I couldn't see it, but the frigid bite of steel leveled at my back sent a chill creeping up my spine to my skull. The sheer weight of that pressure made my mind go blank; I couldn't even process how to speak. Clinging to the desperate hope that I could somehow wiggle through this, I forced a hollow laugh.
"Hahaha... How about I just be a totally ordinary, passing-by Adjuchas A?"
"......"
I squeezed those words out with a boisterous laugh, but Tier Halibel didn't so much as crack a smile. Guess I'm not funny. Or maybe she's just a corpse... Wait, no, I'm the one about to become a corpse. Since my only hope—the 'random bystander' route—failed miserably, I decided to go all out. I already had a massive Death Flag planted over my head, so what did I have to lose?
"For real! On my soul! I was just passing through! Please believe me, Big Sis!"
I spun around and dropped to my knees in a pathetic display of submission, even throwing in some fake waterworks for good measure. Logically, it made no sense for a Hollow—an Adjuchas, no less—to shed tears, but I pleaded with an expression that looked like I was on the verge of a breakdown.
Sheathe.
"I believe you."
"Huh?"
Did my sincerity actually reach her? That absolute nonsense? My confusion was cleared up the moment Halibel spoke again.
"I loathe the act of killing—of sacrificing others. I would not have killed those others earlier, either, had they not lunged at me."
"Ah!"
True to her character in the manga, Halibel spoke with a short, expressionless tone. Just as she turned her back to leave, I called out to stop her.
"U-Um..."
"What is it?"
"Is there... any way I could come with you?"
If Halibel's personality really matched the source material, she would probably take me in. I was certain of it. And just as I predicted, Halibel gave her expressionless consent a moment later.
"Follow me."
After that brief command, she turned and began to walk. I trailed after her for quite some time until a massive, tower-like rock—familiar from the anime—came into view. I followed her inside to find a spacious cavern.
"You may stay here."
Halibel sat down in a corner. She was radiating some serious 'cool beauty' energy. Regardless, this was how my first time living with someone else began. Well, the first time in this life, anyway. The 'house' was a bit lacking and the relationship was definitely awkward, but still.
From now on, I had to watch her every move. I needed to uncover the secret to becoming a Vasto Lorde.