Baron looked at the bill and sighed.
[You can also share love with others.]
That sentence had been stuck in his head since P.E. class.
But how do you give love to someone when you don't even know what it feels like?
"Hey, are you buying or not?"
"Huh? Ah... yeah, I'm buying."
Baron handed the money to the shopkeeper, took his things, and left.
His entire family treated him like a dog, never acknowledging him no matter how hard he worked. They even pushed him down to Class F, despite his high stats, skills, and potential.
As for his biological mother, he had never met her—she died giving birth to him.
So, he had no love for this damned noble family.
Libert? He wanted to throw that surname away.
If they didn't value him at all, then he'd do whatever he wanted.
What would they do? Curse at him some more? That would just give him more reason to spend money recklessly.
That was his own way of getting revenge, though he was pretty sure it wouldn't change anything.
If there was one thing he considered a benefit from that family, it was their exclusive bloodline skill.
It was extremely powerful.
He couldn't fully control it yet, but that was just a matter of time.
Baron gave a small smile and kept walking...
...only to see a bulky guy carrying someone he recognized.
"...Kai."
Great. He wasn't in the mood to talk to Kai right now.
Was he arrogant? Yes. But that didn't mean he failed to recognize kindness.
To be honest, from the very first time Baron heard Kai speak, he already knew he was a good person.
How? Ask the Libert family. They had trained him to recognize who had good intentions and who didn't.
But the reason Baron didn't like Kai was because he always talked about family.
I don't jealous or anything—it was just annoying how every sentence from Kai had something to do with family.
…
'Alright, fine. Maybe I was a little jealous. Just a little.'
One person hated by his family, another who loved his family with all his heart. It wouldn't be surprising if the two of them ended up as rivals or even enemies.
Either way, Baron didn't think they were compatible, so he wouldn't bother talking much to Kai. At most, he'd give a quick greeting.
Hmph. Kai should be grateful Baron didn't completely hate him yet.
"Baron?" Kai turned and noticed him.
Huh?? Wasn't he wearing an outfit that made him unrecognizable at school??
"Oh, perfect timing. I need your help with something," Kai waved him over.
"And why would I help you? What right do you have to order me around?" Baron raised an eyebrow.
Rocker and Kai exchanged glances. Rocker sighed—seemed like Kai wouldn't bother explaining, so he would do it instead.
"We're searching for the murderer by placing detection devices near the alleys."
"Murderer?" Baron was surprised.
'Who would be foolish enough to commit murder in an area under the Libert family's control?! That was beyond stupid!'
Even if he didn't want to help, he had to.
After all, he still had kindness in his heart—it was just his arrogance that hid it.
***
"Are you kidding me? If you put it there, the murderer will notice it immediately!" Baron stared at the spot where Rocker had placed the detection device.
"Eh... but I think this spot works?"
"HOW DOES THIS SPOT WORK?? YOU PLACED IT ON THE GROUND AND THINK IT'S A GOOD SPOT??"
Rocker teared up while Baron continued to rant in frustration.
I sighed and looked up at the sky.
"It's getting late..."
This wasn't good at all. We had only placed a few devices so far.
At this rate, failure was inevitable…
Luckily, all the townspeople had gone inside. No one else was out here.
…except for the three of us.
…Why do I have a feeling this is going to be the toughest fight yet?
Rocker wiped his tears and suddenly focused on something.
"Hey... why is that girl still out here?"
Hearing that, both Baron and I turned to look.
She had long, golden hair…
"Wait a second, isn't that Alice from our class?" Baron pointed at her.
"Alice? Who's that?" I scratched my head.
"...Are you joking? She's the vice class rep."
"Ohhhh... Then who's the class rep?"
"Me."
"Didn't expect someone with family issues like you to be the class rep."
"Watch your mouth."
Then, all three of us noticed someone following behind her.
We exchanged glances.
"That... is that the murderer?"
"He's suspicious as hell. Probably him."
"Alright! We gotta take him down before he kills someone!" Rocker clenched his fists and grinned.
"Wait, don't murderers usually operate in dark alleys—"
"LET'S GO!!!" Rocker charged ahead, leaving me and Baron behind.
"..."
And just like that, the two of us had no choice but to follow.
***
Alice walked quickly, her heart pounding in her chest.
She didn't know why, but she had a bad feeling—like someone was watching her.
Maybe she was just overthinking. Maybe it was just the cold wind sending shivers down her spine.
"This is not good!!"
She regretted not leaving the academy earlier. If she had just gone home sooner, she wouldn't be stuck walking alone in the dim streets.
Then—
Thud.
A soft noise echoed behind her.
Her breath hitched. She stopped in her tracks, her fingers tightening around the strap of her bag.
Slowly, she turned her head back—
…Nothing.
She exhaled in relief, feeling ridiculous for getting so worked up. Shaking her head, she faced forward again—
—only to come face to face with him.
Her body froze. Her stomach twisted in fear as she instinctively stepped backward.
The man in front of her tilted his head, his lips curling into an eerie smile.
"You're so beautiful," he murmured, eyes drinking in her features. "I never get tired of looking at you."
Alice's breath came out shaky.
She knew she had to act fast.
Taking a deep breath, she shouted at the top of her lungs—
"HELP—!"
Clap.
A sharp, deafening sound rang out as the man clapped his hands together.
Then—silence.
Complete, suffocating silence.
The air around them shifted, and Alice felt a strange pressure weighing down on her.
The man chuckled. "No one outside this area can hear a thing," he said, almost playfully. "That's my ability—I can create a soundproof zone."
Alice's pulse raced. Her body screamed at her to run.
She spun on her heels, bolting away—
Only to slam straight into something.
A barrier.
Her vision blurred from the impact as she stumbled back, holding her forehead.
The man laughed softly behind her.
"This space… is like my home," he explained. "And in my home, no one leaves unless I allow it."
Alice's breath grew erratic.
Then, suddenly.
His fingers brushed against her lips, tilting her chin up. He leaned in close, his warm breath ghosting over her skin.
"You really are beautiful," he whispered.
His eyes darkened.
"You so beautiful that remind me of my late mother."
Alice's stomach twisted in horror.
"That's why…" His grip on her tightened. "That's why I've been watching you for so long. And today—"
His fingers trailed down, sliding against her thigh.
"—today, I've decided to rape you."
Alice's eyes filled with panic. She tried to move, tried to scream, tried to do anything—
But then—
Something changed.
A strange force took over them both.
Their bodies stiffened as their eyes were drawn toward a nearby alleyway.
There, in the suffocating darkness—
A wide, bloodstained grin glowed in the shadows.
"Guehehhehh..."