"Step."
"Step."
"Step."
Footsteps echoed through the empty corridor.
Slowly, little by little, they drew closer.
At the end of the corridor stood a room with a sturdy iron door.
A child in a dress sat in a daze on the bed.
Hearing the footsteps, she slowly lifted her head.
A deathly pale face, hollow eyes—nothing like a human being.
She tilted her head, as if she had learned something.
She murmured softly, "Someone's here."
"Why won't they play with Nanika?"
Her plaintive voice echoed through the house, but no one answered.
The surveillance cameras inside the room tracked her, missing not a single detail.
This was less like treating a child as their own and more like treating a criminal.
"Step."
At last, the footsteps outside the room stopped.
A white suit, its cuffs neat and tidy.
Gold chains for accents, the collar buttoned all the way up.
White leather shoes, polished to a shine and spotless.
Short silver hair, a gentle face.
He smiled warmly, the corners of his mouth slightly raised.
Perfectly polite.
Wearing white silk gloves, the man lightly tugged at the fingertips to adjust them.
He flexed his wrist, then took out the key his father had given him long ago.
"Clank."
The lock turned.
"Clank."
"Clank."
After several turns, the door still wouldn't open.
"Click."
At last, the lock gave a crisp sound.
The man raised an eyebrow, recognizing the sound as a sign that it was about to open.
He applied a little pressure.
The door swung open.
"Who are you?"
A small, clear voice rang out.
Following the sound, Coleman spotted his younger sibling sitting on the bed.
After looking her over, Coleman thought that perhaps "little sister" suited her better.
"Me? I'm your second brother, Coleman. Don't you remember?"
Bending slightly as if trying to find a height where they could meet eye to eye, Coleman looked around, then chose to drag over a stool.
"Scrape."
The harsh sound of wood against the floor rang out, but Coleman paid it no mind.
He lounged against the stool with a lazy smile.
His fingers tingled, and Coleman licked his lips.
Great. Seeing this little one had made him crave a cigarette again.
He glanced discreetly at the surveillance camera.
Too bad he couldn't. Father would see.
Rolling his neck, Coleman tried to make his manner as casual and nonthreatening as possible.
"My dear little sibling, don't you remember me?"
Her crimson eyes were cloudy and hazy, as if covered by a veil.
But on closer inspection, it seemed there was nothing there at all.
Nanika was taken aback by his attitude.
Ever since she had become conscious, aside from Alluka, everyone had either feared her or been wary of her.
Why was this person...
"I remember, Brother."
Alluka's childish, sunny voice sounded in Nanika's mind.
"That's our second brother! He's great! He can take us outside!"
"Does Alluka not like staying here? Come with me."
Nanika asked softly.
"Does Alluka not like staying with Nanika?"
Alluka sounded puzzled. "Going outside and staying with Nanika all the time aren't mutually exclusive. Doesn't Nanika want to see what's outside?"
Ever since Nanika's existence had been exposed, Alluka hadn't seen the outside world in a long time.
And Nanika had probably only seen it a few times.
After all, Alluka had been in control of this body for a long time.
Alluka didn't know whether Nanika could see the outside through her eyes.
But Alluka couldn't see the outside through Nanika's perspective.
So Nanika probably wanted to see the world outside.
There was sunshine, flowers, and butterflies flapping their wings!
"What if Nanika is trapped here forever?"
Nanika asked again, testing her a little.
Alluka answered as if it were only natural: "Then I'll stay here with you."
Hearing her answer, Nanika felt warmth bloom inside her.
She couldn't tell what the feeling was, but she was very happy.
"Hey, kid, answer the question."
Suddenly, the voice from outside jolted Nanika awake. She lifted her head and looked at the boy playing with a lighter.
He was smiling warmly, without a hint of fear, even watching her with interest.
As if he were examining some fascinating creature.
There was no fear of the unknown in his eyes, no terror of Nanika's ability.
Only a curiosity that left Nanika deeply puzzled.
Wasn't he afraid that curiosity would kill the cat?
"What?"
Nanika tilted her head, utterly confused.
"Do you want to go outside?"
Leave this place and go out into the world.
"..."
Nanika said nothing, just looked at Coleman as if she couldn't understand what he was saying.
Coleman licked his lips, shook his head, and chuckled.
Then he suddenly sat up straight and said seriously,
"Make a demand, Nanika. I think you're almost unable to hold back."
It was strange, but Coleman was sure he could feel it.
That faint, dark aura was slowly swelling.
As if it were longing for something.
He couldn't explain it, and Coleman didn't know what was going on.
But it was harmless enough.
At the same time, Coleman had no idea what his eyes looked like to Nanika just then.
Something seemed to move in his blood-red pupils, flickering in and out.
His normally round pupils were gradually narrowing, becoming more like slits.
The warmth he had always shown on the surface vanished, replaced by a chilling aura.
Like a fierce serpent lurking in the shadows, waiting for a chance to strike.
Then, in the very next instant, it disappeared.
As if nothing had happened.
Her gentle second brother appeared once more.
"Can you hug me?"
Opening her arms, Nanika chose to ignore the strange feeling about Coleman and smiled with her head tilted.
Coleman smiled gladly, brushed the dust from his clothes, stepped forward, and picked up the child.
"Why not?"
He even reached over and ruffled the child's hair.
Oh, so this was what having a little sister felt like?
Not bad at all!
If Father weren't watching, Coleman might have even wanted to pick her up and spin her around.
And take her out to buy cute little dresses!
"Can you kiss my cheek?"
Without hesitation, Coleman leaned in almost as soon as Nanika finished speaking.
After kissing her once, he found the child's cheek so soft that he cheekily gave her another kiss.
Woohoo!!!
Little sisters were the greatest things in the world!
What was so great about having an annoying little brother?!
Nanika hugged him tightly in return and rubbed her face against her brother's chest.
So warm.
Deep in her mind, Alluka heard Nanika's somewhat excessive request and couldn't help blushing.
She could hardly imagine what it was like to have her second brother, with his devastatingly handsome face, kiss her.
Her eldest brother was handsome, but because of his personality, Alluka always found him a little feminine and ruthless.
Her second brother was different. He knew exactly how handsome he was.
He made the most of his looks.
And of the personality he showed to others.
Gentle and refined, a perfect gentleman—polite, considerate, and respectful toward women.
The kind of smooth-talking gentleman who made young women and married women alike fall for him!
Who could bear to see a man like that frown?
But he was kissing her right now!!
No, wait, he was kissing Nanika!
But that was practically the same as kissing her!
She quietly checked how her body was doing and found that, with Nanika in control, her body...
Her heartbeat was steady and normal, and there was no sign of her blood racing or heat rising to her cheeks.
???
Was Nanika not embarrassed at all?
Alluka, utterly defeated by her brother's tenderness, was left with a head full of questions.
Then she heard Nanika's childish, clear voice ring out.
She asked,
"Can I play with your left arm?"
Before you continue