Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Love Mask's Proposal
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61.
Thwack!
Thwack!
Thwack!
“…Enough.”
A man's voice sank quietly into the floor. But it wasn't just his voice that had sunk.
His gaze slowly dropped to the floor, fixing on one figure amid the heavy silence.
Just before the Bear Doll swung its third fist, the Angry Mask, who had been spewing foul curses, was now...
All that entered my eyes was the red blood trickling from the one intact mask and the faint trembling of its body.
……Twitch.
Fortunately, it seemed to be hanging on by a thread, still breathing.
It hit me anew.
Our Bear Doll.
‘Those punches pack quite a punch, huh?’
Honestly, I hadn't expected it to reduce the Angry Mask to combat incapacity so quickly.
I had been blankly watching the Bear Doll pummel it senseless, nearly killing the thing.
If it hadn't stopped, our Angry Mask might have bid farewell to this world right then and there.
“You were frailer than expected, Angry Mask. But it was a fun show.”
Even after saying that, my fingertips were still trembling.
I checked the Angry Mask's state—now devoid of any consciousness—two or three more times before finally relaxing.
Sss...
I slowly released the arm I had been gripping. Hansol followed my lead, letting go of the hand she held.
“…….”
Hansol stared silently at the fallen Angry Mask for a while, swallowing her words.
Silence sealed her lips.
Hansol right now... seemed terrified.
I could see her rigid form, stiff from the fear that speaking carelessly here might lead to the same fate for her, quietly waiting for my cue.
A healthy tension was necessary, but that look wasn't pleasant.
And...
I felt a bit wronged.
‘This was our best option to survive! You and I!’
Don't make me the only bad guy here! You're an accomplice too, in a way!
Stop the in-group hate.
I barely swallowed the cold lump in my throat.
“Human.”
“!!”
Hansol flinched and turned to me.
‘This reaction hurts a little... Hansol.’
“No need to worry. Our Bear Doll is surprisingly gentle. Even cute.”
“…….”
I smiled and tried to soothe her, but wariness clearly flickered in her eyes.
Right now, more than that, those guys staring down at us from the ceiling since earlier were nagging at me.
Swing.
Swing.
Swing.
Those two Pierrots, silently riding the aerial swing, merely observing everything.
And those guys.
They'd called the Angry Mask "big bro" moments ago, yet as it ended up like this, they...
Didn't move.
No, they didn't even seem inclined to.
Even.
-Go on! Hit him more! More!!
With the Love Mask cheerily rooting for the Bear Doll.
Of course, I hadn't been surprised by their reaction.
I'd anticipated it, which was why—more than anyone else—
I'd provoked the Angry Mask first.
To them, the word "bond" was just pretty wrapping paper.
Still, whatever.
Since they didn't interfere, I could subdue the Angry Mask smoothly.
For now... that was enough.
I quickly drew the Quill Pen from my coat.
But.
To prepare for any contingencies, I approached the third Bear Doll and whispered a small request.
‘If they show even a hint of anything off... you know, right?’
Nod nod!
Understanding the implication of my brief words, the Bear Doll nodded promptly.
Hearing me out, it shook its blood-smeared arms left and right with a bright expression, as if swinging a toy, unconsciously making cute gestures.
‘G-Gosh, Bear Doll, you're cute, but...’
The sight before me now was chilling—like a creature from a horror flick, innocently moving while blood oozed from its fluffy bear arms with each shake, forming little droplets.
Even as the metallic scent spread through the air, it acted oblivious.
I shoved aside stray thoughts and brought the Quill Pen to the Angry Mask.
『Valid material identified.』
‘Oh. Definitely faster than before.’
Noise hadn't been wrong about enhancing the Quill Pen.
Gulp!
Black ink flowed from the Quill Pen, devouring the Angry Mask whole, and a simple black stripe appeared on its feather tip.
The capture speed was markedly faster than usual.
I succeeded in storing the Angry Mask in the Quill Pen in an instant.
Truly smooth sailing.
...If only those two weren't here.
Watching the pair staring blankly at this place without the slightest twitch.
I addressed them with a sly tone.
“The first act... seems to be over☺.”
Along with my sly tone, I flashed an unnatural grin at the Pierrots.
As expected, the first to react was the Love Mask.
【♥Over already? Too bad, I wanted to see that idiot big bro get beat more... But good job fighting our dummy.】
Whoosh.
The Love Mask leaped from the aerial swing dangling from the ceiling. Her form slicing through the air toward us felt like a predator eyeing prey.
She landed precisely in a pool of blood strewn across the stage.
...Splash.
A quiet ripple spread through the blood.
Despite dropping from such height, not a single drop stained her clothes. She walked slowly toward me—Park Yeon-jeong—as if on a stroll.
Bow.
This time, I bowed first.
Parting my lips slightly, I quietly addressed her.
“It was more enjoyable than expected. Shall we start your act next?”
When I politely inquired about the performance.
The response was.
Utterly unexpected.
【♥Nah? No more show. Something more important came up.】
With a bubbly motion, the Love Mask stepped right up to me and made an offer I never saw coming.
【♥You... wanna be my new big bro?】
“Yes?”
Bewilderment slipped out involuntarily. But if I hadn't misheard.
A ghost story was asking me to become its big brother.
‘What the actual fuck?’
The meaning of becoming her "big bro" was simple.
She was telling me to...
‘Become a ghost story?’
Have you lost your mind, Love Mask?
As if I'd accept that!
Bow.
My lips nearly trembled, but I kept my expression steady and nodded.
“An honor! To think you'd offer me such a thing!”
‘Honor my ass! It's the worst!’
...To get in her good graces, that reflexively slipped out.
But the situation was dire.
I had to divert her attention somehow, anywhere else. If not, I might end up as a page in the Disaster-Class Ghost Story Employee saga.
Turning into a real "Little Noise."
I needed time to use the Revolver, and fast.
“It's a wonderful offer, but... isn't it a bit premature?”
Thrust!
At my words, she thrust her face forward, speaking in an excited voice.
【♥No way! You're perfect! Exactly the big bro I wanted! Right, little bro?】
The Love Mask turned to the Tear Mask, slumped and teary-eyed on the aerial swing.
The response from there was.
【♣If that big bro becomes our new big bro, I'm totally for it. This one's less screamy...】
‘What are you on about?! Suddenly all in!’
But the moment "approval" hit from the Tear Mask, the Love Mask's emotions exploded wildly, laced with a mad voice.
【♥See!! My little bro likes you too! Our eldest big bro would approve of you!】
“…….”
This is bad!
No, really bad!
‘No Little Noise!’
I glanced around desperately for help, eventually locking eyes with the only acquaintance here, Hansol.
Like extending a saving hand, I signaled SOS, but.
Flinch!
Hansol only looked startled upon meeting my gaze.
Even her faint mutter reached my ears clearly.
‘No way, that thing. Was this its goal all along?!’
As if this was the goal, Hansol!
Who'd want a ghost story little sister with such twisted tastes, treating people like playdough?!
But with no reply from me.
Her voice began sinking into endless depths.
As if the stage temperature plummeted, the air froze cold.
【♥Why? Still hesitating? Why?! Such a cute little sis right in front of you?!?!...No way, because of that bitch▓?】
In that instant, the Love Mask's gaze followed mine.
Sensing I'd locked eyes with Hansol, her lips twisted slowly.
Her lowered voice chilled my ear.
Right now, this Love Mask.
Was showing hostility toward Hansol.
Dozens of scenarios flashed through my mind the moment her gaze shifted to Hansol.
No good.
Even a second's delay, and Hansol dies by this thing's hand.
The only option here...
Gulp!
【♥!!】
Reflexively, I grabbed the Love Mask's wrist.
I gripped it as hard as possible to hide my trembling fingertips.
Then, in a voice choked with tension, I continued.
“…You're making me jealous. Don't look at anyone else, Love Mask.”
The thought of protecting Hansol made me grab her wrist without thinking.
Her ability activates on palm contact, reshaping the target.
So.
‘Wrist is safe!’
It had to be.
But the pressure from gripping hard to mask my shakes.
Seemed to flip another switch in the Love Mask.
【♥……Even our eldest big bro never touched my body...】
A deeply lowered bass.
Did I screw up?
Had I offended her?
Tap-
Reflexively, I released my grip in a panic, and just then, her voice brushed my ear.
【♥Ahh~! Yes! This is what I wanted!!】
……Pardon?
What "this"?
What did I just do to you?
Squeeze-
The Love Mask pulled her wrist—the one I'd just held—to her chest, her voice now breathing "madness."
【♥A big bro who restrains his little sis's rash actions... That sensation I only felt from our eldest!!】
Her excited ragged breaths and the madness about to burst through her mask distorted her form even further.
【♥Haa... This tremble, this warmth, this tension, this sweetness, this love, this taboo... Ah! My brain's melting! I'm going insane from this long-lost feeling!】
The madness blooming from her voice was an overwhelming force enveloping my entire body.
As she turned her back to me, spewing words while writhing, the moment my judgment—that she was beyond sane—solidified into certainty.
I deemed this the moment.
Snap.
The timing to draw the Revolver.
Creak-
With that sound, the Love Mask's neck twisted grotesquely, turning toward me in a warped pose.
From the depths of her being, the "madness" hidden within "love" boiled violently.
That unstable emotional swing lashed sharply toward me—Park Yeon-jeong.
【♥……Sorry. Pretend I didn't say that earlier?】
Creak-
As her neck, seemingly regaining sanity, slowly returned to normal, two unknown words flashed in my mind from between the mask.
Terror.
【♥You're not our big bro...... Be my one and only big bro. You'd like that too, right...
Big
Bro
☻
?】
This one had lost control.
It was like facing a unchained beast of a ghost story.
Only one choice against such a monster.
Snap!
I swiftly raised the Revolver, and soon a voice whispered in my ear.
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-Bullet loaded: 1.
-Today's personal color: 'Blue.'
-A day full of greed. Today, your eyes are drawn to everything others possess.
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And the barrel's direction was already set.
Snap!
The barrel pointed.
Not at the Love Mask.
Nor the Tear Mask, nor Hansol with her unexpected encounter, nor the agency goons idiotically spectating from afar.
The barrel now.
Aimed squarely at Park Yeon-jeong's own head.
In that instant, time seemed to freeze.
But.
My index finger hesitated not a moment...
Click—
The trigger pulled.
Bang!
『The 'Beggar Bullet' begins to behold the sparkling world with its shimmering golden eyes.』