The messenger boy paled at the sight but still pulled the villainess behind him, shielding her from the incoming prince.

The Prince quickly closed the distance and raised his hand as he stabbed the knife directly into the messenger boy's chest, piercing his heart in a single blow. The light in his eyes faded away as he collapsed into a bloody heap, his eyes wide in fear.

Lying in a pool of my own blood, my vision was gradually being enveloped in darkness as I saw the Prince grab the villainess by her hair before viciously slashing her throat while looking straight into her pleading eyes.

He watched as the villainess clutched her neck, desperately gasping for breath. She struggled painfully for a while before her hands fell limply by her side. He looked at her lifeless eyes and grinned before throwing her body aside as if it was garbage. He then looked up and saw the two followers who were trying to escape through the window.

He rushed towards them and stabbed his knife into the back of the girl who stood there. He left the knife in her body as he used both hands to grab the girl that had managed to halfway climb through the window and pulled her by her legs, letting glass and other sharp things tear through her skin.

He threw her back into the classroom and turned to the other follower who was already lying on the floor, her body still twitching. He bent down and pulled the knife from her back before stabbing it a couple more times to ensure she died.

Then he stood straight and stalked towards the last remaining survivor who was so terrified she sat still, frozen with fear.

When he looked at her, he became enraged once more before he observed her expression and smiled at her.

"Laugh." He taunted as he stepped towards her. "Why aren't you laughing now?"

His cold, detached voice seemed to jolt her awake as the girl let out a loud scream and began to run away.

The Prince let out a sinister laughter and immediately jumped towards her, with both hands holding the knife as he plunged it through her back and crushed her heart, reaping her life in an instant.

He then stood up slowly and threw his head back as he stared at the classroom ceiling with a blank look.

In the end, no one had managed to leave the classroom. Well, except for the prince. Thinking that, the world of my dream fades away and I wake up in the dark void once more.

So that was death.

Remembering how I died filled me with bitterness. What caused the prince to snap like that? He had always seemed normal to me. I'd walked past him so many times in the hallways not knowing he was insane made me shiver.

I wondered what explanation he gave when the massacre was discovered. He was from a very powerful family, but I doubted it was possible to conceal such an event, even for them. He would end up serving a lot of time in prison.

Strangely, that did not give me any comfort. He deserved to die just as brutally as the murders he had committed.

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Somehow the space of the void felt much smaller than it did before I went to sleep, like it had shrunk or...I had gotten bigger?

I breathed a sigh. Must be my imagination.

I recalled our teacher who had been the first to fall, trying to stop the mad prince. I would never think him capable of such acts of bravery, but he had given his best to protect us all.

The face of a man in his early twenties with thick round glasses, seemingly closed fox-like eyes, and permanently dishevelled overgrown hair, like he did not own a comb, floated up in my memories.

Wait! How come I can remember his face clearly when everyone else was blanked out?

It was said the person you like flashes before your eyes right before you die. Was it possible? Did I have a crush on that sly fox?

Ha. No way!

〚Conditions for Synthesis met〛

What was that? I thought I heard a voice just now. Wait, I can hear?!

It had been so silent until now that I forgot what it felt like to have my sense of hearing. Does this mean I could regain the rest of my senses too?

I wanted to see exactly where I was. The feeling of being completely blind was more than a little unnerving.

〚You have recalled the end of your life〛

There it was again.

Who was speaking? Where is this place?

I threw all the questions that had plagued me for so long in the dark void at the disembodied voice. If this was the voice of god I should get some answers back, right?

〚Initialising the Rebirth System〛

It seemed the voice did not intend to answer any of my questions. It sounded strangely robotic like the voice on an old answering machine. Emotionless and direct. Only saying just enough to get its message across. A cold and lifeless persona.

Was that really a god?

Did remembering my death clear some hidden condition allowing me to hear the voice? Was that why it had been quiet until now?

〚You have been granted the title『Apostle』〛

I had so many questions to ask, like what happened to my siblings after I died; but I had a feeling the voice would not answer that question either. It seemed to only want to relay its own message.

〚Unique skill『Devour』has been acquired〛

Hold on a moment there.

Titles and skills were cool, but doesn't this sound a little too game-like. What need would I have for a skill when I'm about to be reborn? Wouldn't all my memories disappear?

And why did this skill sound so impolite.

Was god trying to call me fat by giving me such a weird skill? My dream was to relax all day and eat but not to the extent that I'd gorge myself!

〚You shall forge a new path using your skills and experience. Acquire the missing pieces to grow and survive. Go forth and conquer destiny on your new journey〛

Sounds like a nice pep talk. I used these same words to motivate my team during sports season, when we faced off against the rival team of scary hulk-like amazonian women on the basketball court.

We lost miserably but at least we went down highly motivated! I was proud of myself for a whole week even with a black eye.

〚Welcome to the world of Aeon, Aurelia〛

Aeon? Not earth? Does this mean I am respawning on a new planet?

Hold on!

Shouldn't you give me more information than just a name? Was it a planet of humans or aliens? Oh god what If I'm about to become an alien?!

〚Remain calm, you will soon be reborn〛

Calm? How can I stay calm after that kind of news? You should explain a bit more!

The void went quiet once again.

After relaying its message the voice disappeared just as quickly as it came. What did it all mean?

There were a lot of things said yet there wasn't a lot of information given. It mentioned a new world, unique skills, and titles but I had a feeling there were a lot more things it wasn't telling me.

Did god just give me an info dump and leave without explaining a single thing? What an asshole.

Acquire the missing pieces. What was that?

Conquer destiny? I just want to live comfortably. I don't need a convoluted backstory. It's not like I'm trying to become a hero. Wasn't this rebirth a bit too much?

«That was a bit abrupt, wasn't it?»

I nearly leapt out of my skin as another voice appeared out of nowhere. It sounded like there was somebody right in front of me, but I could not see them in the pitch darkness.

This time the voice was not robotic.

Though there was something about it that felt familiar, a slightly mocking tone that seemed about to burst into laughter at any moment.

Its familiarity was so comforting in this strange place that I immediately wanted to tear up.

"Teacher Song, is that you?"