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 tend to talk in layers while hiding their true intentions and leaving the man to wonder.
The slightest mistake, they will sulk.
The slightest fault, the man will be in halt.
Woman.
They're creatures that hides various tricks and intentions behind the sweet smile. Every detail of the conversation is carefully alluded into a code with many hidden intentions to be seek by the man before it all becomes too late for the man to fall in the depth of void.
The man asked in the deepest part of his heart...
Is this how a true love looks like?
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Modern City,
In a metropolitan city, a man is walking with someone dared to him we know as woman.
"Tomori-San, then let's go there."
"Ay ay." (Smile)
She smiled at me. I'm sure that's a sign for us to become closer. I pulled her wrist tightly and guide her towards a famous tavern that I had researched for a long time as the most suitable place to have our date.
"Tomori-San, do you anything you planned for the future?"
I ask her with excitement wanting to hear the reply that I thought of.
"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 where I'm going with my question but she seems to twist 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 realized from earlier that the smile was not her real feelings rather a mere act to deceive. Despite that, I keep it quiet and trust her until I realized it's now too late to prevent this incident from happening.
The cheerful surroundings suddenly turned awkward. I took a deep breath frozen on what has befallen into me.
My steps stopped as my mind got snapped. My worries from earlier now had become a reality in front of my own 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 on 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 fool.
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 can be thrown away and left to rot over time. Countless times, efforts, and energy that I have spent on her becomes 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 can't I shed any tears? The pain that should have pierced my very fragile heart into pieces but why am I still able to stand here with a smile?
Isn't this the first time I've faced this gripping situation... Ah, that's how it was.
"Begone...from my sight..."
"Ara, how brave are you to even answer..."
"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 turned heavy. My body becomes weak. In a blink, I was lay on the ground mourning my fate. Maybe this is the end of my journey in this world, or so I thought.
The man who believed and continued to believe in woman was finally betrayed and lying weak while remembering his fate. His vision began to darken, little by little before finally disappearing.
During the suffocating moment, a quiet thought crossed his mind...
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. Nothing weirdn. However, my hips feel heavy. I then looked at the weight in my lap.
("Eep, Mitsua?!! What is she doing here at night in my room?!! She's even lying on my lap?!! She even hugging it like it was always a pillow too...") (Defeated)
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. I realized my chest also 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 eyes is closed. Despite how hard it was, I forced myself to open both of 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.
In a glance, something clicked in my mind.
("Ah, I was attacked with magic by these two girls who dress like the nobles earlier")
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 apart with so many scorch marks on it. Even my legs got several abrasions from being attacked mercilessly by fire magic. My mind was considering of asking for help from those who were passing by but I give up after having some thought.
I am a nobody in this world.
I live in this forest by myself and only get shelter from the sun by the shades of trees. There is no one around and no one to ask for help. Even if there is a person, they would lend a hand for someone like me. The one that survives by picking the fruits that fall from the horse cart that shakes while going through the uneven forest roads. This worn-out clothes also looted from cart passing by the roads.
Unconsciously, my hand reached a nearby stone where I was lying and gripped it tightly to withstand the unbearable pain I felt in my chest right now.
"Oi, oi... Can't you just 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 sickening pain.
"Huh, people like him won't understand if we don't beat him enough, Inami-San. After all, he is the one who volunteered to be our dummy. HahahahaH!!".
Another girl with yellow hair and eyes next to her grinned while kicking my hand that was tightly gripping a rock. The entire atmosphere was covered by this girl's lunatic laughter as she gave me a beat.
I remembered what just happened.
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 these two nobles who looked a little older than her. Without thinking, I immediately jumped in to help her despite knowing I'm just a mere punch bag to them that able to do magic, unlike me who just spawned in this world. 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 think you're heroic enough to help her, huh?!! Even at a glance, it's obvious to us you have no magic flows in your body. What can you even do to save her? You came here just to invite your death!"
The yellow-haired girl yelled fiercely, her rebellious eyes burning as she kicked my body again and again.
"It's a pity… someone with filthy blood like yours even dares to save someone with low-borns like hers. Are you seeking your own death?"
"High-level nobles are born with pure and noble blood. It can store and drain mana far more efficiently than the low-borns. That girl may be a low-level noble, but she can still fight back. You? You're not even noble, yet you dare challenge us. How delusional."
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... How come a boy like you trust a girl like her at a first glance, tho? She already run and hid since you jumped in heroically to help her. Did you think that 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. The same searing pain spread through my heart, tearing it into tiny pieces. I smiled, as if something inside me had taken over. In an instant, the girl who had been grinning while kicking me was obliterated while blood sprayed everywhere, leaving nothing behind.
"You... W-who are y-".
Blood spurted out for a second time.
My breathing was still heavy, but strangely, a deep relief settled in my chest. It felt like I'd finally given everything to teach those kids a lesson. Suddenly, my eyelids grew unbearably heavy, my vision blurring. My head spun, and my already weakened body finally collapsed to the ground. Dimly, I saw the girl I had helped running toward me from afar.
("Why did you run toward me? Didn't I just get taken advantage of? Haha… how stupid of me. I helped her without thinking, and now I… died in vain aga-")
My head was gently hugged by her tiny arms.
"Onii-chan?!! Don't die now! Hold on a little longer until help arrives. Onii-chan, Onii-ch-"
Warm.
What was this feeling deep in my chest? Could this be what they call a woman's love?Something I'd never felt before? Tears streamed down her cheeks and quickly dripped onto my face as she held my head tightly. I smiled at her 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.
For a fleeting instant, I felt happy. A wounded, weak body clung to me tightly, and the forest that had been silent since my rampage was now filled with the sound of her crying. Everything calmed again until, suddenly, all sound vanished from my ears. My mind went blank, and even the tears from my own departure seemed to fade.
Somehow… I was happy that someone I had desperately protected was crying over me.
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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..."
"Okaa-San, Onii-Chan is awake."
("Mitsua, at least please listen to what I'm about to ask. ") (Sad)
I spoke to myself as she turn her face away from me.
"That's good to hear. 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 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 was 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 an actual siblings.
("Well it's not wrong tho...")
"Onii-Chan?!!"
I was startled by Mitsua who suddenly jumped and started hugging me. I was hugged tightly by her with no sign of her letting me go. I smile at her while stroking her head gently.
("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.
"Okaa-San, 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.
"Okaa-San, 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 Onii-Chan. Why so sudden?".
"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..." Mom and Mitsua looked at me with slightly worried faces.
Despite that, I will not relent. Damn to the noble titles they hold.
"Sei knows mom 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...".
"Onii-Chan, 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 Onii-Chan still puzzled by what Mitsua said. Onii-Chan 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 a proper girl, 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 get sleep, Mitsua".
"Okay. Good night, Onii-Chan".
"Good night too, 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?"