CHAP 2: Cancelled Edition

The last volume was mostly about the final fight against the demon king. However, the setting is so well described that it kept me on edge.

'Terrifying monsters descended from the dark sky that seems to spiral like a portal while the ground shook and a castle-like eerie shadow rose from the cracks.'

'The knights are falling one by one, though the monsters are also defeated, the spirits of the warriors was going down the drain.'

I read each of the sentence with anticipation. The packed rice I heated in the microwave remained untouched. I kept on reading for hours until my hunger got to me. I left the book and went to take the packed rice. It's a set with some karaage (fried chicken). As I walked to the short table next to my bed, I noticed the untouched package from before.

"Oh, I've forgotten about it!"

I set aside my lunch and unwrapped the package. In there, there was a stack of paper with the top of it saying 'Blade of the Unwanted: 0 (The cancelled edition)'.

"Huh? What the hell this is doing here? How did they even got my address?"

I then placed it under the bed after checking for any suspicious thing in the box, but there's really just the printed papers. It's around 1580 sheets.

"That's very long for a cancelled version…." I pondered.

Due to my grumbling stomach, I had my lunch, though It's already 5.30 pm.

*Guess this is my dinner, too.* I ate it until clean.

After putting away the trash, I sat by my table with the novel.

*A few more chaps left.* I opened the book and accidentally went to the epilogue page.

'I'd like to thank my dear readers that had supported me all the way until now.'

The first page of the epilogue only contains the appreciation of the author to the readers and the others. However, the next page caught my eye.

'I had planned to make some side stories. However, I myself doesn't know when I will be releasing it…

…..This story actually started differently but I had decided to publish this version instead.'

It rang a bell in my head. 'Another version' I glanced at the box and took it out. Curiosity got to me as I started to read the pages one by one.

"Hm? There's another character here."

In the other version, there's another character called Catherine. The one that I read didn't have her. I continued to flip through the first few chapters. As the one published, the earlier chapters are about his childhood. The only difference is that in this one, the protagonist is not alone.

"Ho...this one isn't so bad. Why did it got cancelled?"

I was almost lost in my own thoughts before suddenly, my stomach rumbled uncontrollably.

*GRUUUUUUKKK!*

"Ugh...shit!' I winced and rushed to the bathroom quickly.

Even after half an hour, I still got a tremendous stomach ache. Everything was blurry as I struggled to reach the sink. Everything except my image on the mirror.

"...Huh??"

I squinted at my reflection on the mirror, which at the moment is repaired and well when finally, the pain in my stomach grew to an unbearable state.

*THUD—*

My vision blackened out. I can't feel my body as darkness surrounded me. As if swallowed by nothingness, all my senses failed me.

*PIIIIIINGGGGG!*

*What's happening? Did I died from a mere stomach ache? Is it because I didn't took care of my hygiene well? At least let me visit my parents first, damnit!*

.

.

.

After what felt like forever, I heard a faint voice flitted in and out of my mind…perhaps my ears?

"....rine."

*….What?*

"Catherine!!" A voice yelled.

I gasped and my eyes shot opened.

"HUH??"