The system ssage flashed across Axel’s vision, the text was written as bold as day. Kinsey was right after all. She knew more about demons than Axel himself did. Besides his shock, Axel wasn’t happy. Specifically, he wasn’t happy with his system’s AI.
’All you’ve ever done is bicker on and on about how weak I was. You never once told that I was an unstable demon! You never ntioned these needs I must fulfil!’
Axel was burning with rage on the inside, even as his fists clenched tightly at his sides. He managed to keep a straight face in front of Kinsey, but he could only hold it for so long before he finally snapped.
"You were always bound to receive the ssage from your Demonic System anyway. That is why you have it. You do not require to intercede for you at all tis, dear host," Aurora defended calmly.
The more she spoke, the more furious Axel beca.
You’re my AI. You’re ant to offer guidance. Those were your words, not mine! Axel scread inwardly.
Kinsey, who had been watching his face twitch uncontrollably, quickly put two and two together. "Are you speaking to that invisible person again? Do they know what you are?" she asked.
"Do you know what this voice you wouldn’t shut up about has been asking to do to you?" Axel said as he stepped forward, slow and nacing.
His sudden movent made Kinsey flinch as she backed away from him. He was a demon, after all, and demons were ant to be terrifying.
"This voice has been asking to end your life for the past twenty minutes. The question is—should I do it?"
"Do it!" Aurora scread.
Kinsey’s breath shuddered as she tried to speak. "I can help you! I can help you with your needs!" she managed to say through her terror.
Axel froze, taken aback imdiately. His posture changed as he blinked in confusion. "Uh... what? What are you—are you offering to sleep with ?" he asked, his face flushing red with embarrassnt.
"Idiot..." Aurora muttered with a tired sigh.
Standing so close to her now, no matter how nacing he had seed just monts ago, Kinsey noticed how good-looking Axel actually was. A sharp jawline, piercing green eyes, and dazzling brown hair that partially covered his face.
She stamred, "U-um... I an I can help you with greed, you know... make so money. B–but I can also help you with the other part... I guess."
Axel couldn’t help but ask the one question that had been bothering him.
"You were so certain I was a demon, yet you confronted openly. Weren’t you scared I’d hurt you? Aren’t demons supposed to be evil?"
"Hm... I suppose you’re right," Kinsey said after a pause. "But demons aren’t all evil like those old movies portray them. They’re a species of their own, just like us."
She hesitated, then smiled. "Does this an you’ve finally accepted that you are a demon?" she asked excitedly.
"No! Do not admit to it!" Aurora warned him.
But Axel’s mind was already made up.
You can’t help , Aurora. She can help beco a stable demon. You can’t.
Axel looked at Kinsey and finally said it. "Yes. I’m a demon..."
Her eyes sparkled with excitent and ecstasy at his admission. It was strange—most people would have panicked at the thought of demons being real, of them existing on Earth.
But Kinsey wasn’t exactly what you’d call normal.
"So tell ," she pressed eagerly. "How did you beco a demon? Did you sign a contract with one? Did you sell your soul?"
The questions ca faster than Axel could answer, but he did his best. "I don’t know. It’s... a long story."
The long story being that he was murdered—and sohow, he respawned.
That part still bothered him.
How did he co back to life after dying? How did two versions of his being exist at the sa ti? Was he a clone?
Too many questions. Not enough answers.
"That voice in your head—"
"Don’t worry about the annoying voice in my head," Axel cut in imdiately. "Don’t ask about it. Please. You’ll help with my tasks without asking questions about it. Deal?"
"Alright... fine," Kinsey agreed.
Axel felt there was no need to explain the entire system to her anyway—especially since he barely knew her. All he really knew was that she had been watching him since his first day at Oval Academy.
And for that reason alone, he didn’t fully trust her.
Still, he was willing to work with her because she knew about who he was.
The door to the room opened. Axel looked up just in ti to see two familiar figures step into the room.
Ares froze the mont his eyes landed on Axel. Rick, who had been a step behind him, stopped short as well.
"...You’re awake?!" Ares said, disbelief clear on his face.
"Last ti I checked..."
Rick let out a breath he’d probably been holding. "We thought you’d be out for at least another week."
Before Axel could respond, Ares’s gaze shifted, and locked onto Kinsey.
"And what is little miss freezer doing here?" Ares asked, his tone sharp.
"I have a na, you know..." Kinsey replied.
"Don’t care..." Ares said, smirking.
"I was just checking up on him," she said casually, lifting her hands slightly as if to show she ant no harm.
Ares didn’t buy it. "Since when do you check up on people?" he pressed. "And since when do you do it alone? Aren’t you soppised to be freezing soones balls off?"
"What were you two lovebirds even talking about?"
"Nothing important," Kinsey replied smoothly.
"It’s nothing, Ares. It’s good to see you and Rick." Axel spoke finally.
Kinsey sighed, clearly deciding she’d pushed her luck enough. She stepped toward the door, then turned to Axel.
"Co get your sword later," she said quietly, just loud enough for him to hear. "Room GD-027."
"Oooh," Ares giggled. "What do you humans call it? Booty call? Is that a booty call?" Ares teased.
"You talk like you’re not a human like us... such a weirdo." Before anyone could stop her or ask more questions, Kinsey turned and left the room.
Ares stared at the door for a second before turning back to Axel with a now serious face "Alright," he said slowly. "Start talking. What was that about?"
Axel shook his head. "I told you. It’s nothing. How are you doing?" Axel asked. "Last ti I saw you, you were beaten half to death."
Ares blinked, clearly not expecting the question. "That was a month ago," he said. "I’m fine now besides those guys clearly cheated."
Rick, who had stayed quiet the entire ti, finally spoke up. "A lot’s changed since you were asleep."
Axel looked at him. "Like what?"
Ares let out a short breath and crossed his arms. "For starters, you."
"?"
"You defeated an Apex-ranked pyrokinetic," Ares said plainly.
"You’re kind of a big deal now." Rick finished.
Ares smirked faintly. "Kind of? You’ve beco an even bigger celebrity around here."
***
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