"It's quite fitting, don't you think?"
An indifferent yet melodious voice filled the unending white space.
[Named after the culprit who tempted him to taste the forbidden fruit.]
[The beauty behind the original sin.]
"Come to think of it, you're quite suitable for the role of that talking snake," she added.
[Halfsie's existence is rather similar to that creature, huh?]
She tapped her chin as she pondered the idea. Both the snake and her Halfsie had the same purpose: to influence others into doing bad things. She found such a similarity rather impressive. In this case, she could be considered Eve, who had teamed up with the so-called snake.
[How interesting.]
That plot twist made her feel as though they were in an entirely new kind of fairy tale. She would be the princess, accompanied by her loyal sidekick, Halfsie, venturing through winds and storms just to fulfill their goal.
The only difference was that she wouldn't be going on some grand adventure in the name of love, honor, or anything of the sort. She wouldn't even rescue anyone from the clutches of a villain. Instead, she would force them to join the dark side.
And, not to mention, she was the villain herself.
Overall, she thought it was a novel kind of distorted fantasy.
Eve's attention returned to the handbook on her lap. She traced the snow-white letters one by one, feeling the strokes beneath her fingertips. She had already started writing her guidelines and felt inwardly satisfied. Even so, she intended to add more later on.
She had decided to learn from the mission worlds they would visit in the future. For instance, she would observe and record any information she deemed valuable, as well as take note of things she would need to avoid. She had to grasp everything she could before she ran out of the will to do so.
Regardless, any progress was still progress. What mattered was that she could leave behind enough rules for her future self.
Contemplating the fact that she aimed to become the best villain she could while simultaneously preserving some of her morals was truly conflicting. Nevertheless, she wanted both worlds. She was greedy like that.
Not to mention, she liked a challenge.
She looked forward to seeing which side would prevail: her, with her deteriorating integrity, or her future self, who might become a complete degenerate.
[Such madness. I can't wait.]
She let out a low chuckle.
After settling on a plan, she placed the manual on the floor. Soon after, she paused as though recalling something before speaking.
"I know it's your manual. Still, having only one piece of content seems like such a waste of this gizmo."
"I'll be taking it from now on. I hope you don't mind."
Noticing that the furball had been silent for quite some time, she raised her head and glanced toward it. It stood meekly not too far from her, its empty eyes fixed straight ahead.
"You've been ignoring me. It seems you're dissatisfied with your punishment?" she asked in a gentle tone.
Finally, Halfsie was summoned back to reality.
It turned toward Eve, who was sitting cross-legged with one arm across her chest and the other supporting her chin. Even the strong air of indifference emanating from her couldn't conceal her ethereal beauty, nor the cruelty lurking beneath it.
"No, host. I'm just too touched by your feelings for me."
Its crimson eyes watched her, wide and glittering with happiness.
[I knew it. The host treasures me so much.]
Halfsie had believed it was a goner just moments ago. After all, the sense of impending doom it had experienced had blasted far beyond critical levels.
Despite that, the host had decided to let it go. Such benevolence was deeply appreciated.
Sure, it had lost a handful of its silky black fur, but its continued existence eclipsed that fear with pure bliss and gratitude. Even the ripping action that had uprooted almost half its mane now seemed like a tenderness-filled stroke instead.
Halfsie surmised that this was simply its host's special way of showing affection. Then, reminiscing about the many times its dear host had tormented it, it felt pleased.
The host had favored it from the very beginning. She had just been too ignorant to realize it herself.
That was what it figured out.
Therefore, it began looking forward to the next time its host showered it with such fondness.
The dense creature didn't even realize that it was already diving headfirst into the world of M.
Eve creased her brows when she heard the unexpected reply from her goofball.
[Did I pull too hard and rip off its brain?]
She tilted her head and examined the black cotton, which was flashing its adoration-filled eyes at her.
She quickly looked away from the offending sight. It hadn't been aesthetically acceptable to begin with, and even less so now that it was missing a patch of fur on its head. Those bulging, glowing scarlet eyes, coupled with its now-bald, soot-like body, made it look as though it had crawled straight out of a horror story.
If the space weren't so well-lit, she might have mistaken it for a tiny beast possessed by a demon or something.
"You thought too much."
[Duh. Killing you would only mean more trouble for me.]
She denied the possibility that she might feel even the slightest sense of loss if she ever eliminated her nonstop entertainment machine.
Halfsie, meanwhile, deluded itself into thinking that its host had looked away because she was embarrassed to admit her affection for it.
"No need to explain, host. I understand. I'll keep it a secret, hidden in my heart."
Halfsie vowed solemnly in its childlike voice. In contrast, its head bobbed up and down while its squinted eyes curved so sharply that they resembled a sickle.
[She is the she-devil, after all. Of course, she must maintain her image as a heartless and malevolent scumbag.]
Eve studied the deformed creature spouting nonsense with a stupid look on its face. She began considering the possibility of traveling through worlds alone.
Then, remembering how she had claimed Halfsie as her own, she decided otherwise.
[Forget it. It must have gone crazy from losing half its hair.]
After all, it was a creature that had already been ugly as hell, only to be forced into becoming even more hideous. She thought such a traumatic experience might truly drive any life form batshit crazy.
Of course, she was merely making conjectures. She would never know for sure, since she could never be fugly herself.
"Host, that reminds me. Next time, can you let me frolic on your face instead of touching me with your mouth?"
That's right. When the beauty-obsessed creature had nearly ascended to heaven, it wasn't because of the kiss itself but rather because of its proximity to that angelic face.
Halfsie had felt a little disappointed that the point of contact had been its host's lips rather than her eyelids. In reality, it longed to touch Eve's eyes, but it also understood that the closest it could ever get was to stroke her eyelids.
Eve nearly lost whatever goodwill she had left and wanted to tuck the little fool into eternal sleep.
She forced herself to calm down before her brows could furrow any further. She figured that if she kept creasing them, they might remain that way permanently.
Such a possibility worried her.
She wouldn't allow such blasphemy to befall her newly acquired godly face.
"I have a better idea. Instead of using my lips, I'll use my fist or the sole of my foot next time. I'll also make sure to hit you so hard that you won't be able to feel your body for a long time."
"What do you think?"
She flashed a gentle smile that perfectly matched her soothing voice.
[This donkey dared to disdain my 'kiss', huh?]
She regretted being too excited when she learned about the possibility of overthrowing her Heavenly Being of a sister. Blinded by the anticipation of killing, she had neglected Halfsie's grotesque appearance and committed such a mistake.
Yet this daredevil had the audacity to belittle her gesture.
She concluded that it had truly gone insane. To think it was courting death yet again, but this time with enthusiasm.
When it heard Eve's words, Halfsie felt excited. Knowing that this was simply its host's peculiar way of showing 'love', it immediately agreed.
"Host! Host! I agree! Can you do it now?"
Sure, it wasn't her face, but it was still an organ not far from it. That was what it stupidly thought.
It was determined to please its host to the very best of its ability until they finally reached their goal.
Eve: ...
She suddenly had the urge to get to work already.
Eve had a hunch that if she stayed with this abnormal donkey any longer, she would end up joining the batshit-crazy club herself.
Resolved not to go completely bananas, Eve spoke.
"Let us set off."