"Who the fuck are you? Why you know my real name?"
Dereia didn't break her murderous stare on Mateo who continues to look at her with his equally malicious glance. But after some time, she calms down and takes a deep breath.
"Josh Williams. The infamous and recent Texas University Shooter. To think that you got sent to this world instead of burning in hell right now which is what you actually deserve." Mateo's mockery.
"Answer my question. Why you know my real identity? Are you also from Earth?"
"Should I call you Josh or I should call you Dereia?" Mateo ignores Dereia's question.
Dereia is amused on the question.
"Just call me Dereia. Josh is not my name in this world."
Mateo smiles.
"Ok Dereia. How about we answer each other's inquiry instead?"
Dereia can't take a single move as she really feel the observant eyes of Mateo's friends. She nods and play on Mateo's game.
"Then I start the question. How you manage to get transfered to this world?"
"That's something I can't completely answer. After my death, I just find myself inside this body. Now answer my question, who are you?"
"I'm just a normal dude from Earth who just happened to see your crime in my feed. That answers two of your previous questions right?"
Dereia stops for a moment and then she nods.
"Then I ask another question. What happened to the owner of that body of yours?"
Dereia looks at her body.
"Oh about this? At first, I'm just a conciousness inside the mind of the owner. But with series of unfortunate or fortunate events for me I say, I finally override the identity of Dereia. As for where her conciousness now? I don't know and I don't care." Dereia answers with smug.
"You truly an evil person." Sophia's anger. Claustrine held her hand to calm her down.
"Did I? I am really an evil person if I give the pathetic owner of this body a huge favor by killing the people that torments her for months?"
"But you still kill a lot of people, and it must included people that not part of her torment. You're evil for snuffing out lives of others just like that." Sophia's hard words.
"Just like I said. I don't care. And I'm sure there's a portion of people that view what I did on those nobles as justice served. Afterall, what considered evil depends on each persons view of circumstances, right?" Dereia's apathetic explanation.
"Big words for someone that just decides to do a school shooting without any reason at all. If evil requires reason, then you're the worst." Mateo's counter to Dereia's ramblings.
"Oh speaking of that! My next question for you mister is, what is the total death count of my attack on that university? I lost count when reach 23." Dereia's questions. She's like an excited kid waiting for a good praise which make Mateo sick to his stomach.
"6-... 67." Mateo's answer. He tries to not show any hint of weakness like being disgusted on the person in front of him.
A wide sinister and sly smile appears on Dereia's lips. Grand Ecstasy got a shiver on their body as they feel the person behind Dereia don't show any guilt. In fact, Dereia feels proud.
"Looks like I beaten the previous record. That must be put me on history. And I think I killed 120+ students on that academy so I become a history in this world too."
"You're infamous right now as we speak. The US Congress might do another hearing about gun control because of what you did. As for your fate here on Grimael, it's for the nobles of Bolaire to decide." Mateo's stern explanation.
"Hey isn't that good? Like because of me, they might change the gun laws in US. Big emphasis on "might" though." Dereia says as she make a thinking pose.
"Don't pull our legs you demon. You do such heinous acts not because you have any good intentions. You kill people from Earth and here because of your... Unexplained desire. No motives at all, fucking sickening." Mateo's words as harsh as the apathetic reaction of Dereia is slowly creeping on her patience.
"Ugh. Fine, yeah you're right. I didn't kill the students on that Academy to take revenge for the owner of this body. And I didn't do a school shooting on Earth to make a move for change. I know this is nothing of concern to all of you but do you guys want to know the reason?"
Grand Ecstasy stay silent. Making Dereia to continue. She sighs.
"Because I'm bored."
.
.
.
"You-"
Sophia almost snaps but Claustrine hold her hand really tight which make Sophia calm her nerve.
"Thanks Claustrine."
Dereia smiles calmly.
"I saw my future on US. I'm just a Joe Schmoe, invisible to others. Not excelling on anything and I know that once I graduate that college, I'm just going to end up on the most mundane and boring life imaginable, the only problem is. Not only I'm living that life, I also need to deal with other shits like inflation, rising prices, the housing crisis, political crap and many more. That's not living at all."
"So the school shooting is your answer and... suicide?"
"Yes. Atleast, If I want to die. I should leave a mark in history right? Atleast my previous life have some semblance of meaning."
Mateo scoffs which make Josh curious.
"Sounds like skill issue to me you pathetic fuck."
"That's my point though."
"I mean instead of trying your best to live your life to the fullest in a good way. You instead let yourself get consumed by that doom thinking of yours. Like you can atleast do something positive. Do charity work, be a streamer, artist or writer. Hell. You can even join the military if you really have that itching to kill someone."
Mateo looks on Josh again. His expression change, his stare feels like daggers.
"But instead. You choose to commit a school shooting in a pathetic attempt of beating a record and... to feel alive. What a fucking loser."
"Hey Mateo. I believe instigating her is not a good idea." Beltrand's word of advice as he got concerned on Mateo sudden harsh words. Mateo realize his mistake and take a deep breath.
"Sorry."
But despite Mateo's brutal monologue. Dereia is seem unbothered. She just sigh deeply.
"As if saying that right now have any use or change what's already done. But I understand the thought. You can still ask me another question."
"So. What's your plan now that you're on this world?" Mateo's final question.
Dereia smile and have a deep thought.
"I really don't expect that I'm going to get transfered to another world once I died but here we are. And it seems this world is far more interesting as it's a genuine fantasy world. As for my plan? I am planning on going on a far away land and do what you suggest: live my life to the fullest. So, if you let me live and just allow me to escape. I promise that I would change my ways." Dereia clap his hand and wink to the group.
"As if the kingdom of Bolaire would not search you even in the edge of the world. Days from now, your face is going to get plastered on walls of all kingdoms in Grimael. You going to live your life here as a infamous fugitive with a very high bounty. You would never get a normal life as other adventurer are on hunt to find you."
"Aww man." Dereia's dissappointed response.
"And I don't believe that you going to change your ways when the first thing you do here is to kill a lot of people. You're a threat that needs to be persecuted."
Mateo stands up and look down on Dereia. His friends also prepared themselves to completely arrest Josh which inside Dereia's body.
"Surrender yourself now Dereia. Lets leave this place and don't make any move that might makes us subdue you." Mateo starts to reach Dereia's arm."
Dereia just sigh in dissapointment.
"I believe you don't want to do that."
Mateo stops because of Dereia's sudden warning.
"Whatever you planning to do is useless. We got you surrounded."
"Surrounding me is not thing you should not be concerned about. You see, under this cloak of mine is a a lot of C4 tied on my body."
Mateo is shocked. Cold sweat starts to drip on his forehead.
"What is C4?" Claustrine asked.
"Why not ask your leader here? Base on his reaction, it seems he already knows what I'm implying." Dereia makes a twisted grin.
"Your bluff would not work on us." Mateo tries to act tough.
"Ohhh? You know it was me that did the shooting because you investigate the crime scene right? And you spot me inside this restaurant full of red heads because you see me playing with my invisible gun... right?"
Dereia stands up and put her face near Mateo who didn't make any move as he was scared that he might provoke her.
"So? Do I have C4s or not? Are you really going to take the risk not that you have no ideas on what else I can do?" Dereia's mocking words.
Grand Ecstasy stands up and prepare to apprehend Dereia but Mateo calmly stop them. Mateo slowly shake his head.
"Don't." Mateo's only word.
"So what's your choice sir?"
After some tense moment. Mateo sees that they slowly getting the attention of other patrons in the restaurant. So he ease himself.
"Let's go."
Mateo walks away to the confusion of his friends who just unwield their weapons and follow Mateo without asking a single question. They leave the restaurant in defeat.
~~~~~~°~~~~~~
Outside the tables of a nearby park. Grand Ecstasy are just sitting silently as they drink the tea they ordered.
"So Mateo... What the fuck just happened there?" Beltrand's annoyed question.
"Yeah. We already got her but you suddenly give up. What in the Goddess name is wrong with you?" Claustrine is also annoyed and confused.
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
"Please don't use Vivvilly's name in vain Claustrine."
"Sorry Sophia. It's just... Damn. You better give us a good explanation Mateo."
Mateo clenches his fist.
"Shirna."
"Yes?"
"You got her scent right?"
"Yes Mateo."
"Good. We should wait for her to make a move and we follow her quietly until opportunity shows itself."
"But the opportunity was already there the moment we confront her inside the restaurant."
"Sorry Beltrand. I just can't risk the life ot other people there."
"It's related on the C4 she said right? What exactly is that?" Claustrine's question."
Mateo makes a stressed sigh.
"C4 is a type of man-made explosive on Earth."
The moment his friends hear the word explosive. They quickly become serious.
"Oh...." Claustrine
"I don't know how much wield Dereia have but the fact that she said C4 in plural means that she might have power to destroy the restaurant and damage the nearby building with a single explosion."
"Tsk! Things become more disgusting huh?"
"But she would also die in the explosion." Sophia's question.
"It's either she have some way to survive the explosion or... She can use the bombs as bargaining chip so people would reconsider fighting her or else she kills herself alongside others on her vicinity."
"Which she completely abuse entirely." Shirna's oppinion.
"But what if she's just bluffing." Beltrand's question.
"Sorry but I can't just risk it. We still lacking knowledge on her abilities and even we know that. We might survive the explosion but the other people inside the restaurant and other buildings would surely not."
"Damn it!" Beltrand's annoyed words.
"So we just gonna track her and wait for the chance that she isolate herself?" Claustrine's question.
"Yes."
"This is going to become a tiresome mission."
"That's the only thing we can do now. As long as we don't lose track of her scent. We can eventually arrest her without risking the lives of civillians." Mateo's explanation.
"How about we visit the Adventurers guild or Mr. Gilmore and tell them the situation."
Grand Ecstasy suddenly go on deep thoughts because of Shirna's suggestion.
"Thats... Not a bad idea." Beltrand's agreement.
"If Mateo is not too anxious. That might be the first thing we do instead of facing her directly without a plan." Claustrine's critique."
"Sorry guys. It's just the fact that there's another worlder beside me and a criminal makes me concerned. Hey, atleast we learned something on our confrontation with her. We can warn the others about the threat of explo-"
BOOOOM!!!
A loud sound of explosion engulfs the city of Nattunnia. Grand Ecstasy's eyes dilated the moment they recognize the direction of where the explosion happened.
"KYAAAAA!!!" A nearby woman screams.
"NATTUNNIA IS UNDER ATTACK?!" One of man's confused and shocked scream.
"Nonsense! No one is dumb enough to declare war on Nattunnia!" Another man shouts in disagreement.
"Then what is that explosion?!" An older man screams as he point on the rising smoke.
As the citizens nearby starts to debate on what just happened. Grand Ecstasy was already gone as they're on the way on the location.
The moment they reach the spot. Grand Ecstasy is now full of dread.
"N-no way..." Sophia's broken words. She put her hands on her mouth out of shock.
Mateo falls on his knees as he watch the restaurant.
Or what the remains of it as the restaurant is completely gone, replaced by a dark patch of land and debris. The buildings nearby are highly damaged.
Human remains and body parts are visible which caught the morbid curiousity of nearby citizens. Some can't handle the scene and puke themselves. Others are traumatized and crying.
"We need to find her now!?" Beltrand is seething with rage.
"B-but we don't even know if she's still alive!" Sophia is on the verge of crying.
Shirna smells a familiar scent. The scent of gunpowder which she accustomed to during his stay on Earth. Yet the scent is not staying on the explosion zone but a scent trail form which leads away on the area.
"She's still alive!" Shirna screams.
"Mateo get up! We need to make her pay with this!" Claustrine is also full of wrath as she tries to pull Mateo who still kneeling on the ground.
Mateo carefully remove Claustrine's hand as he slowly stand up.
"Shirna... Where did she go?"
Shirna flinch the moment he see Mateo's face.
"F-follow me." Shirna starts to walk and guide the group to the scent trail. The others starts to follow him.
Mateo's steps are hard. His face is full of wrath as he clenches his fist.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
30 Minutes before the explosion. Dereia is now alone after Grand Ecstasy leave her. She savours the grilled monster meat and hot soup made of chicken and vegetable.
She finally eaten a proper meal as weeks ago, she can only watch and deal with the taste of food close on spoiling. Food which the original Dereia eats for days with no protest.
After eating the savory meat, she now slurps the steamy soup which give her warm fuzzy feeling. Despite the circumstances, Dereia somehow able to enjoys the joys of life without guilt nor remorse at all. She smiles as she feel the warmth on the wooden bowl.
But her peace are short lived as five well clothed men abruptly enters the restaurant and walk directly on the table where Dereia enjoys eating her food. The intimidating pressence of the man finally stops Dereia.
"Do you need something on me dear gentlemans?"
The bald man which seems their leader scoffs.
"We don't need to talk to you criminal scum. If you want to have a simple death, follow us back to Bolaire." The bald man says slyly.
"And if I don't?"
"We going to drag you out of here."
"Ok. Then I will stay here."
Dereia then resumes on eating her food. The bald man feels really insulted. He pulls the bowl of soup on Dereia's hand and pour its content on her head to the shock of the people around them.
"Don't fucking test our patience. It's either we do this on easy way or hard way. You choose."
Dereia looks on the bald man. Her eyes devoids on any emotion nor reaction.
"I told you, I will stay here."
The bald man finally lost his patience aggressively hold Dereia's arm. His grip is so strong that it migh crush Dereia's arm if she didn't protecting herself.
The bald man then tries to drag Dereia. But to his surprise, Dereia didn't even move on her seat.
"Hey there's no time for joke." One of the the bald man's subordinate says.
"I-I'm not joking you imbecile! S-she's really resisting! Assisst me here!"
The other men looked at each other confused but reached the conclusion to help their leader. The start to surround Dereia.
"I'm warning you. Trying to take me away is a huge mistake."
But the group didn't even bothered listening to her words as they proceed to hold her on arms and shoulder. Dereia got pinned on the table as the group starts to tie her hands on her back.
"I telling you guys. You going to regret this assuming that you stay alive after this." Dereia's calm words as if her being tied up is a minor inconvenience.
The people inside the restaurant starts to chatter as the force arrest is happening in front of them. Some calls for the guards to be called as on their point of view, what's happening is a blatant kidnapping.
"Sir we should leave now or else the Nattunnia soldiers would apprehend us."
"Don't worry. We just gonna tell them the circumstances privately. I'm sure they would allow us to bring this scum back to Bolaire." The bald man explains as he continues to ensnare Dereia.
"Sir I warning you, you going to reg-"
Dereia recieves a loud backhand slap from the bald man.
"Shut the fuck up! You're just a lowly criminal commoner. You already insulted me too much!"
Dereia is shocked for a few seconds then she sighs deeply. She make her right hand in a form like she's holding a detonator.
She covered herself with a very thick mana barrier and she make a pushing gesture. In reality, Dereia is really holding a detonator only her can see.
Not even a second. The C4 surrounding Dereia's waist explodes. In slow perspective, the bald man is shocked when withing milliseconds, a bright light suddenly engulfed Dereia and then...
*BOOOOOOM!!!*
The restaurant was completely decimated alongside the people inside. The explosion is so catastrophic that the nearby buildings are also damaged and glass windows shatters on buildings far away due to shockwave. Debris got sent everywhere hitting nearby pedestrians, the severity of injury depends on their distance within the explosion range.
In the pile of rubble rises Dereia. Completely naked and stained. As the people panics, she used the opportunity to sneak away and go to the tight alleyways. Stealing any clothes she can found on her escape.
~~~~~~°~~~~~~
Dereia is now running away from the city, her destination is the Savagery Forest but she don't have any idea. As she just blindly run with sole mission of escaping before the people manage to organize and finally create another search party for her.
She can only manage to gather a single white bedsheet which she uses to cover her body. But such clothing is not practical at all and she must find a proper attire.
"This is starting to get annoying." Dereia mumbles to herself as she must start from scratch with, no knowledge of what this world can offer and only rely on things learned by the real Dereia and the powerful body Josh dominated.
SWOOOSH!
Dereia dodge an arrow which she sense early. She look behind only to see Grand Ecstasy on pursuit.
She attempts to fight back by firing numerous shots with her conceptual pistol. But with no way to properly aim, all of her shot miss.
"DEREIA!!!" Beltrand screams in rage.
Mateo use his mana to enhance his legs, making her leap in great distance. Mateo easily reach Dereia and ready to slash her back.
But due to the nature of Dereia's ability. Mateo can't predict what's going to happen. He see Dereia throws something.
"Grenade?!"
Mateo expects an invisible frag grenade to explode on his face. He quickly engulfs his body with his mana to brace himself for the explosion.
Yet to his suprise. Instead of an explosion, Mateo see a bright flash.
Mateo's slash miss as he got disoriented by the the flashbang thrown by Dereia. With no choice, Mateo stops chasing Dereia and stay still to wait for his vision to go normal.
Mateo's friends continue the pursuit as they bypass him.
"STOP!"
Everyone halts their chase abruptly.
"Why you suddenly stop us!?"
Mateo answers Beltrand by aggressively picking a nearby log and throwing it on the empty field in front of them. The moment the log lands on the ground, an explosion occurs wich sends the wood in the air again.
And the wood detonates another explosion and another before it landed on a land which seems safe.
"Land mines." Mateo's frustrated words.
"What we should do now?! She's going to escape on our reach!" Sophia is also frustrated.
"Can we just flip the ground and move aside those land mines?!" Claustrine's suggestion as she prepares her staff.
"We still don't know what else she can do. Especially that everything in her disposal is invisible to us. And if she can use guns and knows guerella tactics, fighting her in that forest with no preperation is a death sentence." Mateo words is tainted with anger as he points on the entrance of Savagery Forest.
Claustrine eyes widen as she was slightly surprised on Mateo's anger that he holding. Quiet rage similar on what she see on Earth.
"Sorry." Mateo's sincere apology.
"No need to apologize Mateo. You're right.
Mateo clenches his fist and then he turns and walks away. Each of his steps are heavy.
"Let's go and notify the knights."
Grand Ectasy starts their journey back to City Nattunia, all of them feels defeated as they let a murderer escape.
~~~~~~°~~~~~~
Meanwhile, in the city. Gilmore and the knights just reached the scene of explosion and he can't fathom that such event even happened.
He can't believe that someone would have an audacity to commit such act in the center of the strongest nation in Grimael but there he is, watching the aftermath.
"My god." Gilmores silent words.
The female Head Cleric that manages the recovery of survivors confronts Gilmore.
"Sir Gilmore. You might need to see this."
The Head Cleric then shows Gilmore a bald man sitting on the ground, covered with white sheet.
"Who is he? Is he a survivor?"
"Yes. But we see him in the center of the explosion, naked and damaged."
"Now he's suspicious."
"Yes Sir Gilmore. We and the Knights already asked him on what really happened inside the restaurant yet he never say a word."
"Is there another survivor inside the building?"
The Head Cleric shakes her head.
Gilmore then focus his attention to the bald man who avoids eye contact.
"Speak now. Don't let me lose my patience." Gilmore words are spoken like daggers.
The Bald man stays silent.
"Still want to hold your secrets? I see. Miss, tend his wouds, I want him to stay alive."
"Yes sir. " The Head Clerics reponds and returns to her duty.
Gilmore almost walks away to examine the area further but he see Grand Ecstasy just arrived on the scene.
"You're here to investigate? Sorry but this is now the Knight's job." Gilmore's honest words. But he notices that the party's mood is sour.
"We here to report that we failed to capture the culprit." Mateo's defeated words. Gilmore is surprised on his statement.
"Culprit? You mean the one that caused this explosion?" Gilmore is eager to hear the answer.
"Yes." Claustrine answers.
"But you chase the culprit the who's this man?" Gilmore points on the bald man.
Then Gilmore notices that if Grand Ecstasy knows the culprit. Then the group have knowledge on everything that transpires before the tragedy. He looks on the party very seriously.
"Tell me everything you know."
Grand Ecstasy tells the Academy massacre that happened in Bolaire and how they hastely return on Nattunnia to apprehend Dereia. Gilmore can't believe what he's hearing yet everything makes a little sense.
"I see. So the culprit is a girl who killed a lot of children of nobility. I presume that the killer is a Bolaire nobility as well."
Claustrine shakes her head.
We overhear one of the survivors in Bolaire. He's screaming that the suspect is a commoner.
"Fuck! Now everything makes sense now!" Gilmore's eureka moment.
"Sir Gilmore?" Sophia's confused question.
Gilmore walks in front of the Bald man.
"So this man must be sent by some nobility on Bolaire to chase this Dereia and kill her as form of silence. I assume that the Kingdom of Bolaire is still hiding the fact that a commoner kills a lot of noble kids and just planning to report differently. No wonder why he's the only survivor on the center of explosion as he's powerful enough to handle this Dereia that also manages to kill some teachers."
Gilmore watches the Bald Man shows a paniced expression, confirming his thoughts.
But Gilmore's smug is quickly switch to shocked when he see a boot hit the Bald Man's face, sending him several meters away. Gilmore looks on the owner of the boot and see Mateo seething in rage.
"You stupid fuck. Look what have you done." Mateo spouts with wrath as he walks towards the Bald Man who nows naked again and afraid as he watch Mateo slowly unsheaths his sword.
Grand Ecstasy quickly recovers on their shock and apprehend Mateo. Beltrand locking his arms on Mateo's shoulder, Sophia and Shirna hugging his waist and Claustrine puts herself in front of him.
"Mateo calm down!" Claustrine shouts.
"Bro calm down! You might kill him if you continue this!" Beltrand's shouts as he hold Mateo.
"That's what exactly what I'm going to do. He must die.
"
"ENOUGH!"
Mateo halt when the loud and commanding voice of Gilmore partnered by his intimidation finally convince him to stop his blind rage. Feeling that Mateo relaxes himself, Grand Ecstasy finally stops holding him.
"But because of him, so many people are killed. The adventurers, the patrons, the chef and his daughter" Mateo's pained words.
Gilmore pats Mateo's shoulder.
"That's why we going to do our best to bring him and that Dereia to Justice. So please calm down and help us by providing more information." Gilmore smiles as he understands the turmoil Mateo feels.
"Fine." Mateo walks away to calm himself. Beltrand and Shirna follows him.
Sophia and Claustrine bows to Gilmore.
"We're apologize for him showing unprofessional behaviour." Sophia's apology.
"No worries. I also understand his wrath. Even I are on rage for all of this unnecessary deaths. But blinding yourself in anger is not the way so please help him calm down."
"Yes Sir Gilmore."
Then the two woman leaves and follow the others. Gilmore then focus his attention again to the Bald Man who is more afraid than ever, as he see Gilmore finally shows his rage.
"Now that you failed to do your mission and caused a diplomatic disaster between Nattunnia and Bolaire, death is the only thing awaits you back in your city. So, better to cooperate with us and we give you a far better execution." Gilmore's cold words.
The Bald Man completely collapse to his own failure and hopelesness.