Lynn’s body froze.
He wanted to pull his hand back, but it remained suspended in front of Lilith, his fingertips still carrying the faint, residual warmth of the meat.
He felt like a manipulated puppet, every joint in his body screaming in protest.
Vivian’s gaze shifted from the fork in her hand, landing directly on Lynn’s face. Her eyes were sharp, as if she intended to pierce right through him.
“Lynn, what are you doing?”
Vivian’s voice rang out. Her tone was low, but a suppressed fury simmered beneath the surface.
She didn’t call him “Holy Son,” but used his name directly.
Alicia’s gaze also drifted over.
Her expression remained unchanged, but the fingertips of the hand she had rested on the table tapped lightly against the wood.
One, two… It sounded like a rhythmic beat, yet it felt like a warning.
Lynn could feel two currents of cold air rushing at him from both his left and right, surrounding him.
Lilith seemed not to notice the sudden tension. she leaned closer to Lynn and stuck out her small tongue, licking the corner of her lips.
“Brother, I want more meat,” she said, her voice carrying a hint of a spoiled pout. The look she gave Lynn was full of expectation.
Lynn’s body remained stiff. He felt his wrist being tugged again.
Once more, his hand moved uncontrollably toward the stew and pinched another piece of meat.
“Iris.”
Alicia’s voice carried an air of unquestionable authority.
She didn’t call her “Lilith,” but used the name “Iris.”
Lilith’s movements paused. She looked up at Alicia with a face full of innocence.
“Sister Alicia, is there something wrong?”
“Do you not have hands?” Alicia’s tone was calm, yet the words felt sharp.
“Or is it that you no longer know how to feed yourself?”
The curve of Lilith’s lips slowly vanished. She sat up straight, no longer leaning against Lynn.
The look she directed at Alicia was no longer innocent.
“I just wanted Brother to feed me,” Lilith said, her voice dropping as if she felt wronged.
“Brother is usually so good to me. He isn’t like certain people who are always stone-faced and don’t even know how to smile.”
As soon as those words left her mouth, Vivian’s fork collided with the porcelain plate again. This time, the sound was even louder.
**[Alicia’s Blackening Value: 92%]**
**[Vivian’s Blackening Value: 90%]**
The numbers jumped wildly before Lynn’s eyes. He felt his scalp go numb.
‘Lilith is fueling the fire.’ He tried to force his hand to drop the meat, but that unseen force remained tightly coiled around his wrist.
“Eat,” Vivian said coldly. She stabbed her fork into the meat on her own plate with heavy, forceful movements. She lifted the meat to her mouth and chewed with visible intensity.
Alicia didn’t speak.
She simply picked up her water glass and took a very slow sip. Her gaze drifted over the rim of the glass toward Lynn. It was a calm look, but Lynn could read a clear warning within it.
Lynn’s hand was still frozen there. The meat remained between his fingertips. He felt the invisible power urging him to continue.
‘I can’t let Lilith’s Blackening Value drop only to have the other two hit the roof.’ He had to do something.
“Alright, Lilith,” Lynn said, finally regaining control over his voice. His throat felt a bit raspy.
“Stop playing around. I need to eat too.”
He struggled, attempting to set the meat down. However, the force increased by several degrees. He felt a dull ache in his wrist.
“Brother, didn’t you want to feed me?”
Lilith’s lips curled up again, tinged with a bit of smugness. Her gaze swept over Alicia’s and Vivian’s faces with clear provocation.
“Lilith!” Vivian’s voice rose.
She leaned forward slightly, her left hand resting on the hilt of the sword at her waist.
Alicia’s Magic Staff also slid silently from her side to her hand. She gripped it firmly, and the blood-colored gem at the tip seemed to flash for a moment.
The gazes of the three women intertwined above the dining table like invisible blades clashing against one another.
Caught in the middle, Lynn’s muscles were pulled taut.
**[Lilith’s Blackening Value: 91%]**
**[Alicia’s Blackening Value: 93%]**
**[Vivian’s Blackening Value: 92%]**
Suddenly, Lynn felt his wrist go slack. The invisible force vanished instantly.
His hand trembled, and the piece of meat fell directly onto the table with a soft thud.
Lilith’s expression changed instantly. She snapped her head around to look at Alicia and Vivian.
“What did you two do?” Lilith’s voice was now laced with genuine anger.
Alicia returned her gaze to her own plate. Vivian withdrew her hand and continued eating. Neither of them said a word.
Lynn could feel Lilith’s Blackening Value beginning to soar again.
**[Lilith’s Blackening Value: 95%]**
Lynn couldn’t worry about that for the moment. He only wanted to take advantage of this brief opening to stabilize the situation.
He reached out, picked up the meat that had fallen on the table, and placed it on his own plate. Then, he picked up his spoon and shoved it into his mouth.
“I… I’m really a bit hungry,” he said unclearly.
He quickly shoveled the food in his bowl, trying to use his actions to prove that he wasn’t playing favorites; he just wanted to eat.
Lilith’s eyes remained fixed on his plate. Her lips were pressed into a tight line.
“Brother, you used to feed me first,” she said in a low voice, sounding dissatisfied.
**[Lilith’s Blackening Value: 96%]**
Lynn’s appetite was completely gone. The food felt impossible to swallow, tasting like tasteless wax in his mouth.
‘It isn’t over. This is just the beginning.’
He finished the meal in a state of constant fear. Every bite felt like a dance on the edge of a blade.
He didn’t dare look up at the three women. He knew their eyes were fixed on him, watching his every move.
Lilith’s Puppet Strings were invisible to the naked eye. Only he could sense them.
‘This world has become my cage since the moment I meddled with the data.’
In this cage, he was the prey being watched by three beasts. These three beasts were also wary of each other, each thinking of how to possess him exclusively.
After finishing the meal, Lynn set down his spoon. He felt a sense of exhaustion washing over his body.
“Brother, let’s rest for a while,” Lilith’s voice sounded by his side. Her hand once again lightly brushed against his arm.
Lynn felt that familiar force coil around his wrist once more.
His muscles tensed up instantly.
**[Lilith’s Blackening Value: 97%]**
He looked at the jumping numbers and felt a chill in his heart.
These Blackening Values were like the Sword of Damocles hanging over his head. Every move he made, every word he spoke, even the way he breathed could make them fluctuate.
He wanted to run, but where could he possibly go?
The carriage came to a stop amidst the jolting. Lynn felt the swaying cease, and his muscles relaxed slightly. Looking through the window, he saw a dense forest outside. Night was falling, and in the distance, he could see the faint, blurry glow of a fire.
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