I roared at him.

"That's funny coming from you. Didn't you sacrifice yourself for your family? Want to die all on your own?" Frankenstein seemed to know more about me than I realised. His legs had already vanished.

"That's just my decision. Others aren't the same." I truly believed this. The whole world was selfish.

No one was the same.

"Well, what can I do?" Frankenstein didn't seem bothered to argue even when his arms vanished.

"Frank-" (Adam)

"It was nice seeing you. Goodbye, Adam." Were the last words he said before disintegrating into dust.

Nothing was left of him…

I felt like I'd lost someone important to me. Even though I'd tried to keep hating him over the years.

What was this feeling…?

The things that were his own fault, and the little things that made me unable to hold a true grudge.

All of them were circling around in the pit of my stomach. I felt like puking. It felt… too disgusting.

I closed my eyes and thought about the way he was way too eager to teach, and felt it was weird.

Something was VERY off here.

I couldn't quite put my finger on it…

Since there was no way of knowing, I tried to put forth an acceptable explanation using my memory.

The only thing I found was that… he was too 'alien'.

It was clear that his fighting methods and magic were far more advanced than what I'd learnt.

Even though he only taught me Magic Fighting. It was far more comprehensive than anything I knew.

Like the knowledge had been improved and simplified with time. Making it easier to digest.

Regardless, that was only half an explanation.

It was clear that there was no way we could have met on Earth, but he acted like he was familiar.

This was a key point.

Maybe I should have acted differently from what I felt. Rather than doing everything based on 'feels'.

It was immature of me.

I should've sat down and truly opened up over the time we spent together. Not holding onto a grudge.

What did that achieve?

He's gone… and I'll never have the chance to ask him why he felt so intimate. Like an old friend.

Why he cared for me so sincerely…

The only thing I could do now to honour his memory was walk into the spatial door behind me.

Unknowing that a Miracle had affected me again.

That this last and final 'Miracle' would define my existence. Making my life so much more hectic.

If only I'd known that to be the case…

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