Currently, Baskara was sitting in his dilapidated shack, sewing his younger brother's torn clothes using kite string he had found earlier this morning in a neighbor's yard. Every now and then, he glanced at Cruel, who was busy systematically detaching the heads of tiny ants.
Three days had passed, and Baskara's supply of instant noodles—his previous mission reward—had officially run out.
"System, Cruel is getting skinnier. I don't want him to catch typhus or suffer from malnutrition before he even becomes a Demon King," Kara whispered to the System. He had truly started to see Cruel as his own brother. After all, in his past life, he had always wanted a younger sibling since he was the youngest in his family.
[Mission Detected!: Little Demon's Calcium. Requirement: Obtain 'Happy Cow' brand formula milk from Mr. Miser's Shop! Price: 50 Silver Coins.]
"Fifty silver?! Damn! If I sold my kidney on the black market here, it would only be worth 10 silver because I've eaten too many instant noodles! Is there a free way?"
[There is! Use the 'Compassionate Aura' skill (Discount Version). Requirement: You must stand in front of the shop and woo a utility pole while crying for 15 minutes to attract customers' attention.]
"Woo a utility pole?! System, I transmigrated here to be a brother, not a mental hospital patient! Damn it!" Baskara fumed. Three days ago, he had already embarrassed himself by busking for a meal. Now he was being told to cosplay as electrical wiring? Where was he supposed to put his dignity?
The System stared blankly at Baskara, but a second later, it smirked mischievously. Who knows what this low-budget System was thinking. It felt broken—broken like the future we once planned together. (Just kidding, peace! ✖﹏✖)
[Penalty Countdown initiated... If failed: Your moaning sounds will be broadcasted through the village hall speaker for 1 hour, and Level 2 'Deadly Brat' mode will be activated... specifically, eye gouging.]
And at the doorway, Cruel was already standing with a fork in his right hand. No one knew how long the kid had been there.
"Oh my god..."
"Damn this system..."
[Penalty countdown... 5... 4... 3... 2...]
Kara took a deep, resigned breath.
"Fine, fine. For the sake of Cruel's bone growth..."
Kara walked toward Cruel at the doorway, who was staring at him intensely.
"Hey, little bro... I'm going out for a bit. Uh... don't burn the shack down, okay? I mean, just stay home. If this shack burns or collapses, where are we going to sleep? Do you want to sleep on the street?"
Baskara's legs were trembling like jelly as he spoke. How could they not? His brother's gaze looked like someone possessed by a demon. Cruel stared blankly and gave a slow nod.
"Good boy. I'm off then."
In front of Mr. Miser's shop, which was crowded with customers, Baskara stood and hugged a mossy wooden utility pole. His eyes were watery, and his face was beet red. Argh! He wanted to cry and run away!
After mentally preparing himself, Baskara began his illogical drama. To hell with what people thought; his brother's growth was more important. He suddenly shouted dramatically.
"Oh, Utility Pole! Why are you so upright? Why do you never tire of supporting these heavy wires? Our stories are the same! Look at me, carrying the trashy and miserable burden of my life! I truly want you to accompany me so that this load we carry becomes lighter and we can pass through it together forever! Oh, Utility Pole... please answer my confession! Don't just stand there in silence! Look at me... stare into my eyes... Oh, my beloved Utility Pole!! Can you give me some milk? Please... please give me some milk!"
"Hey, look at Baskara. I think he's finally lost it."
"Poor guy. He's handsome, but apparently, he's a hardcore fan of the power company."
"Astaghfirullah, is Kara having a seizure? Why is he hugging a pole like that? Seek help, son!"
"Handsome face, but his brain has shifted."
"Did he just escape from a mental ward?"
"GGS, man!"
"What's GGS?"
"Ganteng-Ganteng Sinting (Handsome but Insane)."
Those were the comments from the villagers witnessing Baskara's act. Without realizing it, the whole neighborhood had gathered to see how an 18-year-old could lose his mind so publicly.
'Damn it, I'm so embarrassed!'
Mr. Miser began to feel annoyed as his shop became a spectacle due to the stressed youth hugging the pole. He quickly approached Baskara with a tin of formula in his hand. He had clearly heard Kara's dramatic pleas for milk.
"Hey! Stop hugging my utility pole! You're ruining the view! Here, take this expired—I mean, promotional milk, and get out of here!" Mr. Miser handed the milk to Baskara, who accepted it happily. Suddenly, his shame vanished, replaced by a bright smile.
[Mission Success! You received 'Sad Cow' brand milk (KW Quality). Bonus: Public Embarrassment Points +100]
Baskara returned to the shack and proudly gave the milk to Cruel, despite his body still shaking from embarrassment.
"Cruel... this is expensive milk. Drink it so you grow up healthy and don't become a psychop—I mean, so you stay healthy. Yeah, healthy! Hehe."
Cruel stared intensely at the milk tin, then looked back at Baskara, who was sulking in the corner with his knees pulled to his chest.
"Brother..." Cruel's voice made Baskara turn instantly. Oh God, was his brother finally going to thank him? Baskara looked at him hopefully.
"Yes, Cruel?"
"I heard at the market that some crazy guy proposed to a utility pole. That wasn't you, right? Because if it was, I'd rather just trade you for a new brother," Cruel said sarcastically, making Baskara burst into tears in his corner.
'System!!! I want to resign!! I want to go back to my mother's womb!!'
[And who exactly hired you? You can't just resign. Besides, if you went back to the womb, are you sure you'd even be born again? Analysis: Your dignity is currently worth less than a single spoonful of that milk. Stay strong, deadbeat! Don't worry about what others think. Here is a motivational quote for you: "Our process is long, don't fall because of people's words. Not everyone who makes noise understands, and those who are quiet haven't necessarily lost. Just keep going; proof is the hardest slap of all."]
Can we all just take a moment of silence for Baskara's dignity? 🕯️ Honestly, I felt the secondhand embarrassment while writing this. If you think hugging a utility pole is a top-tier sacrifice for a brother, leave a comment! Let's comfort our poor 'GGS' (Handsome but Insane) protagonist together."