Serial Killer

'Young Lady? Why is he calling me Young Lady?'

Julia was confused by Sou's sudden naming. More than that, she was embarrassed. She knew what kind of boy Sou. He would never call anyone "Young Lady".

"Y-Young L-Lady?!"

"What? First time hearing?"

Student C's face became exceedingly paler than before.

"You won't answer? Fine, then die for trying to do something to Young Lady."

"Ha-Haha! You... You will kill me with a stick?"

"So you were an idiot too..."

"What?!"

"How do you think I cut your hand?"

"M-Magic..."

"Haa..."

Schwing!

The other hand fell to the ground with much lifelessness as the previous one. Student C's screams came out louder than before. He could at least hold his hand before to stop the repulsive bleeding flowing out of his hand, but now that both of his hands were gone, there was no way he could stop soothe the excruciating in his hand, as well as his woeful and painful screams.

"AAAAAAAAGH!!!!!"

"Depending on how you use it, even a stick can be deadly. Didn't your combat instructor teach you that? Or were you busy beating an elf?"

"Aah... ha..."

(Can't even talk anymore huh...)

Three years. Sou used Mana Manipulation on himself for three whole years to a bending extent. The healing rate on him didn't increase but he discovered something that was not hinted at by the system. He could heal others almost at an unbelievable pace. That thing helped him a lot in tortures and stuff.

Sou waved his hand over student C's hands and a gentle green sheet engulfed the cut hands. Student C's body relaxed slowly and his heavy breathing paced slower. The bleeding stopped.

"Wha... Wh..."

Sou picked up the fallen wrists and brought them closer to the healing light. Small tentacle-like structures emerged from the light and tugged to the wrists, pulling them to their initial positions. The wrists touched the cut hands and an intense green light started to surface on the point of contact of the wrists and... poof! The wrists were re-attached and there was not even a single trace of the wrists being cut. But a scum is always a scum. As soon as he felt his hands again, he showed precise movement and took out a pocket knife from his pants and darted it at Sou.

(Now, be the first one to get a taste of my new skill.)

"Nightmare."

A skill he got while reigning terror in the hearts of the ones Sou used to sate his urges. A skill that he never used but knew the effects of it instinctively. 

Woosh!

Student c felt like he was being sucked into a void.

"Huh? Where I am? What is this dark place?"

He looked left and right, up and above, but all he could see was darkness seeping into his eyes endlessly. He tried to get up but he couldn't. He was stuck to some kind of liquid. It was wet, sticky, horrendously smelly, and completely black.

"What the fuck is this?!"

"Betrayal."

"Huh?

"Fragile conscience."

"Who's there?!"

"Distrust."

"Who the fuck are you?!"

"Grief."

"O-Oi!"

"Dried tears."

"Fuck! What the hell's happening?!"

"Power."

"Fu-"

"Kill."

"Wh-"

"Sweet scent of blood."

"This is crazy!"

"Strength..."

"SHUT U-"

"...to..."

"Ha... haa..."

"... crush all."

The space became blood-red.

"W...What is happening here...?"

He slowly turned his head to the back. Someone was standing behind, with multiple stab marks.

"Y-You! Monster!"

He was like a zombie, maybe even worse than a zombie. His movements were hazy and messy. His silver hairs were stained with sorrowful crimson blood. His eyes showed hostility and hate. The dagger he was holding was hideously blood-dyed. His intentions were clear as daylight.

Terror struck student C. He could not think straight anymore. 

"I-I am sorry that I tried to attack your Young Lady! Please spare my life!"

He kowtowed and banged his head on the sticky surface multiple times.

The footsteps stopped.

Student C slowly raised his head with an expectant face and as soon as his lip curved into a grin...

Schwing!

[Reality]

(...that was a pretty good display. I am satisfied.)

"You... killed him?" Julia inquired with visible worry in her voice.

"Hm? Who said I killed him? Did you see me kill him?"

"But you killed him right?''

"I was going to let him off but he crossed the line by attacking me first. He was killed in self-defence. And no one can figure out I killed him since I didn't use any mana."

The chatters were slowly rising.

"Oi, is he dead?"

"Did Eve kill him?"

"How can that be? I didn't sense any mana. And he didn't even move he was attacked. How can he kill him without doing anything."

"That's true but now that he is dead someone has to take the blame."

"Who will take the blame?"

"Eve. Who else?"

"Yeah. He should be the one to take responsibility."

(Haa... humans never get tired of taking the easy route out.)

"I see that you lot are talking was too much. Shut up before I blow your brains."

"..."

"What the hell are you talkin' about, brat?!"

"You can't take us all!"

"Piss off, brat!"

"Brat, you should go and shove up your head in your mama's ass!"

Some foolish adventurers who claimed to be 'veterans' emerged from the murmuring crowds and stood haughtily in front of Sou.

A throbbing vein popped around his neck. His eyes turned deadly and murderous.

(Haa... I didn't want to do this.)

Sou's shadow fizzled and two figures materialized from it and instantly disappeared before anyone could take a hint.

With Julia gone, there was no one to stop him anymore. And with the barrier up, Sou was going to enjoy every moment now.

"Come out, Drago."

Julia was confused. 'Drago?'

Sou's shadow stirred violently and the ground shook in anger. Everyone became scared and horror spread through the masses.

"W-What is happening?!"

"Earthquake?! Is it an earthquake?!"

Panic quickly replaced their anger and arrogance. The fainted ones woke up by the violent shaking. Hue and cry spread and everyone ran here and there.

A barrier of a radius of 1km stood up.

Sou moved towards Julia, his shadow still fluctuating and extending. He put his hand on Julia's waist and pulled her closer to his warm body. "I am sorry for my behavior, Young Lady."

"W-Wah!"

They jumped to the night sky.

They were high up in the sky. The moon was shining in its full brilliance, they were too. It was beautiful, beyond beautiful. Like a princess taking shelter under her prince's warm wraps, Julia welcomed Sou.

Silver scales emerged from Sou's extended shadow. A creature, too majestic to be called a beast, too powerful to be called a monster- it was our friendly neighborhood Dragon, Drago.

"ROARRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!"

"A Dragon?!"

"Yeah, he is my summon."

Drago let out a chuckle. "The name's Drago, Young Lady."

'Dragons... mystical beings who are said to be seen only in the North Peaks. How does a 10-year-old have a Dragon?'

"Don't think about it too much. You won't find the answer."

Both of their feet landed on Drago's scaly back.

"Woah! Look at that! It's a Dragon!"

Everyone was ecstatic at the sight of an actual dragon flapping its wings.

While everyone was busy admiring the scene, a voice, amplified by magic, resounded throughout the barrier.

"Do you all really have the time to admire? I told you to shut up."

Pop! Pop! Pop!

Bodies fell one after another randomly. Their brains sprawled on the ground like spaghetti.

"Ah... a nostalgic scene."

Don't know what he is talking about? Go and read the first 10 chapters.

"Kyaaah!!"

"M-Monster!"

(Do they lack vocabulary?)

"Freak!"

(Finally a new name.)

After a few more bodies, the killing stopped.

"If what happened here gets out, I swear on my life that I will make your deaths as painful as possible. Keep that in mind."

With that, Drago flapped his wings hard and disappeared. Not lying, he actually disappeared after flying for a bit. It was just that it was he who disappeared, not Sou and Julia.

Both of them landed on a deserted area.

"Young lady, are you alright?"

"Stop calling me 'Young Lady'."

"Ah, sorry. I was too into it."

"Why did you kill them?"

"You didn't like it?"

"How could I?"

"I thought you liked it."

"So, why did you kill them?"

"The ones I killed were brutes who rape women every day and serial killers who enjoy killing for fun without any restraints."

"So, in that sense, you are also a serial killer."

"Why do you say so?"

"You are grinning like a madman."

Yes, at this point, Sou could be called a serial killer and the system wholeheartedly agrees with me.

Tring!

{You have been granted the title of 'Serial Killer'}

-Increase all stats temporarily by 1000 as the user's enjoyment increases while killing.

(I really am a serial killer...)

***