I Got Reincarnated Into a Game I Was a Top-Ranker in and I Became the Leader of a Villain Group That Will Destroy This Shitty Country - 36

Chapter 36: A Night Where Warmth Spread

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

“Well, this is a common thing in my original world… The perfect eldest son will receive all the love and attention from the family while the troublemaker second son is left ignored.”

Growing up, my family was wealthy and of course, my parents had a lot of expectations from me since I was young. And so, I worked hard in my own way, trying my best to meet their expectations. However, my brother was what people call a genius who could do anything. By the time I realized it, all of my parents’ attention and love was focused solely on him. 

My relationship with my older brother wasn’t bad per se. However, there was a gap between us that just naturally emerged and both of us didn’t know how to bridge that gap. And so, I became more and more distant from my family and my parents gradually lost interest in me. My father, who ran a company, had already decided that my big brother would be his successor even before I entered high school. 

I spent my days being mentally exhausted by the pressure and neglect and then, an incident occurred.

“Do you know what school is? Basically it’s a facility similar to a magic academy here. And well, there were some… There were various things that happened there. 

It was a typical story. A story about how you became the target of bullying if you stood up for a kid that was being bullied. I did exactly that. I couldn’t bear the injustice any longer so I ended up getting into a fight with a few students and my parents were called. After that… I was treated as if I didn’t even exist at home.

My parents called me a disgrace to the family and at school, everyone gossiped behind my back. My textbooks were always drenched wet and when I returned home, my parents locked me in my room. I wasn’t even allowed to eat with my family.

I didn’t have a place where I belonged. Of course, I couldn’t stand it. I thought about locking myself in my room and dying just like that. Then… I discovered this world.

“Well, that’s why I don’t want to go back to my original world. For me, this world is more like my ‘original’ world than that world.”

The people that knew me… Those people… I couldn’t even call them my family. I got reincarnated into this world as an experimental subject and was forced to go through a lot of hardships. However, despite everything, I didn’t have any desire to go back to my previous world. This was the world I belonged to. If this world didn’t exist… I would’ve committed suicide already.

“…So you played that game a lot, so much so that you ended up becoming the world’s top ranker?”

“Yeah, that’s right. To be precise, I didn’t have anything else to do but play games. You see, my parents were the type that cared a lot about their appearances. I was forced to go to school, but honestly? I hardly ever studied.”

“…I see.”

After listening to my entire story, Chloe’s expression turned glum. She looked down at the ground, seemingly at a loss for words. As for Nia, she didn’t say anything. However, she squeezed my hand even tighter than before. It was as if she wanted to tell me that she’d be here by my side. Like she vowed to live by my side, as if she wanted to live up to the name I gave her.

“So? You want to destroy this empire?”

“Yeah, that’s right. To put it bluntly, this empire is downright disgusting and the story of this empire really messed up the latter half of the game later.”

“Hahaha… I never thought that would be the reason why you wanted to destroy the empire… Well, but…”

Leaning back, Chloe then gazed at me intently. On her beautiful face that was illuminated by the bonfire, a genuine smile blossomed. 

“Sounds great. Whatever your reason is, it doesn’t really matter to me.”

“…Chloe.”

“So… You didn’t have any friends in the previous world you came from, right?”

“…………Do you really need to hit me where it hurts all of a sudden like that?!”

“Hahahahaha!! Sorry, sorry. I didn’t mean to dig at your old wounds. It’s just… I want to tell you that it’s fine. I will be your friend.”

“Huh?’

“I don’t have any friends either. Kaltz is.. You know. As for Alwyn and Brien, they’re more like comrades rather than friends.”

With a bitter smile on her face, Chloe reached her hand out. 

“So, Kai. Let’s be friends. I feel like I can trust you somehow.”

“…Chloe….”

“Yeah? What is it..?”

“He-Help meeee…. My-My hand… My handdddd!!”

The moment Chloe said she would be my friend, Nia suddenly gripped my hand extremely hard. Her unrelenting grip, infused with her magic power, made a cracking sound to reverberate from my right hand. Unable to bear the pain, I squirmed. However, Nia wasn’t even the least perturbed. She only glared at Chloe and said. 

“I am Kai’s first friend.”

“…Ye-Yeah!! It’s not like I was ignoring you or anything, Nia!”

“I am Kai’s first and my first is Kai’s. That’s a fact that shall remain unchangeable for eternity.”

“I get it!! I get it so please, let go of my hand, Nia!!”

“…Kai… Kai is always blatantly cheating right in front of my eyes.”

Nia said with her cheeks puffed out. But then, she sighed and let my hand go, as if she was exasperated at me. 

As I cast healing magic to my right hand with tears running down my eyes from the pain, Chloe burst out laughing. 

It made me wonder what would’ve happened if I hadn’t stolen the healing magic from Alwyn.

“So, the two of you are really just friends? I always thought you two were… You two were like that.”

“….”

“Huh? Like that…? Ah! No-! Nia and I… We’re…!”

“…That’s right. Kai and I are friends, but we are also like that.”

“No, no, no!! We’re just ordinary friends, aren’t we? I mean, of course you’re more important than an ordinary friend to me, but we’re not… We’re not lovers or anything… I mean, not yet! Yeah, not yet! Ahahahahaha!!”

Feeling an extremely terrifying murderous intent directed at me, I had no other choice but to lie my way in order to keep my life. 

Shit… This… This final boss!!”

“Chloe is Kai’s cheating partner, but she’s a good person.”

“No, no, no! Me and Kai are not really like… Like that. Yeah, we’re not… I mean…”

“….I knew it. Chloe is Kai’s cheating partner. 

“E-Enough about that! Anyway!!! Nia, Kai, thank you for helping me! I know I’ve thanked you two many times already, but I just want to say it again! Thank you!!”

“….Fufu. Chloe is a good person indeed.”

Nia then showed us her smile, which she rarely showed and then she went over to Chloe. She then crouched down in front of Chloe and reached her hand out to Chloe. 

“I have Kai. However, I don’t have any other friend but Kai.”

“Umm…?”

“So, I have a favor to ask from you. I want you to be my friend.”

“…..”

Surprised by the sudden request, Chloe remained frozen. I was in the same state as well. I never expected those words would come out from Nia’s mouth. 

Chloe stared at Nia’s outstretched hand for a moment before she murmured softly, speaking carefully as if she was afraid to scare Nia away. 

“Is it okay…? Is it really okay for me to be your friend…?”

“….I have mixed feelings about this, but yes. It’s okay.”

“Pfft… I understand. I won’t steal Kai away from you…. Probably.”

“…I knew it. Chloe is Kai’s cheating partner indeed.”

“Ahahahaha! But you know, there’s no way I can win against you, Nia.”

Just like that, we kept talking about nonsensical things. Chloe took a bit of time to regain herself before she slowly returned Nia’s handshake. As the handshake between the two girls happened, a warmth gradually emerged from their faces, filling the air around. 

“I’ll be in your care, Nia.”

“…Yeah. Chloe is my friend.”

“Fufu~ I’m so happy~”

Saying her genuine feelings out loud, Chloe then turned her gaze to me, who had just finished healing my own right hand.

“Kai, I have something to ask from you.”

“Yeah? What is it?”

“I really want to become part of your group no matter what.”

Chloe continued on. Her determination was stronger than I expected.

“Of course, I already know you two are Shadow, the enemy of the empire… You guys are demons. I know that being with you two will expose me to a lot of risks.”

“No, no, the way you say it makes us sound really bad, you know?”

“I mean, isn’t it true though? You two look really bad on paper. But… Since you two have helped me, I also want to repay the favor. And… Above all… I… I want to be with you two.”

“…Chloe.”

“I don’t think I will become a burden to you two. I mean, I’m well aware that compared to you two, my abilities are nothing, but I will do my best to keep up! So, please…”

Inside this dark cave, the flickering light from the bonfire danced. It was hard to imagine such a dreadful tragedy had happened in the slum underneath the beautiful starry sky. 

“Will you… Accept me as your comrade?”

Chloe extended her hand to me once again. 

“And also… I think I want to be your friend too.”

“…..”

I had planned for this since the beginning, more or less. I already planned on making Chloe join our side after I helped her. Chloe, who was supposed to die according to the story of the game… I ran simulations in my head many times in order to achieve this. Hence why, it was not a surprise for us to reach this point. It felt only natural for things to reach this point even. It wasn’t strange. Everything went according to my plan.

“….I see.”

However, deep inside of my heart… A rush of joy emerged. Roaring like waves, unable to be contained. I felt so happy and relieved at the same time. 

My hand moved, almost instinctively, and wrapped around Chloe’s hand. We exchanged a few firm shakes before a smile of pure joy blossomed on Chloe’s face. 

“…Then, as a comrade and as a friend… It’s nice to meet you, Chloe.”

“Fufufu… Yeah. Nice to meet you too, Kai.”

“Yeah. I will be in your care from now on, Chloe.”

On this magical night filled with tender warmth, I made my second friend in this world.

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

T/N: The fact that MC’s parents are powerful enough to pressure the bully… But they chose to cast their son away instead… ლ(ಠ益ಠლ)