Ch.202Futri’s Stage (6)

# 202. Futri’s Stage (6)

It was about time. Though I flinched several times while washing, my body was cleaner than ever. I had scrubbed my clothes thoroughly while bathing, and while they dried, I deliberately kept moving by cleaning the house that was practically abandoned. I was trying to maintain just enough activity to have a slight flush on my face without breaking into a full sweat.

Snow White had apparently been diligent in maintaining the nearly abandoned house as best she could, but if I put my mind to it, I could find plenty more to clean.

After warming my body just enough, I put on my slightly damp clothes loosely, maintaining my current state while staying alert for when and where the assassin Lesar might appear.

If I zoned out, I could be killed before I even had a chance to persuade him.

‘The persuasion route was difficult at first to figure out the conditions, and even after learning them, it was a route often overlooked because other routes were easier or faster, but…’

Even someone who wasn’t confident in one-on-one combat could clear this route at a similar level to the reverse-kill route if they were dedicated enough, though it took longer. I kept reassuring myself that my choice wasn’t wrong.

I needed to pee from nervousness, but if Lesar jumped out while I was relieving myself, it would be a pathetic way to die, so I held it in and continued my meaningless mopping.

*Creeeeak-*

Though I appeared to be mopping, I was actually on high alert, which allowed me to barely hear the sound of wood creaking.

If Snow White’s house had been in slightly better condition, or if I had been even a little less focused…

“How, how could such a girl…”

If Snow White’s backside had been even slightly less attractive, or if my startled face as I turned around at the sudden creaking sound had been even slightly less to Lesar’s taste.

Lesar would have cursed himself for making a mistake unworthy of a top hunter and taken my life without saying a word.

The very fact that he “spoke” with a surprised expression upon seeing my face was proof of that!

‘At least I’ve prevented instant death!’

Now I just needed to act naturally, as I had been doing.

“Kyaaaa!”

Kyaaaa? Fuck my life.

“Oh my.”

“W-w-who are you?”

Seeing me perfectly demonstrate the appropriate reaction of a fragile young girl living alone who discovers an intruder suddenly appearing from inside the house rather than through the door, the masked Lesar visibly became genuinely flustered.

“…”

“I-I don’t know w-who you are, b-but th-this is m-my house.”

“Young lady.”

“Eek!”

I am Snow White. I am Snow White. I am Snow White.

Perhaps because I was so immersed in the role, when I heard Lesar’s voice, I genuinely felt chills throughout my body.

It wasn’t because Lesar’s appearance or voice was repulsive. Both were quite ordinary.

It was just… the aura Lesar exuded. That emotionless, heavy blade-like voice dripping with blood, characteristic of someone who views people as prey.

Against my will, Snow White’s fragile body trembled like an aspen leaf.

Perhaps my gestures and expressions looked too pitiful.

Lesar took a step back and raised both hands.

“Nameless young lady. Would you first listen to what I have to say?”

“Hic.”

“First, I apologize for entering your home without permission.”

When I continued to show signs of fear and surprise instead of responding with inadequate words, Lesar hastily apologized.

How much must Snow White have been to his taste for a first-class assassin to stop mid-assassination and apologize to his target? If the stepmother were watching, she’d be furious, but from my perspective, this was the best possible development.

‘Actually, Snow White would be incredibly beautiful regardless of taste, as long as you’re not exclusively into busty older women.’

Still, my women are prettier, but anyway, Lesar continued speaking.

“I was sent by the Queen.”

“By the… Queen?”

“Have you perhaps wronged the Queen in some way?”

“H-how could someone like me ever…”

Lesar nodded. It made no sense that someone as lowly as me could have wronged, let alone met, the Queen (stepmother) who was shut away in the royal palace.

“Young lady. Please don’t be alarmed and listen to what I have to say.”

“Y-yes?”

“I am an assassin sent by the Queen to take your life.”

Lesar, this bastard, was being unexpectedly direct despite the good flow of conversation. Momentarily stunned, I belatedly tried to back away as if to escape.

“Kyaaa!?”

“Please wait.”

The distance closed instantly as Lesar blocked my path and grabbed my wrist. He seemed to be trying to hold it as gently as possible, but Snow White was such a delicate girl that intense pain immediately shot through my wrist.

“Ow!”

“Oh, I’m sorry. But young lady.”

“W-what did I do wrong… what did I do wrong…”

Collapsing to the floor, I clutched my already reddening wrist and whimpered pitifully with my eyes tightly shut. This was the perfect moment to shed tears. But no tears came.

‘Subin’s false world! Think about that.’

So I forced myself to imagine something sad and desperate. Just imagining all my women being harmed and dying was enough to make tears flow naturally.

“When I received the Queen’s orders, I was already puzzled. But now that I see you in person, I understand.”

As I sobbed while waiting for Lesar’s reaction, he reached into his pocket. Thinking the flow might suddenly turn bad despite going so well, I tensed up and prepared to flee, but…

“Young lady, you are definitely not someone who should die at my hands in a place like this.”

What Lesar pulled out wasn’t a dagger, but an elegant box engraved with a heart impaled on a sword.

“Th-that is.”

“The Queen ordered me to bring back your heart in this box.”

“…hic.”

Though I knew this line, hearing it directly from Lesar’s face was utterly chilling. Lesar was probably trying to speak as gently as possible, but his naturally dry tone made it worse.

And this was the final hurdle.

“I am a failure as an assassin. I am committing an act that an assassin should never do because I am captivated by your beauty.”

“…”

“Despite the fact that the people I’ve killed until now didn’t particularly deserve to die, I killed them for payment from the Queen. I should rightfully kill you too, but I find myself unable to.”

“I, I…”

“Young lady. I must return with a heart in this box. Paradoxically, because I do not wish to die myself.”

Originally, without such conversation, the assassin would take pity on Snow White, put a pig’s heart in the box, and present it to the stepmother pretending it was Snow White’s real heart.

But the assassin here doesn’t just do that on his own. In a way, even while making mistakes because he’s smitten with Snow White’s appearance, he hasn’t completely forgotten his duty.

So I had to suggest the method.

“I-I don’t want to die either…”

“Young lady.”

“I’m scared… it hurts… it’s unfair…”

“…”

“Can’t you help me…?”

I am Snow White. I am Snow White. I am Snow White.

At this moment, I truly became Snow White and sincerely begged the assassin for my life.

In the form of the most beautiful girl in the world, with a pitiful expression and a plaintive tone that would drive anyone mad if they didn’t help and protect me.

I could see Lesar’s eyes wavering slightly. Seizing the opportunity, I pressed my attack again.

“It doesn’t have to be my heart…”

“The Queen may be cruel, but she’s not a fool.”

“T-the butcher told me that p-pig hearts are similar in size to human hearts…”

Instead of shouting that as a hunter and assassin, he should obviously know this, I invoked the name of a butcher I’d never even met.

This was because Lesar had only identified himself as an “assassin.” And it would seem strange for a girl who looked incapable of killing even an insect, let alone a person, to suggest killing a pig instead because their hearts looked similar.

“A pig’s heart, a pig’s heart, you say.”

“Please spare me… I’ll never forget this… hic.”

This was the limit of my crying. A beautiful woman’s tears were a powerful weapon, but overusing them in a short time would rapidly diminish their effectiveness.

So I deliberately met Lesar’s eyes once for a long moment, then bowed my head as if in resignation.

In the room where only anxious, rough breathing remained, the words that would determine my fate—no, the fate of the Engineering Department—rang out.

“Young lady. I will take your blood instead.”