The Merciless Hunter

So she's just testing the waters right now.

Unfortunately, her actions resulted in people around her turning their heads to look at her curiously, somewhat puzzled as to what this strangely dressed girl was doing.

But Nian wasn't shameless enough to remain unmoved while being watched by so many people.

After waiting for a while without receiving a response, she scratched her head and left somewhat awkwardly.

"That's strange."

Scratching his head, Nian pondered.

"Logically, she should be here, right?"

"Could it be... that you really didn't see it?"

"This is going to be difficult."

As he spoke, he sounded somewhat regretful.

Just as she gradually left the crowd and walked to a small intersection, a thick, dark color suddenly spread out in the puddles beside her.

Before long, black figures emerged from them, gradually coalescing into human form.

She was a beauty exuding the classical charm of the Yan.

Similar to the New Year's attire, the woman also wore an inner lining and an outer coat.

But unlike her vibrant and energetic appearance back then, the woman who appeared now was noticeably more melancholic.

She lowered her brows, her eyes revealing a detached indifference.

Her black and blue attire, paired with her blood-red pupils, made her appear completely different from her sister.

If Nian is a fiery chili pepper, then she is like a plate of cool and proud snowflakes.

Her slender, fair legs beneath her dress were the envy of many.

Those who don't know her might be deceived by her cold exterior, thinking she's someone unapproachable.

But for Nian, this was just her timid, withdrawn, and reclusive younger sister who would occasionally sigh and groan over the figures she drew.

"Why are you only arriving now? I thought you hadn't seen it yet."

He crossed his arms and looked at the other person with a grin.

However, Xi did not show the respect she deserved to this nominal older sister.

"There are too many people, I don't want to come out."

She turned her head and answered casually.

"Too many people? So, when you told us you weren't afraid of strangers anymore, it was just to shut us up, right?"

"Are you still afraid of crowded places?"

Nian curled her lip, clearly not believing what the other person was saying.

I don't want to come out.

You were probably nervous and scared because there were so many people!

"These things are fine no matter what."

Xi didn't dwell on these matters with Nian, or rather, she no longer had the inclination to.

She simply looked intently at Nian, then glanced around for a while.

His aloof, almost ethereal expression quickly crumbled, leaving only a hint of anxiety and urgency.

Humans are very forgetful creatures.

Even though she has tried time and again to depict it in her paintings over the years, constantly refining her technique.

She also had to admit that her image was indeed gradually becoming blurry in her mind.

Especially in the last ten years or so, she has only been painting that final silhouette under the moonlight.

It wasn't that she didn't want to draw the front view; it was simply that she started to feel afraid.

Because she wasn't sure if she could still draw the other person's likeness.

Upon hearing Nian suddenly say that she had run into the other person, she didn't think twice and quickly followed the trail.

Trying to take another look at the other person.

Unfortunately, no matter how hard she looked, she couldn't find the silhouette of that woman she both loved and hated.

Are you kidding me? Just trying to trick me into coming out?

Xi looked somewhat angry.

But Nian just smiled and waved his hand.

"How could that be? I wouldn't make such a tasteless joke. Besides, even if I wanted to trick you into coming out, I have a hundred ways to do it, I wouldn't resort to this method."

"You're just too late. We just parted ways and left. She's probably gone home by now."

As she spoke, Nian smiled as she looked at Xi, who was standing silently with her head down. Although her face still held a teasing expression, she was utterly shocked inside.

To be honest, she really didn't expect that the woman named Maria would have such power.

She only knew that Xi had locked herself in a world of paintings, and the one she painted most often was that one woman.

She didn't know what had happened between Xi and that woman, and Xi never mentioned these past events.

She simply tried, day after day, year after year, to create the most beautiful version of herself in the world of her paintings.

It's difficult to comment on such actions, but one thing is certain: for Xi, this woman definitely holds a very special place.

So when she saw Maria, although she was puzzled, she immediately contacted her good sister.

The purpose is to inform the other party of this message.

Although he had previously tried to call out to the other person, the best guess was that the other person was communicating with him through some medium.

But unexpectedly...

"So this is your real body?"

He quickly and decisively pinched the soft flesh around the other person's waist.

With an involuntary, coquettish cry, Nian successfully pinched off a piece of black ink.

"Ah... so it really is just a drawn clone?"

As if he had been expecting this, he nodded, a hint of disappointment on his face.

Indeed, I shouldn't have had too many expectations for this younger sister.

How could her true form possibly come here?

Drawing a clone running over is already a significant improvement; I can't expect too much more.

Meanwhile, Xi, after her coquettish exclamation, blushed decisively.

The image of the ice queen crumbled in an instant; she just glared angrily at Nian in front of her.

He looked angry but dared not make a move.

There was nothing she could do; no matter how angry she was, she knew she couldn't win against the New Year.

It would be unpleasant if they set off firecrackers in the middle of the night.

She took a few deep breaths, glared at the grinning Nian, and then lowered her head again.

After a few moments of silence, she decisively turned her head and stood back in the pool.

"Going back..."

She said that.

Chapter Seventy-Eight: The Ruthless Hunter

"Eh?"

Seeing that Xi was planning to go back, Nian became a little anxious.

Why did she text Yu after seeing Maria?

Wasn't the goal simply to let my shut-in sister see the world of normal people?

Xi is leaving without even seeing anyone?

That won't do!

"Don't be in such a hurry~"

Nian quickly reached out, trying to grab the other person.

Unfortunately, it was just a watercolor illusion, and when Nian exerted force, the opponent's arm and body shattered.

The body continued walking on its own, while the large tattoo on the arm that Nian held remained quiet and motionless, with not a single drop of blood seeping from the broken surface.

Such a scene would clearly be a standard feature of horror movies elsewhere.

But for the two people present, this meant nothing.

Nian casually tossed the arm aside and then stepped forward to try and stop Xi's clone.

"Anyway, you'll just be squatting in the painting all by yourself doing nothing if you go back, right? It doesn't matter which way you look, so why not just stay here?"

"I just saw that woman, and I'm not kidding, I really saw her... If you don't believe me, I can take you to her!"

He repeatedly emphasized this, trying to win the girl back.

Xi hesitated for a moment after hearing Nian say that Maria could be brought to the table.

But then she continued walking with firm steps.

"Whatever you want."

"Huh?" This left Nian somewhat at a loss.

She had hoped this would rekindle Xi's desire to communicate.

But why does Xi look so indifferent?

Wasn't she the one who was obsessed with this woman before?

How come you seem so indifferent now that we're about to meet?

I don't understand...

Nian's expression was somewhat strange.

Her doubts reached their peak as she watched Xi completely transform into a puddle of water and merge into the pool.

No, you're really gone?

What did you mean by staring blankly at her portrait every few days before?

So you're a paper fetishist? Only interested in women in paintings, not in real women?

This kind of view on relationships is unacceptable...

But shortly after Xi left, the communicator in her hand shook a few times again.

I looked up and saw it was a message from Xi.

[Dark-hearted otaku: She appeared and called me.]

"Tsk... So he's just a tsundere after all?"

Looking at the text message Xi sent, Nian paused for a few moments, then laughed.

I thought Xi really didn't care anymore, but it turns out she still does.

It's simply because of my awkward personality that I have trouble expressing myself...

What a dishonest guy.

After saying goodbye to Nian, Maria walked straight into Hoshiguma's room without looking back.

When she returned to the house, as expected, she didn't see anyone else.