"You've got circuit rupture syndrome, Mr. Noah Kralier." 

Silence descended upon the heavily decorated Victorian-style room.

In the room stood a man wearing a monocle with a grim expression, facing a teen who was wearing a black round neck and a pair of track pants, his face covered with a mask.

He had black hair, and his eyes were the same color as his hair.

The teen named Noah kept rotating a ring he had worn in his right hand.

***************************

I messed up.

Literally.

My name is Noah Kralier. I wish I didn't have the last name Kralier, but I had no choice.

My life spiraled down to a level of insanity I couldn't even explain. I started thinking about how I ended up in this situation.

Five months ago, I heard the news of my grandfather falling ill.

I went to the Kralier mansion to face my family members, who were standing near the king-sized bed where my grandfather was sleeping.

His age was supposedly seventy-two, but his face said something else. He naturally looked like a normal man in his 50's, with a bit of wrinkle below his eyes that could only be observed if you stood close to him.

My family, who were standing near me, didn't even spare me a look of recognition. I was treated like a non-existent person. I suppose you can say that it's my fault that they act like this towards me.

My grandfather, Marcus Kralier, opened his eyes and looked at me. Naturally, everybody in the room looked at me too.

'It's been a while...'

I could only say these things inwardly. Any words I speak will lead to an unpleasant situation, which I really wanted to avoid.

"Noah..."

My grandfather, with great struggle, spoke these words and beckoned me to come over with his fingers.

With a heavy heart, I approached my grandfather, trying hard to ignore the confused stares.

"Except Noah, everybody in this room should leave at once."

I could hear surprised gasps around me. Being beyond surprised, I naturally widened my eyes.

My grandfather, Marcus Kralier, was one of the few people who still treated me like a member of this family. He would make time amidst the busy schedule he had and spend quality time with me.

Honestly, I wake up every day looking forward to the time I will be spending with that old geezer.

"But honey..."

"Shut up. Just get the fuck out of the room," said my grandfather, with a hint of rudeness and struggle in his voice.

My grandmother, Melissa Kralier, left the room with everyone slowly.

We were silent for 10 minutes. I didn't know what to do at this point. I am not very experienced when dealing with ill patients.

I didn't even know what illness he had. I regret not asking for the details and rushing here.

"You know...I wish this day never came," said my grandfather surprisingly with a clear voice, which was a sharp contrast to the exchange of dialogues he had earlier.

He raised his body with ease and sat on the bed, ruffling his silky hair.

"Grandfather?" I asked with panic. I reached out to him, but he slapped my hands with a slight force.

"I'm fine. It was all an act," he said while smiling.

{...}

{..}

"I'm sorry?"

"I said it was all an act. I acted ill to fool them."

I was bewildered. Imagine gathering all your family members under the pretense of you being sick and suddenly pulling the card that you acted on all along.

"You're surprised. I know. In fact, you're thinking I'm a mad man."

At this point, I fucking lost it.

"Are you retarded?" I asked with anger in my voice.

"Mnhhauaaaaaaa"

"Hey!"

"I'm sorry, but I'm retarded." responded with confidence, and a smirk plastered his face.

What the actual fuck? Is it a new trend to be retarded? Am I falling out of the trend?

"If I told you I knew everything that would happen in the future, would you still believe me?"

...

...

"You know what? Maybe you are retarded," I said while grabbing the jar full of drinking water placed next to the bed.

"Come on, Noah! Your grandfather always has a reason."

I drank the water and kept the jar in its previous position.

"So what is this? Another prank? You never included the family in the previous pranks, though." I asked as I removed the windbreaker I was wearing, which was coupled with a black round-neck and black jeans.

Yes. My grandfather loved pranks. He's been pranking me since I was 10 years old.

He once told a cute waitress I wanted her number secretly while being in disguise while we went out for lunch at a famous roof-top restaurant.

Obviously, me having an average face was rejected without even knowing why I was being rejected.

"I'm serious"

My body suddenly tensed in instinct. Hearing his voice for many years led me to distinguish between when he was playful under the pretense of being serious and when he was...well,serious.

He rang the bell near his bed, and an attendant came in.

"Nobody should step in this room until I order anyone to."

The attendant nodded and left the room with hesitation. Poor guy had to face the monsters outside the room.

"So..."

My grandfather started talking, and what I heard was complete bullshit that even a toddler wouldn't believe.

********

16 hours later.

"You die." 

I was standing in front of this guy who calls himself my grandfather and who just uttered the most unbelievable bullshit I ever heard.

"So basically, to summarize all the things you have told me, the world we live in is a novel?"

"Yes" 

"And I die by the hands of the light hero, who is also the person who will become the strongest in the future?"

"Absolutely"

"And to tip it all off, I will betray this whole Inhart kingdom for what? Just for recognition by my family members."

"Yep."

I walked and just stood behind the chair I've been sitting on and stared at the man who told me an incredibly long story that was only half done.

"So you ready for the other half?" asked my grandfather with a heavy smile.

I didn't want to entertain him by sitting here, but something inside of me felt that staying here for the past 16 hours was well worth it. Worth more than the things I've ever done in my life.

Especially when the person sitting on the bed in front of you is one of the influential person in this world.

I leaned on the chair and said...

"I will entertain you a bit more, I guess."