The Insurrection of the Inept Hero

The girls were passed out after the fun we just had. Like the nice guy I was, I laid them all on the bed properly and covered them with a blanket. The looks on their faces as they slept made me blissful. It was like a gift.

I need to assure that they keep those smiles… they hold their future after all.

But there is only one smile that I won't be able to keep…

My own… and another…

I donned my clothes and walked out of the room, locking the door behind me and leaving my shadow servants to keep on the lookout.

I gripped my hands as I took in a deep breath before walking down the dark empty hall.

From my experience with Akane, I managed to get the Flash Down skill. The way it works is the same as Flash Step except you can activate it in the air and it'll bring you back to the surface.

Also, that was not the only thing I obtained.

[Title Obtained: Sin of Lust]

[Sin of Lust: Become rejuvenated after committing sexual acts so you never run out of energy| Effects: Through sexual intercourse, the host's status and stamina will be fully restored]

[Exceed has been upgraded]

[Exceed --> Exceed EX]

It was no wonder why I felt like my strength has been rejuvenated. It also seems that my Exceed skill has been upgraded. Now instead of upgrading level from 10-20, it now does 20-40. Pretty useful if I have to say.

Now then, back to why I'm walking down this hall.

I'm going to need answers from her…

[Cast her aside…]

I heard a voice in my head. At first, I thought it was Yukie, but she does not have a deep and bloodcurdling voice.

I stopped as the voice spoke in my head.

[You fret… fret about her… she is a danger to you…]

I looked over my shoulder just in case someone was actually talking to me but even after using Wolf's Blood, the only thing I could see through the walls were people in their slumber and the structure of the building.

"Wh-who are you?" I asked the voice.

[She holds you back… back from the potential you could obtain… but she is also the catalyst that will lead to your own demise…]

"What are you talking about?"

[Leave her… she holds you back…]

I gulped. Who is she? Who is it talking about? Wait no… I know exactly who it is talking about…

[Nero]

This time Yukie spoke.

"Yes?"

[You have managed to commit 4 deadly sins, hence the Seffirot is now able to communicate with you, however, only barely…]

"Seffirot?"

[When there is evil, there is even more evil. After more evil comes the ancient evil. However, the only thing that can surpass the ancient evil… is the one beyond…]

"The one beyond? Who is that?"

[I cannot speak any further but you should listen to what he says for it will benefit your quest for power. I recommend not ignoring him for he will continue to nag you if you do. After you have listened to his advice, the window that allows him to talk to you will close and will only open once a specific requirement has been met… those requirements, I do not know.]

I see, so this Seffirot is the voice that had spoken to me. I don't know his true goal, but the words that come from him are to benefit my growth.

But what he said…

I shook my head and looked forward.

I need to focus. Continue worrying will only waste precious time.

***

I eventually arrived at the door of the person I needed to meet. In other words, Risa.

I only came to get some answers… that's it.

I knocked on the door and I heard footsteps getting closer.

The person that opened the door was Risa and she inspected me until we met eye to eye.

"N-Nao…"

"…Risa."

"W-what are you doing here?"

"I just came to talk… now… sit down," I said sternly.

We walked over to the table and sat across from each other.

I could hear heartbeats, not mine, but Risa's. I could sense a bit of fear coming from her.

Hmph…

"N-Naoko-"

"Risa."

I quickly interrupted, getting her attention instead.

"I'll be blunt," I said.

"Blunt?"

"How do you feel about me, Risa?"

Risa's face became red as I said that. She looked around in embarrassment and started stammering.

As she tried to collect her thoughts, I took in a deep breath as I waited for her answer.

"I-I… well," She said. "I like… you."

"And why? Out of pity?"

"No, of course not! It because-"

She continued to rant on. She had mentioned some things that I don't recall such as when the time I saved her from a bunch of bullies when we were young and the time I had saved her from being abducted.

Though they were all false, the words that came out of her mouth were all truthful, with no lies behind them and that confused me. But if what she said is the truth, then I can't do anything about it.

I raised my eyebrows when she finished her answer.

"Is that so…?"

"…Nn…"

I smiled as sighed as I shook my head.

"Well… how about you?" She then asked me.

"My feelings?"

I scratched my chin and thought for a minute.

Aah, yes…

"Well, Risa…"

"Yes." She looked down at the table, waiting for me to answer her.

Then the smile on my face turned upside down.

"…I hate you."

"…" Risa stared at me silently and dumbfounded before opening her mouth.

"Huh?"

"I'll repeat it again. Risa… I hate you."

Risa looked at me and shook her head lightly with disbelief.

"Y-you're just joking… right?" She put up a bitter smile. I could tell by the look on her face she was trying to deny the words that just came out of my mouth.

"Joking? Risa… have I ever joked with you before?" I replied.

"B-but why?"

"Why? Well…"

I closed my eyes and thought for a second, but I was only doing that to make her think I was thinking of what to say next when I already know what I was going to say.

"That's because you are just a tool to me; a catalyst that chains me down to my last shred of humanity, nothing more."

"Wha-what?"

"You are also naive and easily influenced. You continue to see this world positively and you think if we heroes manage to save it, it will have a bright future. However, you are completely oblivious to the dangers that this world holds. I hate people who are naive."

I reached inside my coat and pulled out a bloody bag. I dropped the bag on the table. I would then open it up and pull out a centipede, or should I say a demonic critter.

"Wha-what is that?" Risa asked as I placed the centipede in view of the moonlight.

"Well… let's just say it's the cause of my new appearance."

I reached for the collar of my shirt and pulled it down, revealing the large open gash across my body.

"It was tedious to get it out but luckily for me, I can't feel much pain."

I glanced up at Risa who had a horrified expression on her face.

"I-I can heal it. If you would jus-"

She would get up from her chair but I slammed the table.

"No! You sit down!" I yelled at her.

She froze before hesitantly sitting back down.

"The time I've been here..." I said. "I nearly died two times. This is nothing compared to that."

That time when I fought the pig was the first time and I would've died if Joseph were to have fought me but he willingly let me go.

Risa watched as my gash slowly closed up.

"P-please Naoko, just let me help you."

"Help me? Help me, huh? If you are going to help me, then why didn't you help me earlier? Instead, you chose that mongrel, Cage."

"But that is because you hurt him!"

"He attacked me first, so I did what any normal being would do. It was self-defense, and you would have done the same. Actually, no, you wouldn't have done that. Instead, you would've tried using your words to calm them down."

I got up from my chair and walked around the table.

"I hate that. I hate people who do that. They think everything could be solved with peace, but that's not the solution for everything."

I placed my hand over my left eye and stared at her with my right.

"Victory is decided by strength. Cage may have broken a bone of mine and blinded my left eye, but that is nothing compared to the beatdown I brought onto him. The results were satisfying until you interfered."

"No..."

"Risa, your kindness is great, but one day it will be the end of you."

Risa's eyes were slowly becoming watery as I stood right in front of her.

"Risa, I've come to realize that you will never, and never change because of your kindness."

I watched as tears trailed down her cheek and drop onto the table, staining them with tears. I turned away and approached the door to leave but Risa ran and wrapped her arms around my body.

"No! Please don't leave!"

She said, clinging onto me tightly. I clenched my teeth, wanting her to let go of me. I could also feel it, I could feel her healing me as she clung to me.

"Let go!" I demanded.

"No! Please don't... leave me. I-I'll do anything for you! I'll even leave the king and follow you!"

"But your objective is to bring me back, isn't it?"

"I don't care! You are the only person that I care about! I've only ever wanted to see you and you only!"

Is that so? She did this just to see me? How...

I shook my head and grabbed her shoulders, pushing her away from me.

"If you really care about me, then go back and join the others. Don't ever come across my line of sight again."

Tears continued to stream down her cheeks. I took a deep breath and opened the door. Before I left though, I turned and opened my mouth, saying one last sentence.

"I hate you, Risa. I don't ever want to see your face again."

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