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I wake up in a room, with wooden furniture and chairs. I am currently laying on the bed, resting my head on a soft pillow.

I started to scan the place and my eyes landed on two figures. One is a girl with yellowish-white long hair. She had a white ribbon tied to the back of her head. Her wide sallow eyes that are covered by her long eye lashes are looking at me with worried gaze.

She’s wearing a white sun dress, perfectly matching her white skin. The other one is an old man with white hair and half closed eyes. He was smaller than the girl beside him but he had this strict and senile atmosphere around him. He’s wearing some white tunic and brown pants.

“You’re still alive” The old man sarcastically said. The girl frowned at his words and said. “Your rude Grandpa!” and pouted her lips.

The old man grunted and replied. “Hmph, you should be grateful that I let a stranger like him into our house”

What a nice way to greet me. The girl let a sigh and then turned to me.

“Do you remember anything?” She said with concerned tone. T-that’s right… I don’t remember anything... I can’t remember anything at all.

“I can’t remember anything…”

The girl grasps hearing my words while the old man let out a grunt. With still suspicions face, the old man talked to me. “Are you sure you don’t remember anything?”

I remain silent for a moment. And then, a wave of flashback flows through my head.

“Ah!”

“A-Are you alright!?”

“Tsk, seems like something bad happen to him”

I somehow manage to endure the pain, and slowly begun to speak.

“There’s a curse in me…”

The two of them remained silent, urging me to continue. I smiled wryly as if laughing at my own damned faith.

“After I killed the Black Dragon, he put a curse on me…”

The girl covers her mouth in surprise.

“B-Black Dragon… I thought that they were extinct” The girl said. The old man laid his hand on his white beard and muttered. “I thought too, but I guess we were wrong… So, what kind of curse did that dragon put to you?” Although he said that, he’s eyes have a hint of disbelief.

“Grandpa it’s rude! Don’t make him remember such awful things!”

“So we can help him, you don’t want him to die don’t you?”

“But still!”

I raised my hand to stop the two figures fighting in front of me. Noticing it, the two of them halted and looked at me.

“Its fine” I said as I glance at the girl, after pausing for a second, I continue to speak.

“It seems like, after defeating him, he placed this curse to me that snatched my powers and abilities away”

The girl step back a little while saying. “That’s horrible”

But unlike the girl who is panicking, the old man besides him remains calm. He then asked me a question. “So, how bad it is? How much of your powers you can still use?”

I let out a dry laugh and said. “None, all of my strength that I kept honing since I was born, all of the abilities that I gained through various training, all of them were gone”

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

For some reason, the girl’s lip turned upside down while her eyes became moist. She’s about to cry.

“T-that’s so sad! It’s unfair!”

Even the old man had a difficult face. “Even I wouldn’t know how to respond if my abilities and strength were snatched in an instant” He said.

Somehow, his expression softens. He looked at the already tearing up girl and pats her on her back.

“Don’t cry, you would only trouble him. For now, let’s go for now. You, we’re just downstairs, don’t be afraid and ask us if you need something”

The girl vigorously nodded, making her silky hair flies all over the place.

“Right right! I will help you no matter what!”

“Thank you” I said weakly. After that, they finally leave.

After securing that they are finally gone. I put my hand on my head.

Crap crap crap crap crap crap! I’m seriously panicking right now, you know why? It’s because what I said earlier is all a lie! It’s just my chuunibyou blood running through me! I mean! How can I waste a chance like that!

It’s only a once in a life time to use the ‘Curse of the Black Dragon’ setting! The truth is, I am voyaging a ship when a storm came by. The violent waves torn the ship to pieces and when I thought that I was about to die, I woke up in this room!

I repeatedly hit my head. Black Dragon curse you idiot! Why did you say that! Why am I like this!

It’s always like this, even when I’m a child. I can’t use magic, I don’t have outstanding abilities, but I at least want to be cool just like the heroes of the ancient time!

Because of my weird desire, I would wear something all black robe, acting like I’m mysterious or something. Honestly, it is fun pretending that I am being chased by some evil cult while protecting the innocent humans without them knowing.

My name is Reuces, a man with tragic past, I gained a forbidden power when I made a contact with the devil and used that power to protect the people. Or at least, that’s my ‘background’ story.

In reality, I’m just a man with so much free time.

Thinking about it know, maybe the ‘Curse of the Black Dragon’ setting isn’t all that bad? I mean, I said that my abilities were snatched; now I have an excuse for being weak.

While I was thinking about my setting and how I can improve it, my eyes were fixated on some odd painting. It’s a guy wearing knight armor, fighting off some kind of monster.

A white armor? Pathetic, a black one is cooler. How amazing would it be if someone would call you the ‘Black Knight of Death’ how cool is that! My eyes frowned from disappointment and unconsciously muttered. “Pathetic…”

Then, something crazy happened. The painting that I’m looking became blurry, it’s like something is appearing in front of it. I was right, a man gradually show himself out of nothing.

What the hell is that! Is that the legendary invisibility magic!? Are you kidding me!!! I thought.

Although he did something unbelievable, his face was making a wry smile as he looks at me.

“H-how did you notice?” He said. Notice? I didn’t notice at all! More like, did you see me hitting me head earlier! This guy is here assumed that I noticed him being invisible…

“I just feel it” I said like it was nothing. The man before me made a hurt expression, he then open his mouth.

“And when I just thought that I finally became a master assassin, you came here and destroyed my pride” He follows it by a self deprecating laugh.

This guy is a master assassin… The occupation that only exist in tales and legends! How envious! He had a silver hair and red eyes, he’s handsome too. I want to take his body and possess it by any necessary means.

Red eyes and silver hair are like, the pinnacle of coolness in terms of looks. I only had black hair and black eyes and a very boring face. So frustrating.

“So, what do you want?” My jealously were reaching its peak so I didn’t notice that my words became harsh.

But the man didn’t mind it and just answered me with a smile.

“I’m just curious, I thought that you were lying first but after you see through me. I have no choice but to believe it” He then follows it with a dry laugh.

No, you’re right. I am lying and I am very sorry.

“Seeing you, I finally realize that I still had a long way to go. Strong people like you give me determination to push through my limits”

I snorted and looked at my hand. “Strong…Huh?”

I’m feeling guilty what should I do. This guy is clearly looking at me with respect, which is something I didn’t receive until now. Actually, an old man in my neighborhood would always compliment me that I’m handsome or something, but that man was soon arrested for molesting a child.

As I was reminiscing the past, I heard a footstep moving closer to me. Then, I felt a hand on my shoulder.

“You fought a Black Dragon right? Even though you know that no one will know about it, you still did it because it’s right. I know that feeling, doing something without even being recognized for it. But, now is different. I recognize you, I acknowledge your effort” he said with such passion.

Hearing that, I smiled weakly. What the fuck are you saying; it’s embarrassing even for me.

But chance like this is not often. I must say something cool in return.

“Thanks but I don’t need it. I fought not to earn fame or recognition; I fought to save lives without expecting in return”

Yesssiirrrr! I must say, that line is pretty EPIC. Memorizing some cool lines while doing nothing pays off really well.

He taps my shoulder and disappears without notice.

I didn’t notice at all! I turn my head left and right, trying to find him but he’s gone. Alright that’s it; I will go downstairs before another weirdo shows up