de_bel_survivor | Day 31 - [Voice]

[Kouki’s return from his kidnapping was quiet and unceremonious. While he’s relatively well and in one piece, physically speaking, but it’s nothing compared to how he feels on the inside. To be very frank, he’s pissed. The young demon overlord may seem calm on the outside, but his anger was currently, and forcibly by his will, a simmering sort of anger. No matter how tempting it was to let loose and vent in the forest, Kouki would have to wait until he reach the Battle Dome.

Until then, he has other things to think about first instead of himself. Like checking on his friends and his cat.

Well, he planned to until he flipped open his journal as he walked back towards the village… Only to stop and stare at the blank pages. His fingers started flipping through the journal for the older entries, finding more and more blank pages. There’s only a few possible explanations.

Either the Malnosso want to erase history and important journal posts, or there’s an experiment going on.

What brilliant timing he got. First he spent his third anniversary in this world while kidnapped, and now he returned in time for a likely experiment. Might as well confirm what’s going on and hope the journal’s features was still intact. His voice was calm, and the journal would pick up some sounds of him quickly walking in the forest.]

Kouki Wakahisa here. Can someone tell me what’s going on?

[This time. Whatever’s going on this time have a higher priority than his anger about his memories being played with during that illusion last month.

Once he finally arrived at the village, Kouki immediately head to his apartment at CH7’s second floor to check on his cat. After confirming her well-being, he keep an eye on his journal before leaving for the village plaza. The plaza was a natural gathering spot for people, so he can watch people and even talk to them.

A young man with black wings and a pair of cat ears-like headphones (or weird head gear, if the technology was unfamiliar to anyone, or they might believe it’s his real ears) was walking around the plaza and looking at people. If he spy anyone looking very confused, or doing something strange, Kouki would call out and approach them.

More so if they're people he knew.]

Hey!

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

This is all too true, unfortunately. I do wonder when people will be released from this prison.

A lot annoying. They could've make you choose a side between all of them!

Music. Aaah, music. The soother of souls, the opener of minds, the spring from which all hope and inspiration comes.

[Walter smiles wider, motioning with his hands.]

I- I could tell, from your headwear. Unless it was some sort of corrective gear, in which case I would be most apologetic for pointing it out.

That would have been bad!! But, most of the people in my family were, y'know. ...I'm just glad they didn't mind me being nothing.

That's what they said it was. People got in through the barrier and tried to take over, but then they didn't get it...

...How would this make up for it, though?

Yep and it's not so bad being nothing sometimes. Or relatively "nothing", for a given value of it.

[Yet another new thing for Kouki, and his surprise is shown on his face.]

...Nah, you're right. They're my headphones. [He waves away the apologies.] But that's a first time someone said these might be corrective. I usually get people thinking they are my ears, like an android.

...Which would be rather cool, whenever I think about it.

Not for a good, long time. Unless they allow us an opportunity to join them, or gain some sort of political hold. Overpowering them with brute force wouldn't work in the long term.

Forgive my cynicism, but I doubt even if they were to ask us that people would go with them. Not after all they've done to us.

Especially if something means experimented!

That's right! But that kind of thing can be pretty random, but we can take what we can get if we're unaffected.

No, I understand. They would know how we feel about them by now, if they haven't already. It only works if they have something...very appealing to offer?

The only way anyone would work with them is by offering us our freedom.

... I don't think one has necessarily anything to do with making up for the other. It's an experiment, one we might have already gotten if nothing had happened.

Regarding the invasion, a branch of the third party had infiltrated us with the intention of brainwashing us. Luckily, we were able to resist. Other places weren't so lucky. But this isn't the time or place for those explanations...

[He laughs a little through his nose and then smiles.]

Oh, androids and biodroids need no such gear to exist. Most of their hardware is stored in discs at the bases of their spines. Messy business, bleed mercury.

[The smile disappears.]

Awful creatures. Instruments of evil from his universe.

[...Well, that subject sure did went somewhere, unintentionally.]

Because they're made and ordered for it? Because I don't really use the "evil" label so easily.

[Funny thing for him to say, when he's the demon king.]

No!

Because they infiltrate our world. They assume our forms - killing the original and taking their place to spy on us, give him information on how to destroy our world. They're evil.

Yeah. But even that's not guaranteed. I imagine them offering a way out of here with some conditions.

When you word it that way, I wonder what the condition would be. Perhaps sacrifice or being their manual labor? The list goes on.

...Alright. I can ask for the details later, after everything's back to normal.

[Or as close to normal Luceti can get during non-experiments and non-draft days.]

[Did he...accidentally set off a sore subject.]

Whoa, sorry! I didn't know the extent of what they did, the the entire context! But that's horrible.

[Walter turns away, waving his arms this way and that as if fighting off demons only he can see.]

It isn't just horrible! They killed Olivia's friend! They took his form, they-- They--

[He stops suddenly.]

I didn't know him. Not well. ...But he's gone now and he'll never come back.

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Day 31 - [Voice] | [Action]

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