Plan (2)

When Daemon first received the quest for revenge against the bullies who had tormented the original owner of this body, he spent a long time thinking about what to do.

At first, his thoughts were simple: kill them. End their lives and be done with it. But as time passed, he realized that he could be more strategic, more efficient. With the first major event approaching, the one that would give him the chance to acquire the [Truth-Seeking Eyes], he had to consider how to make it happen.

There was one crucial detail that weighed on his mind—a sacrifice. To get the hidden piece, a sacrifice was required. Daemon knew that all three of the bullies—Amy, Ren, and Dylan—were bound to die. It was only a matter of time. So, why not use them?

He manipulated Amy, pushing her into a corner until she killed Ren. The act shattered her mentally and emotionally, leaving her traumatized. 

After the incident, Amy didn't leave her room for several days. She was consumed by guilt and fear. Back then in the forest, Daemon took the dagger that Amy had used to kill Ren. He gave it to Kayne, instructing him to use it to riddle both Ren and Dylan's bodies with the same dagger.

Once the task was complete, Daemon called Amy, asking her to meet him outside the academy. He told her it was urgent, that he needed to discuss something important. Hesitant but unable to refuse, Amy came, expecting to see Daemon. But when she arrived, there was no sign of him. Instead, Kayne and his men were waiting for her.

As per Daemon's instruction, Kayne kidnapped her and brought her to the hidden location.

As Daemon prepared to acquire the hidden piece, he had given Kayne further instructions: leak the locations of Ren and Dylan's bodies to the authorities.

Soon, the authorities would discover the bodies of Ren and Dylan, their lifeless forms riddled with wounds from Amy's dagger. In an instant, Amy would become the prime suspect. But the authorities wouldn't be able to find her. Daemon had already used her as a sacrifice.

The school records would show that she had left the premises alone. They would assume that, after murdering her friends, she had fled in fear of being caught. And due to the fact that her entire body has been used as sacrifice, no will suspect her death.

If everything went according to plan, it would be the perfect crime. There would be no evidence to link Daemon to the murders. Amy's fate had been sealed long before she even knew it.

Daemon smiled as he thought about the plan he had carefully laid out. Kayne had proven to be invaluable. Not only was he competent, but his connections in the underworld, thanks to his work as a black market salesman, made him even more useful to Daemon.

Rising from his seat, Daemon walked over to the mirror. He looked into his own eyes. They were different now—purple with a red vertical slit in the center. Red runes were etched into the purple irises.

He had acquired the [Truth-Seeking Eyes].

With these new eyes, Daemon gained the ability to sense mana, seeing its flow and reading it. He could now predict and counter enemy attacks, disrupting their mana flow as they performed their techniques. In addition, he could enhance his own mana control, making him stronger and more skilled.

But that wasn't all. The eyes also granted him the power of foresight. While it drained a lot of mana to use, it was a trump card he could rely on in critical moments.

Daemon's smile widened as he admired his reflection. Not only had he acquired the [Truth-Seeking Eyes], but his overall stats had also increased significantly. He was overjoyed, unable to hide his excitement as a broad smile spread across his face.

'By now, Arthur should have dealt with the masked demonic human leader', Daemon mused quietly to himself. If the leader hadn't secured the [Mystic Eyes], he would be much weaker than expected. Without those eyes, the enemy would be easily overpowered.

Daemon didn't care much about what was happening with the others. His focus was on his own strength, and as long as his goals were being met, the rest didn't matter to him.

He turned toward the door and called out, "Kayne, come here."

Kayne was quick to respond. "Yes, my lord," he said, stepping into the room without delay. His loyalty was evident in the way he moved, like a guard awaiting orders.

Daemon gave a quick nod. "I'm leaving now. It's time. Everyone will start gathering soon, so I need to head back. You take care of things here."

Originally, the trip was supposed to last until evening, but with the museum incident, they will leave faster.

And make sure to start with the potions. Use the recipes I gave you," Daemon added, before turning to leave.

Kayne nodded respectfully, ready to follow through with his orders.

**********

After the chaos at the museum, the mood at the academy was thick with unease. Everyone returned, and the sense of discomfort followed them like an unshakable shadow.

The club president, his usual enthusiasm gone, spoke in a subdued tone. "I'm truly sorry that our first trip had to end like this," he said, his voice carrying the weight of disappointment. The excitement he had once felt for the club was clearly dampened by the day's events.

"Anyway, I'll keep you all updated on our next trip. Enjoy the rest of your weekend," he added with a half-hearted wave, signaling the end of the meeting. As the others began to scatter in all directions, Daemon made his way back to his room.

He collapsed onto his bed, and with a casual flick of his wrist, he opened Rey's subspace. Items began to spill out across the bed — herbs, daggers, and other various trinkets. Daemon quickly sorted through them, deciding to sell the things that were of no use to him and keep the useful ones for himself.

Not knowing if the herbs could be used for potions, he decided to simply eat them raw.

Daemon picked up the first herb, its texture rough and uninviting. As he bit into it, the intense bitterness hit him, and he nearly gagged, struggling to swallow the awful taste. It wasn't easy, but he forced himself to keep it down, hoping it would be worth it.

Suddenly, a series of notifications echoed in his mind.

[Your mana has increased by 2]

[Your stamina has increased by 3]

Daemon's expression twisted in disgust as the unbearable bitterness lingered on his tongue. He swallowed hard, forcing the vile taste down, then shifted his gaze toward the remaining herbs scattered across his bed.

"One down, seven more to go," he muttered, his voice filled with determination.

Steeling himself for the ordeal ahead, he grabbed the next herb, bracing for another wave of bitterness.

The moment Daemon bit into the second herb, he braced himself for another wave of bitterness—but instead, an intense sourness flooded his mouth. His face contorted in surprise and discomfort. First bitter, now sour—both at the extreme ends of the taste spectrum.

Though he was determined to grow stronger, he wasn't eager to do so at the cost of his taste buds.

Now I understand why people prefer potions over eating raw herbs, he thought, his expression darkening.

But making a potion wasn't an option. Brewing required precise measurements—temperature control, water ratios, and ingredient balance. Daemon didn't even know what herbs he was consuming, let alone how to refine them into a proper potion.

Amid this taste-induced torment, the only consolation was the notification flashing before his eyes.

[Your Strength has increased by 2]

[Your Speed has increased by 3]

"The herbs are better quality than I expected," Daemon muttered, his thoughts drifting to Ren. "He must've been higher ranked than I thought."

Shaking off the lingering sourness, he reached for the next herb, preparing himself for whatever awful taste awaited him next.

*********

Daemon lay back on his bed, the room dark and quiet. He had already turned off the lights, and the silence was perfect for sleep. Yet, sleep didn't come immediately. His mind was still active, reflecting on everything that had changed in such a short time.

Not long ago, Daemon had been just an ordinary 17-year-old teenager in his old world. Now, everything had shifted. He had been transported into a game world—a world he had once played because of his friend's insistence. But what he hadn't expected was to meet the main characters from the game and, in turn, become a part of it all.

Daemon had been enjoying this new life, finding satisfaction in his own growth. It felt just like watching a game character level up, but this time, it was him. The sensation of becoming stronger was something every gamer cherished, and now Daemon could experience it firsthand.

His path, however, wasn't without its dark side. He had done things in this world that were far from noble, committing acts that others would call evil. But strangely, he didn't feel regret. Instead, he recalled a phrase from his old life: "Don't hesitate to sacrifice good to become someone great."

With that thought lingering in his mind, Daemon closed his eyes, letting the darkness of the room envelop him. Slowly, he drifted off to sleep, the sound of his steady breathing the only thing breaking the silence.