After crushing the man's head, I stared at him for a long time.
There was something I had to do.
I deactivated the Calm Mind skill.
Like a shockwave, the symptoms hit me instantly.
It felt as if my mind was collapsing under a storm of chaotic and conflicting thoughts.
"They deserved it."
"But they were still human."
"They're not anymore."
"You had no right to do that."
"Don't act like a hypocrite now."
With the chaos in my head, I staggered slightly before collapsing onto the ground, a few meters away from the corpses.
I tried to stand, but I couldn't do it easily.
I couldn't endure it any longer.
The smell of blood...
Scattered pieces of brain matter...
A severed head...
And a head that had been pierced...
Those images replayed in my mind as my stomach twisted in disgust.
"Ugh..."
My face turned pale as I vomited onto the cold ground.
Not much came out—I hadn't eaten for hours—but my stomach still felt like it was trying to turn itself inside out.
"I killed them."
"They were annoying."
"Greedy."
"They needed to be eliminated."
"And I was the one who did it."
"Like animals."
"I killed them..."
"The woman... and the two men..."
"They're all corpses now."
I collapsed onto the ground as the mana inside me began to follow my emotions, turning unstable.
I need to calm down...
But I didn't activate Calm Mind.
Seconds passed.
Those seconds turned into minutes.
My mind slowly began to settle.
"I had to do it."
"And I did."
With those thoughts, born from great struggle, I forced myself to stand.
I staggered a little, but in the end, I managed to get up.
I walked toward the woman's corpse and stared at her head for a few seconds before drawing my black katana.
I swung it, trying to shake off the blood, though some still remained, staining the dark blade.
I looked at my reflection on the blood-stained steel.
A pale face...
Cold silver eyes...
A face devoid of any emotion...
A calm silence filled me.
This was me.
This is what I need to be.
But I know...
With time, I will change.
Whether it's due to the fusion of Raiven and Jin...
Or the events I will face in the future.
A coldness settled within me...
And this time, it wasn't because of the skill.
I lowered the sword and returned it to its ring form.
Then I walked to the other man and pulled the blade out of his body.
I stood there, giving them one last look...
Before turning away.
As for the corpses?
They were a common sight in the alleys.
I walked away and continued on my path.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Renee
After finishing my tasks, I now stood in front of a tavern.
Yes, it was the same tavern.
I pushed the door open and was greeted by the familiar scene.
Renee flashed a wide smile as she noticed the gazes scanning her the moment she entered—quickly shifting into fear.
All conversations stopped.
The only sound was that of old Marcus, quietly whistling with his eyes closed.
Renee's crimson eyes gleamed with amusement as she looked around before turning her gaze toward Marcus.
"Well, well... if it isn't the frail old man."
She spoke cheerfully, a playful smile on her lips.
"Hmph..."
"You brat... what brings you here again?" Marcus opened his eyes, letting out an annoyed sigh.
"Tch, annoying old man."
Renee clicked her tongue in irritation, watching as he closed his eyes again.
"I just came to say hello."
She glanced at him as she spoke, then ignored him and headed toward the room where Marcella was.
"Annoying child..." Marcus muttered, letting out another sigh as he watched her go.
Renee opened the door and, as usual, was greeted by the lazy beauty, Marcella.
"Marcella, I came to see you."
Renee smiled brightly as she looked at the woman in front of her.
"Oh, Ren—"
Marcella didn't get to finish as Renee jumped onto her and hugged her tightly.
Marcella smiled faintly as she looked down at Renee in her arms.
Marcella patted René's head with a smile
They chatted like that for a few minutes.
"Oh? A silver-eyed boy around my age?" Renee asked with curiosity.
"Yes. He bought a storage ring. He was very polite... like a little kitten." Marcella smiled playfully, patting Renee's head.
"It must be Raiven..." Renee murmured softly.
"What was that?"
"Nothing. I should get going now, Marcella. My family will worry if I'm late."
Renee stood up with a smile.
"bye, Renee. Come visit anytime."
"Bye-bye."
Renee left the room and, on her way out, waved at Marcus as well.
"Bye bye, stubborn old man."
She teased before quickly leaving the tavern.
"Brat..." Marcus muttered, though a faint smile
lingered on his face as his green eyes narrowed.
With Renee gone, the tavern returned to its usual lively state.
But none of that mattered to her.
The moment she stepped outside, Renee vanished once again, heading toward her residence.
Every thirty meters, she would appear—then disappear again.
But as she stood atop one of the rooftops, she suddenly stopped.
Something had caught her attention.
A man stood below, wearing a long black coat, his silver eyes cold.
Three corpses surrounded him.
Renee watched as he pulled his katana from the headless man's body.
"I'm sure that's Raiven's aura..."
A wide, excited smile spread across her face.
"Raiven is so handsome..."
She watched as he swung his katana, flicking the blood off in a smooth motion.
"Hehe..." She smiled like a girl in love as she gazed at him.
She watched Raiven glance at the three corpses before storing his katana and leaving.
"Not perfect, Raiven..."
She said with a slight hint of disappointment.
After he left...
A few minutes later, Renee appeared at the same spot.
She looked toward the direction he had gone, then shifted her gaze to the three corpses.
She waved her fingers, covered in a black glove.
From nothingness, hundreds of purple threads emerged.
"Swoosh"
With the sound of air being pierced, the threads moved at an insane speed, slicing through the three corpses.
The cutting continued...
Until nothing remained.
The corpses turned to dust and scattered into the cold night wind.
"Hehe... now that's perfect."
Renee smiled.
"Status"
The words left her lips as she laughed.
[Name: Renee Lainat]
[Condition: Healthy]
[Vitality: +D]
[Endurance: D]
[Strength: D]
[Speed: +D]
[Mana: -C]
[Ability (1): Magic Threads]
[Ability (2): Locked]
[Element: Space]
[Traits: Combat (5) | Mana Control (6) | Dagger Skills (4) | Archery (3) | Oracle (???) | xxxx (???)]
[Rank: D]
"Hehehe... Raiven, you're mine."
Renee smiled, her eyes narrowing into crescent moons.