Chapitre 1: Prologue
In my 18 years living in modern society, I have come to one disappointing conclusion: the world is an unbearably boring place.
To reassure you, I'll tell you right away, what you're reading right now is not the beginning of a suicide note, or even my desperate complaint about the world.
It's just a statement of fact about my life.
Having spent my childhood in an orphanage full of boring and monotonous things and people, I still held out hope that going out into the world, things would change.
Unfortunately, my hopes were not realized and even after the beginning of my 'free' life, it was neither better nor more interesting. Just one routine replaced another.
Maybe I wasn't looking hard enough, or maybe I just wasn't meant to, either way the conclusion remained the same.
Of course, I also had a couple rays of light in my life that prevented me from finally drowning in the maelstrom of this world.
Why, you may ask, did I suddenly decide to bring it up right now? Because at this moment I was completely immersed in darkness, unable to move, and thinking about my life became my only entertainment.
And where am I, you ask?
Well, I'm currently hiding in my sister's closet.
And before your imagination starts painting a picture of why I'm here, let me be clear: no, it's not what you think.
My reason is pure and unadulterat–
*squeak*
My thoughts were interrupted by the familiar creak of the door.
When I heard the noise, I pressed myself against the only sliver of light and looked around the room.
With a sharp turn of the knob, the door swung open and a young girl in a school uniform entered. Her neatly tied hair fell down to her shoulders, and her enchanting green eyes exuded fatigue. Although she lacked mature charm, she was undeniably very beautiful.
It was Lillian, my younger sister.
The young girl threw her bag on the table, collapsed onto the bed, and lay there for a while.
Then, looking around nervously, she reached over to the nightstand and, after a little rummaging, pulled out a pink gadget.
A smile spread across my face.
Come on, do it, just one step and…
As I'd expected, struggling a little with herself, she turned it on.
With a loud sound of greeting, the laptop showed the desktop.
For a while, only the sound of fingers tapping on the keyboard and the girl's rapid breathing could be heard in the quiet room.
Seeing no point in waiting any longer, I swung the door open and walked out, but Lillian didn't react, apparently too absorbed in her work. Then I had to take matters into my own hands.
"Gotcha!"
I walked up behind her and pinched one of her thighs.
"Hiiiiiic!"
Letting out a deafening squeal that made my mind black out for a second, she turned to me, remembering to hide her laptop safely behind her back.
"E-eden, what are you doing here?"
Trying to recover from the shock, she clutched the laptop even tighter behind her back.
Instead of answering her question, I, mimicking her voice to the best of my ability, repeated what she had said the night before.
"... are you crazy? You think I'm some kind of freak who only lives to write a novel? Just so you know, I'm capable of spending a week, no a month... though still a week... without even touching it."
Hearing my words, my sister blushed with embarrassment and looked away.
I, on the other hand, didn't even think of stopping.
"You do realize it hasn't even been a day since you promised, right?"
Embarrassed, she lowered her head and stared at the floor, still remaining silent.
A couple of years ago, Lillian, like many people of our generation, had succumbed to the lure of reading web novels, beginning to devour them like a bottomless well.
Stories about immortal cultivators, players risking their lives to conquer a tower, hunters continuously clearing dungeons, and many others. Regardless of the genre, sister kept reading them one after another.
But even that wasn't enough for her and soon she began her journey as a writer.
To her surprise, the novel she started writing to blow off steam from her stressful everyday life soon gained a lot of popularity, gaining fans day by day. Giving her a rather large group of fans by this day.
The awkward silence in the room continued to weigh on us, but neither of us uttered a word.
I was still towering over her and she was staring stupidly at the floor.
Seeing her in that state, my gaze softened. All the more I understood the reason for her actions. Deciding to break this stifling silence, I asked a leading question.
"Are there more of them?"
Instantly realizing who I was talking about, her countenance, which had previously expressed only guilt and embarrassment, creased in a grimace.
"Yes."
Of course, success never comes alone.
As the popularity grew, the number of people blatantly slinging mud at the work began to skyrocket. Their meaningless and devoid of any constructive criticism comments, carrying nothing but insults to the creator, appeared in large numbers.
I didn't know if they were driven by ego, jealousy, or some other selfish purpose, or if they just wanted to find someone to blow off steam on, but I knew one thing for sure.
If you overreact to someone else's unfounded criticism, sooner or later you will reach a dead end. This is true for anyone, much less an author.
Unfortunately, Lillian has always overreacted to criticism, whether there was logic in it or not.
Contrary to what you might think, the novel didn't get worse over time, and the number of subscribers increasing every day spoke perfectly to that. I've even heard of fan clubs being formed dedicated to certain parts of the novel…
But sometimes even a little shit is enough to ruin everything.
It eventually led to my sister's obsessive desire to show that she could do better.
I was glad to see this desire in her eyes, but at the same time I realized that it couldn't go on like this for long and she would sooner or later drive herself up the wall.
Watching my sister continue to torment herself day after day because of some bastards was something I definitely didn't want to do.
So I'd hoped that by giving her an excuse to step away for a while, by hurting her pride, she could take a break and sort herself out and continue on her way, but apparently I'd underestimated her stubbornness.
Placing a hand on her shoulder, I said in a soft tone.
"Don't worry about it, just keep creating at your own pace, after all, that's what brought you success, as for these people..."
My smile got wider.
"Just put their fate at the mercy of the evil gods and trucks of this world."
As much as I wanted to send them there with my own hands, it was better to leave it to the professionals.
For the first time since the conversation began, Lillian lifted her face and looked me in the eye while the corners of her lips lifted in a weak smile.
"I understand, brother."
Then with a strange mixture of emotion in her eyes she hesitantly added.
"But you shouldn't say that. These people probably have families who will be sad without them."
At her slight protest, I only shook my head weakly.
"Do I look so irresponsible in your eyes?"
"I would certainly take care of their mothers, wives, and even daughters without letting them be sad for a day."
I righteously stated.
After a moment, a ringing laugh escaped her lips.
"Eden, you're joking again."
I only smiled back.
I wasn't joking. My mind is wide enough and my heart is big enough to accommodate them all and make them happy.
Deciding to keep these thoughts to myself, I slowly walked out of her room, but suddenly remembered.
"Since you lost the bet, would you mind if I eat all the ice cream in the fridge?"
Without waiting for her answer, I shut the door tightly and started down the stairs to the accompaniment of her unintelligible yells from the room.
Being a good brother is so hard.
I thought, imagining this evening enjoying ice cream while watching Netflix.
Reaching to the refrigerator and carelessly opening it, the smile slowly slid off my face.
The refrigerator was empty.
None of the six boxes of ice cream I had put in there just this morning were there.
Had she already gobbled them all up by herself?
My brain tried to visualize this little body devouring six boxes in a row, which looked pretty comical.
Then the anger in me, like smoldering embers, began to flare up.
She has no respect for the ancient art of betting!
To eat our bet for nothing!
As the eldest brother, it is my duty to teach her a lesson.
Already ready to go upstairs for my vendetta, I stopped abruptly.
*grrrrr*
A strong urge to go upstairs and do something to her and my rumbling stomach desperately demanding food fought within me.
She could wait, but I couldn't.
Quickly weighing my priorities, I threw on my jacket and headed out the door.
°°°°
Finished with my shopping, I cast a meaningful glance at the salesgirl's breasts, which seemed like they could rip through her modest uniform at any moment.
"Damn, they've grown again."
I muttered. In any case, the girl was too busy with the next customer to hear anything.
What is she taking for such an effect?
With those thoughts, I left the store.
Walking through the almost deserted streets of the city, I reached the last traffic light separating me from home.
As I waited for the traffic light to signal, my thoughts returned to my missing ice cream without a trace.
After I get home and eat, I'll be sure to punish that little goblin.
I promised myself.
Getting the signal from the traffic light, I stepped confidently onto the road.
*whoosh*
Suddenly I heard tires squealing and a blinding light hit me from the side. Turning my head, I saw a truck rushing towards me.
At that moment, time seemed to stand still, leaving only the two of us in this world.
A cacophony of sounds resembling a strange mixture of tires rubbing against the surface of the road, the insistent honking of the vehicle, and the insane roar of its engine filled my mind.
Enduring the pain of his bright headlights, I stared at him.
I couldn't see, but I could feel him looking back at me too.
All of this lasted only a moment.
The next moment I reflexively tried to dodge and in the next second…
The truck whizzed by a few centimeters away from me.
That was close.
I thought, looking at the receding truck that soon disappeared around the corner.
Shaking off the stunned feeling stiffening my body, I continued on my way home.
Having prepared a few meals, I quickly ate about half of them, remembering to kindly put the rest in the refrigerator.
Walking up to the second floor, I stopped in front of Lilliana's room. This time I decided not to unceremoniously barge in, but just knock on the door.
*knock-knock*
There was no answer.
Is she asleep already?
Or is she faking it?
*knock-knock-knock*
Repeated my action and got the same result.
Never mind, I'll deal with her in the morning.
The cool air of the street, along with a hearty dinner, made my anger subside somewhat and I yawned and went to bed.
****
Thanks for reading, everyone.
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And in turn, I'll do my best to make sure you enjoy it.
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