69novels Page 135
Page 135
Just then, a gentle figure, exuding a "healing" aura, slowly walked to his side and sat down.
It's Matou Sakura.
"—Senior." She looked at the beautiful black-haired girl who was still asleep, her beautiful purple eyes filled with worry. "That child... is she alright?"
"Hmm." Gu Chuan put away his phone and turned his gaze to the petite figure placed on the sofa. "Her soul has been completely repaired by me. However, because it was eroded by that malice for too long before, it still needs some time to self-regulate."
He paused, looking at the girl's peaceful, pure sleeping face, and slowly reached out, with a gentle gesture that was like a "headmaster" admiring his most precious "collection," to gently stroke her smooth, night-like long hair.
"—And, starting today."
"She is now a completely new member of our family."
It was as if they had heard his absolute "declaration" filled with "kingly" authority.
The petite, black-haired girl who had been sleeping all along had her long, butterfly-wing-like eyelashes tremble slightly, uncontrollably.
Then, slowly, she opened her eyes—eyes that were no longer flowing with black blood and tears, but were now the purest, cleanest, obsidian-like, beautiful eyes, washed clean by rain.
She looked at the bustling world before her, somewhat bewildered, a world that was both "unfamiliar" and, unexpectedly, made her feel incredibly "warm."
She saw those beautiful "big sisters" facing her, showing her the most sincere and friendly smiles.
She also saw him, looking at her with a gentle expression, his dark eyes seeming to encompass everything, like those of a god.
Her heart, which had long been frozen solid by endless sorrow and despair, melted slightly at this moment, uncontrollably.
She slowly sat up from the sofa.
Then, under the watchful eyes of everyone, filled with anticipation and curiosity, she softly uttered her first words in this new world in a voice that was both timid and resilient, yet also tender and resilient, like the most beautiful and melodious heavenly music.
"—My...name is..."
"——Yozaki...played.".
252 New Family and King's Chessboard
When the first rays of sunlight shone gently through the gap in the curtains onto the unfamiliar, soft bed the next morning, Kanade Yoizaki slowly opened her eyes.
Her eyes, once as pure as obsidian washed by rain, were now devoid of their previous emptiness and despair, replaced by a faint sense of bewilderment, as if she were waking from a deep dream.
This is...where?
She hesitated for a moment, then sat up from the warm, sun-scented bed, looking around the unfamiliar room. The room wasn't large, but it was decorated with unusual coziness. The walls were covered in cute, girlish wallpaper, and several small, vibrant green potted plants sat on the desk.
The air was filled with a faint, pleasant, comforting scent, a blend of sunshine and grass.
This is not the cold, white "cage" filled with the smell of disinfectant that is now known as 侕林弍倭仪僄<龄扒（|二）.
No, it's not that dark "nightmare" filled with despair and sorrow.
This place feels more like a warm memory she only possessed in her most distant, hazy recollections.
"--Home".
Just then, the door to the room was gently pushed open.
"Ah, you're awake?"
A gentle, healing voice rang out.
It's Matou Sakura.
She walked in with a tray on which sat a glass of warm milk and several freshly baked, bear-shaped cookies that smelled sweet. She smiled as she entered.
"Are you hungry? Have something to eat first."
Like the most dutiful and gentlest "mother," she gently placed the breakfast, filled with "love" and "warmth," on Yoizaki Kanade's bedside table.
Looking at the "big sister" in front of her who was giving her the gentlest and most loving smile, who seemed to glow, Kanade Yoizaki's heart, which had long been frozen, melted a little bit once again, uncontrollably.
She was somewhat at a loss.
Some were flattered.
She hadn't felt this kind of pure "kindness" and "warmth" without any ulterior motive for a very, very long time.
……
When Matou Sakura, with this somewhat timid "new family member," entered the warm and noisy living room, a small "family meeting" filled with "curiosity" and "probing" quietly began.
"—Hey, are you the one who was rescued by the master from that very powerful monster?"
Leone was the first to approach, like a curious "big cat." Her sharp, feline-like eyes scanned Yoizaki Kanade's petite, slender body without any attempt to hide it.
Eriri and Artoria Caster, like two comrades who had found their kind, gave her a kind smile full of sympathy.
Only they truly know the terrifying "trials" this seemingly fragile girl has endured.
Startled by the overwhelming and enthusiastic atmosphere, Yoizaki Kanade instinctively wanted to hide behind the gentle Sakura-neechan.
However, at this moment.
A calm yet absolutely majestic voice, brimming with the authority of a king, rang out.
"—Alright, everyone, be quiet."
It's Gu Chuan.
He simply said something casually.
The entire living room, filled with "chaos" and "curiosity," instantly returned to absolute silence.
He slowly walked up to the petite, black-haired girl who was looking at him with an uneasy expression.
He did not engage in any of the condescending, authoritarian sermons he was given.
He simply, like the most ordinary and competent "kindergarten director," was soothing his most precious and beautiful "flower" that had just been frightened, and slowly squatted down.
He spoke in a calm, yet reassuring and unquestionable tone.
"—Yozaki Kanade."
"From today onwards, this is your home."
"Here, you no longer need to be afraid of anything."
"because……"
He paused, and a hint of absolute, unchallengeable, and domineering "king" flashed in his dark eyes.
"—I'm here."
Listening to that absolute promise that was full of "security".
At this moment, Yoizaki Kanade's beautiful obsidian eyes, which were always filled with unease and fear, uncontrollably became slightly moist.
She looked at the one and only "god" who had completely saved her from endless despair, and slowly nodded.
……
When the "family routine" in the apartment returned to its usual routine, filled with both "warmth" and "noise,"...
Gu Chuan came to the balcony alone.
He dialed that cunning phone number, the one filled with the cunning of a "fox".
"—Ms. Yura."
"I need intelligence."
"No, those insignificant little fish and shrimp."
"I need all the information about those rats in this city who are not part of the balance, who like to play games, and who are hiding in the deepest recesses."
There was a long silence on the other end of the phone.
Finally, Yura Chitose's voice, which was always full of intellect and gentleness, slowly came over. However, this time, her voice carried a rare hint of solemnity.
"...It seems that, Gu Chuanjun, you have also encountered that most troublesome guy."
“I do have some clues about him.”
"Recently, a number of seemingly unrelated and bizarre accidents have occurred in our city."
"Yes, the top CEOs of business empires have committed suicide by jumping off buildings in their heavily guarded offices without warning."
"There are also the most popular and promising idol stars who, the night before their concert, suddenly have a mental breakdown and become an idiot who can only laugh foolishly."
"Their only thing in common is that, before the incident, they all received a message from a mysterious clown named Jok..."
"—Game Invitation"
Upon hearing that familiar name, Gu Chuan's dark eyes turned completely cold at that moment.
He hung up the phone.
Then, he issued his new command (Nori's) to the perfect AI butler who had been waiting respectfully behind him for a long time.
"—Aili."
“Mark all, all, suspicious coordinates related to Jok.”
"Yes, Master."
The next second, on the huge holographic projection screen in the center of the apartment's living room, a massive, modern city map slowly unfolded.
One by one, coordinates flashing with dangerous red light, filled with "malice," appeared silently on the huge "chessboard," like deadly, poisonous "chess pieces."
Gu Chuan looked at his own "courtyard," which had long been filled with "chess pieces" by the enemy. A cold, cruel smile, the kind that only a "hunter" would have when about to launch a counterattack, slowly crept onto his face.
"—So, now..."
"Let me teach you."
"Let me teach you this, a game full of fun, a game that belongs to the king..."
"So, how exactly should we play this game?"
253 The King's Chess Game, First Move
On the huge holographic map of the city, the coordinates flashing with dangerous red light are like pieces that have been laid out beforehand, full of malice and deadly intent, turning Gu Chuan's small "courtyard" into a huge chessboard full of dangers.
Gu Chuan, on the other hand, was like a true chess player who had just been provoked. He stared quietly at the chessboard in front of him. His black eyes became incredibly deep at this moment, as if he had already taken in all of his opponent's "malicious" moves.
"—Aili."
"Yes, Master."
"Retrieve detailed information for all coordinate points."
The next second, those red coordinate points rapidly magnified, transforming into detailed, illustrated "person profiles."
There are CEOs of business empires worth hundreds of billions, and underworld tycoons who wield immense power in the criminal underworld; there are promising political stars, and highly anticipated idol celebrities...
They are all influential figures at the top of the pyramid in this city.
Now, they have all become pathetic "pawns" in the hands of that mysterious "King" named "Jok," used to disrupt the "balance" of this world.
"It seems our opponents really enjoy this kind of magnificent stage, full of drama and intrigue."
Gu Chuan looked at the list, a cold, mocking smile appearing on his face.
He slowly extended his hand and gently tapped the huge, futuristic light screen, selecting one of the pieces that looked the most "gorgeous" and also the most "fragile."
That was a national idol star named "Ai Mizuno," who was at the peak of her career.
"—So, our first move..."
He looked at the file, at the beautiful girl facing the camera, with the sweetest, purest smile full of "dreams" and "hope," and spoke slowly in a cold, emotionless tone, as if deciding the "life or death" of a chess piece.
"Let's start from here."
……
This time, the target of the "hunt" is no longer a monster full of "malice," but a pitiful "victim" who has long been corrupted by malice.
It no longer needs that sharp "blade" full of "violent aesthetics".
It needs something gentler, something more delicate, something sufficient to "heal" that long-broken "soul" anew.
"—Scalpel."
A brand-new, top-tier "soul surgery" team, brimming with an aura of "healing" and "purification," has once again assembled under Gu Chuan's absolute will, imbued with the spirit of a "king."