Rise Of The Hoarder

“Well, for you, Lara, I’ve decided that you’re worth keeping alive.” I smiled at the young woman.

A look of relief broke from Lara’s stoic face, causing her to relax a little. She bowed a little and thanked me for sparing her life, as though it was only natural.

This felt a little strange, considering she was five years older than me. Still, I had to get used to such treatment. After all, this was how the weak addressed the strong.

—And I was strong!

“W-what of me?” Larry asked, cutting into my thoughts with a shivering voice.

His eyes displayed hope that I would spare him since I had done so for the other girl. Unfortunately, his hopes were all for naught.

“Oh? You’re going to die here.” I said blankly.

This caused Larry’s eyes to bulge. His face told me that he was processing millions of thoughts concerning my decision.

“B-but why?!” He snapped, feeling a mix of anxiety, fear, and anger.

He had done all he could to survive. When it came to Levels, he was also way higher than Lara. To the young man, he had every reason to live._.

However, just as I had told him the last time we spoke… ‘Levels aren’t everything!’

Well, to be more precise, it was because of his Level that I wanted him dead.

“Please, understand, Larry. It’s for the greater good.” My lips curled up in a smile.

It was sadistic, one could call it devilish even, the kind of expression I must have been displaying.

“B-bullshit! Why do I have to die?! I-I didn’t-!!!”

His voice was chock-full of anger and frustration.

After trying so hard, would his life end in such a miserable way? I was sure that was his line of thought.

“You confuse me, Larry…” My tone changed to a deeper and more intimidating one.

“… You’ve killed Gifteds before, haven’t you? Your ‘Evil’ Alignment clearly shows that.”

His body froze the moment my voice reached him. Larry could profer an answer to my question.

“I-erm, it just… I…”

“So many innocents have died by your hands, Larry. That’s simply the truth…”

My voice changed and it once again had the sweet innocence evident only when I wanted to act like a child.

“You’re a bad guy, Larry. Isn’t it only natural that bad guys should die?”

Larry’s face morphed into horror. He most likely saw a greater evil than himself standing opposite him— me.

Unfortunately for him, the System didn’t register my Alignment as evil. So far I didn’t kill anyone directly, it didn’t count.

Turning to Lara, my innocent, child-like smile grew wider. Appealing to her good-natured emotion, I asked her a simple question.

“What do you think, Lara?”

With his fate now resting on the young woman’s reply, Larry’s head turned to his once-only ally and his eyes begged her for mercy.

“I agree with you, Jeremy… bad guys should die. The world would be a better place without them!”

Her smile resonated with mine as she said those words. Giving me the same innocent and sweet smile, it was like I was staring at a reflection of myself in the mirror. Lara, this woman, was just like me— at least when it came to our personalities.

Turning my head slowly to Larry, I gave a moderate smile and spoke in an understanding tone.

“You heard her, Larry…”

The young man gulped, feeling the crushing weight of both mine and Lara’s judgemental eyes on him.

“… The world would be a better place… without you!”

And, as a bonus, the world would be a much better place with the heroes who extinguished evil and took care of the bad guys. Yes, as the one who took it upon myself to ensure that the very evil of the world died off, I could not be referred to as anything but a noble individual.

“I won’t be surprised if my Alignment changes to Lawful Good under this circumstance…” I chuckled, moving closer to Larry.

After all, I was the one who would be responsible for vanquishing an evil one— a ‘Hero’

***********************************

Of course, I didn’t kill Larry myself. That would stain my perfect record.

Instead, I summoned one of the Hobgoblins captured into [Subspace] and watched from a distance as it approached Larry.

Naturally, he made to escape. It was fun to watch Larry run desperately. His eyes bulged as his legs picked up as fast as they could go.

It was no use, though.

“Garuiikkkk!!!” The Hobgoblin caught up to Larry in no time.

The ones he had fought in the past were weakened versions of the regular Hobgoblin Archers and Tankers. He stood no chance against Hobgoblin Warriors. I felt generous and gave him the ‘Advanced Warrors’ who could use Mana to coat their bodies and infuse it into their weapons.

With Larry already so tired from his last bout with the Demons— unable to replenish his energy, he could only run sluggishly.

His Skills were on Cooldown, his body was way past his limits so using his Gift was impossible. His Stamina was just about finished. Yet, the young man ran so well!

‘I suppose this is what happens when your life is on the line…’ My thoughts trailed as my eyes darted to the young woman beside me for a second.

Lara didn’t seem fazed by the chase occurring between the Demon and Larry. Strangely, she watched with a sort of academic curiosity— like she was learning from the hopeless activity.

‘She’s so strange…’

We were both atop a tree. I jumped there easily while she shapeshifted into a bird or something and got there pretty easily too. While we both sat beside each other on a beach, we maintained just enough distance that things didn’t feel too weird.

“Guarkkkkk!!!!” A pained cry sharply went into the air, causing me to return my gaze to Larry.

The Demon had already caught up to him, tearing apart his legs in one slash.

“Arghhhh! No- ah! My legs! Arghhh!” He screamed, collapsing to the grassy plains already dyed in blood.

“That’s the least of your problem, buddy.”