Kapitel 2: April 1st: A new Chapter
April 1st.
A new month. A new chapter. A new life, they said.
But for me, it felt less like a beginning and more like a paradox—a contradiction of emotions I couldn't quite articulate. Suffocating yet liberating. Confining but strangely exhilarating.
The morning sun cast an indifferent glow over the sleek black car as it glided smoothly along the road. Beside me sat Jin, my loyal servant, ever the embodiment of precision and calm. He wasn't just a servant, though—he was a tool, a finely crafted instrument that I wielded with care and precision. Like all tools, his value was measured by his utility, and Jin never failed to prove himself indispensable.
Had you asked me three months ago if I envisioned myself here, sitting in a car on my way to attend high school, I would have dismissed you outright—with a laugh, perhaps, or a disdainful glance. The idea seemed ludicrous. A bad joke, the kind my siblings might pull on April Fool's Day.
But reality has a way of defying expectation.
I studied Jin out of the corner of my eye, analyzing his every subtle movement. His hands rested firmly on the wheel, his posture rigid yet relaxed—a mask of professionalism. People like Jin fascinated me. Their loyalty wasn't just admirable; it was intoxicating. How far could you push someone who lived to serve? Where was the line between devotion and self-destruction?
"Young Lord, we're nearly there," Jin said, his voice steady, breaking the silence.
"You can call me Ren, Jin," I replied, my tone light yet laced with an authority that demanded compliance.
There was a brief pause. His hands tightened slightly on the wheel, almost imperceptibly. A silent acknowledgment of the subtle power shift I enjoyed orchestrating.
"Of course… Ren. You seem preoccupied. Is something troubling you?"
How observant. Jin's ability to notice cracks in my façade both intrigued and irritated me. I prided myself on the fortress of indifference I presented to the world, yet he always seemed to find a way to peer through the cracks.
"You're imagining things," I said dismissively, though my tone carried a flicker of amusement. Watching Jin attempt to decode me was a game I found endlessly entertaining. He was sharp, but I was sharper.
"Am I? Your hands fidget when your mind is restless," he noted.
I glanced down at my hands, folded neatly in my lap. Traitors.
"It's nothing," I replied, masking the irritation that threatened to surface. Letting someone like Jin believe he could read me too well would be dangerous.
"It's rare to see the Crimson Demon perplexed," Jin remarked.
The title clung to me like a second skin, a cloak I wore without shame. Crimson Demon. A name born of fear and whispers, its roots buried in the stories of those I'd crushed—metaphorically and otherwise. Fear stripped people of their logic, reducing them to malleable prey. I'd learned long ago that fear was the most reliable tool in my arsenal.
"Do you feel uneasy leaving the clan behind?" Jin asked, his tone carefully neutral.
"The clan will manage," I said with a smirk. "They've survived generations without me. My absence won't cause their collapse. Besides, I've ensured a failsafe."
Jin raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "A failsafe?"
I allowed a sly grin to curve my lips. "I smuggled an old phone in my belongings. Primitive, undetectable by the school's systems. A contingency plan, should I need to remind the clan who holds the strings."
Jin nodded, his expression unreadable. "You think that will be necessary?"
"Always plan for contingencies, Jin," I replied smoothly. "It's the difference between survival and irrelevance."
A pause lingered before Jin spoke again. "Have you thought about what I'll do while you're away?"
I smirked, his question amusing me. "Worried about your purpose without me?"
"Not for myself," Jin replied smoothly. "But I will miss the routine. Serving you has been my life's work."
A softer chuckle escaped me, though it carried no warmth. "You're far too sentimental, Jin. Perhaps use this time to reconnect with your wife and daughter."
Jin's expression shifted, a crack in his otherwise stoic demeanor. "My wife, perhaps. But not my daughter."
"Why not her?" I asked, intrigued by the change in his tone.
"She'll be attending the same school as you," Jin said, pride softening his voice.
"Interesting. Did she inherit your efficiency? Or is she more of a… liability?" I asked, my smile sharp.
"She's… different," Jin said, choosing his words carefully. "She's been through a lot. Bullying, severe enough to leave her with a scar below her chest."
"A scar?" I repeated, my curiosity piqued. "Most bullying doesn't leave scars. Sounds like she lacked the strength to handle it."
Jin's jaw tightened, his silence speaking volumes.
"How unfortunate," I continued, my tone casual, almost bored. "Secrets fester, Jin. They erode the bonds people cling to. Be careful they don't poison your family."
The car slowed as we approached the gates of Advanced Nurturing High School. The building stood tall, sleek, and modern—a monument to ambition.
As Jin parked, I pulled a small black box from my pocket and held it out to him. "Here. A parting gift."
He hesitated before taking it. "What's this?"
"Open it," I instructed.
Inside was a custom Rolex, its design sleek and striking.
"I can't accept this," Jin said, though his voice faltered with surprise.
"You can," I said, my smile glinting with calculated charm. "And you will. Consider it a reward for your loyalty."
He hesitated, the watch glinting in the light. "Thank you, Ren."
"Loyalty deserves acknowledgment," I replied smoothly, stepping out of the car.
I stood before the school, its imposing presence casting a long shadow. To others, this place might symbolize opportunity. To me...well I didn't really know what to think of it.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein