Chapter 189: This Might Be Her Fault |
The final hour of compulsory labour at Saint Elizabeth’s had finally arrived for Gluttony. As he looked at the foundation he had painstakingly built, brick by bloody brick, a wave of emotions washed over him.
Was it pride? Satisfaction? No, it was the urge to vomit. Gluttony couldn’t help but find the irony overwhelming. Him, Gluttony, feeling sickened. It was enough to make a demon weep.
The cause of his misery, the bane of his existence, was none other than ‘Deaf Descendant’, now absurdly positioned as the hospital’s supreme authority. In the past, Gluttony might have plotted a gloriously gruesome revenge, but now the mere thought was exhausting.
Two paths lay before him. He could return to the basement, to the comforting embrace of decaying flesh and a quiet descent into oblivion. Or… he could take the risk. It was a gamble, full of danger, yet promising a reward beyond imagination: becoming one of the highest attending doctors in the entire hospital.
He ran his finger along the worn edges of the letter in his pocket, the words burned into his memory. It was a lifeline thrown by Wang Shu, a former attending doctor. Wang Shu’s message was a masterpiece of thinly disguised disdain, dripping with venomous criticism of Qing Shi and an enticing offer: help remove him and enjoy a life of professional ease.
Gluttony was not known for his altruism, but he was not stingy either. Wang Shu’s request was hardly unreasonable. He carefully placed the letter back into his pocket and cast a final glance at Qing Shi, slouched in a wheelchair, pathetically mixing cement.
Insignificant. And this time, there would be no meddlesome fools to warn him. Success was practically guaranteed.
A thought crossed Gluttony’s mind. It was best to be thorough. He took out a scrap of parchment and wrote a reply in elegant strokes:
Greetings. I received your letter with great interest. My sentence at Saint Elizabeth’s nears its end, and I am eager to proceed with your plan. Please consider this confirmation of my commitment to our arrangement, and rest assured, your requests will be met in full.
I eagerly anticipate our collaboration.
Yours sincerely,
Gluttony】
The letter was dispatched with utmost discretion. As the courier disappeared into the distance, Gluttony’s nonexistent heart fluttered with anticipation. Sage Hospital. Oh, the delectable possibilities. New flavours, new experiences… his belly rumbled.
**
The hospital’s courier service was surprisingly efficient.
Wang Shu received the letter from Saint Elizabeth’s that very evening, Despite Qing Shi’s absence, he wasn’t alone here. Who would have thought that Jealousy, of all monsters, would be serving compulsory labour at Sage Hospital for breaking hospital rules?
Recently, Jealousy had been acting strange, standing by the window every day as if waiting for something.
Wang Shu couldn’t be bothered with his weird antics though, too focused on his own mission. As his time for compulsory labour dwindled, he was determined to hunt down and devour a certain woman who had wronged him.
Screw the hospital rules – she deserved to be eaten alive!
But then he received an anonymous letter from none other than Gluttony himself. The infamous troublemaker who had been sentenced to compulsory labour at Saint Elizabeth for assaulting George. Yet this letter suggested they were close friends and that Gluttony had received a letter from Wang Shu himself, which wasn’t true. And what’s with this “plan” Gluttony speaks of?
【Dear Mr. Wang Shu,
(…)
Yours sincerely,
Gluttony】
Wang Shu couldn’t remember making any plans with him. After reading the confusing letter multiple times, he decided Gluttony must be insane or playing a prank on him.
But really, why should he care? His time at the Sage Hospital was almost over and whatever shenanigans Gluttony had up his sleeve were none of his concern.
He casually tore up the letter and went about whistling cheerfully while mopping the floor. This amused Jealousy, who was watching the dense fog outside with a growing suspicion of being deceived by Deception, who had promised him a position as security chief in exchange for handing over his rightful instance to start a new life as a preacher. But so far, Deception hadn’t shown up. Was Jealousy being played for a fool?
**
Yu Xiao’s eyes fluttered open, finding herself back in the familiar, dimly lit confines of the Horror Hospital Director’s study. A wave of melancholy washed over her; it felt as if she had barely left, a fleeting breath of freedom snatched away.
But there was hope. Once Nightmare recovered, they could leave this place behind and return to the world beyond the hospital walls.
She turned to check on him but froze. Nightmare lay sprawled on the floor, deathly pale, his raven-black eyelashes delicate brushstrokes against his skin.
Panic seized her. “What happened?” Rushing to his side, she knelt beside his motionless form.
After an agonising moment, his eyes fluttered open, clouded with pain. He attempted a smile, clearly exerting himself. “I’m fine… just a bit… drained.”
“Drained?” Yu Xiao was uncertain. What could be done for a creature like Nightmare? “Are you sure that’s all?”
He weakly nodded. “Just some rest, that’s all I need.”
Though unconvinced, Yu Xiao helped him onto the Director’s imposing bed. “Rest then,” she said softly. “Are you hungry?”
Nightmare shook his head, half burying his face in the silken sheets.
With a sigh, Yu Xiao turned to leave. “Get some sleep then. I’ll leave you alone.”
A tug on her sleeve stopped her in her tracks. Looking down, she saw a single, slender finger wrapped tightly around the fabric, keeping her in place.
“Don’t go…” His voice was barely audible, pleading with her.
He had done so much for her; how could she refuse? “What is it?”
He didn’t answer but tightened his grip, his hand enveloping hers in a chilling embrace.
His intent was clear.
“You want me to stay?”
He nestled deeper into the quilt, a muffled “Mm” his only response.
A soft laugh escaped her lips. “Alright,” she conceded, settling into the chair beside the bed. “Rest. I’m not going anywhere.”
He burrowed even deeper, muffled sounds emanating from beneath the covers. Then, his grip tightened, pulling her off balance.
“This is rather uncomfortable,” she mildly protested.
The quilt shifted, and his drowsy, warm voice reached her. “Perhaps… you should lie down too?”
**
The obligatory task was done. Qing Shi wheeled himself back towards Sage Hospital, relief flooding through him with each rotation of the wheels. The familiar facade brought tears to his eyes.
Home.
The outside world held nothing but harshness. Never again. From this day forward, he vowed, only the direst circumstance would pry him from Sage Hospital’s comforting embrace.
His vow made, he sought out his newest recruit – Jealousy. He found him by the window, gazing at the sky with an unsettling intensity.
“Jealousy,” Qing Shi called out, his voice soft but firm. He’d changed into clean clothes, once again the picture of frail youthfulness. “Your work starts now. The cleaning still needs doing.”
Jealousy turned, eyes flashing with icy fire. “Are you bossing me around?”
Qing Shi met his gaze, unfazed. “Not me, but the hospital, its rules, its Director. This isn’t charity work, you know. Though you’re welcome to refuse, of course. I wouldn’t dream of bossing you around. I’ll simply make sure the work report reflects your… enthusiasm.”
The air crackled with unspoken threats. Jealousy’s face contorted, no doubt picturing the current Director. With a muttered curse, he snatched up a nearby mop.
Unseen, unheard, Gluttony arrived. He surveyed the hospital with a satisfied smirk. The building itself was a feast for his eyes. And soon, once he’d dealt with Qing Shi – consumed him, devoured him whole – it would all be his.
“Wang Shu, my dear, *dear* friend,” he murmured, licking his lips. “Your most sincere friend is here.”
**
Yu Xiao drifted in that hazy space between sleep and wakefulness, Nightmare snoring softly beside her. Then, her phone shattered the peace.
“I wish I could live another five hundred years…”
She squinted at the unfamiliar number on the screen. With a sigh, she answered, “Hello? Who’s this?”
“Esteemed Director,” a smooth, sincere voice replied. “Deception, the newly appointed Head of Security, reporting for duty. I have a… situation.”
Ah, yes. Deception. Officially hers now. Being Director meant dealing with this sort of thing, even when it interrupted precious time like sleep.
Nightmare grumbled under the duvet, clearly not pleased by the interruption.
“Shh,” Yu Xiao soothed, patting him under the covers before clearing her throat. “Shoot.”
“A serious incident has occurred at Wise Hospital. Gluttony abandoned his post and attacked Dr. Qing Shi. Jealousy, on duty at the time, did not intervene, but just stood and watched as Gluttony devoured one of Dr. Qing Shi’s legs.” Deception’s voice remained calm, utterly professional. “Fortunately, my team and I arrived before things got too messy. Now, Director, any suggestions on how to handle these two… troublemakers?”
Yu Xiao stared at the ceiling, a knot of dread forming in her stomach. Why, oh why, did Gluttony have to develop a taste for Dr. Qing Shi?
Slowly, she remembered something that had slipped her mind, and the awful truth dawned on her – this might be her fault. It had to be connected to her “subtle” suggestion.
A bead of sweat trickled down her temple.
“Uh…” Her mind raced, searching for a way out of this self-inflicted mess.
Deception, ever the perceptive one, picked up on her hesitation. “I do have a suggestion, Director,” he offered helpfully.
“Hit me,” Yu Xiao sighed, resigned.
“Based on Gluttony’s ramblings,” Deception explained, “there might be more to this story. To be fair and avoid any… misunderstandings, I propose we detain both Gluttony and Dr. Qing Shi for questioning. Once we have all the facts, we can decide on appropriate punishment.”
Yu Xiao considered this. As long as they didn’t dig too deep, she should be safe. After all, she hadn’t exactly issued a direct order; she’d merely planted a very hungry seed.
“Alright, Deception,” she finally conceded. “You’re the boss on this one.”
**
Deception tucked his phone away, a triumphant smile playing on his lips. Behind him, Jealousy thrashed against whatever held him captive.
“You deceived me!” he roared, fury radiating off of him in waves. “You promised…”
“How foolish.” The smile never faltered, a grotesque parody of sincerity. “Deception is my name. Do I need to spell it out for you?”
Another figure, equally restrained and consumed by rage, added his own indignant bellow. “I’m reporting this! Reporting Wang Shu! He’s behind it all! He’s the one who deceived me!”
Deception’s eyebrows rose, a picture of scepticism. “Is that so? And what evidence do you have?”
“A handwritten letter! From Wang Shu himself! In my pocket!”