Diamond shopping

***

Running down the stairs, I ran towards the kitchen. A backpack on my back and four in my hands. To the left corridor, thereafter to the door I slammed yesterday because of a mere harmless mouse!

Down the hidden iron entry on the floor. 

The last one to enter the hidden stairway made of the same black marble as the outer walls of the castle's downer part wasn't me, but it was the one who took my backpacks from behind. Entering, he had closed the door. Whispering magical words as he did. 

*"&& &%%%¤¤ &% %%"

'He really is a reliable dog.' A chuckle left my mouth as I cast a glance at his focused face. Well, worthy as my role husband model, I guess! He glared at me from the corner of his eyes.

"What are you laughing at?"

His voice wasn't friendly, so I gave him a censured answer. 

"You are like a reliable fairy king!"

"Sigh..."

I knew he liked to get flattered, and that is why I tried entering through flattery, but Angel's reaction differed from the cheerful Angel of my distance memories. 

"What's wrong?"

"What is not wrong? What's the point of being a reliable fairy king that can't even protect his queen... I don't even know if Gold has enough water to drink!"

I cast him, who effortlessly summoned another wine, a disdainful glare. How can someone be so talented and powerful, yet stupid and oblivious?

Angel, who sensed my glare, responded with a guilty free stare.

"What? Can't I even drink to forget how powerless I am??! "

I narrowed my eyes, shaking my head with disdain. It's really wonderful how he has managed getting to this age!

Seeing this, Angel angrily sent the bottle back!

"Happy now? You know people's great grandchildren actually gift wine to them and mine doesn't even let me drink my wine?"

"Huff!"

"What!???"

"You just took that wine from your castle where your wife is!"

"Yeah that damned wine was with Gold, but not me!!"

Wow, he really doesn't get it.

"And you sent it back there, where your wife is!!"

"Yeah, the lucky wine!"

"That means you can send him water and notes too!!"

"Yeah, do you have to spread salt on my wound? Water and notes are luckier than I am!"

Shaking my head again, I continued going down the stairway. It looked just like in my memories. The visions really are horrifyingly accurate. 

"Wait a minute... I can send her food and notes!!! Haha! I am a genius!"

It was about time; he realized... What did he mean by the last part?

My head turned to him unconsciously as I looked at him with narrowed eyes, trying to telepathy the only word describing him at the moment: "Shameless!"

At the end of the stairs, there was a circular hall as big as the entire buildings area. The circular hall contained 8 doors, each door adorned with unique patterns and in different colors. Doors that should not get approached lightly. 

Seeing how engrossed in writing what seemed a long love letter Angel was, I got worried about how to manage everyone. 

However, no one seemed to approach anything. Meaning either someone had instructed them not to, or all of them had what is called a conscience. Something everyone in my family has long sold, together with family love.

The second one seemed more plausible with the understanding I had of this love sick senile. The enthusiasm in Mr. Jerald's starry eyes as he looked closely at one door, a sign proving my judgment. As if bound by a spell, the blacksmith was about to stroke the patterns on the door.

Rashing, I dragged his enormous body away from the door. These doors were bad news. We had never crossed these doors, me and Angel. 

"Whoever touches these doors will get cursed by the guardian." 

That was the only time he had ever talked in a serious tone.

"Have you gone crazy? Just one touch and all of us would have an appointment with Hades!" I exaggerated like my mom would if she were here. Going the EASIER path...

"DAWN! If you ever talk about these creatures ever again, you will get sent to a mental hospital! Got it?"

Unlike my childhood self, the old man actually became sullen and started pouting.

"Tsk! So stingy!" 

 I was about to ask him what does my plea of not kill us all have with me being stingy that suddenly a crowd appeared out of nowhere. Blood covered creatures in human shape. Everyone went on guard but one person.

Right guess! That one wasn't me. It was the love-stricken, unreliable dog. I glanced at him, only to find him still writing. Disappointed, I tried for the children's sake to be brave.

"W- who are you all?" 

My voice shook with surprise. Almost a thousand people had appeared out of thin air. Looking very hostile. To where, when feeling their glares, I reflexively raised my hands in the air...

The uninvited guests bore weapons. All kinds of them. Everything from gun to irone pipes. From irone shards to fire and from fire to water. It looked just like a scene out of an action fantasy movie, but with one specific different.

They were in all age ranges. From someone looking to be in their nineties to children looking as young as Turquoise. Some were wearing school uniforms, high school uniforms.

I recognized the school. They were from the high school Lucas was going to enter. The one next to the Diamond mall. 

Grandfather Bright's mall. Containing everything from luxury item brands to banks, beauty parlors to hospitals, tutoring classes to universities and jewelry shops to grocery shops. A mall he was very proud of buying. A place everyone went. From rich to poor.

Somewhere that could make you feel small or big. A cold-hearted place where the unfortunate met the fortunate one.

A place full of self loath and loathing. Where you learn to survive your own way.

The upper fiftieth floors were luxury boutiques I couldn't afford, even with my six-figure slavery salary at the hospital. Seven months ago, I went there accompanying Destiny, who worked at the hospital on the first floor.

We visited all the boutiques on the upper floors, so well as the ones on the lower floors. She bought a diamond set from the hundreds floor. I bought a ramen from the minus twenty second floor.

The look of pity on her face was my third to most ultimate reason to accept grandfather's not so obvious trap. My hope of her taking a pity and actually helping me in buying a birthday present for grandmother the second to most and her refusal to buy a joint present the absolute ultimate.

Since then, I avoided to be in Diamond shopping's hundred kilometers radius. Even if I had to go around the city to get to my destination.

With a little search, I saw the familiar posture. White uniform, confident silver eyes and golden hair drenched in blood. She was always like that. Shining brightly like the sun. Destiny stood out even in the middle of the crowd as she did a cardiac arrest rescue. 

[ Reading target information:

Name: Destiny Miracle Bright

Age: 30-]

'I didn't really mean I want to know her information.' I thought while pressing my eyes tightly shut. As I felt my entire body pulsing with insanity, Angel's voice filled my ears. Sternly commanding.

"Give me the house inheritance." 

"How did you..." 

Confused with a pulsing brain, I was about to ask a stupid question. This house used to be his, after all. My brain didn't work.

'Transfer the house of remembrance.' 

[System warning!

Transfer failed because of the user not being in their right mind.]

"It doesn't work..." I said tiredly as I massaged my temples. Angel didn't seem all that surprised.

"Temporary share of ownership..."

I did as he asked me to. Not bearing to take any responsibility for anyone around here. Not even for me. Angel is good. He was always reliable and rational. A king ruling on these lands, someone not affected by the now lullaby like whispers.

Someone who could be cruel for the greater good. An individual able to protect the scared and on guard children behind me. When I am at it, I will transfer those shackles too. The contracts that has became leashes to the small beasts. 

Contracts I can't break because of my hypocrisy, but could get those innocent kids killed in this cruel world. 

[Angel Glacies the Miracle refused four contract transfers.] I saw through my shaking eyes. 

'Null all of four... '

I did some overthinking. Since this world has gone enough crazy to suit those children, why should I hold them back from hurting others? After all, I prefer them to hurt others than them being the ones getting hurt. 

[Warning your curse of remembrance is ongoing! Warning: the subject has overused their mana and mentality. Abnormal mana deficiency, abnormal magic deficiency, you are fainting!]

The last thing I heard before blackening into those torturous visions was Angel's clear voice. Asking where these people had emerged from.