'...How much time has it been?' Ryuk held his hand over Yao Lian's head, sensing the arrival of someone nearby.
Though they were concealed by an illusion that kept them hidden, he was already familiar with the individual's identity and chose to act indifferent.
With the system adapting to Esme's abilities, he had become increasingly adept at pinpointing her positions.
He utilized a method akin to hers, where her power influenced the flow of mana. By observing the uniform movement of mana in the vicinity, he deduced her presence.
[Just a minute ago, she seemed angry....you shouldn't have hit her...you know, husbands who commit domestic violence—ERROR!]
Before the system could continue uttering nonsense, it was muted before Long Ryuk. With his eyes fixed on Yao Lian, yet the voice directed towards the figure who had arrived, his head tilted in that direction as, with a small smile, he said, "Even the best hiding spots fail if your scent tells your secrets, Esme."
'....'
No response came.
SWOOSH
Soon enough, a womanly figure in a fluttering white butterfly dress started to materialize. With her hands folded and a clear, sharp look on her face, she glared back at him with cold golden pupils. Her grey hair was adorned with a black tiara, giving her a suspicious appearance as she added in a hushed tone, "Why did you hit me yesterday?"
[Told you! You will get arrested for domestic violence! (。ŏ_ŏ) ]
'.....' Ryuk stood there looking blankly at Esme while hearing the same nonsense from the system, recalling what happened last night when he visited Esme.
****
Last Night,
As they passed through the corridor and approached a room, a man in a black suit was followed closely by a woman in a white dress, her weary face revealing her fatigue.
Ryuk opened the door, ushering Esme inside. He observed the quiet space, adorned with traditional wooden carpentry and dimly lit by a small window that allowed natural light to filter in. In the center of the room was a bed, and he suggested gently, "You should rest. You've expended most of your strength."
Though he was himself exhausted, Ryuk recognized that while his weariness came from physical exertion, Esme had drained her mental energy. He felt compelled to offer his support.
Esme turned to him, her golden eyes shimmering with a blend of weariness and vulnerability. It seemed she was subtly seeking some form of reward or reassurance. Fighting off sleep, she composed herself and asked, "Can't we sleep together?"
Slowly, his hand rose, his knuckles brushing along the line of her jaw with an almost reverent touch.
Esme felt her breath hitch, her body freezing under the sudden shift in his demeanor.
His thumb pressed lightly against her trembling lips, the sensation sending a ripple through her as if he'd reached past her skin and directly into her heart.
Her golden eyes widened, locking onto his, unable to look away.
"I—I..." she whispered, her voice fragile, barely audible, as if any louder might shatter the delicate moment between them.
Her lips quivered under his touch, and she felt her heartbeat drum loudly in her ears. She wasn't sure what she expected him to say—some confession, perhaps, or a rare moment of honesty.
Instead, his lips parted, and he spoke with a quiet intensity and cold firm tone, as if ordering her, "Go sleep, Esme."
"Eh?"
The firmness in his tone startled her, a reminder of the man he truly was beneath the fleeting tenderness.
Swish
Before she could respond, his hand moved with practiced precision, forefinger pressing against the side of her neck.
'!?'
Her eyes widened in shock, her breath catching as her body momentarily stiffened.
"Wha—" she tried to protest, but the words dissolved into nothing as darkness swept over her. Her eyelids fluttered shut, her body growing limp in his arms.
[ YOU HEARTLESS MAN! (ᗒᗩᗕ)]
[ YOU KILLED HER! (༎ຶ ෴ ༎ຶ) ]
'She is just sleeping; I just gave a light hit.'
[ D-ddddomestic Violence?! Arrest this man! ಥ╭╮ಥ ]