A person appeared in the mirror, displaying unparalleled beauty. She had a pair of perfectly shaped lips and a small, exquisite nose. Softly arched eyebrows and thick, curly lashes accentuated her almond-shaped eyes. However, her most captivating feature was that pair of golden eyes. Her aureate irises seemed to glimmer, giving her an ethereal appearance. She possessed a look so pure that it compelled others not to desecrate such a sacred being. She seemed like someone who should remain untouched by the wickedness of the human heart and the grotesqueries of life.
Seeing that pair of golden eyes staring back at her, she was baffled.
[No way. Is that me?]
Then, gazing at the supple, porcelain-like skin, she couldn't help but marvel. Especially when she noticed that her pores were so minute they were almost nonexistent. Such unblemished skin made her excited.
[Holy sh*t.]
She wondered if she had somehow saved the universe in one of her past lives to be bestowed with such an alluring face. Now she understood why Halfsie was so obsessed with her. Even she couldn't help but fangirl over this face.
[However, why did my appearance change?]
Not that she was complaining or anything. Rather, she was intrigued as to why and who had changed her face—for the better, no less. She secretly thought that she should at least send that great god a letter. She had to express her gratitude and praise the benevolent being for having such amazing taste. Maybe she could even enshrine that person and worship them every year, like a religious devotee.
Suddenly, something caressed her cheek.
She placed the mirror beside her and glanced around, looking for Halfsie. Noticing something, she then narrowed her eyes and peered at the opportunistic life form perched on her shoulder.
"You have limbs?"
Her voice was unusually salty.
The system, which was just about to place its claw on her cheek: ?
[Host, why did you have to wake up now?]
The black cotton almost felt a little guilty for being caught red-handed.
It had just leaned over to touch her, and now its paws were frozen midair. It didn't even know whether to retract them or continue moving forward.
"Host, I've always had them."
[Why does it feel like the host has something against limbs? Nevertheless, at least the host didn't seem to mind its sneak attack.]
"Always? Why didn't I know?"
She felt deceived. She had already accepted the deformed, charred cocci as its perfect form. However, this little trickster had actually hidden its final appearance. It was even more repulsive than its former image.
[Host, we only met each other not long ago.]
That was what the system wanted to say. Still, it decided against it after sensing the biting atmosphere.
"Host, my hands and feet look ghastly. I'd rather not use them."
As a matter of fact, it had tried walking with its short legs but found it more tiring than bouncing. Overall, it was just too lazy to walk. If it could, it would rather roll around.
Halfsie was more willing to let its host believe it was renouncing its appearance than let her discover its subtle laziness. It was dependable in other matters, or so it proclaimed.
Scanning its chicken-like feet and weird-looking arms, she replied,
"Better hide them well in the future."
Out of sight, out of mind. It was better to hide such disturbing things permanently, she thought.
[Host, you mean my tiny feet are unsightly?]
Shouldn't she have said that it didn't matter? That they were cute on it or something?
It pouted. In the first place, this appearance had been born from her subconscious. Yeah, blame it on her taste. If it was ugly, that meant its host's aesthetics were awful as well.
"Hey. I have a feeling you're condemning me, hmm?"
The humming part was particularly crisp. The system immediately grew worried.
"Why? Have I wronged you?"
"You know I don't mind validating your thoughts."
[Host, you mean I can't even reproach you in my mind? That's too much!]
It felt utterly frustrated.
"Host, you're bullying me again."
It could only resort to its crying tactic. There was no way it would admit that its host's conjecture was correct. It still wanted to live.
Watching the fluffy ball on the verge of breaking down, she decided to get to the main point.
"Halfsie, how did my countenance change to such perfection?"
She took the little guy off her shoulder and started squishing it relentlessly.
"Host, you mean you weren't originally this beautiful?!"
Its tiny crimson eyes almost bulged out in shock.
Such a revelation left it utterly confounded. It even forgot about its failed attempt to frolic on her face.
[Isn't the little guy a little off-topic?]
Gazing at the furry ball, which seemed astonished to its very core, she mused.
[Why is it acting so exaggerated? It's not like I deceived it out of its soul.]
Then, scrutinizing its face further, she couldn't believe what she was seeing in that emotion-rich, abstract little expression.
[Is that contempt I see?]
She felt the arteries in her temples pulsate. The damned thing had the gall to scorn her.
Indeed, she had gotten it right. When the system recalled how she had disdained its appearance, it couldn't help but feel dissatisfied. Its host, in truth, wasn't all that alluring herself, yet she had the nerve to despise its image.
While immersing itself in this so-called injustice, it heard the serene voice of its boss.
"Would you believe me if I said I'd pluck your fur one by one if I caught you looking at me with derision again? Hmm?"
The gentle nudge it received felt like ice piercing its soul.
[What have I done?]
Halfsie feared it was about to see the other side. It couldn't believe it had offended the evil entity known as its host. Who had given it the audacity to court death?
Then, peeking at the ethereal beauty who seemed to be weighing the pros and cons of its death, it decided never to provoke her again. With that conclusion, it implored its host for mercy.
"Host! I beg you to give me another chance. I swear that if I do it again, I'll send myself off to reincarnate!"
Such a resolute declaration coming from an adorable little body was quite a refreshing sight.
[Maybe it would be more fascinating to see it crumble.]
She thought wickedly. She had to teach this little fool a lesson or two. Who told it to annoy her?
"It would be such a shame to see you die, though. I much prefer you to enjoy my special care, where you'll feel that each day lasts an eternity."
She gently stroked the quivering creature and whispered such a curse tenderly.
[It's over.]
The black furry ball opted to welcome death with open arms. It would rather die now than suffer a life of torment. Maybe its host would have mercy and leave all its fur intact.
Seeing that it remained motionless, as if waiting for death, she couldn't help but chuckle.
"Little fool."
[Such a gullible being, with such adorable expressions. It's amusing to tease.]
She thought she had just found her second hobby.
Poor Halfsie didn't even realize that its fate had been sealed yet again.