Kopi hesitated, and the bald middle-aged man grew impatient.
He roared, startling Kopi, "TAKE IT!"
Kopi's shivering arm extended and grabbed the butterfly knife.
However, due to his panicky action, he accidentally touched his index and middle finger to the sharp object, leaving a gash, resulting in his blood spurting out.
The bald-middle-aged man stepped back swiftly, but some blood still landed on his shorts.
He exploded into anger.
"You damn brat! Just how sissy are you?"
The bald-middle-aged man had the urge to kill him, but he held back.
He must avoid spilling blood at all costs.
It would be all right if it was some other gang, but it was a kid.
There was no way the police would let it off.
They had to avoid offending them since they had a new chief, and it was an awakener they couldn't afford to have her attention.
The bald-middle-aged man trembled in anger, staring at Kopi, wailing in pain.
Gripping the butterfly knife in his hand, he threw it in front of Kopi, who noticed it.
Then, he began to walk away while puffing a cigarette to calm his wrath.
…
Kopi struggled in pain, and even though he could endure it compared to the excruciating torment earlier from the extraction, the fact he almost lost his finger was so disturbing.
There was more disturbing though… he was asked to kill a person.
Furthermore, it was a young man of his age.
His mind was turning into chaos, and he didn't know what to do.
His gaze accidentally settled on the butterfly knife dampened with his own blood.
A thought emerged…
'What if it will be his blood?'
The image of him grasping the butterfly knife and moving it downward to penetrate the young man's chest appeared in his mind.
He choked on his breath and began to cough to the point he vomited saliva.
It continued for a while until he wiped the tears from his eyelids, but ended with his vision turning blurry and crimson.
He had forgotten the blood on his hand.
But it was only a slight moment he cared about it.
Closing his eyes, he focused more on the thought of killing the young man.
'I-I…'
He turned his head arduously and glanced at the head of the young man.
A young man who didn't even know his name aside from being aware of his unique Gift.
The Gift, which instead became a blessing, turned out to be his misfortune.
The cause of being bullied.
Kopi did not ever realize that gifts to others were a curse instead of a blessing.
Would his gift be like that too…
After all, he clearly recalled being excited that someone was dying.
And when he was dying… he could extract the gifts unnoticed – unless someone did not see him executing it.
Would his Gift turn out to be a curse instead of a blessing?
His mind turned lethargic and discerned his body was about to fall.
He instinctively motioned his arm to the ground to prevent it from falling but ended up touching the young man's broken limb.
[The host comes into contact with the person possessing a Self-regeneration Gift.
Does the host want to extract the Gift?
Note that it will only take a single slot out of five.
Yes/No?]
Yes, this was the second time he heard it.
It was also the time he despaired.
Earlier, he believed that once he could extract the Gift, he could also heal the young man, even if it would take a decade.
As long as he could survive.
However… it was a self-regeneration and not the healing support type.
He misunderstood it.
He was delusional.
Now that he was faced with a harsh realization, he didn't know what to do.
Was killing the only way for the young man to relieve himself from suffering?
Just while he was pondering, he sensed someone touching him.
When he searched for it, he discovered that he was grasping the young man's hand that was now dampened by his own blood.
The young man's finger was moving slightly but sufficient to touch him.
He met the young man's gaze.
Kopi's heart ached as though someone was stabbing him.
Kopi could not hold back the tears anymore and cried.
He wanted to say sorry, but all the sound he echoed was gibberish.
Furthermore, the more he tried to move his lips, the more the excruciating pain assaulted him.
But it was what he cared about the least.
What he cared about the most was how he could apologize to the young man.
He assured the young man he would heal him, yet… it didn't even last until he broke it.
Then… he met the young man's gaze again.
The young man's gaze expressed to comfort him.
And Kopi finally received a message.
The young man also misinterpreted his gibberish voice earlier.
The young man heard Kopi assuring him to take revenge, and so he could rest in peace.
That was what the young man understood… and what Kopi finally realized.
Kopi exhaled a long breath and closed his eyes for a while.
He tried to clear his mind.
'He is accepting his death.'
Kopi extended his other hand – one that received two gashes – and grabbed the butterfly knife pinned on the ground.
Ignoring the excruciating pain, he opened his eyes and looked at the young man closing his eyes, seemingly taking a rest.
He gripped the hilt of the butterfly knife tightly.
'I'm carrying a heavy responsibility, but I don't care.
Right now, I swear to take revenge on you.
In three years.
Just give me three years.
Or less than that.
I will be participating in the Reserved Officers Training Corps for two years before I will be accepted to Wilham Academy.
After I pass it, I will head directly here and annihilate the Scorpion gang. I will also inflict the same torture that young master or whatever spoiled kid he is had brought to you.
I swear.
If this oath is broken, then it will become an inner demon that stops me from becoming stronger.'
Once Kopi was done with the oath, he brought the butterfly knife forward.
However, he didn't forget to reply with the Extraction.
'Yes.'
[Request has been confirmed. Extracting the Gift of the individual the host's in contact with…
It is estimated it will only take three seconds…
Extracting…]
When Kopi received the estimated time, he motioned the butterfly knife forward.
He met the gaze of the young man with eyes conveying he was shocked.
The vibrant glow on his face was dimming, and surprisingly, the gash on Kopi's hand was illuminating a striking viridescent instead.
The young man was shocked, then his eyes… changed.
It was ambiguous from Kopi's perspective.
With the butterfly knife extended upward, Kopi had the urge to apologize.
But, instead, with his lower lips slowly healing.
He finally produced his first sentence to the young man.
"I will take revenge for you…"
It was still a bit gibberish but sufficient for the young man to understand.
With a pouty face, the young man smiled.
At the same time, the butterfly knife penetrated his heart…