The Otherworld Was Way Too Brutal – After I Healed the Mutilated Girl, She Turned Into a Completely Obsessed Yandere Guard Dog - Chapter 23.2

Chapter 23.2

Just a strong, healthy breathing sound.

Genzou roughly yanked out the IV lines and tubes connected to his body.

Then, slowly but steadily, he stood up from the bed.

He still looked like an old man.

The wrinkles and white hair hadn’t changed.

But his posture straightened, and a sharp, predatory gleam filled his eyes.

His skin regained color, and the death-stink was completely gone.

“…Magnificent.”

Genzou stared at his own hands and spoke in a trembling voice.

“My body feels light. Breathing isn’t painful. My heart… it’s pounding like a damn bell…!”

He burst into loud laughter.

The volume was enough to rattle the windowpanes.

“Hahaha! This is it! I’m back! I’ve reclaimed the power of a true ruler!”

It was manic, crazed joy.

I took one step back.

The realization that I’d just revived a monster sent a cold chill crawling up my spine.

Genzou suddenly stopped laughing and leaned his face close to mine.

“But old age still remains, doesn’t it?”

“…My skill is regeneration. I can’t rewind time.”

“Not yet.”

Genzou grinned wickedly.

“If your level rises, eventually you’ll overcome cellular aging itself, won’t you?”

“…I don’t know.”

“You will. If it’s you.”

Genzou’s hand clamped down on my shoulder like a vise.

A grip you’d never expect from a bedridden old man.

“Jin. Starting today, you belong to me.”

“…”

“Don’t even think about running. Your home, that girl without arms or legs… oh, she grew an arm now, didn’t she. Her fate—and yours—is entirely in my hands.”

This wasn’t a threat.

He stated it like an already decided future.

“Raise your level. Higher. Grant me eternal youth. If you do, I’ll give you and the girl the peace you deserve.”

I bit my lip hard and could only nod silently.

If I refused, Tsugumi would die that very instant.

“You may leave. …Ah, yes.”

Genzou spoke as if he’d just remembered.

“I’m assigning Cattleya to you. She’s an excellent watchdog. Perfect for protecting you—and keeping watch over you.”

I gave a small bow and practically fled the room.

Behind me, Genzou’s wild laughter started up again.

When I left the mansion, it was already full night.

A full moon floated in the sky.

I walked home with heavy steps.

Getting Tsugumi’s limbs back.

For that goal, I’d even been ready to sell my soul to the devil.

But now that I’d actually done it, the weight of the price was crushing me.

(…No, stop thinking about it.)

For now, just look at the results.

By satisfying Genzou, I’d secured our safety for the time being.

I’d also gained his cooperation for leveling up.

The environment to heal Tsugumi’s right leg was finally ready.

I reached the front of the house.

Light leaked from the windows.

I opened the door.

“I’m home.”

When I called out, the air in the room felt different from before.

Tsugumi was standing.

Well—more precisely, she was sitting on the edge of the bed, gripping the bed rail with her new left hand, balancing on one foot, trying to stand up.

“Jin!”

The moment she saw my face, Tsugumi’s expression lit up.

She reached her left hand toward me.

“Welcome home, Jin.”

I rushed over and caught her in my arms.

“Don’t push yourself like that. You’re still not used to it.”

“No, I’m fine… Look, Jin.”

Tsugumi wrapped both arms around my neck and pressed her face close.

Her eyes sparkled eerily, reflecting the moonlight.

“I have both hands now. So I can hold Jin like this… and never let you go.”

Her arms tightened.

The strength was unbelievable for her slender frame.

Tight enough that my neck felt squeezed.

“Does it hurt?”

“…Nah, I’m okay.”

Tsugumi pressed her ear to my chest like she was listening to my heartbeat, and closed her eyes.

“Jin went to that scary place for me, right?”

“…Yeah, pretty much.”

“You got hurt, bled, and wore your heart down… all for me.”

Tsugumi lifted her face.

Her eyes were dark like an abyss, yet burning with heat.

“That’s enough, Jin.”

“Huh?”

“I don’t want to see you get hurt anymore. From now on, I’ll protect you.”

She held up her regenerated left hand in front of her face and clenched it into a fist.

“I got this hand for that very reason. Anyone who tries to hurt Jin… I’ll smash them all to pieces.”

A shiver ran down my spine.

It wasn’t exactly fear, and it wasn’t exactly reassurance either—just some creepy, unnameable feeling.

Something inside Tsugumi was starting to change.

As her body got closer to being whole, maybe her mind was transforming too.

But right now, even that intense passion of hers felt precious to me.

Crazy was fine.

Obsessive was fine.

As long as she showed the will to live, I’d support her with everything I had.

“Yeah. I’m counting on you, Tsugumi.”

“Mm… I love you so much, Jin. We’re gonna be together forever and ever.”

Tsugumi kissed me.

A light kiss on the cheek, like a greeting.

But when her lips pulled away, I could’ve sworn I heard a faint, sticky sound.

In the corner of the room, I saw Cattleya quietly lowering her eyes.

It felt like she was silently accepting this twisted form of happiness too.

Next was the right leg.

Then Level 5.

Our fight wasn’t over yet.

If anything… maybe this was where the real hell began.