"Blake Silva, huh..."
Standing outside a newly assigned house next to the Akizuki residence, Blake Silva ran a hand over the wooden nameplate near the entrance. His gaze flickered with amusement.
He hadn't expected the identity fabrication to go through so easily—Sia truly was an overpowered system.
Before he could step inside to explore his new home, an intense wave of malice washed over him. Dark energy—thick, suffocating, and sickening—spilled from the direction of the Akizuki house, accompanied by a faint, desperate cry.
Blake's expression darkened.
"Change of plans," he muttered, pivoting on his heel. He moved without hesitation, heading straight for the source of the disturbance.
Inside the Akizuki household, Airi staggered backward, gripping the edge of a dresser for support. A burning sensation coursed through her veins, making her skin feel unbearably hot. Her breath came in sharp, uneven gasps.
She wasn't naïve—she had always known that Kouzou Akizuki was a vile man. But drugging her? That was a level of depravity she hadn't accounted for.
"You only have yourself to blame, Airi," Kouzou purred, his voice dripping with false regret. He leaned against the doorway, the spray bottle still in his grip. "If you hadn't taken an interest in that silver-haired brat, I wouldn't have had to act so soon."
Airi clenched her teeth, willing herself to fight the effects of the drug. But her vision blurred, and a traitorous part of her mind whispered that her body was no longer hers to control.
Her hand instinctively reached for her clothes, trembling. Desperation clawed at her throat.
Somebody... please... help...
And as if answering her silent prayer—
The door exploded inward.
"Ah—!" Kouzou barely had time to react before it slammed into his face, sending him crashing backward.
Blake stepped inside, his piercing blue eyes scanning the room. He took in Airi's flushed, struggling form and the disgusting excuse of a man on the floor, and in that instant, his decision was made.
Kouzou groaned, clutching his nose as he staggered to his feet. "Who the hell do you think—?"
Blake didn't let him finish. He grabbed Kouzou by the collar, effortlessly lifting him off the ground. Then, with a single fluid motion, he slammed the man's head into the nearest wall.
A sickening crunch echoed through the room. Kouzou's body went limp. Blood trickled down from his forehead as he crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
Blake let out a breath, shaking off his hand as if ridding himself of filth.
Turning to Airi, his expression softened. She was still dazed, her breathing uneven, eyes glazed over.
"...Give me..." she murmured, barely conscious. Her fingers weakly grasped at the hem of her shirt, her body betraying her mind.
Blake's brows twitched. "Yeah, not happening."
Sighing, he scooped her up into his arms and carried her into a separate room. This wasn't ideal, but leaving her was out of the question.
For the next hour, Airi struggled against the effects of the drug, making incomprehensible sounds that would have been wildly misinterpreted by anyone outside the room. Blake, maintaining what little dignity he had left, did his best to help her through it.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, her breathing evened out. The feverish heat subsided.
Blake leaned against the wall, exhausted. "Well, that was an experience."
Airi, curled up in the blankets, slowly blinked herself awake. Her emerald eyes flickered with confusion, then realization.
"You..." Her voice was hoarse. "...What did you do?"
Blake raised a brow. "Saved your life. You're welcome."
Airi's gaze darted around the room. She spotted the crumpled sheets, the sweat-soaked fabric of her clothes, and—oh.
Blake held up his hands. "Before you yell, I did nothing inappropriate. You had a drug in your system, and I helped you sweat it out."
Airi narrowed her eyes, clearly suspicious. But as she replayed what little she remembered, she reluctantly realized he was telling the truth.
"...Fine." She huffed, crossing her arms. "I guess I'll let you off the hook."
"You're so generous," Blake deadpanned.
Despite her annoyance, Airi couldn't help but smile. The man had just saved her from something far worse. And for that, she was grateful.
Then something clicked in her mind. "Wait—why were you even near my house in the first place?"
Blake leaned back, stretching his arms. "I just moved in next door."
Airi blinked. "You're my new neighbor?"
A slow smirk spread across her lips. "Well, well... Looks like fate really wants us to keep meeting, huh?"
Before Blake could respond, she suddenly latched onto his arm, pressing herself against him.
Blake stiffened. "...Are you always this forward?"
"Hmph. You already took responsibility, so I might as well make myself comfortable," she teased.
Blake sighed. "This girl is going to be trouble, isn't she?"
Outside, the distant sound of footsteps approached.
"What?" Blake glanced toward the door.
Blake didn't hesitate. "I'm out."
Before Airi could react, he had already grabbed his coat and walked straight out the front door.
At the entrance, a beautiful young woman with dark brown hair and striking violet eyes stood with a perplexed expression. Marina Akizuki, Airi's older sister, had just stepped onto the porch, clutching her schoolbag.
As she approached, she saw a silver-haired man casually strolling past her as if he owned the place.
Blake gave her a polite nod. "Good evening."
Marina blinked in confusion. "...Good evening?"
Before she could question him further, he was gone.
Marina frowned. Who the hell was that?
Pushing the thought aside, she entered the house.
The smell. The messy sheets. The undeniable evidence of what had just transpired.
And Airi, lying there, looking utterly disheveled.
Airi groaned and covered her face with a pillow.
"It's not what you think!!"
Meanwhile, Blake, already halfway down the street, smirked as a notification from Sia popped up.
Ding! Congratulations, Master, for completing the hidden task: Save Airi.
Reward: 20 Luck Points. Current Luck: 55.
Then, another thought struck him.
"Sia, let's use my luck-stealing ability on Kouzou Akizuki."
A beat of silence. Then—
Ding! Luck-stealing successful. 30 luck points stolen from Kouzou Akizuki.
Master's current luck: 85.
Blake chuckled. "That bastard still has 70 left. I'll take my time bleeding him dry."
With that, he strolled toward his new home, humming to himself.
Tomorrow was going to be interesting.