Sober

"No."

Marcus shook his head without even considering Nathan's request.

"I cannot allow that."

"Well, that's fine."

It wasn't like Nathan had honestly expected a police officer to let him help unriddle the mysteries of the Vijang Syndicate's faultless syndrome. But it was worth a shot since he wanted to contribute to the Vijang Syndicate's downfall. 

With his limited power right now, there wasn't much Nathan could do before the Vijang Syndicate took over the city. So, even if he didn't like it, he had to consider cooperating with others, including officers of the law.

"What now, then?"

Even if Marcus was suspicious of the guys from the Vijang Syndicate and how they were involved but never convicted for anything in several incidents, he still had rules to follow. Nathan's story was possible, but it wasn't provable.

So, Nathan still had to suffer the consequences of his actions.

"For now, you acted out due to your awakening. As such, you aren't inherently a risk or at fault, but you still have to take responsibility. You are free to go home. But a patrolling officer will stop by once a day to make sure you're still there until it's time for your hearing. And during your hearing, you will receive your sentence."

Nathan nodded.

"Thanks a bunch, Officer."

"I'm only doing my job."

Marcus gave Nathan a slight smile as he got up and unlocked the cuffs. As Nathan got ready to leave, Marcus looked at him with a serious expression.

"Nathan."

"Yeah?"

"Have you considered what your future is going to look like? I know you haven't had a lot of time to think since you awakened, but…"

Nathan couldn't help but think about what his future—or was it past?—had been like after his parents died. The only thing he regretted was the catalyst for his transformation. The only thing he regretted was his parents' fate.

If that hadn't happened, Nathan would have grown up to inherit his mother's business without laying so much as a hand on another being.

But it had happened, and Nathan had changed and broken down beyond repair.

Nathan looked at Marcus.

"Not really."

Other than causing more trouble for the Shrouded Hero, Nathan didn't have any plans. It was the same before he regressed. After avenging his parents, he didn't have any other goals, so he let the wind carry him around the place as he caused trouble and wreaked havoc wherever he went.

It was just that it would be difficult to annoy the Shrouded Hero now that Rivalry Reconnaissance couldn't find him or anyone else.

"If you want, I can put in a word for you to become a hero. Regardless of the truth, if you say it looked like those two guys threatened the barbershop owner and that's why you stepped in, you have the makings of a hero. I'm sure—"

"No thanks."

Nathan got chills just thinking about it. There was no way in hell he was going to officially become a hero working for the good of the city, the nation, or the world.

He hadn't stepped in to save the barber. He had stepped in to kill the two Vijang bastards. It just happened to be when they were threatening the barber. If he hadn't collapsed first, Nathan would probably have even injured or killed the barber.

He wasn't cut out for being a hero.

Marcus was stunned at Nathan's sharp refusal. But if Nathan didn't want to, he couldn't force the issue.

Marcus went over his notes again as Nathan left. Nathan returned home to the closed restaurant, where his parents were waiting for him.

His mother, without saying a word, gestured for Nathan to sit down opposite her and his father.

"Mom. Dad."

"Son."

"Nathan."

Nathan looked at his parents. His parents looked at him.

They waited for him to speak. He wasn't sure what to say.

"Just so you know, I came straight from the hospital, and they would have told you if I had been under the influence of something."

"What—"

"Let him talk, Terrence."

Anita held up a hand and shushed Terrence, who was already looking emotional.

"I'm saying that because what I'm about to tell you isn't exactly believable unless you treat it like a bad trip after taking some powerful hallucinogenic."

Anita and Terrence looked at their son with grave expressions. That's never a good start to an explanation, especially when it's about him beating up a couple of guys.

"Before I start, I also want you two to know that I love you both very much. No matter what you think, believe, or do, that will remain the truth."

"Just—"

Anita shushed Terrence again and looked at Nathan. She nodded.

"We love you too, Nate. You can begin whenever you feel ready."

Nathan nodded. He silently gathered his thoughts as he thought about how to string together words like it was the first time he was talking.

He had accepted his regression pretty quickly after it happened. But when he thought about it, he realized that it was unbelievable at best from an ordinary person who hadn't been through what he had been through before his regression.

After everything went to shit and hit the fan, Nathan's life had gone downhill with too many obstacles to count. Of course, Nathan enjoyed the high-speed thrill of sprinting down the hill, so he had no one to blame but himself.

But Anita and Terrence were ordinary people. The most exciting things they had experienced were the end of the aftershocks of Pandora's Opening and meeting each other.

Nathan considered reiterating how strange what he was about to tell them was and that he wouldn't blame them if they didn't believe a word he said. He also considered warning them that it wouldn't be a short and sweet story. It was long, painful, gruesome, and dark. Even if he didn't have a single regret, Nathan didn't think his parents would appreciate hearing about their son turning into a mass murderer, psychopathic killer, thief, and world-class villain.

But he decided to just tell them the whole story instead of warning them about the worst parts.

Nathan took a deep breath and began telling his parents the tall tale of his life, beginning with their death.