Woman.
Their beauties and beautiful faces are covered with one thousand and one hidden motives. Every smile soothes the heart of the beholder. Every smile instills a feeling of love for the woman in the man's deepest veins.
But...
Can that smile be a yardstick? Or behind the sweet mask, there are dangling hidden meanings?
Whenever they smile, is it really that they are happy?
Whenever they say wherever is fine, is it fine?
They like to talk in layers while hiding their wishes and leaving the man wondering. The slightest mistake, they will sulk. The slightest mistake, the man will be thrown away.
Woman.
It's a creature that hides various tricks and intentions behind its sweet smile. Every detail of the conversation is carefully alluded to like a code that has a hidden intention that needs to be broken one by one by the man before it becomes too late. The man asked in the deepest part of his heart...
Is this how true love looks like?
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In a metropolitan city, a man is wandering with someone we know as woman.
"Tomori-San, then let's go there."
"Ay ay." (Smile)
She smiled. I'm sure that's a sign to become closer. I pulled her wrist tightly towards a famous tavern that I had researched for a long time as the most suitable place to have a chat.
"Tomori-San, what about your future plans?"
"I want to open a coffee shop so we could have a talk like this again" (Smile)
Weird. We've been couple for a month. She should already know my real intention but she twisted it while ending it with a smile. I kept sipping my boba drink while looking at the sweet face in front of me with an uneasy feeling like something bad was about to happen.
"Tomori-San, don't you want to deepen our relati-".
"Huh? Relationship? (Smile) Sei-Kun, Sei-Kun. You're so easy to fool. What's the dream that makes you so delirious right now?" (Laughs)
Ah, I see...
I always realized that the smile from earlier was not a real smile but rather an act to deceive. Even though, I keep it quiet until it's now too late for me to prevent it from happening.
My steps stopped as my mind snapped with something. My worries from earlier now had become a reality in front of my very eyes. I just got thrown away after all the efforts I made. The steps of the figure that had been walking in front of me now stopped and looked down at me with a proud face. A quiet atmosphere adorns the streets without any birds chirping or wind blowing. The world seems to mourn my unfortunate fate but not the figure who is still standing with a cynical smile in front of me.
I'm a mere stupid.
A woman like her will never look at me the same way no matter who I am. She just thinks of me as a tool that after being used will be thrown away and left to rot over time. Countless time, effort, and energy that I have spent on her seems meaningless. Despite that, what a mere me can do. Everything is too late now. Time cannot be turned back. Now I have faced the reality that I scared for my life. I stared at the ground where I was standing with a blank look. I stared and kept staring. Tears did not flow from both of my eyes.
Why?
Now it must be a painful situation for me to face but why don't I shed any tears? The pain that should have pierced my fragile heart into pieces but why am I still standing here smiling?
Isn't this the first time I've faced this gripping situation... Ah, that's how it was.
"Begone..."
"Ara, how brave is this one brother..."
"I SAID... BEGONE?!!"
"If not, what are you gon-"
The body of the woman in front of me was shattered into pieces. Blood splattered all over where she stood. Some of it even got splashed onto my body. My breathing is heavy. My body becomes weak. In a moment, my body was already lay on the ground. Maybe this is the end of my journey in this world, I thought.
The man who believed and continued to believe in the figure known as woman was finally betrayed and lying weak while remembering his fate. His vision began to darken, little by little before finally disappearing.
During that suffocating moment, the man wondered...
If there is an infinite life for me to go through,
Will I meet an honest woman in my next life?
Or will this empty heart remain empty forever?
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Hurm, the glare... I slowly opened my eyelids. The sky outside was still dark filled with moonlight. The atmosphere of my old room is still the same as before. No weirdness. My hips feel heavy. I looked at the weight in my lap.
("Eep, Mitsua?!! What is she doing at night like this in my room?!! She's even lying on my lap?!! Plus hugging it like it was always a pillow tho...")
I reached out my hand to wake her up.
"Eep"
("Is it true that my hands are usually like this?")
I feel uneasy. The voice I heard earlier was not the hoarse voice I used to hear. I'm getting restless. I realized something was strange. My chest felt heavier than usual. Some white hair even spread to my lap and could be seen clearly by me.
"Why do I look like a girl?!!"
The white-haired, red-eyed girl sitting on her shabby bed yelled with a surprised look on her... sweet face.
"HUUUUUH?!!"
""Ehm... Good morning, Onii-Ch-... Onee-Chan."
Mitsua who was just awake looked at me, flustered but with an unsurprised expression on her face...
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My breathing is heavy and my vision is black. Despite how hard it was, I forced myself to open my eyes.
"Argh-"
I held my aching chest with my hands. My slightly open eyes looked at my palm which was holding back the pain.
Blood.
At a glance, something clicked in my mind.
("Ah, I was attacked with magic by two girls who dress like the nobles")
A stabbing pain spread throughout my body. The layer of skin on my chest seemed to have been burned and revealed a layer of flesh that continued to gush out blood non-stop. My shabby white shirt was soaked by the blood that continued to flow out of my body. The pants I was wearing were also torn and there were many scorch marks on my pants and several abrasions on my legs from being attacked mercilessly by fire magic. My mind was thinking of asking for help from those who were passing by but I bore it after remembering something.
I am nobody in this world. I live by myself behind this forest and only get shelter from the sun by the shade of a tree. There is no one around and no one to ask for help. Even if there is a person I doubt they would lend a hand to someone like me. The one that only survives by picking the fruits that fall from the horse cart that shakes while going through the uneven forest roads. I also got this cloth from a horse cart as well whose goods fell while passing by the forest.
Unconsciously, my hand reached a nearby stone where I was lying and gripped the stone tightly to withstand the unbearable pain I felt in my chest right now.
"Oi, oi... Can you go away from my sight?!! I still feel sorry for you right now "
The girl with blue hair and eyes as the sky lowered her small magic wand and stood next to me who was still holding back the pain.
"Heh heh. People like him won't realize if we don't beat him more, Inami-San. After all, he is the one who volunteered to be beaten up instead. HahahahaH!!".
The girl with yellow hair and eyes next to her grinned while kicking my hand that was tightly gripping a rock. The suffocating atmosphere at this moment was covered by this girl's sarcastic laughter.
I remembered something.
Earlier I heard a voice asking for help while walking around the forest. From far far away, I saw a little girl being brutally attacked with magic by two girls who looked a little older than her. Without thinking, I immediately jumped in to help her. Seeing her sincere face asking for help and lying helplessly reminds me of something I've been looking for all this time.
An honest woman.
It hurt. I spurt out more blood from my mouth.
"Oi, oi... What made you so heroic to help her out huh?!! Even at a glance, we can confirm that there is no flow of magic circulating inside your body. What can you do to help her? You just invited your death by coming here to save her." yelled the yellow-haired girl fiercely as she continued to kick my body with such rebellious eyes.
"Very pitiful that someone with only dirty blood like you has the heart to save someone like her whose blood is still pure even though it is low. Do you seek your death?"
"High-level nobles are born with pure and noble blood. It can store and drain mana more efficiently than those of low blood. Even though that girl is a low-level noble, she is still able to fight back, not like you. Long story short, you who are not a noble at all have the heart to fight high-level nobles like us, trash".
The blue-haired girl looked at me with disgust. Despite that, she still held back her emotions perhaps to maintain her image as a noble. She was still standing next to me with her arms crossed as if she was upset that I came to interfere.
"Hihihi... Why can a boy like you trust a girl like her at a glance? She already runs and hides since you came here heroically to help her. Did you think that the girl wanted to help you back when you were beaten- ".
Ah, that's how it was...
I got deceived again. To hell with this upper noble blood nonsense. This same feeling of pain appeared and spread in my heart again. It is like it is being torn into small pieces. I smiled as if something had possessed me. In an instant, the body of the girl who keeps grinning while kicking me earlier sprayed blood all over the place without leaving any residue.
"You... W-who are y-".
Blood spurts out for a second time.
My breathing is still heavy but strangely, I felt so much relief deep in my heart. It's like I went all out already to teach those kids a lesson. Suddenly, my eyes become so heavy that I'm about to be unconscious. My head starts dazing. My body which is already very weak finally fell back to the ground. Dimly, I saw the girl I helped running towards me from afar.
("Why did you run towards me? Didn't I just get taken advantage of? Haha, how stupid of me. I helped her without thinking too much and died in vain aga-")
My head was quickly hugged by her but gently.
"Onii-Chan?!! Don't die now! Hold on a little longer before help arrives. Onii-Chan, Onii-Ch-".
Warm.
What is this kinda feeling of warmth deep inside my heart? Is this what you called the love from a woman that I have never felt before? The tears that flowed down her cheeks quickly dripped on my face since she hugged my head tightly. I smiled before closing my eyes again.
I didn't make the wrong choice. I knew it. Even though, it seems that I didn't have much time left to treasure this moment.
I felt happy for a moment. A wounded and weak body ran and hugged me tightly. The atmosphere of the forest that had been quiet since my rampage was now filled with the sound of this girl crying. Everything calmed down until finally, all the crying disappeared from my very ears. In an instant, my mind was empty and the tears of my departure just now disappeared from my hearing.
Somehow I'm happy that someone I desperately protected is crying over my passing.
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My head feels a little dizzy. I opened my eyes slowly. I was shocked when I saw the familiar figure I knew lying on my lap.
"Anu, Mitsua. Why..."
"Mother, brother is awake."
("Mitsua, at least please listen to what I'm about to ask. ") (Sad)
I spoke to myself since she seemed to be ignoring me.
"That's fine then. Let's have breakfast and call out your brother too. The sun has already risen you know".
"Okay, we'll come in a minute".
I looked at my sister in amazement and wonder.
"Oi Mitsua, why are you being so clingy to your brother so early in the morning? You are not a child anymore."
"What's wrong, Onii-Chan is still Mitsua's brother. After all, there's nothing wrong. We are siblings".
("Did you not think even a bit of me as a man... Well, she's not wrong tho") (Sad)
This is Kyoto Mitsua. My sister who is two years younger than me and also the girl I saved in the forest back then. Her charming black hair fell past her shoulders in a rather messy state as it had not yet been combed. Her deep red eyes which are similar to mine make us look like actual siblings.
("Well it's not wrong tho...")
"Onii-Chan?!!"
I was shocked when Mitsua jumped and started hugging me. I was hugged tightly by her with no sign of her letting me go. I was lying down smiling happily while stroking my sister's head.
("I'm so lucky to have a beautiful and spoiled sister with me. Despite that, our relationship is limited to brother and sister".)
"Alright, alright, Mitsua. Let's have breakfast together before it gets cold".
"Okay".
We both quickly got out of bed and did a bit of tidying routine in my bedroom before going to get Mom in the dining room. Then, I walked my sister while holding her hand to the dining room.
My name is Kyoto Seinaru. Today, I am fifteen years old. Our family is an aristocratic family with the lowest rank, Baron. The title was given to the descendants who had been involved in the battle against the forces of the Tyrannical Demon King. Despite being a nobleman, our lives are not too wealthy like the other nobles.
"Mother, why do we still eat bland soup".
"Don't complain, Mitsua. We should be relieved we still afford to eat" said Mom.
"Mitsua, if you ever complain again..... I don't mind to give you mine."
I smile a little as a warning for her. She seems to panic for a bit before start enjoying her meal again.
"Hmm, hmm. Yummy".
("It's so obvious that she forced herself to make that liking face. It's either she hates the soup so bad or my smile was very scary".) (Sad)
Usually, I hunt in the forest nearby so early in the morning and already cook something at a time like this but it seems that I overslept. Not to mention that there is a dream that keeps repeating every night in my sleep that makes me a bit uneasy. I guess that explains why my head feels so heavy and how I overslept today.
I tasted the soup back while thinking about something. Spontaneously, I saw an old picture hanging on the wall of our house.
A map.
A thousand years ago there was a Tyrannical Demon King who ruled cruelly in the Northern part of The Kingdom.
Terror Canyon.
The Kingdom was formed after all the human nations in the world agreed to form an empire to suppress the Demon because they considered the Demon to be an evil race that needed to be eliminated. Demons who are made up of various species have their unique abilities and can use magic have become the biggest threat to the human world. On the other hand, Terror Canyon was once a Demon King who could subjugate the entire population of the Terror Canyon under his authority. But everything changed in the last thousand years after the Great War was launched by The Kingdom to suppress the territory of the Demon and expand the influence of the empire. It was said that the previous warrior had defeated the Demon King but the body was nowhere to be found. All left behind is an empty throne with all the demons that finally surrender to The Kingdom. Now, the demon's kingdom is ruled by the Five Great Demon Kings with Queen Lumina who is said to be of mixed human and demon blood leading the Five Demon Kings as the supreme power. Queen Lumina also gave some of the demon territory to The Kingdom as a form of peace.
Even so, humans are not stupid. They still search for a warrior by building a warrior academy as a precaution against the demon's sudden attack. The only existing warrior academy is located in the center of The Kingdom, Lux Academy. There are many students talented in magic and combat from all over the country participating.
On the right side of the map hangs a picture of Queen Lumina as a symbol of peace taken when she ascended the throne as the newly appointed leader of the Five Demon Kings. On the left side of the map hangs a picture of the previous Demon King that looks blurry and worn as a symbol of despair. It said that the photographer who took the picture was mercilessly killed by the Demon King, leaving a blurry picture behind.
Lately, I've been dreaming about a figure with long white hair and deep red eyes sitting on a throne with blank eyes. Somehow both the figure in the picture and my dreams are so look-alike. It's like I was alive back then because the environment in my dream feels very surreal.
"Mother, Sei taught of entering the Warrior Academy".
"Eh, why all of a sudden, Sei-Kun?".
Mom asks me with a worried tone. I knew he felt unease since we are not a high-level noble and I am unable to use magic.
"Sei knows that Sei has no magic power at all. Sei understands very well that Sei only has good swordsmanship skills. But Mom knew that Sei's blade never failed to slash into the flesh. Sei thought Sei needed to know Sei's strengths by engaging in the Lux Academy despite with mom's permission or not ".
("There is no way I want to tell her that I want to fight the Five Demon Lords to investigate my dream...")
"But Sei, if anyone hurt Sei later there...".
"That's right brother. Why?".
"That should not be a worry. Sei will just chop off their heads into seven parts and put them on the top of seven different mountains".
Somehow, I made the face of a serial killer again. Seems like my social skills are still lacking and that's also a reason I want to engage in the academy too.
"Uhm..." Mother and Mitsua looked at me with slightly worried faces.
Despite that, I will not relent. Damn to the noble titles they hold.
"Sei knows mother cares a lot for Sei. But Sei thinks this as a preparation for Sei when dealing with the outside world. Getting to know whether someone is friends or foes".
Unintentionally, I patted the table and stood up.
"Alright. Mom understands. You are always listening and being a good child. So Mom won't stop you, but it's a different story if...".
"Brother, don't push yourself, okay...".
Mitsua suddenly hugged me while looking at me with her shining eyes.
("Too shiny")
"Onii-Chan promise, Mitsua".
Without realizing it, my hand already caressed my sister's head due to her undeniable cuteness.
"No Mom, whether it's hard or not, Sei will face it with all the strength Sei has".
There is only one mission in my head. The figure that always appears in my dreams is similar to the face of that Tyrannical Demon King who ruled Terror Canyon before. My mission is to become a warrior so that I can go to his palace and see for myself the story that lies behind the incident that happened a thousand years ago. It's not an easy task since there are Five Great Demon Kings with Queen Lumina as a leader who will harden my journey.
Despite all of that, I have many questions to ask. The face full of hatred and no hope in the world that he made is very similar to the face I made back then when I was betrayed and lost hope in the world. If I have the power to help, I want to save him from that despair and teach him how good to have touch with the world that I now get to know.
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A beautiful figure was seen sitting on a worn throne with a blank look. Long white hair alongside bright red eyes was enough to make everyone who saw filled with tremble and fear.
("Ah, this dream again. Why am I dreaming about her again? My head is a bit dizzy. What time is it right now?")
I opened my eyes slowly. Mitsua lay on my lap and hugged it tightly. I wanted to wake her up so I extended my hand to pat her back.
"Eep"
"Why am I in the shape of a girl?!!"
"Uhm... Hurm... Good morning, Onii-C-... Onee-San".
"Anu, Mitsua. What do you mean by Onee-San, huh?!! Don't be delusional right now!!"
"Blaw.... Arh..."
I shook my sister's body who was still sleepy so that she would be fresher. I that was already panicked plus my sister spurt out some nonsense had made my heart become more restless to even think of what had happened to my body. A thousand and one questions now appeared in my mind.
"Onii-Chan, stop... Mitsua has awoken already".
I stopped shaking my sister's body since she didn't look sleepy anymore. I just want to get a proper explanation regarding my current situation. Mitsua looked straight into my eyes while holding both of my shoulders tightly.
"Onii-Chan, remember when Onii-Chan helped Mitsua near the forest?"
"I think I clearly remember what happened that day. Why?"
"Mitsua ran and hugged Onii-Chan's head and told Onii-Chan to hold on until the help arrived, but when Onii-Chan became unconscious, Onii-Chan's hair suddenly changed to white and grew longer. At first, Mitsua was surprised to see that Onii-Chan turned into an Onee-San, but Mitsua didn't care a bit because Onii-Chan was still the one who saved Mitsua".
"Anu, so since that day Mitsua has known that your brother is a sister...?"
"I guess so..."
I fell weakly remembering the fate that befell me at this time. What is the use of all of my experience as a man? I groped my bottom a bit to further ascertain my current situation. It's not there. It seems that I no longer have hope to be my original self.
"But I am still puzzled by what Mitsua said. I was originally a brother but turned into a sister or was I originally a sister??? Ah, so confusing..."
"Onii-Chan, look at this".
Mitsua was holding something long and black and kept moving before showing it to me. I watched the thing carefully. In an instant, there was sweat that was dripping all over my face. The thing that Mitsua showed me was unexpected turns of events. Mitsua looked at me while holding the sharp pointed tail and connected to my hips. I was surprised once again since the tail that I saw right now I had known it from my past life. I always read romance books alone to know how to win a woman's heart. The tail that I saw was surely in the books that I had read back then. Succubus. A lowly creature with a beautiful body and a face that charms every eye that sees it. The creature lives by getting energy from the man's lust and sensuality. And somehow that succubus-like tail seemed to be connected to my hips.
"I'm not only not a man, but not even a human being... Why it turned out to be like this..." (Sad)
I fell back after knowing a reality that was even heavier than before. Everything is very clear now. As a succubus, it is a norm for me to change my appearance to deceive my victims. Even though it's tough, that's the truth I faced. I lay weak remembering my unfortunate fate. Unexpectedly, a pair of hands caressed my head gently to calm me down.
"Onii-Chan, when Mitsua is sad Onii-Chan always strokes Mitsua's head to calm Mitsua. This time let Mitsua return the favour. Has Onii-Chan calmed down yet?"
I was shocked to hear my sister's words. She was still trying to comfort me even though the truth was too painful to digest. I, who am a demon race are not only dangerous to humans but are also declared as natural enemies. I'm very worried that I just turned to a boy to deceive her. I didn't think a bit of doing such a thing. Usually, I'm the one in the place to get betrayed but right now I'm the one betraying someone. It's so hard for me to accept it. Unconsciously, I shed tears just by thinking about it.
"Oni-Chan, even though Onii-Chan is worried about Onii-Chan's current situation, Onii-Chan is still the Onii-Chan that Mitsua knows. Onii-Chan's heart and attitude towards Mitsua and Mom never change".
Mitsua looked at me with a smile. It felt very moved to have a sister who is willing to comfort me whenever I am down. This is impossible for me to experience in my previous life. I returned her smile to show that I finally had calmed down myself.
"Anu, Mitsua. How come can you fall asleep on my lap on these blind nights?".
"Uhm... The real deal is... Every time Onii-Chan fell asleep, Onii-Chan turned into Onee-San. At first, Mitsua is afraid to do so but because Onii-Chan's appearance does look like an Onee-San, Mitsua doesn't bother to sleep beside Onii-Chan every night".
"BE-BESIDES... AND EVERY N-NIGHT..."
(Surprised)
"I bet that's the reason why Mitsua is not even afraid to sleep on my lap. Even hug it like a pillow" (Sad)
I fell back to the ground remembering my fate. I shed tears from being mentally assaulted by reality.
"That's enough, Onii-Chan. Let's talk to Mom tomorrow regarding this problem".
Mitsua stroked my head gently again. Somehow I felt calmer from being treated in such a way by her.
"Thank you, Mitsua. I am grateful to have a sister like Mitsua".
I tugged my sister's cheeks because she was acting like an older sister.
"Aw, Onii-Chan, it hurts"
"Then Mitsua will call Onii-Chan Onee-Sa-..." "AWWWWW?!!"
"What is it Mitsua?!!"
I looked at my sister with a slight smile while pinching her cheeks tightly. I don't know why I get upset with those words that she said earlier.
"EEEK?!! Onii-Chan, it's just a joke. Sorry"
In an instant, Mitsua looked panicked and admitted her mistake. I released both of her cheeks from my pinch. It felt really good to repay my sister's naughty act.
"Ou-ouch..."
Mitsua caressed her reddened cheeks. Even though I was angry, she was still my beloved sister. I stroked her cheek to ease the pain a little. Mitsua looked a little surprised by my actions before finally tightly grasping my hand that was caressing his cheek.
"It's so late. Let's sleep, Mitsua".
"Okay. Good night, Onii-Chan".
"Uhm. Good night, Mitsua".
I lay on my bed while holding my sister's hand tightly who was also lying next to me. In the depths of my heart, somehow I feel it's fine to stay like this.
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I woke up since there was a sun ray befell on my eyes. Quickly, I check my surroundings again. Nothing seems off in my room. I looked down at my leg. There is still wagging tail under my crotch. I also see some white hair fall on my lap and even touch it with both of my hands. It felt good to play with it. I look at my surroundings again. Mitsua is nowhere to be found. I quickly stand up and tidy up my bed before go finding her. We planned to tell Mom about my current situation.
I walk fast to the living room to see if there is anyone to be found. As soon as I'm about to arrive, I can see a figure from a far. So, I fastened my steps even more. Right when I arrived at the living room, I suddenly stopped my steps and stand still as I see clearly the person there. I was shocked to see that there was an unfamiliar face sitting comfy on a chair. A guy with black hair and eyes wearing a cape in normal citizen clothes sitting towards me . Right after my arrival he gazed at me with shock in his face. I that didn't know how to respond just turned my face away from him in a blushing state.
("Oh no, why there is a man at a time like this... I'm really not very well right now...")
Without realizing it, the guy was already next to me. I gasp a bit to see he knelt before me. He offers his hand while saying,
"Won't you mind to be my queen?"