As I saw Lean and Robert taking John out, I couldn't help but feel nervous.
This would be so much easier if I could just kill them.
[Little Noah, bad!]
What?
[I don't like it, but I do understand that sometimes you had to—and will—kill people. It's regrettable, but I do understand.]
Then—
[BUT!]
Sis suddenly appeared in my mind, placing her tiny hands on my cheeks.
[I don't want my little brother to take lives so easily! Remember—only if there's absolutely no other choice can you kill someone! Promise me.]
Sis, you know that I—
[Promise!?]
...Okay…
Was Sis always this stubborn?
Yes...
no—actually, she used to be even more stubborn than this.
Anyway, even with that, I still had a trump card in case they decided to do something stupid.
I turned to look at Michelle, who was staring at me with a frightened expression.
Don't even think of doing something reckless. As long as your father and you don't try anything funny, nothing will happen."
"You… why are you doing this?" Michelle asked.
Why am I doing this…?
I chuckled.
"Because... I have no other choice."
"What?"
"You'll stay by my side. Wherever I go, you go. Whatever I say you do, you'll do. I don't need to tell you what will happen if you don't... right?"
Michelle trembled, hugging herself, clearly remembering what had happened before.
"Okay…"
"Good. Do this until the end of the week, and then you're free."
"You… promise?"
"Whatever you tell the police or your father… I won't care."
…It was clear she didn't trust my words.
I wasn't lying though.
Until I made sure everything was over, I couldn't risk the police coming after me—not yet, at least.
Sis.
[Yes?]
I need you to infiltrate the school and gather every bit of information you can find.
[Aye, aye, captain! Leave it to your big sis!]
I'll drive you near the school grounds. I can't get too close, though.
[Sure~]
But before that…Here.
I fastened a collar around her neck.
[What's this?]It's got a small tracking device. It'll show me your exact location. Plus, there's a tiny camera in the tag. Record anything that might be useful.
[Why do you even have something like this?]
I used it to gather intel back in the day.
I didn't want to tell Sis that I used to stalk Alicia—Leonardo's girlfriend—poison her food…Then I kidnapped her… and watched as her body slowly withered away while she begged for help…And finally… ended her suffering.
Ah… good memories.
Anyway… before anything else, I will—
[Little Noah!]
Suddenly, I felt dizzy. I touched my nose and saw blood.
Oh no…
"Stay here. If you dare to run, I'll make you beg for death," I told Michelle.
"U-Understood."
I ran toward the bathroom and locked the door behind me.
Haa… haa… haa…
The world around me spun violently as I looked at myself in the mirror.
My contact lenses had fallen off.
My crimson eyes—drenched in blood.Not just my eyes.
Blood was pouring from my nose...From my ears...From every opening on my face.
[Little Noah! Hang in there!]
What's happening to me!?
[It's the overuse of your demonic powers! You've exceeded your limit. You don't have enough demonic energy—your body is paying the price!]
I needed to calm down.
But the pain…The pain…
Ah… it's been so long since I've felt this kind of pain…My head was pounding.Cold. It felt like I was locked inside a freezer.
Every single cell in my body screamed.I collapsed to the ground as my vision blurred.
[Little Noah! Little Noah!]
Sis…
"Big sis? Why are you meowing like that?"
Just before I lost consciousness, I heard a voice from the door.
"SIR IVAN!?"
And like that…I blacked out.