Snakes in my hair? It’s more likely than you think. - Chapter 40：Extra

–To be a hero is to want love,

To want to be seen,

To want everything.

To be a hero is…

To want…

I don’t know anymore.

I am Lye.

I lie.

I am lying on the damp ground.

Pierced down,

Pierced in half by the horn of the beast.

The mixture of bloods,

Of both mortal and beast.

My last breath as a hero is upon me,

These words are from a loser.

I have lost.

I am Lye.

I lie.

I am Lye Shyirk.

That’s who I am.

Or who I was.

A lie.

“I don’t… want to be… seen… like this.”

I don’t want to be found like this.

I have a image to uphold,

That’s all that I think of.

The shame,

Everything I’ve worked for is gone.

I lost to a mindless beast.

What kind of hero am I?

A failure.

A lie.

I am the mindless one.

“I want to disappear.”

To be a hero is to be desperate.

I was desperate to be loved.

To be seen.

To matter.

No one truly loved me,

For I am dying here,

Alone.

The only tears shed are my own,

They are bitter.

It is funny,

It is humorous,

I pierced beasts and monsters in half.

I always did it without a thought.

I am dying the way I killed,

And I can’t stop thinking.

I loved helping those in need.

I always have, I always will.

I just…

I wish…

Someone, anyone,

Was here,

In my final moments.

I can bare the shame,

But I can’t bear the loneliness.

To be a hero,

Is to die alone.

:I’m here.:

“Agh… who?”

:You failed but you were so strong. It just goes to show that a simple mistake, hehe, can bring down just about anyone.:

“What do you mean?”

I cannot see who is speaking,

Is this the voice of Death?

No,

Death would be…

Death wouldn’t speak to me.

This is…

Worse.

:I can help you.:

“How? I’m dying? My corpse… will be rotting soon…. and the world will see the remains of…”

I cough out a mouthful of blood.

“My failure.”

:I can take you away from your failure.:

I want to laugh.

“How so?”

:I can become you. A better you. A stronger you.:

“Lies…”

:I would never lie to you.:

“Who are you?”

The voice,

It laughs,

I hate it.

:I am not a who.

I am the desire of wanting to be.

I am everything.

I am nothing.

I will be powerful.

I will devour you.:

I get it.

“You’re.. just a… monster.”

:If you say so, it must be.:

Another monster,

I can’t defeat.

AH.

:You have 3 minutes left to live. Let me take you away from your shame. Let me become a better you. Or rot away and let the whole world see your pathetic, rotting flesh and withered bones.:

I want…

To laugh.

“Ha. Take me away then… I don’t want to be seen anymore. Not… like this.”

:Less than 2 minutes left. I knew you would make the best choice, Lye Shyirk. I promise you won’t regret this.:

“You knew me.”

:Of course. I only devour those who are strong.:

At least,

I,

I am not dying alone,

I’m with…

Who are you?–

About 2500 years later~

Aspar Hill Boarding School.

Students are relaxing and chatting amongst each other. Friends and classmates caught up in their own little worlds. Nothing else matters to them at this moment.

Oh, these kids, if only they knew.

This isn’t a safe haven.

“This is kinda interesting, this person I’m writing a report on. Well she kinda looks like you.”

Oh one of these kids is speaking to her. Her “classmate” who goes by the name Amanda.

A gentle smile and curious eyes, that’s what they see from her, “Really? Who?”

“Lye Shyirk! See look for yourself.”

Ah, a beautiful painting of a young, fluffy girl.

A girl who she devoured.

“I don’t see it.”

“What, aw come on… I mean I know it’s old and not like 100% accurate but I think you guys kinda look alike! It’s cool~”

“Really?”

“Yeah! If she didn’t die young then I would even say maybe she’s your ancestor or something.”

“Hehe wouldn’t it be cooler if I was her in my past life?”

“Oh! I didn’t think of that…”

“Excuse me, Amanda. I have to get going now.”

“Ah yeah, I get it. You’re one the busiest people here and yet… thanks for taking time to help me, Kylie!”

“Of course.”

That’s what ‘Kylie Rhys’ is supposed to do.

It’s strange. It’s been thousands of years but this face… Has not been forgotten.

Lye Shyirk.

Lye Shyirk they haven’t forgotten you.

When reforming from the curse and sin, Lye Shyirk was one of the few forms that stayed with her. ‘Kylie Rhys’ is the new name the monster goes by while wearing Lye Shyirk’s face. Not by choice, it was for the best. The hero’s name is too well known.

The Ferocious Monster didn’t have to start from scratch.

The Ferocious Shapeshifting Monster will devour those who are strong.

In order to never make the same mistake again.

I won’t be nothing.

I will be everything this time./