Choice Pt2

The moment he did, Kane's body reappeared in front of Ben. A mighty iron claw grasped his neck.

Though there was enough time between the two actions for the former writer to uselessly resist.

For a brief moment, the psycho stopped himself from wringing his neck like it was a wet rag.

He truly meant to kill Ben right then and there.

The mountain of reasons to kill this Delusionist had already piled up in his heart, but he still stopped.

The reason… was because he saw too much.

To Kane, who could see the truth of all things, his left eye wasn't able to ignore this deep trauma.

Perhaps others would be ignorant, but he knew well why Ben twisted himself into a weird posture.

His leg was raised, and his forehead was covered…

For a posture that was taken unconsciously upon feeling his malice, it was way too abnormal.

The only thing he could think of, was…

'…Fuck!' Kane thought while gently grasping the Delusionist's neck. It brought him back to reality.

His target forcibly untwisted himself, but it was taking too long for him to decide to defend himself.

What was Ben thinking?

"I-I'm sorry… P-Please don't kill me…!" The eyes he used when saying this somehow caused… pain.

However, he also knew one thing from this.

'You… are definitely not Sidmund.' Even though he suspected a possession, it really wasn't the case.

Memories of his 'before regression' timeline started to sink in. How that womaniser acted…

Unlike this Grand Delusionist, the man he saw back then was the type to internalise pain differently.

Or to be more precise: He never showed trauma.

There was a difference between someone as strong-willed as Sidmund and this weakling.

Meaning…

"Stop it!" Julie roared and jumped forward with determination. She ducked past the crazy Chuuni before tackling her supposed 'partner'. The result being his neck falling out of the hand grasping it.

She then turned to defend him protectively.

"Why…?" Seeing her determined look, Kane made an expression the two of them had never seen.

The clouds started to darken the world, and so did that expression. A man with no tears couldn't cry…

…meaning an inability to weep the sorrows away.

Julie felt like she'd done something wrong even though her reason told her she was in the right.

However, she still gazed back at his lonely figure.

Sidmund, who watched how 'pathetically' Ben was being protected, decided to just give in a little.

The way that secretary acted was hard to ignore.

He had to admit that this 'scene' was well-made.

"You can take my strength if you want it." He threw this out. Sid was assimilating into him anyway.

Resisting was just his way of causing trouble to the heartless creator who put him in this situation.

But now, he felt like there was no point in holding on. There wasn't a reason to hold onto his grudge.

Especially when the target of his ire was so weak…

But the gentleman didn't expect him to whisper:

"…I'd rather die here." Even if Ben knew he'd regret his decision, this stubbornness reached his bones.

It was answer that didn't make any sense!

"Are you planning to die?"

"No…"

"Then why are you refusing?"

"I can take care of this by myself." There was a look that was far beyond normal… caused by stress(?).

Or was he always like this beforehand?

"You don't have to. He's strong, but I'm more flexible than him. Or do you think I'm tricking you?"

"You're honest… but I don't want it."

"Why?" The ghost had to ask.

"I don't have any talents… I'm not smart or sociable like 'them', but this world can change that for me."

"What are you on about…?"

"Those who work hard will be rewarded in this world. Regardless if they're born talented or not."

It was a good thing Ben's voice was extremely low.

Julie might hard heard him if it wasn't.

"You're crazy. Why do you have so much hope in this world… compared to your own? Why this one?"

"…I want to be… 'somebody'." Hearing these words didn't move Sidmund, he felt disgusted by him.

What's with those attention-seeking eyes?

Had his family not given him enough love?

Moreover, if Ben didn't have 'social skills' or intelligence, then he wouldn't be so good at lying.

So why was he acting like he was talentless…?

"Fine. So are you going to use up a soul? You better do something, or else he'll take her."

It was then Ben noticed Kane was about to reach out for Julie the exact same way he did to him.

"Stop there…" Being protected wasn't his style, so he switched places to protect her from the psycho.

The Chuuni styled man looked down on them.

"Why…? You're not even him." The dark figure started to mumble to himself incomprehensibly.

"This is a democracy! Anyone who wants to leave can go with him." These words stopped his hand.

"What are you thinking?"

"I can protect her without your help. Unless you plan to ruin your chances with her… Stand down."

"You think I need your permission? I'll just take her."

"No… You won't."

"Why not?!" Kane stomped on the ground.

['Dragon Fear' has been inflicted once again.]

A wicked glint appeared in the psycho's eyes. He grabbed Ben by the neck and turned him to her.

"H-hey!" Just when Julie was about to rip 'her lover' away again, the bandaged figure spoke up:

"If you don't want him to die, then take off your clothes." The atmosphere was turning strange.

Her face twisted in humiliation.

"…What are you planning?" The perfect secretary could tell that this situation was meaningless.

If she didn't do as he said, he'd just force her.

"Mmmn!" Ben scratched at Kane's hand, but no damage was done. He looked at them evilly.

"If the 'current' you won't accept me, then I'll just have to break you down one step at a time. You WILL be mine…" The psycho finally revealed his true colours. Hostages were nothing to him.

In his last regression, he'd been too 'soft'.

This time, he will 'tame' her by any means… At least before she became as strong as a rival.

If he let her go, then she'd never look his way…!

Of course, what the bandaged Chuuni didn't know was that this world didn't work on eroge logic.

To Julie, it wasn't even worth weighing Ben on a scale of whether his was worth more than pride.

She wouldn't her honour just because of a 'fake'.

"Not happening." This answer came out so fast that everyone could tell how much she 'cared' for him.

But Ben didn't care about the strange gazes…

"Mmm… Mph~ Pfft~ Mph~" Even with Kane gagging him, he couldn't help laughing hysterically.

"Ew… What the hell are YOU laughing about?" The psycho let him go. Ben went crazy from betrayal.

At least, that was how the Chuuni saw it.

Truthfully, his laughter seemed more mocking at himself than others. There was a sense of second hand embarrassment to it. Those eyes looked at him sadly, but wasn't followed by any insults.

"I won't say I don't understand how you feel, but you won't get the attention you want by acting like this." He knew this was hypocritical to say as Kane's 'creator', but he still said that regardless.

Even though he knew no one would listen to it.

"What do you know…?" His 'Divine Eye of Truth' recognised the feelings behind that poker face.

They seemed… somewhat familiar…

"Happiness is a choice." Ben wiped his mouth and stretched his joints, feeling like he was free.

The combination of different skills created a persona strong enough to rival 'Peerless Mentality'.

'Dragon Fear' was now a useless skill against him.

For a brief moment, his eyes shifted to his former boss… A neck slitting gesture was directed at him.

'Just die… Delusional bastard.' The serial killer didn't even hide the thoughts on his expression.

He was sure Kane would deal with them.

But unexpectedly, the dark clad figure stared at Ben blankly. His mind infected by delusions.

"What do you mean?"

"Justifying reasons to be happy is easy when you're alone. When you're the only one 'alive'."

"W-what…?" The bandaged psycho looked like he'd been found out, which made him curious.

What was Ben's identity?

"…And what about reality?"

"Discard it if it brings you pain. Anyway, I'll remember my debts… and WILL pay them back."

He knew his words seemed delusional. Even Julie seemed thrown off by the confidence he had.

[Your 'Empty Confidence' has reached its limit.]

['Empty Courage' has evolved into 'False Bravado'.]

He stepped in front of the girl he'd always had his eyes on. The person he secretly loved and hated.

She was the one he'd destroy the world for…

The girl of his dreams.

"Will you trust me?" Even though he'd been forsaken by her earlier, his eyes showed no hate.

He wasn't such a petty person towards those he liked. To him, her actions were always reasonable.

His eyes looked at her with intimacy…

…as if he only remembered the friendship from before this world was twisted by his choice.

Compared to what he did, her actions weren't even on the same category. She was trying to survive.

And she knew that if he could get them away from that perverted Chuuni, then why not trust him?

It's not like anything would change if she didn't.

"…Alright." Even if it was a false hope, she wanted to believe that this 'Author' could do something.

For once, Julie irrationally relied on someone.

It was a decision that Augustus couldn't understand. He felt like this drama was futile.

Their destiny couldn't be changed.

"How are you planning to escape? You all, are you planning to help them?" Kane asked the crowd.

"No, sir! Shall we capture them for Your Majesty?"

"Just leave it to us!"

"Will this get us points~?"

"No stealing any credit!"

The world slowed down when Ben reached the limit of his stress. He'd no choice but to act confident.

The delusional writer held Julie and spoke freely.

It wasn't a chant or plea for mercy. Nor was it a strategy to tell the powerful woman in his arms.

He said the final words they'd get to hear:

"Log out of Tutorial Mode." The tram flashed with light, and the duo vanished. Nowhere to be seen.

Those who'd lunged earlier fell onto the ground embarrassingly. With Augustus and Kane freezing.

The former looked like he'd somewhat regretted revealing his true face so early. It was too absurd!

How could he have predicted this situation?!

It was better to be cautious in the future…

The latter looked like he'd had his soul taken from him… Those dark eyes stared at that empty spot.

But the question in his mind was unexpected:

'Why did he act like he knew me?' Since this was his first regression, Kane didn't know what to think.

When he regained himself, he organised a search party to look for them. They couldn't be too far.

At least, that's only if Ben used 'Teleportation'…