Without so much as a goodbye, Chloe slipped out of his house without another word.
Still unclothed, Sonny could only stand at the window and watch her retreating figure until it finally vanished from view with a complicated expression.
Worry tugged at him.
With the rise of the Black Mire, crime had skyrocketed across all parts of the world. The Tower might have been built on the principle of fairness, but fairness meant that not only the good were chosen to awaken as Espers, so were the worst kinds of people, from petty criminals to the most wretched scum alive.
During those harsh times, it was possible for someone to get away with murder or sexual assault.
Ordinary weapons created by humanity were useless against Chaos Creatures, only managing to harm the lowest tier of the monster hierarchy, the so-called "Fiends."
However, Espers were known for being more dangerous.
Compared to Chaos Creatures, Awakened humans often seemed physically lacking, especially in their earliest stage as mere Squires. But their true menace lay elsewhere: in their cunning and their creativity with Mythic Abilities. Powers that appeared useless at first glance often revealed terrifying potential in the right hands.
Take, for example, someone awakening with the ability to manipulate their own hair. At first, such a power might seem laughable. But in practice, it could become a weapon deadlier than any blade. Strands could harden into steel-like whips, pierce through flesh like spears, or wrap around prey with the strength of chains.
Another example would be someone with the ability to scratch small objects from a distance. At first glance, many would dismiss it as a petty power, good for nothing more than theft.
But then the question arises; what exactly counts as a "small object"?
Objects could be divided into inanimate and animate.
And if this person's ability extended to both… that was where the true danger lay. What would stop them from scratching not just a coin or a lock, but the beating heart inside someone's chest?
Of course, nothing.
This was the true terror of Espers.
They weren't bound by predictable instincts like Chaos Creatures. They could plan, adapt, and innovate. In the right, or rather, the wrong hands, even the most insignificant-seeming ability could turn into a nightmare capable of outwitting or overwhelming enemies far stronger than themselves.
It was this very unpredictability that made the world after the Black Mire so perilous. You could never be certain if the person standing beside you was harmless or a predator in disguise. And as for calling the police? That was as futile as trying to strike the moon by lashing out at its reflection on still water.
For this reason, the government authorized the creation of the Awakened Esper Association to confront the growing crisis. Crime couldn't be eradicated outright, but it could be drastically reduced and that was exactly what happened. Still, there was reason enough for him to worry.
If possible, I would've walked her home myself. But considering the way she stormed off, that's not a good idea. Besides, her parents seem to hate my guts, that's a definite no-no.
"Hate" was probably too strong a word. People like them wouldn't waste that much energy on someone like him. After all, he wasn't a criminal.
No, they were just cautious, the way any overprotective parents would be toward someone involved with their child, especially their daughter. Maybe it was a sign of being good parents.
How fortunate.
A faint smile tugged at his lips, though it never reached his eyes. Sonny let out a quiet sigh.
Well, depending on how much they scold or punish her, I'll either get off with a slap on the wrist… or get the absolute shit beaten out of me.
He chuckled.
Thinking about it, that was definitely in line with her character. Chloe was the kind of girl who could take down multiple grown men on her own, so it was no surprise she'd whoop him just as easily, much like she usually did to Marcus. In Sonny's case, though, her beatings were lighter, yet somehow felt far more personal.
Was that just his imagination? Probably.
That said, Sonny wasn't ordinary anymore. Ever since awakening as an Esper, his physical abilities had reached the peak of human potential. There was no way he could lose to a normal person, least of all a high school girl.
But then again… was there ever anything "normal" about Chloe to begin with?
He sighed once more.
"What should I do now? I guess sleeping would be the right choice."
Unfortunately, his body was still buzzing with energy. There wasn't the slightest trace of drowsiness in his eyes, though a shadow of fatigue lingered on him.
Sonny swept his gaze around the room, and he quickly took in the sorry state it was in.
Clothes lay in wrinkled heaps on the floor, and his sheets looked like they had gone through a war of their own. The faint smell of sweat and sex hung in the air, mingling unpleasantly with the damp mustiness of the unventilated room.
He clicked his tongue.
"Tck... what a mess. I guess cleaning it is then."
Muttering that, Sonny lingered for a few moments, his thoughts drifting elsewhere, before he finally stirred and began tidying up the room.
† †
Roughly thirty minutes later, he was done. The clutter was gone, clothes folded and stacked, and the damp sheets tossed into the washing machine. The air was still heavy, but at least the sight of the mess no longer weighed on him.
Sonny slumped onto his chair, stretching his arms overhead until his joints gave a satisfying pop.
"Oh, that hits the spot."
Then he lowered his hands, his thoughts inevitably drifting.
I wonder if Chloe made it home already… Nah, of course she did. She's not some defenseless maiden, she'll be perfectly fine!
Chloe wasn't the type to need protecting anyway. As a dedicated practitioner of karate, she could more than handle herself. And if not, she'd just run. In fact, wasn't she supposed to be preparing for an upcoming competition? The exact date slipped his mind, but he was certain it was close.
Her future was undoubtedly bright.
…Speaking of futures, maybe it was time he thought about his own.
With a contemplative frown, Sonny let his mind drift down that uncertain path, weighed by questions he'd been avoiding.
Now that I'm an Esper… what exactly should I do?
According to Mr. Christopher, stepping into the Mire was inevitable sooner or later. If that was the case, then he needed a plan.
But then came the bigger problem; school. Balancing two lives, one as a student and the other as an Esper, sounded like a nightmare waiting to happen. Dropping out wasn't an option either, not when he was already in his final year. One way or another, he had to figure it out.
And that wasn't even the end of it. There were weapons to consider. Only an idiot would charge into a place as dangerous as the Tower unarmed. At the very least, he'd need something practical, maybe even a firearm. There was a gun store not too far from here…
To steady his chaotic thoughts, Sonny moved over to the table and pulled out a notebook along with a pen. From there, he began sorting through his worries, letting them spill onto the page in a more organized form.
He tapped the pen against the page, staring at the blank lines for a long moment before writing.
***
| Priority One: Survive the Mire.
Training schedule?
Weapons. (Gun? Too loud? Alternatives??)
Supplies like food, first aid and medicine.
| Priority Two: School.
Attendance… maybe keep it minimal?
Graduating from highschool at the very least.
| Priority Three: Money
Sell ether shards, monster parts, get paid a fortune.
Maybe even become a billionaire.
***
Glancing over what he had written, Sonny gave a small nod of satisfaction.
"Yeah… these are my top priorities. I think?"
Before stepping foot into the Tower, he needed to hammer out a training schedule to adapt to his new body, secure a proper weapon, and stock up on food and supplies. After all, it wasn't like the Tower of Death was going to have a convenience store waiting for him inside.
…Wait. Speaking of supplies, how much money did he actually have right now?
Frowning, Sonny picked up his phone, unlocked it, and quickly pulled up his banking app to check his balance.
The screen loaded after a short pause, and Sonny's eyes landed on the numbers glowing back at him.
[$3,248.67.]
"…Seriously? That's it?" he muttered, staring in disbelief.
It wasn't nothing, but compared to what he needed, it might as well have been pocket change. A decent firearm alone would eat up at least a quarter of that balance. Add in ammo, protective gear, rations, and maybe even a cheap healing potion if he got lucky enough to find one on the black market… he'd be broke before he even set foot inside the Tower.
Sonny grimaced.
"Damnit. At this rate, I'll be the first billionaire who goes bankrupt. Can someone like that even be called a billionaire? Ugh. What misfortune."
Still, it wasn't hopeless. He could stretch the money if he planned carefully. Maybe settle for something less flashy, or even improvise weapons until he earned enough from his first haul.
The important thing was survival; the profit would come later.
His stomach suddenly growled, breaking his concentration.
"Well, priorities first… and right now, that's instant noodles."
He stood up from the stair, still frowning at the thought of his emptying wallet, and shuffled downstairs, heading toward the counter.
All the while, a single thought echoed stubbornly in his head:
I need more money. Fast.