Chapter 183: Thought connection...
I lay on the floor, staring up at the ceiling, blanket pulled lazily over me.
It's fine. I don't need to manipulate Maki anyway. At this rate, she won't even be useful to me…
I let out a slow breath, thinking deeper.
The rate I'm growing is… huh? It's like spikes. Every few months, I leap forward. It's not growth in a straight line, but jagged, uneven bursts… And now, it's getting harder and harder to climb, isn't it? No—no, it doesn't matter. Even if it takes months, I can still forge new techniques. I can copy more cursed techniques. Each time, my power will spike again.
I smirked faintly to myself.
At this rate, I won't need anyone's help at all.
But then my mind drifted.
Maki, though… She has potential. So much. She could become like Toji—who was a menace to everyone who crossed him. But she could even surpass that and reach special grade on her own. In fact, in certain fights, she might even have the upper hand. Her body would be unaffected by most domains too… fast enough to move anywhere, strong enough to provide backup, unnoticed unless already anticipated. That's true support. And that's not the only reason she's useful…
I turned slightly, looking at the outline of her form in the moonlight, lying on the bed.
In a year or so, maybe more, she'll burn the Zenin clan to the ground. If I save her and her sister, I could easily earn their trust. And if I play it right, I could even spin her sister's death into something else… Let Rika eat her while making it look like she died in another way. Her cursed technique was terrifying—potentially one of the strongest in the world. Ha… imagine that. And the rest of the Zenin clan? If Rika devours even half, I'd gain a mountain of cursed techniques. Profit and profit…
My eyes closed briefly.
So no—I don't care about manipulating Maki. I've only been sowing small seeds, because I know the day will come when I can swoop in, play the hero, save her… And then she'll be mine. No gaslighting, no love bombing. Simple.
I smirked.
Besides, Maki is stubborn. She's nothing like Mei Mei. The only reason I could play with Mei Mei so easily was because she underestimated me. But Maki knows. She's seen me fight. She knows I'm stronger, and she'll never underestimate me again. That makes her harder to twist. And honestly? It's no fun manipulating someone like her. Mei Mei's better. She reacts, she sparks—she makes it entertaining. Maki… she's too rigid. Too stubborn.
My thoughts were racing months ahead when her voice cut through the silence.
"Ren… Are we just friends?"
I blinked, stunned. My whole thought process shattered instantly.
What the hell? Since when was she this bold?
Ren's mind swallowed, whirling.
And Ren thought…
Well… yes, we are friends. Maybe a little closer, since I have plans for you, but nothing more… But then again, Mei Mei isn't close either. At most, she's a body pillow for me to sleep on, nothing else…
My chest tightened strangely. Why is that? Why do I fail to connect with any of the humans I've met in this world? Honestly, I feel more connected to Kai 2—a curse—than anyone else. Is that funny? Or… is that my curse? My real curse?
I didn't answer her. I just stayed there, lost in my own spiral of thoughts.
On the bed, Maki lay still, blinking into the moonlight pouring across the floor.
Her chest tightened as she thought, "No answer?" Does that mean… he thinks we're more? But he can't say it now. Not when he's already with Mei Mei… Ren, you big idiot.
She closed her eyes, her lips pressed together.
And just like that, she completely misunderstood my silence.