New Acquaintances

...

Alfir retreated to a desolate cave he prepared as his base to wait for the next 4 months until the enrollment for Heromaker Academy.

Thankfully he made preparations for the past month, his vacation days, in which he successfully advanced his mutation and distributed his assets. The Soul Method left quite the sequelae to Alfir. It's thanks to his mutation having affinity to the mind, he hears voices more strongly than ever.

'You look badly wounded... I pity you kid.'

It is the voice of a wizened old man.

"Shut up."

Alfir's internal injuries are not just bad. It's horrendous. The pain is nerve-wracking.

Even the smallest movement causes him severe pain.

'Do not rush, darling~'

Then this time, it's a feminine seductive voice.

"Shut up."

Alfir has consistently said SHUT UP to these voices. Outrightly ignoring them causes these voices to be angry and crazy, so he can't do the silent treatment to them. These voices don't like being ignored, and for them, me saying 'SHUT UP' is better than me being silent.

These voices are crazy, Alfir the one who hears voices thought to himself.

Maybe because of his precipitant state of near-death exhaustion, this happened. Or maybe, it's because of the Soul Method. Or maybe, it's an entirely different reason at all.

Through peeling the skin of your soul and laying it bare, Alfir is able to awaken his mutation at the cost of his sanity. This is only a hypothesis, but it explains otherwise the trade-off. There is no free lunch in this world after all.

Even if Alfir knew of this cost beforehand, he believes that he will still continue with the Soul Method. After all, physical harm weighs more than mental harm.

In this world, where death is actively seeking its victim, power is necessary. Alfir prefers being insane rather than dead. But just this recently, he felt that he might be regretting that decision now.

...

(FLASHBACK AS TO ALFIR'S SOUL METHOD.)

Alfir sat cross-legged as he tries to cultiva— no, that is inappropriate.

Alfir lies in his bed as he prepares himself for the Soul Method.

How is the Soul Method done?

It's very simple— exploring the mind!

This world's physics works very differently, in this world the soul has weight. It's just so minuscule, it can't be seen. Lighter than light particles, they say.

This soul can be stimulated by exploring the mind, specifically by breaking it first. In Zentury, they use electric shocks, torture, shaming, and so on.

Alfir had severe depression issues and a factitious disorder he scarcely recovered from when he was in middle school. After a lot of therapy and opportunities to socialize, it was almost gone.

Now, he is going to seek it and own it, actively and without hesitations.

Factitious disorder is a serious mental health disorder in which a person appears sick or produces physical or mental illness. People with factitious disorders deliberately produce symptoms of an illness for the purpose of receiving care and attention in a medical setting. The symptoms aren't intended to get the practical benefits— the gain is believed to be mainly psychological.

In essence, it's something like a disease of a closed-door attention whore...

Factitious disorder is considered a mental illness. It's associated with severe emotional difficulties and patients' likelihood of harming themselves by continuing to produce more symptoms, resulting in getting themselves unnecessary procedures and surgeries.

Alfir is amazing in so many wrong ways. Who in the right mind can return to being mentally ill with a simple change of mindset?

'Hey kid, how is your transmigration lifestyle going?'

Wow, voices in the head... Now, that's new~

...

(PRESENT DAY.)

At first, he tried to ignore it. Suppress them, but it wasn't a permanent solution. Even with recovering his health to perfection, the voices remained.

'Aw! It hurts!'

'Big bwudar, can I go out?'

'Fuck, let me have your body!"

"Shut up."

After hours of excruciating journey, Alfir finally made it to his hideout, a cave he stumbled upon throughout the duration of his vacation. By his side is Minion#11111, a subordinate of an executive Alfir made a deal with.

"This is your base? It looks dull." It was 11111's voice that Alfir last heard when he directly fainted because of exhaustion.

...

When Alfir woke up, he felt so much better now. He moved his limbs with comfort. The inside of the cave remained the same, just like how he left it.

*swoosh swoosh~ fwssshh~

It was the sound of flames cooking something good. The smell reached Alfir, causing his stomach to growl. By the kitchen side, Alfir watched 11111 cook dinner. It was some rice and stuff... Slightly irritated that 11111 looked relatively handsome and is actually quite capable, Alfir decided to just remain in his bed and be comfy.

'I don't want to help, he can just cook for the both of us.'

Alfir discovered his healing factor in his idle rest saving him from consuming money-hungry potions. He recalled the murderous executive that he met at the outpost. Fortunately, the executive believed his lies.

Sadly, Alfir has no idea who is that executive. The executive might even not have appeared in the novel. Alfir cannot ascertain it though given that the executive in question is wearing a mask.

That's some luck. Alfir was pretty sure his lies would be seen through, but luckily, it worked out just fine. Maintaining his connection with the organization will certainly net him some gains in the future, so Alfir decided to get along with the executive at that time.

Minion#11111 finished his cooking. He sat at the table, preparing the garnishes and all... that is when Alfir realized...

"Hey, where's mine?"

"..."

"I want to eat too."

"I am neither your babysitter nor attendant. I am the 'spy', that will watch over you. You may have fooled her lordship, but you won't fool me."

"*Ahem! Chillax, we are on the same team, of the same age range maybe... we can technically be buddies, you know?"

"Don't get cozy with me."

"..."

With an awkward face, Alfir retreated to the kitchen, finding stuff he wants to cook. He secretly observed 11111. He has dark blonde hair, scarred skin, and a pretty face. The guy is on the shorter side, but Alfir is quite sure, this guy must be strong.

Especially with the stakes involved in his deal with the executive, it is almost certain that Alfir is valued greatly... like an expensive pawn.

"Wait, the stuff you cooked your dinner with. It was mine, right?"

11111 gave Alfir an annoyed look. Being a 'slightly' petty person, Alfir just can't pass up this opportunity.

"Hey, if you are going to use my ingredients, you should ask for my permission first, okay? Or maybe, you could've shared food, right? Ugh, you are so ungrateful."

"Do you want me to feed you?"

"Yes, of course! After all, your boss values me greatly."

"Sure, come here. Eat. I cooked plenty."

Alfir thought for a moment that 11111 will blow her top off. It looks like 11111 is a better person than he thought.

~tsss... kss... SPAT!!

11111 spat on the food, the rice, the dish, and even the homemade freshly extracted orange juice wasn't spared. 11111 then directed a smug look to Alfir as he continue to eat the food made of other people's ingredients.

...