"Despair is the price one pays for self-awareness. Look deeply into life, and you'll always find despair."

-Irvin D. Yalom, When Nietzsche Wept

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From that point in time, I have decided to purely dishonor the intellectual prowess of the modern homo sapiens. I already knew of men's inability to think for themselves. I already am acquainted with the weakness that runs through our veins. But, it was not until today that I just realized how illogical others can be, despite seeing the deep mud of issues they are in, and it's rather making me nauseous.

Proof? Just look at how those 'wannabe-heroes' chose the 'Mirage Armada' just because of the thought that it is normal. No, it's beyond normal. They probably don't even know that the fallen Viscount that have been exploiting the weakness of humanity for several eons would be in their midst, the same person that got them all here.

Satan. No, End- The Prince Of Darkness. I once found it inconceivable as to why he will choose to save humanity, but I was lacking perspectives at that time. I now know why. If Humanity is to sever, then who would be his plaything? Who would he tempt? How would he then cure the deprivation of entertainment? In other words, men are just too great of wonder to be abolished and in their foolishness and vulnerability, End is taking pleasure.

From that mutual discord, I am also reminded that Darwin's Theory of Evolution is somehow incomplete and is void of authentic evidence. He should have written it...that the word 'Evolution' does not necessarily mean 'Improvement' and mere 'Advancement'. In our case...It's the opposite.

This is an evolution towards an ever foolish race that takes delight in their destruction. Imagine, the specific per diem ordinance that every man has to follow...Go to school at an early age. Kill yourself studying. Finish a degree. Get a job. That lifetime of torture...all for what? For retirement with the feeling of fulfillment? Certainly no. It's for a piece of paper that we have assigned a great value, probably greater than our lives. Well, that matrix is losing ground...now, that we are here in this world that I hope, don't incorporate such currency.

Probably someone out there would contradict this perspective. it's always inevitable to have those gung-ho positivists. They think that 'YOU, can be happier albeit the situation', without even realizing that they are just born happy and not everyone is like that. In all truth, trying to be happier is as futile as getting taller.

Perhaps, it actually is better for our race to sever from the history of creation. "It's a foolish choice to hold onto some hope that has given up a long time ago", says Celes in the same manner. And yet, it's also irrational to assume that everyone sees through my eyes. It could be, that the others have their reasons to fight and that, my vision is just too bleak to see them.

Anyways, my encounter with the first-class reunion was not all that vain. I got to see a new Herrscher with the arcane ability to make anything he touches into gold. A classmate at that...but also, very faltered in his decisions. While an agreement of friendship never came to be (which was somehow predicted) I got to gather data that will be proven integral soon enough.

Shiro and I made it to a fast-food chain. It is now 10 PM when we arrived. And surprisingly, while we walked, the roads were not as quiet and empty as before. The masses are doing every sort of thing they could think of, but 'preparing' is still far from that...

They're assuming that this is their last day. They are enjoying it like there's no tomorrow. They're feeling the pressure of being in the last few hours we have left here in this safe Nirvana and you can clearly see the decadence in everyone's eyes while doing all sorts of brazen extravaganza and vices, PUBLICLY, visages that I must protect Shiro from. The scenes are the very depiction of the pollution of despair as everyone knows that they have to bid thee 'normal life' farewell.

Well, if that's really how they want their time allotment for preparation to be spent, I can do nothing, probably just to watch from afar.

Shiro and I then entered the destination, but as before, it was empty.

"Ojamashimasu" (English: Excuse me) Shiro seeing how empty the place, greeted.

The auxiliary lights are on but the employees are nowhere to be found. They're either sulking on their own rooms now or enjoying the tiny fragment of the mundane that earth once offered to its denizens. Well, it's a 'serve-yourself-buffet' again, I'll just leave the payment on the table.

"Huh? What is this" Somehow, a strange feeling made me cease my movement...

"Oni-Chama...are you ok?" Shiro asked wondering why I weirdly paused.

"No need to worry, I'm fine" With a smile, I replied to her expression of concern.

Somehow, I can sense that a strong amount of power is surging from the kitchen. It's a dark one and it's calling me. If I was to describe the feeling, it was like when everybody on the island began to fear the massive gargoyle, Atlas, which suddenly was converted to power for both of me and Lacrimosa.

Well, I should also get me some fried chicken and some burgers, It would not hurt to check it out.

"Shiro, I'll be getting your fried chicken, ok?"

"But, Oni-chama that is stealing?!"

"Ahahahaha. Do I look like a marauder to you? Don't worry, I will leave the money on the table. Wait for me, ok?"

"Hai! But, what is a marauder, oni-chama?"

"Oh, it's what we call evil thieves back in my country."

"Hm.Hm... Wakatta!" (English: Got it!) she replied. What was I even thinking back there? I should probably refrain from using too many colloquial words.

"Wait for me in here, kay? Oni-chama will be back with a fried chicken."

Having said that, I shifted my focus to the kitchen, opening the doors while ignoring the sign 'Authorized Personnel Only' and the moment an internal view of the place began to clear, the dark aroma starts to gush forth in it's strongest. I then scanned the whole area of where that was coming from.

Judging from the looks of the kitchen, everything is fine. Except for a pile of unwashed dishes on the sink. Or so I thought...

Someone was lying dead on the innermost part of the room. From his uniform, I figured he was an employee lying in a pool of blood probably from the potent wounds he has. His face is unrecognizable due to the multiple stab wound it received and his legs were dismembered cutting off his main means of escape. His eyes are still opened, and his hands were strongly gripping a kitchen knife also dipped in blood, it was like he was defending himself from something...It was a fresh crime scene. But, it did not surprise me that much. I have this strange luck that constantly makes the deceased a mutual visage.

I wonder what could have had happened here? ...Wait, this is certainly not the time to play detective. Where is this dark aura coming from? It's not from the dead man either...And then, I felt something obscure.

Tsk...Someone else is here...

"Show yourself!" I'm sure, someone else is around and I'm certain, that it's the source of this potent malevolence that I'm sensing.

"Hahahahahaha..." A whimsical and sardonic laugh suddenly is heard, but from where it came from is not clear. Its position is dynamic, changing from direction to direction...

"Hehehe.You really can't underestimate a Herrscher, Cheshire."

Cheshire? Is he rather talking to someone? No, I am only picking up one presence. I can also sense ill intent, and I could make him show himself on his own vocation, but, I should probably not make such hasty decisions that could deteriorate me and Shiro. I have to think this through, the cautious way.

"Who's there!?"

"Ahahahaahaha. He asked us, Cheshire! Hmmm...What to do? what to do? Behead him? Amputate him? Or maybe cook him and serve his entrails on the child that is waiting outside?..."

Try if you might, I'm not letting you get near Shiro and if he will indeed, then I must respond... Yet, from what I'm perceiving, someone is actually around and he's talking to someone named 'Cheshire'. A Herrscher perhaps?

"Lacrimosa? Ehhhhh???? Is his goddess really that powerful? Ahhh...right!...Hm.Hm.Hm. You really can't underestimate a Cendrillon." continued the self-dialogue of the unseen figure.

Wait. How does he know of me?

"For now, bye...pitiful little brother. Let us meet again ok? And that's when I will kill you."

"I was shocked and unable to move, hearing the very same sobriquet that my brother used to call me on that night of utter derangement... A presence then zoomed past me, while I am paralyzed by my thoughts and intimidated by the occurrence"... Is probably what this invisible man thinks I will do...

Too bad though, Cliches have no role here and I probably am not planning to give space for it now.

As I presaged, a faint presence then comes to pass me. Did he actually think that I'll leave him be after his great voice-act of copying my deceased brother's favorite way of calling me? I think he deserves an Oscar for that. He must receive his due reward even if it means I have to drag him down back to the main stage.

"Did you think that you can scare me off like that? Like, "Oh no! Mr. Invinsible cool-guy knows my family name, am I being stalked by an invisible young lunatic? " I spouted in a very confident and sarcastic manner.

"Huh? What the hell are you saying? Listen to this Cheshire...Does he have loose screws in the head?" He said, while continuously moving around.

"What I'm trying to say is...BEHAVE."