A Beautiful Ghost or an Assassin?

The morning sunlight shone brightly across the world, bringing life to every being beneath it.

On the bed, Yuuya slept soundly, his face peaceful and undisturbed.

But suddenly, a calm yet gentle voice of a woman spoke from his right.

"Master, wake up. The sun is already high, yet you're still fast asleep. Don't you feel embarrassed?"

Yuuya's brows furrowed slightly, but he remained silent, continuing to sleep soundly.

"Master… wake up! If you don't, your father will scold you again like yesterday!"

The voice returned, this time accompanied by a soft shake, making Yuuya's eyelids twitch involuntarily.

"Mmhh…" Yuuya groaned, yawning lazily. "Don't wake me up, Mom. It's still dawn, and I don't have work until eight."

Muttering in annoyance, he was about to close his eyes again—until suddenly, he froze.

'Wait a second…' His drowsy eyes snapped open, and his body stiffened. 'My mom is in Kyoto… and I live alone in Tokyo.'

A lump formed in his throat, and a chill crept down his spine.

'Then… who just woke me up?'

His heartbeat quickened, and an unsettling dread slowly spread through his body.

'Was it a ghost?' The thought sent a chill down his spine, his face turning pale as the urge to flee his apartment grew stronger.

But if he ran away… wouldn't that be even more dangerous?

After all, he had work this morning, and his formal business attire was still in the closet.

"Master, what's wrong? Why are you so silent?"

The voice returned, making Yuuya's breathing grow unsteady.

It sounded soft and comforting, but that only made it worse—because it was still a ghost!

Maybe it was luring him in with a sweet voice, but its face was surely twisted and terrifying!

Swallowing hard, Yuuya gritted his teeth. Then, with stiff, deliberate movements, he slowly turned his head to the right.

And the moment he saw the figure he had assumed to be a "ghost," he froze on the spot.

'Damn… what a beauty!' He marveled inwardly, barely believing his eyes.

Before him stood a breathtakingly gorgeous woman. Her long, silky black hair was elegantly gathered into a bun on the left side, enhancing her refined charm.

A pair of violet eyes, shimmering like polished sapphires, gazed at him serenely. A small mole beneath her right eyelid only added to her allure.

Dressed in a black maid outfit with a long white apron, she exuded an air of calm elegance, yet there was a sharpness to her presence.

However, the most striking thing about her wasn't her beauty—it was her expressionless face, as if she were looking down on everything around her.

Yuuya was briefly captivated by the woman's breathtaking beauty but quickly regained his composure.

His brows knit together as her gaze turned cautious. "Who are you? Why are you in my room?"

In all his life, he had never dated a woman—let alone one as stunning as this.

'Could she be an assassin?'

His heart pounded at the thought. As absurd as it sounded, it wasn't impossible.

But as far as he remembered, he had never wronged or provoked anyone.

So… who exactly was this woman?

Just as he struggled to make sense of the situation, she blinked her cold, innocent eyes and tilted her head slightly to the left.

"Master, why are you asking such a thing? Did you lose your memory after falling asleep?" Her indifferent expression gradually shifted to one of concern as she slowly sat up on the bed.

Seeing her approach, Yuuya instinctively recoiled. "Wait! Don't come any closer!"

But the woman ignored his protest, moving in closer before suddenly embracing him and pressing him down.

Under Yuuya's stunned gaze, she gently rested her forehead against his.

"Hmm… Your body temperature feels normal, and there are no signs of illness," she murmured in confusion.

"You…!" Yuuya's face flushed red, and he quickly shoved her away. "What the hell are you doing!?"

His breathing was ragged as he stared at her in shock and fear.

'Damn it! What is with this woman?! Just because you're beautiful, does that mean you can do whatever you want?!'

He clenched his teeth, trying to suppress his growing frustration and unease.

No matter how stunning she was, he couldn't afford to let his guard down.

He needed to understand who she was and how she had ended up in his room.

If he let himself get distracted and only realized too late that she was an assassin, wouldn't that be beyond foolish?

You only live once. Dying like an idiot just because of lust? No way!

Once he regained his composure, Yuuya straightened his posture and asked seriously, "I'll ask you again. Who are you, and how did you end up in my room?"

The woman remained silent for a moment, studying him with a deep, unreadable gaze. "Master, have you truly forgotten who I am? You're not joking, are you?"

Yuuya let out a small sigh and shook his head. "Do I look like I'm joking? And stop calling me 'Master.' That sounds way too grand for someone like me."

Only wealthy elites and conglomerates were addressed that way. As for him? He was just an ordinary office worker. There was no way he could accept such a title.

"So, you really lost your memory, huh?" The woman huffed, her lips forming a slight pout.

"Lost my memory?" Yuuya frowned.

Before he could question her further, she suddenly asked, "Master, do you remember your name?"

Hearing her call him "Master" again, Yuuya felt too drained to correct her this time and simply replied, "Of course, my name is—"

But just as the words left his mouth, a sudden, intense pain stabbed through his head.

"Argh!" Yuuya cried out in agony, clutching his head.

The pain was unbearable, like thousands of sharp needles mercilessly stabbing into his skull.

Startled, the woman rushed to his side and wrapped her arms around him.

"Master! Master! Are you alright!?" Panic filled her voice as she gripped his arms tightly, shaking him.

But the searing pain only grew worse, tearing through his nerves. His vision blurred, and his consciousness teetered on the edge of collapse.

Then, amidst the chaos, a weak yet gentle voice echoed in his mind.

"Thank you for taking my place, Kirigaya Yuuya… Everything, I leave to you."

Yuuya's eyes widened in shock, but before he could utter a word, his consciousness was swallowed by darkness.