"..." After a moment of silence, I locked eyes with the little girl in my arms. Despite her embarrassment, her stubborn gaze remained unwavering. Ultimately, I lifted my head with a cold expression, choosing not to speak further.
Cradling the delicate form of the little girl, I stepped into the bathroom. The sound of the door clicking shut behind me made her tremble, as if she were stepping onto the guillotine.
Unbeknownst to herself, she clutched the hem of my shirt tightly. Yet this time, I remained silent, seemingly oblivious to her innocent gesture.
I walked across the pristine white tiles, carrying her small body to the toilet. With my left arm wrapped around her slender waist, I secured her in place, while my right hand gently reached towards the waistband of her hospital gown.
Feeling the touch of my hand approaching her clothing, the little girl stiffened, instinctively placing her feeble hand atop mine.
"..." I paused for two seconds, not uttering a word or continuing my actions. I halted in silence, and eventually, her reluctant hand withdrew from my grasp.
"..." Once her hand retreated, I silently continued to extend my right hand, lightly exploring her waist for a moment before gently grasping the edges of her pants.
Slowly, I began to pull down…
In an instant, her lower half, clad only in a white cotton panty, was fully exposed to the air.
At that moment, Annie was completely rigid, her small hands helplessly clutching her chest, not daring to move. The corners of her tightly shut eyes glistened with unshed tears.
I said nothing, my right hand continuing its slow, deliberate descent, grasping the edge of her underwear. This time, the little girl could no longer contain herself; she suddenly pressed her hand against my right hand.
Though her touch was weak and frail, I still paused, waiting for the moment she would retract her hand.
However, my anticipation proved fruitless as time ticked by, the stalemate persisting.
Her dark eyes closed…
And then opened coldly.
With an indifferent expression, I allowed her feeble resistance to persist. My right hand ultimately continued its slow, yet resolute descent, gently pulling away her final layer of modesty…
Moments later, I exited the bathroom, the sound of running water and the little girl's muffled sobs echoing behind me…
That night, the little girl lay awake, unable to sleep.
The following day, the same bearded doctor arrived for the routine check-up. However, upon entering the ward, he appeared perplexed, observing the unusual silence that enveloped the room.
This atmosphere was markedly different from before, as if something dreadful was brewing in the shadows, reminiscent of the oppressive stillness before a storm.
The cold-faced man remained aloof in the corner, feigning sleep, while a small white fox nestled on his shoulder, timidly hiding behind his gray-streaked hair, cautiously watching the little girl lying on the bed.
And that little girl? Hmph! She tossed her head disdainfully. The bearded doctor wore a displeased expression, wondering why the atmosphere mattered to him. Let them stay or leave; as long as they did not disturb him, he was indifferent.
Once the bearded doctor departed, I finally rose from my seat, my expression still cold. "I'm going to buy breakfast."
"Oh." The little girl mumbled, her gaze downcast, offering a perfunctory reply before lapsing into silence.
I paid no heed to her indifferent reaction, pushing the ward door open and stepping outside.
As I walked through the hospital corridor, my expression remained impassive, while a sinister whisper echoed within my consciousness, gleefully mocking me.
(Ha ha… human boy, due to your nefarious actions yesterday, it seems the little girl's fondness for you has plummeted to the depths. I can understand; after all, no matter how innocent and adorable a little girl may be, being completely exposed in front of a stranger is undeniably embarrassing, ha ha ha…)
(But now you're doomed. Didn't you claim you weren't trying to win her over? Yet now, with her affections for you dwindling, your prospects seem bleak, ha ha ha…)
(However, you brought this upon yourself! Yesterday, you could have easily sought out a woman on the street for assistance without spending much, yet you chose to deceive the little girl to satisfy your twisted desires. It's no wonder she dislikes you… uh, you didn't actually think that would endear her to you, did you?)
(Ah ah ah!!! Human boy!! I truly lament your lack of intelligence!! Do you believe that like those dull protagonists in legendary novels, a mere fleeting connection with a girl would lead her to inexplicably fall for you? Please, use your brain!!! Such things only happen in self-indulgent tales; in reality, those scenarios are far too simplistic!)
The voice in my consciousness raged, filled with indignation and frustration.
(I've told you countless times to stop reading those legendary novels, yet you wouldn't listen. Look where it's led you! What a farcical situation! A lonely little girl saved by a wandering soul, gradually falling for him through their encounters—such a beautiful narrative! But you, with your foolish actions, have utterly ruined it!! Ah ah ah!! The thought that I am sealed by someone so foolish fills me with shame!)
"..." In response to the demon's mockery, I retorted coldly, "Don't you think… you're being rather verbose?"
(Verbose? Damn it! You dare accuse me of being talkative? I, the great demon, am suffering for whom? And you call me verbose?! Ah ah ah!! I've been sealed for a thousand years! Banished from my homeland! And now, you have the audacity to mock your master! You're asking for your own demise!!! It's no wonder you can't win over that adorable little girl! You've made a fool of yourself, haven't you? Your plans are in shambles, aren't they? Happy now?)
"..." I apathetically rubbed my forehead and replied coldly, "No, quite the opposite. Everything is proceeding according to plan… or rather, the unexpected absence of the nurses has allowed my plan to unfold even more perfectly than anticipated."
Stepping out of the hospital into the gloomy sky, I glanced back at the little girl's ward window. I brushed my hair aside with a cold demeanor, my dark eyes concealing an abyss of chilling depth. "I have already seen the conclusion."