Chapter 176 - Extra Chapter: Christmas Special (kinda)
Chapter 176 – Extra Chapter: Christmas Special (kinda)
Inside the realm of Ren’s soul, the numerous incarnations were having a discussion. On the outside, using Ren’s perspective they saw some people exchanging gifts.
“Why are they doing that?” One of the incarnations asked.
“Maybe they have the same birthday?” Another incarnation answered.
“No, if I remember correctly they’re having some sort of celebration. I think it’s a festival of sorts to honor one of the Ancient Gods of that world.” Another incarnation joined in and gave his opinion.
“You know what, this reminds me of a thing we did back in my old world. It’s been so long but I think we did it to celebrate Christmas.” Yet another incarnation joined in the conversation.
“Christmas?”
“It’s was an event to celebrate a certain birthday of a child of God. But later on, most people forgot the true meaning of the day, and only think of it as a day to receive gifts.”
“A child of God, was he strong?”
“I wasn’t a part of that religion, but if I remember correctly that child of God wasn’t one who fought. He was a person that preached peace and love for all mankind.”
“Wait a minute, I think you and I were from the same world. But I remember that celebration differently. If I remember correctly there was this jolly fat old man that enters your home at night to deliver presents to good children. He goes around the world in one night to do those deliveries. As for naughty children, I think they get coal instead of presents.”
“Then was that person strong? Surely someone that can deliver presents all around the world in one night must be using some sort of spell.”
“I’m not sure about his battle capabilities, but I’m sure an old man like him who delivers presents isn’t really a person we would want to fight.”
The first person who talked about Christmas once again spoke to the group.
“Wait a minute, I also remember another character in that story. I think he was called Krampus. If I remember correctly he was half-goat, half-demon that punishes the naughty children. Also before you ask I’m guessing he is kinda powerful… I’m not really sure since I only heard of him punishing naughty children and never a.d.u.l.ts.”
“What is this? This topic is getting boring, you guys suddenly said the names of some random people that sound like they could be strong but in the end, they turn out to be nothing more than weaklings.”
“We never said they were weaklings, we just said that they aren’t interested in fighting. But if it’s someone worth fighting during that season. Then I guess Jack Frost would fit the bill. He was the personification of frost, ice, snow, sleet, winter, and freezing cold.”
“Now that’s what I’m talking about! Come on then recreate him here. I want to fight him!” The moment the other incarnations heard the word fight they started to gather around that one incarnation that spoke.
After explaining what happened the other incarnations got excited as well. They have been inside this soul realm for a very long time, some of them have been here for trillions of years.
The only entertainment they had was watching the current incarnation’s adventures. Aside from that, they could only fight each other every now and then. But by now they have fought each other so much that they knew each move of most incarnations, meaning the fights with themselves were boring.
The only one left that they wanted to fight inside the realm of their soul was the first incarnation. Unfortunately, the one they call the original doesn’t show himself except for times when they were about to face the ORIGIN.
Now that they know one of them has a memory of a being that wasn’t the ORIGIN but was strong enough to make them fight for real, the incarnations felt excited.
“I haven’t really fought him, and I don’t really know much about him to recreate him perfectly. But he was a final boss in a game I played once… I guess I can recreate that version of him.”
The one who spoke then imagined the version of Jack Frost he remembered. Then in the middle of the crowd, a man wearing a fur coat covered in permanent frost appeared.
“W-” Jack Frost was about to say the same line as he did in the game, but before he could say a single word one of the incarnations jumped on him.
“No fair! I”m next after you.” Seeing that someone already took the first hit, the other incarnations started to line up.
…
While the other incarnations were having fun with their new opponent, the incarnation that summoned said opponent sat someplace far away.
He looked at his brethren having the time of their lives beating a final boss monster from a game. He remembered when he played that game in his house. In there, his father would be reading a book, his mother would be cooking, while his little sister bothered him as he was playing.
It has been a few hundred thousand years since he last saw them. Around this time of year, his whole family would have been enjoying putting up lights and playing some party games.
‘Why am I remembering this now?’ This particular incarnation was called Noel and he lived in a world called earth. One day he was summoned to a different world.
In that world, he was summoned as a sacrifice to a devil. After some twist and turns Noel was able to fool his captors and in turn, kill them. Once he was able to escape he found out that the world he was transported to was unlike the animes he watched about being summoned into another world.
It was hell at the beginning of his journey, but he was able to adapt and strengthen himself. The pain and sorrow he experienced on his journey to return home was something he could never forget. But the most heart-wrenching part of his journey was the end.
When he was finally able to return home and reunite with his family after three long years. He thought his journey had ended but the devil that was supposed to be summoned by sacrificing him, was somehow summoned in another way and it followed him to his world.
Noel was quick to act if he didn’t close the tunnel he created to the other world the devil would be able to fully cross over to his world and no weapon on earth could kill such a being.
He wasn’t able to use magic in his world since the mana on earth was scarce. The power he needed to close the gate was enormous. So Noel without hesitation crossed back to the other world and from there closed the tunnel he created.
While closing the tunnel he was assaulted numerous times by the devil and his minions, but Noel was able to withstand all that and closed the tunnel. After he was able to close the tunnel he faced the devil.
“Oh foolish mortal, why suffer such torment? Do you love your world so much that you are willing to sacrifice yourself?”
Hearing what the devil said Noel couldn’t help but smile the same vicious smile all the incarnations had and spoke his final words.
“I don’t care about saving the world or any such heroic sh*t like that. I already knew I wasn’t the hero type when my delusion of being summoned to fantastical world turns out to be nothing but BS. All I care about is my family on the other side of that tunnel. It’s just a bonus that I get to save the world as well.”
The devil looked at Noel and was surprised to hear the words that came out of his mouth. The devil was expecting a hero to be the one to face him, but the boy in front of him was something else. He was selfish, crude, and his hands were filled to the brim by the blood of others. He was the farthest thing there was to the term hero, but the devil knew that this boy was actually the most suited to the title.
Without any more words, the two clashed resulting in both of them perishing.
…
Noel who remembered his final moments had only one regret he wasn’t able to say goodbye to his family for a second time.
Noel closed his eyes as tears fell from his cheeks, as he was feeling a bit depressed he heard a familiar voice.
“Big bro, why are you crying?” Noel opened his eyes in shock as he looked at the people standing in front of him. There they were his family, right in front of him. His little sister, his mother, his father, they were all there.
Noel thought that maybe he unconsciously created them using the power of his soul. Meaning they were nothing more than puppets, they weren’t his real family.
Still, Noel felt like it was alright even if they were fake. Especially since he was feeling a bit sh*tty right now. He knew that even if he said goodbye to these fake family members he won’t have his regrets magically disappear, but still, he might feel better for the next thousand years.
Noel then hugged his family and started to cry as he hugged them even tighter.
“What’s this? Is my son actually crying?” Noel’s mother spoke as he wiped away Noel’s tears.
“I don’t really understand what’s going on here, but no matter what it is you can tell us anything.” Noel’s father patted his head.
“My Big bro isn’t a crybaby!” Noel’s little sister clung to him tightly.
“So son, tell us what is it you want to say?” Seeing his father’s calm face and hearing what each of his family members said made Noel feel various emotions.
He wasn’t sure how he was able to replicate them so thoroughly that they were even saying words he wasn’t sure they would say in this situation… But that was enough for Noel.
“I just wanted to say… Thanks, thank you for everything… And Goodbye… I love you all.”
When Noel said those words his family smiled back at him and disappeared. He then heard the other incarnations shouting.
“What the hell?! Why is there coal in my pocket?!” Almost every other incarnation had coal placed in their pockets.
While Noel was confused about what was happening he noticed a note was inside his own pocket. He took it out and started reading it.
“Dear Noel,
I know it’s a bit late since it took a while to locate your soul from the vast dimensions. But I hope you enjoyed my gift for you. Merry Christmas to you.
From Santa” 𝐛𝗲𝗱𝐧𝗼𝐯𝗲𝗹．𝐧𝐞𝘁
After rereading the letter a couple of times and seeing the other incarnations screaming about coal, Noel couldn’t help but laugh as tears rolled down his face once more.
“MERRY CHRISTMAS INDEED!”