Extra's Descent

They had a couple of drinks.

Brandon could tell that everyone was feeling tipsy.

On the other hand, he was pretty cool headed.

"Haha! Go on, Claire! Let Brandon hear your 'okay' voice!"

Reinhard seemed to be out of it. These might be his last days. Brandon wouldn't be surprised if he found him lifeless on the street.

"Fuck off, tone deaf."

Claire had her middle finger up.

"I'm sorry, My Queen."

Reinhard lowered his head like a loser.

He was really drunk. He drank the most after all.

Compared to them at least. About four shots.

Claire reached out for the microphone after inputting her song.

Then shortly after, she opened her mouth and started singing.

"Oh?"

Brandon was quite surprised. He thought Sarah and Cyrus were amazing, Claire was in a whole different league.

In fact, this entire scenario wasn't in his memories at all.

Who knew these guys actually enjoyed a hobby such as karaoke.

What's most surprising was Raven.

His development in this timeline was significantly different.

It's kind of funny. He seemed like a delinquent. However, that didn't seem to be the case. He was still the goody two shoes Raven he knew.

Clap–! Clap—!

They then applauded when Claire finished her song.

"Nice one, Claire."

"Still keeping your title as the Karaoke Queen."

"Eh, it was so–so."

Reinhard cut in with his arms crossed.

However, Claire just shook her head with a frown and sat back down.

"Don't be like that, Rein. But hey, if Claire is the Queen, does that mean I'm the Karaoke King?"

Raven chimed in.

"...."

"...."

"Uh, yeah, sure….."

The others shared the same reaction.

"Really?"

Raven seemed like he was about to cry out of happiness.

"My hard work really did pay off."

Raven clenched his fist in the air with a smile.

This guy….

Brandon picked it up the moment he realized the looks on their faces.

Was he that bad for the others to have such a strong reaction?

Poor guy.

For him to be last….

He couldn't be that bad, right?

Surely, Reinhard was way worse than him.

The next one.

Amy.

Amy stood up and reached out for the microphone.

Looking to the side, Raven stared intently at Amy with stars in his eyes.

Seems like he's Amy's number one fan.

Then, Amy started with her own melodic 'hum.'

"Woooh~!"

Raven had already started cheering.

They all gave him the side–eye without speaking.

Amy continued singing, sneaking glances at Raven.

It seemed as if the song was for him. Even the lyrics were related to love.

As soon as she finished, she took a shot–glass and gulped down the alcohol.

"Ahh…."

"Pour me one too, Amy."

Rachel instructed, reaching out for the microphone. It seems like it was her turn.

She was the last one as well. After this, it would be the duo who everyone had been trying to prevent from singing's turn.

"Here."

"Thanks."

Rachel drank her own shot before the song started. Then, she set down the glass and glanced at Brandon for a brief second.

Brandon noticed.

The entire time, Rachel had been sneaking glances at him.

However, there was nothing he could do. He had already gotten his point across. That their past couldn't go back to the way it used to. But they could still remain friends.

He already had Amelia in his heart. He would never do anything to hurt her. But that aside, even if he wasn't with Amelia, dating Rachel would make him feel guilty.

After all, he had already stolen Brandon Locke's life.

No, Jin had already ruined Brandon Locke's life, the moment the [Curse] affinity was passed onto him.

He couldn't go any further than that.

Then, Rachel started singing. She was definitely good. Her singing voice sounded a bit like Amy's.

The twin sisters were definitely good at singing.

Seems like the girls had the knack for this.

Brandon was still quite curious.

Just how bad were Reinhard and Raven?

Rachel finished singing, set the microphone down, and tried to grab another shot. However, she staggered, and Brandon grabbed her before she fell.

"Take it easy."

".....I'm not drunk."

Her face was full–on red. It was hard to discern at first since the room was quite dark. But now that she was quite close, Brandon could see it.

"I can go on."

"No, you're flushed."

"Why are you acting like you care now....?"

"...."

"...."

"...."

"...."

Those words that left Rachel's mouth had woken everyone up from a daze. They were tipsy. But they still had control over themselves, including Reinhard.

"Just let me—"

"Rachel, stop."

Amy too had joined in, pulling on Rachel.

"Sorry about this, Brandon. She usually doesn't drink this much."

"It's fine. It's my fault."

"No, don't say that. Haaa…. Rachel, let's step outside for a bit."

"Let go…. Come on, just one shot…. I won't ask for another."

"No, Rachel."

"Haaa…."

Rachel surrendered. Amy draped Rachel's arm around her shoulder and stepped outside.

It seemed like the mood turned sour in an instant.

"What's with you guys? Give me that."

Reinhard suddenly shifted the topic and grabbed the microphone.

"It's my turn…. Feast your eyes, Brandon!"

"Alright, Rein. Show me what you got."

"Hehe. I'm glad you said that."

Reinhard inputted his song. It was a song Brandon wasn't familiar with.

Some kind of song called…..

[Skibidi Toilet (TokTok Remix)]

The hell kind of song is that?

Brandon looked to the side.

Cyrus had already worn his headphones. While Sarah was offering a silent prayer. Claire on the other hand was busy fiddling with her phone. Most probably, talking to Amy.

After all, Brandon noticed their subtle nods with each other.

Despite the sour mood from earlier, Reinhard's initiative had changed the atmosphere.

Finally, Brandon's curiosity would finally be answered.

Just how bad is….

"Skibid Toilet! Skibidi~ Skibidi~"

Oh, no.

'Oh, fuck.'

It was even worse than he had imagined.

"Let me join you, Rein! This is a top three on my playlist!"

Raven abruptly stood up and neared Reinhard.

For a second, Brandon could see Sarah start tearing up. A crease seemed to form on Cyrus' temple. While Claire was still busy on her phone, as if she couldn't hear the chaos around her.

Brandon on the other hand….

'What the fuck am I hearing….?'

His eardrums were about to burst.

If he were to describe both Reinhard and Raven's voice, it sounded kind of like the screeching of the chalkboard.

Crack!

'No fucking way.'

He definitely saw it.

A crack had formed on the shot glass.

Was this some kind of magic?

But there was no mana emitting from Raven and Reinhard.

They seem to be even more powerful than Sarah's sound magic.

Or maybe either of them had awakened a [Sound] affinity.

"I'll check up on them."

Claire stood up and walked towards the door.

"Skibidi—Oh, Claire. Where are you going?"

Reinhard paused for a second.

"Keep singing. Please don't stop. My ears are in heaven right now."

"Will do~! Skibidi~ Skibidi~"

For what felt like an eternity, finally, the song finished.

"How was that, Brandon?"

Raven and Reinhard turned their heads and looked at Brandon. He could see the glimmer in their eyes. They were most definitely proud of what they had just done.

Brandon gave them two thumbs up.

"Haha. Yes!"

Reinhard smacked Raven's back and sat back down next to Brandon.

Finally, it was Raven's turn.

"Wait, Raven."

Brandon motioned with his hand for Raven to pause.

"What?"

"I need to take this call."

Yes, at that moment, Brandon's phone rang.

But even if Raven's singing was horrible, Brandon still wanted to hear it.

"Okay."

Raven paused the song, and Brandon stepped outside.

Brandon walked towards a corridor first. Then, he took the call.

Click—

—Boss.

It was Matthew.

"You guys finally got out?"

—Yes, the interrogation took a while. But thanks to your Sister's group, the Imperial Army accepted their testimony and let us off.

"That's good. And did you receive the money I sent?"

—Yes. Me and Sir Deus bought the building you told us to buy. Currently, me and Sir Ironaxe are staying here.

"Okay."

—There better be an explanation fer this, Lad! This is not what I signed up fer!

It was Ironaxe. It seemed like he took the phone off of Matthew's hands.

"Of course. This is all part of that plan, Ironaxe. I'll elaborate further once I get there."

—And when are ye coming?

"Tomorrow."

—Okay.

Beep.

The call ended there. Ironaxe ended the call for some reason.

Brrrt….

Then, Brandon's phone rang again.

He immediately picked up the call. Of course, he still had something to talk about with Matthew.

—Sorry about that, Boss.

"It's fine. Now tell me all about 'that'."

—Thanks to Sir Zed's gadget, we've managed to transport the items safely.

"Oh? Is Zed there…? I couldn't reach him the entire day."

—No, he's still being interrogated as we speak.

"Not even my Sister's testimony saved him from it?"

—Well, the Imperial Army seems to have a lot of questions for him.

"Figures."

Of course, despite the fact that Zed had clearly helped out with the operation, he was still an active member of the Syndicate.

The Imperial Army couldn't lose the chance to interrogate such a high profile individual.

"Call me if anything else happens. I'll try to get Zed out soon."

—Understood.

Beep.

Brandon couldn't help but grin. Besides Zed's current predicament, things were going according to plan.

He stepped outside the hall. But as soon as he arrived at the room's door, he paused.

Sob. Sob.

He could hear the sound of someone sobbing.

Along with the conversation, he began to eavesdrop.

It was Claire, Amy, and Rachel. They seemed to be comforting Rachel by the stairs.

"I don't know. I don't know. Things are just so different now."

"Still, Rachel. You can't hold it against him."

"I know that. But thinking about it still hurts. Hic."

Brandon knew he was one to blame. But regardless, it shouldn't be him to comfort Rachel.

Anyone would do, just not him. It was for the best.

He didn't want to give Rachel the wrong idea, and clearly, no one wanted that as well.

There was nothing he could do about it.

He stepped inside the room shortly after. Giving the girls the privacy they needed.

Privacy from him, at least.

"Yo, Brandon."

"Hey."

"Yo."

Reinhard, who had just taken another shot. And Raven, who was about to take his own shot, greeted him.

It seemed like Cyrus had changed seats as well, drinking with Raven and Reinhard.

Sarah, on the other hand, was singing.

"Thank god."

"How were they?"

Cyrus suddenly asked.

"Seems like it'll take quite a while."

"Oh."

Then, Brandon looked at Raven, who had just set the shot glass down.

"Can you wait until they get back?"

Raven stared at Brandon for a second before responding. It seemed like he understood what Brandon was trying to imply.

But if it was the right implication, only time would tell.

"Sure."