[The given time has run out.]
Leaning against a corner, I watched.
I watched how the class full of people I once knew became nothing but a pile of bodies.
Many of them were from wealthy families.
Again, some were more talented than others.
Few were kinder than most, to an unreasonable degree.
Yet their end was all the same… cruel.
In their last moments, I observed how desperation filled their eyes.
How their eyes filled with tears, realising that this is the end.
They weren't killed all at once.
One by one with 7-9 second delays, someone's head explodes.
Seeing how fighting delays death, everyone became desperate to kill.
They became more feral.
Like starving beasts, discarding the mask of civility and becoming fully primal.
Yet one by one, all are falling into the icy lap of death.
I look toward the exit; there is where the last two are fighting it out.
There I see one seems like he will succeed. He got the other in a chokehold.
'It seems another beside me will succeed.'
That's not good.
I am barely able to stand; I can't take chances he will be sane after killing.
'What if he comes after me?'
I prepare my grip on the blades, ready to split his neck while they are busy with each other.
But then, I notice—
The one who's holding the chokehold is our class rep.
The previous resolve that I built to end them somehow evaporated. I couldn't muster the courage to lift my blade against him.
My brain said to end them, yet my heart doesn't accept it. I was unable to resolve my heart to hurt him.
I watched how he was strangling the other.
But at the last moment he did something I didn't get?
He didn't kill him.
He lets go of the chokehold.
'Why are you letting him go? Abandoning your chance to live.'
I feel my body tense up; I observe him with wide eyes.
The head of the one below him exploded.
Now it's only us.
'I didn't get why he didn't finish the kill.'
Our eyes met; I saw a flicker of fear in his eyes, but those changed into something else.
I assume acceptance.
With a wide eye, I just started at him.
His gaze landed on me, shifting from the blade to me.
I instinctively feel a little self-conscious.
Our eyes met.
His eyes were red, glossier than normal.
Of all things I assumed he would do in these last moments, he did something I never assumed.
He gave me his signature smile.
Something in me was shaken up. 'Why are you smiling?'
The smile was very gentle, yet he radiated extreme sorrow.
"You managed to kill?"
I nod hesitantly.
He looked down toward the floor and let out a soft chuckle, laced with bitter sweetness and irony.
"You're very brave, you know."
I just stared at him, unable to take my eyes of him.
"Why didn't you kill him?"
"I guess I don't have it in me."
More than it being directed at me, it felt more like it was towards his own self.
Looking at him, he was close yet felt distant.
I don't understand why, but my heart started to hurt, eyes tearing up.
He looks at me one last time, eyes filled with the same light I saw in every class, the same kindness he showered others with.
With a gentle, yet husky voice—
"Good luck. It will be tough from here on, bec…"
He was unable to finish his words, as he too was subjected to the same penalty as the rest.
It stung.
The feeling was weird.
I felt as though someone had stabbed me through the heart.
'If you're going to die, die quietly. Why make a show?'
My eyes felt wet, but I refuse to acknowledge the feeling.
I step forward to catch him so that he doesn't hit the floor hard.
Letting out a bitter chuckle, I whisper,
"I will be careful; now rest easy, fool."
I carefully let down his body.
Maybe this end here is a mercy, for how the world will be like—
It's better a gentle soul die like a star instead of being consumed by the darkness.
The moments where he took care of me,
Even when no one noticed, he would help.
He was like that with everyone.
Unbeknownst to me, a tear dropped from my eye, despite trying not to.
The blue interface appeared again.
[Paid settlement will begin.]
[You have killed 11 living things.]
[Kill History: 11 human beings]
[The 'Mass Murderer' achievement has been gained through excessive killing.]
A chuckle escaped my mouth.
[Main Scenario #1 – Proof of Value has ended.]
[300 coins have been acquired as a basic clearance reward.]
[1100 coins have been acquired as an additional reward for killing.]
[100 coins have been reduced for the channel usage fee.]
Messages after massages popped on the screen.
I stared at the screen.
I felt a little scared of what would follow.
Taking a deep breath, I push my worries down and focus on the system.
[A handful of constellations like your scenario]
[The Constellations sponsored 500 coins.]
I almost forgot about them.
They liked my scenario?
My mind felt…scattered from sheer anger.
Am I like some kind of jester?
[A few constellations with evil alignment liked your unnecessary kill.]
[The Constellations sponsored 800 coins.]
Should I be…thrilled or concerned?
[A few constellations of good alignment liked your compassion toward your former classmate.]
[Sponsored 100 coins]
Why are the good ones stingier than the evil-aligned ones?
I look at my surroundings and then at myself.
On second thought,
I didn't do much to attract them.
[Wow, you sure are popular. Congratulations on proving your worth.]
[Your valiant struggle to prove your worth was admirable.]
He kind of sounds like those shady scammers, selling low-grade goods at high prices.
[But you see, the world as you know it has changed, and as weak as you are, you will be squished before you can even understand what happened.]
[How tragic, how pitiful, all this struggle, just to die like a bug.]
Just listening to it makes my blood boil. But I kept my mouth shut.
[But be grateful; among the constellation watching, a few generous constellations decided to sponsor you. They will be your backer for the future scenarios. How wonderful!]
[Sponsor selection begins]
[Sponsor Selection]
– Please select your sponsor.
– Your chosen sponsor will be your strong supporter.
Abyssal Black Flame Dragon Demon-like Judge of Fire Secretive Plotter The insane one The devil of violence Song of the sea
I stare blankly at the screen in front of me.
I feel no excitement about it; instead, I feel mocked by their hypocrisy.
Their generosity?
Don't make me laugh. They will be our backer?
How laughable!
They will help me survive? The very beings caused me to be in this situation that I am in.
I have seen plenty of novels to know this kind of contract is terrible.
But what choice do I have? As much as it is frustrating to admit, it is true I am weak.
If he, the white creature, can make us explode like fireworks, how much stronger are they?
The constellations?
In frustration, I bit my lips so hard, causing blood to flow out.
[2 minutes till sponsor selection ends]
Thinking for a moment
I let out a sigh.
I scan through the options.
Ugh… They feel like edgy aliases by 12-year-olds.
Song of the Sea has a nice touch to it.
I scan through their names, reading them over and over again.
Damnation
How will one even gauge which is better?
Their names don't tell shit, or if they do, I don't get it.
I stare at the blue interface, contemplating my choice.
I let out a deep breath.
'What do I do?'
After much dilemma, I lock my choice.
With a firm resolve, I slowly extend my hand towards my choice.
…
[Sponsor selection ended]
I hope I made the right choice.
...
[Some constellations are greatly affected by your choice.]
[The Constellation 'Abyssal Black Flame Dragon' is greatly displeased at your choice.]
[The constellations belonging to the black cloud are shaken by the anger of the Abyssal Back Dragon. You won't be sponsored by any of the Black Cloud Constellations for a while.]
I stare at the message, unsure what this entails in the long run.
[The constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' is disappointed in you.]
[She will persistently monitor you.]
Yay! Like you weren't already.
[The constellation 'Secretive Plotter' is interested in your choice.]
[200 coins have been sponsored.]
I guess he liked my caution?
[The insane one is greatly shocked by your choice.]
[He likes you; he will continue to monitor you.]
'Awesome! Another one; this one's crazy.
[Sponsored you 200 coins]
Never mind, please watch me closely.
[The devil of violence laments that he and you would be a great match.]
[Song of the Sea is saddened by your choice.]
[What an arrogant choice you have made.]
[No matter, you will get a second opportunity in the future.]
[Rest up; your next scenario will start in 30 minutes.]
As the screen disappeared, all the attention went away. The brave front that I was putting on disappeared.
Just like how air leaks out when a balloon is popped, I plummet to the floor as I lose all strength.
I looked around me.
Nothing.
No one.
Just dead bodies and all red.
The air was musky with the smell of blood.
The class room felt too big.
All the worries, all the doubts that I had put behind the need to survive came rushing forward.
An intense urge to vomit fills me up.
I gag a lot.
My inside feels heavy as the urge to cry fills me
I stare at the blood soaked hands.
MY HANDS.
These hands, which have taken many lives.
Which may take even more.
Doubt creped in.
Did I do the right thing?
Should I live?
What if I am hallucinating and everything is normal where only I just killed someone.
My head felt as though it will explode from all the constant worries.
I felt like screaming, crying, and hiding.
I wanted nothing more than to run home and lock my door and never get out.
YET, I didn't get the courage to reach for the door, let alone walk home.
Clenching my hands tightly around me as I curl up, and for once again, tears fall like a stream.
No matter how many lies I try to conjure up for myself that tomorrow will be better.
I can't give up my worry on the uncertainty of tomorrow.
I am REALLY scared.
I don't want to die.
I feel so scared at the fact that I am so weak that, if that thing wants to, it can kill me with a snap of its fingers.
I sobbed.
My mind kept repeating the scene of how easily that thing killed everyone. How I was a goner if it didn't get that whim to spare me.
I don't know at what point the feeling of sorrow changed into anger, but what I do know is that I was suddenly enveloped with an intense feeling of anger.
Anger at the fact that I am so insignificant.
Anger at being so weak that I can't guarantee my life.
To be toyed with like some insignificant bug.
"I don't want to be something's toy."
"I want to lead my own story, with my own decisions.'
'Yet my heart started to cower again. Mind reasoning that those beings are so strong. How could I possibly win? Maybe being an obedient sl…'
A sharp sound reverberated through the empty classroom.
It was the sound of me slapping myself across my own face.
I felt disgusted at my own thought.
How pathetic!
I didn't get to point just to die.
I will walk my own path.
And to do that I need strength, incomprehensible strength.
I have to beso strong that I am never this helpless ever again.