Contract (3)
"Jia, don't you want... a big sister by any chance?"
She stared at me like I was spouting utter nonsense out of nowhere.
"A big sister...? Ewww, no way!"
"What about a big brother, then?"
"Huh? What're you talking about... A brother other than you, Oppa?"
"Yeah."
"Ughhh! Gross! I don't wanna live with some other guy. I just wanna be with you, Oppa."
Her face twisted up in disgust—it looked utterly genuine.
"Why not? Wouldn't it be nice to have a bigger family?"
"Other guys just gross me out on a biological level, so no. And if a big sister showed up, you'd pay less attention to me. That's why I hate it. I love being your little sister, just the two of us!"
If she shot it down this hard from the start, my plans would fall apart.
"I'd give you the same amount of attention. Still no?"
"Ewww~! Still no. Even worse than guys! If a big sister shows up, I'll kill her. Rip her to shreds! Hmph!"
Because of our promise, she couldn't lay a hand on my limbs, so she was threatening to tear apart anyone I brought home. Hearing such vicious words in that cute tone from her...
Anyway, this was a problem.
Maybe she hated the idea of anyone else, period.
"What about... a mom, then?"
"M-Mom...?"
"Yeah. Don't you want a mom?"
For a split second, I pictured that young, beautiful female teacher—Kim Su-hee—in her black stockings and suit, apron tied on as she set the dinner table. She looked far too youthful to be anyone's mom. Newlywed wife or bride suited her face much better.
"Hmm... A mom might be okay...? But why are you asking?"
Mom was safe, at least.
Of course, I'd have to check with Su-hee first, and if she was seriously put off, I'd scrap the idea. But for now, it was the only way to put Kang Jia and Kim Su-hee in the same space without one of them ending up dead.
Naturally, I had no intention of having her live with us like a real mom. She needed to actively gather intel and move around in this world on her own.
In the previous loop, when she was dying, something like sharp bone spines had pierced her stomach.
A different kind of attack from the janitor monster that swallowed people whole.
That meant there were more Altered Common Sense entities lurking in the school besides just the janitor.
Those repulsive human-faced insects had been flying around near the school, too.
There were still unsolved secrets in this place.
She had to uncover them.
I never imagined I'd end up making our "family" an even number...
Our family ties were getting filthier and more tangled by the minute.
Until the night of August 3rd, nothing much happened, and I got some solid rest.
It'd be great if I could keep moving like a machine, churning out meaningful results nonstop, but as a human, that was impossible.
Two murders.
Four deaths.
The aftershocks kept tormenting me, even slipping into my brief daytime naps.
"Oppa... uuu... Why do I keep having nightmares...?"
"It's okay... It'll get better."
Those words weren't really for Kang Jia—they were for me, a mantra I repeated to myself. A spell-like mutter that everything would be fine once I escaped this Altered Common Sense world.
And so another day passed. It was midnight on August 3rd, the time when Su-hee was wandering the school at 1 AM.
"Jia, let's head to school."
"Yup!"
*Squish-*
On the first floor, as always, our fake parents were chomping away at chunks of flesh.
We ignored them and arrived at the school.
Peering through the windows of the main building's first-floor hallway past the front gate, I spotted Su-hee just as expected, glancing around as she walked.
If I split off now to meet her alone, the janitor would show up.
If everything went exactly as planned—if I moved just like before—Kang Jia would appear and deal with the janitor, of course. But our relationship had already changed from the start.
I had no idea what butterfly effect even a tiny change might bring. No guarantee the same pattern would yield the same result.
Besides, now that we'd formed our contract, there was no need anyway.
"Jia, we're going to meet Mom now. Can you help Oppa out?"
"Yup~ I'll help!"
The janitor was for Kang Jia to handle.
Even in unexpected situations, she'd sliced open its belly without a scratch. If she was prepared in advance, she'd crush it without issue.
The problem was Su-hee.
I was the only one with memories from the previous loop.
I'd brought my smartphone just in case... but I doubted it'd do much for anyone else.
From how the memories just popped up after the fourth reset, the phone was probably just a bridge between past and present—no mystical power in the device itself.
How was I supposed to convince her?
...If it doesn't work, she dies, and I start over...
I flinched.
I'd already slipped into thinking about dying and resetting without realizing it.
That wasn't normal thinking.
The mere fact that such insane thoughts crossed my mind proved part of my psyche was already wearing down.
Get it together.
You're human.
Not some iron-willed hero or superhuman. What's the point of escaping this world with a broken mind?
"Oppa, hurry up! I wanna see Mom!"
"Y-Yeah... Right."
I'd convince her somehow.
*Thud, thud.*
Su-hee had already headed up to the second floor ages ago.
We hurried after her footsteps, climbing the stairs.
*Slide-*
Just like that time, her long straight hair swayed like a tail as she slipped into the door of Class 3-2.
"Jia, can you wait here for a bit?"
"Huh? Why...? Are you... gonna do naughty stuff with Mom without me...?"
The way she was thinking...
"Jia, moms and sons don't have that kind of relationship."
"But you do naughty stuff with me..."
This was maddening.
"That's... yeah, because you're special, Jia. The most special little sister in the world, so Oppa gives you special treatment. Mom will just be normal. Got it?"
*Tremble.*
Kang Jia's eyelashes quivered with joy.
"Y-Yeah!! Right! I'm the most special! Uwheheh...!"
"Good girl. Wait here, then. Once Oppa meets Mom, that monster called the janitor uncle will pop out. I need you to block it, Jia. Only you can do this. Oppa trusts you big time. You can handle it, right?"
I figured she'd immediately chirp "Yup!", but she fidgeted with her lips.
"B-But... if I do this, you give me a reward, okay?"
"A reward...?"
"Yup. Honestly, I'm a little anxious... A mom sounds kinda fun, but... still. Uuu... You're mine, Oppa..."
Why was she laying this groundwork so long? What was she getting at?
"So~ If I do this, put your semen... down there too, for Jia."
Her pale cheeks flushed pink in the moonlight.
Probably wanted sumata like before.
No big deal.
"Yeah. I'll give it to you. Lots of it."
"Yay! Uwhee! Then hurry and bring Mom! I'll protect you and Mom!"
I nodded firmly and stepped into Class 3-2.
*Slide-*
"H-Hiiik!? Wh-Wh-Who are you!?"
*Click.*
I shut the door tight and checked outside through the acrylic window panel. Whatever I discussed with Su-hee from here on couldn't leak out.
Fortunately, Kang Jia was facing the opposite direction from the classroom.
She seemed to know where the janitor would emerge.
Once the mood settled, I'd ask her directly too. How much she knew about this school, why and since when we'd started using it.
"Um, h-hello...?"
Su-hee started backing away from me.
Of course. A mystery adult man following her into a sealed classroom in a pitch-black school at 1 AM.
Terrifying.
First, ease the tension.
I spoke in a light tone.
"Oh, Teacher Su-hee, what're you doing here? Haven't clocked out yet?"
"Huh...? Are you a student from Class 3?"
Not a student, but I'd play along for now. Once I broke the Altered Common Sense hold on her, she'd accept my identity naturally.
"Yeah. Ah~ Forgot something..."
"Phew... Got it. You should've checked properly before leaving."
"But why's a teacher from Class 1 in here?"
"Uh, w-well... I-I had some overtime left, couldn't leave yet... So I figured I'd patrol the school while I was at it! H-Ho ho."
Super suspicious, as expected.
I'd thought the same the first time I saw her.
First build some rapport, then ask what she was really doing lingering at school.
Grrrrowl...
*Splat!*
The grimy snarling echoed down the hallway.
The janitor had appeared.
I wasn't worried at all, certain Kang Jia would handle it, but Su-hee looked utterly panicked.
"H-Huh!? Janitor teacher?"
Shrieeeeeek!
"Come here! Hurry!"
Just like the previous loop, she grabbed my hand and pulled me into the cleaning closet.
The musty smell inside was the same, and so was the thick feminine scent from her body, her soft form pressed close.
...Time to start talking with my prospective mom.