Chapter 0: Before Death

I felt my body sinking, sinking, sinking.

The cold liquid around me enveloped my form.

It didn’t soak my clothes but slipped between the folds.

My consciousness was a blur.

Everything before my eyes… I couldn’t see clearly.

It was as if someone had stabbed a knife into my chest.

The blade pierced my heart, yet not a drop of blood flowed from the wound.

My body was breaking apart.

Soon, the Grim Reaper appeared before me.

He reached out, took my hand, and led me toward paradise.

My body felt light, floating upward with him.

I kept my eyes closed, trying to open them, but exhaustion and pain clung to me.

I couldn’t break free, only able to feel his ‘gentleness’ in this state.

I floated, drifting upward for a while.

Suddenly, someone grabbed the hem of my clothes.

The force was so strong it tore me from the Grim Reaper’s grasp, pulling me downward.

Darkness filled my vision.

***

A sharp pain shot through my heart.

The pain couldn’t wake me.

Someone was holding me tightly, their embrace suffocating.

I wanted to open my eyes to see who it was, but no matter how hard I tried, even if I managed to crack them open, all I saw was darkness.

My consciousness seemed to return slightly with their embrace.

Someone was indeed holding me.

I thought it was an illusion, but now I could feel them right in front of me.

Their face was buried in the darkness, so even if I opened my eyes, I couldn’t see them.

Their body was burning hot, their chest rising and falling.

They touched my face, speaking in an eerie tone: “I finally have you.”

“I’ll never let you go again. You’re always so disobedient, always leaving me.”

As they spoke, they shifted to hold me with one arm, using the other to pull a ribbon from their clothes.

They bound my hands with the ribbon, then gently placed me on a bed.

I wanted to wake up, but I couldn’t.

I didn’t know who they were or what they wanted to do to me.

They faced me, their touch warm enough for me to feel.

They gently stroked my face, whispering my name: “Xiao Na…”

Xiao Na?

That’s right—my name isn’t Ghost Pupil or Black Phoenix.

It’s Zixueta.

Who do I know? Who is this person?

My thoughts were a chaotic mess.

I couldn’t remember what had happened before.

They seemed to sense my confusion, as if on purpose, pressing their lips to mine.

After a while, they exhaled a heated breath: “Hoo~ Xiao Na, I know your mind is unclear, so let me tell you…

I love you. From the moment we met a second time, I fell for you. I’ve watched you for so long, and you never noticed, did you?

You love to eat, hate being close to others, and have a cold yet kind personality. I know everything about you, including that you’re a girl—I’ve known for a long time.

I love you. It’s not just what you’ve seen. I’ve wanted you for so long, and now you’re finally by my side.

I’m so happy. I’ve held back for so long. You’ll let me vent to you, right? Silence means consent, you know? Your smile is so cute.”

Their eyes were filled with possessiveness—I could sense it without even opening my eyes.

They licked the corner of my lips, and strangely, I didn’t hate the feeling.

It felt like we had some intimate connection.

Why else would I not feel repulsed by them?

I tried to sit up, managing only to wiggle my fingers.

Seeing this, they excitedly pressed a mark onto my body.

Satisfied, they held me in their arms, sitting me up.

They stroked my hair, expressing their affection.

“Your lips are swollen~” they said, their gaze enchanting, their eyes overflowing with emotion.

They seemed to know I was in discomfort but couldn’t help themselves.

They buried their head in my neck, inhaling my scent.

Their hands gripped my shoulders tightly, and with a sharp pain, I suddenly snapped awake.

A dream? Realizing it was a dream made me feel much better.

But soon, a headache struck.

The pain was nothing to me, so I endured it and got out of bed.

I was thirsty, and there was a glass of water by the bedside.

I wondered: Was this water here yesterday?

Droplets clung to the rim of the glass.

I thought, since I’m alone here, maybe I didn’t finish the water yesterday and forgot about it this morning.

Yesterday’s water shouldn’t be drunk.

I decided to boil fresh water and headed to the kitchen, but the kettle was nowhere to be found.

I returned and drank from the glass to quench my thirst.

The water tasted strange, like it belonged to someone else.

I felt uneasy, my head still dizzy.

I went to the desk to do normal morning tasks, like brushing my hair with a comb.

At the desk, I opened the screen and clicked the ‘makeup mirror’ prop.

The mirror appeared on the desk, and the screen vanished automatically.

Looking in the mirror, my face was slightly flushed, my lips swollen, as if kissed.

I’m alone here.

I didn’t think anyone would break into my home.

This is the Black Forest—beasts here devour people without leaving bones.

No one dares come here unless they’re suicidal.

If someone begged for my help, I might save them if I’m in a good mood—especially if they’re useful.

I picked up the comb, slowly brushing my hair.

In the mirror, for a brief moment, another face appeared.

They were behind me, but I couldn’t see them.

I saw the face in the mirror but didn’t care.

What does it matter to me?

As long as they don’t disrupt my life, I don’t care what they do.

This house is strange.

I’ve lived here for a while and know every item.

Some of my worn dresses are missing.

A glass is gone.

Tools I’ve used… nowhere to be found.

If some ‘thing’ took my belongings, let them.

They’re unimportant, disposable items.

I tidied up and went to eat.

Breakfast was simple—just a few stale biscuits from a jar.

I didn’t want to eat them, but the kitchen ingredients run around when I open the door.

Chasing them wastes energy, and last time, one bit my hand.

After eating, I sat at the desk to write my plans.

A glass of good juice would be nice right now.

The biscuits will go bad soon.

I thought I’d have to deal with those annoying ingredients and the forest beasts eventually.

How to handle them?

Kill them in a pot over the stove or drown them in the sink?

I wrote my plans in a notebook, with only a few words others could understand: *friends-use-lure-plan-kill-rebirth-strength-enemies*.

I’ve long known my fate, so I made a plan for myself.

No one will escape it.

Everyone will be my pawn.

They’re my best ‘helpers,’ and I’ll use them to achieve my goals.

There shouldn’t be any enemies during the plan’s execution…

I was writing my plans when someone knocked.

So annoying.

Disturbing me—how irritating.

I ignored it.

Outside, I heard a monster’s roar and a person’s cry for help.

What kind of idiot wanders into the Black Forest?

Did they think I’d save them just because I’m here?

“Please save me… I have money, I can pay you!”

They sounded desperate.

As they spoke, I was already walking toward the door—not out of pity, but because I heard the monster’s roar and wanted to kill it.

They said they had money…

“Money?” I said calmly, pausing at the door.

They weren’t stupid; they knew someone was in the house.

I checked my pockets, finding nothing, then reached out to gently open the door.

Just a crack.

Through the gap, they tried hard to see my face.

(TN: They was used throughout the translation because from MC’s perspective she doesn’t know who was with her when she woke up)