"I…I'm not a spy…! Stop accusing me!" Jabez defensively yelled in a rage; his face was flushed; his dark brown eyes darted back and forth to me and to somewhere else, avoiding eye contact as much as possible.
I remained calm as I questioned, "Aren't you curious how I knew?"
Jabez furrowed his brows, opening and closing his mouth, hesitating what to say.
Not waiting for his response; I opened my mouth as I continued with an expressionless face. "It's your sister, Emilia Iscariot."
His bulging bluish eyelids widened in alarm as his body reacted stiffly.
"I know from your sister," I stated; half a truth and half a lie.
After all, it was indeed because of Emilia that I came to such a conclusion. The lie is, well, it's not really a lie; it was more of a deception.
"Emilia and I are classmates in Mystic Academy. I also know that she is there to gather intel on the young nobles. I also know that Kendra is the daughter of the rebel army's leader," I added.
Jabez hangs his swollen mouth open in disbelief. "That's…that's impossible…Emilia wouldn't betray the rebel army…"
"See? You admitted it," I said blankly with a calm gaze. "Was that so hard?"
As if realising his slip of the tongue; his dark brown eyes dilated in horror. Soon, Jabez regained himself as his eyelids squinted at me, staring at me menacingly. "Ye liar!"
"Not quite," I replied with a deadpan face as I shook my head. "It's the truth, I knew that you're a spy because of your sister, Emilia."
"No…yer lying! Emilia is not the type of person to do that!" Jabez exclaimed, doubtful.
"It's up to you whether you believe it or not," I replied calmly with a blank gaze. "What I need is your answer, are you willing to work as my agent in the rebel army?"
Jabez knitted his brows together; his eyes stared at me conflicted and dubious. "Is my sister working with ye?"
"I'm not going to answer that," I replied with my inexpressive face. "My negotiation with you only lies whether your response is favourable to me or not. This is your only chance, Jabez."
Jabez swallowed hard as his brows wrinkled even more, glaring at me deadly. "What if I refuse? Would ye let me go?"
I stared at him blankly as I faintly answered in a calm whisper. "Amana will kill you."
Jabez gasped as his eyes widened in fright and utter fear. "Ye…ye said yer not going to kill me?!"
"Oh, I won't, don't worry. Amana will do it for me," I paused, then I glanced at Amana. "...right, Amana?"
Amana gulped nervously as she quickly nodded with wide open eyes, staring at me like I'm some devil.
"Good," I commented, turning to Jabez again with a deadpan face, who stared at me like I'm some psychopath in which I am.
I am a psychopath.
In all honesty, I didn't want to believe that I'm a psychopath either, but it's all thanks to these two that I realised it. As a gift to them, I will both make them suffer…really really good.
So good that they would never ever forget me even in the afterlife; this is my gift; a farewell gift I suppose.
Well, that is if they refuse to work with me. Since the only reason I'm still keeping Jabez here is because he still has value, and it's stupid not to take advantage of that, right?
However, if Jabez rejects this offer, I have no other choice but to give mercy to his life. When I say mercy, I mean I'm going to send him to the afterlife.
It's the only compensation I have for him. Either die or work under me; there is no other option left for the likes of him.
"So what is it going to be?" I asked, inexpressive and no emotion.
Taking the slave contract in my Shadow Circlet, I stared at Jabez, waiting for his answer. "Well?"
Jabez gulped again, opening and closing his mouth, unable to decide. "I…I don't understand," he said.
"Oh, do ask," I replied cordially with a blank face. "I'm all ears."
Jabez took a deep shaky sigh. "If yer still planning to make me yer slave, why did ye have to tell me all of that?"
"The what?" I questioned, expressionless.
Jabez gritted his teeth in frustration. "That! Why do ye have to tell me that I'm going to become a spy?!"
"But you are, and it's necessary to tell you what you're going to be when you work as my subordinate, right?" I replied in a calm and unexpressive manner.
"But why?!" Jabez cried, frustrated. "Ye could have kept that a secret then make me sign that slave contract! Why?! Now, ye made it difficult for me to sign the damn contract!"
"Ah, I understand now," I mumbled casually and relaxed; my face unchanging, still, and stoic.
"Why did ye tell me all of this?!" Jabez muttered out of anger and annoyance.
"Of course to make you suffer," I replied blankly. "I like how affected you are with all of this. Great reactions by the way."
Jabez widened his eyes as his mouth hangs open, staring at me in terror as he gasped in realization. "Yer doing this for revenge...!?"
"Otherwise?" I replied blankly.
Amana swallowed hard, fidgeting in her seat.
"Ye heartless beast! Isn't torturing me to death enough?!" Jabez roared in rage. "We're already even! Why can't ye let go?! It's just a damn monster goddamn it! Yer doin this all for the sake of a puny monster?!"
"Correction. That puny monster is my only family in this world, and now, she is dead," I said with no emotions; unfeeling and cold.
"But ye already got yer revenge! What else do ye want?!" Jabez cried, frustrated.
I stood up, walking to Jabez as I raised my chin and said, "Oh my, did you honestly think I'd let you be free just like that? How naive of you Jabez."
Jabez gasped in dread and fear. "DEVIL…!"
I nodded in agreement, stopping just in front of him. "Thanks for the compliment."
Jabez stared at me speechless, then he gritted his teeth, glaring at me with plain hostility and malice. "Ye nobles, yer all the spawn of evil in this world, ye all deserve a fate worse than death!" Jabez bellowed in madness.
"Uh-huh, but you see, Jabez…that's where you're wrong. After all, I'm not really a noble, well, I guess this body is indeed from a noble birth," I mumbled with a blank face.
Jabez widened his eyes in shock. "What do ye mean, ye devil!"
"Well, it's a long complicated story, but let's see…hmm, the sacred beasts call me Soul Wanderer," I started, walking back and forth in front of Jabez.
Both Jabez and Amana widened their eyes; like a thunderbolt disturbing the water on their hearts.
I glance at the two with a stoic face. "Oh, the two of you seem familiar with the term Soul Wanderer?"
Amana swallowed again anxiously as she nodded.
"The…the rebel army has connections from outside the borders of the kingdom, but only the top executives know about it, and I happen to be one of them," Jabez explained, stuttering a little; his brows were wrinkled together as his eyes stared at me complicatedly, then he averted his gaze as if guilty.
I ignored Jabez as I turned to Amana. "Well, what about you Amana?" I questioned. "Speak."
Amana took a deep sigh as she answered, "I only came to know about these things when I started working here in Nilad City."
"Mm," I hum. "I see, that's all I need from you Amana, you may stay quiet again please."
Amana nodded as she closed her mouth again.
"Yer just lying, aren't ye?" Jabez said all of a sudden; his voice sounded desperate.
I went back to my chair and sat calmly on it. "Is that what you wish? Well, unfortunately, it's all true, and since you already know this truth, I can no longer let you escape alive unless you become my subordinate," I stated.
Jabez gritted his teeth, glaring at me. "Yer just lying! Ye just want to make me feel guilty!"
"Do you feel guilty?" I asked, looking tranquil. "Knowing that I'm not really a noble?"
Jabez gulped hard as he avoided eye contact. "Even if ye aren't a noble, yer still a devil! Why did ye even come to this world, huh?! Ye just want to cause destruction!"
"You're not wrong," I replied, composed and deadpan.
Jabez widened his eyes. "So ye admit it?! That ye want to destroy this world?! Ye cruel monster!"
"Let me tell you something then, Jabez," I said blankly.
Jabez wrinkled his brows as he stared at me, waiting for me to continue.
"When I transmigrated in this world, I was left confused. I know nothing of magic or combat. Nor am I aware of the common sense and the evilness of this world. I was just someone who happened to crossover, occupying this body. I was just an ordinary human," I started.
I tilted my head, looking up at the ceiling. "All I knew was that my body was originally the villain of this world. The only advantage I have was the contents of the novel…"
"Wha…what are ye talking about?! What novel?!" Jabez questioned, confused.
"Oh right," I mumbled, glancing at Jabez. "You see, well, it's all complicated, but from my original world, there is this bloody novel. The protagonist of that story is Kendra Salamanca, you know her, right?"
Jabez nodded slowly, still puzzled.
"Well, Kendra is the protagonist, and this body is the villain," I said.
"Yer crazy!" Jabez commented.
I ignored Jabez as I continued. "Anyway, knowing that the villain has a death ending in the book; it made me panic. Especially because I knew that the person who killed the villain was one of the maids in the mansion."
"And what, ye tried to escape, is that it?" Jabez scoff.
I nodded. "I didn't feel safe around that maid, so I decided to go to the Mystic Academy. I thought that all I needed to do was to avoid the characters in the book, so I could live a peaceful life."
"Yer surprisingly naive," Jabez stated in a disdainful tone.
"Yeah, I kept a bright face, thinking optimistically of my future here. I wanted to live peacefully. Nothing else. It's all I ever wanted for myself. I went to Mystic Academy; to train myself, so I could live in the forest. Yet, I suppose I was too naive," I said.
"Ye make yerself look kind and cheerful, when yer really not," Jabez mocked, disdainful.
"I was…and I was also beyond weak, and I know nothing about this world. To make matters worse, I wasn't the type to bring myself to trouble or to fight back through violence," I mumbled.
Jabez sneered. "That's kinda lame and pathetic."
"Is it?" I replied thoughtfully. "Well, my mother from earth; she raised me as a kid that would always try to understand people; she always says to me that I should always be the bigger person in all kinds of situations. To try to be good even if the situation is bad."
I glanced at Jabez. "To understand that everyone has their background and story to tell; that I should always try to understand that reason. That was how I was raised. To please people, and I have always believed in it."
Jabez opens his mouth then closes it, then he averted his eyes.
"The thought of inflicting pain to another individual never crosses my mind," I stated. "Never, Jabez. Never."
Jabez snapped, glaring at me, wanting to retort.
"Not until I met you and Amana of course," I said blankly. "Time and time again I was brought to danger. But I tried to be the bigger person. I tried to solve it peacefully."
Jabez hangs his mouth open, staring at me complicatedly; he seems like he wants to say something but doesn't know what to say.
"Believe me I tried," I uttered faintly. "Despite my life being always on the line for some reason, I did my best to be the bigger person in all of the situations."
My eyes subconsciously glance at my right hand. "Because of that, I ended up losing Pula. I was forced to realise the cruelty of this world. And until now, I want nothing but to destroy and bring chaos in this world, but…" I trailed, staring at Jabez again.
"But I didn't. At the very least, I'm trying not to for Pula's sake and everyone who showed me kindness," I said calmly with no emotions.
Jabez frowned deeply, gulping hard as he avoided my eyes. "That's good, ye should keep that attitude."
Standing up, I walked to Jabez, stopping in front of him as I slowly started each word. "Do you know how tormenting that is?"
Jabez furrowed his brows. "What?"
"You see, not a day comes where I'm left in peace by my own horrible thoughts. And so many people expect me to play nice about it? To be the bigger person? Hilarious, isn't it, Jabez? To hear such rich words from you…you're a funny man," I said with an expressionless face.
Jabez crumpled his face, perplexed. "What is this all about? What are ye tryin to say, huh? Are ye tryin to put the blame on me? Is that it, huh?!" Jabez exclaimed.
"Not really, but if the shoe fits...then wear it, cinderella," I replied, still and stoic.
"Wha…what cinderella…?" Jabez replied, puzzled.
"It means that if any description applies to you, then accept it," I explained. "Does the shoe fit, Jabez?"
Jabez knitted his brows as he gritted his teeth, averting eye contact. "It's not my fault! I didn't know a damn thing that ye were not a noble. If…if I knew...I wouldn't have...targeted ye," he said, sounding frustrated, lost, and guilty.
"Really now, who cares about this? It's all in the past now, right?" I replied casually and relaxed with a blank face.
Gulping, Jabez shamelessly nodded. "That's right...!"
Turning around, I wink at Amana, then I mumbled, "...kill him."
"Huh? W-wait…! No!" Jabez yelled behind me in a panic. "I agree, wait, hey, I agree with the slave contract!"
I turned to him again and with a deadpan face, I said, "are you willing to betray your kingdom and your people? Are you willing to commit endless sins and immeasurable crimes?"
Jabez widened his eyes. "What?"
"No?" I said, tilting my head to the side.
Swallowing his saliva, Jabez took a deep breath as his dark brown eyes glanced back and forth to me and to Amana, who is slowly advancing towards him with a sword on her hands, and at that, Jabez hurriedly answered. "I...I'll do it!"
I raised my hand. "Amana, put down your weapon," I mumbled, glancing at Amana with a blank face. "You no longer need to commit a crime today, lucky, aren't you?"
Amana: "..."