Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Shallow Sleep
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"Yeah, yeah, sure. I've had plenty of fun with this."
She was strong. The bone-deep gap in our combat abilities pierced through my skin and jolted every nerve in my body.
The sheer power of her ability—something that could be called off-the-charts—the potential it held, and the way she wielded it with such masterful efficiency.
"So let's call it quits. You know it too. I've won."
Black and sticky,
a substance somewhere between liquid and solid crept along the floor and swallowed my feet.
"I'll let you go. Just drop that lady and leave. We're not done yet."
"Eek, eeeek—"
A whimper of fear reached my ears. The middle-aged woman Creep had targeted began to kneel amid her sobs, pathetically begging for mercy, claiming she'd done wrong.
"I-I'm sorry. I won't do it again. What do you want...! I'll give you anything. Please!"
As I racked my brain for a way to escape the bindings, I had to listen to her tearful pleas for her life.
There was a dagger strapped near my ankle, so if my body was flexible enough, I could manage it.
"What did I do so wrong... Please..."
"Shh—"
The woman, truly clueless about her own crimes and the pain they caused, begged for mercy once more from the sticky death tightening around her.
"What am I supposed to do, ask me? You have to figure it out yourself for it to mean anything."
But Creep's resolve didn't waver. If anything, she wore a smile like she was enjoying the moment.
"Auntie, do you really have a reason you have to live right now?"
"...Stop."
One thing had changed.
Her gaze and smile now lingered on me as well.
"Mmgh—"
"There's no reason that lady has to die by your hand either."
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Crack—
I sliced through the elastic black substance and stood back up on both feet, feeling her attention zero in on me.
Discarding the gun that couldn't deliver a solid hit, I'd have to face her ability with the escape dagger hidden at my ankle.
"No reason to charge in when you know you'll lose, right?"
"That's your opinion."
There was no chance of winning.
But I had to fight anyway.
The backstory between victim and perpetrator didn't matter—what mattered was saving the person first.
"If there are villains like you who kill people, then there have to be people like me who save them."
"...Interesting."
That was the beginning.
The start of the long, sticky grudge between me and Creep.
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My head throbs. After wrapping up that ordeal, the door opens, and the women in the common area, who'd been eyeing us warily, start gawking in stunned silence.
Creep, covered in wounds but grinning defiantly,
and me, ignoring her completely as I head straight for the showers.
We're both battered wrecks. But unlike me—my body and mind shredded to pieces—Creep starts joking around with her crew in that signature sultry voice of hers.
"Sorry, sorry~ It was just so damn good, I went five rounds straight."
It wasn't five times. She's just spewing whatever to make others laugh and humiliate me.
But the truth doesn't matter. Soon, the girls in her gang are cackling and piling on with their crude banter.
"Unnie, the slapping sounds drowned out the TV completely."
"Rough sex like that sounds kinda tempting. It's been over two years since I went wild with a guy..."
"Pfft! Spiderwebs down there by now."
Creep leads the charge. Like a hero returning triumphant, they all fawn over her enviously and turn my body into the butt of their jokes.
"That room reeks like a total slut-fest. Unnie, squeeze him that hard and he'll croak~"
"Crow, want some water? You're probably dehydrated."
"Needs more protein too."
Giggles—
The laughter rings in my ears nonstop.
What's so funny about their trashy jokes? They're just trash trying to make me flustered or show disgust.
"I'm gonna wash up too~"
"Ah, Unnie! If you go another round in the showers, we won't get a turn! For real."
"Ahahaha! Sorry, sorry, I'll just wash for real this time~"
She stirs up that sleazy conversation, then saunters toward the showers. I don't want to run into her, but I can't run away.
"What're you doing not washing, baby? Want me to do it for you?"
"...I'll handle it myself. Don't talk to me."
"Eek, scary! Fine, I'll go first."
I hold my ground calmly,
acting like it's no big deal.
No matter how much she mocks or rapes me, I won't break.
"...Mm, but you know? Didn't notice earlier, but you're giving off this super slutty scent. Wash up quick before you rile up the others. Girls are sensitive to that kinda smell..."
But still,
those few words she tosses out like a joke, brushing my nape, are utterly humiliating.
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The day finally ends.
I rush through my shower,
then retreat to my room like I'm being chased, seeking sleep.
Creep's up on the top bunk.
Every creak of the bed sends chills down my spine, snapping me awake.
I can't predict when she'll come down and pounce. Maybe she's waiting for me to fall asleep.
"Baby."
Just like that, Creep calls out to me in a clear voice. Her sticky tone drifts down through the bunk frame.
"Go to sleep quick. That way you can put up a good fight tomorrow too."
Creak—
Squeak—
Every time Creep shifts, the whole bed groans. The sound is so sharp and revolting.
"Gotta eat up everything Boss Scardi gives you nice and good... Got it? Don't leave any. Eat well, rest well. Yeah? Promise?"
Don't answer. Ignore her.
I'm fine. Creep can't break me.
"Oh, right. We forgot our goodnight kiss. Didn't we?"
Screech—
The bed shakes. She's climbing down.
"...Don't come closer."
"Why not? No one's watching. Want me to gargle first? Nah. Just a peck on the cheek. Okay?"
My nerves are on edge. With nothing around to defend myself, I clench my fists, bracing for the threat.
"I said don't come."
"Nope."
Even so, Creep boldly climbs onto my bed and places both hands on my cheeks.
"Wanna make it hard again, baby?"
I swat her hands away and nearly lunge again,
but I swallow my rage for a moment.
"...Fine, whatever. Do what you want."
"Huh? Oh? You're letting me?"
Think rationally.
I don't know how much longer I have to endure in this place.
If I fight every little thing tooth and nail, I'll end up losing everything without protecting a damn thing.
"...But if you touch down there, I'll kill you."
"Yeah, yeah, won't touch your dick. Don't worry. We did plenty today already. Gotta give our dickie a break if we want it raring to go tomorrow."
My body's defilement doesn't matter anymore. After all the times I've been had since coming here, I can't cling to some fantasy of purity.
"Aww~ So pretty. You're the best, baby. Mmm!"
Mwah—
Creep's lips touch my cheek.
It's not just pressing them there.
She gives a couple short pecks, then playfully nibbles with her lips.
"...Enough already!"
"Ahahaha! Okay~ Baby, don't get mad. I'm scared~"
I snap in frustration, and only then does Creep head back to her spot, looking satisfied.
I irritably wipe the saliva from my cheek and try to catch even a little sleep.
But I can't let my guard down.
If need be, I have to spring up and protect my body.
"What should we name the baby?"
No need to react to that lame provocation. Anger bubbles up inside, but even that's what she wants.
"How about we name it after our codenames? Sounds cool, like we came from overseas or something."
Thump thump—
The bed shakes. Like a girl sprawled out writing in her diary. Creep swings her legs cheerfully, rattling off names.
"Both start with [Cr], right? Cron? Pfft, hehe... Ahaha! Cron. So cute! Like Pororo's friend Cron."
"Or Cre...in? Crepas? Kshante? Cream pie?"
Words bursting with laughter.
She spills them out and giggles again.
"Just kidding. Don't worry. I've already got names picked out. I'll tell you later. Don't know if it's a boy or girl yet, so it's a secret."
And then, just like that,
she switches to a serious tone, revealing her true feelings.
"Raising a kid in a place like this is bad for their psyche. So let's sneak out before that. What do you say?"
Talk of breaking out?
Hearing that from Creep feels off.
Villains shouldn't be let out into the world.
They should rot away quietly here.
"We'll go together. Once we're out, you stay home with the baby, and I'll bring home the money. You cook with that. Doesn't have to taste good. I'll eat it all and say this."
What is she trying to say?
"It's delicious! Not bad at all!"
I don't get it.
Understanding her is too painful.
My head throbs.
Sleep is crashing over me.
"You're the best, baby..."
I need to catch some shut-eye.
"...See you next time."