Ray was heavy, and his run was loud, but he didn’t mind. He felt tireless. He started imagining possible scenarios of him getting into town to mentally prepare himself, when something occurred to him, and he stopped.

Isn’t it going to hurt though, to be killed?

“It will, but in a muted way, since you are only possessing the body. It’s good practice. Also, weren’t you just killed as a baby?”

I died too fast to really feel hurt… Ray muttered then resumed running, somewhat comforted.

Wait, what do you mean good practice? This isn’t something I need to practice, this life is weird, but normally I will just live peacefully. Not fighting and stuff like this.

“Sure,” Vorm replied flatly.

You don’t believe me? Just watch.

“Okay...”

…I hate you.

Vorm chuckled, the fool was still so naive, it was almost cute.

The sun was setting, but they hadn’t met anyone, and seen no town or any human settlements.

It must’ve been the other way. I’ve been running for like half a day.

“Just keep running, there must be something this way too.”

Mm.

So Ray kept running throughout the night. He actually found it relaxing. The moon was out. Although he didn’t have the close connection with it as he had as a wolf, he could still appreciate it. Thinking about the moon he realized something.

Wait a minute Vorm. Shouldn’t I keep my abilities from my previous life?

Vorm was baffled, it couldn’t believe what absurd things the fool was coming up with again. “I can’t even begin to explain how stupid that is. No.”

Why not? How else am I going to be stupidly overpowered and face-slap arrogant young masters?

“...”

“I’ll explain it to you when you can explain gravity to an ant. Also, even if you were stupidly overpowered, you’d just run away crying if you were bullied by an arrogant young master.”

...Can’t argue with that, people are scary… anyway, can’t you just try? I’ve read a book where the main character kept reincarnating, and each life she would gain new abilities, and get overpowered. Shouldn’t I be like that, even if I won’t beat up arrogant young masters?

“No. Your Soul Core’s too weak.”

So when my Soul Core gets stronger, can I carry over abilities?

Vorm wanted to deny it, but it paused. “Well, it is not completely impossible if it’s just one or two. Bit tricky, but should be doable for me to do for you.”

Vorm, I knew you were awesome.

Vorm liked when its ego was stroked, so it explained a bit more, “While those kinds of abilities you want can’t be carried over yet, the skills that only require muscle memory can even now.”

So muscle memory is stored in the soul?

“Yes and no. For you, yes.”

Hmm, I see. So I should spend a couple hundred years, and become the most awesome sword master.

“You don’t have the patience for that.”

Ray wanted to retort, but as the sky was brightening, something ahead caught his eyes. He stopped.

Look! Finally a town!

“Go die.”

Ray: …..

…I understand that is the plan, but… when you put it like that… wow, rude.

Ray was watching the town, mentally preparing himself for a minute. Or two. Or three. Or just a half a dozen...

“Aren’t you going?” Vorm broke his peaceful contemplation.

Soon.

“No point dragging it out.”

I’ll go in a bit.

But in a bit, Ray still didn’t go. He was anxious.

“Remember, you are just wearing a costume, no one can see you.”

Right, right… you are right. I’m fine, it will be fine. Ray took a couple deep breaths, then started walking towards the slowly awakening town with heavy steps.

As he got closer step by step, his anxiety grew into unbearable heights, and he was on the verge of crying. Every part of him was screaming, wanting to turn tail and run, as he ran away many times before in his old life. He was a coward after all, he could run this time as well, and just die quietly. But… he hated that he was like this. No matter what, he couldn’t run anymore. Each step was a struggle, each step he fought himself, each step he was on the brink of running away, but each step was a testament that he could choose differently. He could go against himself, because that was what he wanted, and he had the power and strength to fight against his own nature.

This way, Ray eventually got to the gate of the little town. His gaze locked on the ground in front of him, his mind was fully focused on each step he took, he didn’t even realize he knocked down the gate. His mind was a mess, he was shaking uncontrollably, crying bloody tears, anxiety driving him half-mad.

Then he heard the screams, and he looked up as he stopped. People were running away, they weren’t looking at him. They only looked for a split second then ran. Not being stared at, made him feel slightly better. He kept going. But now something else occurred to him.

What if there is no one here who can fight me? What do I do then? Vorm what if I arrive at the other side of town and there is still no one to stop me? Do I just stupidly leave the town? Or turn back like an idiot who got lost?

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

“Don’t worry, look there’s an idiot for you to fight,” as Vorm said this, Ray saw a figure in brilliantly blinding armor, his golden hair like a halo framing his heroic face, his righteous roar announcing the evil demon’s demise, his sword of justice firmly gripped in two sturdy hands, his dash unstoppable.

As the noble hero charged at him, Ray closed his eyes in content, awaiting judgment. He felt relief that he was about to be freed from his anxiety. As a wicked smile spread across Ray’s demonic face, the dazzling champion slashed down with his sword of inevitable death that could not tolerate any evil, aiming to bisect this hideous foe, vanquishing the—

At this moment, everything froze.

Ray was speechless.

The sword hit him, alright.

He got a scratch on his stomach.

A scratch.

“HAHAHAHAHAAH! I KNEW IT!” Vorm was having the day of its life, roaring with laughter. “What are you going to do now Mr. Very Evil Demon?”

Ray: ...…

Ray was still speechlessly frozen.

The “hero” was frozen as well.

They both stood frozen for a second, two seconds, three… many seconds.

Then the hero jumped back, roared something Ray didn’t understand, and stabbed at his stomach again.

Ray now had two scratches on his stomach.

Ray wanted to cry.

Ray was still speechless.

Ray blinked.

Ray wanted to smash this idiot.

Ray was pissed.

Ray roared.

Ray turned around and ran out of the town into the forest.

In the forest, Ray was curled up on the ground hugging his knees, sobbing like an idiot.

I tried! I really tried! You know how hard it was for me to go into that place I didn’t know, among people I didn’t know? But I did it! I fought really hard, and I went into that place! I thought I even met a hero to fall to his blade like a proper demon! He totally looked like a hero, didn’t he? I’M SO PISSED! How can he be that incompetent? He got my hopes up, I’m so angry… Ray kept going on and on with incessant complaining, Vorm tuning him out. He was emotionally so worked up and exhausted, he eventually fell asleep crying.

It was still bright when Ray woke up. As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw someone standing not far away. He jumped up in fright, but then sighed in disappointment. It was just another idiot. He scoffed in derision at the fake hero. He wasn’t going to get his hopes up again when he will only get a third scratch on his—

Ray died.

He was cut into pieces with a single slash.

*

What the hell was that?! How am I dead? Ray was still reeling from his incomprehensibly sudden death in his soul space.

And the worst part is that I looked like one of those moronic villains that look down on the protagonist and die from their own arrogance! Ray was inconsolable. He had imagined to be a cool epic demon, but what did he do? He ran away from a fake hero, and then when the real hero came, he acted like the dumbest idiotic villain ever, the kind he himself hated with a passion.

I’m so upset!

“You know, it’s even more pathetic that you are throwing a tantrum now.”

And you!! You knew he was strong didn’t you?

“Of course I knew, I’m not a fool like you,” Vorm sneered.

Why didn’t you tell me??

“Why are you asking the obvious? Isn’t it because I found it hilarious?” Vorm asked mockingly.

Ray was livid, but he didn’t know what to do with himself. At the end, he just sat down and tried to summon some books. They were of course all blurry. He didn’t want to ask but… he really wanted to read…

Vorm…

“Say please nicely,” Vorm said in a sickeningly sweet tone that made all of Ray’s hair stood on end.

Fuck you, Ray threw the books at the hole.

Vorm chuckled, but it summoned the books Ray wanted.

Thank you. Ray forgot all his grievances and even thanked it. He could read about his favorite fellow transmigrated bookworm, that always cheered him up. He only wanted to read one book. But then he thought he could read just one more. And then another one. Just a little bit more. When he was on the sixth book, Vorm’s voice suddenly disturbed his blissful reading.

“This series has over thirty volumes, are you gonna read them all in one sitting?”

Just one more.

“You already read those books twice, how are you not bored of it when you know what’s going to happen anyway?”

Ray frowned, he was getting irritated, shut up, it’s fun.

The books disappeared. Ray was stunned for a couple seconds, then his face darkened, and he spat it through gritted teeth. Give. Them. back.

“Live a life first, then you can read more. Or, you don’t want to be a dragon anymore?”

That made Ray hesitate, he really wanted to become a dragon after all.

Okay, but can I not be a baby?

“Yeah, no baby, too annoying. I can kick someone out and you can take their body.”

Isn’t that just possession that would make me die in days?

“…”

“…there is a difference between a powerful demon and a lowly human. It won’t be like a possession.”

Hmm… but no. I don’t want you to kill someone for me.

“What does it matter when you had already killed hundreds of thousands? So you’d rather start as a baby then?”

Ray winced. Hundreds of thousands… That was different, I didn’t have my memories back then. He grimaced. And no baby… can’t you just make me a… co-pilot?

“Co-pilot? What strange ideas are you coming up with this time?”

Co-pilot. Put me with someone’s soul, don’t kick them out. We can swap who controls the body. Preferably someone cool. Ah I know, co-piloting the school grass.

“…”

“…you read too much danmei.”

But wouldn’t it be fun? Put me in the school idol’s body in a high school. It would help me with my anxiety too if I could see how normal people interact with each other. And I’d also need to be able to speak their language… Sorry, sorry, I know that’s too much. Vorm, I know you are pretty amazing, but this is too specific, isn’t it? As awesome as you are, there’s no way you can do all this, it’s impossible, forget it, forget it. Ray sighed.

“I can’t? There is no way? Impossible? Laozi is going to show you”

Whose the one who read too much danmei now... Ray muttered as his consciousness faded.

After pretending to be baited, Vorm fiddled around a bit to get the fool ready for reincarnation, humming to itself in delight. Ray was going to get what he asked for, and more.