'And here I thought she might just be a magician or sothing. But that throne... that's no regular stone. That thing looks like a chunk of divine marble or so high-rank artifact material and she just crushed it like clay?!'
His eyes narrowed as he studied her fra.
'There's no way. Physically, she doesn't even look that strong...'
And yet, she was.
Without wasting another second, Razeal straightened his back. His instincts scread at him to act fast.
He didn't bow he wasn't so dog groveling at soone's feet. Most people might have, thinking that was the "right" thing to do. Especially when begging forgiveness and also in need from that sa person. But Razeal wasn't most people.
He spoke calmly, firmly, with as much control as he could summon.
"I apologize if I offended you, ma'am. Please understand I didn't know that title was... disrespectful."
His words were carefully chosen. No lies. Not even half-truths.
She could see through those like glass.
"It was my own ignorance nothing more. My insight led there, but I should've admitted I don't know anything. Truly, I've never heard of you before. I ca to this space with no information... none at all."
He lowered his head slightly not a bow, but an act of sincerity.
"So please, accept my apology."
The woman watched him in silence. Her face was unreadable cold, unmoving.
But it didn't last long.
Her gaze scanned his face... then softened slightly.
She saw it. The truth behind the words.
"I see," she murmured.
[Host, you have died again.]
"WHAT?!"
Razeal's voice echoed in his own head as his body reford once again.
'What the hell is wrong with this woman?! Didn't I just apologize?! Is she seriously just playing with my life?!'
Anger boiled beneath his skin.
'I swear she's just toying with . Like I'm so damned NPC in her personal playground...'
[Villains are often unpredictable, Host. And yes so are absolutely insane.]
Razeal grit his teeth, suppressing a groan.
'Are all high-rank villains this psycho?! Can't even be reasoned with?!'
Still, he didn't let the frustration show. There was no ti to wallow.
And anyway... dying here didn't hurt. Not really Since she kills him before he even feels pain. Just that weird, detached sensation again vague, like trying to rember a dream you forgot the second you woke up.
Still uncomfortable, but manageable.
So he stepped forward again.
He had to calm the situation.
"Ma'am, I think it would be best if we properly introduced ourselves."
She stared down at him from the throne, her expression now dripping with sothing new boredom.
Her emotions changed faster than any person he'd ever seen. One second, fury. The next, indifference.
It was terrifying.
"Let start," he said, pressing on despite the sudden shift in pressure.
"My na is Razeal. I'm sixteen this year. And I'm... I'm very good at~~~"
He continued, making a sincere effort. Putting on his best composure. Lining his words with genuine energy.
He wasn't lying. He wasn't embellishing. Just giving her what he could.
Trying to be respectful.
Trying not to die. Again.
But mid-sentence..
"Alright, alright, that's enough." She yawned, covering her mouth with one delicate hand.
"It's the rightful thing to do, sure... But No, I hate being bored."
Razeal stopped mid-breath. His eyebrow twitched violently.
'What the hell?! I'm pouring everything into this speech and she calls it boring?! I'm literally doing it right! I even stripped it clean of lies just because I know she'll catch them!'
Still, he didn't react outwardly. Only a small twitch of the mouth betrayed his inner rage.
"Let introduce myself then," she said, a faint smirk returning to her face as she rested her cheek on her hand.
Razeal straightened up even more, subtly adjusting his posture.
'Finally... sothing's progressing.'
His eyes narrowed, fixed on her. She seed calr now less murderous, at least. Maybe this was the mont.
He'd finally get to understand her what kind of monster she really was, what personality she carried, and more importantly, how to behave to get sothing out of her.
Useful knowledge. Power. Maybe a skill or two.
All within his reach if he just played it right.
But then
She went completely silent.
No expression. No breath. Just... still.
Seconds passed.
Then more.
And more.
Razeal blinked, confused.
'Uh... did she freeze?'
Still nothing.
'Did her system crash or sothing? Does she need a reboot?'
The longer the silence dragged, the more awkward it beca. He didn't dare move, though.
He thought maybe standing like a respectful statue would be the right choice.
Still, it was getting ridiculous now.
"Hey, System... she didn't fall asleep with her eyes open, right?"
He whispered through the corner of his mouth without moving.
[She is thinking, Host.]
"Huh? Thinking what? Wait... wait don't tell . In my words... did she find so loophole? And now she's trying to guess so absolute bullshit that sohow will end up being correct?"
[Umm... no, Host. She's contemplating very deeply.]
"Be fast, damn it! Why are you pausing halfway through?!"
[She's... contemplating how to introduce herself.]
Silence.
"What?" Razeal blinked again.
"You're telling that soone of her level soone who can guess how I'm being revived now has to think about how to introduce herself? Are you kidding ?"
[It happens, Host. When soone reaches a level where introductions beco... obsolete. You no longer need to say your na because the world already knows it. So when that need disappears for long enough... well, it becos strange to introduce oneself. She probably hasn't had to do it for tens of thousands of years.]
The System paused.
[...You might not understand now. But maybe, if you beco soone great one day, you will. Real pride lies in the mont when your na no longer needs to be spoken.]
"Bullshit." Razeal scoffed under his breath, visibly disgusted.
"Soone with a brain sharp enough to almost perfectly guess how I'm reviving... and she's out here struggling to rember how to say her na? Nah. Total nonsense. She's thinking sothing else."
He eyed her cautiously again. Still silent. Still staring at nothing.
And then
Her lips moved.
"To introduce myself?" Her voice broke the heavy silence like a blade.
A strange smile curled at the corner of her mouth.
A smile that didn't belong to a sane person.
"Let start."
And then
"I am the mother... who tried to kill her just-born daughter... by myself."
---
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