Demon hunter's Cooking Manual

The Jason before her had a smile blooming across his face.

One filled with malice.

Despite bearing Jason's likeness, such a spiteful grin made it easy to tell the two apart.

"Aiona!"

Evelyn regained her footing and bellowed furiously at the 'Jason' before her.

Then, instinctively, she wanted to throw a punch.

But she forcefully held back.

Because this was... Jason.

Jason, 'replaced' by Aiona!

If she harmed this 'Jason,' then the Jason who was lost in thought behind her would be hurt as well!

Evelyn, who had an inexplicable connection with Aiona, almost instantly knew everything the moment she saw the 'Jason' before her.

No deception.

No lies.

No cover-ups.

Their relationship was doomed to be this 'transparent.'

She despised it.

And only at times like these did she envy the foolish Giselle.

Because Giselle didn't have to face any of this.

And didn't even know about it.

This made Evelyn even angrier.

Her eyes glared, seething with rage at 'Jason.'

In contrast, 'Jason.'

The malice in his smile grew even thicker.

He gently slapped his own cheek.

"Come on, hit me."

Unlike Jason's deep, resonant voice, this 'Jason's' voice was higher and had a bit of a sharp edge.

Of course, it was filled with triumph.

"Do you know how long I've been waiting for this moment?"

"Five years!"

"Five whole years!"

"Do you know what I went through these five years?"

'Jason' loudly interrogated Evelyn and then started stepping toward her.

When he got in front of Evelyn, 'Jason' looked down at her condescendingly.

He said word for word:

"Without eating or drinking, without sleep or rest, playing the nanny for you all!"

"When eliminating potential dangers, I even had to conceal my own existence!"

"And make all kinds of plausible explanations!"

"What for?"

"Isn't it all for this moment?"

"A perfect, flawless 'substitute'!"

'Jason' said, with the malice in his smile reaching a pinnacle.

He raised his right hand.

Snap!

A sharp snap of his fingers.

With her head held high, steadfastly locking eyes with 'Jason,' Evelyn suddenly started to stagger.

New memories emerged in her mind.

Those memories 'Aiona' had hidden.

Those she overlooked, what she took for granted.

Five years!

Not since childhood!

Just five years!

She only had five years of memories.

'Aiona' had only existed for five years.

Yet Giselle had a complete nineteen years of memories!

Then...

Blaze!

A sky full of flames!

As if guessing something, Evelyn's face instantly turned pale, and she no longer had her previous assertiveness, starting to back away repeatedly.

And with every step Evelyn took back, 'Jason' moved a step forward.

One recedes, one advances.

Evelyn's breath grew weaker, while 'Jason's' presence grew stronger.

The roles of offense and defense switched in this moment.

Bang!

'Jason' punched Evelyn in the abdomen.

Evelyn was sent flying backward.

She struggled to get up, but her strength was rapidly draining, making it impossible for her.

"Do you really think you are extraordinarily talented?"

"Your strength comes from me!"

"From me, understand?"

"Now!"

"I will take back all that strength!"

"I will once again rise to the pinnacle of this world!"

'Jason' roared furiously, and an invisible wind began to swirl around him. The shattered ground cracked open again, and chunks of the large asphalt surface began to float upwards. Clouds gathered under the night sky, and streaks of electricity, like silver snakes, weaved through the clouds before striking straight down.

Boom!

Thunder fell from the sky!

The earth shattered again in the thunderclap.

The entire street turned into nothingness.

That towering figure then slowly levitated into the air.

Like a deity, he looked down upon the mortal world.

"Feel the pain!"

"The pain I've endured!"

"You will taste it all!"

The hovering 'Jason' looked down at the weakened Evelyn.

At this moment, Evelyn's breath was even fainter.

Even sitting up required her to clench her teeth and muster all her strength.

This was something the indomitable Evelyn could not accept.

But what she found even more unacceptable was the flood of new information in her mind.

False!

Everything was false!

She was false!

Aiona was false!

This world was... false!

Each piece of information was like a lethal thrust, turning her once jubilant and burning heart cold and lifeless.

Evelyn's gaze dimmed.

Having lost that all-encompassing power, she wasn't afraid.

But... the truth left her at a loss.

And at that moment, heavy footsteps sounded from behind her.

The pondering 'Jason' came back to his senses.

He walked over.

"Jason, don't come any closer!"

Evelyn shouted.

"Shut up."

"A nonentity feeling 'love', how ridiculous."

"But..."

"I enjoy witnessing this scene."

"It makes me feel real."

"It allows me to feel that I'm alive!"

"So, Jason, you should thank me."

"Thank me for giving you the chance to know the 'real world'!"

The 'Jason' in the air said this and burst into laughter.

That laughter twisted like the screech of a night owl.

And the Jason standing on the ground simply watched indifferently.

Without a hint of emotion.

And not the slightest surprise.

"Aren't you curious?"

"About everything before your eyes."

The 'Jason' in the air halted his laughter and looked at Jason with confusion.
Your next read awaits at empire

"When another 'self' has appeared, what else is there to be surprised about?"