Chapter 3 - Departure [1]

Today's the day.

Cheers are heard across the stadium, cries are delivered like a hymn, and the sun glimmers like an inexpensive gem.

Graduation. One of the most memorable moments you'll ever have.

'I hope that is the case for me though.'

Almost every student is in groups, revisiting their experience in their youth.

Out of all of them, Camellia and Elenore's group stood out the most, as most of the students were gathered in either of those two.

It's expected. That’s how it was like anyways if it involved these two.

Whenever I spot them in the distance, I can immediately tell who they are if there's a bundle of specific students gathered around in a single place.

It’s fairly obvious who it’s gonna be, depending on the type of people.

One is filled with popular students, and the other has famous athletes.

Sick from the sheer number of people, I look at the other side and spot a certain someone, someone I know very well.

“…Hehe.” Anemone chuckles, her smile capturing the gaze of the people who saw it.

The school we’re in has both middle and high school combined; they’re just separated between two buildings.

Like me, Anemone also likes being alone. 

The only difference is that it's audible on her face that she’s happy graduating from middle school.

Everyone is brimming with enjoyment after all.

The same goes for me.

After this, the next few months are going to be the start of the main story.

It's going to be where the protagonist comes in and surprises everyone with his talent. 

All of this takes place in Arcadia. 

The Arcadia Arc spans around 3 years. Of course, like the classic, the protagonist will be bullied due to their lineage. 

But surprise, surprise! What people don’t know is that he’s a direct descendant of a legend who held back the evil that wished to take over the world!

…I’d rather not spoil the rest of the entire premise of the story. So for now, this topic will come back another time.

Anyways, my sisters are mostly excited to enroll in the famous Arcadia, the greatest magic academy to ever exist.

For me, it's dipping out and never appearing again.

‘But… it would be nice if I could go too.’

Even if I’m aiming for my survival, I still have dreams and ambitions too, you know?

I sighed and walked over to my bike I parked near the gate of the school.

However, hardly a second has passed and the moment I'm about to leave and go home by bike—

—An extremely annoying person has appeared.

"Oh my~ Is that big brother Kuro I see?" A voice loomed over my ears with a mocking tone. 

"…" I remained silent and turned around to see Camellia alongside her goons.

They were all snickering at me like snakes. I’m 100% sure they just came here to leech off our family name.

"Congratulations on graduating, big brother~!” Her cutesy tone ticked me off a little. 

It’s uncomfortable to see someone you know act like a totally different person, even until now.

“Hmm… it looked a bit lonely here. If you want, I can talk with you." Camellia's smugness covered her entire face.

Just as I was about to say something, she interrupted me and spoke a bit louder than usual.

"Ah, sorry— I forgot you had no one to talk to in the first place!" 

—Clatter… Clatter…

It was loud enough to attract everyone's attention.

Each of them has a grudge against me for things I never did.

'…Troublesome.' This hatred from my siblings was never my fault in the end.

It's as if fate itself is screwing me over mercilessly.

All of this animosity began when I ran over Camellia to shield her from a falling bookshelf. 

Without my interference, she’d be diagnosed with a permanent head injury.

But what came out from this incident was that I ‘allegedly’ assaulted Camellia, and my reputation amongst the siblings plummeted.

Next was when Bellerose and I were suddenly involved in an armed incident when we sneaked out alone together. 

It isn't the best story to tell, in fact… I shot someone to death.

Straight in the head.

There was no choice when we were being threatened after they figured out who we were. 

I was an adult in a child’s body, so I knew we weren't getting out of there scot-free without doing something irreversible.

The result of the incident?

—Monster!

I was called a monster, a freak who didn’t hesitate to shoot someone until their body turned cold, hands stained with blood.

Imagine the little brother you have been protecting with your life suddenly shoots someone in the head, and when you open your eyes, you see them covered in blood as they shoot a lifeless body countless times.

…If I were her, I’d probably think the same.

I don’t deny that this was partially my fault this time.

But suddenly, the true story behind this incident was twisted as well.

They made it look like I forcefully dragged Bellerose along with me. 

So now I'm seen as a terrible monster by everyone in the family.

Monster, Freak.

—Murderer.

…These weren’t the most pleasant names I've ever had throughout my life.

There are many more stories I have to define my relationship with these girls and my reputation itself, but I don’t want to recall anymore. 

I’d rather put all my past behind me and instead, look at the future to see what lies beyond.

“What? Cat bit your tongue?” Transported back into the cruel reality, Camellia scoffed. Mocking me intentionally.

'I don’t think being offended by some brat would even do… anything.’

Unironically, if there’s someone that’s the least harmful in my life, it’s probably this bitch- I mean, Camellia.

Besides, now that it’s graduation. I can finally drop the act of being a spineless man.

“Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say. I guess this is goodbye?” I uttered words in a quick succession and immediately left.

“W-What…?” Those same few words left her in confusion.

She probably didn’t expect that I’d react like that.

Camellia likes holding grudges against people. If someone were to do something she dislikes, she will pay them back tenfold.

So whenever she tries to mess with me, I just follow her every order and leave the scene immediately.

I don’t wanna be targeted by her just to make my life worse. 

My school life is already shitty, so by agitating her, it’ll get even worse— I thought. 

Usually, I’d act like, “I-I’m sorry…!” and bow my head. 

Then afterwards, I do some of her bidding and then try to escape the moment I get the chance.

Now it’s different. I’m leaving, and I’m heading off to that shitty father of mine for approval.

Hopping on my bike, I rush off to the household, leaving my siblings behind.

This is something that has never happened since I always go home an hour late.

“Wait, where are you going?!” Camellia screamed.

She looked like she was about to tear up. The sight of her doing such a thing creeped me out a little.

'…Tearing up for what?’

After all the things she has done to me, I would rather not bother asking.

Ah… looks like the other siblings noticed my escape.

Elenore and Anemone both looked at me as I used my bike to swiftly escape the scene.

…This is the last time I’ll ever see them again.

So I’ll engrave their faces into my mind.

=======

—Thud!

I closed the door now that I arrived home. 

I'm a bit excited, so I rode my bike faster than usual.

‘Not now… I can’t be excited just yet.’ I composed myself for a bit and went into my room.

‘No one is home… That's good, only makes things better.’ I sighed in relief.

They all probably went to the school to congratulate the others.

If anyone were to see my suspicious behavior, things would turn ugly.

—Click!

I turned the lights on and rummaged through the wooden floor, revealing a secret passage storing the things I’ve been preparing for this day.

“Fake ID… Money… Even a gun. All of them are thoroughly prepared.” I counted each item one by one to see if any of them went missing.

Confirming that all are present, I stored them in my bag and ran to head back outside. Yet what stood before me was someone unexpected.

"Why are you…"

—It’s Erina, the smartest of the bunch. The one I didn’t want to encounter the most due to her ability to ‘see’ through people.

“You, what are you doing right now? Aren’t you supposed to be in school?” Erina didn’t use honorifics when she called for me.

I was slightly annoyed by that. But right now, the desire to escape the household calmed me down.

Acting like how I usually was towards them, I replied in a stoic tone.

“…I forgot something.” I used a half-assed excuse and went past her.

"Wait! Don't leave…!" Erina grabbed the hem of my uniform and stopped me from leaving.

…Why now? Why did she only come now?

“I said wait…! What’s… what's in your bag?”

She swiftly went behind me and tried to take hold of my bag. But I stopped her and grabbed her wrist.

“What do you want?” Tired of keeping up the act I used for years, the tone of my voice changed drastically into a harsher tone.

Even my sudden change of attitude startled her a little.

She looked down on her knees and said something I wasn't expecting her to say.

“…Are you planning to run away?” Erina said, standing still while I held her wrist tightly. 

‘I see… so she already knows the truth.’

If there was someone who can find out what my plan is, it's going to be Erina.

Even if she’s still at the age of 15, Erina is smart enough that she advanced through school years like it's nothing.

Unsurprised, I didn't back down. If she were to stop me, then I’ll take her down with me.

I don’t care if they are my siblings, people I was with for almost a decade. 

It doesn’t change the fact that we were strangers who barely interacted for years, ever since incidents involving me occurred.

I hate all of them. That’s all there is.

None of them stood up for me, protected me, or even supported me. 

All they did was look at me with disgust. Someone who doesn’t deserve to live.

In return for my kindness, they repaid it all with violence.

I feel like rotting inside out.

“Yes, I’m leaving. Is there anything wrong with that?”

I shoved her hand away and walked down the stairs.

“Wait…” Erina only stood there, frozen in place.

I didn’t bother looking back because if I did, my anger would accumulate further.

All I needed to know was that she acted more unusually than before.

“Goodbye… I hope we never meet again.” I closed the door and left her there. 

It seems like she wanted to say something, but couldn't when I had already left moments ago.

Now… There's only one more hurdle to go by.

My father- No, his name is Gael Historia, the greatest magician of this century.

He accumulated so many achievements that his authority is almost limitless.

In the novel, he was someone important to the protagonist’s growth.

Gael was the protagonist’s future mentor. 

Because of his talent and relationship with the heirs of the Historia family, he found it noteworthy to personally educate the protagonist.

That same person is my father.

A man who only cared about who cares about the future humanity and sacrificed people for the greater good.

From a writer’s standpoint, it was a cool character to admire.

Even after suffering for years, he persisted to keep living to fight despite the war being over.

But as his son, it was horrible.

Whenever an incident involving me happened, all he did was watch from the sidelines as my siblings constantly bashed me like a ping pong ball.

He could’ve easily cleared the misunderstandings with a flick of his finger, but he didn’t.

But… that’s fine.

‘I hate you too, Father.’ I thought to myself without any hesitation.

‘I’m resolved.’ I looked at the scenery once more and stared at the sky.

“…Arcadia.”

This marks the last time I’ll ever get to see it.

I planned to move somewhere from the opposite side of this city and enroll in a normal school.

I honestly don’t care if this was the novel I wrote, something I would be thrilled by and try to live as someone special.

From what I know, it’s only gonna be problematic.

You’re forced to fight grotesque monsters, face trauma beyond recognition, and unnecessary involvement in politics…

And I hate politics.

In my opinion, living normally is better than being special.

“I’m just tired, that's all.” I muttered out loud.

I couldn't help it but be direct with my feelings for once.