Hacking the Game Didn't Go as Intended

CHAPTER 105: Unrequited Love & Spite

The heart-wrenching wails of a young girl echoed through the laboratory. Grief-stricken, Petula hung her head, her grip tightening around her elbow as the Florian’s voice began to break. Tennyson’s fists trembled at his sides, his heart sinking under the crushing weight of guilt.

Reeza clung desperately to the side of the pedestal used as an operating table, her legs buckling beneath her. Harsh tears streamed down her face as she gazed at her mother’s still form. No matter how intensely she willed it to be false, nothing changed—her mother lay breathless, her life cruelly extinguished by the forces of evil.

As her body slumped to the floor, a distant memory resurfaced. She had been ecstatic, having amassed half of the funds necessary to free her mother. That day, she had rushed to the woman’s cell to celebrate, a hopeful spark in her eyes and joy in her heart.

She vividly remembered her mother often garbed in a kimono. Despite their dire circumstances, she always wore a wholehearted smile and often encouraged Reeza to forget about her and live her own life. Now that her body was no longer hidden behind the concealing garments, Reeza could see the gruesome wounds that marred the woman’s skin—a harrowing telltale of the life of abuse she had endured alone.

“What was the point?” Reeza cried out, her voice laced with anguish. “What was the point of stealing and hurting so many people if I couldn’t even save her in the end?”

“Casimir was undeniably the worst kind of scum, but he wasn’t exactly stupid,” Daisuke argued as he strode into the room. “You’d expect him to milk every opportunity for profit before severing ties, especially when the opposition hardly poses a threat.”

Everyone glanced down at Reeza’s broken form on the ground. Daisuke, in particular, regarded her with a mixture of emotions. But the most predominant had to be anger. While her situation was tragic, her deeds were extremely selfish—and countless people were affected by her actions, including Zephyr.

Daisuke had been burned far too many times, and he had already promised himself that unnecessary kindness was a burden he no longer intended to shoulder, especially when he didn’t stand to benefit.

As malice slowly reared its unpleasant head, consuming what little sympathy he had in his heart for the girl, Daisuke’s fingers began unfurling. Every fiber of his being was telling him to summon the Lipanthyer’s Fang and end her miserable life then and there.

But just as he was about to concede to the dark deed, his fingers stilled. Before the power of his eyes, a strange entity manifested itself. It was in the form of a stall bird, electricity flickering from its wings as it hovered defensively in front of Reeza.

[The Djinn, Voltina, fiercely guards her prospective contractor.]

Daisuke frowned inquisitively.

[Name: Voltina

Level: 27 | EXP: 12,864/113,906 (11.29%)

Race: Lightning Djinn

Current Species: Yellow Canary

HP: 2875/2875

[Mysterious and elusive elemental beings often regarded as the messengers of Guardian Spirits. Djinn are inherently shy and peaceful creatures with the extraordinary ability to sense the goodness in others. On rare occasions, they form sacred bonds with individuals with whom they share a profound and uncanny connection.]

Without warning, the Djinn invaded Daisuke’s mind in an attempt to cool his rage. Like the pages of a flipbook, he was shown snippets of Reeza’s character and lifestyle that weren’t readily seen on the surface.

Daisuke sighed inwardly as the Djinn disappeared.

“Do you remember any details about the people who brought her mother to you?” Daisuke asked, his gaze falling onto the remorseful neurolchemist.

The man’s forehead crinkled as he rummaged through his memory. “…She was brought in by a young man after supposedly attacking an important guest.”

“And then you!” Reeza sneered, lurching forward with a raised fist. “You killed her!”

Daisuke caught her hand, his expression unreadable. “Calm down,” he commanded in an ominous monotone. “You seem to forget that you’ve unwillingly hurt innocent people, as well.”

Reeza recalled Zephyr’s pained yelp and bit her lip in regret. Then she glanced at the scientist with disdain, still unable to forgive him for what he’d done.

She understood her mother’s nature well; a true pacifist who wouldn’t harm a soul. It was inconceivable for her to defy authority, knowing full well the potential repercussions it could have on her daughter as well.

“That’s impossible!” Reeza argued vehemently. “My mother would never do something like that, no matter the situation!”

“This young man,” Petula asked hesitantly, unsure whether to participate or remain quiet. “…What exactly did he look like?”

Tennyson glanced up at the ceiling as he contemplated. “He was a young man, maybe fourteen; small-statured, half-lidded eyes, and bronze hair.”

“Fynch?” Reeza’s eyes quivered in shock as the name rolled off her tongue. For a moment, she couldn’t fathom why he would do such a horrible thing, but as a recent memory replayed in her mind, she began to understand.

As the bastard’s smug visage appeared in her mind, Reeza bit down on her lip so hard it started to bleed.

“I’m so sorry,” Petula whispered as she embraced her tightly, their bodies trembling as they both sobbed.