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Half an hour passed after Saeko's talk with Venom. The room was quiet, almost lifeless.
Then, the door opened.
Saeko stepped out, dressed in a flawless school uniform. Her pale legs were covered by black stockings that highlighted her elegance, her entire presence radiating the aura of a goddess.
But in truth, the uniform she wore was nothing but Venom's disguise.
Wooden sword in hand, Saeko walked briskly to the kitchen and began making breakfast with practiced speed.
"Do you need to eat?" she asked silently in her heart as she worked.
"No. I live off the nutrients I share with you," Venom replied flatly.
Then, after a pause, he added, "But eating isn't a problem either."
A small portion of him separated, reached for some food, and started chewing.
"How does it taste?"
Saeko couldn't help but watch the tiny piece of Venom sitting on her clothes, nibbling away. She was still a little afraid, but a smile tugged at her lips anyway.
"Not bad."
Venom gave a casual verdict before retreating back into her body.
With that, Saeko returned to her cooking, finished breakfast, ate her share, left another plate behind, and then headed out.
Wooden sword still in hand, she walked alongside Venom down the road lined with blooming cherry blossoms. The soft spring wind lifted strands of her hair, petals drifting around her like a divine blessing. For a moment, she looked untouchable, like a goddess walking among mortals.
The students on the street stopped in their tracks, staring at her in awe. Instinctively, they moved aside to clear a path.
Saeko's steps were quick and confident. No one dared approach her—the aura she carried was overwhelming, impossible to break through.
Before long, she reached the school gates. Students were filing in one after another, and she joined the crowd, walking straight inside.
Soon after came the entrance ceremony. The principal gave a speech, then a teacher, then the student council president. One after another, the formalities dragged on until it was finally over.
And with that, Saeko's first day of classes began.
By noon, she sat alone beneath a cherry blossom tree, quietly enjoying her lunch as petals floated lazily down around her. On the surface, it looked peaceful. But in truth, it wasn't.
"This is so boring! Why don't we stir things up a little, huh? Wreak some havoc in school!" Venom whined in her head, restless from the monotony.
"No. Absolutely not."
Saeko answered silently as she ate, her expression calm, but her mind firm.
"Come on, admit it—it's dull! …Hmm, tasty."
As he grumbled, Venom formed a tiny clone of himself and reached into her lunchbox, stuffing food into his mouth.
Saeko ignored him and kept eating, her silence saying enough. She had to admit though… these days were a little boring.
"Perfect time then. I've got something for you."
Venom's tone shifted, thoughtful. It was as if he'd suddenly remembered something.
"What is it?"
Saeko looked curiously at the miniature Venom sitting beside her lunch, munching away.
"A genetic serum. I got it from another world."
His voice grew serious. The so-called serum carried genes fused with a virus—Alice's genes.
"Genetic serum?"
Saeko blinked, clearly confused. The name alone meant nothing to her.
"It'll boost your body several times over. You'll never have to fear infection from zombies again. Details later—tonight."
With that quick explanation, Venom melted back into the uniform on her body.
Saeko didn't press further. She finished her lunch, stood, and returned to class as if nothing had happened.
But Venom was still thinking, weighing possibilities, before finally reaching a decision.
He would inject Saeko with the serum. He would make her stronger—not just when he was with her, but always.
This genetic serum, born from Alice's fusion with the virus, was no longer infectious. Instead, it enhanced the body's capabilities far beyond human limits, while also granting immunity against zombie infection.
It was the key to becoming something more—something beyond human.
Having decided, Venom ignored everything else and reached out to the system within him.
"System, how many life points do I currently have?"
"Current host has 910,000 life points."
Venom went quiet at that. Nine hundred and ten thousand… only ninety thousand short of a million. If he saved up that last bit, he'd finally be able to erase one of his biggest weaknesses.
The one he hated most—the fact that he could only survive by latching onto a host.
If he could get rid of that flaw, he wouldn't have to cling to anyone just to stay alive.
But… ninety thousand points could also be spent on four lottery draws. Maybe he'd score something really valuable.
It was a tough choice.
No matter how long he mulled it over, he couldn't decide. Save it to erase his weakness, or gamble for power?
After struggling for a while, he finally chose to wait until this world's ordeal was over before making the call.
Life points didn't expire anyway. No rush.
He let his mind slip back into reality, once again savoring that indescribable thrill of friction against his senses.
"....."