Hero? More like a villain-Chapter 43 - 40: Hungry
"Useless! Useless! Useless! Just like that older sister of yours!" Takase spat, his voice filled with venom as he paced back and forth. The veins on his neck bulged as his anger continued to boil over.
He stopped suddenly, his lips curling into a snarl. "Tch. If you’d injured that brat, you might as well have killed her. Now that despicable little brother of mine has his eyes on me!" Takase growled, his teeth grinding together as he bit his fingernails in frustration.
Ray slowly pushed himself to his feet, his breaths ragged but defiant. His fists clenched tightly as he glared at his father, his anger barely restrained.
"Don’t you even dare give me those stupid eyes!" Takase snapped, his gaze piercing into Ray’s. "I know exactly what you’re thinking. Probably planning to beat me up when you’re stronger, or seeking revenge someday, huh?"
Ray flinched slightly, shocked by how accurately his father had read him.
Takase sneered. "Don’t think for a second that you’ll ever surpass me."
"I like that kind of determination," Takase said, his voice low and menacing, his eyes narrowing as he stared at Ray. "But remember, no one in the Subaru family is simple-minded or foolish. As a Subaru, you must never reveal your inner emotions—not as a child and certainly not as a member of this family. Displaying your feelings makes you weak and far too easy to read."
He leaned closer, his tone dropping into a dangerous whisper. "I am your father. I created you, gave you the power that resides within you. And don’t forget—your sister’s life is in my hands. So don’t even think about fooling around or defying me."
The glowing red veins on Takase’s hands began to fade, and the same eerie glow disappeared from Ray’s body. The agonizing pain subsided, making it easy for Ray to breathe.
"Okay, Father," Ray replied calmly, though his jaw tightened.
"Good," Takase said with a sharp nod. "From now until you enter the academy, you’ll undergo intense training. You must surpass Iris’ power as quickly as possible. I won’t allow my brother to brag about having the stronger child."
Takase dropped to his knees, gripping Ray’s hands tightly. His face, devoid of emotion. "You must persevere through all the experiments. Do it for your sister... and for the Subaru family."
"Yes, Father," Ray responded, his voice steady though his resolve wavered. He bit his lip, tasting the faint tang of blood, but kept his gaze locked on his father.
—------------
1. Husband- Isakawa Subaru
Wife- Jennifer Subaru
child - Iris Subaru
_______
2. Husband-
Wife- Sakura Subaru
child - Heili, Meiru
_______
3. Husband- Mutsuba Subaru
Wife- Mei Subaru
Child- Nero, Orion
________
4. Husband- Lena Subaru
Wife- Yue Subaru
Child- Cyan, Ibuki
__________
5. Husband- Riko Subaru
Wife- Sana Subaru
Child- Krumi, Sheila
__________
6. Husband- Tomita Subaru
Wife- Michelle Subaru
Child- Ozymandias
__________
7. Husband- Takase
Wife- Noir Subaru
Child- Ray
__________
8. Husband- Hector Subaru
Wife- Polly Subaru
Child- Tristan, Xinjie,
__________
9. Husband- Tamare
Wife- Lucia Subaru
Child- Kamare, Erice
__________
10. Husband- Vondet Subaru
Wife- Bonbon Subaru
Child- Alter, Xioa
__________
11. Husband-
Wife-
Child- Ivan, Jason, Saito, Rui
__________
12. Husband-
Wife-
Child- Gaius, Soji, Orion
__________
13. Husband-
Wife-
Child- Asura, Yue’er, Lance,
__________
14. Husband-
Wife-
Child- Vritra, Edward, Francis
__________
As they walked through the halls, frightened eyes followed Isakawa and his daughter. Meiru and Ibuki were especially uneasy, shrinking behind their mothers and trembling with fear.
Jennifer clutched Iris’s hand tightly as they stepped out of the Subaru home and climbed into their car. But even with her mother’s firm grip, Iris trembled uncontrollably.
"Mama, everyone was looking at me so weirdly. It was scaaarrewwwee," Iris sobbed, burying her face into Jennifer’s embrace.
Tael lounged comfortably in his seat, casting Iris a single glance before closing his eyes. Sally, seated on the opposite side, remained silent.
"We’re going home," Isakawa said, a faint smile curving his lips. "The drama is finally over."
__________
Once the family returned home to America, exhaustion quickly set in, and they wasted no time settling down. After the long flight, Iris finally crawled into bed, where Jennifer kissed her goodnight.
Sometime later, Iris woke to the tantalizing aroma of something delicious. However, as she rubbed her sleepy eyes, the surroundings seemed off—completely unfamiliar.
"A dream," she murmured, gazing at the thick fog that surrounded her. Gradually, the mist faded, revealing a forest bathed in a surreal light.
Her stomach growled as her eyes locked onto an unbelievable sight: a colossal roasted chicken, standing three times her height, its glossy, golden skin glistening in the light. The bird strutted confidently, its massive thighs flexing like a proud champion.
"Walking chicken!!" Iris squealed, pointing at the giant meal before her.
Her excitement overpowered her disbelief as she dashed toward the chicken, leaping with all her might. Somehow, she managed to grab hold of it. Without hesitation, she tore into the roasted bird, devouring it piece by piece until all that remained were polished bones.
"Pheww," Iris sighed, patting her now-bulging belly, though a nagging hunger still lingered.
Her attention shifted to a peculiar sight—a black, crystal-like cat staring at her with piercing dark eyes.
"Kitty!!" Iris called out, scrambling after it. The strange feline led her to a meadow filled with walking steaks, turkeys, and more chicken. Her jaw dropped in awe.
"This is heaven!!" she gasped, her eyes sparkling as drool escaped the corners of her mouth.
The cat paused, observing the lively feast, then turned to Iris. Its mouth opened and closed in deliberate repetition.
"Do you know how I can eat the big food?" Iris asked, kneeling in front of the cat, her voice filled with hope.
The crystal cat continued its peculiar miming, and after a moment of confusion, Iris decided to mimic its movements. She sat down, opened her mouth wide, then closed it. Suddenly, an explosion of flavor flooded her senses, like an entire meal savored in one bite. Her face lit up with glee.
’Hungry,’ a voice whispered in her mind, urging her to continue. Iris repeated the action, savoring the taste with each imaginary bite.
Before long, her hunger dissipated, and she licked her lips with satisfaction. "Mmm, so good," she murmured, reclining in contentment, as the meadow begun to turn blurry.
A sudden, overpowering stench of iron and blood filled the air, wrenching Iris from her dreamlike state. Her eyes darted frantically, searching for the source of the smell.
"Iris!!!" A voice yelled, screaming her name.
Her eyes snapped open, heavy with grogginess. The sight before her was unimaginable—a sea of crimson blood and shredded remains scattered across the ground. Her breath hitched, and her body froze as her gaze landed on something familiar amidst the carnage.
"S-Sally?" Iris’s voice quivered as her eyes locked onto a severed head. The face, frozen in an expression of agony, unmistakably belonged to Sally. A wave of nausea crashed over Iris as she stumbled back, her trembling hands brushing against something slick and warm.
She glanced down, her stomach twisting violently. An intestine coiled around her fingers like a grotesque ribbon. Her breath hitched, and bile rose in her throat. She gagged, barely managing to hold back the urge to vomit.
Yet, that sweet aroma from her dream persisted, teasing her senses, pulling her focus from the horrific scene. Her heart raced, pounding so fiercely she thought it might burst. Blood stained her hands, glistening under the dim light, and without thinking, her fingers moved to her lips.
The taste—sweet, savory, and horrifying—danced on her tongue. Memories of the turkey flooded back, but the reality crashing down around her shattered the illusion.
Her gaze shifted to the corner of the room, where Jane, one of the maids, trembled uncontrollably. Blood poured from the jagged stump where her leg had been severed, pooling beneath her as she clutched the remaining portion of her thigh.
Iris’s chest tightened as her mind pieced the fragments together. Her hands shook violently, and tears spilled down her cheeks as the realization clawed at her sanity.
"I... I ate Sally?" Her voice cracked, barely audible over the ringing in her ears.
Her vision blurred, the scene tilting as the weight of what she’d done suffocated her. She clutched her head and screamed, a raw, primal sound filled with anguish and despair.
[ Host has woken up from trance state. ]
[ Host has gained supplemental nutrients. ]
[ Reminder: As a Gemaris, you must always maintain sufficient nutrients. If not, your body will instinctively seek them out. ]
[ Congratulations! The host has successfully killed a Lancer. You have gained levels and reached Level 33. ]
[ You’ve gained a new skill: *Mana Control*. { Host can manipulate a certain amount of mana. However, to grow this skill, rigorous training is required. The system shall not make things easy. } ]
The dispassionate tone of the system’s voice grated against Iris’s shattered emotions as it delivered its updates. Her body twitched as consciousness slowly returned, but her mind felt like it was drowning in chaos.
"Supplemental nutrients?" she whispered, her voice barely audible and filled with revulsion.
"Hehehehe." A sinister chuckle echoed through the darkness as a black, shadowy figure crouched on the rooftop. One eye glowed a piercing purple while the other remained an empty void of blackness. The figure gazed down at the chaotic scene below, its grin stretching unnaturally wide before it dissolved into a swirling mist into Iris.
