Flourishing Sakura, Tokyo, Sensoji Temple.

As one of the famous attractions in the Tokyo Metropolis, Sensoji Temple was almost always crowded with people throughout the year, with an enormous amount of foot traffic.

However, unless it was a special day (New Year's, Summer Festival, Valentine's Day, Christmas, etc.), most of the visitors at Sensoji Temple were tourists from other areas. Of course, tourist attractions are usually frequented by outsiders rather than locals. Only those locals who wanted to make money off the tourists would regularly visit the sights.

But today was different. The Nakamise Shopping Street, normally a flowing stream of people, was now like a block of ice—solidified and motionless. Countless individuals thronged around a few figures in the center, following them as they moved slowly forward. There weren't many tourists; only local people who had received exact news managed to secure front-row positions for a prime view.

"Ah, darn it—we came too late!"

Inside the Wind Thunder God Gate, adorned with the 'Golden Dragon Mountain' sign, several high school students looked at the crowd ahead—so dense that not even a needle could penetrate or water splash through—and couldn't help but sigh repeatedly. "If we'd known, we wouldn't have bothered attending the last class and just rushed here."

"That was Teacher Nishikata's class. It was inescapable. He runs faster than you."

"Can we see the Prince from here?"

"We can't see him, just a faint glimpse of blond hair."

A female high school student, looking at the crowd in the distance, stomped her feet and bit her lip, saying, "I didn't expect the Watcher's Prince to come to Tokyo... If I could just talk to him for a moment, I'd die happy."

"We can't squeeze in," another curly-haired male high school student said.

"But who knows when the Prince will come again..."

"Will the Prince hold a fan meet-up?"

"Unlikely, he's not a celebrity. But if he releases a CD or other merchandise, I'd buy at least three of each."

"Look at Twitter! Someone in Takayama Hida caught a video of the Prince in battle!"

"So cool, so strong! Isn't that enemy a bit too bulky? Maybe a mountain giant? But it still got smashed into rubble by the Prince; the Martial Spirit Squad couldn't even lend a hand!"

"As expected of the Federation's strongest!"

"Isn't the Federation's strongest that Angel?"

"Are you blind? That Angel guy is old and ugly, and he was even beaten by the Handsome Monkey King, unable to fight back! Our Prince, however, is out there saving the world and defeating monsters. He's not inferior to those from Fairy Palace. Not to mention, he's Suda Masaki's type, with the feel of Yamazaki Kento, Nomura Shuhei's style, the essence of Mamiya Shotaro, and a bit like Takayuki Yamada with a pinch of Mackenyu Arata's elements. He's way better than that Angel uncle!"

"Can't those old men and women just keel over and clear the way? I want to see the Federation's hero!"

But the crowd nearly flattening Nakamise Shopping Street was not a monster these high school students could challenge.

They sighed, standing resignedly under the great red lantern of the Thunder Gate, leaning against the statues of the Wind God and Raijin, hoping for a miracle.

At that moment, one of the girls said, "I'm a bit thirsty."

"Me too," another quickly agreed, then turned to a short, slightly hunchbacked boy and said, "Sugary U, go get us some drinks."

"I want an energy drink."

"I'll have a milk coffee."

Several classmates immediately announced their drink choices. The short boy opened his mouth and said in a low voice, "I can't carry that many..."

"Hmm?" The tall, curly-haired boy snorted. "Sugary U, want some sugar today? Too bad, we don't have art class..."

With an unspoken understanding, the classmates burst into laughter. The short boy didn't dare speak anymore. He obediently turned around to look for a nearby beverage vending machine.

Perhaps because there were too many people visiting Sensoji Temple today, the nearby beverage vending machines were out of stock. The short boy couldn't get all the drinks, yet he didn't dare to go back empty-handed or substitute other drinks. So, he had to run to a farther vending machine to make the purchase.

After much effort, he managed to buy all the drinks—seven or eight bottles in total. The short boy simply couldn't carry them all.

However, he was experienced in this situation. He opened his backpack and stuffed the drinks inside. Although the icy beverages would wet his books, it didn't matter anymore.

When he was walking back, a group of people emerged from another path. Several men in suits were escorting a blond man towards a sedan parked by the curb.

"I'm really sorry, we didn't expect to cause such a sensation..."

"It's fine. Doesn't it just show how popular I am?"

"True, sir. Your noble deed will win the hearts of people all around the world. Flourishing Sakura will not forget your contribution in Takayama Hida..."

"That was all thanks to the help of many Martial Soul warriors..."

The short boy, who had learned about the Supernatural World through various channels, quickly recognized the men in suits. They were members of the Martial Spirit Squad, frequently seen on TV. The blond man they were escorting was the representative from the Watchers who had been visiting Flourishing Sakura for the past few days—the powerful Transcendent known as the Prince!

Other bodyguards also noticed the short boy's presence. They hadn't expected anyone to be on such a secluded path. But as the boy didn't appear to be a threat, the bodyguards simply stood protectively in front of him until the blond man and others got into the car.

However, just before the blond man got into the car, he suddenly turned, glanced at the short boy, and smiled before getting in and driving away.

The glance from the blond man made the short boy feel dizzy. He clutched his backpack and returned to the Wind Thunder God Gate.

However, the classmates who had sent him to buy the drinks were no longer there.

He checked his phone and found a scolding message from Curly Hair: "You take forever to buy drinks. You're dead meat."

The short boy read the message without much emotion. However, carrying so many bottles all the way back had made him very tired.

He rested against a pillar by the gate for a bit before heading home with his backpack.

At dinner, he ate with his mother and his father, who had returned late from work as usual. His father routinely asked about his schoolwork, and his mother inquired how he was doing at school. The short boy smiled, replied that everything was fine, and mentioned that he had gone to Sensoji Temple with his classmates that day. With that, the routine family dinner concluded.

Back in his room, he took out the eight bottles of drinks from his backpack and placed them on the desk. He opened an energy drink, took a sip, then took out his slightly wrinkled cram school workbook, which had gotten damp, and began to study.

However, as he stared at the words in the workbook, he felt an inexplicable wave of exhaustion, and tiredness flooded his mind like a tide.

Unable to resist, he rested his head on the desk and closed his eyes.

In a half-conscious haze, it seemed as though he dreamt of the past.

During an art class where they were painting landscapes, someone remarked that the paint colors looked like candy. Others chimed in, "Really, they don't look like art supplies at all."

He laughed along with everyone. Then, he wasn't sure who, but someone handed a paintbrush to him and said, "Go on, give it a lick."

Sometime along the way, bullying him had become an entertaining activity for the class.

He didn't resist; he obediently licked it.

As for the taste of that 'candy,' he would remember it for a lifetime.

The 'atmosphere' was like an invisible monster; he could only survive in class by going along with it. Perhaps there were people who could defy the atmosphere and still live well, but that person wasn't him—short, unable to fight, and not good at sports.

It was better to conform than to resist, lest the bullying get worse.

Then he dreamed of more… such as being egged on to pretend he and a girl in class who was also bullied were a couple, being called 'Sugary U,' and so on…

Unexpectedly, as he relived these memories in his dream, he didn't feel angry. His heart remained calm, as if he were examining someone else's life.

At that moment, a familiar voice surfaced from within him, as natural as if he were speaking to himself:

"Do you crave power?"

Then, what is the price? he responded internally.

"That depends on what you want to do."

I want to do bad things, he stated.

"Why do you think the things you're going to do are bad?"

Because there are many of them, he thought.

"Yes, the side with more people is always right; their plunder is also justified. It's a pity that you couldn't be on the side with more people.

Luckily, the one you pledge allegiance to will also never be on the side with the majority.

I grant you the Courage to kill, the power to plunder. But the price is that you must not fail this gift of mine; you must inflict terror upon the world.

Also, when you carry out a killing, you must chant my name. You may attribute all your sins to me. I don't mind being the reason for your evil deeds, your motive, and your instigator. This way, you won't have to worry about your actions affecting your loved ones, right?

If you fail to do these things, I will reclaim your power and Courage."

What is your name? he asked.

In the haze, he seemed to see the blurred figure of a woman. Moments later, the voice inside his head rang out again, "Use the simplest and most direct name—Demon King. The Demon King who spreads terror, feeds on Resentment, and makes all living beings tremble in fear.

When the Demon King's Descent occurs, all traitors shall perish."

Yet he was skeptical. Are you really that powerful, Demon King?

"A Demon King without any scruples is a predator for whom all creatures in the world are but food, and all the strong are his prey. No one can match him; no one can stand against him. His hatred will pollute everything, and all living beings will tremble at his feet. However, the moment the Demon King descends, the Hero's Heart will follow like a shadow..."

The voice in his heart gradually faded into silence. Feeling light seeping through his eyelids, he realized he had fallen asleep on his desk, his workbook soaked with drool.

He wiped off the drool, suddenly stood up, and remained still for a few minutes before stomping heavily on the floor!

The loud noise drew his mother's attention. "U, what's wrong?" she called from outside the door.

"It's nothing."

After sending his mother away from the door, he looked down at his own hands, feeling a surging power coursing through his veins. His heart seemed filled with light, and endless Courage bolstered his spirit!

In the past, it wasn't that he hadn't thought of Rebellion, but his cowardly rationality quickly suppressed the flicker of defiance in his heart: teachers, their parents, his own parents...

He lacked the confidence to face the consequences of Rebellion.

But now, he felt full of Courage and confidence, as if he could face anything fearlessly, no matter what happened!

He slowly sat on the bed, countless plans popping into his mind. The world in his eyes seemed rich and colorful; he had many things to do. He couldn't fail the task entrusted to him by the Demon King...

A Demon King who grants me Courage, shares power with me, and actively helps the weak...?

A flicker of doubt flashed through his mind, but it was quickly overwhelmed by other thoughts filled with nightmares and blood.

***

「Escape Day Two - Daytime」

After taking Little Jiu to school in the morning, Ren Suo began his second day's playthrough of Inverted World.

Lingyin had left early. "This young lady is off to work in Edo," she'd said. "I won't be back until tonight. You two masters, please be careful."

Once Lingyin left, Maid Xiao Suo appeared on the screen, asking respectfully, "What are we doing today? Shall we start an investigation first, or shall we take a stroll around to rest, or shall we start with, tutoring, me?"

It was only then that Ren Suo realized 'resting well' didn't mean sleeping. In fact, even if it were sleeping, it should be a more... vigorous kind. Instead, it meant engaging in leisure activities, like strolling around for fun.

The need for entertainment during their escape was likely related to the Resentment Young Master Mu carried.

This filthy Resentment constantly affected Young Master Mu's mood. Consequently, any unpleasant event could easily depress him, causing the rate of Resentment purification to drop significantly.

If things went poorly, it could even shift Young Master Mu's alignment. If his alignment became permanently fixed as 'Absolutely Evil,' the game save would essentially be ruined.

Investigation was for completing Task One: Find the culprit Behind the Scenes. Entertainment and rest were for Task Two: Purify the filthy Resentment as quickly as possible.

But what is this 'shall we start with, tutoring, me' about?

Am I playing a proper game at all!?

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