These Dangerous Girls Placed Me Into Jeopardy

Honestly, I never liked seeing those crowds of [Background Extras]. Something about the mass repetition of titles just creeped me out, like a glitch in the world’s logic—it always made my skin crawl.

But even that was better than the woman standing in front of me right now.

The person I’d crashed into was a tall woman in a low-cut, revealing outfit. She wore high heels, had a head of brash, bleached blonde hair, heavy makeup, blood-red lipstick, and perfume so thick it stung the nose.

She looked exactly like the type of woman you’d see prowling a nightclub—loud, trashy, and flashy.

But what didn’t match at all... was the title floating above her head.

[Eye-Gouging Killer].

A real killer. No pretense. No shame. She didn’t even try to hide it.

The first words out of her mouth were dangerous enough to set off alarms—and that glowing red name above her turned blood-colored the moment she laid eyes on me.

I immediately drew the military knife from my waist, holding it in front of me, tense, alert.

She noticed and pressed her finger to her cheek with exaggerated interest, smiling like she was watching a show.

“Oh? You reacted that fast. That means... you know who I am, don’t you?”

“What the hell is someone like you doing in a place like this?”

Why would a killer suddenly show up here of all places?

By all rights, the area around Snowy’s home should be the last place people like her would dare to step into. Yet this woman had walked right into the Black Street like it was nothing...

Unless...

A theory was already forming in my head—and she didn’t wait to feed it.

“Hehehe, calling me ‘someone like you’ is pretty rude, don’t you think? Besides, little brother, I think you already know why I’m here, don’t you?”

“Why would I know that?”

She shrugged, playing innocent, then looked around slowly, arms folded.

“Are you one of this place’s little darlings, too? According to the latest update, this street was supposed to be empty. Our target’s supposed to be a little white-haired girl... have you seen her?”

A little white-haired girl.

She meant Snowy. No doubt about it.

So my guess was right—this woman was after her.

It wasn’t hard to put together.

Snowy had been killing people for a while now. She admitted it herself. But all her victims were murderers, she said—the kind who deserved to die.

Like this woman in front of me: [Eye-Gouging Killer].

Snowy hunted them down and executed them. Kan Tsukiyo would then clean up the bodies.

Judging by how many “parts” were stored in that hidden room, Snowy had already killed dozens.

And now... they’d come for her.

No matter what happened, I couldn’t let her location slip. This woman came here for Snowy. That much was clear.

I kept my face as neutral as possible and replied simply:

“Haven’t seen her.”

“Ara... you’re lying.”

She saw through me instantly.

“...”

Why is it that everyone can read my lies? Is my face that easy to read? Do I just radiate honesty or something?

Tong Jialin licked her red lips and leaned closer, resting her arm on her hip, eyes glinting.

“Little brother, I suggest you cough it up quick, or big sister here might have to dig those pretty eyes of yours out~ I’m in a good mood today—tell me where the white-haired girl is, and I won’t lay a finger on you. In fact, I might even give you a special ‘adult reward.’ Sound good?”

As she spoke, she stuck out her tongue and made a vulgar hand gesture with her fingers and lips.

...Tch. Pathetic.

I felt nothing. Not even a twitch.

Objectively, I could admit this woman was attractive.

But after seeing so many beautiful girls lately, this sort of sleazy, low-effort seduction just felt like a joke.

She didn’t have Lili’s figure. Didn’t have Lianbing’s elegance. Not even Snowy’s eerie allure. She couldn’t stir my desires at all.

My sisters were infinitely more lovable than this woman.

And she thought I’d betray Snowy for this?

What a sick joke. Even if she begged to sleep with me for a few nights, I wouldn’t even bother with her.

I don’t do things I’ll regret. Even if it means putting myself in danger—I won’t betray what matters.

And now that I’d made up my mind, I gave her my answer.

I took a deep breath, lifted the corners of my lips into a mocking grin, and said:

“Sorry, but I’m not interested in you at all. Wanna know why? ...You’re too old, hag.”

Her body froze. Her expression, too.

Tong Jialin’s eyes widened. Her mouth hung slightly open. Her cheeks twitched.

She was trying very hard not to let her face twist in fury.

But her voice betrayed her tension.

“...Heh. You’re funny, little brother. Sounds like you’ve got a death wish.”

“Not at all. I like being alive. I just figured if I said yes to you, I’d end up dead anyway. Probably under you, no less.”

“Oooh, now that’s just rude~ But don’t worry... I won’t give you another chance to get that close to big sister.”

In the next instant, her title above her head flared blood-red—and the killing intent hit me like a wall.

Her face twisted into a monstrous grin. She didn’t look human anymore—she looked like a demon.

From who knows where, she pulled out a knife.

It was long, thin, with a concave tip—not meant for cutting, but for scooping.

“Disobedient little boys... That knife you’re holding—it isn’t yours, is it? I’m guessing it belongs to that white-haired girl. It reeks of something unusual... Definitely a blade that’s taken many lives.”

She could tell that just from looking at it?

This woman wasn’t some amateur...

Knives are different from guns. Anyone can kill with a gun, but knives—knives take skill. Like using a kitchen knife versus a surgical scalpel. Technique makes all the difference.

In the hands of someone trained, a knife can be the fastest, deadliest weapon. In untrained hands, it’s worthless.

So even though I was holding a military knife... it gave me no comfort.

Not because I couldn’t use it properly. But because she could.

To her, I probably looked like a kid holding a toy.

“The blade’s shape, the steel’s density, the grip’s texture, even its flexibility—they all affect the knife’s feel in combat. For those of us who rely on them to survive, these things mean life or death.”

Tong Jialin pressed her finger against the bend in the blade—and the thing flexed like an X-Acto knife. Almost rubbery.

“And you, little brother, definitely don’t know how to use one.”

“Tch. That’s just rude. I bet I’m better with a kitchen knife than you’ll ever be. Judging by the looks of you, I doubt you even cook at home.”

“Hehehe, you’re quite the comedian... But chopping vegetables and carving flesh—very different skills, you know?”

My whole body tensed. Her posture said it all—she was ready to strike.

I slipped the magatama back into my pocket, gripped the knife in both hands, bent my knees, and focused.

“Especially... when it comes to cutting human flesh.”

She lunged!

Her speed was insane. In less than a second, she was right in front of me.

Her face exploded into view, and that bizarre curved blade slithered toward me like a snake.

I clenched my jaw, leaned back, and swung my knife across my field of vision.

CLANG!

I was lucky—barely managed to deflect her strike.

Honestly, it was a guess. I figured she was going for my eyes and gambled on the block.

Her knife was lighter than mine, so the impact sent it flying—but I came out worse.

The shock jarred my wrist hard. My whole arm trembled. I nearly dropped my knife.

She was strong.

Was she part gorilla or something? One hit and my whole arm went numb!

Had I pushed myself too far?

My reflexes were sharper lately—probably from Lili’s mental energy. Without that, I doubt I’d have blocked her at all. My eyes would’ve been gouged out already.

But physically—I couldn’t keep up.

After parrying her, I didn’t dare press forward. I retreated immediately, switched the knife to my left hand, and shook out my right.

Tch... First I escape from Snowy, now I run into this woman?

Talk about bad luck.

I had to retreat. This wasn’t someone I could handle.

Sure, it was humiliating. But it beat dying here.

Besides, Snowy was probably catching up.

One side wants to take my finger. The other wants my eyeballs.

Really...

And just as that thought crossed my mind—footsteps behind me.

Was Snowy here already?

But before I could turn around, a man’s voice called out.

“What are you doing here, ‘Eye-Gouger’? That higher-up told us to work together to take out the target.”

Another one?

And from the sound of it, he knew Tong Jialin.

She looked past me and, upon seeing whoever it was, exaggerated her surprise.

“Oh my~ ‘Bone-Scraper’? ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) You came over here too?”

Bone-Scraper...?

I turned slightly to get a better look.

A gaunt man was walking toward us. He wore a beret, a black leather jacket, and had deep-set eyes.

And above him hovered a title, glowing in blood-red:

[Bone-Scraping Killer]

Edward Cain

A second killer had just cut off my escape.