Chapter 26

For a moment, the world remained still, the air seemed to vibrate. And from seemingly nowhere, a blade pierced the space between the two women, forcing Number 11 to jump away.She looked up to see a beaten-up boy with a common wooden sword in hand. "I'm sorry I'm late," Arthur said, his voice steady despite his injuries.Number 11 smirked, wiping blood from her mouth. "Another one? This is getting tiresome."Arthur didn't respond with words. Instead, he moved, his wooden sword a blur as he attacked. Number 11 dodged and countered, but Arthur's movements were precise, fueled by a determination that seemed to grow with every strike.Their battle was fierce, each blow reverberating through the air. Arthur's wooden sword, though simple, seemed to possess a power that matched Number 11's raw strength. He blocked her attacks with ease, his counterattacks swift and relentless. For every move she made, Arthur had a response."You're good," Number 11 admitted, her breathing heavy. "But not good enough."She lunged at Arthur, aiming a deadly blow at his chest. Arthur parried her strike, twisting his body to deliver a powerful kick to her midsection. Number 11 staggered back, her eyes wide with shock.What the fuck was happening right now? Why was a normal human string enough to face a system user?Taking advantage of her momentary disorientation, Arthur pressed on, his sword movements flowing seamlessly. With a final, decisive strike, he attacked Number 11, ending with a blade to her neck.Amaya watched in shock, wasn't that too easy? How was he about to beat her?"You lose," Arthur said, his voice calm but firm.Number 11 fell to her knees, clutching her side in pain. "Impossible..." she muttered, disbelief etched on her face. He was a nobody, a background character, how on earth did he learn that sword technique!Amaya watched in awe as Arthur stood over the defeated Number 11. Her system suddenly buzzed to life.╔══ஓ๑♡๑ஓ══╗

System Notice

Detected: Queen Maker System

Initiating absorption?

Yes/No

╚══ஓ๑♡๑ஓ══╝

She sucked in a breath, the Queen maker system. Judging from the name her system was like a mothering system, allowing her to raise a protagonist, a 'Queen'.'If you absorb the system what will happen to her?'[Her existence will lose purpose.]Amaya felt a bit afraid, if system users could eat other systems then if Arthur didn't come just now she would cease to exist for good.╔══ஓ๑♡๑ஓ══╗System NoticeDetected: Queen Maker

SystemInitiating absorption?

Yes/No╚══ஓ๑♡๑ஓ══╝

Amaya felt a strange sensation as her system began to absorb Number 11's Queen Maker System. The process was agonizingly slow at first, but then it intensified. Number 11's eyes widened in horror as she realized what was happening. A blood-curdling scream tore through the air as her body began to contort and twist."No! This can't be happening!" she shrieked, her voice filled with sheer terror. Her body started to tear apart, fragments of her being sucked into an invisible vortex. Her limbs twisted unnaturally, and her flesh seemed to disintegrate, collapsing in on itself.Amaya watched in a mix of horror and fascination as Number 11's existence was literally torn apart. The Queen Maker System fought to resist the absorption, but Amaya's system overpowered it, consuming it completely.As Number 11's final scream echoed and faded into the night, her form was reduced to nothingness, leaving no trace behind. The information from the Queen Maker System flooded Amaya's mind, revealing its purpose.'I see..' She said bitterly, it explained a lot. How did Chiyo know to get those pictures in advance? Why was she propped up so well, why was Number 11 insistent on killing her. It's because of her system - the Queen maker system allows it's user to choose the protagonist, Amaya should have died from the bullying, so she would never have been a problem, and yet she was walking around causing trouble everywhere, naturally, number 11 would be pissed. If things went as planned, Chiyo and Hiroshi's engagement would have been the stepping stone for her to become an underworld queen. Lucas and Amaya were merely a side characters in Number 11's original plan. The magnitude of what she had just done settled over her, but there was no time to dwell on it. She turned her focus back to Lucas, determined to ensure his safety."Arthur," she called out, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. "I need to help Lucas."Arthur nodded, understanding. He watched as Amaya bought a 5000-point health potion from her system and carefully fed it to Lucas. Slowly, the colour returned to Lucas's face, and his breathing steadied.Arthur approached her, concern etched on his face. "Amaya, use it on yourself too. You're badly hurt."Amaya shook her head. "Lucas shouldn't be involved in all this. He has a family to protect. I want to return him safe and sound."Arthur noticed the change in Amaya. "You've changed," he said softly. In the short moment he was away, what could possibly have happened to make her sound so defeated?Amaya gave a small, sad smile."Lucas," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Thank you for everything. I.." she choked, how should she apologize to him for dragging him into this. "You can live a normal life. Graduate, go to university, be someone happy and successful." She was just a traveler, she would be gone anyway.With a heavy heart, Amaya asked her system to wipe Lucas's memories of her.[Insufficient funds. Are you willing to go into debt?]'Yes.'╔══ஓ๑♡๑ஓ══╗

System Notice

Memory wipe initiated.

Debt incurred: 10,000 points

╚══ஓ๑♡๑ஓ══╝

·͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙A day later, Amaya sat in the living room, watching the news on the large flat-screen TV mounted on the wall. The news anchor was discussing a skirmish between members of an organisation called Mamuchi. The anchor's voice was calm and measured, describing the violence and chaos that had erupted in the city. Amaya listened intently, but to her relief, her name was not mentioned. The camera panned over scenes of destruction: shattered windows, overturned cars, and bloodstains on the pavement. It was clear that the conflict had been brutal.As the segment ended, the door to the living room opened, and Mr. Suzuki walked in, his presence commanding as always. He noticed Amaya's contemplative expression and approached her, his footsteps echoing softly on the hardwood floor."Dad," Amaya began, turning to face him, "is it you pulling the strings behind this?" The news had focused solely on Mamuchi ignoring the students completely.Mr. Suzuki nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips. "I couldn't allow anyone to harm my daughter and think they could get away with it." Amaya felt strange, she expected to suffer more consequences, but was it really this easy? This background, Chiyo should have had it, a supportive dad who would turn a blind eye to anything you did. "I want to finish what I started. I want to kill off Mamuchi." Her hate for them was now too strong, even if she did not have the strength she would train till her body shattered if she could beat them. Her father's smile widened, a mixture of pride and something darker in his eyes. "I am very proud of you, Amaya. You have grown strong and resilient. But understand this: an organization that had the audacity to hurt my own flesh and blood is destined to die at my hands."The realisation of her father's true power and influence sent a chill down Amaya's spine. She had always known he was formidable, but hearing him speak with such cold certainty made her fully grasp just how scary he could be. Unbeknownst to them, Chiyo was standing just outside the door, listening to their conversation. Her hands clenched into fists, and tears streamed down her cheeks as she heard Mr. Suzuki praise Amaya. Her 'father's' words cut deep, a reminder of the affection and approval she had never received. Her heart ached with a bitterness that had been festering for years.Her heart burned with rage. Her father had never told her he was proud of her, had never shown her the same love and attention he now lavished on Amaya. Despite taking her in as a stepdaughter, he had always been distant, neglectful. And now, just because his real daughter had returned, he had completely thrown her away. She hated her with a passion, why did she receive everything she had worked hard for? Was it because she could fight? Because she was a thug?Chiyo stormed off, everything she tried to do had backfired; nothing was working. Was a father's love for his daughter truly this strong? Why didn't she have love like that? What was she lacking? Her thoughts were an amalgamation of anger, jealousy, and despair.She stumbled into her room, closing the door behind her. The walls seemed to close in on her, suffocating her with their silence. She reached for her phone, her fingers trembling, but there was no one for her to call. She sank to the floor, clutching her phone to her chest, and wept. The sobs wracked her body, each one a painful reminder of her isolation. She had tried so hard to be perfect, to earn her father's love, but it had all been in vain. The tears fell freely, a torrent of sorrow that she couldn't control. She cried for the love she had never known, for the acceptance she had always craved but never received. If a parent truly cared for their children, then there would be no sad children in this world. ·͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙Jean stood at the airport, holding the forget-me-not charm in his hand. He watched the news on a nearby screen, showing images of bodies found after the gang war. He wondered what had happened, he prayed silently they were ok, he wanted to fight alongside them but he was truly useless. He looked around the airport, hoping to see them, but there was no one there to see him off. "Young master, it's time to leave." Jean nodded at the guard's voice before standing up. "Jean!" The sound of his name being called made him turn swiftly, and then he saw her. Her arm in a sling running towards him with red swollen eyes. She was alive, she won! "Onee-chan.." He muttered, his heart melting in happiness, she had come to see him off. She stopped in front of him, panting, and used her free hand to take his hand. "Live life fully. Don't do anything stupid. Hopefully, we can meet again!" 'Stay alive! Please!' If it is in her power, she would come back to see him again. Jean who wasn't much of a crier, felt in that moment he would have cried if he didn't want to look so childish in her eyes. "Alright, I will be someone stronger, when I come back, no one will be able to hurt you or Lucas-nii. " His words might have been merely child talk to her, but to him, he meant everything. ·͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙In a dimly lit room adorned with traditional Japanese decor, the remaining top members of the Mamuchi organisation convened. The air was thick with tension and the scent of incense. Around a large, rectangular table sat nine men and women, each exuding an aura of power and authority. "Where is Number 1?" asked Number 3, a tall man with a scar running down his left cheek. "He never shows up. It's like he doesn't care what happens to us.""He's probably just as pissed as we are," replied Number 6, a woman with sharp eyes and a cold demeanour. "Number 11 is dead, and the Suzuki family is getting involved. This is serious."Number 4, a burly man with a deep voice, slammed his fist on the table. "How did we not realise that the Suzuki daughter was involved? We've been blindsided. And now we're left to deal with this mess."Number 7, a younger man with an air of arrogance, shook his head. "We underestimated her. We thought she was just another brat. But she's proven to be more dangerous than we anticipated.""We need to come up with a plan," said Number 5, an older woman with a calculating gaze. "The Suzuki family's involvement changes everything. We can't afford any more mistakes."As they debated their next steps, the door to the room burst open. The room fell silent, and all eyes turned to the entrance. Mr. Secretary, dressed in his impeccable black suit, walked in with an air of calm authority. The members of Mamuchi looked up, their expressions a mix of surprise and recognition.Number 2, a man with a stern face and silver hair spoke up. "What are you doing here?"Mr. Secretary's demeanour remained unchanged as he pulled out a gun. In an instant, he began firing, the sound of gunshots echoing through the room. Chaos erupted as the top members of Mamuchi tried to react, but they were taken by surprise. One by one, they fell, their bodies slumping over the table.Number 2, quick on his feet, managed to evade the bullets, diving behind a chair for cover. "Number 1!" he shouted, his voice filled with shock and betrayal. "Why are you doing this?"Mr. Secretary, now identified as Number 1, looked at him with cold, unfeeling eyes. "You probably shouldn't have messed with my young mistress."With those final words, he aimed carefully and fired. The bullet hit Number 2 in the chest, and he collapsed, a look of disbelief etched on his face.The room fell silent once more, the bodies of the top Mamuchi members lying motionless around the table. Mr. Secretary stood alone, the gun still in his hand. He took a deep breath, straightened his tie, and calmly walked out of the room, leaving behind the carnage and the end of an era for the Mamuchi organisation.