Chapter 77: Sammael

The only memory that Haru got from that game room after playing an adventure-type game with Alicia was his young and riddled self, running away.

Haru felt like there's an unknown creature chasing him, wanting to drain off all his life and blood. His body was cold, but his head was heating up. He kept on panting and crying and sobbing, but no matter how much his expression screams help, no one was to stop on their tracks to comfort him.

They all just kept sneering and looking mockingly, then went away with a smile on their faces as if this was supposed to be a happy day except for him.

He felt something heavy on his back and legs as he kept asking to himself what he should do now. He definitely can't return to the house. Not on the cliff edge either.

The image of his older brother dying in that fall was etched in his head that death also appealed to him.

He stopped breathing for a while and then, he laughed. "I'll just die… I should just die! Yeah, that's what I should do!" He concluded.

He began dragging his feet in the direction back to the cliff, but he stopped halfway.

Haru realized he couldn't bear seeing his older brother again. If he was going to die, he wanted to do it in a different place. Anywhere in the world beside that cliff. But he doesn't have an idea what other place could let him die.

"Where should I… kill myself?" He thought to himself.

--

The third feature was a virtual reality. Alicia brought Haru in to try it out.

"I think you can design the world you want to see in the VR," Alicia explained, while looking at the digital manual beside the VR machine. "You can literally put anything you want. Oh, and there's also the Devil's recommendation. It's an already-built world that he himself made."

"I want that one."

"Hmm? I thought you'd like to see something you want," Alicia tilted her head. "You know, something pleasant and something you, yourself, really want."

Haru glanced at the digital manual. "I want what the Devil wants."

Alicia just shrugged it off and nodded with his decision.

When everything was set in, the VR machine worked its ways to Haru's senses. Inside the world that the Devil recommended and designed, it lacks imagination, just like how he might have done with the other worlds, Haru thought.

It was like a god's garden, an Eden, you might say. With all the lush plants and flowers, the sparkling lake, and the tall trees. Everything was glittering with peace and harmony as if no humans had corrupted or sullied them.

"This is such a boring world," Haru whispered. "Nothing's going on and nothing's changing."

Haru began looking around and exploring the VR world, but just as he had thought, it's just a cheap-designed world.

"Don't even try to act like a god," He chuckled, as if mocking the Devil while looking out. "You don't stand a chance against the almighty. You're weak, scared, insecure, and talentless. Isn't that right… Sammael…?"

He put out his hand above his head and felt the presence of the Devil gradually slipping through his insides.

Soon, Haru found a box which contained parchment papers. They housed the journal entries of the Devil.