Versatile: Alternate World

The streets are noisy and soldiers are moving around the streets and asking the people who are hanging out on the streets or just there with some business or they are just passing by. I know the cause of the ruckus since I am the one who started it but I am not going to confess nor talk to the soldiers. It's a hassle.

When I arrived at the inn and returned to our room, the three girls are already back and they are currently looking outside the window.

"Master, does the ruckus outside caused by you?"

"Yeah. I disposed of the two assassins already and throw their bodies in the public area, causing the guards and the people to panic."

"Huh?! Why did you do that?! Didn't you order Lucia-san to burn the remains of the first assassin that was killed? Why did you expose the two?!" Tina was confused but I can also feel her furious reaction.

"Simple reason. That is to provoke the perpetrators and also to give them a warning."

"Provoke?"

"We know that the assassins were sent by the royal palace but do we know who they are? No, we don't. And so, since they wanted to do something to the innocent civilians by killing them, it's not a bad thing to also kill them in the process. Since the assassins that they sent died, they will be wary of who their enemies will be and they will halt the progress of their plans or hasten it depending on their situation's urgency. Right now, it seems they are in the rush for the Insect Kingdom's liberation from human grasp and decided to make that choice to strike fear to the humans that the Insect Kingdom is mighty and strong enough to stand on their own."

"So you mean, they are doing this just to show that the Insect Kingdom no longer needed help and can be independent?"

"Basically, that is their motivation for killing innocent humans. They are doing the most violent way to do that. Now that I killed a few of their assassins, there will only be two things that we can expect to be their next move. The first would be they sent more assassins and were more skilled compared to the first three assassins. Of course, the probability is not that low but it is lower compared to the second one. The second and the most likely course of action that would act as beneficial for them would be to delay their plan of mass genocide.

"No, they would ruin their reputation by doing the first choice!"

"Of course, that depends on who was planning it. If they are bloodthirsty enough, they will do the first choice. As I said, it all depends on who plans this. Honestly, I am not worried but it will be troublesome for them."

Tina still looked worried. It's natural but I never have doubts about this. The behavior of those guys is pretty clear as day. However, I would indeed be worried since their family is the one doing this thing. But that is not something I can criticize. Her main goal is to surpass her parents and siblings. So in that case, the only thing she needed to do is improve and view her family as an enemy, no matter if she love them or not.

...

"Gah... even though this is just a game, their drinks hit the spot..." I muttered to myself as I gaze at the stars on the balcony of the inn. Every room has its own balcony so for someone who doesn't sleep at night in the game, it's a good place to stay while waiting for the morning to arrive. Despite being a game, it doesn't even feel like I am inside of one.

And lately, the people I interact with more are the NPCs and my followers. I barely have had any contact with players lately and although this was the same outcome in the past timeline where almost all of my interactions are with the NPCs, it is the best thing. After all, even the most normal NPC in the game has a backstory.

I may have returned to the past timeline to exact my revenge for the bastards who ruined my life but that doesn't matter much now, does it?

"Ah..."

I turned around and saw Tina currently holding a bottle of the local drink of the Insect People. Although I am not familiar with it, I think they call it the Nectar Wine if I didn't get it wrong. I also noticed Cotton is resting on her head. I was surprised since she usually just sleep together with Lucia so this is the first time I have seen her on other people other than Lucia.

"Huh... I thought you would be the first person to fall asleep. Turns out you are not even sleeping," I pour the drink I have been drinking in my cup and offered it to her. "Care for some?"

"Ah...no I have this," she then raises the bottle of Nectar Wine to decline my gesture.

"Is that so? Then, care to sit beside me?"

"...Don't mind if I do."

"Why are you still awake? It's so unlike you to be awake at this hour," I asked while swirling the contents of my cup.

"What about you? I never saw you fall asleep and although there are times you disappear, I doubt you are sleeping."

I am definitely sleeping the moment I disappear. You just don't see me do that.

"I always see you working even at night time. No one works that late and stays awake the whole day. It looks like what my parents said is true that humans are weird creatures."

"Heh, as much as I can say for myself, this is pretty normal. Also, it is a waste if I just sleep, so I didn't bother sleeping. Besides, sleeping will invite death flags to us. I don't want anyone to die while they are near me after all."

"Hmm, although I understand a bit of your reasoning, I still don't think I understood your motivation."

"That is not needed at all. Only those who experienced pain and hardship after losing someone will usually be the only people who can easily understand me, If you try to read me like some kind of book, prepare for a massive headache alright?"

...

Tina went silent and like me, she gazes at the sky, holding the bottle of Nectar Wine. Although she is just holding it, she never actually drank its contents. She was just hugging it.

I didn't bother her and let her relax since she is the one who keeps all of their efforts in check. Not talking to her would allow her to open up if she is ready.

"Defying my parents, do I really have to do this for them to accept me on who I was?"

"Are you getting insecure by that thought?"

"Yes. I never defied my parents' teachings and all of them are memorized in my head, I can even recite them if needed."

"You are not wrong of doubting your parents. However, I will ask you. Why you didn't receive any marks?"

"Mark? What mark?"

"You don't remember? Queen Tanya asked you this before right? Like the mark of "acceptance." It's what they are called in the Insect Kingdom."

"Mark of Acceptance? What is that?"

"I see, you never knew what it was. Since you never got one at all right? Queen Tanya told me about it but to think you managed to live with your fingers and limbs still attached to your body."

"Huh? Can you care to explain?"

I shook my head a bit and tried to recall the memories of the time I read about it.

"Mark of Acceptance or mostly known in the Insect Kingdom as the "Mark of Birth" is something you can call, branding of insect people's babies. The reason it was called the Mark of Acceptance is that it is a mark that signifies you are wanted to be loved in this world and there are still people who loved you. That they don't regret you from being born in this world. They also call it the Mark of Birth since all newborn babies will have this mark to signify they are welcomed."

"Not only that, but from what I know, the mark also serves as a catalyst for the awakening of something in the person who has the mark. If I remember correctly, it was for power maturation. It allows your strong power to mature and not just to stagnate."

Tina went quiet before she looked at me again. "If that is the case, does that mean everyone in the Insect Kingdom has the mark right?"

"Yes, they have it."

"Then what about those who didn't bear the mark?"

"Pretty obvious. Before they are even able to enjoy the world, they will be killed and disposed of. They label the markless as rejects of societies and useless."

The moment she heard that she furrowed her eyebrows as sweat slowly appeared on her forehead. Her eyes are wavering and it seems she is struggling at keeping her head cool after learning what is the purpose of the mark.

"I.... I don't have a mark. Is that the main reason, I am not able to develop my abilities at all?!"