episode_0012

“…!”

Noah’s expression contorted fiercely. His upper body was covered with countless scars that couldn’t be counted with both hands.

“You, this…”

I momentarily flinched at Noah’s low voice.

“Huh? Oh, this… It’s the experiment marks I mentioned at the restaurant earlier, it doesn’t hurt at all! It just looks fierce, that’s all.”

As he said that, he inwardly chuckled happily.

“Heh, friends are truly great. They worry about things like this.”

In the world of comedy, there was hardly anything to worry about unless it was a big deal (and even if you died, you often sprang up during the funeral). Even in serious situations, the only comfort was “Cheer up.”

“Of course… handsome guys can worry all day long…”

Superficiality existed in any world. Even when I was in school, girls ran towards me like a dump truck, saying they were going to meet the prince of the school and hit me as they passed by.

At that time, I broke two ribs and sprained my ankle, and I was hospitalized for three days.

Having lived such a life, Noah’s worries felt too warm.

“You’re my best friend. Really!”

“Even if I succeed later, don’t forget that feeling!” I chuckled contentedly while thinking such thoughts, but Noah’s expression showed no signs of easing.

“Do you expect me to believe that?”

“Uh… oh, right! I didn’t say that!”

Come to think of it, I had never properly explained the fact that my body was different from others.

I immediately clapped my hands and picked up the scissors lying on the bedside table.

It was the scissors I had used yesterday to mend Nero’s clothes. I picked up the scissors and grabbed some old fabric piled up in one corner of the room.

“In reality, my body is very different from others. Fatal wounds aren’t a big deal for me. Like this—”

Thunk!

I lightly pricked the back of my hand with scissors. Just like cutting tofu, the scissors smoothly went in.

This is evidence that a comedy filter is being applied. It’s unbelievable for the scissors to pierce so easily when there are clearly hard bones and muscles in the back of the hand. However, in the world of comedy, the back of the hand is pierced smoothly only to express funny situations.

Blood gushed frighteningly, I quickly moved the scissors away and covered the wound with fabric. Then I thought to myself,

“Oh, I might die like this!”

Thinking so, I burst into tears. The blood stopped at once.

In the world of comedy, if you think “Hehe, I’m perfectly fine!” usually a huge signboard falls from the sky. On the contrary, if you make a fuss saying “Oh, I’m dying!” the wound tends to heal quickly. Of course, it varies depending on the situation, but in this case, “I’m dying” was effective.

As I expected, when I removed the fabric, clean skin appeared. Of course, the skin was slightly reddened with some blood sticking to it.

This will disappear over time.

“Sss-…”

Just as I was about to say “tch!”, Noah, who had been standing there with a vacant look, rushed over and grabbed my hand.

“What, what are you doing right now..!”

Noah carefully held my hand as if holding fragile glass with trembling hands. He looked at my blood-soaked hand.

I awkwardly smiled and showed him the wounded part.

“Look, it’s already healed. So don’t worry -”

“Don’t talk nonsense! It doesn’t hurt just because it heals fast!”

Surprised by Noah’s outburst, I flinched, rolled my eyes, and shrugged my shoulders.

“I, it doesn’t really hurt. Just a little sting? It hurts less than static electricity!”

In the world of comedy, I suddenly remembered the fact that there is a high probability of being struck by lightning when static electricity occurs, but I quickly erased it from my mind.

“It’s not that painful, and it’ll heal quickly, so you don’t have to worry.”

“…”

Noah breathed roughly, his face flushed, as if a torrent of curses would pour out.

“I-I’m not okay at all. Everything’s gone wrong.”

Gripping my shoulders roughly, Noah stared at me with eyes that seemed ready to burst into tears.

“It hurts, doesn’t it? Even if others mock your body recklessly, saying it’s nothing and will heal soon, it can’t be allowed!”

At Noah’s words, my mind broke down. Countless moments from the world of comedy flashed through my head.

“Ugh…”

“…!”

Tears began to flow like a waterfall from my eyes. I embraced Noah tightly and said, “Noah, you’re such a good guy, huuuuh!”

Surely Noah was an angel sent from heaven! In that moment, I made up my mind.

From today, I will break free from the support relationship and become one with Noah. An attack on Noah will be considered an attack on me!

As I poured out tears in my heart, Noah, who had been stiff, relaxed and embraced me.

“Huff, even though a guy is embracing another guy without kicking him away…”

Noah, how much of an angel are you!

***

Noah bit his lip while gently patting the crying Lian’s back.

“…What should I do?”

Since surviving alone with my younger brother Nero, ‘survival’ has been the most important thing for Noah.

In the kingdom fallen into the hands of the demon king, ‘pity’ was a luxury.

To survive, Noah had to turn away from children like Nero. No, he had no choice but to turn away.

There was no way to help but to let the children be sold and die. Noah was able to survive by turning away from countless deaths and protecting his younger brother.

He thought he could do more for his younger brother. His belief that he could even commit murder was distorted into confusion by a man who was sobbing with the belief that if Ryan didn’t undergo the experiment, Nero might have to.

For the sake of “survival,” he had to turn away from Ryan. He had to be content with his acceptance of “sacrifice” and watch. But Noah couldn’t do that.

He couldn’t firmly turn away from Ryan, who showed happiness despite being covered in wounds. But even if he didn’t turn away, there was nothing Noah could do for him.

He couldn’t become an experimental subject in his place, nor could he offer other children as experimental subjects.

Noah felt suffocated by the helplessness coming from that gap. It felt like the despair one feels when facing something that simply cannot be resolved was creeping up around his throat.

At that moment, Ryan pushed Noah’s shoulder and fell. With bright red eyes that he couldn’t hide, he smiled brightly and said,

“Sob, thank you, Noah. I’ll work hard on my experiments and meals from now on.”

“Why?! Isn’t it natural not to be ridiculed by others?”

“But still, it’s hard for anyone else. Besides, they’re all so young.”

…!

Ryan seemed to smile with such nonchalance that Noah wondered if he was the same person who had been crying just a moment ago. In the eyes that met his, Noah encountered something he had never seen before.

The “adult gaze” that it is only natural to protect weak and young children stared directly at Noah. Stiffened, Noah blankly gazed at Ryan.

“I’ll do my best in experiments and cooking, so Noah, please take care of the children as much as possible.”

To Noah, who always bristled to protect his younger brother, Ryan seemed to whisper like this.

I will protect you, let’s protect the precious person together.

For Noah, who had to mature at a very young age, it was such a sweet word.

If she could be deceived by his affectionate smile and overlook her guilt and sin towards him, she would be able to rely on him and receive his care.

She would be able to escape from countless responsibilities.

If Noah had been a more mature and experienced adult, he would have scolded Lianne more and argued with her, but she was too young.

“…Yes, let’s work hard together.”

Noah made a decision that he would regret for the rest of his life.

***

“Why doesn’t anything work out as I want it to!”

Doban threw the poison he had made onto the floor.

“Ah… the path to creating a masterpiece is truly harsh. The whole world is hindering me so much!”

Thud, thump!

He stomped on the poison scattered on the floor. Still not relieved, he approached the girl lying on the ground.

“Why won’t it come off!”

“Sob…”

The girl, whose body was soaked in all kinds of poison to the point where she seemed like mud, lay sprawled with unfocused eyes, then flew away after being kicked by Doban.

“If only you had beautiful skin, I could create a truly beautiful piece of work!”

Doban turned around confidently. At the end of his gaze stood a chimera composed of various bodies.

“Phew, phew… It won’t work. I have to find that poison after all!”

Despite having fine skin and soft hair, the girl couldn’t become a beautiful piece of work due to her emaciated and small body.

Thus, Doban tried to make his most cherished chimera even more beautiful by peeling off its scalp and skin. However, this attempt failed to yield a pleasing result. This was because the poison did not affect the girl as expected.

Of course, it didn’t completely fail, but he couldn’t peel off the skin as smoothly as he wanted.

“…I’m sure Mia said she bought the last remaining stock, didn’t she?”

Doban blinked and muttered.

“I should meet her after a long time.”