" I won ?", I ask back still confused,
I distinctly remember him saying that there would be three games and so far I had only took part in one. Moreover..... I also kinda lost that game as well and I don't want to point fingers at anyone, but I think it's all Anya's fault.
Yeah....
Seeing my confusion, the devil lets out a little chuckle and said,
" Is it hard to believe that you won ?"
Yeah, it is.
" Mr... Devil, didn't you say that there would be three games ?", I ask.
I hate being confused.
Mr. Devil makes a confused expression and said,
" What are you talking about ?"
...
What ?
Something was wrong here, he's hiding something.
But isn't this a good thing for me ?
I'm the winner now... I should try not to anger him by asking him any unnecessary questions.
Who knows ?
Maybe he'll change his mind if he gets annoyed... and I don't want that.
" Anyway let's move on from that... you've won the game and that's all you need to know.", Mr. Devil's voice was firm and clear.
This wasn't a request. It was an order.
Seeing that I didn't question him anymore, a small smirk appears on his face.
He doesn't speak for a while after that, he just sat there slowly sipping is tea while I stared at him waiting for him to start talking.
After thoroughly enjoying his tea, he puts the teacup back on the small table and said,
" I think it's time I come clean."
I wait for him to elaborate and he closes his eyes and thinks for a minute before he speaks again,
" I'm not really the devil... at least not of your dimension."
What does that even mean ?
Seeing the confusion on my face, the devil... or whatever he was let out a sigh and said,
" It's understandable if you're confused, I lied because there was no other way. The only person who can know the truth is the winner and since you've won all the games... it's time for you to learn the truth."
I felt that there were several holes in his story, but decide to hear him since there wasn't much else I could do.
This helplessness that I felt near him was frustrating beyond compare.
Seeing that I didn't have any questions for him, he continued on,
" Every world is connected in a perpetual cycle of reincarnation, the souls of all beings indiscriminately reincarnate after their death. Hell and heaven can be considered as a sort of 'waiting room' for the soul of a being. After one's death in a dimension, based on their life they are sent to hell or heaven. The souls in heaven can choose to stay there for eternity and enjoy everlasting peace or reincarnate but the souls in hell pay the price for their sins, after which they are forced to reincarnate. Of course, all past life memories are erased."
This was a lot of information to dump on a person, but I nodded my head to show that I understood his words. In my opinion, the entire system appeared to be a little too forgiving cause the sinners always had a chance to redeem themselves.
Not that I mind though, knowing this actually gave me a certain edge.
" Anyways, I'm sure that you're curious about my real identity ?", the old man asks with a small smile on his face.
I nod my head.
" Hehe, if you're that curious.... I'll tell you.... I'm a god with the name 'Lather'. '', the old man's voice was prideful.
What kind of stupid name was Lather ?
Never mind that, this old timer is a god of some sort ?
A certain question rises in my mind which I can't help ask,
" If you're really a god as you say, why do all this ?"
Hearing my question, the old man... no Lather's face darkens.
" I am a god.... just not a prominent one. Unlike the last dimension you were in, this world has a plethora of gods. I'm part of a group, called ' Forgotten Gods'..... we're gods that were swept up in the wave that is know as time and was forgotten. But that's about to change now."
The bitter expression that Lather had loosened a little.
" A crack appeared between dimensions.... the whole expanse of the endless void that is existence panicked at this never before seen occurrence. In this time of panic I managed to get my hands on some souls from that other dimension."
Lather's reaches for my hand and takes it into his before saying,
" Your dimension."
So, he's basically a thief.
" I saw an opportunity then, to regain my glory... a god's power depends on the strength of his followers and also the number of followers as well. I wanted to reincarnate all hundred of you, but if I did that I was sure to get caught by the elders. But reincarnating one was possible. The next question that plagued my mind was on who to choose, all the souls that had crossed through were from hell so all of them were morally corrupt one way or the other. I wanted the strongest person to get chosen hence the game."
He stops to catch his breath and I process everything I just heard.
It all sounded ridiculous... but the truth was sometimes was ridiculous, I suppose.
" So, what now ?", I ask with hidden anticipation.
I didn't like the idea of making a cult for the old man but I don't mind as long as I can get a second chance.
" Now is the time for reincarnation, child.... [A Villain's Reincarnation], if you will."
I felt a little offended at his proclamation that I was a villain but I couldn't refute his words.
" Before that though, there are some things to be discussed. The first being that... I have no idea who you'll reincarnate into... all I can guarantee you is it will some kind of humanoid organism."
Humanoid organism ? I had several questions but decide to keep my silence.
" The second being that, after reincarnating you may exhibit some unusual side effects but don't be troubled... this will happen because of how unusual your reincarnation is."
I nod my head even though I had many questions in my mind.
" The only thing left to do is to view the memories of your past life.... that is if you wish to see them ?"
I nod my head and Lather snaps his fingers for a black door to appear out of thin air.
" Enter. I'll wait here."
I get up from my seat and nervously open the door.
It's time to remember.
~~~~
Lather was excited beyond compare.
'It's finally time !'
This opportunity was something that could revitalize his status as a god. So, it was only reasonable for him to be excited.
' What's taking that mortal so long ?', Lather thought getting impatient.
The mortal had went inside five hours ago and he had yet to return.
Lather couldn't be bothered to learn about the mortal's past.
Why should he learn an insignificant mortal's past ?
Forget his past, Lather didn't like the mortal at all. With all his questions and all.... the mortal was way too arrogant !
Even though he was annoying, Lather had to commend his way of playing the game. At certain moments he made some bad decisions.. but overall he seemed to be quite intelligent. From Lather's viewpoint, the mortal was someone that could manipulated easily.
After waiting for another hour, the man walks out of the door. At first he was going to scold him.
Lather knew for a fact that, the memories could be viewed in an instant which means that the deliberately stayed in that place for more than five hours.
The nerve !
But Lather doesn't scold him.
He sensed that something was wrong, the mortal's eyes were bloodshot and his hands were bleeding.
Before going inside to retrieve his memories, he had a certain fear towards Lather. Lather could see it in the mortal's eyes. He quite enjoyed it, in fact. Lather was reminded of his prime when people worshipped him in fear and awe.
But the man before Lather held no fear in his eyes... instead he was glaring at Lather !
" I don't want it.", his voice didn't hold the respect it did previously.
" Huh ?', Lather asks back stunned at his change in behavior.
The mortal lets out a sigh and says once again,
" I don't want to reincarnate."
~~~~