Chapter 44
Bibi didn’t even have time to check if she was still alive. She didn’t have the luxury to understand the meaning behind Kid’s laughter.
M-more talking? Here?
She panicked at Kid’s words, which sounded no different from an absolute command.
But how was she supposed to follow it? What more could she say? What could she say that would be acceptable?
The last thread of her sanity snapped.
Falling into full panic, Bibi couldn’t even think to apologize—her mind was consumed entirely with obeying Kid’s command.
But since she had no idea what to say, her thoughts spun wildly in circles.
Unable to withstand the pressure, she finally opened her mouth.
What came out was based purely on her current state.
“Y-you’re tired, so let’s just go to sleep now… together!”
She didn’t even realize what she was saying.
Bibi wanted to bite her tongue off and die.
Even in the dim night, her complexion visibly turned gray. She sat frozen, unable to even close her eyes.
Kid lowered his head, his shoulders trembling.
They shook so much that even Bibi, sitting beside him, could feel the vibrations.
Mom, Dad… I’ll be seeing you soon. Goodbye.
Watching his trembling shoulders, which looked like they were shaking with rage, Bibi calmly accepted her tragic fate. She closed her eyes, preparing to meet her parents.
“…Kuh, heh.”
A sound of laughter reached her ears.
Am I already in heaven?
She cracked her eyes open slightly to check—
—and her eyes flew wide open.
Kid was laughing—head thrown back, mouth wide open.
It was an overwhelmingly mesmerizing smile.
Even if he were a demon, one might willingly offer themselves to him.
His crescent-shaped smiling eyes and wide grin shone brightly—yet his arrogant aura gave it a strangely decadent edge.
For a moment, Bibi was completely captivated by the sight of Kid laughing so freely for the first time.
She forgot her own situation, too busy taking him in.
Then—
BEEP BEEP BEEP!
Her internal alarm screamed at her to come to her senses.
Snapping out of it through sheer survival instinct, she slowly scooted backward.
I’m screwed.
It didn’t look like he was laughing out of joy.
It looked like he had lost his mind.
By the time she had nearly reached the edge of the bed, Kid’s laughter subsided.
But his eyes were still curved like crescent moons.
“Ah… that was fun. Do it again.”
“……”
Normally, Bibi would have immediately replied, Yes, understood. But now, she just bit her tongue in silence.
She was too scared.
“L-let’s… sleep… I’m tired…”
Thinking that whether she said it once or twice wouldn’t make much difference, she obeyed him in a hollow voice.
I should’ve begged for my life instead…
In her ears, she imagined hearing: “You look tired, so I’ll kindly kill you myself.”
Just as she was once again mentally calling out to her parents—
Something suddenly grabbed her.
Her body lurched forward.
“Yeah. Let’s sleep.”
Before she could process it, her vision shifted abruptly.
What… just happened?
Why is it dark? This position feels familiar…
Her mind slowly began to function again—
—and she heard a quiet chuckle above her.
An arm wrapped around her back.
“You said let’s sleep.”
As if soothing her, Kid spoke gently and began patting her back.
Only then did Bibi fully realize what had happened.
It was absurd—but also familiar.
So she simply accepted it and tried to close her eyes. She couldn’t resist anyway, and accepting it was better for her mental health.
“U-um, Kid…?”
But this wasn’t okay.
She quickly realized that what her head was resting on wasn’t a pillow—and started squirming.
“I—I’ll just use a pillow instead—”
“Tsk.”
Kid clicked his tongue.
Bibi immediately shut her mouth, her resistance cut short. She bit her lip, on the verge of tears.
“Did you already forget how I told you to speak?”
She was dumbfounded.
He wasn’t correcting what she said—but how she said it.
“Say it again.”
His tone sounded like he might actually listen this time.
With a faint hope, she quickly repeated:
“I-I’ll use a pillow.”
She lifted her head slightly—and met his smiling eyes.
Is he actually going to let me?
“If you keep letting me rest on your arm, it’ll go numb, so could you just—”
She pleaded.
And it seemed to work.
Kid reached out and grabbed a pillow.
The pillow appeared in front of her eyes.
Bibi nodded eagerly.
It came closer—almost within reach—
Finally, her fingertips touched it.
Her face lit up—
—and then froze in confusion.
Whoosh.
The pillow flew away.
“…Huh?”
Before she could react, it landed behind Kid.
“Now there’s no pillow.”
“……”
Yeah. You bastard.
“Guess you’ll just have to sleep like this.”
He whispered like a devil tempting her.
Bibi trembled internally.
Not out of fear—
Before I die, I’m definitely going to hit you at least once.
She made a silent vow.
Unaware of the danger to the back of his own head, Kid contentedly patted her.
Bibi’s eyes began to droop.
Despite her anger, the familiarity of his touch was too strong.
And—though she hated to admit it—
his arm was as comfortable as a pillow.
Ah… so there wasn’t any “deadline” after all?
As her tension eased, her earlier thoughts returned.
Wasn’t he trying to kill her earlier? He definitely seemed unhinged…
In her fading consciousness, she replayed what had happened.
Kid getting angry for no reason… and now suddenly calm again…
She arrived at a hollow conclusion.
He was just… in a bad mood…
Why didn’t matter.
Kid was always impulsive and unpredictable.
Bibi completely gave up trying to find logic in his actions.
Instead, her desire to escape only grew stronger.
If she couldn’t deal with him, she would leave.
Firming her resolve, she struggled to stay conscious—
but sleep overtook her.
“……”
Kid quietly looked down at Bibi as she breathed softly in sleep.
Though he could only see the top of her head, it seemed to satisfy him.
His gaze fell on her pink hair spread across the bed.
Without realizing it, he reached out and gently played with it.
After a while, he seemed to grow bored and pulled his hand away, wrapping his arm around her waist again.
A quiet, lazy sigh escaped him.
Yeah… this is fun. It’d be a waste to just kill her now. She’s still useful.
Unaware that his anger had completely faded, Kid felt satisfied.
Faint dawn light filtered into the once-dark room.
Seniel opened his eyes abruptly, breathing heavily as if from a nightmare.
His eyes darted around, searching for something—
—and fortunately or unfortunately, he found it quickly.
Bibi.
Relief filled him.
But as his helplessness and feelings for her grew—
he realized how close they were.
They had always been close, but there used to be at least a fist’s distance between them.
Now, her cheek was pressed against his broad chest.
As he tried to understand what happened, the answer was right there.
His arm was tucked beneath her head.
He hadn’t noticed the numbness earlier—his body, strengthened by divine power, dulled such sensations.
Bibi looked peaceful in sleep.
Why was Kid holding her so carefully like this?
Seniel tried to recall what had happened last night.
But as always—nothing came to mind.
His emotions must have been shared with Kid.
So why… had Kid given her his arm, held her like this?
And more importantly—
Why did Kid come to her room every night to sleep?
What did the two of them talk about?
Questions he had long suppressed now surged violently to the surface.
If Kid didn’t exist…
If he were just Seniel alone…
He could approach Bibi without fear.
Like this.
Holding her.
Sleeping beside her.
He felt like he had completely lost to his other self.
From the beginning, it was a battle he couldn’t win—
someone with nothing to lose versus someone who had everything to lose.
His mood sank into the depths.
Even if he despised himself for realizing his love just yesterday.
This place… was supposed to be mine.
His red eyes darkened.
For someone who had just realized love, his thoughts burned fiercely like wildfire.
Just as he unconsciously reached out to brush her hair—
Bibi, whose body had grown used to waking at this hour, stirred awake.
“Mmm…”
Still half-asleep, she flinched at the voice above her.
“You’re awake?”
“Mm—yes…”
She nodded instinctively—
then froze.
They were far too close.
Were we always this close?
She blinked blankly—
then realized.
Ah. The pillow.
Just like Seniel had, she quickly found the answer.
She glanced at him nervously.
“Ah, Seniel—this is, um, Kid—”
“Yes, I understand.”
Seniel gently cut her off.
“Kid must have given you another strange command.”
His soft, calm voice reassured her.
“You just went along with it, didn’t you? Without any particular feelings or intentions. Right?”
He smiled kindly as he tucked her hair behind her ear.
Bibi stared at him, stunned.
This wasn’t the same person who had run away last night.
He was still kind, still gentle—
…but something felt subtly, unmistakably different.
