Infinite Skill Devourer
Chapter 37: Alter ego Crush

Chapter 37: Alter ego Crush

If one were to describe how Ryuen felt at the moment, they would definitely pick joy.

Because he had finally found his sister, who had been lost for years.

But to be honest, that joy was far behind him now. Sure, he was happy.

However, anger bubbled within him.

Scenes from that moment kept flashing through his mind.

He could hear their voices, he could still feel the heat from the dagger Jun used on him.

And what’s worse, he wasn’t sure if Yuta was alright or not.

He cared less about the others; if anything, he wanted revenge.

But that was impossible, since he was retired, and it would go against his standards to kill a person for revenge.

No!

Forget how calm he was—revenge might be unnecessary in most cases.

Say, one’s girlfriend cheated, and the other saw it as right to cheat as payback.

Or stealing a person’s last cash because they pushed your ice cream out of your hand.

Those were unnecessary.

But an action that had to do with death—his death—and when he had done nothing wrong?

He was willing to feed a bullet into the head’s entire royal family, starting with the king, then down to Erina.

Even though it would cost him his freedom, he wanted to make them feel what he felt alone in that dungeon.

He wasn’t sure if he could believe she wasn’t actually in on it.

But if she wasn’t, he would still have to make her pay for not warning him on time.

"I need to get back to Mirath," Ryuen said as he stepped out of the bathroom with a new, clean set of clothes on.

His gaze fell on Kaori, who stared at him like she was going to bite his head off.

But she simply sighed and crossed her arms. "And why do you want to do that?"

"I need to get Yuta out of there, and see if I can get answers from the others."

"You aren’t taking your other students with you?"

He hesitated.

He couldn’t quite conclude that Kenta and Akari were also involved, but for now, he was focused on Yuta.

He walked over to where his pod had been but was now a bed and sat down.

"I don’t know if I’ll take the others with me. Just Yuta for now."

Those smiles weren’t worth keeping anymore. They had turned his trust and care against him.

He raised his head to gaze at Kaori, who just averted her gaze and scoffed.

"I thought you would actually change," she paused.

"What happened to wanting to see everyone happy and the world a better place?"

He smiled and chuckled softly.

Oh, how ignorant and innocent she was.

If only she knew her brother was one of the reasons the world is a bad place—a well-known assassin.

"Ever heard of the Masked Crusader?" he decided to ask, bending down to put on his sneakers.

She mumbled something under her breath, trying to rack her brain for where she had heard something like that.

"Oh, yeah," she exclaimed, her demeanor instantly changing.

"Do you know him?"

"Know him?" he thought and then raised himself up. "He’s an assassin, I hope you know that."

"I do. He’s the most astounding human I’ve ever come across."

"What?!"

"I’m not lying. Before I came here, I came across him," she giggled and cupped her cheeks.

Lost in her own fantasy world.

"His mysteriousness, his dreamy eyes, and not to mention his perfect body."

Ryuen froze. His heart also stopped beating. He couldn’t believe his ears.

He could clearly remember that day.

On his way back from a mission, he passed by her on a rooftop.

He said a few things to her, gave her advice, and then left.

He didn’t think she would remember.

Let alone... "Yumi, you are joking, right?"

"No," she replied flatly and closed her eyes, swaying her body to the side.

"I still remember his voice from that day."

"He told me to take my studies seriously and forget about people who talk ill about me or my family."

"You needed to see him, he was sooooo... dreamy, and hot too."

"If he was a lady, I bet you would like him too."

Ryuen was speechless, and he also felt like puking. "Yumi, you shouldn’t be talking like that about..."

"You won’t tell me what to do," she snapped at him and then exhaled, which almost sounded like a moan.

"I’ve had a crush on him till now," her tone turned sad. "Too bad he vanished."

"Y...yeah, yeah he did," Ryuen stammered and rose to his feet, visibly traumatized.

"I’m going for a walk."

"Wait," she said, turning to face him, arms crossed.

"Why did you ask me about him? Do you know him? His true identity?"

’More like I am him.’

He said to himself and laughed nervously, avoiding her gaze.

"I only came across him once, and he barely even said anything to me."

Kaori scoffed mockingly. "Serves you right. You’re lame and boring."

"Eh... Yumi, you can’t possibly think that about me."

"Why shouldn’t I?" she asked, placing her fingers on his chest.

"You’re always out of the house, walking around aimlessly, and you return home really tired."

"Your friends..." She hesitated but continued. "Your co-workers always tell me you go clubbing, and you’re always reading."

To sharpen his mind, as a bonus for being physically fit.

Ryuen chuckled softly.

He couldn’t blame her at all.

He did everything he could to hide his job to make her happy and provide for her.

So she could finish school and have a good life.

And he succeeded—until the night he failed miserably and doubled his body count.

Instead of killing just one, he multiplied it.

But still, he couldn’t believe she was attracted to The Masked Crusader.

He wanted to convince himself it was someone else, but he was the only one who bore that name.

He was the one who spoke to her that day without demanding anything, unlike the men she had told him about.

And he was the only one who wore a mask representing that title—the same mask he carried around.

Until now.

"I’ll be back before midnight. I just need to stretch my limbs a bit," he said as he placed his hand on her head.

"And perish those thoughts about the Masked Crusader. He’s not a good person."

"Morally gray," she countered, earning a frown from him, but she ignored it.

"I have a crush on the Masked Crusader, and I will continue to until a guy like him comes around."

"And he is morally gray. I repeat, morally gray—not bad."

"You read too many books."

"He’s nothing like those men... He’s better."

Ryuen quickly withdrew his hand and left the room, cringing so hard he could feel his muscles stretching along with him.

As if cringing in unison.

"Traumaaaaaa."