The Author's POV

-Swooosh!

Extending his hand forward and swiping right, the scene before me changed once again. This time, instead of a classroom, it was right outside Ren's house.

Standing outside of Ren's house, Ren and Matthew stood before each other.

Compared to before, Matthew's demenour was completely different. If before he was gloomy and lonely, he now looked like an outstanding and refined young man. His very presence screamed elegance.

His warm eyes and voice would instantly cause everyone who met him to have a good impression of him.

...A stark contrast to before.

Smiling, Matthew took out two transparent potions from his pocket and showed them to Ren.

"Hey Ren, my dad was extremely happy with my results recently and he gave me two advanced potions!"

"What! How did you even get a hold of such expensive potions?"

Opening his eyes wide, Ren couldn't help but look at the two potions with a hint of envy.

It had to be noted that a single advanced potion could go for tens of millions of U. That's how expensive they were. Moreover, compared to intermediate ones, they were much more efficient.

No wonder Ren was surprised...

Scratching the back of his head and chuckling, Matthew said

"Well, I really did please my father this time. After he gave them to me, he said that it was a good investment into my future"

"...damn, I'm getting jealous here. I haven't even tried an intermediate potion, let alone an advanced one"

Nodding his head multiple times, extending his hands, Matthew put both potions in Ren's hand.

"Yup I know, that's why I'm giving them to you...More precisely give them to your parents"

Stupefied, Ren's hands shook as he held onto those potions. With his eyes wide open, Ren's voice couldn't help but tremble

"W-what are you doing?"

"I'm giving them to you"

"D-dude, do you know how expensive these things are? what about you?"

Seeing Ren's state, Matthew couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Hahaha, no worries. I already had one, it's the least I can do to repay your parents for having taken care of me over the years. If I had to be honest, they're like my second parents..."

-Crack!

"...Bullshit!"

Turning my head, I saw Ren beside me clenching his fist hard as his hands cracked. His face became incomparably dark as he stared at Matthew with pure hatred. Biting his lips, he coldly spat

"If you truly cared about them like they were your second parents you wouldn't have...damnit!"

Confused, I wanted to ask what he meant by that, but I decided to just watch the scene before me unfold. I was bound to find the answer sooner or later...

Staring at the two potions in his hands, Ren hesitated before looking back at Matthew and once again asking in a trembling voice.

"A-are you sure?"

"Yeah, just take it"

Staring at Matthew, and noticing his earnest expression. Ren shook his head and sighed.

adamant about me taking them, refusing you will just

made the right choice. Thank your parents when you give them the potions. If it weren't

head,

"Sure, I will"

a big smile on his

Matthew turned around, the smile on his

"I'm sorry best friend..."

-Swooosh!

Glancing at Ren who was beside me, though he returned to his usual indifferent self, I could visibly see his body

his best to not give in to

"Y-ou ho-w could you!!"

what seemed to be a rooftop, Ren's figure appeared kneeling on the ground as he glared upwards. His

don't know. I guess

Ren's kneeling figure, Matthew tried to hold his laughter back, but he soon

I'm sorry Ren...I really had no choice, ku,ku

Ren stared at Matthew who

you betray

-Bam

"khh...I can't!"

invisible wall, the memory paused.

"...This was the day"

fist and jaw clenched tightly as he

was the day my life was

-Vuam!

red bloodlust started exuding from Ren's body as his eyes became

seeing Ren's current state, I grabbed his shoulder and tried

explain to me what

-Shua!

tugged, forcefully trying to calm himself down, the bloodlust around Ren disappeared. Glancing in

remember the potions he had given me

"Yeah"

my head, I remembered. How

once. However, with the price each one went for, I

cursed with

turning my head, I couldn't help

The mind breaker

of the strongest curses

whoever was under the curse would

as it was undetectable. You wouldn't realize you were cursed before it

...a demon.

"huh?"

paused there, opening my eyes widely, I couldn't help but stare at Matthew

glancing back towards Matthew,

had made a contract

"what..ah..e"

tried to say something, but in the end, no words came out of

what happened, but...ever since that last memory, Matthew changed.

I thought he was trying his best to move

Ren covered

time I realized something strange in his behavior...he had already

best friend I knew was

Ren struggle to speak, I

had

whom he regarded as a brother turned into a villain

"Khhhh...damnit!"

distance Veins pooped from Ren's

me to do...be it sneak inside of my parent's room to give him secret information regarding the guild

at me in the eyes,

was the reason why my parent's