[Then, according to your prayer, I will grant you the corresponding power to change this fate.]
The boy's voice suddenly echoed in Natsue Hatamoto's ears.
Immediately after, a surge of extraordinary power flowed into her body, and a massive amount of information flooded her mind.
At that moment, when Natsue Hatamoto focused again, she felt as if she instinctively knew exactly what to do.
There was no need to think—once her body could move, time would resume.
Click!
Suddenly, a strange sensation surged through her chest, and she instantly realized that the frozen moment in time was about to restart.
With that mysterious feeling, her body also began to move, though the world around her remained in slow motion.
She understood it was only due to the unknown power that had just entered her.
Natsue's gaze sharpened, and without wasting a second, her body sprang into action.
She moved swiftly, accelerating as fast as she could in a single step.
As the tip of the blade neared her grandfather's body, she planted her foot and leapt into the air, speeding up once more.
Her body spun midair, delivering a powerful kick to Ichiro Hatamoto's hand—the one gripping the kitchen knife.
At the exact moment fate was about to be rewritten, the slowed time snapped back to normal.
Crack!
Gozo Hatamoto was still frozen in shock at the sight of Ichiro drawing a knife when a foot came flying in, slamming directly into Ichiro's wrist.
All he heard was the crisp sound of bones breaking, and then Ichiro's hand was violently smashed into the doorframe by the impact. Gozo Hatamoto remained dazed.
But with a shrill, guttural scream, Gozo finally snapped back to awareness.
"AAAAHHHHHHHHH!"
The scream—like a pig being slaughtered—rang throughout the entire cruise ship.
When he came to, Gozo saw his granddaughter standing tall, one foot still raised as she pinned Ichiro's hand to the doorframe. He even noticed that the wooden panel had caved inward under the force of the blow. He couldn't even begin to imagine how much strength Natsue had used.
The sharp heel of her high-heeled shoe had pierced through Ichiro's hand, pinning it—and the knife he held—firmly into the doorframe.
Blood streamed down the panel.
Natsue removed the heel that had pinned Ichiro's hand, then quickly grabbed her grandfather's arm and pulled him away from the source of danger.
Her heart was racing.
It had been close, far too close.
If I hadn't been here… if I hadn't had that power… Grandpa might have been stabbed to death by Ichiro…
The thought of that outcome filled her with dread.
And then, after the fear, came the anger. She glared at Ichiro, who was now slumped against the wall in agony, his hand still dripping blood.
At that moment, Natsue finally understood why her grandfather looked down on people like him.
They really were trash.
After experiencing something so terrifying, all of Natsue's remaining compassion toward those relatives was shattered. These people didn't deserve sympathy.
Looking at Ichiro howling at the door, all she felt was cold indifference.
Soon, the Hayasaka family's bodyguards arrived from the adjacent room.
"Help me… save me…"
Bang!
Without hesitation, one of the bodyguards kicked Ichiro, who was still pinned to the wall by his hand.
"AAAAAGHHHHHH!"
The blow knocked Ichiro straight to the floor.
Because his hand was still embedded in the panel, the sudden pull on the wound caused him to let out another scream. His tears flowed uncontrollably, and he writhed in pain.
"So noisy."
A calm, emotionless female voice echoed behind the bodyguards.
It was Hayasaka Ai, dressed in her maid uniform, approaching slowly.
She looked down briefly at Ichiro, who continued to cry and scream on the floor, but didn't spare him a second glance. Instead, she turned toward the two still-shocked people in the room and gracefully lifted the hem of her skirt in a polite curtsey.
"Good evening, Miss Hatamoto."
"It seems things have unfolded just as we expected."
Hayasaka didn't seem surprised at all by Ichiro's attempt to murder. It was something she had foreseen.
Everything Ichiro had done was simply a consequence of his own choices.
"Before assigning the rooms, we had already installed surveillance in the area. Our bodyguards were filming nearby just now. Based on his actions, I believe the judge will charge him with attempted murder. Ten years would be a reasonable sentence."
"Mr. Gozo, do you have any objections?"
Gozo, who had now recovered from the chaos, looked around at the scene and at the maid's arrangements.
This was indeed the best way to handle the situation.
"…No."
Hayasaka nodded slightly.
"In that case, Mr. Ichiro Hatamoto will be placed in our custody. Once we disembark, we will notify the authorities and allow the police to take over the investigation."
After saying this, Hayasaka turned her gaze back to the half-conscious Ichiro.
She waved her hand.
"Send him to the confinement room."
"Treat his wounds. He still has ten years of prison to face."
"Yes, Miss."
The Hayasaka bodyguards immediately carried out the order.
Of course, their handling was anything but gentle—rough, even brutal.
After all, the only instruction was not to let Ichiro die. Pain, however, was not off the table.
When they forcibly removed the hand that had been nailed to the doorframe, Ichiro let out another miserable scream. But none of the bodyguards reacted to his cries.
They were all trained professionals, ruthless and unbothered.
Once Ichiro Hatamoto had been dragged away, the source of noise was finally eliminated, and the room grew quiet again.
Hayasaka glanced at the bloodstained doorframe and the smeared floor, then gave a slight bow.
"Mr. Gozo, this room has become unsuitable. Please move to the room directly across the hall."
"I don't believe anyone else will come to disturb you tonight."
Gozo Hatamoto exhaled and nodded with a rare bit of gratitude.
"…Thank you very much."
"Then I'll take my leave."
With that, Hayasaka departed, leaving the room in silence.
Now that everything had quieted down, Gozo Hatamoto could only feel a dull ache in his head.
A weakling like him actually dared to try something like that… I really underestimated him.
But more than anything, what truly surprised him was Natsue.
Now that he had calmed down, Gozo realized that her explosive strength and sudden reaction earlier were completely abnormal.
After some thought, he realized…
He needed to have a proper conversation with Natsue.
"…Natsue, let's take this opportunity to talk."
"It seems it's finally time I handed the Hatamoto family over to you."
(To be continued.)