One by one people are starting appearing in front of the rift and leave with loot they find some of them boast they success but the crowd slowly disperse until only Lucas who still remaining standing in front the portal, waiting for Gene to return.

"Aunt Lucas, are you still waiting for him?"

"Him? You mean Gene? Of course."

"But...will he even able to return?"

"He will don't worry, you better go get some rest, you still look tired."

"Uh...but how you can be so sure, you're not even shown any slightest worries."

"Why? Hmm because I know him very well, he wouldn't be defeated by just something like that."

"But isn't he's a downer?"

"Yup."

"Then shouldn't we need to quickly find him?"

"That's not possible Marie, even were able to, time inside the rift is move different from here, it's impossible for us to meet, the gap is already too big plus we won't know when the rift starts to close."

"Then!?"

"Hmm? Are you worrying about him?"

"Worry?! No I….I….I…."

"Yes I know Marie, you didn't like him right? In fact, you should hate him by now."

"Wha-N-no I…"

"There's no need to hide it anymore, he's not here, it's ok to say it out of loud because I also think he's really annoying!"

"Well, it is true that...I don't like him...but I do not really hate him...but I-" Marie become flustered when Lucas guess right about how she feels.

"Sorry I'm just teasing you, but it's alright if you hate him, that's what he wants anyway."

"W-want? He wants me to hate him?! Why?!"

"Not really, he just wants everything to hate him."

"Uh...what? Why he want something like that?"

"Hahaha, there's a story behind it, so are you really want to know?"

"Uh…"

"Hahaha, I'll tell you even you don't want to."

"Is that really ok?! I'm just meet you right?"

"Of course, it's not like there's some dangerous secret behind it anyway."

…..

"Uh...you're not going to start?"

"Huh? Oh sorry right! So where do I start first...what? You wanna ask something?"

"Is he really a downer?"

"Why you keep asking that? "

"I know that I can't feel any mana flow from his body, but how he able to summon that monster when we first met and that weapon he calls when inside the ruin!"

"Wait, you can sense mana? Are you from a daemon race?!"

"N-no! I...I-"

"Nevermind then if you don't want to say it, I don't care where you from anyway, but still that explains a lot why somebody hides you so well."

…

"Anyway, do you know an item called dimensional pocket?"

"Huh? If I'm not wrong it's a bag that can store everything? Wha- you mean Gene own something like that?!"

"Yes, he is."

"Realy!? Where'd he get it?!"

"Hmm, it's something that he owns from the very beginning."

"Wha-then- wait if he owns something like that how the other still don't know about it?!"

"Well...it's because that pocket is cursed."

"Wait, you say there's no dangerous secret behind it."

"Hmm~ I lie of course."

"Wha-"

"But I believe you're not that fool enough to tell others about that."

"How you can be so sure about that!?"

"You know the legend of Icarus? A man who fly using wings created from wax?"

"I know he was burned to death because trying to near the sun."

"Yes it's just like that, It's not like the others don't know about it, but everyone who tries to stole it ends up either insane or dead."

"Is that really that dangerous?"

"You're welcomed to try if you want."

"N-no thanks! So does that mean that pocket is something that could be used by Gene only?"

"Nope, even himself must endure the curse."

"....What…"

"You ask me why he's really annoying that's the reason, it's because that pocket...his personality is not like that in the past."

"What he's different in the past? Like?"

"He's really docile and kind, you know I really like him in the past since he's so cute! He even always ask me to accompany him to the toilet because he's really afraid of his own shadow!"

"Wha-..."

"Yeah, that's him before he touches that pandora box…"

"You mean...wait so he's not a downer in the past?"

"Nope he's a downer since the beginning and....because of that his family is always bullying him."

"I think I can understand that."

"The only one who stands with him is me while the other family always keep bullying him."

"Is he…"

"No he never thought anything about that, nobody telling him that he's a downer, every day he's always trained to able keep up with his other sibling, but it was useless, every day the gap becomes bigger and bigger."

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"He's had rough childhood…"

"There's no need to feel bad about that...the one who should feel sorry it should be me...if I'm listening to him that time, none of this will happen."

"What did you mean."

"You know the reason why he always asks me to accompany him?"

"Because he's afraid his own shadow right?"

"Yes, but his shadow is not like a normal shadow….his shadow are always keep talking to him, a sinister voice that always telling him to call their name."

"Huh? Why?"

"You know the requirement to summon something right? The first thing you need to sacrifice something and the second is the name…"

….

"The worst part is that voice is not one...but many, I don't know how many times he tells me every different name every day that I start to think that it was just his fear because of his sibling."

"There's more than one?!"

"It's crazy, right? How come a child like him could hold something dangerous….but that voice gradually disappears."

"Disappear? Did something happen?"

"The elder decides there's no more hope for him and he decides to brand him with a mark."

"Wha-!? A mark? You mean they brand him like a slave?!"

"Yeah, it's a common thing for a failure, not only he can't use any magic, his constitution also really weak to become a soldier."

"That's horrible!"

Well not for him though, after he received the brand the voice gradually disappear he start to become happy again."

"Is it not turn out well in the end?"

"Yes, by branding that's mean you no longer able to disobey anyone who knows the secret word… and sibling is jealous of him who no need to practice...and start to play a prank on him until one day they went too far."

"Too far? Like what?"

"We're not from in this country you know, originally we're live near a mountain where a dragon makes a nest at the top."

"Near mountain? A dragon?! Wait you're from Balard?! You're dragon knight!?"

"Yes, are you shocked now?!"

"Of course it's the country that known as the strongest because they have a dragon! That explains why you using a spear as a weapon…"

"Hahaha...well you're partially right but I'm not a dragon knight, I'm run away even before taming my first dragon and become an adventurer instead thus earn a nickname Blazing Lucas."

"I can't believe it...I'm talking with somebody from that famous country..."

"Well enough for sidetracked, his siblings are bringing him into the Iron Forest and left him alone."

"Is it dangerous?"

"Of course it is! If you don't bring any dragon crest when entering the forest you'll become a dinner for the dragon."

"But why Gene agree to follow them?"

"Because….the one who asks Gene to go there are….his most trusted friend...."

"Trusted?...No...is his sibling blackmail his friend?!"

"Much worse than that...he never considers Gene as his friend...he...and his sibling makes a bet and the losers are must gain Gene trust and Gene also told him the secret words…."

"What the...how can they do something like that?!"

"It just happens and Gene is the victim…"

"Then what happens next?!"

"When he enters the forest...his sibling are already there...they grab him and using the secret words they order him to stay inside the forest for a whole day. The worst part is nobody knows what happen to him until 3 days later. That's also after we interrogated his sibling and friend."

"So you and the other quickly saving Gene?!"

"...I wish I was able to do that....the opinion is split into two, and the majority of voice are agreed that Gene is already dead...even Runa agrees with that...at first she even looks relief after hearing that…"

"What...how…"

"I...I don't know about that...Runa never tells why...I was under house arrest when I tried to convince the elder to save him...it was only days later after I was able to escape with Runa help."

----

"I was quickly run toward the forest and when I find him....Gene are standing outside the forest entrance like waiting for someone."

"What? If he can get out why he does not return by himself?"

"I don't know...when Gene see me...he quickly run inside the forest again, it was hard for me to follow him, I was even waste a half day just to chase him can't you believe it!?"

"A half!? Isn't that forest filled with many dragons!?"

"Hahaha..it was...until Gene opens the pandora box."

"What happens there?"

"When Gene stopped, he asked me very strange question…he asks me…'if you know the truth...what will you do?' I was confused at first, why did he talk like that, but everything becomes clear when he shows me...the...pile of dragon corpse….and even the brands already disappear."

"What...how...?"

"He told me...that he calls their name one by one and...helping him to survive... he also told me that he should listen to them a long time ago, they are right and wrong at the same time…then he laugh as hard as he could."

"Is he become insane?"

"I don't know, but the way he talks is like someone else."

----

"Gene, what happen to you...all of this is...it your doing?"

"Kinda...they attack me because I don't have dragon crest...tried to explain...but they won't listen then start attacking me...that voice starts to return louder than before...pulling me into a sea of madness."

"Madness? What are you talking about?! are you really Gene?"

"I am...but maybe not...or maybe yes...I don't know aunt Lucas... there are so many voices that keep shouting at me...it was only for a moment....but for me, it was like an eternity...that voice...he..hehehe...he...who...yes...I see…my name is…."

"G-Gene?"

"Ugh...I'm sorry aunt Lucas...it's hard to concentrate with all of those voices...but you better go back now…"

"Back? Won't you come with me?"

"I will...later...business here…"

"Business?"

"Yes...the dragon say they will listen to me if I could defeat them...so I did...but...friends appear they...run...hard to follow...took time to find them one by one."

"Wait...defeat...this mass killing...you mean...you…"

"Yes...just like they wish...friends say will help."

"But Gene...are you really need to do all this killing?!"

"Aunt Lucas...once my friends are out...none are allowed to escape….none are allowed to live...they told me enemy must...die…that is their agreement...I already told you about it every day in the past…and you told me don't listen to them...tried my best….but their voice starts to keeps getting bigger and bigger…"

"Gene....I…"

"Shhh...he's here...the last dragon...coming...need to finish...."

----

"And just like he say, the last dragon descent from the sky, it was really big and powerful, even my legs are frozen stiff after hearing its roar, I feel like I was in front of death itself."

"The last dragon?"

"Yes the last one, king of the forest, green dragon Dryzan, he is an ancient dragon king who rules that forest, his words are the law, but did you know what I see, Gene just laughing when listening to that roar."

"Is he doesn't feel afraid?"

"It was a quiet reverse, Dryzan was the one who feels intimidated when Gene laughing...Dryzan frozen stiff he even unable to move...then when he calls it...the name that I can't ever forget…his name was…"

"Was what aunt Lucas? I really want to hear that." Before she finishes her story Gene and Revia already standing behind them unnoticed.

"Wha- G-Gene you already return?! Wait why you have bruised all over your body?!"

"I meet a daemon inside."

"Daemon and you survive then that wound is from-" Marie becomes restless when she hears daemon.

"Nah, this is because I buried under the rub- wait that's not important why the hell you feed her another lie?!"

"A lie?"

"We're not from Balard, well we are was indeed from mountain region but there's no dragon, the only thing that keeps coming inside that forest are just slime and goblin"

"Whaa?! Why you lie to me?!"

"Well, I never say it was the truth. but it was good right? I mean look at the time, we already waste 3 hours."

"I can't believe it….I was thinking that's really real! Grrr, I'm leaving!"

"H-hey! Ah, she's angry…"

"Of course she would...you keep lying to her."

"But it's really good story right?"

"Yeah yeah, I know you're good story maker aunt Lucas...Haa...we better get home, I'm tired…"

"Lie huh...If I can turn that story into a lie I'll gladly trade anything that I have to make it happen."

-----

Reminiscing about her past Lucas remember when she first meets another Gene persona and the ghost child named Lazarus.

"You...how could you do this...who are you!? Where's Gene!?"

"Me? I'm nobody....I'm just people from the past...there's no need to worry, he will wake up eventually...but….I don't think he will remain the same after entering that place."

"What place?"

"Who knows, just as him...though I'd doubt he'll remember any of it, and I trust you can make a good lie for what happened here right…"

"Lie?! You think I'll just lie about what happened here?!"

"Just like killing, once you do it the rest will be much easier...and probably your sister going to be exiled or be killed for helping you. I suggest you should think a way out like faking your own death and go somewhere far away."

"How could you…"

"Well looks like our time is up…Good night...Lazarus, it's time for us to return…"

"Whatever you say, big bro! See you later sister I hope we can play together someday."

---

"Hey…..Hey! Aunt Lucas quit daydreaming we almost arrive!"

"What...oh sorry...was I sleeping?"

"What happened to you? It's not like you for feeling guilty for telling a lie are you sick?"

"Hahaha...I'm alright Gene?! Who do you think your aunt is!?"

"Well if you say so…"

"It's just like he say...after the first lie…the rest will follow…"

"I am alright…Right...?"