Irel was surprised by the unexpected words. She stared at Lane, not knowing how to react.
Popping, popping—
At that moment, a light sound of footsteps came from somewhere. It sounded like the footsteps of a small puppy.
But in this magnificent yet evil mansion, there is no way a creature as adorable as a puppy could exist. If it's a two-headed monster dog, you're lucky.
“It's him… he came to find me!”
Hearing those footsteps, Lane suddenly turned pale and trembled.
“He again, wants to ruin me… wants to push me into loneliness again…!!”
"What's wrong, Lane? Are you okay?"
Irel asked, but received no answer. Lane seemed to have completely lost his temper, unable to think clearly. Reluctantly, Irel turned toward the approaching sound and raised her voice in caution.
“Who is there?”
No response. Instead, across the flower bed, a small blonde girl suddenly appeared.
Maybe she's only about ten years old? It was a beautiful child like a doll, completely out of place here. At least, she doesn't seem to be the "man" Lane is afraid of.
"Hello."
Irel spoke to greet the girl first. Finding a creature as harmless as a child in this gloomy place made her feel somewhat cleansed.
The girl stopped a short distance away, staring this way. His green eyes sparkled like glass marbles in the sunlight. Looking closely at the girl's eyes, Irel suddenly noticed a strange point.
'Why doesn't the Sign of Goodwill appear?'
According to her experience, notifications about the other person's information or liking level often appear when their eyes meet. Especially, that always happens when facing a stranger for the first time.
But in front of this girl, Irel did not see any signs of sympathy or personal information. Confused, Irel still tried to ask in the gentlest tone.
“Who are you?”
The girl still pursed her lips and did not respond. That almost expressionless face seemed to have no intention of talking.
"I'm not a bad person. Um... let's get acquainted, shall we? I'm Irel Elorance."
Irel slowly extended his hand, wanting to calm the girl's guard. At that moment, Lane, who was still trembling behind him, let out a scream.
“Don't touch! Don't, don't come closer
that thing
!!”
"Huh?"
And then. The girl was standing motionless, gently moving her pink lips.
“Stay away.”
“What did you just say…?”
“Quickly stay away from my things.”
The girl's voice had no intonation at all. Furthermore, it lacks the “nuance” that is often present in the human voice. It felt as if something non-human was imitating the voice.
“What exactly are you?”
Sensing the abnormality, Irel's voice lowered. However, the girl didn't answer, just walked past her.
Popping, popping, popping. Those feather-light footsteps headed towards Lane. Watching the girl get closer, Lane became even whiter and panted as if he was about to faint. Seeing this, Irel felt the need to intervene.
“Wait, stop!”
Driven by urgency, her hands acted before her reason. The moment he touched the girl's small shoulder, Irel intuitively realized something was extremely wrong.
It feels very strange to the touch. Not something alive and moving, but like touching a hollow paper doll. Even as a little girl, this feeling was completely unusual.
“You, after all…”
Irel was startled and withdrew his hand. Immediately, her body felt like
creak
for a moment, then collapsed to the floor.
That's right. Not falling, but literally
collapse
. Irel looked down at the girl in shock at the strange, unprecedented phenomenon. But it's not over yet.
Flush, swish—
The sound of something as thin as silk rubbing against the ground rang out. At the same time, the girl's body that fell to the floor began to move, little by little. Like being pulled by an invisible thread.
Irel raised her head, towards the place where the strange sound was coming from and her body was shifting. There, under the wall, was a dimly dark corner where not even sunlight reached.
Therefore, Irel was a beat late in realizing it. That in that dark corner, there has always been a person sitting huddled up.
“W-Who's there?”
Instead of answering, the person who raised his head was a man with beautiful navy blue hair. His face is quite handsome, but his gloomy and dark expression makes him absolutely unsympathetic.
His arms kept moving slowly. At first, she didn't know what he was doing, but soon understood. The man was quietly winding up the thread.
Flush, swish—
Every time he moved his hand, the girl's body on the floor was pulled in a little. Like a puppet with strings.
Having rolled up the thread, the man raised his head. His face was neat, but chillingly cold. Only his inky black eyes glowed dimly, full of hostility.
[Pessuss Ha Mash: Current signs of affection –100]
“Stay away from my things.”
At the same time the information flashed before my eyes, the girl—no, the doll—in the man's hand moved her lips slightly. Irel paused before that monstrosity, unconsciously stepping back.
“No, don't go. Please…”
But Lane held her shirt tightly with trembling hands, making it impossible for her to do anything. While Irel stopped hesitantly, the man gave a final warning.
“Let's just say this in words.”
“Stop, please!!”
Right at that moment. Lane, who had only known fear until now, suddenly screamed like crazy.
"Please stop causing trouble!! In the end, you are satisfied with how much you want to isolate me!!!"
The scream was so loud that Irel was startled and covered his ears. Turning around, she saw tears rolling down Lane's wide, tear-filled eyes.
"Don't touch Irel! Don't hurt her!!"
Before that pitiful cry, the blue-haired man briefly glanced at Lane. Even though it was just a feeling, it seemed like his expressionless eyes had slightly deformed.
However, his cold gaze quickly turned back to Irel. As the man stared at her with dark eyes and moved his fingers, Irel suddenly realized.
‘Dangerous.’
Her body sensed danger before her mind. Senses
Receiver
that she didn't even know she was screaming, stirring up power
Masaka
inside.
At the same time, the doll in the man's hand disappeared in the blink of an eye.
"Are not!!"
Along with Lane's shrill scream, something rushed forward. Looking at the streak of silver light passing in front of her, Irel unconsciously raised her hand and shrank back.
'It's been cut.'
Just thinking that, her chest suddenly felt hot. She was startled and thought she was cut by the blade, but luckily it wasn't.
Looking blankly forward, she saw
gulp
With a bang, something fell to the floor. That was the doll the man had just held. The amazing thing is that it has transformed from a small girl into a grown woman, with long joints folded, lying miserably.
‘Oh my God!’
Irel turned pale when she saw the horrifying weapon resembling a scythe in that doll's hand. She almost lost her life in the blink of an eye. Clearly, this man's capacity is
puppet show
, control the doll.
But it wasn't just Irel who was surprised. Finally, an expression appeared on the man's dry face. Although faint, it was clearly confusion.
“…How did you block my attack?”
Finally, the man spoke for himself. His voice was not much different from the voice coming from the doll, but at least it gave a feeling
human
more.
“I have never seen this before.”
Irel also didn't understand what was going on. But the feeling of coldness and then warmth gradually spreading to my chest was very familiar. Surely her body had unconsciously activated her power
Receiver
when you sense danger.
‘But there is no need to explain it to him.’
Not even for someone who just wanted to use a scythe to attack him. Just as Irel thought that, a side quest window appeared
ting
appeared before her eyes.
[Ting! The side quest ‘I Thought I Was Normal, Turns Out I Was Competent?’ has been added.]
[Side quest ‘I Thought I Was Normal, Turns Out I Was Competent?’: Unleash the Receiver's potential, neutralize Masaka's power three times (0/3). Special rewards will be given upon success.]
‘The reward… is special?’
This was the first time that text wasn't a 'random reward' like usual. The change in content made Irel's eyes shine differently.
‘I have a feeling it will give me something extremely important.’
But right now, she needed to focus on the man in front of her. Not receiving the desired answer from Irel, he moved his fingers, preparing for the next attack.
His movements were like a necromancer breathing soul into a corpse. The doll is lying on the floor, seemingly broken.
sizzling
Bend your arms and legs, then slowly stand up.
Seeing that scene, Irel felt wary, she tried to use her ability again, but unlike last time, her chest did not heat up.
‘Damn it.’
Unfortunately, her abilities are still not perfect. She can only neutralize Masaka's power once.
“Please, Pessuss… don't hurt Irel.”
Lane crawled on the ground, blocking Irel's face and begging. Witnessing with his own eyes the scene of her almost dying, Lane's face was blurred with tears.
“I warned you, Lane.”
But the man named Pessuss did not back down. His cold voice was filled with emotion
monopolize
and
selfish
towards Lane.
“Behave yourself.”
"Oh my god, Pessuss!! I'm not one of your damn dolls!!!"
Lane, pushed to his emotional limit, cried and screamed. Immediately, Pessuss uttered an ice-cold sentence.
“How dare you oppose, you despicable Receiver.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the doll picked up the huge scythe again. Of course, the tip of that green scythe pointed straight towards Irel.
“I will show you the consequences of disobeying my orders.”