"Ugh...my head hurts," I groaned, getting up abruptly from the hospital bed.

Oi...have I been hospitalized again? Shit...

Fortunately, this time it wasn't something severe like a missing limb. As far as I can recall, I merely lost consciousness from holding my breath for too long, not from inhaling that poisonous gas. With that being said, it only took a few hours for me to wake up.

"You're finally awake," a man called out while inspecting his equipment.

Ignoring him, I glanced around the room while wearing a worried expression.

"Looking for that noisy girl? She'd pester me about you every minute that you wouldn't wake up, just like the first time. Fortunately, I have business with you so I had a good excuse to get rid of her."

Business? Am I going to get my body modification in this state? No, this is the perfect time. Who knows when I'll be free again. Also, I don't want to make it a habit visiting hospitals.

"Before we get down to business, I'll settle your worries. I was in the hospital adjacent to mine, discussing things. While I was roaming the hospital, I noticed that I was being watched. As if to ensure I wasn't doing anything I shouldn't, or..."

He walked around the room, imitating the actions in his story.

"I was walking somewhere I shouldn't have. Honestly, I knew enough about who was involved, not where it took place, but that was precisely why I didn't want to involve myself in the matter as it could threaten the entire faction. However, after I saw the three of you making so much progress, I knew that you would eventually catch them. So, there was no need for me to not take action." He sighed. "This faction will inevitably meet its demise."

So, he decided to join us and ended up saving me, huh?

"Before I continue, I'd like to know your stance on things—as a human, that is. Why are you involving yourself in this matter? Are you simply too kind or do you seek to make a reputation for yourself?" He stopped in his tracks. Standing before me, he interrogated me with a cold gaze.

My stance... a part of me wants to prove myself by improving my standing in this nation so that I can live a life of leisure if I can't die. But another part of me is unbothered, not finding any reason to push myself so hard to live. I don't have a reason to live, but that's my very reason to die. But, with Maria now in the picture, I was given a map that could potentially lead to a reason to live.

I looked at my hand before clenching it while I contemplated.

No, that doesn't make sense. I don't need a grand position. I came to this faction for one thing. Any and every other thing is unnecessary. I'm barely holding on for dear life, so this selfishness of mine is my way of living—of feeling alive by following my own rules.

Averting my gaze from my fist to Dr. Stein, I tugged a smile.

Good grief. That woman just had to give me something to look forward to.

"Neutral. I don't care what goes on in this faction. While it does sound like an appealing offer to boost my reputation, I can always improve it elsewhere. But most importantly..." I closed the distance between us, returning his cold gaze. "I don't want to prematurely take a side."

That's right. Just like how I find my suicidal attempts just, those who don't know my story would see the objective sinful deed as evil. So, to me, it doesn't matter whether an action is good or evil, as long as it's justified. Even if the masses deem the action as wrong, if I see it as righteous, I won't act. This is me living by my own rules.

"I like that answer, but unfortunately, that indifference to society's rules and standards is the reason why you don't fit in anywhere. Just like a nation different from humans. One that you'd see in fiction. Every and any human would jump for joy if they were in your shoes, but you don't share that enthusiasm."

That was part of the reason why I wanted to die. Due to my unfavorable view of things, I felt excluded from the rest of the world. In reality, everyone faced this problem but they discarded their true self to please society. 'If you can't beat them, join them' as they say, but instead of giving up so easily like everyone else, I strived for power to beat the entire humanity.

Evil is what the majority deems as unjustified behavior, and the minority are too scared to state their opinion, so they put on a mask and agree. But I will stay true to myself to the very end. I won't cover my face with a mask. So, before apprehending the culprits of these illegal investigations, I want to hear their side of the story.

"Verm- no...Cain. I'm curious about your past, and...that symbolic scar engraved on your back. Is that scar the result of your curse?"

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Shit, how could I forget? He's the doctor that patched me up several times. Of course, he saw my back.

I closed the distance between us and grabbed the collar of his shirt indignantly.

"How the hell do you know about my curse?!" I queried, glaring at him.

"It's my ability, Insight. Well? am I right?" He responded nonchalantly, not even flinching from my outburst.

Returning to my senses after getting the answer I wanted to hear, I stepped back.

"No...it isn't that. It is...something else."

Well, at least I confirmed that I was really cursed. Normally, I would doubt him but there was no other way he could have known about my curse unless it was an ability of his.

"I see. Now I'm even more curious. Even my extraordinary healing abilities couldn't get rid of that scar. Not to mention, that wonderful answer of yours. What have you witnessed for you to distance yourself from justice? Tell me, Cain," he requested, extending his hand to me.

"I refuse."

Like that bitch, don't pry into my past.

"The reason why you despise humanity isn't because of their toxicity, but because of your apathy. You don't follow their lineage, so naturally, you won't fit in. An 'alien' in a world filled with humans would inevitably come to hate them."

"What are you getting at?" I asked skeptically. I felt a surge of annoyance creeping in as if I was facing God who knew all my deepest, and darkest secrets. Was there more to his Insight ability?

"My ability allows me to perceive your origin. I can tell you all about it, but... I first want to confirm everything by hearing about your past."

Just like that mysterious man who crept into my mind, this freakish doctor crept into my background. Why—even though I was happy that I finally escaped that shitty place—do I have to always be reminded?

"I...I refuse..." I looked down, gritting my teeth and clenching my hands into a fist. I unknowingly darted my eyes across the room, searching for my sword.

"What? You don't want to tell me? Then how about this? A trade. Let's exchange dark secrets. This is how you operate, I presume? Just like how you put on a big show to earn my trust. It's time I do the same. Follow me."

He was surprisingly understanding. Without saying anything more, he left the room and I followed suit. My gaze never left him.

A dark secret? Don't tell me...

After we reached the lowest floor of the hospital, we entered a restricted room. Nothing appeared unusual about it, but then he tapped twice on the wall at the end of the room. It echoed on the other side. The wall then parted into two like double doors.

Another passageway?

Just like that one we found outside, we walked down a flight of stairs in a dark area. But this one was quicker. It was closer to the surface than the other one, but wouldn't the roars of the monsters be heard? Unless he used soundproof walls.

"If you want to go back, now is your chance," he said but he had no intention on letting me go. I was watching his every move, but it felt like he was several steps ahead of me in that game, as if he already thought of a way to kill me if I tried anything foolish.

A doctor, my ass. Wait...if he has an ability, then doesn't that mean he's strong enough to conquer the Tower of Ascension?

After opening a steel door, I revisited that scenery from two chapters ago.

"So this is...your dark secret?"

The third possibility. An influential, competent doctor using other doctors as his pawns to get the dirty work done.

"That's right," he admitted, turning around to face me. He looked at me, devoid of emotions. "I am the savior who contributed the most to the health of the aliens—the Miracle Doctor. Well, that's on the surface. In the underground—in this mental asylum—I am the perpetrator who contributed the most to the unwanted prosperity of the alien nation—the Dark Plague Doctor," he added, opening his arms. "Now then, Cain. Will you kill or apprehend me for the sake of fame, or will you stay true to your conviction and listen to my reason?"

I sighed, walking to him casually as if I didn't even need to think about it.

"We both know that I was always aware that you were the perpetrator, so I'm sure that you didn't bring me here for this half-baked declaration. What's this 'dark secret' of yours? It's clearly not being the perpetrator."

"Impatient, are we? Well, this declaration is necessary for what's to come. Like how you lost faith in your species, I lost faith in mine. Who knows, it might be for the same reason."

He lowered his arms and continued to walk to the door opposite the room. We continued to ignore the monsters banging against the bars.

If he's the culprit, then he was speaking about himself when he said that revealing the perpetrator would bring destruction to this faction. But, how is that prosperity?

After we reached the end, he brushed his fingers and rested his forehead against the door as if it was something dear to him.

"Cain, when I open this door, I suggest you mind your manners. If I catch a glimpse of disrespect from you, I'll kill you on the spot," he warned.

After bracing myself for what's behind the door, I nodded. He then stepped back from the door to open it. Despite this place being underground, and it being filled with dim lights and an ominous atmosphere, what was behind that door was something completely different. As the light pierced through the opened door, I briefly covered my eyes with my hand while I adjusted to the contrast in brightness. I then removed my hand and opened my eyes.

"Th-This is..." I uttered before falling speechless to take in the scenery before me.

It was a huge room with a round ceiling. The area was adorned with radiance and flowers like a garden. Amidst the field of flowers, several blue concrete tiles created a walkway to something ahead. Glancing at Dr. Stein for confirmation, he slightly nodded, permitting me to walk on the tiles.

I then ventured to the object ahead. I knew I had to rush, but I couldn't help but take my time while I admired the scenery. It wasn't something that you could create on a whim. It needed to be tended to with the utmost care and affection. Ironically, I reached the object before I knew it.

It was a flower-themed casket with a young girl sleeping inside it.

No...is she dead? It doesn't look like she's breathing. Also, why would a girl sleep here?

I couldn't tell because her skin looked too soft and bright to be that of a corpse. But if the so-called Miracle Doctor was involved then I couldn't brush off that possibility.

"Who is this?" I asked, kneeling to get a closer look but I didn't dare touch her.

Before answering me, he took his sweet time walking across the tiles. After joining me, he also knelt and used his finger to brush a lock of the little girl's hair away from her face.

"My deceased younger sister."