Chapter 4: Feeling the Threat to Life
"…Oppa?"
A chilling voice. For a split second, I thought A-young had turned into someone else entirely. I whipped my head around, and there in my sister's spot sat the Grim Reaper herself. The eyes that had been oozing cuteness just moments ago now dripped with thick killing intent.
"What are you doing?"
"Huh? W-what do you mean?"
"Don't play dumb."
"Oh, that? It's just too hot. So—"
"Liar. Do I look like an idiot to you?"
Crack. She clamped down on my wrist.
"I've had the AC set to 25 degrees since way before you came in, waiting for you."
Only then did I notice the AC humming away.
"You've never once said it was hot at this temperature, oppa. If anything, you always complained it was cold. But suddenly it's hot?"
Squeeze...! My wrist felt like it was about to shatter.
"Ugh...! I-it's breaking...!"
"Answer me. Why'd you pull away from me? Even making up some lame excuse. Huh?"
A-young leaned in close, her face inches from mine. Meeting that murderous gaze head-on made my blood run cold.
"Did you lose your memories and start hating me? Are you scared of me now too, oppa?"
"N-no, it's not that...!"
I racked my brain desperately. I needed a rock-solid excuse she'd buy, no question. In this life-or-death moment, one idea flashed through my mind.
"I-I thought I'd get too excited!"
"...What?"
"You kept rubbing up against me in just your underwear, so I felt my body reacting."
"...."
The strength drained from A-young's grip. My wrist finally got some relief.
"I was too embarrassed to say it straight, so I made up that excuse about it being hot..."
I stole a glance at A-young's face—she had her mouth slightly open, looking dazed.
"Sorry... I know you're family in my head, but my heart just won't accept it yet..."
I hung my head low, eyes welling up. Acting skills honed from a lifetime of seducing women in my past life. No one could see through my performance.
"Sniff... Hic..."
I squeezed out tears from my ducts. My wrist hurt so bad, a few had already leaked out anyway.
"Actually... even when I first met Mom... I felt it stirring... Sniff..."
"...."
"I felt so guilty about it... I swore I wouldn't let it happen this time... But then... Waaah..."
I covered my face with both hands. No more words needed now. Just sob. I'd keep crying until she apologized.
"S-sorry, oppa. I thought you hated me now..."
Yeah, sorry, aren't you? Feel sorry, you bitch. My wrist is killing me.
"Why would I hate you...? You didn't do anything wrong..."
"Sorry... I must've lost my mind for a second."
"Waaah..."
I kept milking the tears. Feel more sorry, damn it! Time to seize total control.
"Oppa, stop rubbing your eyes like that. Let me wipe them for you."
A-young fetched a handkerchief from somewhere and gently dabbed my eyes. Her face was full of worry for me now. Perfect. My acting paid off.
But it wasn't enough yet.
"Ugh..."
I clutched my wrist and groaned. The spot where she'd grabbed me was already bruising purple.
"Oh no... What do I do, I'm so sorry... Hold on, I'll get some ointment."
"No, it's fine. This'll heal quick."
"You sure?"
"Yeah."
I gave a slight smile. The key was tweaking my facial muscles to make it look forced. Gotta sell the "I'm pretending to be okay" vibe.
"Sorry... I misunderstood for no reason..."
Another guilt trip success. She was biting every hook I cast.
"Nah, really, it's okay. Let's pick up where we left off."
"But..."
"I remembered you and Noona's names, so fill me in on the rest."
"...Okay, then I'll tell you your nickname this time. You know your own name, right?"
"Joo Ji-hoon. Right?"
"Yep. So what's your nickname?"
"Hmm... Feels like I know it, but it's kinda embarrassing to say."
"What is it? Spit it out."
"Joo-ji-hoon?"
"Ding ding! Your body's tiny as hell, but your dick's huge, so your friends called you that."
A-young giggled after saying it, then suddenly stiffened.
"Oh, should I not say stuff like that? Like sex jokes?"
"Nah, no need to tiptoe that much."
"Then what should I watch out for?"
"Just treat me like any normal guy. Keep a decent distance."
"I don't even talk to other guys."
"Huh? Really? That's surprising. I figured you'd be super popular with boys."
"...What do you mean by that?"
Her expression cooled a bit. Gotta nail this answer.
"You're cute, you smile a lot—you've got all the traits guys go crazy for. I bet you've got tons of admirers."
"Hehe, really?"
A-young beamed, satisfied. Nailed it.
"I only act all cutesy like this with you, oppa. Never with other guys."
She pressed in close again, rubbing her plump breasts against my arm and whispering sweetly in my ear. Her face was so near, I half-expected a cheek kiss.
"This bold flirting? Only for you."
"R-right..."
"But yeah, you're definitely still you, oppa. The way you keep falling for it."
"Falling for it? Me?"
"Playing dumb again? You know exactly what I mean."
Slide. A-young's hand slipped under my shirt hem. Whatever she planned for her own brother, I had to block it. Tempting as it was, she was too dangerous.
"A-young, doesn't Ravisse have a nickname?"
I swerved back to safer ground.
"Ravisse? How do you know her name? I haven't told you yet."
A hint of irritation. Subtle, but I caught it.
"She was next to me when I woke up. Introduced herself right away. Said she's my personal maid."
"Hmph... Yeah, she has one. Lasvi."
"Lasvi? What's that mean?"
"You know, like phone AI. Hi, Siri?"
Ah, Siri.
"That's where it comes from. We call her whenever we need something at home."
"Hmm... You sure it's okay to call her that?"
"Huh?"
"Sounds like you're calling her a tool. Bet she hates it."
"Worrying about that? Then do you hate Joo-ji-hoon? That's teasing too."
"...Not really."
"Nicknames are insults from enemies, pet names from friends."
Made sense. I'd pegged her as a lightweight, but she had some depth.
"But... it's weird?"
A-young fixed me with a creepy stare. Her cat-like slit pupils sent chills down my spine.
"What's weird...?"
"You lost your memories, but you're still extra caring about Ravisse."
"Well... Maybe your core personality doesn't change even without memories... Something like that?"
"Hehe, yeah. You're still you, oppa."
Her expression softened. Thank god. Talking to A-young had sweat beading constantly. Like tightrope walking over a fatal drop.
At this point, even gloomy big-tits hikikomori Noona seemed preferable.
"A-young, does Mom have a nickname?"
"Nope. But she's got a name that fits her so perfectly, she doesn't need one."
"What is it?"
"Seol-hwa. Joo Seol-hwa."
"…!"
Gulp. I swallowed hard without thinking.
Joo Seol-hwa. S-class villain Sword Ghost. One of the top five powerhouses in this world. Strong enough to wipe out a mid-sized guild overnight.
Suddenly, Ravisse's words echoed in my head.
—Many people fear her.
I should've realized then! Standing there grinning like an idiot in front of the mirror. Wait, why wasn't that in the letter?
...What if there's an enemy inside?
Maybe the letter writer suspected someone might peek and held back key info?
"Oppa."
"...Yeah?"
I snapped out of it at A-young's call.
"Do you know why I was waiting in your room?"
"Why?"
"Before you lost your memories, you said to make sure I passed on a message."
"What?"
"If you start getting curious about stuff, check your diary."
"Diary?"
"Yeah. It's on the computer over there."
She pointed to the PC in the corner.
"It's password-protected, but you said it's the one you always use. Wanna try opening it?"
"Sure."
Tap tap tap... I sat at the monitor and pecked at the keys. The password was the same one I'd used for over ten years.
"Whoa, you cracked it. You faking amnesia, oppa?"
"Haha, why would I lie about that?"
"True. Oh, right—you said to tell you this too."
"What?"
"The more you read the diary, the higher your survival odds get."
"...."
"But I dunno why you'd say that. As long as I'm here, you're never in danger."
"...Yeah. Did you ask why?"
"I did. But you just smiled and wouldn't say."
"I see..."
I knew why. If I hadn't figured it out by now, I'd be brain-dead.
I just slightly dodged her skinship, and she bruised my wrist. Not even a full day in, and this. Who knew what horrors awaited?
"Don't worry too much, oppa. I'll protect you anyway."
A-young rested her forehead on my shoulder. Cat-like gesture, but after what happened, it wasn't cute. More like a tiger licking its chops right in my face.
"Anyway, I passed on everything, so I'll head out."
"Already?"
Inside, I was thrilled, but I feigned reluctance. Bootlicking had become reflex; couldn't help it.
"I wanna stay longer, but I got stuff to do. Walk me out?"
"Of course."
Ridiculous since the door was right there, but no refusing her.
I waved goodbye to her back outside the door, then rushed back in.
Thud! Plopped into the chair. One thought echoed in my head.
'Gotta survive gotta survive gotta survive...'
The blade was already at my throat. Dreaming of happy onee-shota bliss while chuckling like a fool? I was the idiot.
This was the eye of the storm. One slip, and I'd be swept away to my death.
Survive. I have to survive.