Epiphany
In front of me, I see a fully white in color, wide two-story building, with two columns near the entrance and a flag on top of its mansard roof. On both of its sides are two columns of neatly trimmed oval-like trees reaching until a large circular fountain directly in front of the city hall. A statue of a person with a solemn look on his face wearing what I assume to be a bygone military uniform can be seen on top of a pedestal in the middle of both structures.
All around me, food vendors selling their food, friends frolicking around, and people wearing strange costumes can be seen living their everyday lives. I was a bit overwhelmed as it has been more than 4 years since I last saw a crowd as large as this.
"Quite the crowd right?"
Beside me, Head Priest Juan spoke out while eyeing the place with a nostalgic look on his face.
"Is it always like this in front of the City Hall?"
"I guess so. Though I haven't been here for the past six years, the last time I checked the crowd then was fewer than the crowd now." He said and continued, "Nevermind that, let's register your quirk now, shall we?"
After nodding my head, Head Priest Juan led the way to the doors and we stepped inside.
Inside, I look around and notice that the place is more spacious than I thought. At the far end of the place, a bifurcated staircase can be seen leading to the second floor while directly in front of it is another statue, this time with plants in pots surrounding it. Directly beside of it is a reception desk where two women wearing office uniforms can be seen. On the other side of the wall is an elevator where people can be seen entering and exiting.
After asking the two receptionists, we make our way to the halls as we try to find the place they pointed us to.
Five minutes later, after asking the other workers passing by we finally arrive at an open field behind the city hall. Seeing a large tent on the grass field with the sign 'QUIRK REGISTRY HERE' written above it, we make our way there.
As we were making our way towards them, the two people, a man and a woman, greeted us while stuffing away the food that they were eating.
"Good afternoon sirs, getting your son registered?" Asked the woman while staring at Head Priest Juan before looking at me.
Before Head Priest Juan can answer, I said,
"I'm not his son. It isn't possible."
"Isn't possible? Why is that?" The man questioned, intrigued.
"Because he's a virgin."
"...."
After awkwardly staring at each other for a few more seconds, the two people looked at Head Priest Juan with a mixture of pity and admiration. Pity is more prevalent though.
"Don't look at me like that! It's not like what you think, It's because I'm a priest dammit!"
"A priest...? Oh you mean like the healer ones in games?" The man questioned, genuinely.
"Not those you idiot, what he means is that he works at a church." The woman said mockingly to the man.
Hearing those were words and seeing her gaze, the man got a bit annoyed and muttered,
"Who are you calling an idiot; you mosquito bite woman?"
Hearing that, the woman instinctively covered her small breasts and bellowed out angrily,
"What did you say you one inch baby carrot?!"
"You...!"
While the couple bantered with each other, I thought about their words from earlier. If even someone from a city hall don't know about priests, then the Religion situation here in the Philippines is worse than I initially thought. Or the man's just an idiot.
Well we still celebrate Christmas so it might not be that bad.
Not like it changes anything for me anyway.
After ruminating for a bit, it looks like the couple already calmed down.
"Apologies for my colleague's disgraceful behavior, sir. It appears that she's on her period today." The man said while wiping his now sweaty face with a handkerchief.
"You...!"
Just as they were going to banter again, Head Priest Juan coughed loudly.
"Can we please just register his quirk?"
After looking at each other with a look that says, 'this isn't over', they nodded their heads.
"Kid, do you know how to read and write?" The man said while handing me a piece of paper with the words 'Quirk Registry'.
Nodding my head, I took the piece of paper and began to write with the pen that I found on the side of the table.
"Head Priest Juan."
"Mhn?"
"What should I write for my surname? Do I write our orphanage's title?"
"...Do you want to have a politician's name as your surname?"
"No..."
"Just leave it blank then."
***
After registering my quirk, we are now eating at a nearby restaurant for lunch. As it was the first time in a long while that I ate in a restaurant, I made sure to savor each and every grain of rice that came into my mouth.
"...Why are you crying? Is there something in the food?" Said Head Priest Juan, who is currently sitting in front of me.
"It's just too delicious Head Priest Juan!" I said with my mouth still full.
"Hahaha, too bad you won't get to eat something like this anymore then~"
Are you a demon?
***
"Stay in this room for a while okay? I'm just going to visit a friend of mine to catch up."
"Yes, Head Priest Juan. At what time will you come back by the way?"
We are currently in a hotel that Grandma Lola apparently booked for us beforehand. Luckily, this small hotel is in an inconspicuous space, so the demand is low.
"About 10 pm, why do you need to know?" He said as he squinted his eyes slightly.
"Nothing, just so I can greet you when you come back."
Hearing that, Head Priest Juan relaxed his brows as a gentle smile appeared on his face and was just about to pinch my cheeks when,
*PAH*
I slapped his hand.
"Ouch, that stung you know~ Are you really that embarrassed~?" He teased.
"No. I don't want old men to touch me."
"..."
***
After Head Priest Juan left, I waited for around 15 minutes to see if he would come back. During those 15 minutes, I formulate a plan on how to get my level up. It's currently 2pm and Head priest Juan won't come back until 8 hours later, so I have a lot of time on my hands right now.
Exactly 15 minutes later, I pick up the keys to the window inside a cabinet beside one of the single-sized beds. Turning off the television, I open the window to see the wonderful view... of a building's wall.
I jump out of the window, landing at the middle of a small spiral staircase leading up to the roof of the three-story hotel. After locking the window, I made my way down the staircase.
As the hotel we picked was located in a small cluster of buildings, I made sure to stick pieces of tape on the walls in order to not get lost in this maze-like alleyway that I find myself in. Not only tape, I also bought with me a backpack filled with what I thought was essential for my little expedition. Inside of my small backpack is: A small first-aid kit, a handkerchief, a kitchen knife, some snacks, and two wine bottles that I emptied in the bathroom of our room. All of the items are from the hotel that we're staying on. With all these items, it wouldn't take a genius to find out that I'm going to fight.
Back at the orphanage, about a week before coming here to this city; the day after I received the system, I tried all sorts of things to find out what the system meant by 'opportunities to benefit from'. From helping in chores to playing with the kids, I concluded that what the system meant by 'opportunities to benefit from' was to accomplish something hard to do or to do something that may have the risk of taking my life by a certain percentage. Though I didn't find any opportunities like those, now that I'm in a shady alleyway of a big city, I'm certain I will encounter an opportunity or two.
And sure enough, after about half an hour of walking and sticking tape, I finally found one.
*ding*
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[ //Mission Detected - 'Human Traffickers'// ]
-Objective: Kill the three Human Traffickers.
-Reward: {3 levels}, {3000 coins}
-Failure: Death/become a slave
-Refuse: Nothing
[Will you accept?-{Y/N}]
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As I expected, I have to kill people.
Ever since I requested Zentros my bloodline, quirk, and system, I have been preparing myself for a day like this.
A day for me to finally start the path that I chose to tread on.
***
In my previous life, I was an ambitionless person.
I was just going with the flow, not really taking things seriously. But I was fine with that.
I had some friends, embarrassing moments, a few achievements, and I even had a girlfriend.
Life was fun.
But now that I think back upon my old life; now that I have experienced what it is like to live another life with different circumstances, I finally understood why I didn't really have any regrets in regards to my past life.
It was because the life I lived was not one can call a life at all.
Due to my decent upbringing, I took things for granted and let myself get taken by the flow. I always stayed in my comfort zone and never even bothered to get out of it.
Only now in my recent life, where I experienced a life out of my comfort zone did I finally realize how fortunate I was in my previous life. Only now, did I realize that the relationships I had in my previous life were only shallow ones that can shatter anytime.
That was why, now that I'm given another chance, I swore to myself to live my life to its fullest.