Chương 3: Chapter : 3 Gifts!
Furious, Darian stormed away from the lively Gremory family chit-chat in the dining hall, his frustration evident. The Gremorys, he knew, held a rather neutral opinion of him. Despite Sho inheriting Darian's memories, there were still hazy gaps, like missing puzzle pieces.
One certainty lingered – Ajuka harbored a long-standing crush on Sirzechs from their childhood. However, Sirzechs, deeply focused on strengthening the underworld and maintaining peace, had no intentions of entangling himself romantically. Ajuka attempted to play off his feelings in jest, but Sirzechs, oblivious to the romantic undertones, brushed them aside.
"Darn it, it's like this feeling is mine yet not mine, as if someone's trying to snatch away what belongs to me," Darian muttered, his hand gripping his chest as if trying to ease a coursing pain.
He took a deep breath, attempting to regain composure, and walked towards his room. Collapsing onto his bed, he stared at the ceiling, deep in thought. "This body and its memories seem to be tampering with my emotions. I've never experienced anything like this, not even when I had a 1 month non-physical girlfriend in university who got stolen by Porsche guy"
Meanwhile, the Gremory family's dinner concluded, and Ajuka emerged from the dining hall. On the corridor, an unexpected encounter awaited him—Winston, the familiar old man, called out to him with a bow, a gesture steeped in respect.
"Master Ajuka, there's something I'd like to report," Winston said, hand placed over his chest.
Ajuka inquired, "What is it?"
"Darian Lucifer has come out of his room," Winston revealed.
A casual smile played on Ajuka's lips as he remarked, "Darian, the man who locked himself away for fifty years, has finally taken a step outside. Just keep an eye on him. Whether he acts or merely exists, that guy isn't a problem that can resurface," Ajuka said, nonchalantly walking away, leaving Winston behind.
"As you wish, Master," Winston responded.
As time passed, Darian lay on his bed, attempting to unravel the intricacies of his memories. A sudden notification sound shattered his concentration, prompting him to abruptly open his eyes and check his phone.
A message greeted him: "We have considered offering a one-month loan package of 31 days for 200 moon coins, including free calling, SMS, and internet services. Please pay the amount at the end of this month, or you will be dead."
"Wtf, is this network company sending typed death threats?" Darian muttered, dismissing the message. However, his focus shifted to the call log, where the main objective lay.
A ring echoed, accompanied by a peculiar caller tune chanting, "Jesus is best, best of the best, best of the best of the best." The call ended without anyone picking up.
"Dammit, pick up the call," Darian muttered, frustration evident in his eyes fixed on the impatiently waiting screen.
Cluck.
"Hello, Sho Yamato, did you like the gift?" a voice inquired.
"Are you really Jesus?" Darian questioned.
"Of course, do you still doubt?" came the reply.
"No, but there's a problem. I'm gonna get cucked soon," Darian nonchalantly stated.
"Huh! What are you talking about? You asked for a wife, and I gave you one. What does getting cucked have to do with me?" Jesus responded casually.
"You bastard! You gave me a wife who doesn't have any personality that I gave, and how am I supposed to live here with this dead body?" Darian shouted with frustration finally breaking through.
"Oh goodness, don't shout on the phone. Come here," Jesus said.
A shining vortex appeared, sucking Darian inside, and suddenly, he found himself surrounded by pristine white.
"What are you looking around for? Sit here," a voice called. Darian turned, finding a ground table and a charming man in his twenties sitting on the floor, drinking sake(rice wine). The man had long black hair falling to his shoulders, ultra-glycerin skin with golden hues, and a Tony Stark beard. He wore loose clothes, revealing his muscular chest.
"Stop looking at me that way pervert. Come and sit here," the man beckoned. Captivated, Darian slowly approached and took a seat opposite him.
"So, what was your problem?" Jesus inquired, taking a sip of rice wine that seemingly materialized out of nowhere, with a duplicate appearing in front of Darian.
Darian explained, "I mean, you asked me what kind of wife I want, and I told you, but I got a transgender. The biggest issue, though, is this body—it's weak as hell. Also, there's a man who has a crush on my wife, and I can't do anything to him because he's super powerful."
Jesus, without any visible reaction, casually sipped his wine. "Seriously, it seems like I judged you wrong," he said, showing a hint of disappointment.
"Huh?" Darian didn't grasp the meaning behind those words.
"It seems like you don't understand. Let me tell you your own life story. Born in a normal family, went to university, got a degree, and landed a normal corporate job. You lived a boring life, facing the verbal bullying of your boss almost every day. That's why you wanted a wife who could take care of you and end your sadness, brightening up your life, didn't you?" Jesus narrated, revealing a life Darian had never deeply contemplated—just following the path life led him without much choice.
"Sho Yamato, I gave you a wife and transported you to a magical world where billions of people want to go, some even jumping in front of a truck to get there. I even gave you a devil's body with a 10,000-year lifespan. Yet here you are, still complaining. Haven't you realized this is a different life? You don't have to live it like your previous one. You can pursue what you like, bring the demon inside you to the surface, make your desires reality. Live a life you've never lived, turn your dream life into reality," Jesus advised.
Darian realized he had never fully enjoyed his life; it was more about others' desires and circumstances. "And here you are, complaining that someone is going to take your wife. If you really want her that badly, just kill the person who wants to steal her. Show the whole world that no one can ignore your words," Jesus suggested, sparking a newfound determination in Darian. His eyes glowed with a deeper fire, as if something inside him was finally emerging.
"How about it? Did you like my motivational speech?" Jesus asked.
"I guess you're right. I didn't give much thought to the fact that I'm in a different world with a different life. I can start over again," Darian said, a villainous smile appearing as he took a sip of the wine.
Jesus couldn't help but muse in his thoughts, "What's with his smile? It looks scary."
"But you didn't give me any cheats. I mean, I'm not getting greedy, but you must have something that could increase my power. Since I got this body's memory, he was born with low demonic powers and wasn't able to grow despite living for more than 100 years," Darian expressed.
Jesus tapped the table, causing ripples on the ground. The once pristine white surroundings transformed into a dark and dimly lit space, emanating creepy vibes. Three cylindrical glass coffins, each 8ft tall, filled with liquid and something akin to a living creature, materialized.
"I already prepared your cheats, but I dozed off and forgot to give you," Jesus explained.
Darian scrutinized the cylinders, " What are these" he questioned his gaze fixed on one containing a humanoid figure wearing a red coat with long canine teeth resembling a vampire. Without a reply, he turned around to ask Jesus, but found no one and mysterious red fog started to appear.
"Jesus?" Darian nervously looked around, suddenly hearing eerie breaths in the air.
As he slowly turned back towards the cylinder, Jesus's voice echoed, "Why are you dozing off?" He lightly tapped Darian, who snapped out of his daze, his face covered in sweat.
"Haha, you felt it, didn't you? Even if he died 1000 years ago, his powers and memories are still etched in that immortal body," Jesus remarked with a casual laugh, observing the sweat on Darian's face.
Darian questioned, "Is this some kind of vampire?"
"It's a Dracula, and not just any Dracula. Its powers can tamper with the time of the whole world with ease—never-ending regenerative power, telekinesis, enhanced strength, shape-shifting, shadow manipulation, and intangibility,etc. " Jesus explained, as revealing the second gift.
The second cylinder opened, releasing smoke, and revealed a black heart pulsating without a body.
"This black heart is the second gift. It will help you absorb the Dracula's power by filtering it, so you won't be affected by so-called holy objects," Jesus clarified.
"Black heart... sounds familiar," Darian pondered.
"It's the heart of the Shadow Monarch from an alternate version of the Solo Leveling world. I found it quite interesting and plucked it out of the Shadow Monarch while he was sleeping," Jesus disclosed.
Darian, with a skeptical look, questioned, "Are you really Jesus?"
"Haha, well, I'm not the similar Jesus humans know. I am a different version of him, and the Shadow Monarch isn't dead. He's still alive. Even without the heart, he can live, or maybe he made another heart for himself. Who knows?"
Darian's curiosity heightened, "Wait, will I have similar abilities to the Shadow Monarch?"
"You must be talking about the Shadow Soldiers, but I don't have an answer for that but it will definitely provide a huge amount of mana, and for that ability, you'll have to find out yourself," Jesus responded, as if he knew what Darian real question was.
"And your last gift," Jesus said, presenting a blue round transparent pill. Darian questioned, "What is this now?"
"This will improve your body constitution," Jesus explained, handing the pill to Darian. "What are you looking at? Eat it," he urged.
"Now?" Darian asked, receiving a nod to proceed. As he ate the pill, he felt no pain or discomfort, only a warm sensation. Suddenly, with a burst of white smoke, Darian coughed. "What happened? Where did this smoke come from?"
As the smoke cleared, a young boy with black hair falling to his neck, black eyes, and a height of 5ft 11 inches appeared.
Meanwhile, Jesus's eyes were fixed on Darian. "Dammit, that pill was getting thrown around here, but I didn't think it could be expired," he mused in his thoughts.
"What happened, Jesus? Why are you silent?" Darian asked. Jesus pointed towards the glass, and Darian saw his own reflection. "Huh, what just happened? How did my face change?" Darian said in disbelief.
"Darn it, I'll get divorced without doing anything. What kind of pill was that?" Darian expressed, and as suddenly as before, another burst of smoke enveloped him. "Cough again. Where is this smoke coming from?" Darian questioned as the smoke cleared, revealing him back to his normal look.
Jesus placed his finger on Darian's forehead. "It seems like the pill created a second body of yours. You can switch between them at will," Jesus explained.
"Wasn't it some body-improving pill?" Darian asked.
"Well, even I don't know how that happened. It's a body-improving pill, and it will do its job. Don't worry. And that additional body may be useful in some manner," Jesus said solemnly.
"Does it hold some kind of power?" Darian inquired.
"Nah, it's just like a high human body," Jesus clarified.
"We will say goodbye here, and we won't be able to meet for some years, so don't call like a madman since I won't pick up," Jesus declared.
"Are you going somewhere?" Darian asked.
"I will take a nap for some years," Jesus said, yawning. "So don't disturb me."
The surroundings transformed back into pristine white. "Don't worry, I left Skele with you. He will go with you and help you," Jesus assured.
"Skele?" Darian questioned.
"He is inside that ring along with your gift," Jesus mentioned as Darian noticed a black ring on his left index finger. "Where did this come from?" Darian muttered as a vortex appeared, sucking him back into his room, landing on the bed.
As Darian sprawled on the bed, examining the black ring, a sensation surged through him. A small, cute skeleton emerged from the ring, standing at a mere height of 1 ft. "Hooo, I am finally free from the madman," the small skeleton heartily laughed, floating around the bed.
"Are you Skele?" Darian asked.
"Yes, I am. Let's set the introduction aside for now. First, let me plant the black heart inside you. Just lie on the bed casually," Skele instructed. Darian complied without questioning, laying on the bed.
"Heheee," a creepy laugh echoed in the room as suddenly a huge pair of scissors and a knife appeared. "Wait, you're not doing some kind of surgery, are you?" Darian questioned, eyeing the tools.
"Don't worry," Skele reassured.
Meanwhile, in a room within the Gremory castle, Sirzechs sat around a desk, engrossed in checking documents. A knock interrupted his focus, and he invited the maid in. A beautiful silver-haired lady in a maid outfit entered, presenting more documents for him to review.
"Maou-sama, here are some more documents that you need to check," the maid said with a smile.
Sirzechs, fed up with the pile of documents, suggested, "Can't we take a break, Grayfia?"
"You can take a long break if you decide to have a family," Grayfia replied, introducing an unrelated topic out of nowhere.
"Is it your word or Father's?" Sirzechs inquired.
"You're correct, Maou-sama. Your father asked me to put in this word when we're having a conversation," Grayfia revealed solemnly.
Sirzechs expressed his lack of interest, "How many times do I have to tell Father I have no interest in that? He keeps pushing this topic, and it seems like he's pulling Ajuka to portray his words," sighing at his father's childish behavior.
"I don't think Lord Zeoticus would ask Sir Ajuka to say something like that at the dining hall," Grayfia pondered, catching Sirzechs' attention. "What are you thinking so deeply?" She asked while continuing to read the documents.
"I have also something to report to you, Maou-sama," Grayfia said.
"Call me Sirzechs, not Maou-sama, if you want me to listen," Sirzechs insisted.
"Sorry, but not happening, Maou-sama. The report is that Master Darian stepped outside the room, and some maids saw him roaming around in the corridors," Grayfia replied, prompting Sirzechs to stop reading the document.
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