Kopii ran lower and lower, until he reached the eighth floor.
– On this floor, we killed him, remember?
– Shut up. You're in the way.
– In the way of what?
Stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp.
– Finally.
Drawing his sword and getting into a stance, impatiently he awaited the next battle.
– I recognize that sound. Come on, Kopii, I bet everything that you'll lose control of yourself again.
– You know that I will too, so why this stupid bet, the outcome of which we both know?
Throwing himself at the arriving ants.
– Yes, that's true, but why not? Why are you so boring? Take an example from me, and perhaps you won't be so pathetic anymore, I emphasize – perhaps.
But seeing how he ignored him again, his ardor waned a little.
Killing every ant that came, he finally, for the first time in a long while, felt joy that his guess had been correct. He no longer felt the all-consuming hatred, but the thirst was still there, though insignificant.
– So, you lost.
Picking up the magic stones, he smiled.
– Fine, fine, you can take everything I have, and that is… let me think, ah, I remembered, I have nothing.
– No, you're mistaken.
– Well, in what can such a perfect being as I be mistaken? Do tell.
– You have a voice. So give it to me and never speak again.
– Hahahahaha.
Loud laughter rang out in Kopii's head.
– What's so funny?
Descending to the ninth floor, he asked.
– You don't understand?
Kopii frowned.
– Well, I've changed my mind; now I don't want to give you anything.
– What? That was the condition of our bet. No one forced you into it.
Killing a War Shadow, he asked.
– So what, Kopii, I changed my mind, and if you don't like it, then make me fulfill it, oh, I remembered, you can't do anything to me.
Seeing how he fell silent, he continued; a mocking tone appeared in his voice:
– Did you seriously think I would do it if I didn't like it? Or did you think that if we have the same memories, then we are the same?
– Shut your mouth!
– Shut my mouth? – He was taken aback. – No, no, do you think that if you act honestly, then I will too? Remember the sparring with Raven, when you told him he had won. Why did you do that? You could have just stayed silent! Every time I remember it, it just infuriates me!
With every word, his voice grew louder, until it turned into a shout.
– Remember those slavers? You thought you had completely lost control back then. You should have killed them all, but you just beat them up, and as long as you keep doing everything like that, you will always be a simple loser.
With every word, Kopii's jaw clenched harder and harder.
– Or when you met Gedo, you could have killed him with one blow, but you didn't. Your feelings hold you back, and as long as they hold you back, you will never become the strongest.
– Shut up!
Kopii shouted, unable to bear it any longer.
– And what do you want!? Do you want me to be like them? To become the same trash as them, who will walk over heads for their own gain?! Do you want me to be like that?!
– Yes! You must be like that, if you want to be the strongest!
– Shut up!
He shouted, striking the dungeon wall.
– You will never understand me!
– No, Kopii, you perfectly understand that I understand you better than anyone. After all, you and I are one whole.
– Shut up!
– No.
– Shut up!
Clutching his head, he shouted.
– Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!
– Hey, boy, are you alright?
Hearing an outside voice, they both fell silent. Raising his gaze to the source of the voice.
«Adventurers!» – Kopii thought, rising from his knees and examining the group. – «All women.» – Kopii noticed. There were only two of them.
– Yes, I'm fine.
But their wariness towards him did not diminish. He could understand them; anyone in their place would have done the same at such a sight.
He simply stood, doing nothing, and just looked into the blue eyes of one of the women. But he felt their tension growing with every second.
– AAAAA AAAA.
The voice shouted in his head, because of which Kopii twitched involuntarily. Their grip on their swords was so strong that their fingers turned white.
– Well, I guess I'll go.
Scratching his head, he left, not taking his gaze off them.
– Why did you do that?
He said, when he had moved far enough away from the adventurers.
– You should have seen your face. Ahahahaha.
He frowned; he said it as if that conversation had never happened.
– Why are you silent, Kopii? Are you ignoring me again? Ay-ay-ay, didn't your parents teach you manners? Oh, I forgot, Kopii, they abandoned you.
But Kopii continued to ignore him; he did not care about anything connected to his parents. After all, why think about those who simply abandoned him.
– Hey, hey, hey, KO-PI-I. Are you offended by my words? I understand, I understand, the truth is not always pleasant, but what can you do about it.
But seeing how Kopii continued to ignore him, he fell silent, and they spent the rest of the day in silence.
«It's already dark.» – Kopii thought, leaving the guild and heading home.
– Hey, hey, you heard that, didn't you? The Loki Familia will return soon.
Kopii's eyes frowned at the voice; he thought it had already disappeared.
– And what of it?
– The thing is, she will keep looking for you. Ahaha, I can't wait to meet her. She's so hot and beautiful.
– She's already forgotten.
– No, no, Kopii, we both understand that the information you told her caused such violent reactions. So I'm sure her desire will only grow stronger. Just imagine what rumors will spread: the Sword Princess chasing after some boy.
– Don't exaggerate. At our next meeting, I'll just tell her that my friend asked me to say it, that's all.
– Don't think it will be so easy, Kopii, don't forget that your friend is dead. But that is…
– Shut up.
Interrupting him, he said, raising his tone. However hard he tried to come to terms with it, any conversation on the topic of Raven brought him only pain and regret.
– Whoa, whoa, how angry we are. Ay-ay-ay, bad boy.
Seeing Kopii's silence, his mood waned; he wanted to somehow dispel his boredom, but he, as always, ruined everything.
– Hey, stop ignoring me!
A cry of indignation rang out in Kopii's head.
– I don't care.
– Well, fine, where was I?
At this pace, he reached home, and the voice in his head did not fall silent for a second. Undressing and lying down on the bed.
– Oh, Kopii, remember how we fell into the hands of the Amazons, and how you ran away like a coward? I would have screwed them all in your place. Why did you refuse? It was even free.
With every word, Kopii's irritation grew. Covering his head with a pillow, hoping never to hear this voice again.
– Just imagine, you're surrounded by so many beautiful girls, and they all adore you. It's just a fairy tale. And you just ran away.
Disappointed notes could be heard in his voice.
Kopii's irritation reached its limit; squeezing the pillow so hard that, without noticing, he tore it.
– How much more can this go on!
He shouted indignantly, looking at the torn pillow; it only added to his anger.
– Blah blah blah! All you do is talk! Can you just shut up for a second?! Just be quiet!
He spoke through clenched teeth, picking up the remains of the pillow.
– Just imagine how much new stuff they could have taught us.
Ignoring Kopii, he continued, thereby infuriating him even more.
– Are you mocking me!!! Shut up!!!
Kopii shouted; the more he listened to him, the more he hated him.