The Zoldycks, traditional artisans of the assassin trade, place immense importance on physical training in their foundational education.
One must never close their eyes; the greater the danger, the wider the eyes should be opened to observe, leaving no detail unnoticed.
One must never hesitate; unless a critical component malfunctions, one must remain precise like a machine.
"Get up, Mill, you can continue," Kiku commanded sharply.
It hurt so much, my entire body ached. As I stood, my nerves transmitted all the pain from every part of me to my brain, accumulating until it felt like my head would explode. My legs trembled uncontrollably. I finally managed to stand, only to collapse back to the ground.
In the "real world," I grit my teeth when getting shots, avoid touching scraped skin with hot water, and would crouch for a long time after bumping my knee on a table corner before recovering. Compared to the original characters here who lose limbs and still act as if nothing happened, I was practically a different species.
There's a fairy tale called "The Princess and the Pea," which tells of a princess who, despite twenty mattresses and twenty eiderdown quilts stacked on a single pea, still felt its presence due to her delicate skin, preventing her from sleeping.
Here, in the eyes of Kiku and the others, my "normal" self in the "real world" would likely be considered as comically fragile as that princess.
This is because not only could I not stand, but I also cried.
Although I had no broken bones, they worried about my condition, fearing I was in too much pain to stand. Consequently, they intensified my education, extending my pain tolerance lessons.
Grasping a blade with bare hands.
Pulling out thorns that had pierced my palm myself.
If my right hand was broken, I had to continue attacking with my left.
Curiously, I didn't think about dying then. My brain was so saturated with pain that there was no room for thought. This was probably the origin of my preference for electrotherapy when feeling down.
In any case, I could become a machine without changing expression, just like them. Occasionally, I would frown, but it was still within their acceptable range... that was over ten years ago.
Yes, under any circumstances, my attacks remained smooth and swift, utilizing the Zoldyck's signature basic skill, which I had mastered: [Heart Steal]. I executed it almost without thinking.
When the opponent revealed my true name, it meant I had already made a mistake. I couldn't rely on a one-hit kill, so I chose to keep my Nen ability as a backup.
My Nen ability, "Game Backpack," had no offensive power on its own. Its effectiveness in combat depended on what items I could [take out] from it. In close-quarters combat, with extremely short distances, using cold weapons for attack was faster.
As I used [Heart Steal], I opened my Game Backpack and [equipped] the [Spiked Knee Guards]. These were items I had previously used to test the Game Backpack's [synthesis] function, combining [Knee Guards] with...
"I could never figure out your selection criteria. Just looks? No, it's not that simple. But you don't really care about it much, do you?" His hand touched the exposed round head of the needle embedded in my head, as if touching a doll's mechanism. As a doll, I was forced to open my eyes and look at him. "Later, I thought, if it's you, then trying to deduce it logically overcomplicates things. Because you are very willful, and sometimes your decisions are based on your mood."
"So, the thought process becomes very clear. The answer was always there, I just failed to understand it," he said. "You like anyone who is good-looking. It doesn't matter about anything else. Anyone you fancy at first glance, anyone at all."
"Including me, is that possible?"
He kissed my cheek below my eyes, then licked my lips.
???
No, no, this guy, I asked you out. It was mutual consent from the start. Why create a bloody disaster, turning it into a forced love scene? There's no need, really no need.
Wait, human sexual preferences are free. Does he want to engage in perverse practices that ordinary people can't accept, and is he afraid I'll disagree, so he's making the first move?!
I see. I thought I was selecting others as prey, but in reality, others were selecting me. After all, my character skin is so good, it would be a shame not to have a crazy admirer. So, a Nen user with this much power chose to be a host to lure me in?!
To have a good-looking character willing to go to such lengths for me, planning and enduring for at least half a year, wow, it's surprisingly touching.
The only problem is that I might not be able to handle perverse practices. I hope the Zoldycks will help me take down this pervert after I die.
Please, Zoldycks, this is the last time I'll trust your familial affection. Don't disappoint me.
After savoring my lips, the pervert suddenly remembered something and stood up, walking towards the bathroom. Upon his return, he held the prop I had given him earlier, which I had prepared in advance. "Do you need to use them all?"
"..."
That's it? Not doing anything else exciting? What is this? It truly baffles me.
I think this man's actions can't be deduced by logic either. He's good-looking and not weak, but his mind is seriously flawed. Is this what they mean by no one is perfect? What a shame, brother.
Still unwilling to give up, I tried to guess what other peculiar human behavior he might exhibit, and then he pulled out a few needles from behind his head, performing a facial transformation magic trick on the spot. The process of his facial muscles twitching and deforming was so horrifying that I feared he would turn into an ugly man, making me realize that the fundamental reason for his forced affection was his own ugly true face.
No, please, big brother, you just have to not let me know if your true face is ugly, right?!
There's no need for me to be completely open with you! There's no need, truly no need!
Ah, I wish I could die.
"Much more refreshing now," the man said, his voice changing to another unfamiliar tone as he returned to his original appearance. "Can you see me?"
Wh-what a close call. His true face is also that of a very good-looking character, otherwise, it would have been a hellish experience.
He has cat-like eyes and a rather gentle, could be described as "handsome" or "elegant" appearance.
He looks about my age. No way? Is it because his face looks young?
"Mmm..." He cupped my cheeks, observing me intently. His sightless eyes seemed to drag me into a bottomless black hole. "You can see me now."
Observation is mutual. As he observed me, I was also observing him.
With this level of appearance, I can handle it. There was no need to disguise himself with another face. If there was some special reason for disguising himself with another face, then why did he also disguise his voice? It's like becoming a completely different person... Is he the same person as the host I contacted? The thought sends a shiver down my spine.
"You don't recognize me?" he asked me with near certainty.
Not at all. Even if my memory were poor, I should have at least some impression of a character with such good looks if I had met him once. However, I have absolutely no recollection; I must be meeting him for the first time.
"..." Is it me who has a problem, or is it him?
Given his series of confusing actions so far, it's more likely that he has a problem – a handsome lunatic?
Better avoid dangerous characters whose behavior is unpredictable!
He's mentally unstable! Anything he does is not surprising!
He won't even be judged for murder!
No, many original characters here can kill without consequence. It's hard to judge who is more dangerous, them or a mental patient.
Thinking further is useless. Anyway, I, Mill, have fallen into a trap today. I am the meat on the chopping block, and he is the cleaver. I can only lie flat and await fate's arrangement.
"...Is that so," he said, lowering his gaze. His eyelashes were long and thick, quite attractive, a standard feature of good-looking characters. "Giving up halfway is not a good habit. Let's finish what we started."
Although he could do whatever he pleased with me, who was unable to move, he still abided by my rules and did not kiss me.
Is he perhaps thinking of the future?
Do I have a chance to strike back?
Given his good looks, if he doesn't engage in perverse practices, I might forgive his actions afterward.
Speaking of which, how much does he actually know about me? That seems to be the real issue.
Before I could think clearly, he grabbed my ankle and pulled me closer.