Strange Family
Ella's face twisted into a scowl. She looked betrayed, realizing too late that she'd been tricked again, and disgusted that I'd brought home yet another toy.
"This fucking bastard..."
Leon's expression hardened. She thought Ella was talking about her.
I ignored it and gently gripped Leon's shoulder, introducing Ella kindly.
"Let me introduce you. This is Ella. I'm her guardian, nominally speaking. I brought her here just like you."
"Th-then, does that mean she's... like me...?"
"Yeah. An orphan."
Ella glared at me like she wanted to kill me. I chuckled softly, rolling my eyes to scan her face. Time to blatantly mention her dead little brother.
"She had a little brother... sigh. Such a tragedy."
I sighed as if I truly meant it from the heart. I deliberately avoided using his name. If I did, Leon would've pegged me as a total psycho right away.
"Anyway, say hi to each other. She's usually a good kid, but she seems pissed off today. My bad. I was planning a celebration party for her practical exam pass, but yeah."
As I said that, I clapped my hands like a brilliant idea had just struck me. I let out an excited gasp and whispered happily.
"Oh, right! Since Leon just arrived, we should have a celebration party together. To commemorate Ella's practical exam success and welcome Leon."
Leon's face fell. She's a top survivor from the cutthroat competition of Phiren Duchy's shantytown. She had the street smarts to see through it.
She could tell I was bullshitting, and that Ella was shocked by some scheme of mine.
Cold sweat trickled down Leon's neck. She knew full well I was watching her.
I stared openly, licking her face with my eyes. Feel it. Savor it. Her expression was pure torment—endlessly questioning if she'd made the right choice, if this was rational.
Perfect snack material.
The moment I decided to bring Leon, I'd already decided her role: a pet to redirect and normalize Ella's obsession.
Frankly, Ella's fixation wasn't healthy anymore. I judged it needed some normalization.
While pondering how, Leon appeared—so I chose her for the job.
"No food for a celebration party? Sit down. I'll whip something up."
I pulled various foods from my subspace. Past their expiration dates, but luckily none spoiled or rotten. Items in subspace were freed from time's decay.
As I set the table, I held back tears of joy. This was bliss! These two existed solely to entertain me. Retirement was this fun!
Leon prided herself on her sharp instincts. If not for them, she wouldn't have survived this long.
That instinct now screamed: something was seriously off.
She sat quietly, eyes darting to assess the situation. The vibe between the man who'd brought her (name unknown) and the girl called Ella was unnerving.
But Leon couldn't intervene. The party started awkwardly, with no resistance from her.
It was painfully awkward. The man grinned and chattered nonstop, toasting Ella's success and Leon's fresh start, shoving food at them.
"Ella, try this. Oh, Leon too. Bet you've never had this."
"How'd the practical go? Did you crush it like I taught you?"
"Leon, tell us how you survived all this time?"
Ella didn't touch a bite or answer properly. She just stared at Leon.
Leon sensed hostility in that gaze. But it felt off—not pure enmity.
What is it? Why's she looking at me like that?
Leon took the offered cake and bowed her head. Instinct screamed: Get out now. No reason why. No killers lurking like in the shantytown, no brutal fights for scraps.
So why did this place feel more dangerous than the shantytown?
Something's here. Something's wrong.
Her instincts pinpointed it: the man was the problem.
Thinking back, when they met in the shantytown, he'd toyed with the other kids. Eating bread in front of them, pretending to share cake then hogging it, tossing crumbs to spark fights.
...Definitely a psycho.
And worse...
"Ella, any kid catch your eye in particular?"
The man had been monologuing. It creeped Leon out more than anything. He ignored Ella's coldness, Leon's awkwardness—rambling on, constantly eyeing Ella's reactions.
As if savoring it.
...Might've made the wrong call.
Leon regretted it but couldn't back out. She clamped her mouth shut, observed, and planned to adapt later.
Party over, the man showed her to a room.
"This is yours. Hope you like it."
It was spacious. Infinitely cleaner and warmer than her shantytown corner.
One bed, but luxurious to her.
Leon sat, touching the blanket. Soft fabric tickled her fingers. Memories of crumpled newspapers hit her. Night and day compared to now.
The man's creepiness nagged, Ella's sharp gaze scared her—but in this moment, excitement bubbled.
Until an inexplicable chill returned.
Why's he being so nice?
She'd stood out on purpose, ready to beg for apprenticeship or whatever.
But he demanded nothing.
...He's insane, that's clear. And Ella's wary of me.
Leon knew no favors came free. The man was plotting something. Ella might know and thus guarded her.
No proof yet.
If he's scheming something dangerous, and Ella knows... maybe she's not hostile toward me...
Night deepened. Leon tossed with thoughts until consciousness faded.
How much later? Creeeak.
Door opened. Leon woke but kept eyes slits, breathing steady—feigning sleep. Old habit.
A silhouette in the dark: Ella.
She stood by the bed, staring down silently.
Wh-what?! Why's she here...?
Ella just stood, staring. Leon held her breath. Heart pounded—would she hear?
Is she... gonna kill me?
Terror spiked; hairs stood on end.
But Ella didn't move. Just stared in icy silence.
Only sound: Leon's heartbeat. Thundering rhythm drove her mad.
Why, why, why...!
Leon wanted to scream but endured. Just leave!
Then Ella muttered.
"―――do――"
Heartbeat drowned it.
Can't hear. What'd she say?
Leon fought to still her racing heart.
Snatches emerged.
"――This way won't work."
Way? What way?
"Keep managing...... circumstances...... that guy's watching my every......"
Managing? What management?
Please just go!
"Then maybe...... I'll...... handle it myself......"
Leon panted raggedly. Heart exploded. I'm dying. Gonna die.
Terror surged. Sweat soaked the bed.
Thud. Ella approached. Shadow loomed; vision darkened.
Leon squeezed eyes shut.
"...Having a nightmare?"
Ella turned. Footsteps receded; door closed.
Leon gasped.
"Hah... hah... F-fuck..."
This wasn't normal.
These psychos...!!