HNCSHG 32

Chapter 32

“Flamethrower!”

I woke up, shouting the name of the weapon I had barely gotten, and looked around.

“Sis!”

The shrunken Halloway leapt into my arms.

Damn it, what am I supposed to do with this brat?

Could this be the chance God gave me? A revelation that I could land just one hit?

Seeing that infuriating face, I struggled to calm my rising fists.

“Sis, are you okay?”

Seeing Halloway’s tearful, concerned expression, I was momentarily confused—was this really the same person?

The gap was so huge that I couldn’t imagine this sweet, concerned child as the same wicked man who had poked at my wounds.

But now, I couldn’t equate “adult Halloway = child Halloway.” I had to keep pretending I didn’t know.

Even if I acted regardless, pretending to know his identity now would be like bungee-jumping into a pit of hell.

“Halloway, why are you…? Wait, how did I even get here?”

“I don’t know either. I was looking for you, but you were sleeping here.”

Did Halloway bring me here?

I tried to get up, but the sudden pain all over my body made me curl up.

“Ugh…”

“Sis, don’t move! You’re badly hurt!”

Only then did I notice the blood-stained bandages. The spots where the piranhas had bitten me were wrapped in gauze.

Wait, then…

“My butt.”

“Huh?”

Even my butt got bitten by piranhas?

I fumbled to touch it. It felt like a large bandage.

“…No way…”

No, that can’t be.

Hurriedly lifting my skirt, Halloway smoothly turned his head away. Not even a hint of embarrassment.

I was shocked. My body must have looked completely familiar to him.

I quickly turned to check my butt—there was a huge bandage covering the bite.

…On my smooth butt, what…?

“A bandage!”

…Lord.

Who treated me so carefully? Halloway? Was it you? Did you put a bandage on my butt?

I had so many questions but couldn’t ask, because I had to act as if I didn’t know anything.

My intense anger cooled instantly, and my will to live plummeted.

Was this how he felt, unable to call his father “father”?

Weak and drained, I grabbed Halloway and asked,

“…Halloway. Do you know who treated me?”

“No. It was already treated when I found you.”

“….”

I buried my face in the pillow, unable to scream, pounding the bed with my fists.

Some random guy saw my butt!

“Sis, are you okay?”

[Halloway is thoroughly enjoying the situation.]

I mean, it couldn’t be helped, but still…!

“My butt… is married off.”

[Halloway is holding back laughter.]

[Halloway wants to ask, “Then does that mean you’re marrying me?”]

So annoying. That teasing is insanely annoying.

Tears streamed down my face as Halloway wiped them and comforted me.

“Sis, stop it. Why are you crying?”

“….”

I was restraining the urge to pinch Halloway’s annoying cheek when the door suddenly burst open.

It was none other than Moran.

She stared at me in shock, eyes wide, then tears welled up as she rushed over.

“Miss Evelyn! You’re awake!”

We didn’t exactly part on friendly terms, did we?

Moran’s overjoyed reaction felt a little strange, so I gently pushed her away.

“Do you know how worried I was? You acted like you could handle everything yourself, yet you were bleeding all over the hallway!”

I still did my part, though.

“Did Moran bring me here?”

Even if she spoke like a lunatic, Moran would never pretend not to see me.

She might have shown a bit of resentment, but fundamentally, she couldn’t leave someone dying behind.

“Cletta brought you. I only treated the wounds you had, Miss Evelyn. But…”

Moran blushed slightly and asked softly,

“What on earth did you fight that your butt got bitten?”

“Fought something that deserves a good bite… wait.”

I grabbed Moran’s arm almost desperately. She looked away, uncomfortable with my gaze.

“Moran, did you put a bandage on my butt?”

She looked at me as if I were asking something strange and replied,

“Of course. If not me, then who…”

“Thank you, Moran!”

It wasn’t Halloway!

Moran seemed like a savior.

Even with my shamelessness, I wouldn’t have dared to show my butt to some random guy.

“I’ll forgive all the times you were annoying.”

I was no longer sulking.

“When was I annoying? I only said it because I was worried…”

Fine. Stay arrogant then.

She may have always spoken correctly, but she treated me, so I decided to forgive her past behavior.

When I couldn’t stay still, Moran held my shoulder.

“Miss Evelyn, you lost a lot of blood. You need to rest.”

“That’s right, sis. Uncle Cletta will bring some food.”

I was glad she called me “sis.”

Lost in thought, Halloway’s mischievous face filled my view.

“What? Give me some space.”

I pushed him lightly, and my body froze.

…Wait. So Halloway didn’t put a bandage on my butt.

Then why…

When I looked at Halloway with unfocused eyes, he raised his brows as if to say, You only just realized?

“Pffft!”

Halloway couldn’t contain his laughter and bent over, laughing.

Unaware, Moran laughed along.

“Halloway seems happy Evelyn woke up.”

I clenched my fists, pretending to stroke Halloway’s hair while gripping it.

“Didn’t we agree you didn’t know?”

“I thought you might already know who put it on!”

Ah, so innocent.

I want to crush that innocence…

[Halloway can no longer contain his enjoyment!]

[Affection +5%]
[Attachment +4%]
[Possessiveness +7%]

…What is his standard anyway?

It’s all over the place.

This wouldn’t work in a game; there should be consistent standards.

But in reality, humans and demons don’t follow strict rules, so I could understand.

Human emotions don’t have clear rules.

“Evelyn, you’re awake!”

“Ah.”

Cletta’s cheerful voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

Cletta placed the food on the table and ran to hug me, but Halloway got there first.

He sat on my lap and buried himself in my arms.

“Sis, I don’t like that guy.”

“Me neither.”

“Evelyn is good at joking too.”

Is that a joke?

He’s the last person I want to be tangled with.

I wanted to avoid Cletta’s arms, but he suddenly grabbed my hand.

Halloway blocked Cletta and growled fiercely.

“Let go.”

Cletta teased lightly, perhaps amused by the child’s jealousy.

“What if I don’t?”

Listen, Cletta.

This isn’t a normal kid. This is a crazy kid.

I tried to pull my hand away before Cletta’s, but he gripped harder.

“This hand…”

Halloway grabbed Cletta’s hand, narrowing his brow.

“Don’t you see she doesn’t like it?”

“Evelyn doesn’t dislike me. You’re imagining it.”

“Sis, really? I’m imagining it?”

“Ah…”

“Isn’t that obvious?”

Why are you answering me?

“Let go. Sis’ hand will get red.”

“It’s okay; I relaxed my grip.”

“Kids, stop fighting.”

I said lightly and set Halloway down from my lap.

Seeing me uninterested, Moran looked baffled, but I ignored her.

The pointless quarrel continued. Halloway climbed on the bed, teasing Cletta.

“You’re a grown adult, needing protection from Sis.”

“You’re the same.”

“I’m young, though.”

“Right, so I protected you as a younger brother. I’ll protect you as a man.”

A pitiful argument.

“Where’s my flamethrower?”

Maybe I should just use it on both.

As I searched, their distance closed with rising tension.

Even lovers wouldn’t get that close.

Before things got worse, I shoved my head between them, weak from my piranha-bitten arm.

“Stop it, you two. Don’t fight over nonsense.”

“Sis, step aside a moment.”

“Evelyn, eat some porridge.”

I tried to remove my face from between them but ended up wedged between their stomachs.

When I waved my hands to get them to back off, they stepped back—but my scalp suddenly tingled.

It quickly spread, stinging all over.

“Wait, don’t move! It hurts!”

Halloway and Cletta got close again as I tried to escape.

“Miss Evelyn, it seems your hair is stuck in the button.”

It wasn’t “seems,” Moran. It’s fully caught.

“Stay still, Evelyn. I’ll get it out.”

Contrary to his words, Cletta pulled my hair.

“Ah!”

“Sorry.”

“Is this how you help? Torturing me with pain?”

“Calm down, Miss Evelyn!”

Neck twisted, scalp aching, tears forming.

All because of these two.

I huffed and started scolding them.

“This is why you’re a problem. I told you not to fight. Why are you so awful? You don’t even listen; I can’t take it!”

The three of them quietly focused on my hair, ignoring my words.

I got irritated.

“Are you listening? I said I can’t take it!”

“Sis, stay still. Your hair will be pulled out.”

“What? Pulled out?”

“No, it will be pulled. Do you want it pulled?”

I shut my mouth obediently.

“Huh…”

I ignored Cletta’s exasperated sigh.

“Evelyn, this little brat seems to listen better than you.”

“Better than you, who never speaks sincerely.”

“Why are you beating me so?”

“If I really hit you, I wouldn’t feel wronged.”

“Didn’t you hit me often when we were young?”

Do I look sentimental enough to reminisce with you?

As I tried to kick him into memories, Halloway suddenly pulled my hair.

“Ouch!”

“You pulled my hair.”

“…Why?”

“….”

He didn’t answer.

Instead, the rarely seen choice menu appeared.

[Halloway’s temper worsens. You must calm him.]

[➤ What should you do?]

I shook my head firmly.

You don’t belong here; go away.

But the choice menu wobbled more energetically than usual.

[1. Kiss Halloway’s hand. Smooch. ((˘❥˘))
2. Lick Cletta’s hand. Lick. ((♡´౪`♡))
3. Perform a courtship dance. Hup two three. (٩(ó｡ò۶ ♡)))♬]

……ヽ( ຶ▮ ຶ)ﾉ!!!!!