Chapter 52 A Nobody

Still only around 9 PM, huh?

Glanced back and continued walking.

So many people here—crowded, beyond words.

Then...

I flinched.

No matter—I thought.

Continued stepping across piles of people walking.

"Eh?"

This time my head turned, glaring at the person that just walked past me.

Put my hands on my face—rubbed my eyes.

Yet again, I continued walking...

And then it happened again.

A flinch.

Instantly, I turned around and put my hand on the shoulder of a stranger.

His face spun towards me, with a confused expression.

He wasn’t anyone I knew—I let go of his shoulder.

What’s happening to me?—I could’ve sworn it was someone I knew.

A few steps later, the street lights hit my face—I covered my eyes using my palm.

This street is odd—I feel odd, and something is clearly not right.

Took a turn towards an alleyway.

I walked across it—and went into another alleyway.

Then I felt it.

Someone was behind me—I wasn’t being delusional.

With my eyes being dead, I turned around.

"W— what?—you’re kidding, right?" I mumbled with a perplexed face and eyes as wide as they could possibly get.

Stood a man—with a face I was more than familiar with.

"Nouuu—not kidding at all."

The man in front of me then put on an overly exaggerated smile and had his eyes run towards the dark sky.

The one standing was the man that I had just killed in the bathroom.

He wore long red robes.

Attire different from earlier, but with a face unmistakenly belonging to Der— twink guy, whatever was his name.

"You... how’d you live?"

My tone sank with each word, manifesting into something cold and irritated over the situation—it wasn’t a surprise, but rather a mild inconvenience that should’ve been prevented.

Then... the man let out words... unseen words...

"So, you’re the System Killer?"

He licked his lips upon these words.

"System Killer?—that’s me?"

The alleyway was wedged tightly with rows of old bricks obscured by the darkness—not even wide enough for a car to pass through.

The walls rose several storeys on both sides—red and grey bricks worn down by years of rain, grime and neglect.

Took out my hand from my kimono, glanced at my hand as it sharpened beyond what I could normally do.

Just one step forward, then hardened my right leg as I launched myself like a spring towards him...

My hand was going straight at him... and...!!

"Uaaaah!!—"

Using his left hand, he simply brushed my sharp palm aside, letting my attack pass harmlessly beside him.

Then, after moving himself past me, without any force, he high-fived the air.

Graciously and elegantly—as he did his seemingly gentle palm push, a string went on my neck and began sinking deep into my throat.

I could feel the MANA on it—it’s a magic weapon!!

Half-way through my throat, I managed to harden my neck and move the string over my head.

Immediately, I lunged away from him—we swapped positions, he was now where I previously stood.

My expression that mirrored a predator had died—I was now ridden by worry, yet he graciously kept stepping with his self-satisfied grin.

Who— who is he?!

And his MANA... it— it hasn’t fluctuated once!!

"Boy, you’re not beating me through speed and brute-force alone," the man let out raspily without so much as a waver in his voice.

Yet again, I hardened my leg—on this occasion, I lowered my body just slightly.

I could see his smile softly get more playful after the sight...

He’s enjoying this...!!

Lunged towards him—subtly, he took a stance awaiting my arrival.

Then, mid-air my feet hit the ground—by focusing MANA on my feet, I stopped myself and launched myself towards the building on the right.

My eyes closed—my focus switched to stealthing my MANA into utter obscurity.

The bricks and walls were torn apart around him—debris and garbage filled the air, obscuring his vision—and my MANA was practically gone.

Then suddenly... I felt it—his MANA fluctuated, I could feel a small almost ant-like rise on his eyes.

I was inside the building—my instincts took over me!!

I cut off my arm as it hardened, and then propelled it towards him along with myself right behind the flying arm!!

With mild, tender surprise on his face, my cut-off hand grazed his cheek—I won—I thought.

As the limb flew past his face, my left palm immediately peered into vision going straight into his head!!

"A vampire, huh?"

Everything stopped.

My body, the debris in the air, and even my arm that was going past him—a sudden sound of strings reverberated through the alley.

I— I can’t move.

"Heh," he giggled and started mischievously grinning—a perverted smile.

"There was a ’vampire outbreak’ a couple of hundred years ago, but I thought they were extinct," he murmured right next to my face.

"What— what are you even talking about!!"

I voiced as my breaths increased in frustration—I couldn’t get myself loose!!

Even if I sacrifice some limbs, my throat is strangled—I’d need to cut off my head in order to regain my freedom!!

"Your form—you’re a vampire, aren’t you?"

"No idea what that is...!! Isn’t that fictional...?!"

Upon my words, his smile transformed into curiosity.

"So, you’re a vampire that doesn’t know that they’re a vampire?"

A circle.

"Yeah— I guess— does that make you happy?!"

"You got me really curious, boy—how did you become this being?—you should know that much, right?"

I didn’t answer his question—posed my own instead.

"Did you bait me in the bathroom?—were you just pretending to be weak?!"

Yet again, he giggled—in this instance, shook his head as well.

Then moved his palm over his face—just a second or two.

And...!!

He had a different fucking face...!?

"Who are you...?!" I let out angrily.

He stared. Or arguably, glared.

Then answered...

"I’m nobody—a player, a fighter, a hunter. I’m a pile of delicate MANA and a corpse that sheds its skin... And a jester, if you get too close to the truth and stand in my way."

He smirked.

"You can call me Fisk."