"You look as though I'm about to kill you."
Her voice was gentle, and the hand petting it was even gentler.
The little guy seemed hypnotized by her immaculate eyes. It was clearly a being devoid of a heart, so why did it feel moved? It must be the host's face, which was more beautiful than all the angels in its database. Now its logic was all messed up.
"Will you, Host?" It tried blinking its crimson eyes to evoke pity. Too bad it didn't even have eyelids.
"It depends." She grinned.
Looking at the well-behaved scaredy-cat on her palm, she couldn't help but giggle inwardly. Its horror-struck expression tempted her to frighten it even more. Her eyes unknowingly curved into crescents.
Those squinted eyes gazing at it made it scream internally.
That's the look! The look that says she wants to smite me out of existence!
[Host! Host! Have mercy, please!]
"First, if you do something that makes me want to kill you."
The plea it was about to utter got stuck in its imaginary throat.
[Well, I didn't do anything?]
With that thought, it finally relaxed a little. Its nonexistent butt was safe for today.
"Second, if I'm in the mood to kill you."
She glanced at the little guy, which stiffened in an instant. It seemed to have turned into stone.
"Third, if you can actually be killed."
Watching the soot-like, spider-silk body of the creature almost crumble, she burst into laughter. She clutched her stomach as she croaked with laughter, even wiping away the tears that had formed in her eyes.
Then, after checking on the furry ball that didn't seem to have recovered, she spoke again.
"Little guy, I'm just teasing you."
She poked the flustered ball unceremoniously.
"Host, you're such a bully!"
It pointed its butt toward her, clearly refusing to look at its host. That emotional roller coaster felt like it had shortened its lifespan. It swore it wouldn't forgive its host unless she coaxed it properly.
"Well, my bad. I'm sorry, little Halfsie."
Her voice was tender and so enticing that it was tempted to forgive her immediately. Well, if it used this opportunity wisely, maybe it could even frolic on that exquisite face of hers?
It almost wanted to turn around already, but it had to persist. It must show the integrity of a system guide!
"Forgive me, hmm?"
She raised her finger and softly nudged the cute creature, which was still ignoring her.
The furry ball was shaking. This time, not because of fear, but because of excitement.
[The host is coaxing me!] it squealed inwardly.
"I will forgive you on one condition," the childlike voice said pretentiously.
"Say."
She turned the little guy toward her.
Halfsie almost forgot what it was about to say when it saw its host's face. Tears from her earlier guffaw were still glistening at the corners of her eyes, and a tiny smile lingered on her lips. Its crimson eyes were almost blinded.
"Host, if you let me touch your face, then I will reluctantly forgive you."
It used such righteous words, yet its expression practically begged her to agree.
"Why my face?"
She was curious. This little guy had been eyeing her from time to time.
[Could it be curious about human facial characteristics?]
She thought it was possible. After all, it was a newly formed system guide and hadn't seen any other life form besides her.
"Because, Host, you have the most beautiful appearance ever," it said earnestly.
[No way. Is this guy a total face enthusiast?]
That thought was just too funny.
"How could you claim that I'm the most beautiful if you haven't seen anyone else?"
"But I have seen all the pictures in the database. Host, you are more exquisite than those angels."
For Halfsie, the angels were the best-looking creatures it had seen in its archives.
She was almost touched by Halfsie's sincerity. If it weren't for the fact that this youngling's words lacked credibility, she might have actually believed it.
Well, she knew for a fact that her face value was a solid 7 under the right lighting and with a strategic angle, alright?
[But being called prettier than angels? Haha! It feels damn good.]
"So, Host, you should agree so I can forgive you already," it reminded her.
[This tiny dude is quite adamant, huh?]
She was amused.
"I'll agree, but only on one condition."
She watched as the furry ball listened intently to her whims.
"Host, you say."
"If you tell me your favorite feature and why, then I'll allow you to touch it. Okay?"
She had never thought that hearing compliments from an innocent creature could feel so different from those perfunctory ones. Perhaps it was the same concept as when a child tells you that you're ugly, and suddenly, you start wondering if you really are that unsightly.
She supposed that was about right.
Since the tiny dude liked her looks so much, she might as well enjoy the praises as much as possible.
[Yes, that's right. I just want to hear more. I'm not narcissistic at all.]
The furry ball then focused all its attention on her face. It didn't even realize that it was supposed to be the one setting the terms, not the other way around. Now, its mind was filled with thoughts of how to string together the perfect words to convince her.
The little guy's absorbed expression made her realize that it was truly gullible. Now she felt like a bad adult trying to hoodwink a child.
[What a thrilling idea.]
She mused.
If it weren't for its pet-like appearance, perhaps she would have seen it as a child.
"Host, I like your eyes the most."
The system interrupted her thoughts.
"Your eyes, like two golden orbs that shine, resemble the sun. They shine so brightly that they can even illuminate the darkness in my heart. Your eyes are so pure, so lovely, I just wanna drown—"
"Okay, enough. Where did you copy such cheesy lines, hmm?"
She tapped the furry guy to stop it from babbling. She wanted to hear praises, alright, not a confession!
[Can it not admit that those lines came from samples of poems about eyes in its stored data?]
Well, it really couldn't hide anything from its host, so it spilled the beans.
"But, Host, I don't know how to write my own poems."
The little guy sounded sad. Did this mean it couldn't frolic on the host's face anymore? She was always fierce, so it would be quite scary to ask again in the future.
[I just wanted compliments. How did this turn into writing poems?]
She couldn't help but wonder why life was so complicated. Then, seeing the forlorn look on the adorable creature's face, she groaned.
Maybe it wanted to learn how to compose poems?
[I might as well teach him a thing or two.]
"Alright. When composing a poem to compliment someone's appearance, you should at least make it believable, you know?"
Seeing that it was all ears, she added,
"For example, you mentioned golden orbs. I obviously have black eyes. So, you can just say I have obsidian orbs. Something like that. Understand?"
[Teaching the little guy is actually fun. Is this what it feels like to have a younger sibling?]
On the other hand, the pet that had just been promoted to younger-sibling status was dumbfounded.
"But, Host, you clearly have golden eyes?"
It was confused. How could its host not even know the color of her own eyes?
Now it was her turn to be stupefied.
Since when did she have golden eyes? Why hadn't she noticed?
She was wrong. What carefree? She clearly cared. At least, she cared deeply about her appearance.
She was anxious now. What other changes had happened to her? A girl's countenance was her greatest weapon, after all. Even if her face wasn't of peerless beauty, it was still a highly necessary asset.
"Halfsie, quick! Lend me a mirror!"
Her voice was agitated.
Seeing its host in such a hurry, it could only produce whatever it had without giving the matter much thought.
"Host, I don't have a mirror. I only have this."
Out of nowhere, a piece of reflective glass appeared beside it.
A look that clearly said That's obviously a mirror crossed her face, but she kept silent.
She hurriedly looked into the mirror and remained silent for a long time.
Halfsie grew worried when its host stopped moving and responding for quite some time.
"Host?"
"Host?"
Perceiving that its host's mind had wandered far away, it decided to reap the fruits of its labor. After all, it had already delivered what she wanted, so whatever happened afterward was entirely justified.
It jumped onto her shoulder, scanned its still-motionless host, and felt relieved. It popped out a pair of tiny arms and legs to reach her cheek.
Just as it was about to frolic to its heart's content, it suddenly heard its host mumble,
"Who the hell?"
"Is that me?"