15 Chapter 14: How (Not) to Treat Your Uncle
Chapter 14: How (Not) to Treat Your Uncle
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"You make a fine tea, Benedict," V.V remarks as he takes a delicate sip from the tea I've prepared. The room is filled with the aromatic scent of the tea leaves, a stark contrast to the tension in the air. V.V continues, his voice dripping with a chilling tone, "Though it's a mystery how you managed to burn down the kitchen while boiling noodles."
I maintain my composure and sit down, not letting his rude comment about my culinary mishap rattle me. I've come to terms with the fact that I'll never be a master chef in this lifetime.
"Why have you come to my home at this late hour?" I inquire, my tone calm and collected. "Do you have something to say?"
V.V's eyes narrow as he regards me with a piercing glare. It's a look that could kill a thousand times over, but I meet it with an air of indifference.
"Why can't you stay dead like your siblings?" he asks, his voice dripping with contempt.
I simply shrug in response, not allowing his words to get under my skin. "I don't know," I say, wearing a smirk that's meant to mock him. "Maybe because I don't want to die yet?"
V.V's smirk turns even more sinister as he leans forward, his gaze unwavering. "So, you don't have moments when you want to die so badly?" he taunts. "I can assist you when that time comes."
I chuckle lightly, maintaining my cool demeanor. "Ah, yes," I reply, nodding as if imparting wisdom. "I'll be sure to reach out when that moment arrives. Perhaps in a hundred years or so? That should be just perfect." My smirk widens, and I continue to meet his gaze without a trace of fear.
V.V shifts in his chair, his movements deliberate. He claps his hands together, creating a sense of dramatic emphasis as he points them in my direction. "Now, here's the thing," he begins, his voice laced with a chilling undertone. "You," he continues, singling me out, "being alive is a threat."
I raise an eyebrow, feigning curiosity. "A threat to what?" I ask in a casual tone.
"To me," V.V replies bluntly, catching me off guard with his candid response.
I can't help but chuckle, unable to contain my amusement. "Wow," I exaggerate my amazement, my laughter bubbling up. "I never thought I'd be considered such a significant threat to you." Laughter spills from my lips as I struggle to regain my composure. "I should probably be proud of myself, right?" I quip, my laughter unabated. "I'm such a menace to someone as important as you," I manage to say between fits of laughter, finally catching my breath.
V.V remains silent but fixes his chilling gaze on me, his eyes revealing his inner turmoil. "Why do you think I am refraining myself from killing you now?" His voice carries an icy tone, and it's evident that he's struggling to keep his anger in check.
I respond with a casual shrug, maintaining my nonchalant demeanor. "Maybe because my father forbids you to?" I suggest, my words laced with a hint of amusement. "You've already killed Auntie Mari, and you've orchestrated the bombings within the 'mel Britannia' family. There's nothing holding you back from killing me except for my father," I continue, flashing a smile that deviates from my usual expressions when I'm with Nonette, Marrybell, or Auntie Mari. It's a wide, unsettling grin that almost stretches to my ears, reflecting the distortion in my current state of mind.
V.V remains silent, confirming my suspicion. Father is indeed protecting me from V.V. But why? It goes against his creed, where strength is everything, and those who can't protect themselves deserve to perish. If I were to die at V.V's hands, it would mean I wasn't strong enough to survive.
"You stopped sending your little circus of superpower users after Auntie Mari's death," I lean forward, a simmering rage glinting in my eyes. "Either you've told the truth to Father about Auntie Mari's murder, or..." I pause deliberately, letting the words hang in the air. My rage, which had flared a moment ago, dissipates like a fleeting illusion. "You lied," I conclude with a smirk.
"I did not lie!" V.V abruptly rises from his seat, his anger boiling over as he shouts at me. "I will not, and have never, lied to Charles!" He emphasizes the point vehemently.
I maintain my casual demeanor, offering a nonchalant shrug in response to his admission. "Well, you said it. Not me," I quip, pretending as if I've just uncovered the truth through his admission. "So, it is true that you killed Auntie Mari," I affirm with a nod, as if his confirmation was merely a minor revelation.
V.V seems to have regained his composure, prompting him to inquire with a chilling tone, "So? What will you do now that you've learned it?"
My response is direct and unapologetic. "Well, I really want to kill you," I admit honestly, my eyes locking onto his. "But if you're anything like C.C, then it will be very hard for me to kill you," I add, referring to the immortal woman I encountered in the past. C.C had informed me of her immortality during our last meeting.
V.V wears a self-satisfied smirk at my predicament. "Too bad for you, right?" he taunts.
I take a deep breath, preparing to pose a critical question. "So, I will ask the same way I asked her back then," I state calmly. "Can you survive in space?" I pause for emphasis. "Humans cannot survive in space without any protection," I explain for clarity, in case he fails to grasp the implications. "So, I will ask you again," I inhale deeply, my gaze unwavering. "Can you survive in space?"
V.V responds with a derisive snort. "You're saying it as if you can send me into space right now," he mocks, clearly doubting my assertion.
My expression remains unwavering as I confirm my statement. "I do," I assert confidently, my gaze fixed on him.
His disbelief is palpable as he questions, "What?"
"I said, I can send you up into space right here, right now," I state matter-of-factly, maintaining eye contact. "I can simply send you into the vacuum of space and let you float in the nothingness," I emphasize. There's no need for me to move from my current spot; I can easily call upon Eri to grasp this gremlin and transport him into space.
V.V attempts to deny my claim, but it's clear that the truth has hit him hard. "You must be lying," he protests, though his doubt is weakening.
"Sorry to tell you, but that's the truth," I respond calmly, my confidence unwavering. "I have various methods at my disposal to deal with the immortals I dislike," I reveal, drawing upon my knowledge from my previous life. Thanks to my exposure to literature, I know how to counter immortals I have no desire to take on. I silently thank Kamen Rider Wizard for providing me with the necessary insights.
"But I can have your beloved killed before you even attempt that," V.V threatens, his tone laced with menace. It's finally come to this, hasn't it? Where's that smug confidence that adorned your face when you entered my room, shortie?
"Who are you referring to? Nonette? Marrybell?" I inquire, determined to ascertain his target.
"Why not both? Even now, I have my operatives surveilling them," he replies, placing a button on the table before continuing, "With a simple press of my finger, they'll move in."
I burst into laughter at his feeble threats. "I'm sorry," I pause my laughter briefly to catch my breath before continuing, "You believe you've outsmarted me, don't you? But here's the kicker—I've outsmarted your attempt to outsmart me!" I proclaim gleefully. "I anticipated that you would come for me, which is why I instructed Nonette to keep watch over Marrybell while she stays at the Zevon residence. And I've tasked Sir Bismarck and Sir Michele with protecting Nonette in case someone targets her. And they had their KnightMares ready," I reveal, all while chuckling between my words.
"You!" V.V yells, drawing a gun from somewhere I can't quite discern. But before he can pull the trigger, a bullet swiftly pierces through his hand. It doesn't take much time before his body is filled with holes.
"Argh!" the gremlin howls, releasing the gun. Seizing the opportunity before his hand can heal, I rush toward him, tackling him to the ground and straddling his body.
"This!" *Punch* "Is!" *Punch* "For!" *Punch* "Auntie!" *Punch* "Mari!" *Punch* "This!" *Punch* "Is!" *Punch* "For!" *Punch* "Taking!" *Punch* "Marrybell's!" *Punch* "Mother!" *Punch* "And!" *Punch* "Sister!" *Punch* "And!" *Punch* "This!" *Punch* "Is!" *Punch* "For!" *Punch* "Trying!" *Punch* "To!" *Punch* "Put!" *Punch* "Nonette!" *Punch* "And!" *Punch* "Marrybell!" *Punch* "Into!" *Punch* "Danger!" *Punch*
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Five minutes later,
"For!" *Punch* "Wasting!" *Punch* "My!" *Punch* "Time!" *Punch* "With!" *Punch* "Your!" *Punch* "Assassinations!" I deliver a final, forceful punch.
Man, I've been punching him so much that I can't even see his face clearly anymore. My knuckles ache like hell, and both hands are throbbing with pain.
I steal a glance at the spot where the bullet that pierced V.V's hand originated. Emerging from the hidden door is Auntie Mari, inhabiting Lady Anya's body.
"So? How do you like my handiwork?" I ask her with a smile, though there's still some blood splattered on my face from all that punching.
She approaches me with a warm smile on her face, her tiny hands holding my face as she leans in to kiss me on the lips.
Wait... what? Now, hear me out, I'm not a pedophile and certainly not the one to shy away from affection, but this feels odd. I can understand she's happy with me messing with V.V, but does the kiss really have to be part of the celebration? And if she wants to kiss me, I wish she'd use her own body instead of Lady Anya's. It's just... weird.
"I love it," she says as she ends our kiss, and something strange catches my attention. I can hear her voice. Not Lady Anya's voice but actually Auntie Mari's voice. But how? I haven't taken her to my memory hall in C's World yet.
"So, how do I handle him?" I ask Auntie Mari as I glance over at V.V.
"Let me handle it," she says, taking charge as she drags V.V from his feet across the room. Ah, the distant sound of an engine revving to a stop outside the gate catches my attention. It must be my father... I think?
With Auntie Mari taking care of things, I decide it's time for a well-deserved rest. I exit my study room and make my way to my bedroom. Thoughts swirl in my head as I lie down, and one thing is clear: I'm probably now officially on V.V's hit list. Ha! Who am I kidding? Of course, I am! Do I regret it? Nope. But I'm worried about Nonette and Marrybell's safety.
I believe I should have another chat with my dear uncle Victor.
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Author's Note;
Marianne finally got her revenge! She made new holes on V.V's body!
It was stressing for me to think about how to write the scene between Ben and V.V cuz I want the gremlin to both be menacing and smug. So, it ended with this version.
I have to suffer from how to start the next chapter because I didn't end the chapter with a cliffhanger.
Believe it or not, Marianne groomed Ben since his childhood. I've left hints here and there since the second chapter. I'm getting so much hate for this, aren't I?
With that said, this story will be on haitus for about a month or two. Well... see you again.
