Tsubaki Ryuurikawa stood by the third-floor window, gazing at the moonlit garden below. The soft glow illuminated the windowsill and her figure, casting light on a vibrant, blooming garden.
Yet, from her perspective, the clear moonlight seemed dim and obscure. Despite the flourishing flowers, there was an inexplicable eerie, sinister feeling. Tsubaki knew it was her own illusion.
Her psychological state made her despise this villa and its lavish estate. The wealth and opulence here—how much of it was plundered through deceit and force, the very things that destroyed her family?
Glancing back at the dark corridor, her turbulent emotions settled slightly. Her exquisite, delicate face remained expressionless, like still water, though her complexion had improved somewhat.
Seeing her enemy in such a pitiful, despairing state was immensely satisfying. If her personality hadn't changed so drastically, she might've clapped and cheered.
But… alongside the satisfaction came confusion—uncertainty about her future.
Rustle, rustle—
A sound approached. In the dark corridor, the silhouette of a grotesque tentacle monster emerged. Its writhing, blood-red tentacles and round body with large, cute eyes were both adorable and eerie.
Behind it, it dragged the half-dead, exhausted blond man.
"The moonlight's beautiful, isn't it?"
The tentacle monster's crisp, boyish voice felt jarring. Tsubaki's eyes flickered, though Muxiao didn't notice.
She wasn't reacting to the pathetic Boyman but to his words—in Japanese, "the moonlight's beautiful" was akin to a confession of love.
"This guy's been tormented enough," Muxiao said, casually tossing Boyman aside. "Ryuurikawa, finish him off. Send him to his grave—it's your revenge."
"No—"
Already crushed by seeing his maids fall into the monster's hands, Boyman radiated despair and defeat. For a spoiled heir like him, nothing was more soul-crushing.
If anything was worse, it was the threat to his life.
Like now.
Hearing the monster's words, feeling death so close, Boyman scrambled away shakily, too weak to stand, crawling pitifully like a dog.
Thud.
Muxiao tossed a gun over.
"Don't! Don't kill me… Ryuurikawa! I was wrong, I shouldn't have…"
Bang!!!
"Ugh…"
Boyman stared at the blood spurting from his chest, at the girl he'd coveted with her cold expression, and at the tentacle monster that brought him despair. His mouth opened, but no words came. With endless regret, he collapsed.
Eyes wide, he died unfulfilled.
"Too late to apologize now," Tsubaki said emotionlessly, returning to Muxiao's side and handing him the gun.
"Keep it," Muxiao said, uninterested in firearms. He calmly ordered the maids to drag the body out as fertilizer, unaware they were disposing of their true master, still seeing Muxiao as their young master.
How pitiful…
"I was going to lock him in a basement dungeon, let him watch me take his place, see himself become a fake. But that'd make me too much like a villain," Muxiao chuckled, noticing Tsubaki's blank face, losing interest. "You finally got your revenge. No reaction at all?"
"…"
Tsubaki glanced at the tentacle monster. The pairing of a beautiful girl and a monstrous creature, combined with his words and her act of killing, did feel villainous.
But she didn't care. She'd resolved to become a devil for revenge. Now, having killed her enemy, she felt no relief—only confusion.
"I don't know."
"Lost, huh? Makes sense," Muxiao said, considering her tragedies. Even with revenge, what was lost wouldn't return. Still, as long as she wasn't completely withdrawn, it was fine—though she still seemed pretty shut off…
"If you can't find meaning in life, then live for me for now," Muxiao said, lifting her smooth chin with a tentacle, letting the moonlight illuminate her stunning face.
Tsubaki didn't resist, replying softly, "Yes… I promised to offer everything for revenge—my body, my soul, my loyalty, my faith."
"…Alright."
Muxiao retracted his tentacle. "Then help me in the cult. Reina's my secretary. When I spread the cult's faith and glory worldwide, as a founding member, you'll reap the rewards."
Muxiao struck a dramatic pose, tentacles on his hips, laughing haughtily.
But Tsubaki's cold personality and lack of social awareness left him without a response. She just stood there, expressionless, making Muxiao stop laughing awkwardly, feeling like a clown.
Reina had returned home to care for her daughters. Despite their maturity and independence due to their family's circumstances, she couldn't help but worry as a mother.
Muxiao stayed at the noble's villa. Since he'd hypnotized everyone, why not enjoy it? He'd always wanted a taste of aristocratic life, heh heh.
"Eh? Summer, I'm not coming back tonight… No, I'm handling serious business."
"Muxiao—! What do you mean, not coming back?!"
Hearing Natsumi's sharp voice over the phone, Muxiao's bravado faded, his tone meek. "Summer, let me explain…"
He sounded like a newlywed husband caught staying out late.
"I'm planning to stay out for a while…"
"NANI?!?!"
Tsubaki watched the tentacle monster Leader on the phone, her gaze deep, reflecting his monstrous form. She thought silently, From now on, I'm his possession.
Regret?
No, her heart held no regret. Instead, seeing the Leader frantically explaining to some girl stirred a ripple in her stoic heart.
For a fleeting moment, her heart wavered, then calmed—perhaps unnoticed even by herself.
Muxiao, sweating and fending off Natsumi's barrage of questions, didn't notice either. Despite being a powerful, terrifying monster, he now seemed utterly submissive.
Tsubaki was puzzled.
Something's off. After their brief encounter, Muxiao struck her as an arrogant, powerful monster. But now… aside from his appearance, he seemed no different from a human.
So strange.