The Third Party - Chapter 66

3rd Person’s POV (12 yrs. and 8 months old)

The others whom are unfamiliar with the terms Ken used, especially those in between the lines messages, stared at Ken, confusion evident on their features. They each took a look at their three friends whom look to be agitated at the moment, then back at Ken.

What exactly are they talking about? They thought, though they probably didn’t mean to have their thoughts sync, if they’d know that the other thought of the same thing, they’d obviously be surprised, but right now, what was this awkward atmosphere.

Allen who were exposed to such a world on the other hand, had other thoughts, but mainly, how did his friend know of such a situation, just from deriving them from a memory of his parents.

“What exactly do you mean Ken?” he eventually asked, as the silence was stretching far too long for his liking, for anyone’s liking in general.

“Hmm, how do I explain this…” started Ken in a catlike manner, as he rested his elbow on the armchair and leaned his chin on his hand, leisurely caressing his face with his fingertips, just those areas that could be reached since he is technically leaning on his arm, with the other crossed below his other arm.

Like a villain in an interrogation room.

The armchair he is using is right-sided by the way. His friends stared at this new side of Ken in shock, for the sadistic and playful manner was replaced with an imposing manner of dominance and bossiness.

They don’t usually see this very often, but when they do, it would be Ken scolding them for any parts they screwed up on, and just straight up turned the atmosphere jolly again with the manner turned into a joke by him.

“There is this type of norm in the nobility world that can be dictated like this, -this is only my own interpretation by the way-.” said Ken, and sat uprightly, discarding that unpleasant tension in the air coming from him.

“Nobles with higher power than you have this mentality that they have to always get what they want, and whomever they interact with must please them and avoid ever angering them or their wrath will destroy those who have insulted them,

Even the tiniest bit of insult or insults are considered as a grave insult for them, and then they’d go ahead and start threatening your life, or your family’s life, in turn, you would have to be careful not to do something that may anger them.” Ken said, all the while maintaining a passive expression.

“The phrase ‘Walking on egg shells’ could be clearly applied as you’d have to be attentive and not accidentally step on them, in other words you’ll have to be careful not to agitate these “Noble” people, a flaw I find extremely stupid and dumb at the same time.” He added.

The term clearly struck a nerve in particular to the princess as she remembered how she was the same person before, if not, exactly the same person Ken described, she felt insulted and wanted to rebut but Ken beat her to it.

“I do understand that this is some way of retaining power and supremacy as they were the ones who -in their own belief- made colossal achievements for the cause they uphold, but does everything had to be in turn please them in any kinds of way?,

Do the people around them have to suck up to them in order not to anger them while being certain that they are favored by those big shots of the community? Why can’t they accept the fact that they can’t please anyone?” Princess Lang lowered her gaze unknowingly to everyone, as they were intently listening and understanding what Ken said.

“That is another stupid and dumb flaw I hate about nobles, the part that they think that whatever they do, pleases everyone around them, and in turn, everyone must please them as well, yes that would be natural as we are born sympathetic with each other,

So we would really go ahead and compliment one another, but nobles… I don’t get why they think this way, but they insist that they should be complimented for everything they do, by being there, by gracing you with their presence, or by being given a ‘wise advice’ from them,

I also get that it’s also natural that people would be grateful for the small stuff you do to them, but you insist that they want you to blatantly praise them in front of their face once they are present because they think that everyone else should know that you should be praised?!

What kind of mentality is that?! Worst part, they in turn bully those people whom are innocent and clearly did not know about them, they take it as an insult, the result, the innocent person just got themselves a beating of a lifetime, leaving them traumatized… disgusting.” said Ken, heaving in deep breaths at his outburst.

Princess Lang’s shoulders lowered even further, as those points clearly struck her as Ken had almost perfectly described her temperament in the past, almost as she knows to herself that she also had good points too,

But she doesn’t have to rebut Ken now because she knows that this person is only speaking his mind out, no harm to be done there, and he had clearly reassured her in the past that no matter what, he wouldn’t hold judgement towards her,

So when he says words that may in turn be called an insult to her, she knows that those are just opinions of Ken, not how he sees her, or anyone for that matter, clearly, Ken was the first person who went out of his way and believed in her,

So she’s going to believe in him when he said in the past that he stand by no one’s side on an argument, instead would like to learn both sides of the argument. Even thought this seems like he’s the one making the argument.

The siblings however, felt understood, as they had not known how to speak out those feelings from before, they clearly understand what it is, but in terms of speaking about it, they are at a loss for words.

They felt gratitude well in their being, but one they did not notice as they were clouded by the unpleasant feeling those memories brought to them, just a little more and Ken’s explanation would have struck Allen as well.

“I’m not done.” Before anyone could speak their mind out, Ken interjected. “That’s the two parts I hate about nobles, two parts that can be clearly pointed out once you interact with them, and those types of concept are not only exclusive to them,

People who think they are entitled, also think the same way as they do, no matter if they’re a noble or not, rich or not, as long as they feel that they are entitled, that kind of mentality shows, remember to be aware of that.” His friends quickly nodded their head,

Knowing full well that whenever Ken says those words, it’s like a secret magic technique to them, that they immediately take note off, for most of the time, Ken was right in regards to the things he wants them to remember.

“Unto another thing about nobles, the first two ones I have described are people whom we can easily recognize as I have stated earlier, this next one are tricky.” Ken stood up, went to Princess Lang’s side by the board of clay.

He drew out a figure of a man albeit looking like a stick figure but with form, he willed his magic to bring his drawing to life so he could command it what to do on the board.

“There are certain types of people who are the scheming type, I’m sure I haven’t introduced this to you all so might as well do it now, for this does not only applies to nobles, it may apply to anyone in general.” He said. “Princess, may you have a sit.”

The princess complied and sat on the other empty chair right beside the one he had sat on, embarrassed of herself. “You two as well.” said Ken, looking at the twins, the two complied as well.

“These scheming individuals are the clear definition of the one I had described earlier, they are people who put up a mask of goodness, in order to deceive other people, for they have different agendas that they want to achieve, and most of it, are not technically pleasant agendas.” He said.

The stick figure he draw, did as what he said, as it painted a picture of it interacting with another stick figure and while the other turned his back on the former, a creepy smile formed on the first stick figure’s face.

“I’m sure you guys are quite familiar with this, a prime example of it, is me.” Everyone’s eyes widened in shock as they stared in disbelief at Ken, stunned in their sits.

“Yes, I admit, I am one of those scheming persons, I just haven’t confessed this to everyone yet, but, here I am, you all are free to judge me any possible way you deem as.” He added, everyone’s thoughts where in disarray, as black lines slowly formed on their faces.

“Anyway unto the discussion, yes I am a scheming person, but I use my scheming and calculative skills to find ways to improve our overall performance and find ways to better protect everyone else,

Hence you guys would always find me discussing topics with the adults you guys seem to not understand, I used my analyzing skills to the point that I wouldn’t bear judgement to anything before me, but instead, use it to understand the complexity of a thing or situation,

Although I’m still not very good at our subjects.” He said, of course what Ken said was true, he was never good at their lessons and just preferred performance over lectures, it un-eases him, but knowing that he’s this type of person, came as another major shock for them.

“So, be careful not to associate yourselves with these types of people, oh wait, let me rephrase that, be careful not to overly associate yourselves with these types of people, they love to use others to their advantage,

Just like how I do, but know that I only use advantages to my favor if I deem them as essential for everyone’s growth.” He said, the surroundings turned silent, each and everyone of them deep in thought.

“So that is why you’ve made us do so many unreasonable things, just because you think it’s for our growth?” asked Saber, he knows that resentment against his friend would bare nothing but bad fruit, so he chose on the other part instead.

“Yes.” Ken nodded.

“Then what about you, do you think those things you did on yourself are also essential for your growth?” Saber asked again.

“In a way, yes, because I’m eager to make mistakes, and learn from them, I apologize if I’ve nearly made you all disfigured or crippled due to my stupid experiments.” His friends glared at him, remembering the experiences they faced under this person’s hands.

“Stop apologizing already.” said Lila beside her brother, rolling her eyes, seriously this person needs to stop apologizing, they already learned that he’ll always be like this and it’s clearly their fault as well as they had agreed to help Ken in his ‘experiments’,

Ken scratched the back of his neck timidly and said. “But you guys are still angry with me.” wa- how does this person always change expressions, now he’s pouting, acting like he’s cute, does he think we’re that gullible?!

Or maybe they are, as they had slowly succumbed to Ken’s charms, as the frown on their face slowly lifted, and a slight laugh could be perceived in the air, oh, this confusing person.

“Anyway.” Ken turned his gaze to that one person in the room that had their gaze casted down. “Princess Lang.” the princess abruptly raised her head towards Ken.

“I know that some of the points I have talked about had one way or another insulted you, I’m not sorry for that.” said Ken, the princess felt her gaze falter.

“But know that you may have been such a person in the past, and that I have clearly understood your type of temperament, we didn’t give up on you and gave you a chance to redeem yourself and made you discard those unpleasant behaviors you displayed in the past,

It’s because that I clearly understood your type of characteristic that I was able to let my friends and the other three come to understand yours.” The princess felt a lump in her throat started to form at those words.

“Everyone has problems, even you, but yours where pretty clear at that time as it manifested in your endearing behavior, and I couldn’t do much to help a child who has problems she decided to keep to herself.” Princess Lang turned red at the statement, the others chuckled, but not mockingly.

“So I would like to take this chance to tell you guys to be cautious of these type of people for they are the most unpleasant ones to mingle yourself with, you guys can always mingle with me, I won’t use my tactics to cause discomfort for you guys.” His friends chuckled again at his statement, but thought to themselves that they’ll keep in mind what Ken said.

“Anyone has questions regarding my point on the noble?” said Ken, scanning everyone before him.

“How were you able to understand this much when you’ve only encountered the memory of your parents.” surprisingly, the person who asked this, was Wilbert, but it comes to no shock to them when it comes to deeper sense of topic since Ken made them understand that deeper topics should become their norm, and there is nothing embarrassing talking about it.

“Well, at that time when I have first learned of memory magic, I had accidentally re-lived the moment.” said Ken, his friends just stare at him in confusion.

“What do you mean yo- HUH!!!?” exclaimed profoundly by Flin, for as a spirit magic user, re-living memories where something he’d had always done since they were technically the usurper of souls of the deceased from the mortal realm to the spirit realm.

Everyone abruptly stared at Flin’s outburst, further confusing them, Ken just chuckled at their expressions.

“Yes Flin, I had re-lived the memory my parents had at that time, and to make sure that everyone understands what ‘re-living the moment’ means, I’ll use memory magic to make you guys fully understand.” said Ken.

“Memory Magic: Shared Moment.” nine globes of mist formed in front of Ken with his hand’s palm facing upwards, he gestured with one finger pointing out to the other nine people and the globes directly went into their heads.

He had clearly given an understandable meaning on the concept behind and had provided an example as well, now he just waits and watches as everyone before him slowly internalizes the information.

Once they were done, they all had glum faces.

“And so that is what I have experienced. So…” he walked towards in front of everyone and dispersed the drawing to focus on the unpleasant stick figure.

“Be sure not to use such methods on anyone alright? But, there is always a ‘but’, we can use such method if we’re to be interrogating people who do not want to give the information we need through their words.” He said, his friends absentmindedly nodded.

“Wait, why would you think of doing that?” asked Allen, because clearly Ken would be the only one who’d think of such tactics.

“Oh, I’ll be using this on nobles in order to bring them down to their knees.” said Ken, with that sickeningly sweet voice and smile, now they don’t even know if they should trust him or not.

Ken had himself bombarded with various ideas and point of views particularly circling on why would he do such a thing, and if it is related to him being a scheming person, if so, why would he do so, when clearly he wants them to do good, so he should also be good as well.

This is just so not fair to them who were pressured immensely by this friend of theirs to be a good person to one another, and now he’s actually not? This is absurd! Absolutely absurd!

Ken had a hard time coaxing his friends as they all but intimidated him as they neared Ken, close to his face, their angry expressions unwavering.

Ken may have coaxed them, and had firmly reassured them that they do not have to worry, but there’s still something that this person is not talking to them, but they didn’t push, as they know that whatever reason Ken has, it would take time for him to talk about it to them.

Then what about those times when he forcefully made them reveal their reasons behind their actions and behaviors, this is also unfair!!!!!!!!!

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