CHAPTER 83 - Saik vs. The Narco. Part 5.
(Pov - Saik 1.)
Wow, wow. Ah, this outfit looks strange on me. It doesn't suit me at all.
Yes, it's perfect.
I look at myself in the huge mirror that Number 31 brought. Very tight black pants that highlight parts of my body that are supposed to be private. Simple black shoes. A short white scarf around my neck. My hair is now blond and short, revealing my new blue eyes. And an open pink shirt, leaving my abdomen and chest fully visible.
I look quite… ridiculous. Way too ridiculous. I look like an exhibitionist. But well, that's exactly what I'm going for, to be completely different from Saik Norsai and from Shadow.
"…"
"… What?"
Number 31 keeps staring at me fixedly, with an expression far too serious for someone as extroverted and weird as she is. Now what? This whole disguise idea was yours. Are you not satisfied? I think it looks fine. Everything about me, even my appearance and height, everything is different. It's the perfect disguise.
"There's a big problem."
"Which one?"
"You still turn me on."
"…"
"…"
Okay. I knew this would be stupid. Better not waste any more time. According to what the legendary ghosts protecting my father told me, Saik 2 escaped from my father. I don't blame him, after all, he is me. If my father wants him to survive without his help, then that's exactly what he'll do.
One Saik escaping from my father and a brand-new character appearing in the city. The best move is to make an appearance while Saik 2 is still in town. If he leaves, I'll become much more suspicious.
"Let's go."
"No, no, wait. Your body doesn't turn me on anymore, in that sense you're completely different. But your expression hasn't changed at all. In that you're still identical."
The expression, huh? It's not like I'm the only person in the world who doesn't smile. Besides, I'm terrible at acting. I won't even try and… Huh? Why is she groping my chest? I thought it didn't turn her on… No, that's not it. She's using her spiritual power on me.
"What are you doing?"
"Give me permission to manipulate. Just a little."
"Fine."
I doubt she's going to try anything stupid, so I'll let her do whatever she's planning. Coming from her, I doubt it's something pointless, much less at such a serious moment like this.
"And… done! Look at your reflection."
I look in the mirror. Wow, wow. Ah, I feel so strange.
My expression is ridiculous. I look like one of those handsome, popular guys that were in every group I ever got involved with. Always smiling, giving flirty looks to the girls, and an expression of superiority toward the guys. I always thought they were ridiculous, and whenever one of them tried to look down on me or insult me, saying he was so much better than me, I ended up torturing him and modifying his body until he became hideous.
And here I am, turned into one of them. Ah, what a load of crap.
"I'm going to control your facial expression, my love. And as for your personality… just try not to say 'ah' at the beginning of every sentence."
"Ah, I'll try."
"… It's already become part of you, huh? When you were Shadow you could control it, but after several years of saying 'ah' without restraint, it's become part of you. What a weird habit you inherited from your father, love."
"Ah, I know. Instead of his intelligence, I inherited the unnecessary stuff. Ah, wow, wow."
But anyway, it's time to go.
I activated invisibility and left the place. The meeting point is under that big casino in the distance, the tallest building in the city. Is the entire building a casino? I can already imagine the variety of illegal activities that happen in that place.
"Master…"
Number 39, the legendary ghost of dreams, emerged from my shadow. Ah, I still can't get used to her appearance. Number 39 and 40 are legendary ghost twins, and they are the legendary ghosts of dreams and nightmares respectively. But their appearances are the complete opposite of their titles.
Number 39 rose in front of me, so I stopped running.
Ah, her figure is so hunched and lanky. I don't know why I find it so interesting. Looking at her gives me a certain feeling, but I couldn't say what it is.
Her skin is a damp, translucent mass, like a rotting shroud that lets you see twisted bones and black throbbing veins underneath. From her flesh hung strips of putrid tissue dripping a viscous, dark liquid that formed puddles on the ground which seemed to move of their own accord. I admit that part is very entertaining to watch. They move back and forth, like a Slime.
Her hand, a claw with long, knobby fingers, was covered in deep cuts that bled constantly, but the blood wasn't red, it was thick black like oil, bubbling when it touched the air. With that hand she touched my chest, and the cold of her contact burned my skin as if it were acid. So much corruption in one soul. I wonder what she was like when she was alive.
Her arms, if they could even be called that, were a nightmare spectacle, worthy of her sister… Ah, the fact that they're opposites makes no sense to me.
They were covered in human eyes, not sewn or embedded, but growing directly from the flesh, like living tumors. Each eye was different. Some had dilated and crazed pupils, others were clouded by milky cataracts, and some seemed to have been torn from still-living human faces, with torn eyelids hanging like broken curtains. All of them opened at once, turning in their sockets with a wet crunch, and stared at me fixedly, each with an intensity I liked, because it froze my blood, made me feel fear, something I haven't felt in a long time.
Some blinked erratically, while others remained open, bloodshot, with veins writhing like worms under the surface.
Her face, or what should have been a face, was a mask of decomposed flesh, with the mouth open in a perpetual scream that revealed a bottomless black cavity from which foul vapor emanated.
Her teeth were sharp, uneven bone splinters covered in a layer of green mold that pulsed as if alive. The smell she gave off was overwhelming, a mixture of rotten meat, sulfur and something sickly sweet, like fermented fruit in a swamp. That stench filled the air instantly, so dense it seemed to cling to my skin, but I'm so used to these things that they no longer affect me.
Her hair was a tangle of black, greasy filaments that writhed as if alive, dripping a thick liquid that hissed when it touched the ground. Every now and then something moved between those strands: small insects. Living insects living in her hair… Ah, I really like her design. I wish her power were just as terrifying, but it's the complete opposite.
Her power: to manifest people's dreams and provoke them. But not ugly dreams, no, beautiful dreams. Kissing the love of your life, having sex with some celebrity, being rich, being beautiful, bla, bla, bla. Pure nonsense.
And the worst part is what happens next. She raised her hands and…
"I have important news, my cute master," she said, making a peace sign with her fingers.
Her disgusting extroverted popular-girl personality.
"Your father offered a huge reward for you, master. For now, I've counted 232 people looking for you. Hehe. This is getting really interesting. Kya. So exciting."
She said that while putting her hands on her face.
… Ah, what an embarrassing situation.
Number 39 has the appearance and voice of a monster, but the personality of an extremely extroverted teenager.
Both Number 31 and I stood still, saying nothing. So much contradiction makes me uncomfortable.
"Surely your copy is going to have a great adventure. I highly doubt he'll let himself get caught. Kya. It's so exciting. Master, master, please, let me go with him."
Her voice is so eerie and deep, full of echoes, but those words definitely don't match her. Much less that "kya," the most terrifying one I've ever heard.
"Yes, sure. Go."
"Thank you so much, cute master."
She blew me a disgusting kiss and disappeared into my shadow.
… Ah, she may be one of my legendary ghosts with the best design, but her personality and power ruin everything. What a shame.
"Saik, are you sure you want her near your copy? Knowing her, she'll always be in your shadow, watching every move."
Yes, that's true, whenever I manifest her, she's in my shadow, and I always feel her piercing, slimy gaze on me. I don't think she's a sexual stalker like Number 31, nor do I think she's in love with me. Rather, it's an obsession with entertainment, and for her, I'm the most interesting thing in the world.
Mmm. Am I exaggerating? Ah, I don't even know what being in love feels like. How does it feel? I'd ask Number 31, but I'd rather avoid her sexual harassment for now… And what does that have to do with entertainment and me being the most interesting thing to watch for her? Ah, whatever.
"My copy is going to be hunted by bounty hunters, and he's forbidden from acting as Shadow. He'll be way too limited, so a little help would be good."
"Yes, probably. Her special power is useless for causing harm without Number 3, but her spiritual power will be more than enough."
"Whatever, we've already wasted too much time. Let's go to that place."
"Let's go!" said Number 31, hugging me from behind.
Her arms wrap around my neck and her legs hug me. Ah, what a drag. I don't even have the energy to argue.
I kept running, toward that casino.
A being with the power of a demigod, in this country full of extreme poverty and crime. And the strangest thing, it's located under a big casino. Definitely a being that's going to cause me problems.
I've already defeated Gods in the past, but I promised myself I would never use spiritual power again. Defeating them was difficult even using my great spiritual power, but now I'm limited to using only the power of my legendary ghosts.
"… Ah… I think I'm going to break my promise soon."
"If you've noticed its presence, it's very possible that being has noticed yours too. One way or another, it will come looking for us."
"It's not like he or she is trying to hide their power either."
"But it's someone powerful, we can't ignore the possibility that they already know we're heading toward them."
Yes, she's right about that. Ah, what a pain… Huh?
"What are you doing?"
"Mmm. Your entire exterior changed, but your interior is still the same. You still turn me on."
… She's sticking her tongue in my ear. She's literally licking my ear. Ew, it feels so weird and wet. Gross.
"I'm still illegal. Remember your own words."
"Hehe. I'm just cleaning you like the good servant I am. That you find it hot and sexy isn't my problem."
You literally said I still turn you on.
Ah, whatever. We're already here.
Let's see… The parking lot is full, but there's no one outside. The building must be packed. To go through the floor I need spiritual power, so I rule that out. I'll look for a physical entrance, and if there isn't one, I'll make it.
Number 3 is losing a lot of energy, so I'd better deactivate invisibility.
"Security cameras."
Activating her special power, Number 31 scanned the entire exterior of the building in less than 3 seconds and returned to my back.
"There aren't any."
"Are you sure?"
"With the technology we know, I'm 100% sure."
"Ah, I see."
She trained with the Alvanem Rosa family and learned to detect spying devices.
No hidden cameras. I see. This building must belong to the ones who control this city. Aren't they worried about getting robbed? What a reputation they must have.
I deactivated invisibility behind a car and headed to the entrance.
"Look for an underground entrance."
"Right away!"
I entered the casino and she immediately left. Well, in the meantime, what should I do?
The casino is… well, a casino. Upon entering, the first thing I saw were dozens of slot machines and betting tables. Giant screens broadcasting horse races, sports, bingo and… deathmatches? Wow, what a twist. Definitely that screen in the back is broadcasting a real deathmatch, I don't think it's a movie. Who would broadcast a movie in a casino? I mean, I have no experience with casinos, but I don't think they'd waste a screen just to play a movie.
Besides, it's a lawless country. Betting on deathmatches is something predictable.
"Hello, hello! Welcome! Would you like me to accompany you?!"
An adult woman, in quite revealing and tight clothing, pressed a finger to my chest. Wow, wow. Doesn't it hurt to have your chest so squeezed? Why do women like to show off big breasts? I still don't understand that part.
Let's see… Yes, prostitution service, as I suspected. Most male customers have a woman by their side, cheering them on, talking, kissing, dancing, and I suspect they also have sex with them.
An adult woman, about 40 years old… Ah, what a drag. But I have to act normal while Number 31 searches.
I don't have money, so…
"Where can I buy chips? It's my first time here."
"Your first time, huh? Fufu."
She winked at me and took me by the hand. What did she find funny? Why did she laugh? Ah, I don't understand.
She took me to a window where a man with a mafioso appearance received me. Wow, how fat he is. He must weigh like 300 kilos. And why does he have dwarf women in underwear giving him massages? And those women have exaggeratedly large breasts and butts, clearly surgeries. Why?
… Ah, I don't understand anything about this situation, so better not think about it anymore.
"Welcome, young man. Tell me, what would you like to order?"
Wow, I was expecting ruder words.
Let's see… Here's a board with information. Prices, prices… I see.
The minimum chip is 50 dollars, and the maximum is 100,000. Interesting.
I have enough for… nothing. But I think I can trick him with… Wait…
Those dwarves, now that I notice… They look human, yes, but they're not human. Their smell. This smell is…
Concentrate… These smells… It's not spiritual power, it's… magic.
This smell is… dwarves, literally dwarves. I may have called them dwarves rudely, but they really are dwarves, the dwarf race. And the woman hugging my arm is a Succubus, I know them perfectly because they almost raped me several times in the past.
That man knows, he definitely knows. He's involved with the being below us.
… It's not worth hiding anymore.
"Dwarves and a Succubus. And what are you?"
"Huh? What do you mean, kid?"
Excellent acting, but it's not worth pretending anymore. I'm aware of the great power that demigod has, so it's stupid to delay the inevitable. The best thing is to speed things up and make it clear that I didn't come to fight, but that I'm on vacation. And if I have to fight, I will. The faster I finish, the more free time I'll have. From experience I know perfectly well that it's impossible to deceive someone so powerful, the best is to go straight.
"You don't smell like an Orc, so I rule that out."
I activated my spiritual aura and, unlike the women who immediately moved away from me, terrified, the fat man smiled at me.
Magic is powerful, but spiritual power is infinitely better. They know it perfectly, that's why they react like that, because if I wanted to kill them, they couldn't do anything to stop it, no matter how powerful they are. Magic poses no threat to a spiritual power holder. After all, spiritual power is capable of killing a God without needing to resort to the "50/50" rule.
But even having me so close, I don't feel a shred of fear in him. And his smell isn't human, but it's not something familiar either. I feel a hint in him of a certain race, but… there's something more, something unknown to me.
"Tell me, what are you?"
"A spiritual power user. And from what I see, you're a natural. That's quite unusual to find, you know?"
"What are you?"
"Fufu. You're new, aren't you?"
He snapped his fingers.
"Take him to the 'Espiris' area. And I want him to receive VIP treatment. Free of charge. Remember to take your pills, spiritual boys have even more energy than a starving Succubus."
"Right away!"
The Succubus took my hand again. She's still trembling with fear, but she obeys the fat man's orders immediately and without hesitation.
Take a deep breath, Saik… This smell… Ah, the worst kind of Incubus: the physical representation of paraphilias. The most disgusting kind of Incubus there is.
But that only represents a small part of him. Most of him is a mystery to me.
What am I getting myself into?
The Succubus guides me through the casino, past tables full of drunk players and machines jingling nonstop. Some look at me, others don't. My aura is still vibrating around me, and I notice how the magical creatures in the room (an elf disguised as a dealer, a goblin serving drinks) tense up as I pass. Their human disguises are almost perfect, only their smells give them away, and from what I see, their reactions to someone like me.
"Hey, little one, what's your name?" the Succubus asks, with a trembling voice but trying to sound seductive.
"It doesn't matter," I reply dryly, without looking at her.
The further I walk, the more presences I detect. They may be insignificant beings, but a carelessness is a resounding no.
"Wow, so cold. I like that."
She laughs nervously.
"The 'Espiris' area is special, you know? Only for VIPs like you. You're going to love it."
"I'm not here to have fun."
"Oh, everyone says that at first."
She hugs my arm, making sure I feel her chest. Gross.
"But you'll see."
We reach an elevator at the back of the casino, guarded by two huge men with tattoos that seem to move on their skin. They're not human, I know by the sulfur smell they give off. Lesser demons. They look at me with distrust, but the Succubus gestures to them and the doors open.
"After you," she said, gently pushing me.
I enter, and the doors close with a metallic click. The elevator begins to descend, and the air becomes heavier, denser. I feel the demigod's power approaching.
"Last warning."
I tell the Succubus, who presses herself against the elevator wall, far from me, like a cornered herbivore.
"If this is a trap, there won't be anywhere to hide."
She swallows hard, but doesn't respond. The elevator keeps descending, and I prepare for whatever comes.
… Ah, seriously, can't I even have normal vacations?