Chapter 53 A First Heart-to-Heart Confession: Can Life Be Exchanged for Trust...?

Fimini remained in a waiting position, fast asleep on the sofa.

The brother who said he would be back soon betrayed him, and didn't open the door until the moon was high in the sky.

"Let go! Let go!"

They also brought back a very noisy cat.

"This is...Fimini? You brought us to your home?"

The voice quickly lowered, then quickly rose again:

"No Guan Linette allowed!"

"Calm down, brother."

The sound of water flowing intermittently came from inside the house, as if someone was repeatedly turning the switch on and off to test it.

"This looks like the legendary bathroom. I guess he means he wants me to take a bath."

"Take a shower? No need! We're perfectly clean!"

Sniff.

"...vomit."

While drowsily sleeping on the sofa, Fimi felt a void beneath her, as if she were being lifted up by her clothes by some large bird with sharp claws.

Click.

After the soft sound of the door closing, the stench of blood and the noise had nothing to do with the boy in the bedroom.

*

"Little sister, listen to me, we have to run!"

The two children took a bath and changed into new clothes, but Lynette still couldn't understand why Linnie looked so terrified.

"Mr. En is a good man, haven't you forgotten?"

There once were pink iridescent roses, softly clinging to his dark, sharp claws.

Don't ask too many questions—

Linni didn't answer, but just kept urging him with a pale face:

"In short, we, we must find a chance to escape quickly!"

Why?

"Even if you're leaving, you should still say thank you and goodbye properly."

"Didn't you say that he rescued us from the bad guys? Then we can't be rude."

"That's true, but—"

Human body fragments scattered all over the floor, large patches of blood on the walls, and fleshy mush hanging from the ceiling... How terrifying, how terrifying, how terrifying!

Aside from the words "how terrifying," Linni couldn't recall anything else.

Even if all the dead were indeed bad people, and the murderer was indeed shedding tears of repentance, so what?

That doesn't change the fact that he's a dangerous person!

The few lies told to the captain of the guard had exhausted all of the child's courage. Now, apart from the instinct to run away and survive, Linni had no other ability to think.

"It's still dark, and that little boy named Fimini hasn't woken up yet."

"Let's run while he's still taking a shower!"

"But... okay."

Although still puzzled, seeing Linnie trembling, Lynette found it hard to harden her heart.

"But you have to give me some time to leave a note. I want to leave a message for Mr. En to thank him for his help."

Lynette carefully flipped through the bookshelf, looking for a notebook she could write in:

"We also need to tell him that we might have to pay back the money for the new clothes later, because we don't have a single penny left...!"

Why did it stop?

Linni was extremely nervous, almost to the point of being on edge:

"Could it be that some dangerous item has been discovered!?"

For example, razor blades, poison needles, or other concealed weapons—ah!

"No, that's not it, I just discovered..."

Lynette was completely unaware of her brother's wild imagination. She simply put the book back in her hand and picked up another one.

"That's amazing."

After repeating it several times, she exclaimed in surprise:

"The bookshelves here are filled with fairy tales."

Huh?

It's just a fairy tale, nothing special.

Linni paused for a moment before replying:

"After all, there are young children in the family, so it's normal to collect more fairy tale books."

"They're all new."

Lynette added, her tone tinged with envy.

"I've barely seen it."

"!"

Linni looked up at the bookshelf, which was several times taller than her, and was filled to the brim with hundreds of books.

Are they all fairy tales?

He stepped forward, stood on tiptoe, pulled out a book, opened it, and stared blankly at the colorful illustrations that smelled of ink and paper.

Judging by its age, this definitely doesn't belong to Mr. En.

It turned out to be a little child.

"......"

You can have so many things of your own.

*

"Brother, let's go to another room. The windows here are locked; we can't open them and we can't escape."

The two siblings went down the corridor, opening doors one by one.

The first room was crammed full of toys.

"W-Can we even handle all of this?!"

Linni picked up a cardboard box in disbelief, wiped off the dust, and looked at the price.

"It might be a disguise, with firearms hidden inside—"

"Ugh ugh ugh—"

Linni, feeling dizzy and disoriented, put it back in its original place.

"That's enough to cover six months' worth of bread costs..."

"Wow."

Lynette gasped in surprise, her cat ears twitching:

"They even have little teacups for playing house! I really want to play with them."

"......"

"A pink mini castle! I want to play with it."

Damn it! Did you guys empty the toy store?!

If he kept performing magic tricks relentlessly, how long would it take him to buy Lynette that miniature castle...?

Linni dejectedly booked a second room.

This place is very simple.

There was nothing there except a few large cabinets.

"It looks like a storage room."

Lynette casually opened the cabinet door in a relaxed manner:

"It might be a place for storing food... Ah."

"What's wrong!?"

Linni remained on edge.

"Could there be a corpse hidden inside—?"

"......"

That's not the case.

After glancing at it, Linni also fell silent.

Children's clothes of all colors, sizes, styles, and seasons are neatly stacked in the wardrobe, ranging from five to fifteen years old.

Many of them showed no signs of being opened.

What are they doing?

That's too far ahead of its time.

"ah."

Lynette belatedly touched the brand-new pants on her legs:

"I was wondering why Mr. En would bring out such well-fitting clothes."

“We are all much bigger than Fimi.”

"......"

After a moment of silence, Linni quietly closed the door to the room.

Damn it, damn it!

I wasn't envious at all, not at all!

"Brother, let's go to the next room."

Once I've worked hard and earned money performing magic tricks, I can buy Lynette even more beautiful dresses than this!

He angrily opened the door to the next room.

"Wow."

Almost the instant the door opened, Lynette let out a small gasp.

"I like this place."

The room was large and divided in two by a barrier.

Half of the room was covered in light blue bedding, with dark blue curtains, soft-light potted plants, and tables and chairs cleverly carved into the shape of cats.

"What...this is!?"

The other half of the room features a red and black color scheme, with a bed decorated with card patterns, and images of free-flying birds and fire, as well as ribbons and flowers, visible everywhere.

Oh my god.

Linni opened the drawer and even saw many expensive magic props inside.

"Why--"

A surge of joy welled up within me, along with a sense of doubt.

Why is the design of this room almost exactly in line with our preferences?

Linni walked to the table and sat down, only to find that even the height of the children's chair was a perfect match for her own height.

Then, rummaging through the other side of the blue wardrobe, you'll find that every pair of blue trousers has a hole hand-cut in the back for a tail.

"......"

The joy gradually faded.

Instead, there was a profound sense of fear.

*

After Linnie and Linette, Mainkuhn was the third to enter the bathroom.

The warm, humid air was uncomfortable.

He grabbed the switch and turned it all the way to the right.

Cold water was poured over his face to remove the smell of blood and alcohol.

But it cannot shatter the confused heart and the chaotic mind.

Mainkuen stared blankly at the perforated front of the showerhead, his mind drifting back to the poems of his childhood.

Rain, the fairest thing in the world.

[He waters the field of the righteous, and also the field of the unrighteous.]

[Thanks to the merciful rain, which satiates all.]

The singer is probably Mondstadt's brother; he often talks about freedom, wine, wind, love, flowers, and Barbatos.

Those things he never possessed.

What was my answer to him?

Whether I am righteous or unrighteous.

The water dripped onto my tail and seeped into my thick fur.

"They're colder and harder to dry than your hair."

So the rain wasn't fair to me.

"......"

I understood this principle when I was a child, so why have I forgotten it now?

Mainkun turned off the shower, stroked the water off the cat's short tail, and wiped the fur off its ears.

Then I put on clothes, a new scarf and mask to cover the scars on my neck and the lower half of my face.

Two children were sitting on the sofa, waiting.

Fear, surprise, worry, confusion—all sorts of emotions surged directly into the half-demon's bloodline.

"Mr. En—"

He heard the boy ask in a drawn-out, trembling voice:

"When did you begin observing us?"

"......"

"So much so that you know everything about my sister and me?"

Ah, ah.

Looks like we've found the room.

The half-demon lowered his eyes with affection, his vertical pupils meeting the trembling purple pupils of the other.

Little Linnie, Little Linette.

Just as you would try to share bread with me.

When a wild animal catches its prey, how can it not share it with its pack and family?

I once wished to share the land with you and spend the winter with you.

But that was an invitation that was not intended to be spoken aloud.

Because I also know myself in human form.

It's dangerous, and it has nothing to do with you.

Answer me!

The little black-spotted kitten bared its teeth and claws, its growls sounding childish and genuine:

“I know everything! I was the only witness who escaped last night! So whatever your intentions may be!”

"Release my sister!"

"Brother, calm down!"

The white-tailed cat, unable to hide its panic, flattened its ears and grabbed Linni's hand:

"There must be some misunderstanding—"

What admirable courage!

Mainkun looked at his trembling legs and sweaty hair, and almost wanted to stick out his tongue to lick his forehead.

What a pitiful child.

From Linni's perspective, all he could see was those piercing golden eyes blinking very slowly, like a cat making a gesture of goodwill.

Then, he raised his hand and jumped lightly, reaching for a gun on the top of the furniture that Fimini couldn't reach.

"Click".

And I got insurance.

"!!!"

Linnie sprang up instantly, shielding Linette with his small body.

"Linnie!"

But this time, unlike at the police station, he prevailed over his sister behind him, preventing her from rushing to the front again.

"Come on, you bastard!"

He roared, but tears of fear welled up in his eyes:

"Shoot!"

"Take back the life you saved!"

The roar quickly turned into whimpers, and then into a pathetic show of weakness:

"Linette really didn't see anything..."

well.

Even if I could speak and explain freely, I'm afraid you wouldn't listen.

The gun danced between Maine's black, sharp claws, creating a dazzling display of silver light.

*Smack*

Finally, gently place it in the little magician's hand.

"Woo-woo?"

Driven by the human instinct for survival, Linni gripped his weapon and pointed it at the beast's head without hesitation.

As for the beast, he simply knelt down gently, holding the gun barrel between his eyes.

"We must be steady."

Linni, my dear little friend.

If this puts your mind at ease.

I will allow you to shoot me.

Hurt me.

Then, hold my remains and rest in peace.

"you--"

Father, Mother, I hate you.

Gods, fate, I hate you.

I hate you for making me live in this unfair world.

I hate you all for making me put in a hundred times, even a thousand times, more effort to dissect and expose my crimson heart time and time again.

Only then can one be qualified to walk alongside humanity.

"Are you crazy!?"

The continuous shocks, exhaustion, fear, and despair finally broke the young brother.

It was as if they had finally confirmed something, as if they had finally found someone they could trust.

Linni threw the gun away and kicked it far, far away.

"You're crazy! You idiot! You moron! You bastard!"

Before he could utter many curses, he quickly fell straight forward, landing in the arms of Mainkuen, who was kneeling in front of him.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, leaned against his shoulder, and fell asleep exhausted.

World, you should all come and see this love-starved bastard.

Through the mask and scarf, Mainkun smelled Linni, whose body no longer carried a trace of fear, and listened to his steady and peaceful heartbeat.

For such a hug.

I would give my life for it.