KFBRV Ch 56

[Viktor] "What a relief, honey. I thought I was going to miss a masterpiece. I only get to see you die once, after all."

The words made her skin crawl. How could someone say something so wretched with such sincerity? He was an insufferable bastard.

What kind of curse is on me today? Why do I have to deal with this guy on top of everything else?

[Odette] "Let's not meet a second time. Never step foot in my territory again."

She recalled the words he had once spat at her. Yet, here he was, barging into her space whenever he pleased.

No. Let's think positively. It’s a blessing that the rumor about the fire reached the mansion instead of the lab.

If that jerk had heard the rumor correctly and gone to the Albrecht Pharmaceutical laboratory, things would have become far more complicated.

As a Transcendent with fire abilities, he could have easily extinguished any blaze, no matter how large. Moreover, he would have caught Paula red-handed.

If Paula were captured now, Gisela would also be put in danger. Eventually, Paula would have to be punished for this arson, but the time was not now—not until her connection with Gisela was completely severed. This was the only reason Odette had stalled him by offering water. She had to prevent him from going to the laboratory.

The last time I checked, his Loathing was at 75, wasn't it?

She had no intention of using the Status Window on Viktor right now. With her mother running rampant these past few days, the situation was shifting too rapidly. Falling into a twenty-four-hour stamina debuff would be a dangerous gamble.

How do I handle this sudden, damnable variable?

Her head throbbed as she drew water from the pump.

Viktor had removed his uniform jacket due to the heat, leaving him in just his shirt. His neck was visible through the unbuttoned collar.

Since he’s drenched in sweat, he looks... like a complete thug.

The scar left by his kidnapper remained on his neck. Because it looked so much like a tattoo, it only added to his delinquent appearance.

He took the water she offered and gulped it down.

[Viktor] "Phew. That’s better."

Half of the water spilled over his jaw and trickled down his neck, soaking his shirt further.

He shouldn't be able to stay away from his post for long. Disasters are particularly active at the end of spring.

Furthermore, a major disturbance was bound to break out in the slums today. She only needed to hold him here a little longer and buy some time.

[Viktor] "Why are you staring at my neck, honey? Interested?"

Even knowing she had to stall him, she found him nearly impossible to tolerate.

[Odette] "I’m concerned about the scar on your neck, Colonel. It looks like a gunshot wound. It must have been painful."

She told herself to endure it. Stopping him from reaching the laboratory was the priority. She thought it was a reasonable response, but his face contorted.

[Viktor] "Why do you talk like that? It really ruins my mood."

What’s the problem? Am I not even allowed to be worried?

Internally, she bristled, but his Loathing was still at 75. Expressing anger was too risky.

Then again, how are you any different from Zion?

They were both men who found everything she gave them—whether it was kindness, concern, or precious items—utterly unpleasant. Getting angry was a meaningless waste of energy.

[Odette] "Forgive me for overstepping."

She decided to treat him like a difficult customer. She would offer an apology and hope he would leave it at that.

[Odette] "My biological parents were also shot to death. That’s why I can’t help but notice when I see a gunshot wound."

She brought the conversation to a blunt close.

It wasn't a lie; it was one of the truths about her birth parents she had once heard from Ferdinand’s nanny. Since that nanny had died in a foreign land in this lifetime, no one else knew that secret except Odette.

[Viktor] "...What kind of bullshit is that? You’re the only daughter of Count Albrecht. The one the Count dotes on until he's sick of it."

His voice was laced with genuine shock.

Wait. Zion should have shared the fact of my adoption with the S-classes long ago. Why doesn't he know?

While his reaction was unexpected, she quickly understood.

Of course... with his personality, there’s no way he’d attend meetings regularly just to listen to Zion’s reports.

[Odette] "No. I was adopted. My biological parents were murdered by robbers."

To be precise, they weren't mere robbers, but assassins targeting her parents.

[Viktor] "..."

[Odette] "That is why it's especially hard for me to look away from gunshot wounds. I feel... troubled. If I crossed the line, I am sorry."

If he weren't a Transcendent who could manipulate fire, shewouldn'tt have bothered to humor him like this. She just had to hold out a little longer.

It's almost time. Soon, a powder keg will explode in the slums.

It would be an explosion so massive that even Odette, while locked in the attic in her past life, had noticed it.

A major accident caused by a turf war between gangs. Just like in her previous life, Viktor was the only one capable of stopping it. She just had to keep him here for a few more minutes.

However, something unexpected happened.

Is he... lost in thought?

It was a shocking sight.

No, that can't be. He doesn't have a brain to think with.

Wasn't Viktor the certified "birdbrain" according to Zion? A serious expression looked staggeringly out of place on his face.

She felt a chill of genuine fear. What had possessed him?

[Viktor] "Agh, damn it! Whatever!"

Fortunately, he scratched his head aggressively and abandoned his contemplation. He stood up abruptly.

[Viktor] "I’m leaving, honey. Since I don't get to see you burn in the fires of hell, there's no reason for me to be here."

Dammit. I need him to stay for ten more minutes.

By now, the laboratory would be engulfed in flames. Since it wasn't a small fire, he wouldn't miss it. If he spotted it, he would surely rush over, thinking, Well, now, this looks interesting!

She couldn't let her plan be ruined. She reached out and grabbed his sleeve.

[Odette] "Colonel König!"

Fortunately, he paused and turned back.

She began to manipulate the ruby ring on her left hand. It was a ring Goetz had made for her, equipped with a self-defense mechanism. She hadn't expected to use it on herself.

When she twisted the ruby, a needle would spring out. The tip was coated with a sedative strong enough to put someone to sleep for an hour.

It was the same sedative she had used on Karl. While it had taken time to work on Karl due to his monstrous physical abilities, it would put her into a deep sleep instantly.

Even if I have to collapse, I must keep this man here.

[Viktor] "What? Do you have something else to say?"

She didn't expect a shred of humanity or "concern" from him. What she relied on was his rotten personality.

He described the sight of me dying as a masterpiece.

If so, he would surely find the sight of her collapsing in pain to be a grand spectacle. At the very least, he wouldn't leave immediately. However, she never got the chance to touch the hidden needle.

As she stood up to grab his sleeve, something suddenly surged up from deep within her chest.

[Odette] "Cough! Hack!"

An agonizing pain blossomed in her chest. Instinctively, she let go of his sleeve and covered her mouth. A warm, thick liquid flooded her palm.

What... is this? Blood?

Why so suddenly?

She was panicked, but her mouth was already filled with the metallic taste of blood. She could feel it trickling down the corners of her lips.

Why am I suddenly coughing up blood?

She hadn't suffered from any terminal illness in her past life; one couldn't manifest so abruptly in this one. But she couldn't think any further.

[Odette] "Cough!"

As more blood escaped her, the strength drained from her limbs.

[Odette] "Vi... Viktor."

Even to her own ears, her voice sounded like a child drowning and gasping for air.

[Viktor] "H-Honey? What's wrong with you? Hey, Odette! Are you okay?"

His panicked voice reached her. Her vision faded to black, and a high-pitched ringing pierced her ears. Through her waning consciousness, she thought she saw Viktor looking utterly shocked.

It must be an illusion. A guy like him would be thrilled by such an entertaining sight.

[Viktor] "Honey!"

His final cry felt as though it were coming from a great distance.

What if he... goes to the laboratory...?

With that final thought, her consciousness slipped away.

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