Chapter 2 – The Past

After finishing getting all my stuff done, I take one last glance at the classroom. Everything seems fine and in proper order. Someone will come to check it before closing anyway but I don’t like leaving unnecessary work for janitors.

I leave and lock the door with my ID card. Looking to the left and right, I spot a few people roaming the corridors. Some are waiting for their classes, some may be just leaving like my guys. There’s no exact schedule for classes. It’s another perk of being a teacher here. You can freely manage the time as long as you cover the material you are obliged to. That’s why there won’t be any problems with me ending earlier.

「Well then, let’s hit a bathroom on the way. Nature is calling.」

As per usual I take the stairs. I might be a gamer/bookworm/weeb/etc., but that does not mean I’m a lazy ass fatso or just a lazy bum. As they say it nowadays, fit is lit, and I agree. It’s not like there are tens of floors here.

Well, I do care about my body and how I look, even though I don’t visit public spaces where I could show off my abs often. I might not be the hottest piece in the neighbourhood, but I do keep myself slim and fit with a bit of muscle here and there. I always had a thing for well-built bodies, and my father is at fault for this as he is a soldier, always in perfect shape. Or rather he was…

「You just had to go MIA on me old man, huh…」

With a slightly sour mood, I enter the bathroom on the lobby floor and head straight to the urinal, lost in thought. Every time I remember him, I somehow start thinking about my whole life. Well, it wasn’t the worst, but on the other hand, it definitely wasn’t normal.

As I’ve mentioned before, my mother was, and actually still is, a prostitute. That was her chosen career path as far as I know. No one forced her into that business. She just believed that’s easy money and didn’t find anything wrong with selling her body. And don’t misunderstand me, I have nothing against it too. As long as it’s out of volition, no one has the right to judge others. I mean, it’s a job like any other. And if she likes it, that’s just hitting two birds with one stone.

Anyway, she was working in a pretty decent establishment. The girls were treated fine. It wasn’t some cheap-ass brothel barely on the legal path. My father, as a soldier usually does, was accumulating a lot of stress and bad vibes, and visiting that place was his type of escape from it. Nothing clears your head better than a big ol’ nut in the hut.

They met a few times, under obvious conditions, and always had a pretty good time. He started requesting her at his every visit. She was kinda his type, at least anatomically speaking. So, after some time, he started developing feelings for her. And fortunately for him, so did she. At least that’s what she told him, but…

He proposed and she agreed. He bought a small villa, they went on a honeymoon, things were looking great and lovely, a couple of lovebirds found their other halves in a kinda unusual spot, but why judge. She left the company on good terms and moved in with my father, living a life in luxury. Naturally, duty calls, and he was home less time than he was not.

Fortunately for me, he was there when I was born, because yes, they of course decided to have a child, or rather my father just didn’t want to let in the thought he would not be having a son, somehow convincing mother.

For the first three years, we were your usual happy family. Since he was a sniper in some kind of elite covert ops, and from what I know one of the best, he luckily avoided having to leave for an operation for so long. But that couldn’t go on forever.

Just the next morning after he left for his first mission after their marriage, she changed a full one-eighty. Around Father, she had always been flirty, cutesy, lovey-dovey and caring. But when left alone with just me, she was a literal bitch.

At first, she at least tried to pay attention to me, but with time she just couldn’t keep up the act. I was treated as a pushover, without a glint of any respect or motherly care. Feed with something, a bath once in a while, left in a corner for the rest of the time while she was gone or just enjoying herself with all the modern commodities. And obviously, I was getting hit for anything done wrong. Under her intense care, I learned how to properly use the toilet, eat, bathe and somehow do something with myself in my spare time.

It kinda went like that until I was seven. Of course, during the time before, Father was back a few times, but always just for a week or less. He was really busy. Mother was in her wifey mode obviously, sending me glares constantly to not slip up about anything. When Father visited, it was the only good time I had. He often told me many stories about himself and explained a lot about firearms and such, although it took some years until I was old enough to learn a thing or two from him.

So, when I was seven, she got even worse. She started getting drunk or taking drugs often, which led to me being beaten to the bone. She started disappearing for days. On some, she locked me in my room tied to a chair, gagged and with headphones connected to the PC, playing some kind of death metal usually. Even with those, I was able to hear all the fucking around the house. She basically started ordering male prostitutes and inviting her friends for orgies.

I had to start being self-sufficient. Shopping and stuff like that. And obviously, since she barely knew anything about cooking, ordering food too. Fortunately, there was that PC in my room, so I was able to do most stuff online. And naturally, it also functioned as my escape. I picked up anime pretty early, around being nine. Helped me survive.

Time went by, she was a bitch, father was a good and loving guy. Around being nine, I slowly started to realize she was just using him. He told me about how they met a lot of times, obviously sugarcoating some details, but with the help of the Internet, I kinda figured out most of the things. It was obvious she was in it purely for money and never even considered his feelings. And I was just some random trash standing in the way of her fun.

When I was ten, she finally got fed up with acting. When Father was away, she started scheming for a perfect divorce. She managed to create a fake cheating scenario, gathered tons of fake evidence, along with some young girl who was supposedly the one my father had an affair with, prepared lots of other evidence on how she was just a brokenhearted and loving housewife, etc. I have no idea how she was able to bribe all the people from the school who were in the court process to testify how I am one of the worst child delinquents they ever had.

In school, I was this typical introverted kid with a gloomy look, always spending time alone and ignoring others. My PC and the Internet were all I needed. I wasn’t ignoring classes or anything. Learning was another thing I really liked.

But, anyway, with all the preparation and backing, she obviously won. She not only got all the stuff that was theirs as a couple but also extorted more money from him and kicked me out of her life. Fortunately, whoever was helping her was not stupid enough to throw a ten-year-old kid into the streets, so they contacted my father’s parents and they took me in.

I was eleven when my father got back from his mission. I thought he would be furious when his parents explained everything to him, but he was devastated instead. It seemed like he really loved her. At least he didn’t go into denial and tried making himself believe it was all my fault.

The thing he loved most after her, was thankfully me. I was consoling him for days, telling him she was a total cunt not worthy of him and always was using him for money. It looked comedic as fuck, an eleven-year-old boy trying to console a military vet, but well, they always are getting weaker psychologically with time.

Somehow we managed to get through his depression. That bitch went back to working in the brothel after all that. Her overindulgence quickly drained all the money she extorted, and naturally, she had no way to uphold the villa.

But, back to when I was eleven. Things were fine after that. The grandparents were a really nice couple. I finally started living a normal life. Oh, and they lived in Ireland while my previous locum was in Great Britain, so there was no problem with school.

Months flew by, dad visited when he could, he started teaching me more seriously about military stuff, even started training me a bit in the use of a knife and hand to hand combat. At least at the level where even a twelve or thirteen-year-old kid could follow. But well, it’s not like I was your normal kid. Overall, happy times.

Then, one day when I was fifteen and chilling in my grandparents' house watching anime, a bell to the door rang. I went to answer it and was met with a police officer. Granny showed up behind me soon after. He handed us a letter and informed us that my father went MIA during his latest operation. I was crying locked in my room for at least three days.

After that, nothing much really happened. I swore to my now MIA dad that I will strive to be the best possible grandson for his parents and that I will do my best to live my life properly. I thought about getting into the military just like him, but somewhere along the way, I decided against it. I was too deep into gaming, books, movies and other stuff to let go of it. Additionally, I swore to get revenge on that whore in his stead, but fortunately, with time, I realized it would be totally pointless to waste my time and efforts on her. She better be praying to whatever god she believes in that I don't accidentally meet her somewhere.

You might think that because of her, I started treating all other women like shit, but fortunately, as a kid, I only saw her as a purely evil creature, not a woman or a girl. Or I just inherited this kind of gentleness towards girls from my father.

Enough of this sorrowful stuff. Back to the present day.

After relieving myself, I limp to the faucet to wash my hands. What greets me in the mirror is a familiar appearance. Mine obviously. A firm man dressed in a blue cross-patterned shirt and a simple beige jacket looks me straight into the eyes, and I look into his, and they are of a grey colour. On his head, also bountiful medium-long straight grey hair, with a bit longer backside. He combs his forelock slightly up and to the right with his hand, so that it doesn’t dangle in the middle.

With that done, I exit the bathroom and head for the entrance. On my way to the parking lot, I catch a glimpse of a black limousine leaving its premises, accompanied by a few armoured SUVs.

「Natalie leaves stacked as usual. Wonder why so late. Maybe she talked with Shino or others for some time.」

Sloppily, I arrive at my parking spot. And there she is. The only girl that will never betray my feelings and is always willing to cheer me up. My beloved pearl-white Toyota Supra Mark 4 with a slim custom body kit.

I comfortably set myself in the driver seat and head home listening to my compilations of the best Nightcore tracks. Nothing relaxes your mind better than a wonderful cruise home in your all-time favourite ride. Well, maybe besides the aforementioned good ol' nut.

An hour later, I reach my destination, which is a cosy medium-sized wooden house, surrounded by a neatly trimmed garden. I park on my driveway and head to the door. As I enter, the lights turn on automatically. Most of the devices and systems are connected to my phone and can detect it from a distance.

I move to my bedroom and change into something more comfortable. Some random t-shirt, sweatpants and a black hoodie. The bedroom isn’t anything great. A double-sized bed in the middle with a lot of wardrobes and cabinets around the walls. Everything wooden and in various medieval and renaissance patterns.

After grabbing something to snack on from a very modern kitchen, I head to the most important room in the house. My mancave. I push open the heavy iron double doors and enter a spacious room, dimly lit in purple shades. Just to the left of the entrance is my war machine. Best possible desktop PC with six monitors mounted on the wall.

Alongside northern and southern walls, countless shelves and pedestals are arranged in different patterns. Inside them, tons of mangas, novels, books, movies and obviously figurines, gadgets, collector’s editions and plenty of other stuff. Accompanied by neatly arranged LED lights, they give out epic vibes.

On the wall opposite to the entrance and the PC, a wide 100” display is mounted, surrounded by huge audio columns and with a comfortable sofa in front of it. Every possible space on the walls is covered with posters from anime, movies and games.

I boot up my PC and start checking the usual stuff, like mailboxes, notifications from social media and communicators. I open up Harmony, a text-voice communicator which is the most popular currently, and I’m welcomed with a text message from none other than Asakura Shino.

>ZekkenIsBestGirl: Sensei! I finished that anime you recommended to me last time! It was great, I really loved it o(≧▽≦)o I was so happy when the maid actually ended up with the butler. For a moment it felt like he really was going to kill her as his master ordered ｡･ﾟﾟ*(>д<)*ﾟﾟ･｡ But it was just a ruse! They got me so hard! OH. Nishneg Impact 2 comes out next week! What server are you going to play on? We could start a guild together! You promised me we will do it someday in some game! No going back on your word now or I’ll skip your classes ( `ε´ ) Just kidding! I’d never do that. Anyway, we almost arrived, so I have to leave for today’s training soon. Send me more recommendations! Jaa ne~

「Goodness gracious… How can somebody so shy in person that she can’t even look you in the eyes be such an overwhelming chatter. It’s like she’s a different person online. I’ll send her some titles later. First, I have to read my favourite novel!」

I leave the recommendations for later and instantly open the website where the aforementioned novel is posted. Not being able to contain my excitement I dig in expecting a lot of wholesome action.

I spend the rest of the day reading other works and discussing stuff on the forums. Before going to bed, I double-check my preparations for tomorrow’s lesson.

During the night I’m assaulted by countless weird nightmares, where no matter in what situation, I always end up falling into a scary, pure white, bottomless pit, totally out of nowhere.

Saileri

Also, I'm not gonna spam author's notes every chapter. I'm just letting you know things will roll out slowly before the main premise takes over. I like some story and logic in my stuff.

Also also, I promise the cringy references will end when we get to the fantasy world. Were you able to spot all of them this time? There were 4 ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) 

Also also also, here's MC's hairstyle. Just imagine it grey. BOOP

See ya at the next one!