episode_0013

Anna distanced herself like that.

Fortunately, she didn’t show up at the store even once for over a week.

It’s a relief since there won’t be another scene of bloodshed at the inn.

However, rumors and questions about her still filled the inn.

Guests were curious about when she would return or why she spared my life.

Each time, I simply replied, “I don’t know. She’s a woman who could disappear anywhere.”

With each mention, I too found myself curious about her whereabouts.

Is she out there taking on contracts to kill people again?

I can only hope that I won’t become her next target.

I returned home with a bag full of beer.

Since I had run out of stout making Black Velvet, I decided to take some back with me.

Recently, I received my first paycheck.

Of course, the manager, Jiwook, divided it as the boss was absent.

For my significant contribution to saving the store, I received double my usual salary, totaling 2.2 million won.

With this money, I paid off the overdue management fees in one go.

The issue lies with the overdue rent.

Let’s… think about the rent slowly.

Fortunately, given the current circumstances, there were tenants who couldn’t even pay the management fees, and the landlord seemed grateful for receiving the fees at least once.

Thanks to this, I now have the luxury of hot water in the bathtub.

As soon as I arrived home, I shed my stifling clothes.

The habit I’ve had since I was a man remains unchanged here.

I fill the bathtub with hot water in a tank top.

The rising warm steam seems to relax my tense body involuntarily.

Once the water reaches a certain level, I close the bathroom door.

Then, with small, thick feet, I dip into the water.

Perfect.

For the first time after possessing, I immerse myself in hot water.

A delightful warmth spreads throughout my body from my toes.

Enchanted by the sensation, I lay down in the tub.

Gazing at my protruding knees, I drift into thought.

Should I continue living as an inn NPC?

I’ve been too busy to register as a healer with the Hunter Association.

But ironically, this led to the image of incompetence, ultimately proving helpful for survival.

Now, the thought of my abilities being exposed to the world worries me.

Especially if Anna finds out…

She only knows that I helped her with Black Velvet by chance.

If she discovers that I peeked into her memories and intentionally created them…

I probably won’t meet a pleasant end.

I might experience something more agonizing than death.

Just thinking of her stern face sends shivers down my spine.

I raise my submerged hands from the water.

Since we’re on the topic of hunters, let’s organize the effects of my abilities.

First, peeking into someone’s memories.

Second, showing happy memories when in contact with someone.

And these abilities apply to me as well.

Not some teenage daydream, having such abilities.

I chuckle while looking at my palm.

Is this due to pent-up desires?

Even if it doesn’t seem apparent, everyone harbors inherent desires.

Including me, a desire I didn’t even know existed.

Perhaps it’s the foggy bathtub’s fault.

While on the subject, I decide to try using Angelic Hand.

A faint light emanates from my fingertips.

I place that light directly on my neck.

I know it’s a futile fantasy.

But I want to see my sister’s face again after so long.

Even if it’s just a fantasy.

If I receive comfort from her, perhaps I can muster the will to live a little longer in this harsh world.

With that thought in mind, I sink into the illusion of Angelic Hand.

Gradually, my body loses strength, and I slump.

My mind becomes distant as if intoxicated.

“…”

What’s happening?

I can’t see the moment I should be seeing in the illusion.

Before me, all I see is still the bathroom ceiling.

What is this… Is the skill not working properly?

I grimaced and sat up.

“—!”

Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through my right wrist.

Following the pain, I turned my gaze.

“What is this…”

My right wrist was handcuffed to the bathtub handle.

Feeling the cold touch, my mind cleared up.

First, let’s carefully examine my body.

I was wearing a tank top over a white shirt before taking it off.

Below, I had on short shorts from home, damp with water from the tub.

“I should be having a happy fantasy, why is this happening…”

My heart started pounding loudly.

Did I use my ability incorrectly?

Or could someone have broken into my house and restrained me while I was using the skill?

If so, then who…

Footsteps were heard from the bathroom door.

Familiar clicking sounds.

I knew that sound.

No, I couldn’t forget it.

“No way…”

The door opened.

A familiar yet dark figure in black boots stepped on the bathroom tiles.

Slowly raising my head to follow the gaze, I saw smooth abs and a white tank top under black work pants, revealing black underwear inside.

Although I hadn’t seen the face yet, I knew.

“Hello.”

Anna.

How did she know where I live?

She casually approached me, still bound.

Then she sat on the edge of the tub.

“Did you sleep well?”

“What is this now… This is trespassing.”

“Do you think I care about that?”

Anna twirled the handcuff key around her finger.

In a moment of distraction, she accidentally dropped it into the drain.

The key precariously hung on the edge, glinting.

Pull yourself together.

This must be a fantasy.

This can’t be real.

“What do you want exactly… You’re not here to kill me, right?”

As I asked, Anna looked at me as if observing a fish in an aquarium.

“Yes, it’s too early to kill you.”

Her gentle hand reached for the tap.

As her hand touched the knob, the tub quickly filled with noisy water.

“I told you. Before killing you. I’ll undress you first.”

I never expected her method to be this crude.

Soon, my back and feet began to soak in the cold water.

“That look of not fearing death. Today, everything will shatter.”

Anna leaned in close to me.

Her stray hair tickled my chest.

“You’re truly insane.”

Anna seemed to have been waiting for that remark, smiling mischievously.

Then she grabbed my chin.

“I’m curious. Can you still make that bold expression even before dying?”

Was it because of the cold water, or was it her madness?

My whole body shuddered.

I tried to push it away by squinting harder.

But Anna showed no signs of disgust or discomfort.

She simply released her grip on my chin as if pushing me off a cliff.

At that moment, I slowly sank into the water-filled tub.

From my hair to my cheeks.

From my cheeks to my lips.

Finally, water flowed into my nose.

I gasped for air, resisting the rising water.

“Don’t do this… What do you gain from killing me…!”

Anna’s face contorted in ecstasy.

Her lips twitched like a fisherman reeling in a catch.

She reached out to grab the fish.

And just before striking down with the knife, she pushed my neck further into the tub as if anchoring the gills.

It was a gentle push, but it felt excruciatingly painful, as if being stabbed with a knife.

This lunatic, she really intends to kill me…

Different from the fake psycho villains seen in movies.

Only now could I rid myself of the arrogance of thinking I had impressed her with alcohol.

To survive, I kicked Anna, twisted my body around, trying everything.

But the more vigorously I moved, the more exhausted I became, like a hooked fish.

My body soon became a mess.

My arms only had bruises from hitting the bathtub, and my completely soaked shirt pulled me further into sleep.

In the pouring cold water, I barely reach out my arm.

My tightly shut mouth finally opens.

“Save me.”

I desperately form the words with my mouth.

But Anna’s hand still pushes me into the bathtub.

In the rippling water, I look at her face.

Anna’s lips say ‘again.’

“Save me…”

“Say it again.”

The whole world flows away.

Now she doesn’t even look human anymore.

“Please save me…”

Every time I unconsciously mutter, she lifts me a little more out of the tub.

Before long, her lips come close to my ear and whisper.

“More.”

My head is drenched, water clinging to my face, and the swallowed water trickles down.

Having given up everything, I manage to utter five words.

“Please save me…”

Only then does Anna smile kindly.

She delicately embraces my face and lifts my foot into the bathtub.

Then slowly, we both lie down in the tub together.

Soon the damp water starts soaking her clothes.

Frozen, I cling to Anna.

As my hot body touches her chest, the warmth seems to transfer to her.

Thanks to this, her once cold chest now feels warm and soft.

Her warmth makes my body hypersensitive.

“Next time you come to kill. You should make this expression.”

The killer whispers as if talking to a baby.

My wildly beating heart calms down at those words.

I didn’t want to acknowledge the uncomfortable sense of calm and pleasure.

Internally, I curse Anna hundreds of times.

Feeling such similar emotions towards this insane murderer instead of Jisoo-noona is absurd.

This is just fake emotion elicited through torture.

I tightly shut my eyes.

Yet Anna’s faint breathing still tickles my ears.

As if exploring my hypersensitive body, she presses her nose against my shoulder and takes a deep breath.

All I can do in my helplessness is curl my body tighter.

But the moment her nose touches my neck, a shiver runs through me.

Being violated like this, I soon lose consciousness.

I didn’t want to feel that conflicting and eerie sensation while sober.

So, I turned off my abilities.

I rose from the hot water.

Whether due to the lengthy bath or another reason, my whole body tingles.

Still dripping wet, I jump onto the bed and bury my face in the blanket.

The freshly washed blanket smells of soap.

Smelling the fragrance, I vowed.

To never use this ability on myself again.

I cannot forgive being manipulated by even my own powers.

But despite my vow, Anna’s face remained ingrained in my mind.

Beautiful terror.

Is there anything as bizarre and contradictory as these two opposing words combined?

Perhaps Angelic Hands don’t just show happy memories.

It might be a terrifying ability predicting far into the future.

If that’s the case…

What will become of me?