World's Best Protagonist [BL]

[Jade’s POV]

’Jade, my love, I can’t wait to hear your voice.’

That sweet and loving voice of mother again. Why did it always replay in my head every time I was trapped in this dark abyss? It wasn’t exactly a good memory.

’Don’t waste your time with that child. He’s already three years old and he still doesn’t speak. It only means he’s defective.’

Tch. That voice, of all people, why did I have to hear it? How could a father call his child defective? Like I was some sort of low-quality product.

I used to look at him with dull, blank eyes like I was seeing something not worth my interest, while I was cradled in my mother’s embrace.

’Look at him, his head is empty! It’s better to have the servants raise him instead. I need a child with a sound mind, not someone who looks stupid and autistic! Leave that child alone already!’

Every time I looked at my father that way, he would snap, as though the very sight of my empty eyes were abominable to him. He would drag my mother away, sobbing, unable to do anything for her son, and forced her to bear another child.

But alas, the sorrowful and regretful mother of mine could not bear any more children; thus, she was deemed useless, just like her only child. Nevertheless, the father did not kick her, because the son finally uttered his first sentence, eloquently, as though he had been speaking for a very long time already.

’Mother. Do you regret marrying that scumbag?’

I chuckled. Mother gaped at me back then. Even the servants and tattooed gangsters, that were present gawked at me in disbelief. I ignored them and was just focused on my mother. But she just smiled at me, afraid to let father’s loyal dogs hear her answer.

What did I say next after that?

’Do you want me to ***** him?’

I forgot what exactly it was, but everyone looked at me with weird expressions on their faces. Even my mother. I never paid attention to it. I was just a child who didn’t want my mother to keep sobbing at night and hide her bruises every time she took a bath with me.

After that scene, my father began disciplining me. The kind of discipline worse than a soldier does. I suffered my entire childhood, but what kept me sane, was probably because the screws in my head were already loose.

I was a boy that lacked emotions. I never knew what pain was. I didn’t care if my father beat someone to death in front of ten-year-old me. I wasn’t scared when he hung me on a crane and drowned me in the sea for a whole day.

I thought I was pretty invincible. No one could beat someone who had nothing to lose.

But then, it rained. On my face. It was the first time I felt sorrow, the first time my chest felt heavy and suffocated.

It was the day I held my mother in my arms, swimming in her own blood, after getting stabbed by my father’s debtor.

For the first time, I learned how tears tasted. It was salty. Or was it my snot? I didn’t know. What I only knew back then, was I wanted to erase everything and restart from the very beginning.

But then, her pale fingers touched my cheek and called my name again. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

’Jade. You are my son, no matter what. I may not know who you are, but you came from me. You’re just like me. Don’t forget that.’

I’m just like her. Even if none of her features were seen in me, and all were my father’s, she claimed that I was just like her. I never understood her meaning, but deep inside me, I felt this unexplainable urge to be normal.

Being normal requires knowledge and references, so I started reading anything I could learn from. Living normal means not having a gangster father, so I ran away.

Mother, am I doing a good job imitating you?

I probably won’t get an answer even if I meet her again. I just...wanted to hear her call my name once more, because...

I don’t really know. I felt like I’d been slipping away from somewhere.

I just need anyone to call me. Even if it’s not Mother—

"Jade!"

I jolted awake. My eyes cleared, blinked, then unfocused. My body was shivering from an unknown heat I’m not sure came from where. I just felt this hot sensation cursing through my veins, wanting to be released.

I took a few deep breaths and calmed myself. Then, I focused on the current situation once more, ignoring my feverish body.

I remembered I heard Allen’s voice from the distance, but he was nowhere in sight. Where is he?

This round, green shield that protects me is his ability, which means I succeeded in absorbing his dark energy and stopping his total Nightmare. Judging from the effectiveness of the shield, Allen probably recovered most of his energy.

I sighed in relief. He’s one of the most important keys to defeating the boss monster. I stood upright after the surface quake again. I should find them. Seeing that I was kept inside this cave-like space, they must have been fighting with the boss monster already.

I may not be of help, but I want to watch.

Some rubbles from the building over my head fell on the surface’s shield and exploded into pieces, turning every particle into ashes and getting blown by the wind. I gaped in amazement.

A large part of the building fell on it again, and it ended the same way. Not only is Allen’s shield made for defense, but for offense as well. This is amazing!

Hopping out of this place, I headed in the direction where loud noises were approaching. Looking up, my jaw fell at the gigantic monster running towards me. I shuddered, the hairs at the back of my neck stood.

The monster glowed like it was followed by friendly fireflies, but upon closer look, those were just part of his body structure. Not far from it, I found Claude and the rest chasing it. They all looked desperate like they were scared of something.