Chapter 22 – Letting Kaya be a model

'Arton mentioned Klahadore's name?!'

'Klahadore even killed Merry?'

'How does Arton know I was planning to give a brand-new pair of glasses to Klahadore?!'

'No, how could it be like this.'

'How could it be like this!?'

Kaya's pupils trembled, her face filled with disbelief.

"Miss Kaya, may I ask if you have any instructions?"

Klahadore asked with a slight frown, puzzled.

"It's nothing, just rest well for today, Klahadore."

"I'm feeling a bit unwell, please close the door for me."

Kaya shook her head, speaking quickly.

Kuro looked at Kaya strangely, but didn't say much else, and turned to close the door for Kaya.

Kaya took several deep breaths, looked at the closed door, and then at the three pieces of information on the diary copy.

[Photo: Captain Kuro crushing the glasses gift.]

[Photo: The reflection of Kuro slashing Merry.]

[Photo: Kaya sleeping soundly and Kuro with blood-stained fingers holding a weapon.]

Kaya tremulously clicked to view the photos.

A second later, Kaya suddenly covered her mouth with both hands, her body beginning to tremble violently.

Although Arton used images from the anime, and the characters in them differed from the real-world Kaya, Kuro, and others, yet, Kaya still recognized herself, Kuro, and Merry from the figures, attire, and appearance in the photos.

"How could this be, Klahadore is Captain Kuro."

"He's going to kill Merry in the future, and he's going to kill me too?"

"But I, I respected him so much."

"Is wealth really that important?"

At that moment, Kaya couldn't help but start sobbing quietly.

Knock, knock, knock.

Just then, a knocking sound suddenly arose.

Kaya's body jolted, looking towards the door with a bit of fear.

"Miss Kaya, I heard from Klahadore earlier that you're feeling unwell."

"I've just made some ginger tea; perhaps you'd like to have some."

Outside, a very gentle voice came through.

"Merry."

"Come in, please."

Kaya breathed a sigh of relief and immediately spoke up.

With the sound of the door opening, Merry, dressed in a black suit and wearing a gentle smile, walked in.

Seeing Merry, Kaya couldn't help but recall the "Photo: Kuro's Reflection Slashing Merry" previously uploaded by Arton.

Her body trembled once again.

"Are you cold, Miss Merry?"

"Here, drink this ginger tea quickly."

Merry, having just closed the door and noticing Kaya seemed to be in discomfort, hurried over.

Kaya did not lift her head immediately but instinctively opened the diary copy.

Arton had revealed Klahadore's true identity to her, making Kaya subconsciously seek a solution from Arton for the current situation.

[Kaya is also one of the heroines in the portraits and doujinshis I draw.]

[I can't just watch Captain Kuro's actions and do nothing.]

[Now that I've encountered the Black Cat Pirates, I should visit Kaya.]

[If there's any trouble at Kaya's place by then, I could offer some help.]

[This could also be considered payment for her being my model, hehe.]

[No, wait, I only used the image of Kaya from manga and anime to draw her portraits and doujinshis.]

[It probably doesn't count as her having been my model.]

[Maybe after helping her, I could ask her to be my model in person?]

"Who wants to be your model?!"

Kaya's eyes widened, and she involuntarily exclaimed.

In the drawings, there are quite a few naughty scenes.

Kaya felt that if she really became Arton's model, perhaps those lewd scenes in the drawings might become reality.

However, even though Arton's diary made Kaya blush, it also helped calm her somewhat chaotic and tense emotions.

"Model? What model?"

Merry tilted her head, asking with a bit of confusion.

"It's nothing, nothing, you heard wrong, Merry."

"But, I clearly heard Miss Kaya mention something about a model earlier."

"That, well, actually, I was just thinking it might be interesting to be a model."

"I see, Miss Kaya wants to experience the life of a model. With your beauty, you'd definitely become the most beautiful model, Miss Kaya."

"Tha-thank you for your compliment, Merry."

"Do you need me to arrange it, Miss Kaya?"

"No, not for now, maybe some other time."

Kaya shook her head repeatedly, looking at Merry who was very concerned about her, Kaya finally calmed down completely.

'I need to stay calm, can't panic.'

'Maybe, maybe Arton got it wrong.'

'Klahadore isn't Captain Kuro.'

'I still need to do some investigation.'

'If, if Klahadore really is Captain Kuro, I shouldn't lose my cool even more.'

'Even if it's just to prevent Merry from getting hurt by Captain Kuro, I need to stay calm.'

'Besides, even if Klahadore really is Captain Kuro, Arton will surely come to help as he mentioned in his diary.'

Kaya thought to herself.

***

300 power stones = 1 extra chapter