Chapter 56 Know What Ya Know, Ya Know?

Meanwhile days ago somewhere far away:

Skimmed over my clothes—rags, drizzled up and messy. "Need to find new shit... can’t go walkin’ like this, can I?"

Went over to a bush and tore it apart, using the loose clothes I had left, I tied them together to form a little cover over my mighty excalibur.

I’m happy it regenerated, but I can’t feel any blood flow in it—does this mean I’ll have permanent erectile dysfunction?—oh, fuck nah—this can’t be!!

The rest of my body had already finished regenerating—the world felt odd ever since, and I could feel people’s MANA in the town while still being a distance away.

Closed my eyes and started focusing my MANA on my heavenly truck—I could feel the energy gathering and comfortably surrounding it.

Then...

"...GOOD JESUS...!!"

IT STOOD UP!! MIGHTIER THAN EVER AS WELL!!

The cover I made for it instantly fell off—got pushed off by the stick of satan.

"I’m so back, motherfuckers!!" I yelled into the wild—no one anywhere near me.

Shit, all these cravings though...!!

Cigarettes, booze, and... flesh?! Fuck is that?!

I rolled my eyes... somewhat dismissing this newfound desire.

Covered myself again and then walked towards the town...

Wasn’t stepping normally...

Strangely, I had unnervingly crazy-ass swagger with each turn...

Shoulders and hips swaying from side to side upon every step, my body loosely rolling along as if I couldn’t be bothered to walk like a normal human bein’.

I just needed a cigarette and my life would be fukin’ complete—shit!

Once I got a bit closer to the town, I noticed a massive area tarnished in blood...

Instead of thinking about it, I simply shrugged.

Then picked up sunglasses off the ground—they were mine, god knows how they got here though!

This... does feel odd.

Everyone was eyeing me as I walked across the town, but that wasn’t my concern—the craving was, it was odd and uncontrollable.

I bit my lips—with tender worry, I brushed it off and continued going.

"Nightmare Guild."

Went inside, and immediately someone ran up to me—their expression wet in anxiety, expectedly.

"Zel!! Where have you been?!"

"Ah..." I scratched my hair.

"And what happened to your clothes?!"

"It’s a long story, dude," I answered.

"Everyone’s out looking for you—are you okay?"

"Right..." I looked around—it is quite empty.

Then I added, "Shao’s also out for me?—ya?"

"Of course— everyone is, as I said," this time his tone decreased in intensity, somewhat snuggling itself in relief.

In spite of this being a guild home, it was also the place where I slept, ate and shat—pretty much my homeplace, so my absence was a clear sign that something is off.

Rather frequently, I’d pass out piss drunk somewhere and stumble back in the morning, but this time it was slightly longer...

"Man, we thought organ hunters got ya or somethin’—what a relief," he stated.

"My guy, what could they possibly want with my organs?—they’d take one look inside me and put ’em back."

"Fair enough..." he replied. "Either way, I’m going to go tell others you’re back—don’t go anywhere, alright?"

Sigh—what a ruckus, why’s everyone such a worrywart?!

I get if Shao went missing for a couple days—ya, I’d be concerned, but why the concern over me?!—I’m a grown ass man, I can take care of myself.

Ugh... fuck’en hungry as shit!!

"Yo, old man—fetch me somethin’—bread and booze will do; put it on my tab, aight?"

Tsk... what’s with this empty glare?!

He stood there, wiping a glass—and seemed ominously disappointed in me, as if all of this was some antic I pulled for the kicks.

"Coming right up..." he mumbled.

"Oh, and before you do—if ya got something to say, just fuckin’ say it!! Seriously, I don’t need yer sugarcoated anxious-little-girl bullshit here."

He had his back towards me.

Nah—shit was strange, I could read his emotions so absurdly it was uncanny.

What’s with this?!—first my dic’ ain’t workin’ and now this?!—my body ain’t normal no more!!

"It’s nothing, just wondering what you’re trying to pull with this."

Immediately, I retorted, "with this?! What’re ya tryina’ say?!"

"Well, you walk in, walk out—and now you’re acting oblivious."

My head steered to the side—confused.

"Man, what are you even on about?!"

He turned and put down a glass of beer, along with some bread. I simply grabbed it and walked downstairs—he wasn’t adding anything further and I didn’t particularly want to entertain this clown shit any longer.

Then...

"Yo, Zel—alive and kickin’, I see," stated a man that had his face resting over his palm—slightly cheekily, carefree and with subtle expectations.

"You again!!—how dare you run off like that?!"

I said as I took a massive bite from the bread and then chugged down the drink—why’s it so disgusting?!

Right as I was about to open my mouth again, I started choking—immediately thumping my chest with my fist in a desperate attempt to knock the shit loose—no good, shit!!

"Ya— shi— wait!!"

He proceeded to stand up—he sat on a bench previously, unconcerned.

"Good grief, what can I do with ya, big brother?"

I turned around—exposing my back to him.

He grabbed me around the stomach and started yanking me backwards, trying to force the shit lodged in my throat out!!

I dropped on my knees... and—

"Uuaeeeaeahhh!!—"

Vomit splattered across the floor—blood mixing with bread and alcohol, churning into a disgusting, watery mush.

"Ah... what is this?!"

I said as my hands went over my mouth—wiping the puke residue, laboriously breathing on my fours.

"Big brother, you know what this is—why are you denying the obvious?"

He muttered as his hand went on my shoulder; his tone was arrogantly smug, sly and laced with knowledge he shouldn’t have.

"The obvious...?!"

Softly, slanted my head towards him—locking eyes with him, creating gross contrast with his snarky little smile and my exhausted scowl.

"Human flesh... you know you want it, don’t you, big brother?"

Immediately, I knocked his hand away from me!!

"Don’t talk like this shit’s natural to ya, bastard!! What do you know about what I want?! Ehh!?"

"Don’t be so aggressive—all I know is what ya already know, I’m not some god with a forbidden revelation, y’know?"

"Right... right..."

I kept nodding my head... in increasing hostility.

"Right... RIGHT...!! Ya, fuck you then, actually!!"

Stood up—eyes menacing, glaring into his soul.

"All I know is... what you know, big brother."

This time, he softly whispered.