Epic Of Caterpillar

Chapter 2799 - 2800: Emotional Manipulation

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Everyone was quite curious about Hiromiʼs ”big brother”—someone I knew very well.

”Well, we havenʼt spent as much time together as I wouldʼve liked, but... we get along just barely fine,” Hiromi sighed.

”Just barely fine?!” Erika asked. ”Come on, tell me more about your big brother...”

”Y-You said he was a Devil?” I asked, still trying to process everything. ”What kind of Devil? Wait... do Devils actually exist in this world?”

”Like you, theyʼre distant descendants of people who once mingled with demons,” Hiromi explained. ”Hell has always had a connection to our world—more so in the past than now. Demons would sometimes emerge here, taking over a mortalʼs body and using it as an avatar to... well, seduce an unsuspecting woman, too enchanted by their magic to realize what they truly were. By the time they vanished, it was already too late. Thatʼs how many humans with Devil or Demon bloodlines came to be.”

”Whatʼs the difference between Demons and Devils? Honestly, Iʼve never fought either,” Erika said. ”I donʼt think they even show up in Japan. Weʼve got Yokai everywhere. Maybe there are so many that other threats avoid the country altogether.”

”Yeah, my mom told me something like that. Japanʼs a small country, but every forest and mountain is filled with spiritual veins that demons and devils would love to claim. But since the land is already teeming with Yokai, Oni, and Kami, itʼs hard for outsiders to gain anything without sparking a massive conflict with the factions living there,” Hiromi said with a smirk. ”Thatʼs why mountains are so precious here. A single mountain in Japan could contain dozens of Spiritual and Demonic Domains—and even Divine Realms, if Kami reside there.”

Oh, so thatʼs why we want Mount Takao so badly. Beyond the resources and spiritual veins, there are Domains and Pocket Realms to conquer... and supernatural beings to recruit—willingly or not.

”Okay, back on topic... tell me about your brother!” Erika said. ”Also, what is he exactly?”

”My big brother is the last member of an ancient Devil-Human clan. They have power over objects they create and imbue. He can even transform into weapons or something like that... and he seems to have inherited some Incubus traits,” Hiromi replied. ”If you ever meet him, be careful. His charm doesnʼt work on Vampires, but itʼs said to have devil-like properties. He can control people with it.”

Whoa. So they adapted his Cosmic Ego skills into some kind of bloodline power over weapons and magical items? Thatʼs actually pretty cool.

And heʼs an Incubus? So thatʼs how theyʼre going to justify his looks.

”Thatʼs so interesting!” I said. ”Iʼd love to meet your big brother, Harumi. Iʼve always enjoyed romance novels with devil princes or demon kings. I used to dream of meeting one for real. I even dabbled in the occult for a while... though I never got too deep into it.”

”Huh?” Harumi narrowed her eyes at me, raising an eyebrow. ”Why would I ever let you into my territory? Youʼre a complete stranger.”

”A-Am I? Well... I suppose youʼre not wrong,” I admitted with a nod.

”Come on, Harumi, whatʼs wrong with Kireina coming along?” Frank asked. ”Sheʼs basically the same as me if you think about it. And you were way nicer to me than you are to her...”

”T-Thatʼs because the circumstances were different,” Harumi said. ”It also took us a while to get along, Frank. I wasnʼt as trusting back then.”

”Yeah, yeah, I donʼt like her!” Erika snapped. ”She gives me bad vibes...”

”Ugh... I guess I shouldnʼt have gotten involved with you all,” I muttered, looking down as my hands trembled. ”Iʼm sorry. Iʼve been tormented by this bloodline for so long... I awakened strange powers I was terrified of. I thought that... because you were like me, youʼd understand. But I guess I was foolish. Iʼm sorry.”

I turned and walked away, tears welling in my eyes, leaving everyone stunned.

”H-Harumi, Erika! Why are you being so mean to her?! Poor Kireina was crying! She was crying! You made the most popular girl cry!” Matsuo shouted behind me. ”Wait, Kireina!”

”Kireina, please wait!” Frank called out, running after me. ”Iʼm sorry they were so rude. I swear theyʼre good people...”

”Itʼs fine, Frank. Maybe we just werenʼt meant to be friends,” I said softly, eyes downcast. ”I know theyʼre good deep down. I wish you all the best. I was just... stupid to think I could make more friends.”

The rest of the class had noticed the commotion. Concerned, several students approached me, offering comfort and handkerchiefs.

”You guys are the worst! Why would you treat Kireina so badly?”

”You should feel lucky she even tried to be friends with you!”

”What the hell is wrong with those girls, Frank?”

”Donʼt worry, Kireina. If you want more friends, Iʼll be your friend!”

”Me too! Me too!”

”Harumi and Erika have always been troublemakers... I donʼt know how Matsuo and Frank even put up with them.”

Harumi and Erika suddenly felt cornered, gasping as they noticed the disapproving stares around them. Their popularity plummeted in an instant.

”A-Ah... damn it,” Harumi muttered, biting her lip. ”Sheʼs making me feel guilty...”

”Ugh, why did she have to cry?!” Erika groaned. ”Now everyoneʼs staring at us! Okay, okay—Iʼm sorry! I didnʼt mean it like that... geez.”

”R-Really?” I asked, stepping forward slowly, leaving the others behind. ”Iʼm sorry if I seemed suspicious to you. I have a hard time... connecting with people. I spent my whole life shut inside my house.”

”Hm... I mean, thereʼs nothing wrong with what you did,” Harumi said, rolling her eyes. ”And... Iʼm the same. Sorry, Kireina. I went too far.”

”Yeah... okay, fine. Sorry,” Erika sighed. ”We good?”

”Itʼs fine. I wasnʼt blaming you,” I said with a small smile, wiping my tears. ”Um, how about we go to karaoke to make up for it? I can invite you. You donʼt have to pay for anything.”

”Aww, Kireinaʼs even trying to make peace!”

”Whoa, you girls are so lucky!”

”You donʼt deserve her kindness!”

”I heard sheʼs filthy rich. Imagine having her as your friend...”

Under the pressure of the crowd, Harumi and Erika sighed and reluctantly nodded.

”Sounds good. I mean, if youʼre inviting, why not?” Erika said with a smile. ”Just a heads-up—I eat a lot.”

”I was planning to invite everyone anyway,” Frank added. ”Weʼve got something to celebrate from the other day... and I wanted to share some news too. So yeah, letʼs do it!”

”Hell yeah! Karaoke with this cutie!” Matsuo cheered. ”Ahem—I mean, with Kireina-sama! Haha...” He quickly corrected himself under the jealous glares of the other boys.

”Thank you so much,” I said with a gentle smile. ”Oh, and I brought a bunch of snacks for my friends, but thereʼs still plenty left. Would you like some?”

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