Chapter 31. Back-up plan

“If you want to be alone, this is the best place.”

A secluded greenish scenery is displayed upon me. Midst, an open space with outstanding trees placed on it, deviates from the trees that encircle it. Tranquility dominates such a place. As if I'm an uninvited guest that intrudes on it.

“Hmmm…This place gives me nostalgia as always.”

The first time I set foot in here, a sense of familiarity hit me. But that's what makes it weird; I never knew about this place in the first place. The trees here were so tall that barely any sunlight entered. That's why it's totally dark here at night—as if light didn’t exist. I even need to bring out Cilestia at night here.

As if this is that place—the place where I gain consciousness in this world. That curse of black space made me go nuts. I owe that place a great deal. If I ever find it, I will erase it with every ounce of my power from the face of this planet.

Sitting beside the biggest tree in the middle, I laid my back on it. Even if there’s barely any light in this place, the wind is pleasant. As the breeze passes me, it blows my hair, making it flutter in the air. This place is really pleasant.

"Hmm, this place is perfect," I said, wearing a satisfied smile.

Pulling a chain from my pocket, my pocket watch emerges. It is connected to the said chain. Upon opening its canopy, several intricate clock pieces are revealed. Moving in different directions, the big one shows the current time. I don't know what the others are for, though.

“Hmm, it’s just 8 in the morning. I’m still sleepy. I didn’t drink coffee yet.”

That's a lie. I drank five times as soon as I woke up. And Lhina realizes that. She immediately confiscated my storage ring. The root of my earlier dilemma also explains why I don't have a ring on my finger.

I pick up a silver ring with a bluish engraving hiding in the canopy. It's the vintage storage ring given by Oscar before. Even now, Lhina doesn't know its existence; that's why it contains my backup plan.

Wearing the ring where the original one used to be. I enhance mana on it. I am thinking about the thing I desire the most right now. A light appears in my open palm. As an item emerges from it, I grab it tightly. It might be an old version of a storage ring, but it's the best for me right now.

“You hide it well.”

In my hand is what is supposed to be gone.

“Coffee”

A jar filled with brownish-black powder was in my hand. It's the reserve I prepare. A backup as well, if ever Lhina confiscates my coffee—like now. I even hide the ring itself in my pocket watch. A place that I know Lhina wouldn't check, and it's always with me all the time.

Relying on my original ring was not a good idea. Lhina would always check its content. So this ring has been put to good use. If Lhina discovered this, what would he do to Oscar? I don't even want to think about it.

"Let's not think about it for now; it's Oscar's problem," I said, convincing myself. "I should enjoy the taste of some coffee for now.”

However…

This just wouldn’t do. I need to take care of this bastard.

Picking up a stone on the ground, I charge it with my mana, shooting towards the branch above the nearest tree.

“EEkkkk!!!”

As a cry burst out, I realized that my action was a mistake.

Eh, why are you falling down on me? Did you jump!?

The jar that contained my very last cup of coffee slipped from my hand.

***

I have a good sense; my sensitivity toward mana was unimaginable.

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Walking in the vicinity of the forest alone earlier, I felt someone. But I ignore it; it’s not out naively or anything. I just know it’s not a threat, and I’m too lazy to check on it. So I let the sly person furtively follow me, but I regret that decision now.

If I knew this was going to happen, I should have killed this fucker earlier.

“Urgg”

As the collision occurred, I was down to the ground with a person groaning above me. Though there's nothing but emptiness within me, thinking about the fate of my fallen coffee.

“Hey!! What’s that for!? ”

Without letting him finish his words, I augmented my body with mana. With explosive strength, I burst up, grabbing a brat with a lion trait by the neck.

“Oi, what are you doing here? ”Tightening my grip, I glare at him. “I lost my source of life because of you.”

“Wha!? Are you crazy?!! I’m the one who's... about to lose life here.”

Stuttering his words, the lion was on the verge of tears as I suffocated him. I guess I'm getting a little overboard. I'm still planning to beat him, but a bluish light appears in the corner of my eyes.

Once I turned around, I found my jar of coffee fully fine, floating in the air, engulfed by my mana.

Cilestia!!! Thank you! I love you!!!

After thanking my most cherished partner from the bottom of my heart, I throw the lion away; grabbing my coffee and hugging it beside my face.

Freed, the lion coughs up several times, catching his breath. The very same person has been following me. And that's also why I ignore him. Because he is him—his weak, in my perspective...

Still hugging my coffee, I stare down at the lion. "Oops, sorry, lion.”

"Sorry?!!!" Lion howled. "You almost killed me!!!!"

“Oh my, you’re exaggerating.”

"Exaggerating?!! Don't say that with a leisured face!!!" he yelled, pointing at me with a frustrated glare. "And what do you mean, source of life!!!!?"

“My coffee holds the same value as my life.”

“You really are losing something in your head!!! ”

"Yes, I'm actually thinking the same thing," I said casually, causing Lion to contort his face in disbelief.

“Yo, you…. Agh, it doesn’t matter. What are you doing here? ”

“You follow me, and you are asking me that? ”

Lion eyes darted. “I didn’t follow you.”

"Sigh. Please explain why you're here then."

"I got here first."

I didn’t ask who got here first. Or so that’s what I’m planning to say. This is quite interesting. “Hmmm, you got here first, then go back on your own.”

“I..." His eyes dart away in panic.

There's no way someone like him would be able to remember the way here. This place was chaotically secluded, so someone could easily get lost. As for me, I already mapped out way back with Mana, though it’s quite pointless already as I mostly memorized the way.

As much as I expected, the lion reacted exactly as I envisioned.

“I don’t know how.”

"I know," I said dispassionately, tiredly setting my gaze on him.

Fright was visible in his face. Most likely because of the reality that he can’t go home.

Seeing him in a pitiful state, I heaved a sigh. “Just follow me back, once I’m done with my things.”

"I'm fine with that," he said enthusiastically as his tail wiggled.

What are you, a dog? Where’s the pride of a lion? I inadvertently pressed a hand against my forehead. "Anyway, I would be doing my stuff; don't disturb me, Lion."

"Why're you calling me Lion? I have a name: Leo," he declared, proudly puffing his chest out.

I uninterestedly walk away from him, grabbing the coffee in the air. "Tell me the difference."

“A, ahh, umm...hmmm,” his facial expression became complicated, making a thinking gesture.

This should be enough to make him quiet for a while.

***

Such a pleasant day, sitting in the grass, leaning against a tree, and drinking warm coffee underneath it. Spending my time in such tranquility wouldn't be bad.

“Oi, I’m older than you! Why are you treating me as an idiot? ”

But there's always a distribution. It seems the time I earn finally comes to an end. The dolt lion finally comes to understand that I took him for a fool. And also, you might be older than me in this world by three years or so, but I'm older inside.

“Hmph, I let you off the hook this time." Lion turns his face away. "After all, you also hate that "guy"."

I want to smack this brat, but wait—that guy? Is he talking about the orphanage head? It is then—

"If in terms of hating that bastard Charles, then we're friends."

“Mhm, we're friends." His face lit up, wagging his tail at the same time.

Are you purposely imitating a dog? Such thoughts cross my head. But this piques my interest. It's rare to see a kid hate that guy.

I put the now-empty mug inside my ring. "Why do you hate that guy? All the kids around like that motherfucker." My tone was rough, and my choice of words was not suitable for my age, but he didn't seem to mind it.

"I have an older sister."

Ahh, it looks like this is going to have a long backstory.

“Five years ago...”

I thought so. Anyway, let's listen to what he has to say.

Lion moves a little closer and leans at the same tree while standing. "My sister was two years older than me. She's beautiful, strong, and talented. We don't have parents, but my sister always takes care of me while in the orphanage. We both have lion traits. But I still remember her glistering silver hair that flowed through her back."

“……….”

Hmmm... Wait, why the heck does this feel familiar?

A heavy atmosphere surrounded the place as a clear hatred resurfaced on Leo's face. "But she disappears all of a sudden." He tightens his fist with blazing eyes. "I'm sure it has something to do with that guy."

“Any proof? ”

He shook his head. “But I know he’s behind the disappearance of my sister.”

Beastman's intuition is really something else; he hit the mark.

Since earlier, some memories have flooded my slow brain.

Now I know the reason I can't clarify whether he is a character in the novel or not. He is—

a terribly side character that has only been mentioned once in the novel.

Lion's sister is one of the characters in the novel. She's a silver-haired lioness who was searching for her long-lost brother named Leo. But she is slightly klutz; she doesn't remember the orphanage where she used to live with her brother.

His brother died. A mass massacre will occur in the future at the academy Lion will attend. It has been said that she's looking for her brother just to find out that he was one of the victims. That explains why I forgot about it until now.

It's supposed to be a great fight that broke out in school, where the protagonists were involved. Obviously, some mobs died in the process. Unfortunately, the mob—Leo was one of them. This adds to my stress. Well, either way, I also plan to prevent that massacre from happening.

"I thought that maybe, if I'm as talented as my sister, they will also bring me to the same place as her."

Seeing him with a painful expression, I pulled myself up and stretched my arms. "No need for that. Just enter the greatest academy in this world where students from other worlds enroll. You definitely find your sister there."

Albeit a little skeptical, Lion agreed. “Ahh, mhm… okay.”

That's the school I'm also aiming for. The stage of the two protagonists.

That is enough heavy talk for today. I should go home now; I already enjoy my coffee. Wait, can I—perhaps use this brat?

The corner of my lips curls up. "Hey, Lion, can you sneak me some coffee in the adult facility?"

Lion crooked his head. “Coffee? Isn’t that the reason for the ruckus in your home earlier? ”

My body stiffens upon hearing his words. "What? How do you know?"

"It was loud earlier in the morning; a lot of us noticed it."

The heck?! That’s embarrassing.

"But since we're friends now, leave it to me," Lion said enthusiastically. "Your birthday is near, right? I got it for you as a gift."

That made me happy, but how did you know my birthday? Though let's not ask it, he seems to enjoy himself. Birthday, huh? Now that I think about it, our birthday is near. I need to prepare a gift for her….