The Skill Imitator

"Remember, this is for your sister," Mom told me the night after I came home from school. 

"I haven't got my salary, Mom. I can't buy some class b costumes," I said after kicking off my shoes and dropping my tired body on my bed. 

"You don't have to buy anything, Troy. I'll help you find one. Your sister will be glad to see you with her favorite cartoon cosplay," Mom said, smiling at me. "Alright, change your clothes. Dinner at seven," she added before exiting my room. 

My sister has a terminal illness. Doctors said her days were numbered; that's why my parents and I do everything just to make Crissy's life full of happiness. 

So that's why Mom and I created low-budget costumes. It wasn't that much, but we made sure Crissy would enjoy the little show I would present. 

I walked down the stairs and put my hand on my forehead while menacingly looking at Crissy, who was sitting and being fed by Dad. 

"I am the Demon Lord Troy Hercules! I have come with the grand quest of conquest! Filthy humans, bow down before me!" I raised my hand and saw Crissy's wide smile. 

The next thing I heard was her claps, looking at me with enthusiasm and bright eyes. 

"You look so cool, big brother!" Crissy said. 

Crissy forced herself to stand up and walk towards me despite the oxygen connected to her nose. 

Crissy walked towards me and grabbed my arms. 

"Picture," she said with heavy breathing. 

I looked at Mom, standing in the kitchen aisle, smiling at us, but tears formed in her eyes. 

Dad and Mom quickly ran to join us while Mom held her phone to take a group picture. Crissy has requested that all family pictures that we have taken, she wanted it to be in her coffin. She wanted to bury it with her. 

"Smile," Mom said before clicking the camera.

I raised my peace sign while looking at the camera.

"Ah, I forgot something." Mom went upstairs, leaving us to take some more pictures.

 Mom came back, holding something, and put it in my head. A headband with a brown sheep-like horn. 

"There you go, you are now a full-fledged demon lord, Lord Troy," she said with a big smile on her face and sadness in her eyes. 

I scratched my head. "Thanks, mom."

"Everyone, smile!" Irina announced before clicking the button on Mom's phone. 

After a few picture takings, someone knocked on our door. I walked towards it and opened the door.

"We have to go, T. Baron has been waiting- what the hell are you wearing? Is that your costume?" Dylan said but did not continue what he was about to tell when he saw my costume. 

"Na. Mom and I created this. Crissy's request," I said as I took the costume off. 

Both Dylan and Bob smiled at me. They knew Crissy's situation, so they understood me. 

"I've got some spare in my house; why didn't you ask me?" Bob said. 

"I was busy at school and work," I replied. 

Dylan wore a mage costume with a brown mage robe and a wooden staff.

On the other hand, Bob wore a rogue costume, complete with a black face mask, cape, and daggers dangling on his waist.

"How's Crissy?" Bob asked. 

"She's still fighting," I replied, opening the door wider and letting them enter.

"You are really prepared for this cosplay con, huh? Who are you cosplaying this time? A demon lord?" Edward asked while checking out my costume.

"Yes, a powerful one. Wait here. I'm going upstairs to change!"

Honestly, I didn't cosplay as anyone this time, and I just decided to choose the Demon King costume since it was the only one available in Sir Baron's storage room. My friends and I have been working part-time in his cosplay cafe since Halloween. 

I immediately took my clothes off and put on the costume that Bob had brought since I had kind of forgotten it the day after my shift. 

"Mom! I'm going off to work!" 

"Okay, sweety! Be careful. Come home after work!"

Dylan took his father's car, and we arrived at the cafe right before our shift. We could already see many people at the entrance with their costumes.

The sun was setting down, and more cosplayers arrived. Some were cosplaying different anime characters, and most of the characters were familiar to me. Some chose to wear a scary outfit. Sir Baron will throw a grand prize in the raffle draw that will happen at midnight.

As the cafe opened up, my friends and I became busy serving customers. 

"Sometimes, I get envious of you, Casimir, by just seeing your parents supporting your unusual hobby," Bob said when we finally had a break. 

"I'm just lucky, I guess? It just happened that both mom and dad are very supportive," I replied as I sipped into my cola. 

"Fifteen minutes break is over, boys. Time to work again," Anthony, the manager, said as he opened the staff room. 

Bob and I groaned. It will be a long night for us. 

While serving, some strangers came and took a picture of me.

"Your costume looks lit! Who are you cosplaying to?"

"Demon lord."

"Cool! Those horns completed your cosplay," the girl said.

"Horn?" I furrowed. 

"Yes. It's on your head."

And then I remember the headband that my mom let me wear. 

"Yeah, I forgot I was wearing one," I replied. 

"That completed your cosplay. Troy. You can't be a demon lord without a horn," the girl said, who surprisingly knew me. 

I was surprised.

"You know me?" 

"Yup," she said. "We're actually classmates in the arts. I'm sitting behind you."

"Oh!" I said, scratching my head. 

The two other females giggled at us. 

"She's actually had a crush on you, Troy," one of the girls said. 

"Rose!" the girl said, blushing, giving the girl name Rose a warning look, but she just laughed. 

"Troy! Table two, please!" Anthony called my attention. 

"Coming!" I replied and apologized to the girls before going back to the counter. 

I decided to have a bathroom break real quick to relieve myself. Upon entering, there was no person inside besides me, and all the stalls were empty, which was odd. The cafe was full of people, and it was just odd that no one used the bathroom.

After taking a pee, I walked towards the huge mirror and checked the horns on my head. I smiled when I remembered the girl and reminded myself to talk to her tomorrow. 

"To bring chaos to our foolish adversaries."

What's that?

Did I hear someone talk?

That's the voice of a man.

"Hello?"

I checked the stalls one more time, but there was no one.

"Unleash your fury and bring relentless devastation in this world."

There were two of them talking now.

It sounds like very bad news.

I walked out of the comfort room, but something immediately stopped me from doing so.

A red-light circle appeared on the floor around me.

The hell is this?

I tried to escape the red light, but something was stopping me from getting out, like an invisible barrier.

I tried to kick it, but it had no effect.

"Come forth and serve under us, your new masters!" There were more of the voices now!

"The fuck?"

The red light turned white and covered the entire place with a blinding light.

The light was so bright that I had to cover my eyes, or I would probably turn blind.

What the hell is happening?

After a few seconds...

"It worked!"

"We actually managed to summon one!"

The blinding light finally disappeared. I slowly opened my eyes, and what greeted me was a dark room with only the small lamps on the wall as the main light source.

What caught my eye were people standing a few meters in front of me who were currently in the middle of the room wearing black cloaks.

All of them were looking at me with great smiles on their faces.

Confirmed. Bestowing one of the Highest Order skills successful!

What is that voice?

The hell is happening?