Erasing Fate

(The boss smirked and said,)

"You actually passed the entry test. Guess that means you're one of us now.

Congratulations."

(Everyone started clapping, a slow but steady rhythm of approval. The atmosphere carried a sense of acceptance, yet there was an unspoken challenge in their eyes)

(Nishiro's mind snapped back to reality as he watched them clap.)

{"What the hell are they saying?"}

(He thought, his brows twitching in disbelief.)

"Was this some kind of joke?"

(The boss leaned forward, his voice dripping with sarcasm.)

"Now, now… let me ask you something."

(His sharp gaze locked onto Nishiro.)

"You dared to make a move on my daughter in that filthy little clinic of yours, and yet, here you are—standing beside her, shamelessly."

(Nishiro's gaze flickered to his right hand, and his breath hitched. His eyes widened in panic as he realized—Shirisa was clutching his right hand too close to her body. )

(A cold shiver ran down his spine.)

(The boss let out a low chuckle, his voice laced with amusement and warning.)

"But out of my daughter's mercy, I spared your life. She begged for you, and I—being the generous father, made a promise to her. If you survived entry test, I'd let you stay here. Looks like you're still breathing… for now."

The boss smirked, tilting his head slightly.

"As we can see, you're still breathing… right?"

(His tone was mocking, laced with the slightest hint of disappointment—almost as if he had expected a different outcome.)

(The boss leaned in slightly, his smirk widening. )

"So now, the only thing left to prove your obedience… is marrying my daughter."

(His voice was calm, yet there was an undeniable weight behind his words—one that left no room for refusal)

(Internally, it felt like the sky shattered over Nishiro's head. His thoughts froze, his mind struggling to process the words. )

{Marry… his daughter?}

(A heavy weight crashed down on him, an invisible force pressing against his chest. )

{This has to be a joke… right?}

Nishiro's eyes darted to Shirisa's face

{"She's going to threaten me too, isn't she?"}

(The thought sent a chill down his spine. But as he studied her expression, his heart pounded.)

(The moment his eyes met hers, Nishiro froze. She wasn't smirking. She wasn't scheming. Instead, she was staring at him—waiting for his response )

(Her gaze was eager, searching his face for an answer, yet there was something fragile in her expression. A silent plea. Her slightly teary eyes shimmered, holding an unspoken fear—fear of rejection.)

(For the first time, Nishiro felt something tighten in his chest.

{"This wasn't just a game to her."}

(His mind told to him.)

(In that instant, memories of his encounters with Shirisa flashed through Nishiro's mind like a reel of film spinning out of control.)

(— Her mischievous smirk when she first teased him in the clinic.

— The way she clung to his arm after pulling her reckless prank.

— Her fearless gaze when she stood beside him, as if she had already accepted him in her world.

— And now… those teary eyes, filled with uncertainty.)

(Each moment struck him but the last struck harder.) "Was she always like this?"

(Before Nishiro could even process his own thoughts, his mouth betrayed him.)

"Yes."

(The word slipped out instinctively, shocking even himself. )

(His eyes widened slightly)

{Did I just agree?} (He thought)

(His mind screamed at him, demanding an explanation, but it was too late. The air around him shifted. There was no taking it back now.)

(The moment the word left his mouth, the entire room erupted.)

"Congratulations!"

(Cheers and applause rained down on him from Shirisa's family members, their voices filled with excitement and approval.)

( Some clapped him on the back, others smirked knowingly, as if they had expected this all along.)

(Nishiro stood frozen in the chaos, his mind still struggling to catch up.)

{What… just happened?}

(The boss let out a satisfied nod.)

"Fine then. Prepare yourself until the marriage date."

(With those final words, he turned and walked away, his wife following beside him leaving the hall)

(𝘚𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘦 𝘚𝘩𝘪𝘧𝘵)

(Toro approached Nishiro with a wide grin, firmly shaking his hand.)

"Congratulations, man!"

(He said, with grip strong enough to crush bones.) "Looks like you're officially part of the family now."

(Sumi stepped forward with a playful smile, spreading her arms as she moved in to hug Nishiro.)

"Come here, doctor~!"

(She teased, ready to wrap him in her embrace).

(Toro gave Sumi a wild pat on the head, his massive hand landing with a heavy thud.)

(Sumi instantly trembled, her whole body slightly shaking from the sheer force. )

(Sumi glared at Toro with seductive eyes, her lips curling into a teasing smirk.)

"Oh, you brute! Don't be so rough on me. I'll hug you aft—"

(Before she could finish, her eyes rolled back, and she suddenly passed out, her body going limp.)

(Toro reacted instantly, catching her effortlessly in his strong arms. He blinked down at her, then sighed.)

"Excuse Her"

(He apologized and walked out leaving the hall)

(After they left, Shirisa crossed her arms and smirked at Nishiro.)

"You got lucky," (She said.)

"If Toro hadn't stopped her, you'd be struggling to breathe in my sister's hug right now."

(Nishiro's eyes widened in shock.)

"Huh!??"

( He blurted out, completely caught off guard.)

(Shirisa chuckled, leaning in slightly.)

"She's a master of seduction,"

(She said with a smirk. )

"Once she hugs you, you'll either pass out from lack of air… or end up with a messed-up spine, leading to death in ten minutes."

(Nishiro felt a cold sweat run down his back.)

"What kind of monster is she?!"

(Shirisa shrugged.)

"As far as I remember, only Toro ever survived her hug. That's why she got attached to him… and eventually married him."

(Nishiro stared at her, his shock deepening).

"So you're telling me… their entire marriage happened because Toro didn't die!?"

(𝘚𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘦 𝘚𝘩𝘪𝘧𝘵)

(Arlon came running toward them, his face lit up with joy.)

"Sis!!"

(He exclaimed, excitement overflowing as he rushed straight to Shirisa.)

(Arlon exclaimed excitedly,

"I completed it, Sis! Look!"

(He eagerly held up a paper sheet, covered in different shades of dark red paint, splattered and blended like a chaotic piece of modern art.)

(Nishiro felt a sudden chill crawl down his spine as his eyes locked onto the paper.)

(His mind instantly recognized it.)

"That isn't paint." (He asked)

(Arlon grinned with excitement.)

"Yes! It's the same paper I used to cut you!"

(Nishiro's blood ran cold. His gaze flickered between the dark red stains )

(Arlon's grin widened as he proudly added,)

"I used Sis's blood to complete it! So now, your blood bond will be stamped on this paper!"

(Nishiro's breath hitched. His mind screamed at him to process what he just heard.)

(He glanced at Shirisa, expecting her to be horrified—but instead, she just chuckled and ruffled Arlon's hair.)

(Shirisa chuckled, patting Arlon's head.)

"It must've been really tough to preserve it, right?"

"Yeah it is the copy of that."

(He said)

(Nishiro's head spun as he processed their reactions.)

{"They're… completely fine with this?!"}

(His vision blurred, a cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. He mumbled weakly,)

"I'm dead…"

(And with that—he passed out.)

(Shirisa's eyes widened in panic as Nishiro suddenly collapsed.)

"Nishiro! Hey, wake up!"

(She shouted, shaking him by the shoulders.)

(Arlon also crouched beside him, nudging his face)

"Oi, Doctor! Don't sleep here!"

(Both of them kept calling his name, frantically shaking him, trying to snap him out of it.)

[𝘚𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘦 𝘚𝘩𝘪𝘧𝘵]

(Perched on a distant rooftop, a sniper lay perfectly still, his rifle steady, his scope locked onto the scene below.)

Through the crosshairs, he was watching Nishiro and Shirisa.

(His finger hovered near the trigger as he muttered under his breath,)

"So… that's him."

(He checked his bullets.)

"Damn… I should've brought more bullets."

The sniper let out a frustrated sigh, adjusting his grip on the rifle. He hadn't expected so many gaurds and two family members of scorpion's.

(His eyes narrowed as he refocused on Nishiro.)

"No matter… one shot is all I need."

(All of a sudden, a figure emerged from the shadows on the rooftop, as if reality itself had bent to make way for him.)

(The sniper stiffened, his instincts screaming danger)

"Where did he come from?!" (He thought)

(The newcomer wore a black magician's hat, tilted slightly forward, casting a shadow over his eyes. His mouth was hidden beneath layers of tight, worn bandages, concealing any hint of expression.)

(With an eerie stillness, he stood there, hands in his pockets, as if he had been watching the sniper long before he even noticed.)

(The wind howled between them. A silent tension filled the air.)

(The mysterious man tilted his head slightly, his voice smooth yet unsettling.)

"Wanna see a magic trick?"

(He asked, with his tone playful but laced with something darker.)

(The sniper's grip tightened on his rifle, eyes darting to assess the sudden threat).

{"Who the hell is this guy?"} (He thought)

(The sniper man swiftly pulled a pistol from his pocket and aimed it directly at the mysterious man.)

(Sniper blinked in confusion, seeing pieces of his weapon fall in slow motion before realizing his own hand is missing.)

(He couldn't comprehend what had just happened. Before he could even scream in pain, his vision blurred—and then he saw it.)

(His own body lying on the ground… headless.)

"My, my… I heard humans can survive for about twenty seconds after losing their head,"

(The mysterious man said, his tone almost amused.)

"Let me free you from your suffering,"

(He said calmly.)

(Without hesitation, he stomped down on the severed head—shattering it instantly. Blood and fragments splattered across the rooftop, the lifeless body now truly at rest.)

(He then lit a cigar, taking a slow drag as smoke curled around him.

Without a hint of urgency, he crouched down and rummaged through the sniper's bag, pulling out a phone.)

Exhaling a cloud of smoke, he glanced at the screen.) "Let's see who you were talking to…"

(He looked at the phone screen and smirked.)

"Hmm… private number, I see."

He scrolled further and found a classified bounty notice:

―𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗𝗪𝗜𝗗𝗘 𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗚𝗘𝗧―

Name: Nishiro Ehoshi

Age: 25

Height: 6'11"

Profession: Psychiatrist

Threat Level: Hidden

Bounty Type: Continental

Bounty Range: Country

Reward: $10 Million

(The man exhaled a slow stream of smoke, eyes gleaming with intrigue.)

"A continental bounty, huh?

Looks like the whole country's in on the hunt… Interesting."

(He muttered)

(He exhaled another puff of smoke, watching it swirl into the night air.)

{"So… societies are starting to come forward to kill him."}

(He thought)

("A faint blue hue flickered in his eyes, casting an eerie glow over his face.

Without a moment's hesitation, he leaped off the rooftop, vanishing into the night.)

𝗧𝗼 𝗕𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲𝗱....