The Transmigrated Author

Chapter 66: A Single Thought

{Rel's POV}

[Pinnacle Academy Stadium 1 - Arena A: Student Section Stands]

[Time: 10:45 AM]

A flash of black hair caught my eye as they revealed the updated bracket. The match times had shifted across the board. This meant not just my own but...everyone's fight order had been affected.

[Next Match:]

[Right Side Bracket]

[Time: 10:55 AM]

Alice Elizabeth (4)

—————| Winner: TBD

Nevel Tems (29)

I scanned the chart and checked for the next upcoming match... Seeing that it was Alice vs. 'Nevel Tems' at 10:55 am which was less than ten minutes from now.

I turned to see that Alice appeared completely absorbed in her world, seemingly unaware of her match?

Normally, that wouldn't have concerned me, but her name was literally flashing on her wrist saying,

"Missing Inspection"

"Missing Inspection"

"Missing Inspection"

Did she miss it? Maybe. Then again, she could be dreaming of something else in her usual calm expression. was she nervous? It seemed uncharacteristic.

And with a quick thought I decided to tell her, I leaned forward, tapping her gently on the shoulder. "Um, Alice? Isn't your match next?"

"...!"

Suddenly, focus snapped back into her eyes. She blinked, the spell broken, and then her usually composed face took on a shade of crimson as she glanced at her watch.

"Oh...oh! Uh...you're right," she stuttered, the words barely audible against the rising crowd murmur. "Thank you for telling me..." Her voice trailed off, and there was a distinct urgency in her next motion.

Before I could say anything else, she was up and rushing out of the stands, the usual aura of serene control traded for a quick but obvious panic.

Jan smiled, completely unfazed, as if my question was simply a polite greeting. "Hmm... I'm not a stalker, but we do see each other quite often." Jan Paused, "Maybe, It's a touch of fate." He looked straight at me pointing towards nothingness.

A touch of fate, huh? That thought struck me as oddly as it sounded. Even though some higher power did throw me into this world, my world...this story was unfolding in ways I had never thought possible.

Although a rough few months had passed, those quiet moments of reflection held a strange satisfaction. The fights, the characters, even the frustrations I faced as this lower class student known as 'Rel Laurence'...there was beauty in the constant struggle.

With a nod, I relaxed back against the bench, I guess I had to accept seeing Jan as often. although he's more of a disruption than a main character in my eyes.

"Hey, Jan," the words formed unexpectedly, a question that had nothing to do with the tournament like this, "What do you think about...demons and devils? Like, do you think they exist out there?"

"..."

A rare silence followed. Jan stared across the mowed lawns, that ever-present expression blinking as he considered my question.

The change in tone seemed both startling and confusing to him. Finally, in a voice quieter than expected, he answered,

"That's a weird one, Rel, but sure. If devils and demons are out there, I bet there are angels and heaven, too. Gotta be that balance, right?"

pffft...

A warm chuckle slipped from my lips. That was not at all the reply I'd expected. Jan had never been known for philosophical deep dives. Still, his sincerity was strangely warming.

"That's an...interesting response," I replied, keeping my face expressionless as I hid a hint of amusement.

"Eh? Why did you ask that in the first place?" Jan squinted at me, the carefree aura finally shaken with a glint of his interest.

With a slight shrug, I chose an evasive yet true answer. "Nothing really. It's just a random thought..."

Of course, in this world, Demi-humans aren't well known yet, And Jan would be the first of many students to witness the true nature of what a monster is, as the first sighting to the world would be when we travel to France and afterwards many other outbreaks would follow of these so-called demons shaking the world in fear.

The group responsible for the production of these people is The Devil Worshiper Cult, the monstrous outbreaks... all of it overlooked just under the surface of our conversation.

The end of the world is far from near, yet here I sat beside the one person who could stop it all. I knew his secret, I knew everything about him, From every small detail, to his character traits, and mannerisms there wasn't anything I didn't know about Jan.

He was my idea of a perfect person.

He was the concept of a true hero.

_____________

Authors Notes:

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