On The Other Side: I Quit Being Human

It has been a few minutes after I have just got my food supply, but Vibiane's dumbfounded gaze is still planted on me, just like the other soldiers that can't help glancing at me from time to time.

We are still running away from the Taurones that are now chasing after us more vigorously than before, and it makes me wonder why none of them faces the Taurones when they have the leisure to glance at me in wonder.

I get that they are trying to say I am a mad lad for what I have done with their eyes, but from how easy I have done it, it is not something that is worth to be amazed about, which is why I wonder why they are staring at me like that.

"If you have something in your mind, please say it."

"Mad lad!"

"Figures."

"N-No, don't hate me! We haven't even been friends for a day yet!"

I blink my eyes in slight bafflement at Vibiane's unusual and rather weird reaction. I sigh lightly in the next moment as I remember that her loner ass is too clueless about how interpersonal relationships work.

"Don't show me how pathetic you are by saying things like that; you are already pathetic enough in my opinion. Also, we are not friends."

"W-What?! After all those things we have done together ... How cruel!" Vibiane sheds a few genuine tears of sadness.

"Have you ever wondered how getting your head bashed to the ground feels like? What about experiencing once? Stop saying things that can easily cause a misunderstanding!"

"I-If that makes me to be your friend again, then—"

"We are friends—I was just messing with you," I immediately cut Vibiane as soon as I notice the talk is about to head to the direction I don't want to head.

It is slightly annoying that I have to pretend to be her real friend, but I think seeing that beautiful smile on her face kind of makes it worth it. Still, why are the other warriors looking at me with that knowing smile?

From what I think they are thinking about, I am sure they are high or just too stupid to not jump into conclusions. It makes me wonder once again why none of them faces the Taurones when they have the leisure to even entertain such a stupid thought.

"Anyway, why were you looking at me like you were looking at an exotic animal back then? Is there something weird on me?"

"Oh, I was just surprised by how splendid you have killed the Taurone. When I was your age, I could barely stand in front of a Taurone, let alone a group of Taurones!"

"When you were my age? When exactly?"

"Ah, that was around 40 years ago—I am 65 now. I am still young, but I am strong, you know?"

'No, you are not young anymore. Stop spouting bullshit, gram,' is what I want to say, but then I realize having a long life span is normal in this world. Even Valeria herself is already hundreds of years old.

"I am still 17, so that means I am way younger."

"Oh my, wanna be my child?"

"... Have you ever wondered how it feels—"

"I was just joking!" Vibiane interrupts vigorously with glassy eyes. "I was just getting back at you—why are you taking it seriously?!"

"Alright, stop getting your panties in a wad." I wave my hand nonchalantly. "I just thought it was for real since you looked you meant it. Anyway, what part of Taurones that made you tremble."

"Oh, about that... Didn't you feel it?" Vibiane looks at me curiously. "You have made a direct contact with a Taurone, so you should've felt it."

"The only thing I could feel from the Taurone I have killed was Mana, and nothing else."

"Mana? No, Taurones don't have Mana." Vibiane looks at me weirdly. "Taurones inherit a little bit of the blood of the Primordial God, Audhumla, so they possess a little bit of Divinity in them, which is highly toxic for us, the cursed creations."

The cursed creations is the term used to call Demons, Monsters, and any other existences humans find repulsive in general. They are the only group of creatures that will die in the presence of the God.

Divinity breaks a curse, and for the cursed creations, whose existence is the curse itself, only obliteration will await them upon being exposed to it. Therefore, the cursed creations hate God, who possesses Divinity, as much as he hates them, his failed creations.

I am now a part of the cursed creations—I accept myself wholly, but it feels a little bit sad whenever I am reminded of the fact that my entire existence is damned by the God.

I don't regret my decision in the slightest however; I am glad that I can finally literally declare my grudge against the God who has been shitting on me in my previous world. Still though, knowing that God really hates me now sparks something inside me.

"Didn't you feel a prick on your skin when you touched the Taurone you killed? That should be the Divinity reacting to your cursed Mana."

"Nah, I didn't feel such a thing."

"Ah, you must be a Divinity hyper-tolerant." Vibiane sighs. "I envy you. Commonly, only Seventh Wings and above are Divinity hyper-tolerant."

"Is Divinity really a great deal? I don't find it is as annoying as you claim though."

"It is annoying, Layland! Divinity is the cause why many of our Demon Kings have been slain by the Heroes. Humans are favoured by the God—if not for the Divinity he bestows on humans, they would have perished ages ago."

"I was a human, but God still messed me up."

"Ah, maybe you are just destined to be unlucky ... No! Don't hate me—I swear I was just joking!"

"I get it, so stop clinging on me, dingbat!"

After a few minutes of annoying banter with Vibiane, the Taurones stop chasing us one by one until none of them is chasing us anymore. It doesn't affect our pace in the slightest, but we are closer to our first destination now.

A few hundreds feet in front of us, there is a city that is surrounded by a tall, sturdy wall. There were people guarding the gate, but none of them were humans, if their lizard head is any indication.

"Uwah! We have arrived at Scentillion city!"

"I get that you are happy, but why are you still on my back?!"

"Uwah! Don't unfriend me—I'll get down quick."

Vibiane immediately jumps down from my back and runs by herself. I am still annoyed by the fact that she has just used me as her cab for ten whole minutes, so I slap her head just to get back at her.

"Ouch! What was that for?!"

"It's how friends show how close they are."

"Oh! Can I try it on you too."

"No."

"Why?!"

Ignoring Vibiane, who is asking our status of friendship, which is not the first time for the past 10 minutes, I look at the city that is now just 45 feet away. Valeria has told me a lot about this Monster city, and I am eager to explore it.

"G-General Velucan! W-We greet the venerable Third General!"

"At ease, guards!"

By the time we reach the gate, the lizard-headed guards immediately kneel in awe at the presence of Velucan. I have initially thought he would respond to them obnoxiously, but he surprises me by responding them calmly and with dignity.

"We need to pick a Sealing Array for our Conquest Mission, so can you give us a pass?" Velucan winks.

"Of course, General Velucan! I will even call the Master for you!"

"Hahaha. There is no need to do that. I have something to talk to him in private, so I will meet him myself."

"Very well. May you enjoy the brief time you spend here, General!"

Velucan nods lightly at the guard, then turns to us. "Warriors, march!"

With Velucan in lead, we pass through the gate of the city. The moment we enter the city, the people inside erupt in cheer as they thank us for the things the warriors have done for them—allowing them to live a peaceful life.

I have only seen humans give these reactions in the games I played, so I am a little bit baffled by how full of emotions the Monsters are.

'Ah, they are no different than humans, aren't they? Look at their genuinely grateful expression ... I had never even encountered any human that ever showed such a genuineness on Earth,' I muse.

My journey has a slightly hectic beginning, but I find it more fruitful than the months I have spent with Valeria learning the general knowledge about this world.

Directly seeing the inhabitant of this world, the Monsters, that I have only heard about before makes me realize that they, too, are living beings. They feel just like humans, and have their own difficulties.

I have initially accepted the fact that being a Demon means becoming a traitor of humanity—it excites me a little bit—but now I realized that it is just a process of me being exposed to a new different world.

I can't still relate that much with them, but the look they are giving me is already enough to make me think that they really are on my side ... The cursed creations.