Papiya's Game

"I'm honored to hear that. You don't care about me? That would make it a mutual feeling. Why are you so afraid of me hurting Ono? You'd be willing to let all of your neighbors have their memories wiped while you get to stay so happy? That doesn't sound very friendly of you. Would a Patriarch really do that?" I asked her.

"Your psychological attack on me doesn't work. I'm not stupid, but I could see how you think everybody else is stupid. I'm not afraid of you hurting Ono, I'm warning you not to try. Leave us be in New Olympia and we'll leave you be." She said to me while continuing to eat her soup.

"We're far past not hurting Ono. I'll tell you confidently because you know and understand what he's done, that I'm planning on killing him. His old girlfriend, Soul, will have to come to terms with that as well. Just as you will." I told Papiya.

"I'm warning you, if you lay a finger on Ono, you will regret it. I'll rip you limb for limb in front of everybody you know and love." Papiya told me.

"You can try. Your threats are empty, so long as I've put my hand on you, I can kill you whenever I feel it's necessary. Do you know why all of the people around us tried to keep me away from you? It's because they know how dangerous I am." I lied to Papiya to intimidate her, yet she wasn't phased by it at all.

"I told you before, I'm not a kid. I understand why you think Ono needs to die. And, just so you know, a Patriarch wouldn't care about your death, nor the misfortunes of those around us. Patriarchs only care about keeping the world running to provide the influx of money, power, and pleasure." Papiya said, shoveling more soup into her mouth.

"I figured you people would be such trash as well. Seems like I'm running into that a lot lately." I commented, walking toward her door.

"And you'll continue to do so, so long as people are more powerful than you. I wonder if you even have the attack power to deal damage to Zeus, you know, with his mastery of the air element. I guess we'll find out, but I think the answer will be obvious while I'm scraping your remains off the floor." Papiya said, taking another bite.

"Papiya, I think you're underestimating people more than you should. I'll restore everybody's memory, and you'll see what happens when that mob attacks you after they find out you supported Zeus's decision to wipe their memories." I told her.

She laughed like a super villain while swallowing the last of her soup. Setting the spoon in the bowl and throwing the bowl to the side, she looked at me with a devious stare.

"Zeus takes the memories, who do you think restores them?" She asked me.

Like a deer in the headlights, I paused and looked at her with a confused gaze. I didn't even consider that... Papiya was the person who could fix all of this... but she wouldn't do it... I get it now.

"Gambling was illegal in my world at my age, but would you care to make a wager?" Papiya asked me. I turned to look at her in even more confusion. Her world?! She was reincarnated as well?!

"Let's say you do take out Ono and then I have to kill you, I'll make you a wager and keep you alive if you win. You survive my game, and I'll restore everybody's memory here, even including the memories in your head that have been wiped, as I can see as clear as daylight." Papiya said. She pointed at my head, so I assumed she could visualize them somehow. I couldn't refuse that offer... but did I care?

I don't care about these materialistic people. I was going to kill Zeus and Ono, then head to Hades Tower to control the Fire Element. After that, I would gather the rest and kill Joro. I don't have time for her damn game.

"I refuse," I told her.

"Oh, that's very nice of you. Unfortunately, I don't care. I'll find you, or your friends, and put you through my game. Unfortunately, I just ran people through it and I need a day or two to cool down the game, so I can't throw you in alone yet. Don't worry, if Ono kills you by then, you won't have to play!" Papiya said with a light smile.

"Don't count on it. If you're going to force me, I guess I can't refuse, but you should be careful. I'm pretty competitive, and I really hate you." I told her.

"Perfect. That's how I like them." Papiya said.

I slammed the door shut behind me and walked back to the confused crowd of people. They looked at me with a stupid look that I resented them all for. I hated these people... yet I would be saving their lives and who they are.

"I'll get your damn memories back. That'll be my payment to you. I'm heading back now. Any last bits of advice? I asked everybody in the crowd.

They erupted in disappointed comments as they didn't even write down their addresses for me to go and save their stuff, but I didn't care.

"I'll do my best to save your damn stuff, it's not a top priority for me right now." I told them. I tried to leave, but they grabbed onto my sleeves and attempted to stop me.

I shook them off and with a stare of disgust in their direction, I finally couldn't hold it in anymore and got extremely pissed at every single person standing around me.