Chapter 18. Safe Zones
[Lewd-Reap Activated] [Sexual Intimacy with Target: Elena – Successful] [Analyzing...] [Target Skills Detected: Healing] [Tap confirm to absorb the skill] [Confirm] [Decline] [Awaiting Selection...]
The screen flickered before Shin's eyes as he tapped confirm without hesitation. His hand trembled around the dagger in his hand, second-guessing everything. Did he really have it in him to kill Elena?
Before he could decide, Elena moved—fast, desperate. She grabbed his wrist and drove the dagger into her own chest. Blood burst from the wound, trickling down her body.
Shin's eyes widened in horror. "W-what the hell are you doing?!"
He wanted to kill her—he thought he did. But not like this. Not while she smiled through the pain.
"Don't worry, Shin," she whispered, voice trembling but calm. "I've made peace with it. I can't complete my quest. Time's up... and I won't kill anyone else to level up. So instead, I planned to die... by your hand. So you can move forward. Not just for yourself—but for me too."
Shin's face contorted with confusion and anger. What was she saying? This girl just killed Suzune—and now she's claiming she won't kill anyone to level up?
But before he could speak, Elena leaned forward and kissed him. The dagger twisted deeper into her flesh as her blood ran warm down his arm.
She pulled away from his lips, her eyes soft. "Please... survive. And if you meet my father at the end of all this... tell him I loved him."
Then she embraced him tightly, pressing herself onto the dagger even more. Shin snapped.
He shoved her back. "What's wrong with you?! You can't just die like this after killing my grandmother! I was supposed to kill you, damn it!"