The Unexpected Twist (2)

"Shall we have a talk? Just you and I?" The ice cold voice echoed

As I met with his empty golden eyes that emanated a suffocating pressure, I uncontrollably shuddered

"…" I slowly and hesitantly nodded and try to compose myself.

"Great, follow me… let's not waste any time…" His lip curled up in satisfaction, but eyes remained empty and was not smiling at all

Shin then proceeded to make his way outside of the restaurant and turned the corner into a dark alley way

I followed him cautiously, still trying to think of the many possibilities of why he would act like this

'It's not about me being an anomaly of his regression is it…?'

As we entered the dark alleyway, Shin gazed around around before opening his mouth

[Eternal Mimicry - Sound Barrier]

Immediate a transparent barrier was form around us

[Eternal Mimicry - Veil of Concealment]

Then suddenly another transparent barrier was erected around us

[Eternal Mimicry - Spatial Inventory]

Immediately a long 2 meter jet-black spear with golden runes running across its body, exerting a demonic aura suddenly manifested in Shin's hands

My heart began to race as he raised the spear graciously and pointed the spear-tip at my throat, but made efforts not let the surprise show on my face.

I could feel the demonic aura's desire to devour my soul whole

"I'll get straight to the point… who are you…?" He asked in a ice cold tone

"Huh…?" I unconciously blurted out

"You knew about the demon's plan, correct?"

"What do you mean?"

"I was observing the entire time… you, as soon Eliss, Mia, and Jun-seo walked in, you decided to head to the back and conceal yourself in a position where you could observe the battle, not only that, during the battle, you were aware of the demon's weak point, and attacked it with deadly accuracy, a knowledge that shouldn't have exist at this time.." Shin answered as he pressed the spear-tip against my throat

"Wait, hold on, slow down, how would I know about the demon's plan? And weak point? What are you talking about?" I denied his accusation as I broke into cold sweat internally

'Fuck,' I cursed inwardly. This is a situation that may be quite difficult to get out of. Worst case scenario, I get out of it with my head no longer intact with my body.

"There's no point in feigning ignorance…" suddenly my heart dropped once again as I witness his golden eyes shifted to that of deep mystic blue, "My eyes can discern all lies…"

[Eternal Mimicry - Eyes of Truth]

'Eyes of Truth… but… he shouldn't have this Skill by now… or unless…'

My prediction was wrong. He has regressed over 700 times by now…

Now with that Skill, Eye of Truth, there's no escaping this, is there…

"So, you were saying, you were testing me the entire time?"

"More or less, yes, I was testing you."

"Are you serious? She could've gotten fucking killed, asshole!!" I shouted

"It doesn't matter, I was able to discern that your existence is a threat to me, to us, and that's enough…" Shin spoke with a indifferent tone, "And let's not get sidetracked, shall we? We don't have much time, after all, tell me what you know, and your identity."

"…"

"Well? Answer my question, or do want to relish the taste of death right here, right now…? you know I have the power to do that."

"Then, answer my question" I raised my eyes to meet with his, "How many times does this make, Shin?"

"I don't think you are aware of your position to hold in this 'conversation', I'll ask you again, and please answer honestly and hastily, who are you, Jin Shinpei? and what is your purpose?" Shin said as the demonic energy of his spear began to rage

I was scared, afraid, I was clueless on the action I should take next.

But that was just a mere lie. I knew the only action in which I can take that maybe could gave me a slim chance of survival. It was decision in which I wished would've appear much more later.

However, If I wanted to get out of this alive, I must do it.

To this, I looked him dead into the eyes and calmly smiled, "I'm sorry, I might've not been cleared with my question earlier, let me rephrase that…"

"How many times have you experience the [Absolute Reset]? Shin, the Regressor?"

"W-what?" His deep mystic eyes immediately lost its color and reverted back to the original gold as it widened to the limit.

Suddenly, Shin swiftly grabbed me by the throat and slammed my body and embedded it into the wall of the alleyway

"You, who are you…?" Shin seethed in anger

"Kr-..arg…ahh… I-I… am… a-a p-pro-phet…" I tried to muster a smile.

It was not a lie, I knew the future of this world.

Shin activated Eyes of Truth, before tightening him grip in anger, "A Prophet…"

He knew about an existence of a prophet. That hatred. He seem to have suffer under the hands of a prophet more times than he can count. This only serves to further confirm my new prediction.

[Wind Mimicry]

Swoosh

With the whistling of howling winds, my body shifted and escaped his grip and retreated a couple of steps away

Shin immediately grabbed his spear, [Undying Gluttony], tightly before thrusting the spear-tip forward at my heart with deadly accuracy.

"I can cause eyes of the Origin to descend upon this world, if that's what you wish…" The [Undying Gluttony] directly pass through my heart, but I sustained no damage as my heart has already became one with the wind.

"What… did you say…?" Shin uttered in disbelief

His mystic blue Eyes of Truth trembled…

"But… that would not ideal for both of our fate… as I am also avoiding the eyes of Origin, so in a way we are 'similar'" I continued meeting his gaze, "I am a prophet, and I am on your side, Shin…"

Shin continued to stare at me with his Eyes of Truth still active

It's now or never…

"Let's make a deal."

"A deal?"

"I shall assist you to the best of my ability in shadows, in exchange, you shall fullfill this purpose of yours…" I proposed

"You are aware of my purpose…?"

"Yes, more or less, and I am aware of your ability [Eternal Mimicry]" I answered more than necessary, hoping to gain a bit more trust from him before extending my hand, "if you are still skeptical, we can create a soul contract, between you and I, when we find one"

"What is your goal here…?"

"My goals… huh?"

"My goal is simple, I just wish to witness the end of your journey, and maybe find true happiness for myself," I answered

"…" silence descended on both of us for what seem like eternity

"Alright…" After confirming my words as the truth, although still a bit skeptical, he took my hand indicating his agreement to the deal, "But, be warned, I shall show no mercy if you were to get in my way without a valid reason"

"Understood." My face remain indifferent yet I felt the cold chills ran down my spine when his bloodlust spiked

But it went well, I guess, well not really, but I did manage to dodge a bullet called Death

"As for your earlier question…"

"Huh?"

"I am Shin of the 726th round" his voice echoed within the barrier

"I see…" I muttered in a barely audible volume, "I am Jin Shinpei, the Prophet, pleased to be working with you"

"May the tiny specks of hope and trust I place upon you grow even further, just don't betray me, that's all I am asking for…" Shin said as he cancelled the Sound Barrier and Veil of Concealment

"I guess I shall look forward to the day we can consider each other as true companions…"

Suddenly I heard footsteps coming towards the our direction

"Ah! There you are!" Mia exclaimed as she found us in the alleyway

"Oh… and you too…" she muttered in a barely audible tone as her gaze fell upon me

'Sorry that I'm an eye sore, but couldn't you at least hide your discontent in front of the one who basically just save your asses' I rolled eyes internally, 'I swear, the audacity of the people in this world…'

Well, technically Shin saved us all, but my point still stands.

"What is it?" Shin asked

"The King of Alys is asking for your presences"

"Oh…" I muttered before patting Shin's back and said, "I'll let you handle that, make sure my name isn't mentioned…", and started walking away.

"Now hold on a minute…" Shin grabbed the back of my collar, "you're also coming with me…"

You know, I'm really starting to consider the whole idea of starting a probability storm and summoning the Origin at this point

Like stop grabbing me every 2 seconds, you regressing fuck

"Haa, you fool, did you already forget about our deals? I am the shadow, and you are the light."

[Wind Mimicry]

My body dispersed into the wind, escaping his grip, then I completely vanished without a trace in front of their eyes.

"What was that about?" Mia asked.

"…"

"Shin…?"

"Nothing much, let's go…"

"Right…"

—-

"Huuu…" I heaved an exhausting sigh as I sunk on to the bed

I was careless, truly careless…

And my plan that I constructed all fell apart after my conversation with Shin.

"To think it was Shin has experienced the [Absolute Reset] 726 times already…"

But, it was weird… if it was truly Shin of the 726th round…

'Why didn't he eliminate me in our first meeting…?'

There is certainly many secrets I am not aware of… and there would be many more if I wasn't able to steer the event of this round back to its original storyline

'That should be my priority…'

But now, my deal with Shin and possibly my association with the main characters would most likely become the greatest anomaly that would prevent me from achieving that goal.

But I have to, or else witnessing the Epilogue would just be an unreachable dream

'Alright, first of all let's read the entire story again…'

I silently decided as I opened up Worthless Honor story text, and immediately a transparent system window screen manifested out of thin air

And I nonchalantly read through it, making sure to not miss even a single detail…

'Cause if I do, what rights do I have in calling myself a reader…'

—-

"This feel so shit…" I muttered under my breath as I rested my head on the table

"You seem tired, what's wrong?" Shin asked

"I don't know, just thinking about a certain motherfucker that's sitting next to me is making me want to just drop dead that this moment"

"…"

"…"

"Asshole…"

"The feeling is mutual…"

"I know…"

"By the way, why are you still sitting here anyways…?" I raised a question.

"I can't?"

"No, it's just you're being way too clingy dude, I don't recall any prophecy of you swinging the other way…"

"I don't, can't I just get to know my Comrade of Time better?" He smiled as he nudged my sides

"Your facade looks utterly foolish in my eyes…" I murmured in an audible voice.

Shin went slient causing the noise and conversation between us to wither away completely.

"You really are way too cautious of Prophets, aren't you" I muttered in a low tone

"I have to…"

"Would me telling you one truth be enough to ease your worry?" I suddenly asked.

"What do you mean." He gazed at me, his golden eyes distorted to that of mystical blue.

"Don't you remember? Eva Varon was never meant to be your enemy."

"…"

I sighed, "Go sit with the others already, they're your comrades, aren't they? I told you before, I will only support you from the shadow to the best of my ability, drawing the lights towards me would only do more harms than goods…"

"…"

"I'll tell you the details later…" I promised him. "After all, this is not an ideal location, there may be lurking dangers that can cause another anomaly if we are not careful."

"Fine… I'll get out of your sight…" Shin heaved a sigh before making his way to the seating of main character trio

"Hey," a voice echoed out behind me.