On The Other Side: I Quit Being Human

𝗈𝑽𝗅𝒩xt.𝗰𝒐𝓜

Origin is the power that separates Demons from the other living beings in this world. It is what makes Demons special and the most feared species in this world.

Origin is the true nature of Demons—a power that is exclusive to them—which is born with them. Unlike their ability to use Mana that they can immediately exercise since the moment they are born, Origin needs to be awaken.

The Awakening of Origin is similar to the ritual of coming of age in the Demon culture. Young Demons will attain the right to be called by the name of their choosing, not by the name they are born with after they undergo their Awakening.

Name is a big deal for Demons, since they have a quite insufferable ego. Using the name given to them doesn’t sit quite right with them, so Awakening is the opportunity to prove themselves that they can make one by themselves.

Of course, the process of Awakening is much more than that; having a name they desire is not as exciting as having their Origin awaken. Once their Origin is awaken, they will truly mature as they will behave the way they are destined to.

Origin doesn’t only give Demons their innate power, but also brings their true nature out. That means, if they are born as a disaster, once they have undergone their Awakening, they will destroy everything after undergoing their Awakening.

This is one of the reasons why every living being in this world fears Demons. They are afraid that one day, there will be born a Demon with Destruction as their Origin that has enough power to destroy the world.

Talking about Origin, there are seven Main Origins: Pride, Greed, Lust, Wrath, Envy, Sloth, and Gluttony. There are also many other Origins, but all of them are derived from these seven Main Origins.

I heard from Valeria that Ilschevar possesses a Main Origin—Wrath. I was a little bit surprised when I heard that ‘my pace’ type of a guy possessed Wrath as his Origin, but I was quickly reminded with how Millonia behaved around him.

Demons are also full of deceit, so it is common for Demons to hide their true nature. I guess, Ilschevar is just doing that for all this time; the lunatic woman, Millonia wouldn’t behave that way if it wasn’t the case, would she?

Anyway, Origin is no joke; it really is a cheat. I have only heard about what Ilschevar’s Origin allows him to do from Valeria—she refuses to tell me about any other Origins—but it is already enough to amaze me.

His Origin, Wrath, works like Berserk Skill: he gets stronger the angrier he becomes. It is not that simple however, since Wrath allows Ilschevar to slowly regain his clarity the more blood he spills.

That means, by the end of the day, he will be able to fight with clarity and a stronger power than before. The envying thing about it is, he can keep the power he gains even after deactivating his Origin.

Although he needs to be able to gain clarity first to keep the power—he needs to spill so much blood—it is something that he will be able to always do. In short, never make Ilschevar mad.

“Miss. Valeria. I have a guess about something that I need you to confirm if you don’t mind.”

“I can’t read your mind anymore, so spill it out.”

It has been minutes since Valeria starts healing the injuries on Millonia’s body, but she is still not done yet. Millonia herself already looks fine, albeit having some superficial wounds, but Valeria seems to want to perfectly heal her.

Thinking that standing there quietly watching Valeria does her job will be awkward, I decided to ask her about something that haunts my mind almost everyday. Valeria agrees to answer it, so I immediately ask my question.

“You are not a Demon, are you, Miss. Valeria?”

“… That is a good guess, and yes, I am not a Demon.” There is a couple of seconds of silence after my question, but Valeria eventually answers it. “May I know how did you find it out?”

“Ah, you see, I think that I am Demonic enough to call myself a Demon. I just feel it—you are different from Ilschevar.”

“I see…” Valeria nods her head. “Are you dissatisfied that you are not being educated by a Demon?”

I blink my eyes at Valeria’s question, not be cause I can’t answer it, but because of the timid way she asks me. I don’t know whether she is playing an emotional game with me, but it feels rather genuine.

“Well, I am not dissatisfied with your teaching—I have never been—but I did hate you in the beginning. I mean, all the crazy stuffs you made me do—it was hard to not be mad at you at that time.”

“Do you hate me now?”

“Nah, I don’t hate you. All my hatred and and grudge on you have been beaten out of me due to the sufferings I have endured … I have forgot all of them—you did it for my sake anyway.”

“That is… An answer I didn’t expect.”

I shrug lightly then furtively look at the small smile blooming on Valeria’s face. She still wears her blind mask, but that smile brings the Valeria out of the Darth Valeria.

“Why do you wear your mask during daytime, Miss. Valeria?”

“You must be asking why my personality is so different from when I don’t wear my mask.”

“Ah, yes… Something like that.”

Valeria turns silent afterwards, but I don’t pester her to answer me. In result, there is around a minute of silence, until it is broken by Valeria herself when she has done healing the injuries on Millonia’s body.

“Professionalism.”

“Yes, what? Just for that reason?”

“Yes.” Valeria nods simply. “I need to stay professional in front of my subordinates. Unlike you, they are not close enough with me to see my true colors.”

“Your true colors, huh? Scarlet.”

“What is scarlet?”

“Your panti—I mean, your hair is scarlet.”

At the slip of my tongue, I mentally slap myself. Luckily Valeria is willing to let it go, so I’m safe from any punishment.

“Kuhum! So, can I assume that I may act like I use to act in front of you when we are alone even though you wear your mask?”

“As long as there is only the two of us, you may. Therefore, you shall rejoice you have such a privilege.”

“Will you behave accordingly though?”

“I will.”

“Cool.”

Now that I have found out Darth Valeria is just a persona Valeria uses to face her subordinates, I can finally heave a sigh of relief. I initially thought the reason was more complicated than that, so I am glad it is not.

I look at Valeria with a smile, but Valeria motions her head toward Millonia who is still in my hand instead. I honestly forgot that I have been holding something in my hands due to how light Millonia is, until Valeria reminded me of her existence.

Millonia has never truly slept in front of me no matter how tired she is. She does now, and I don’t know what to do with her.

Normally, I would just slap the shit out of her to wake her up, but I can’t do that this time. Her sleeping face is so peaceful, contrary to her daily expression, and I don’t have the heart to slap her because of this.

“Pfft. Who am I to joke? I’ll just throw this bitch to the middle of the Training Field.”

“Wake her up slowly.”

I am about to throw Millonia to the middle of the Training Field when Valeria stops me from doing so. I am honestly surprised that Valeria cares about Millonia that much, so I look at her with a slight quirked eyebrow.

“I don’t want to waste my energy on healing her once again.”

“Ah, so that’s the case.”

“Since she has become your slave, take her to your hut. She is yours now, so she has to be always around you.”

“Why does it feel like she has become my responsibility? Don’t slaves normally not trouble their master?”

“Choose who you want to be. A good master or a self proclaimed master?”

I guess it is the power of bond between women—Valeria really wants me to never mistreat Millonia despite the things she has done to me.

I don’t have any intention to do some crazy shit to Millonia, but what Valeria thinks I am going to do to her makes me want to do what Valeria thinks I am going to do.

“Since I am a respectable man, I will be a good master.”

“Good.” Valeria nods her head with a smile. “Bring her to your hut, and come meet me at the Garden. I want to show you what the Heroes are up to now.”

My heart immediately races the moment Valeria mentions ‘Heroes’ as I am excited to know how much I should grow to catch up to them.

I know that they are still stronger than me, but I don’t feel down. I just have to train harder than before.