Sensing Genichi's return, Demeter carefully distinguished what she felt: that presence, that warmth, that familiar ripple of his soul.
Once she was certain it was truly her Genichi, she could no longer hold back. She threw her arms around him.
Her arms wrapped tightly around his waist. She buried her face against his chest, her body trembling faintly.
That trembling carried too many emotions: fear, worry, longing, and the joy of regaining what she thought she had lost.
"I was so scared…"
Her voice was muffled, tinged with sobs.
"You were so weak just now. I was afraid you would never come back. Or that… the one who came back wouldn't be you anymore."
Genichi could feel the clothes over his chest growing damp with her tears.
He raised a hand and gently patted Demeter's back.
"I'm back."
His voice was very soft, very gentle, like he was soothing a frightened little animal.
But what Demeter could not see was that there was no warmth in his eyes.
Only coldness.
And killing intent.
That killing intent was so intense that even the surrounding air seemed to freeze.
Of course, it was not directed at Demeter.
It came from what he had just experienced in the Colosseum.
That Genichi from the female-oriented romance world.
What had happened to him had nearly made Genichi lose control of his emotions.
The Genichi he had just seen in the Colosseum was the Genichi from a female-oriented romance world.
As everyone knew, to become the male lead of that kind of story, one either had to be the kind of "turtle man" male lead who got abused physically and emotionally, or the forceful "domineering CEO" type.
And the Genichi from that world happened to be the first kind.
The kind of male lead who was abused physically and emotionally.
No. More accurately, he was a pitiful wretch who had been abused in body and mind, yet had no power to resist.
Through that Genichi's memories, Genichi saw everything about that world.
The Genichi of that world had truly lived a miserable life.
First, he was the "real young master" of a wealthy family.
Sounds impressive, right?
But the reality was that his biological parents doted on the adopted son who had replaced him after they were switched, while treating their own biological child with extreme indifference.
After he was brought back home, all he received was neglect and cold looks, while that adopted son enjoyed all their love and resources.
He worked hard to please his parents. He studied hard. He tried hard to become a "good son."
But no matter what he did, he could not earn even one approving glance from them.
Because in their eyes, only that adopted son was their "real" son.
He was just an unnecessary existence.
Second, he was also the "contract substitute husband" of a female CEO.
That female CEO was his legal wife.
But their marriage was only an agreement on paper.
The contract stated everything clearly. He would play the role of her "husband," attend various events, and help her deal with all kinds of social obligations.
In return, the woman would give benefits to his parents.
It sounded like a transaction where both sides got what they needed.
But the one who benefited was not that Genichi.
And in reality, that female CEO had someone else in her heart.
The person she loved was that unattainable white moonlight, that man who stood high above her and would never belong to her.
Genichi was nothing more than a replacement she used to fill the emptiness.
When he needed comfort, she watched coldly from the side.
When he needed help, she turned a blind eye.
When he needed warmth, she walked away.
All she gave him was indifference and exploitation.
Genichi endured all of it.
Because he was too weak and could not resist.
He thought that as long as he was obedient enough, patient enough, then one day, he could change everything.
But he was wrong.
Terribly wrong.
What was the final result?
The Genichi of that female-oriented romance world was sent to the operating table by his CEO "beloved wife" and his biological parents together.
To have his kidneys harvested.
Yes.
His kidneys.
They needed two healthy kidneys to save that favored adopted son and the CEO's white moonlight.
And Genichi was the most suitable "donor."
No one asked for his opinion.
No one considered how he felt.
No one even told him the truth.
They simply tricked him into going to the hospital, drugged him unconscious, and sent him to the operating table.
When he woke up, his kidneys had already been taken.
Both of them.
And his so-called "wife" and so-called "parents" were celebrating the adopted son and the white moonlight's "new life" outside the ward.
They did not even bother to come look at him.
That was the Genichi of the female-oriented romance world.
A child abandoned by his biological parents.
A substitute used by his contract wife.
A pitiful wretch betrayed by everyone.
His memories froze at that final moment.
Lying in a pool of blood, the wound at his side still bleeding, his consciousness gradually fading.
He knew he could not survive.
No one would come to save him. The people who had hurt him were celebrating outside.
He could not accept it.
He truly could not accept it.
Why?
Why did he have to suffer all of that?
Why could the people who hurt him get away with everything?
Why did his life have to be destroyed like that?
He refused to accept it.
But before he died, he arrived in the Colosseum.
So, in the final moment before his death, he left that curse to Genichi.
"Avenge me! Otherwise, I won't let you off!"
That curse contained too much resentment and unwillingness. Like a festering infection, it clung to the depths of Genichi's soul.
Through that Genichi's memories, Genichi saw the entire cause, process, and result.
Then he felt his blood pressure spike.
Rage.
Unparalleled rage.
That anger was even stronger than when he learned that the DanMachi Genichi had been beaten to death like a sandbag.
Because what the Genichi of the female-oriented romance world had endured was not merely physical pain, but mental torture as well.
Abandoned by his biological parents.
Betrayed by his contract wife.
Used as a tool by everyone.
And in the end, his organs were taken from him, leaving him to die on a cold hospital bed.
Meanwhile, the people who hurt him could live with peace of mind, enjoying the "happiness" purchased with his life.
What was that supposed to be?
What the hell was that supposed to be?
Genichi took a deep breath and tried to suppress the killing intent in his heart.
He knew this was not the time to vent.
Demeter was still in his arms, still trembling because of his disappearance.
He could not let her see him like this.
He could not let her be affected by his killing intent.
"What happened?"
Demeter raised her head and looked at Genichi in confusion.
She sensed that something was wrong.
Although Genichi was holding her and patting her back, she could feel that his body was stiff and his breathing was unsteady.
Genichi drew in a deep breath and forced his expression to calm.
"We'll talk after we go back."
His voice was a little hoarse, but still steady.
(End of Chapter)
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