"Sigh..."
I sighed again as I opened the tablet, searching for a few more things about this new world.
[So... In a way, you know the future, right?]
The voice in my head resonated again as he asked.
'Yes..Kinda, I do,' I replied while keeping my eyes on the tablet.
[....What happened to you then? How did you turn into your mother's puppet?]
'I... made a deal with her,' I replied, taking a deep breath. 'If she doesn't find me worthy enough to overtake her as the next head before my coming-of-age ceremony, she can use me however she wants.'
[What deal?]
'.... I don't want to talk about it,' I replied, shaking my head.
But the thing is, my coming-of-age ceremony is close.
Not even half a year is left, and even when in the game she gave me an extra six months to prove myself, I failed, and in the end, I became her puppet.
A puppet who only knows how to kill.
A puppet who has his emotions... But can't control his body.
A puppet who kills at her words... Men, women, children, innocent, Angels... A puppet who kills anyone he is ordered to.
A puppet who, in the end, was killed by the one... who once loved him.
"Sigh.."
I sighed again as I rubbed my temples, trying to disperse all those depressing thoughts.
Nothing like that has happened yet, and I need to make sure it never happens.
'Anyway, give me some ideas if you have any that can help me get stronger quickly,' I asked as I kept scrolling through the tablet.
Some names did catch my attention, like the singer Echo, a future Heroine, but I kept my focus on El as well.
[How did you get stronger in that game of yours?]
Why does this fucker keep asking questions again and again?
'Runes,' I replied despite my frustration, 'She engraved my entire body with runes.'
The main problem with my body is that it rejects Mana, making it harder for me to ascend in Rank.
But that all changes when my body is engraved with runes.
Runes that can forcefully absorb mana from the surroundings, making me quickly ascend in Ranks.
But the problem is that... They are painful.
[Which runes were used?]
El asked with a hint of curiosity in his voice.
'Inguz for absorbing the mana from the surroundings, Sowilo, and Isa for strengthening the body,' I replied as I faintly remembered the names of the runes.
[Sowilo... Burns and destroys, while Isa... Freezes and breaks, don't tell me...]
Yeah...
When engraved with these runes, my body will undergo a continuous cycle of destruction and recreation....
Isa freezes and breaks my body while Inguz absorbs the mana from the surroundings, and Sowilo both burns and heals the body from the inside.
With every cycle, my body will become stronger.
But...
It also brings an unimaginable amount of pain... Pain so bad that it feels like ones body is getting crushed and joint, then crushed again.... Until one become numb to pain.
With each cycle came unimaginable pain, a torment that will left anyone gasping for breath and begging for mercy.
Pain that could push anyone to the brink of madness.
Even thinking about it sent shivers down my spine.
'You thought of something or did you not?' I asked El as I looked at the tablet, searching for the nearest portal.
Right now, I am in the eastern part of the Pargoina Empire, the place where my mother is the ruler, and I will be damned if I don't avoid that woman at all costs.
Despite my desire to leave the empire behind, I'm unable to do so.
My mother has banned me from leaving, likely to prevent any unwanted interactions between me and her side of the family.
Unlike my sister, who enjoys the freedom to live with our aunt and grandmother, I am trapped within the confines of the empire.
It's a fucking frustrating situation, one that leaves me feeling trapped and suffocated by my mother's control.
[You know, you can use runes—]
'Hell no,' I interjected his words before he could continue. 'I am not a fucking masochist who will torture my body for strength.'
[Listen to my words first. I have a better way to use the same runes, and it won't bring too much pain.]
'Wait, you know how to use runes?' I asked, sensing that he might be knowledgeable about them.
[Yes, that's why I am suggesting it. This way, you can get stronger without being tormented by pain.]
'But, can you help me with engraving the runes?' I asked, as I don't know much about runes either.
[No... You will have to do it yourself.]
'Fuck! I only have two weeks left, how do you expect me to learn them and engrave them in two weeks!?'
[It will take time to learn it, but it's better than what future you will face.]
'But... encarving runes...it's still going to be painful, right?'
[.....]
'Right?'
[....Do you have a better plan?]
Fuck! I don't have a better plan.
At least for absorbing the mana from the surroundings, I need to engrave the Inguz rune on my body.
'Fine,' with a sigh, I conceded, my voice resigned, 'tell me your plan after we are done with exploration.'
[What exploration?]
El asked curiously.
'You will know soon enough.'
I replied as I closed my eyes. If I want to live in this world, I need to make as much preparation as I can that can help me.
Standing up, I walked towards the counter, placing the tablet there. With a nod of gratitude to the counter lady, I picked up a pen and began sketching a simple map on my palm.
It wasn't anything elaborate, just a rough outline.
After finishing it, I walked towards the exit, then the parking area.
Clunk!
Purrrrr...
Starting the bike, I shifted the gear and twisted the handlebar, feeling the power beneath me as I glanced at the map drawn on my palm.
"200 km, huh," I muttered as I thought about my next destination, which would lead me towards the place that would help me gain the power that I need.
A power that only someone like me, an anomaly, can wield.