Twins

Weeks had passed since arriving at the orphanage. Our main character, Kallous, won the hearts of many, including the young orphans.

At first, the young orphans initially tried to bully him since they didn't like the notion of a new child joining into their group.

Keyword: tried.

However, upon seeing him, the naive children were enchanted by his lovable appearance, leading them to want to adopt him as their son, in their own words.

Nevertheless, due to the adults' refusal to let them adopt him, they eventually all settled on taking Kallous in as their youngest.

Kallous, who was unaware of the children's decision, was busy working on his mission.

With the assistance of Allyn, his precious system, he was nearly finished with his first task, with only a small number of people remaining.

How, you may ask? The answer is simple.

All he had to do was use his face value, aka 'feign innocence', and the system's high-quality food collection to share it with everyone he crossed paths with.

No one could deny good food, and when handled correctly, it may become a powerful tool for gaining people's trust.

Naturally, several unfortunate staff members questioned him about how he obtained it, especially since the orphans were prohibited from accessing the kitchen, and in response, Kal quietly silenced them.

Because of the unique nature of the food in the system, Kallous, as its sole owner, has the authority to alter or add anything —including poison —to the food, even after it has left its source.

This function assisted Kal in dealing with several bothersome humans that dared to disturb his quality time with himself. Well, as for the bod —ahem... leftovers, he simply took them to the system space.

Using the system for such a purpose had no drawbacks, which was convenient for him.

However, such freedom could easily be abused and used for more malicious purposes, a fact that Kal was well aware of.

Kal never questioned why he was given this system; not that he will ever regret having Allyn, he figured that it's a golden finger more suited with main characters like in any other isekai novel he read about.

Unlike himself.

Not that he will ever regard himself as a protagonist .

Regardless of the real reason, Kal never hesitated to live this life according to his terms.

As long as his goals are achieved, who cares?

It didn't take long for the staff to notice the loss of its members, which Kal had anticipated and was unconcerned about.

He knew that even if they filed a report, Lucy, as the head of the orphanage, would attempt to compensate them rather than conduct a general investigation for fear of rumours breaking out.

The Elpis knights were already suspicious of the orphanage's activities, so if word got out that workers were disappearing, they would definitely seize the opportunity and intervene to initiate an official investigation.

That's a risk Lucy won't take.

And she never will, if she's smart.

Therefore, Kal had no intention to stop. at least not until his tasks are dealt with.

So, keeping this in mind, Kal continued to assist and eliminate his targets during the past several weeks, leaving only a small number of them remaining.

Which makes one wonder: Was Kal really so proficient at concealing his traces, or was there some kind of hidden entity helping him?

Only time will tell.

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Somewhere inside the orphanage...

"Allyn, how's the progress of the mission going?"

Our protagonist was currently alone in his assigned room, with no sign of his alleged roommate.

His gaze slackly fixated on the chocolate pudding in front of him as he slowly reached out to it while waiting for Allyn's reply.

✿ "Kal, I think you ought to take a break for a while now. You've been too hard on yourself since you came he—"

"Allyn."

✿ "My apologies, host."

Sigh

Kal pinched the bridge of his nose and softly explained, "You know I can't do that."

Hearing no response from her, he continued.

"The portals will appear by the end of this winter, and I have yet to unlock my blessing. There are also numerous things to prepare for beforehand as well.

Once I'm done with my tasks, I'll take a break, I promise."

Still no response, Kal felt defeated as he used his last trump card.

"I-I'll wear that.. hideous outfit, so please.."

✿ "You will?! ☆-☆"

"...Yes"

Allyn was silent for a brief second, but her mind was racing with excitement. Her joyful mood caught Kal's attention as he exhaled a sigh of relief.

"Now, about the progress—"

"It's almost complete!" Allyn announced, excitedly displaying the tasks for him.

✯ WHITE AS SNOW

One's suffering starts from the moment of their birth until the end of their life.

Life can change for the better with a simple act of kindness, making it memorable to those unfortunate.

Your first task is to help relieve the suffering of those unfortunate souls who were destined to endure it in silence forever, whether it be by simply smiling, handing a gift, or by preventing those reckless life forms from jumping off a cliff-

Earn a smile from one hundred different individuals to unlock the first seal of your blessing.

『 94 / 100 』

✯ BLACK AS COAL

Although it can be difficult, bringing an end to one's suffering is not a simple task, so why waste time on it?

It is easier to remove the roots of it all,

don't you think?

Your second task is to exterminate all the unfortunate souls that suffered on these lands, whether it be by simply detaching their heads from their bodies, poisoning them or by throwing them off a cliff.

Kill one hundred life forms to unlock the second seal of your blessing.

『 30 / 100 』

Unlike the first task that is on the verge of reaching the mark, the second task is kind of lacking in comparison... Kal creased his brows in annoyance. Allyn didn't seem bothered in the least; it's obvious that she is still mulling over that stupid outfit.

Sigh

'Just how exactly am I expected to kill that many life forms?! this stupid tiny body—

...Wait.'

A grin slowly appeared on Kal's face as his expression gradually lightened up.

Allyn didn't seem to notice Kal's smile until she heard a child-like laughter emanating from his direction.

Stunned, she turned around and stared at Kal in horror. Her eyes widened as her jaw dropped.

✿ "Kal?" She stammered.

✿ Was this his last brain cell failing?! I should've forced him to rest! Now that he's exhausted, he'd gone insane!

Paying no heed to Allyn's distressed tone, Kal finally felt that luck was on his side; he was just too blind to see it.

'The answer was right in front of me, how stupid was I to not notice it sooner? Turns out that my luck stat isn't just for show after all.'

Kal exhaled deeply and called out to Allyn.

"New plan, Allyn. Search for any insect colonies in the nearby area, be sure to avoid the ones that have more than one queen."

Allyn's brows furrowed in confusion, but she nodded and went straight to work.

'Now that the second task is in the process to be dealt with, where should I look for the last six unlucky creatures?

I could just sneak out of the orphanage, but that will lead to some troublesome events if I were to get caught.

Sigh

If everything could be handled on a silver platter certainly would be nice.'

His thoughts came to a halt when he heard Allyn's panicked voice,

✿ 'KAL! SOMEONE'S COMING!'

Hmm?

'It's late, who could it be?'

The door to Kal's room slowly slid open, revealing two silhouettes. He glanced over at them suspiciously.

─'Allyn.'

✿ 'On it!'

As the two slowly stepped in, one of them met Kal's eyes and smirked.

"So this is who the stupid kids been talking about? Must admit, would've mistaken him for a girl if not for the way he's dressed. Don't you think he's a little cute, brother?" the boy, who looked no older than 5, spoke with a devious smile on his face. Kal noticed how both of them had a blindfold on, making him wonder how they are able to see in them.

"En." the other replied, he seemed calmer and more mature than his.. twin? Both boys looked identical to each other if not for slight differences.

A screen displaying the details of the intruders immediately appear as they stood in front of him.

The first he checked was of the slight shorter one.

Name: Ian Val Black.

Race: Demon. Age: 5.

SB: Nature's grace. Rank: E+.

> Upgrade the system to show the rest of the stats.

'Would you look at that~

If my guess is right, luck might as well be on my side today after all.'

Kal Turned his gaze at the other the person standing next to Ian.

Name: Ivan Val Black.

Race: Demon. Age: 5.

SB: One with the shadows. Rank: E+.

> Upgrade the system to show the rest of the stats.

'To think I'll meet them this early in the game, guess it's time to start working on 'that' plan.'

Upon feeling a presence getting close, he glanced up right away to see Ian peering down at him.

"Little cutie, I know my brother and I are handsome, but if you continue staring like that, I– " before he could finish his sentence, Ian got picked up by his brother and dragged to their side of the room.

Bewildered, Ian began calling out Ivan's name in an attempt to loosen his grip on him, but all his efforts were in vain as he was met with a smack to the head in return.

"B-brother, why-" Ian, who felt that his brother bullied him for no reason, was cut off by Ivan's low voice.

"Quiet."

Silence fell as Ivan left his brother hanging upside down and went to approach Kal, his steps silent on the hardwood floor.

Once Ivan reached him, he gently lifted Kal up, carried him over to his bed, placed him down, and then wrapped him tightly inside a blanket.

"Rest, don't mind him." he said, breaking the silence. When his gaze fell at the child in front of him, he noticed his buffy cheeks. An urge to poke them clouded his mind for a split second before he stood up and walked over to his brother's side.

'..... What just happened?'

Looking at the twins who were in the midst of a one-sided silent argument, Ian being on the receiving end, Kal couldn't help but wonder if those two were really worth dealing with.

✿ 'I did not expect that- what's up with this suspiciously shiny day today?' Allyn questioned.

─'What do you mean?' he feigned ignorance. Kal knew what Allyn had the same thought as him but he was more interested on what exactly she had deemed as 'shiny' in her eyes.

✿ 'They're the ones that had been on your mind lately, aren't they? Even mentioned that if you ever find them, you'll keep them safe and return them to where they originally belonged for the chance of them becoming a safeguard for your future plans. But not only did they appear before you even started looking for them, they also magically became your roommates on top of that!

Something's fishy, it's true that your luck is quite high but this is more than just simple luck. Perhaps, plot armour?.' Wondered Allyn, whispering the last line in a tone only she could hear.

─'Hmm? I didn't quite catch that last part. Also, why bring up things I've already mentioned as if you are informing someone else?' his question caught her off guard, breaking her thought process, returning her back to reality.

✿ 'Ah- it's nothing! you must've misheard.' She quickly responded, we can't let him know about you guys now, can we?.

While avoiding eye contact with Kal, Allyn noticed that the twins were still at it, Ian looking worse than before. 'I should lit a candle for him,' she thought before returning her attention back to Kal.

─'You already know that this world isn't one that is bound by logic, my existence in itself is a prime example. In a world with only two intelligent races, I came to be. A child that is neither both of them.

Not to mention the way I got here, logic can't give an answer to any of that so don't base your thoughts off of it.

I understand what you are worried about but, since it doesn't hinder me in anyway, let's turn a blind eye to it for once.'

Allyn was left speachless, it took her a whole minute to process his words before speaking in a worried tone.

✿'Just... don't let your guard down, even if you're lucky. This is a dangerous world, and there will always be those who will take advantage of you in ways that might not always be obvious to you. So, if you ever suspected something or sensed danger, inform me immediately. Only then can I truly keep you safe without restricting you. ' She advised him.

─'Alright, I'll keep that in mind.' Heeding her advice to heart, He finally took a bite of the chocolate pudding that he so longed for.

Of course, Kal rarely had a time of peace while eating. And so his meal was yet again interrupted by a young demon who looked in the verge of tearing up.

"I-I'm sorry about earlier. I didn't mean to act like that." holding back a sob, Ian spoke as he glanced between Kal and his brother who stood at the other side of the room, watching them.

Kal blinked.

'Ivan did a number on this kid, what exactly did he say to his brother for him to end up like this?

More importantly, Isn't this an opportunity presenting itself on a golden platter?-

A child in distress— ..well in tears but it's the thought that counts.

Plus, the system might be generous enough to give points for trying~'

With pure determination, Kal glanced up at Ian. He reached out to the boy's coat, then gave him the purest, most adorable Allyn-approved smile that he could muster and spoke in a soft, angelic tone, "It's okay! Come, hab some pu–"

CRASH

The sound of a glass breaking echoed throughout the room and as it shattered, Stopping Kal mid-sentence.

"..The glass fell." Ivan flatly explained while looking at them from a far as if he didn't just break the glass himself.

Allyn simply kept watching the unexpected drama that escalated out of nowhere, not that she's complaining.

─'Did it work? ' Kal questioned, ignoring how his tongue betrayed him as he hopped that his sacrifice at least bore some fruit.

✿ 'Surprisingly it did, and it didn't rise just by one, but two points! Looks like your lovable charm touched the heart of both of them. Keep up the good work!(✿◕‿◕)/ '

For some odd reason, Ian started blushing, turning into a stuttering mess.

"I-I ..you—wha- "

─'Should I be worried?' Kal asked Allyn while studying the boy's reaction.

✿ 'Nah.' she replied instantly.

✿ I should light a candle just in case.

Ian felt extremely embarrassed.

'It wasn't supposed to be like this.

The boy should've reacted differently. Not only did he not care about what happened, he also wanted to share his snack with him!... or so he thinks.

This is bad.. Ian felt so many strange emotions pilling up and he couldn't coop with any of them!.'

So he did what any other kid his age would do in this situation, He ran away seeking refuge in his brother's arms in hopes that whatever just happened was all in his head.

Noticing his brother's state, Ivan gave Kal an apologetic smile and went to tend to his twin.

✿ 'Sob, how could you bully him like that, Kal? (╥﹏╥)'

─'I- what? I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING! forget it. I had enough of this drama.' He held out the chocolate pudding that was left unattended for a long time and started to bite into it with delight.

You would expect that after everything, things would get back to normal, to be honest, Allyn did.

But Kal simply had to prove her wrong.

─'I'll start working on that plan.' his eyes darkening for a moment as he spoke.

✿ 'Hmm?' Allyn floated over his shoulder, intrigued.

─'Their fate, I'll help them escape their death.'

✿ 'Now that's interesting, but are you sure about that? I mean, their fate is not your concern. And the situation you are putting yourself in is far too risky to think of others' safety.' It wasn't as if she was against that. Heck, she expected him to do something crazier, but Allyn still hoped that her master would at least consider the risks if he actually went through with it.

─'I'm not putting myself in any danger. I wouldn't speak of this unless I was certain. Plus, saving those two will set me on that person's good side.' Kal replied.

Accepting his final decision, she sighed. It seems that this was going to be a long journey.

✿ 'Alright, but why are you speaking in codes? There is only the two of us here.' Confused, Allyn tilted her little body to the side.

─'I wonder. ' Kal turned his attention back to his snack.

✿You're lucky that I like you.

✿'Enough of that. It's getting late and you should get off to sleep.'

─'But I'm not done with my snack yet-'

✿ 'Sleep. We have a colony to wipe out tomorrow.'

─'Fine.' Kal mumbled as he laid on the bed with his covers on. 'Just so you know, you owe me a pudding! Don't forget that.'

Chuckling at her master's tiny outburst, she took out an extra blanket from the system space and covered him with it. Once all the preparations were done, she floated to his side, rested on his pillow, and went off to dreamland.

✺✺✺✺✺✺✺✺✺✺✺

"He's asleep." Ivan informed his brother, who was tightly holding onto him as if his life depended on it.

Exhaling a sigh of relief, Ian clutched his brother's back and mumbled, "Sorry brother...H-he caught me off-guard I-"

Patting his brother's head, Ivan softly told him.

"Now you believe what I said earlier? You can have fun with other kids, but not with this child. Unlike how he appears, he has a shadow as dark as a moonless night. As charming as he may be, he's suspicious."

"What do you mean, brother?" Ian questioned him, finally facing Ivan.

"He reeks of death; I can't pinpoint how exactly, but my instincts are warning me not to get close to him." Ivan pondered for a while before looking at his brother.

"We should keep an eye on him."

"Does that mean we could keep him? He's cute, even if he's a little suspicious," reasoned Ian. Hoping that his brother would at least consider it.

Ivan felt defeated once he saw his brother's expression. Fine, what of it? It's not like the child could harm his brother, and if he does, he could always just snap him into two.

That child is weaker than him after all.

Ian happily hugged his brother tightly right after Ivan agreed to his little wish.

As they chatted, a yawn escaped his lips, so while he rubbed his eyes, he bid Ivan night and slowly drifted off to sleep.

Ivan observed his brother's exhausted state and slowly tucked him closer to his person, keeping him safe right where he should be.

Once all the lights were turned off, he gently pushed Ian's hair away from his forehead.

Ivan gave him one last tender look, smiled, and finally closed his eyes as he let the shadows watch over them.