Im still a human.

Nevertheless

I still have my own suspicions.

Why is that monster not shooting its beam from there?

Isnt that beam powerful enough to penetrate the wall Im hiding on?

It definitely knows that Im lurking somewhere around here.

However, it hasnt shot another beam at all.

Something is it aiming at something?

[Hmm?]

Becha~! Docha~! Becho~!

Something that looks like a sludge fell down from a little distance away from my position.

Has the Soul Eater finally released itself?

Whats happening?

[!]

The sludge combined together and is slowly changing its shape.

Its in the shape of a human.

If I were to compare it to something, its like an elaborate art made out of clay.

It was as if I was seeing the creation of a statue made of clay in fast-forward.

Finally, three humanoids that were colored in bluish purple rose from the clay.

Im used to seeing humanoid monsters in this ruins but

I cant feel some strange eerieness when I look at that head part of the humanoid monsters.

The monsters head have a strange appearance that looks like a vertical human lips.

What the heck, these monsters were

creepy.

And with the subtle vibrations I can feel on my feet, I know that the Soul Eater is slowly approaching here.

Its slow, but its moving towards here.

[tsk! For the time being, I should invoke <Paralyze towards this creepy thing]

Bleeaarrrggghh~!

[uwahhh!?]

Something came out of the monsters mouth-like head.

It was the head of a human which was drained out of its blood.

The facial expression of the human head looks like it had cried out a lot of tears.

No, is this the face of agony?

Its also possible this is the face of someone who was crushed by despair

[I see]

I have finally understood.

This is what was called a reproduction.

The true nature of this Soul Eater is the same as what the lizardmen does.

Its showing me what my unsightly death would be like in this disposal ruins.

The faces of the disposed people that it had killed.

The facial expression on their faces when theyre about to die.

Its likely that these were the collection of the Soul Eater.

Did it transcribe the expressions of the souls it captured towards this head that it spit out?

I cant give a definite answer to that.

Anyway, this monster is now showing this to me.

See this? Can you see the pathetic expression of your companions?

Give me some responses.

Please.

This is the Soul Eaters amusement.

Cold sweat flowed down on my face.

A stiff smile started forming on my mouth.

[So you too, huh? The monsters in this place really are. sigh All of you have this kind of distasteful hobby]

Drip, drop drip, drop

These zombies who have the faces of the disposed people were slowly approaching me.

[.fu.]

I could hear its every step as the zombie walks near.

The human base of the monster is a grief-stricken face, but this also increases the eeriness of the monsters.

Their faces they looks like theyre begging for help.

[]

I took a step back away from the zombie.

[Dont f**king mess with me]

These monsters were different from the ones Ive faced from the past.

Yes different.

Ive certainly fought humanoid monsters before.

But,

[I know that the one Im facing is not human but these guys these guys looks almost like a human..!]

They certainly look like humans.

But the emotions they held in their eyes, clearly tells me they are not.

Gogogogogogogogogogogogogo

piikkii, biikkkiii, ppiiisshhhhiii

dogagagagagagagagaaannnnn~!

The wall diagonally to my left collapsed.

In there, a huge human face has appeared along with the vibration on the ground.

The part that looks like its body is quadrangular shaped and looks similar to a gate.

The front section consists of the stone statue that looks like a humans face.

The back section looks like the body of a catfish where its made out of the fusion of flesh, stone and earth.

The middle part, its main body has several of these tentacle-like flesh that extends out of its body.

A fleshy black tentacle.

It kind of resembles sea anemones

Its movement though looks like a seaweed that sways around at the bottom of the sea.

It doesnt look like the hair of the Soul Eater.

The tip of the tentacles emits a faint yellow light.

Is that

perhaps, that beam earlier had came out from the end of those tentacles.

[!]

Red, blood-like liquid came flowing down from its closed eyes.

Its like the monster is crying tears of blood.

Katchak

The mouth of the Soul Eater opened wide.

The red liquid also started spouting out from its mouth.

And,

[Hiiieeeeaaaa! aa ahh agghhhuuaa! ggiiihhhiieeeaaahhh!]

It released an ear-piercing scream as it pukes out a disgusting blood-like liquid from its mouth.

It seems that its scream distorted and there are crackles in its voice.

Its no longer just the voice you can hear in your favorite horror movies.

It had become an ear-piercing shriek.

The shouts suddenly stopped as the Soul Eater closed its mouth.

Suuu

The Soul Eater has now opened its eyes albeit thinly.

Its mouth started forming a smile.

Its eyes glowed golden.

With its emotionless eyes, it looks like its laughing at me or so I think it looks like.

[This guy]

This monster is enjoying this situation

..of hunting me down.

[]

Even so, there are still no openings at all.

I cant find any opening.

This is not a time to stare at an opening I cant find at all.

I need to find an indication where I could release my Abnormal State Skill against it, even if I have to raise that indication myself.

I have to make sure that my second shot certainly hits.

This time, it might be possible that I could hit a part of its body.

I could hear the sound of the approaching viscous footsteps.

I turned towards where I heard the sound of footsteps.

These zombies who have the faces of the disposed people were approaching me.

[Furthermore d*mn it! Manipulating the souls of the deceased person like this, this is]

The zombies who have that bluish purple liquid dripping down on its body is nearly approaching.

I stick out my left hand towards the direction of the approaching zombies.

[Guhhh! Pa]

I could feel the presence of someone staring closely at me.

My sweat drips down on my face.

I opened my eyes wide.

Im clenching my teeth.

And as if to make up my mind, I opened my mouth.

[<Paralyze>!]

The usage of my skill was not obstructed.

The three zombies have stopped moving.

The paralysis has been successful.

I looked towards the Soul Eater.

Its like a spectator was just observing me.

My arm was not facing your way.

So, there is no reason for you to intercept, huh

Ignoring my heavy breaths, I focus my attention towards the three zombies.

My voice quivers.

[N, next is]

The sorrowful expressions on their faces.

The expression of those who weep.

The expression of those who wants salvation.

[Ppo <Poison>, uuwwaahhhhf*ckaahhhh!]

I looked toward the heavens.

[Ive done it ngh!]

I grit my teeth with all of my strength.

[Although its towards a man who is half-dead already I still targeted someone who has the form of a human! This cruel poison skill of mine Ive used it on him! Youve got to be kidding me!]

Tears flowed down from the corner of my eyes.

They were disposed people who died in this hell-like ruins.

In other words,

[They are not my friends!]

I glared at the Soul Eater baring all the hatred that I have.

[I Im not going to fall in this place! Humans souls are not some kind of toy for you to play with! Thats why against this comrades of mine, Im able to use my poison skill! Ive used it on them! Theyre monsters after all no matter if my target has a human form No matter what hateful things you expect me to do, towards them Im able to use my poison ability against them! T, Thats why I]

Buwwaahh

My tears came flowing down endlessly.

[Im still a human!]

Niiiii~

Baring my fangs out and facing the Soul Eater

I showed a wide smile that reached towards my eyes.

Becha~

Bicha~

Docha~!

Docche~

Suddenly, 20 additional sludge appeared around me.

Those additional sludge immediately morphed towards a humanoid form.

Nyururiiinnn~

Another set of human heads came out from their humongous vertical lips.

The despair-filled expressions of the heads appeared in front of me again.

Its like a parade of the dead have begun.

The pack of newly appeared zombies look like theyre trying to surround me.

Drip, drop drip, drop

[D-Dont come near me]

I covered my face with my right hand.

I staggered a bit as I was taking a step back.

[S- Stop]

Even if, this monster had imprinted the memory of the soul of the dead into those zombies.

Even if the one its imprinted to was just a replica of the original owner.

It could be said that the zombies were the siblings of the disposed humans.

Or they could just have been resurrected from the dead.

The appearance of the multiple discarded people keeps coming out again and again.

[My comrades, w-we!?]

Please, bestow upon me

My feelings.

A miracle for just for me, once again

My arm has begun to tremble little by little.

[Dont come near me]

Im slowly being cornered

..towards the wall.

In front of me were the horde of dead people.

Behind the horde of dead people is the Soul Eater.

The Soul Eater is slowly approaching too.

Nikkaannn~!

The Soul Eater have a bright smile on its face.

A smile so bright that it looks like the sun is shining right on your face.

His lined-up white teeth makes me feel uncomfortable.

Even his swelling gums were showing up a little with that smile of his.

Its enjoying the despair that Im feeling.

Its thoroughly digesting it.

It had finally met its best prey.

Having such an expression

This guy was having too much fun

It was at that time.

A large amount of pallid spirits that have the figure and the faces of humans, writhed out from the upper body of the Soul Eater.

Its a ghost who has black eyes and mouth.

Its large mouth began to open.

[Huuwwwwwwooooooooooohhhhh~! Uwwwwooooohhhhhhhhh!]

Its as if the ghost was pleading to be released from its distressful restraint towards its body.

As if getting infected by the ghost, the souls nearby made a requiem filled with their own despair.

Is this monster still tormenting the souls it had already captured, by showing them this scene?

[Thats too cruel]

Suddenly, a chill ran through my spine.

My teeth had been chattering, right down to its roots.

The most demonic of all demons

This Soul Eater is a devil.

[Uwwahh!?]

I found that my back is already against the wall.

It seems I cant escape anymore.

I dont have the energy to escape anymore.

My legs were frozen in fear.

My whole body has been overtaken by fear, freezing me where I stand.

Im scared,

Im scared,

Im scared.

..of the approaching dead people.

..of the approaching Soul Eater.

[S- Stop there]

I will absolutely die.

[Stop it already Im begging you D- dont come near me Stay away, stay away, stay away, stay away, stay away, stay away, stay away, stay away, stay away!!!]

The Soul Eater opened its mouth wider than before.

The swaying of its tentacles became faster and more violent.

Niikkkkaahhh~!

The tears of blood continued flowing on the Soul Eaters face, and yet its showing the brightest smile it has.

Its like its trying to say how the Soul Eater is filled with joy right now.

It feels good.

Its the best!

Yes, its the best.

Right now is the best.

As far as the Soul Eater is concerned, right now is the best time.

And right at this moment, is the moment that the Soul Eater have been waiting for.

Thats why this result has appeared.

~

~

An opening.

[<Paralyze>]

~

~

Bikkii~

Pisshhii~

Pikkkiii

[Giii!?]

Through the gaps between my fingers as I cover my face with my hand, I could see that the Soul Eater have been successfully seized.

When I had been invoking my <Paralyze> towards the first three zombies, Ive never lowered my left arm ever since I had stretched my arm forward.

Being cognizant of my target right in front of my eyes.

Pointing my arm towards my target.

The requirements for my skills, the two of them have been successfully met.

[.ggiiiiii!? Ggggii!?]

The expression on the Soul Eaters face had completely changed.

Its movements have completely stopped.

[Thats it]

I stared at the Soul Eater through the gaps in between my fingers.

At the moment that you have cornered your prey

[The fatal weakness that all of the haughty people carries]

The moment that you had thought that you were better than your opponent.

The moment when you had thought that you had already won.

Thats also the moment where your greatest enemy would appear

which is negligence.

Together with that negligence would be a gap where you cant notice anything.

And thats gap is where Id push through.

..with my Abnormal State Skill, Paralyze.

<Your skill level has increased.>

Lv 2 Lv 3

Finally, the trembling within my body have stopped.

My tears have also disappeared.

Its all just, fake acting.

[Ggiiii! Nuuggiiiihhh! Ugghhuu, iiiggggggyyyyiiihhhh!?]

The Soul Eater is frantically moving its body.

Clenching its teeth, its struggling hard to be able to move.

But, it cant move.

Its golden eyes resembles those who have glared too much that it had became red.

Thick veins that looks like blood vessels started showing in the white of its eyes.

The human-faced stone is glaring at me.

Hatred, shame, killing intent

Red liquid also began flowing down from the meat in its gums.

I glared back at the Soul Eater.

[I had to trick myself to deceive myself.]

I was seriously scared a while ago.

I was seriously driven to the corner.

I saw my enemy who have a human figure struggling just so that it could live.

Its like Im completely empathizing towards the Gentle Mimori Touka.

In short, I have became him.

So that I could deceive the Soul Eater that could see everything.

[Say is that your favorite food?]

The sadism that the Lizardmen and those two-head panther had.

Their preference of tormenting the weak.

Their wicked desires.

Yes, these guys were expecting for something.

The frightened appearance of their prey.

Their unsightly appearance while they struggle.

I realized that the Soul Eater was just the same as them.

The clincher of why I had thought that was when the Soul Eater had shown off its collection.

Thats why I used it against him.

This has assured my victory.

This had fulfilled my wish.

Thats why I showed it to him.

The unsightly figure of the weak that the haughty predator had wanted to see.

[Kakaka how was it? Was my acting that believable? Huh, Soul Eater?]

My Abnormal State Skill also works against the Soul Eater.

Is it because Im relieved that Im not killed by the Soul Eater or that Im happy that my skill works against it?

My mouth had inadvertently formed a smile.

[Kuku, thats right]

I had always wanted to become a famous actor.

After my uncles family had took custody of me,

[For days, months, years]

Ive been trying to be harmless.

Ive been trying to be ordinary.

Ive been trying to be kind.

I raised one of my arms, and showed off the bloody fingertip when the Soul Eater had tried to bite off my hand.

[I have always been tricking myself deceiving myself.]

And then finally, I have forgotten what the real me is like.

[I have]

I opened my eyes wide as Im laughing at the emotions Im feeling right now.

[I have always been playing the role of Mimori Touka, a kind and ordinary air mob.]