The Dreamer's POV

[00 Months: 04 Days: 17 Hours]

"... Over the years, we now have nothing but hearsay and legends."

However, upon hearing those words, a sharp realization came upon me.

'The numbers don't add up. Aren't there 10 Great Kings?'

What about the last one?

"Hold on, you said the other seven. I thought there were ten Great Kings."

The official fidgeted a little, almost as if they were surprised by my question.

"Well, they have the title of 10 Great Kings, but only nine exist. The last one is known as the Monarch of Demons: The Demon King."

'Demon King...?!' Was he related to the Demons that existed in this world... or the Demons that suddenly appeared on Earth?

Did that mean the Great Kings of this world had some sort of connection to the System? My curiosity was increasing at a rapid rate.

"This Demon King, what happened to him?"

"We aren't completely sure of the details. However, legends have it that the Demon King desired to take control over Mage'Earth, and the other Great Kings rose up against him and vanquished him for all of eternity."

'Ah! I see...' So he was already dead.

"The Demon King hasn't been heard of in centuries, and everyone knows he has been vanquished by the other nine. Which is one of the reasons why they are worshipped as deities."

"Oh? Does that mean there aren't any Demon King Worshippers?"

"None that the Information Guild knows of."

"I see. Alright then..."

It seemed I didn't have to worry about the Demon King for now. Still, since this was in the realm of legends and myths, I couldn't completely be sure about the information.

Still, this was a lot of useful Intel I had just recieved.

"Alright then, that's all I have to ask for now." I rose to my feet, a deep sigh leaking from my lips.

"Very well. You still have less than a minute left."

'Would you look at this. They want to make sure I get my money's worth.' A small smile formed on my face.

Unfortunately, I had run out of questions. I needed some time to ruminate on what I had already learned.

"If you desire, I could give you really useful information within the remaining time. Consider it a bonus since you're a first time customer."

'Oh? They do that here?'

I suppose it was good for business. If I felt indebted to them, or if they proved to be worth their salt, I was certainly going to patronize them again.

'I'm more surprised that they know I'm a first timer. Does that mean they know my identity?'

I hoped this wasn't going to be a hassle. I was still donning my 'Luke' disguise, so I didn't want to have to change it again.

'It would be bad for business of they did something to compromise my identity, so I'm guessing they won't do that.'

Besides, it made sense that the Information Guild would know the identity of their customers.

If nothing else, it proved their mettle as a respectable establishment.

"Alright then. Tell me." It probably remained thirty seconds or so, so I expected the information to be somewhat brief.

"The town you claim to be from—The Outpost—was reportedly razed to the ground not long before your appearance in Terance. No survivors."

'H-huh...??!' My mind instantly rang as I widened my eyes in shock.

"Considering the peculiarity of your visit, it's likely that you will be labeled a suspect, so an investigation may soon be made in order to discern your involvement in the town's eradication.'

'Eradication? No survivors? W-what is that supposed to mean?!' Continue reading on m|v-l'e m,p| y- r

"I would advise you to watch your steps in the city, considering the heightened security and tension that Terance is currently undertaking."

The Outpost was destroyed? That meant... everyone there was dead!

Tatia. Mia. The blacksmith. The merchant. The guards. All those wonderful townspeople I painstakingly saved.

Everyone there was now dead.

"Time is up. The payment is 15 Currency."

"A-ah... I see."

I didn't realize when I brought out the 15 Currency and dropped it on the table before turning away from the official

"Thank you for your patronage." I heard their voice behind me, but none of that mattered to me now.

The shock of losing the only people I made some meaningful interactions with in this world... was too much to bear.

'No... survivors.'

I exited the room, the weight of newfound knowledge heavy on my mind.

'Who could have done this? Why...? Ahhh...

What the hell was I saying? Why was I asking these pointless questions when I already knew the answer.

'The Alliance did this. They killed them because of their involvement with me.'

I left the building, my mind blankly fixated on the news I just heard.

I even forgot to conceal myself as I walked in the dark streets.

'They did this...'

The more I thought about what I heard, the more a certain heat rose from within me.

The heat transformed into anger. The anger morphed into fury. And the fury?

It evolved into pure, insatiable rage.

Why was I so affected by the demise of the natives of this world?

It hadn't even been very long since I knew them. Their lives weren't very consequential to me, and I had approached them merely for the purpose of using them.

Yet... YET...!!!

"Unforgivable..." I growled, my eyes bloodshot as I took my heavy steps in the streets of Terance.

These people of the Alliance had crossed a line.

And I didn't plan on letting any of them go scot free for it.

In my entire life, I had never felt the way I did now.

I had never wanted to kill anyone as much as I now wanted to.

"They'll pay for this! All of them!"

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[A/N]

Well damn... looks like Mikey is in serious mode now.

What do you all think about it? Also, I apologize for the short chapter.

Thanks for reading.

Cheers!