Chapter 42: Bolder Approach
This was reality, and he wasn't like those oblivious main characters from romantic comedy anime who couldn't read the room. He was simply inexperienced, which was why he didn't know how to react.
In the past, he had to pull away, but faced with her frustration, he realized he needed a different approach.
And what was the universal way to make a woman happy?
Appreciation, of course. Even her mother had loved it when he complimented her in his past life.
But the problem here was his appearance. Normally, compliments from handsome men had a 100% success rate, but in his case, he was so terrifyingly looking that even if he remained silent, it would have a negative impact.
'Maybe she's not into handsome guys,' he thought to himself, considering the possibility.
After all, even in his past life, there were girls who fell in love with real corpses, so it wasn't such a far-fetched idea.
"It's because of you. I can't imagine what would have happened to me if you weren't here," Reign forced himself to turn around, putting on a facade of gratitude. However , His monstrous appearance made his smile way creepier.
Surprisingly, Anna didn't seem to mind.
In fact, she blushed and looked away after hearing his words.
'Huh?' Is she really this gullible?' Reign muttered to himself, observing how she reacted so flustered to just his words.
Empowered by Anna's reaction, he continued to compliment her, finding that each kind word seemed to deepen her infatuation.
"I'm really glad that I met you," he remarked, watching as her cheeks flushed with delight.
'You dimwit,' Reign chuckled inwardly, feeling a sense of satisfaction as he recognized the extent of his influence over her.
'Very well, I'll continue showering you with compliments, but remember, one day I'll eat you.' He chuckled inwardly.
"It's okay," Anna replied sheepishly, her cheeks still tinged with a rosy hue.
Her love for Reign had clouded her usual logical thinking, reducing her sharp intellect to that of a lovestruck teenager.
They say love can blind you, but for Anna, it was as if her brain had simply shut down. Logic and reason evaporated in the presence of her overwhelming feelings for him.
Reign, observing her vulnerable state, decided to push the boundaries further.
With a clawed hand, he gently touched Anna's head.
He had no intention of harming her at that moment; she was still useful to him. His action was more of an experiment, a test to see if she would flinch or evade his touch.
To Reign's surprise, Anna didn't budge at all.
It wasn't just that she didn't move; it seemed like she didn't even consider the possibility of him hurting her. Her love for him was so deep that she trusted him completely, without a second thought.
"Hey, are you finished?" George's annoyed voice jolted the two. Seeing his daughter act foolishly soured his mood.
Anna felt a twinge of disappointment at her father's interruption, but out of respect for him, she chose to express her annoyance by simply pouting her cheek.
'You silly girl,' George sighed heavily as he observed her reaction.
He realized that she was deeply charmed by her feelings for Reign, to the extent that even if Reign were to harm her, Anna wouldn't hold it against him.
The ironic part was that he couldn't blame his daughter for her emotions; he knew all too well that what she was experiencing was part of her nature.
"We have to get out of here. I'm sure more people will come after us," George spoke up, feeling the weight of responsibility to inject reason in the team.
With Anna's mind seemingly lost in a blissful haze, it fell to him to lead the group.
As for Reign, George harbored no expectations, not because he lacked intelligence, but just due to his lack of common knowledge and understanding of the world.
"Uhm" Reign nodded in agreement. The mine was already compromised, so there was no reason for them to stay there.
"There's another town nearby. I think we should head there to lay low," George suggested.
"But the issue here is you," he continued, casting a glance at Reign's imposing figure. "You're too intimidating and scary."
Reign paused and contemplated.
While he acknowledged the wisdom of hiding and keeping a low profile for safety's sake, he couldn't shake the feeling that it was the wrong decision.
What he truly desired was power—more power to protect himself .
'I need to be bolder,' he thought to himself, then glanced at Anna.
It would be a waste not to take advantage of her power. Perhaps if he hadn't met her, he would have opted for a stealthier approach.
However, Anna possessed the ability to kill a lot of people in a quick manner, which could accelerate his growth.
"Let's kill everyone in the town and make our escape," he declared.
"Are you insane?!" George's voice erupted, a mixture of shock and frustration evident in his tone. His fists clenched tightly at his sides as he struggled to contain his anger.
The plan was sheer madness, it was suicidal . He wasn't concerned about Reign, but his daughter's safety was more important.
No matter how powerful Anna was, her strength had limits. If they were pursued by dozens of hunters, she wouldn't stand a chance.
George looked to Anna, expecting her to intervene and knock some sense into Reign. He hoped that her influence would sway Reign towards a more rational course of action, one that prioritized their safety.
However—
"I'll go along with your plan," Anna replied, her face lit up with a smile.
"ANNA!" George screamed in anger.
But when he glanced at Anna, her eyes were filled with sadness, and George's anger waned, replaced by a wave of guilt.
"Dad, I understand the risks, but I think it's best if we part ways," Anna responded, her words jolting George with a cold realization.
He knew that Anna's suggestion wasn't solely for his safety; she wanted to be alone with Reign.
'You monster….' George boiled with rage, his fists clenched tightly as he fought the urge to attack Reign for exploiting his daughter's vulnerability. But he held back, knowing she would defend him.
"If you're going to go through with this, you need a solid plan. That means taking out everyone quickly so we can make our escape. I'll find us a van, and then we'll get out of there," George explained firmly.
Reign nodded, admitting that George's plan wasn't half bad.
Securing a car would certainly expedite their escape. As much as he hated to admit it, he lacked the ability to ride or drive due to his monstrous body.
"Alright, let's do that," Reign agreed, and the trio returned to the mine to gather some supplies.
George made sure to stock up on food and other essentials before they set off on their journey towards the next town.
Little did the residents of that town know, their fate was now sealed by the actions of one overly dotting father.