Chapter 65 Repulsive Normalcy

Running atop roofs, disappearing after each jump...

Wind against my face—held my palm covering myself.

Still just the evening...

Got somewhat far away from the big buildings—was in an area that was more medieval, or I guess, a little more run-down than your typical Im City would be.

Took down my backpack and changed my clothes...

"Quite populated, though..."

Found the tallest building—stood atop of it, and glared at the bottom from above. A lot of people were there—seemed like an event or something along those lines.

I smiled—and then disappeared yet again.

A family of four—a small daughter, a teenage kid, and their parents—what reaction would the parents yield if I slaughtered their children?

As I thought this, I could feel a flicker of MANA go over my body.

No—the death of children are bound to bring way too much attention onto this, I can’t be targeting anyone like that at the moment.

Turned around—looked around and had my eyes skim through the area some more.

Noticed a bar next to the restaurant the family was in—also had a see-through window that exposed everyone inside of it.

Then as some man was walking across me, unconsciously my hand went onto him—without contact—and simply took a small bubble of his MANA onto my palm.

He walked past me—I glanced at my hand, it had a small amount of it on it; he didn’t seem to notice it, nor did his MANA lessen because of it—interesting.

I curled my fingers around empty air—the tender MANA—then opened my hand and let go of it—dispersed into nothingness.

Eyes bathing indifferently... just an instinctive experiment.

"Hm..."

Three friends sat in the bar—couldn’t quite make out what they were talking about, so I instinctively isolated them as I closed my eyes—piecing together whatever they were speaking entirely through the prowess I gained from my transformation.

"Yea—last week, I was walking up to a garbage can and hit something on the edge... the trash smacked into my fucking gut..."

"Holy, that’s so gross..."

"Yeah, it made me want to puke."

"Back to the co-worker story..."

"Did you report him, Liam?—that’s all I care about honestly."

One... Liam...

"Nah—what do you even mean report?—she’s 18, we can’t do anything."

"He’s 43, man—they’re bound to find something if they go through his devices, his ass needs to get jailed as fast as possible."

"What the fuck are these people even talking about?" I immediately let out and opened my eyes in an aggressive manner.

I decided to go inside—no telling for how long they’ll be drinking, so I might as well wait inside and see.

"Mmm..." this does raise a question for me—would my body tolerate alcohol?—will it be repulsive like everything else?—what if I forced MANA all over myself and revived my body?—could I tolerate it then?

Paced through the bar and sat down—loud music vibrated across, but it wasn’t an issue with my elevated instincts.

"I’ll have a glass of..." eyes skimming through all the drinks...

"...gin, I guess."

"Comin’ right up," the bartender stated as he turned to the side and grabbed a glass for me.

I held the glass up and then took a small sip—just a sip.

My face instantly convulsed... gross—double gross, actually.

Alcohol tastes awful and my body doesn’t appear to tolerate the drink regardless.

Sigh.

Then...

"Can’t handle your liquor, boy?" said some woman across me—she wore a red dress, and seemed rather pretty as well.

After a quick glance at her and then having my eyes shift back onto the glass, I replied, "yeah, that’s it—can’t handle my liquor—what about you?—can you?"

"Odd question—yes, I can." She tilted her head subsequently.

Was it a strange question?—I thought it was somewhat normal to ask that in this context.

"You’re also dressed odd—what’s up with that?"

I suppose, I do stand out with attire like that—especially in an environment like this.

"Oh, this?"

She was distracting me—I don’t care about some small talk nor did I come here to get laid, so she was nothing but an insufferable bitch.

"Did you just rush or..."

"No, no—this was my way of standing out, I guess."

She didn’t seem to be put off—the opposite. "Oh, I see."

Peeped at the clock—still early, just 8:03 PM; I’ll kill time until those guys leave the bar—made my decision to go after them.

Sinn... two...

"What about you?—just having a night out?"

"Something like that—enjoying myself while procrastinating on responsibilities."

She proceeded to crack a chuckle—was she trying to be funny?—that it?

"Is that so?—what would those responsibilities be?"

Just slightly, I could feel melancholy in her MANA—and emotions. "I’m a caretaker— children’s caretaker."

Her tone denied my read, but I made the choice to ignore that...

"And what’s sad about that?"

Immediately, she peeped at me. "What makes you think I’m sad?—I’m not."

Third... Madison.

Liam... Sinn... Madison...

"Oh, just a guess. What’s your name anyway?"

"I’m Maddy—and you would be?"

Maddy?—and one of the other ones is Madison?—what are the odds?

Suddenly, I couldn’t help but let out a giggle myself.

My name, though... sure...

"I’m Sung Oh—my pleasure, Maddy."

Let’s play then, Fisk.

She gave me her contact information—I deliberately made it one-sided to avoid any loose ends, especially if I wanted him to...

We spent around half an hour chitchatting about irrelevant garbage—suffocating experience, is that really the effort you need to go through in these places?—that’s disgusting.

Then, finally, all three of them stood up and prepared to take their leave—it was my cue as well.

"It was a pleasure meeting you, Maddy, but I need to take care of some business myself," I said as I stood up.

"Aww... and I was thinking... mm..." the last word... she said seductively...

I faced the front of the bar—she couldn’t see my face, so I allowed myself to dye in repugnance.

"I’ll text you, okay?"

As I glanced at her, I could see a self-satisfied grin.

"Sure thing, Sung."

I left the bar—and began tailing those three.

Same direction...

How will I snag all of them at once?

I can’t just gamble on them going to a less populated area, can I?

It is quite late now, though...

Less people than before.

And...

Doesn’t seem like there are any security cameras here—easier for me, not that that would’ve stopped me.

Softly, sadism started leaking on my face...

And as it did...

The urge to make it theatrical went into a different direction.

I wasn’t going to put up a show for them...

But rather, everyone else.