Chapter 22 P-Pain . . . And Betrayal

The Crimson Wolf was leaping from wall to wall, creating cracks and shuddering the walls with its prowess. It was just inches behind Jane, but I bet it was toying with us based on the playful glint in its eyes.

It was a predator who loved to toy with its prey before eating it after being bored.

"Argh, Luke!" Jane called, but I doubt if Luke would answer her call.

The guy didn't even stop to spare her a glance. I couldn't blame him. It was either her or us.

"P-please!" Jane panted. Her eyes were closed, her chest rising and falling, and her breath and limbs shaky. It looked like she would rather submit to the inevitable death than struggle and prolong her suffering.

Every fine hair of my body rose when I spotted the Crimson Wolf's enormous jaw, filled with razor-sharp teeth just a breath away from biting Jane's head.

The horror and agony on her face were forever stuck in my head, and I knew it would give me nightmares to come. Her big eyes were shaking, asking for help, while her face was covered with tears and snot.

And I knew I was an idiot when I stopped and pushed Soarsie aside.

Using my skill [Evil Speed], I used the remaining quota for the day and threw away my ace and only chance of escape.

I teleported next to Jane and pushed her to the side just in time that the Crimson Wolf's claws almost detached her head from her shoulders.

Jane and I fell against the hard stone floor, and I immediately pulled her to her feet.

"Get up! We don't have time to––!"

I was planning to pull Jane towards me and carry her in my arms before running towards the others at the thought that I might outmaneuver the beast with my AGI.

However, the moment she was on her feet, she pushed me towards the beast's maw before she ran for it!

This girl!

"I-I'm sorry!" she said, but her sincerity was only as deep as her deceitful character. There was even relief on her face. She was probably glad that she had more time to escape while the beast was busy chewing me piece by piece.

RoOaArR!

The next thing I knew, something was flashing on my screen, and I was flung to the side. My body was trash like a sack, and I bumped hard against the wall before lying on the hard cold ground.

–110

–15

My HP bar was reduced to nothing but a glaring red number 15. But my focus was on the retreating figure of my companions.

I was going to die.

That was for sure as the wolf stepped in my direction one paw at a time. He was undoubtedly enjoying every second of my agony and fear. I felt it in my bones as it licked its saliva-filled mouth.

My death was fast approaching, and I loked over at Soarsie when she stopped running. Her heaving white face was hesitating. She was probably thinking of going back to save me.

Agh . . . I was always a hindrance to her.

In that short period that the beast brought me, its murderous stare remained fixed and pressure against me, waiting for me to move, to run so that it could chase and topple me again –– I looked at Soarsie with shaking eyes and opened my mouth to urge her to go and save herself.

I was dead anyway.

And I didn't want to be a burden to her anymore.

I opened my mouth to utter my final words and was shocked to hear my own voice.

"D-don't leave me . . . ," I croaked.

Despite everything that I said, I couldn't lie to myself.

I'm scared of dying!

I wanted to live!

Soarsie's face crumpled before she burst into tears. She shook her head and held her trembling lips.

"I-I'm sorry . . . ," she choked, and she was gone.

She ran together with the others, leaving me for the dead.

". . ."

I wish I had died with that one single strike. It was better to die than feel this kind of pain — a heart-wrenching pain that gnawed my bones and made me feel numb. I thought I was prepared, but the betrayal hurt so much more than the beast's claws on my skin.

A weak smile made its way to my lips.

I knew from the start that Soarsie didn't really love me. She just pitied me. Throughout the years that we had been together, she felt more like a mom than a girlfriend. I couldn't blame her since she loved to take care of her siblings until she mistakenly thought of me as one.

I never felt that we have been intimate with each other. It was because she averted me whenever I initiated to get closer to her. An unspoken invisible barrier between us prevented me from taking our relationship to the next level.

I knew it from the start . . . but having shoved it on my face like that . . . broke my heart to pieces.

<CONGRATULATIONS! You have acquired the skill, EVIL HEART!>

<+10 000 Evil Points rewarded to Host for acquiring the passive skill EVIL HEART! >

If I knew this would happen, I should have just spunk her in the butt and broke up with her, and be done with it. I thought as the blurry image of the Crimson Wolf towered over me.

<CONGRATULATIONS to Host for COMPLETING the SIDE QUEST, SPANK A GIRL's BUTT!

REWARDS:

❶ 1000 EXP >

<+5000 Evil Points rewarded to Host for spanking a girl's butt for the first time!>

<CONGRATULATIONS to Host for COMPLETING the MAIN QUEST, BREAK UP WITH YOUR GIRLFRIEND!

REWARDS:

❶ 10 000 EXP

❷ Egg (?) >

<+10 000 Evil Points rewarded to Host for successfully breaking up with his girlfriend!>

". . ."

Huh?

My eyes flung open when arrays of notifications popped on my screen, and everything froze.

When did I spunk a girl's butt?

<When Host pushed your ex-girlfriend to the side, you pushed her on her butt~>

Egh . . . ?

I looked over at my hands . . . my heart that was broken to pieces shattered to dust even more.

The first time that I touched a woman's bum, and I didn't even remember that feeling. I lamented and cried at the side.

I felt that time was returning to its usual course after the series of notifications, and the Crimson Wolf would surely eat me to death. But I didn't care as I sat on the ground, back resting against the rigid cold wall, and waited for death to release me from all the pain and betrayal I felt.

What's so good in living and struggling when death could free me from all sufferings?

I only did good my whole life, but I was repaid with treachery and cruelty in the end.

I thought I already knew that kindness would only be taken advantage of. I knew that . . . but I just couldn't stop myself from doing it. I always believed in karma, and by doing good, the Gods would surely feel pity and bless me in return.

I smirked in dismay.

Boy, was I wrong.

I wish I could just kill all these emotions so I wouldn't be that guy who was always taken advantage of.

I wish I was selfish and cruel!

Something flashed on my screen. Blinking and blinking like an annoying dying bulb.

‖ E V I L H E A R T LV.1 ‖

–– can negate useless emotions and only think logically

–– Duration: 1 day

–– can reactivate after the duration of effect is finish

WARNING!

–– cannot deactivate once activated!

‖ E N D ‖

Huh? What's with this skill?

Rather would it help me become numb?

<Yes~>

I sighed . . . should I really continue the struggle?

The image of my family in my head made my fingers flinch.

They might be out there. My brother and sisters . . . and mother.

They might be out there . . . all alone and sacred.

I gritted my teeth. This was no time to think of Soarsie and the others and wallow in self-pity.

I pulled my strength and what was left of my will and leaped to the side just in time that the Crimson Wolf's claws swiped from where I sat just a fraction of a second ago. And what appeared in my place were gruesome claw marks on the wall.

It clawed some debris, and clouds of dusts settled between us for a moment.

Amidst the hazy short reprieved, I activated my skill.

<ACTIVATE, Evil Heart>