Her gaze fell on the furry ball behaving itself on the floor. When it wasn't scheming about her face, it truly resembled an adorable pet. Of course, that was only if one looked past its abstract appearance or chose to forget its unsightly extremities. It was also necessary to accept it for what it genuinely was: a hideous, scheming, delusional, and pretentious little drama queen.
She had to admit that Halfsie was the perfect sidekick to emphasize her beauty, much like those adorable companions in fairy tales. Not to mention, it was like a free entertainment system she had never asked for but somehow deserved. The stunts it pulled and the acts it performed greatly amused her. In return, she would treat it so-so and wholeheartedly accept its flaws.
That was how she expressed her gratitude.
She nodded to herself, basking in her own magnanimity.
She then cast another glance at the black creature blinking its confusion-filled eyes at her.
Even if unreliable 'genes' ran through its core, she wouldn't mind at all. She had also decided that, whatever happened in the future, she would cover for it.
Halfsie was her ugly now.
[But damn, that appearance has got to change.]
Halfsie: ?
The host had been watching it for quite some time. Her eyes had shifted from annoyance to realization, then finally to pity. It had no idea what the host was truly thinking as she gazed at it with such tender eyes. Anyway, the absence of warning signs calmed its paranoia that the host was plotting something nefarious again.
Even so, being stared at with such a gaze made it extremely uncomfortable. It felt like a beast pitying its prey before devouring it.
"Host, what is it?" It finally couldn't stand the torment any longer.
"Nothing. I was just thinking that this guidebook of yours isn't much."
"How come?" The black cotton was confused. It honestly thought the manual was already informative. It contained all the essential information about what they needed to do.
Running her fingers over the text, she offered her advice.
"It should at least explain how to properly corrupt a Heavenly Being's virtues."
"Or, at the very least, include a list of how to behave in the mission world."
The main system could send its guides and taskers through time and space. It could be deduced that such a powerful entity should be capable of foreseeing the dangers its employees might encounter in a job like this. Wasn't it afraid of losing its agents because of such a lack of preparation?
They hadn't even bothered to establish a proper set of rules to follow. There was no information on what they should expect or what they could or couldn't do. What they had provided couldn't even be considered a proper manual. It was nothing more than a statement of their goal.
Then she recalled that they were pioneers in this profession.
A sudden idea came to her.
"Halfsie, would you like to make a guidebook for your juniors?"
She placed the mirror on her crossed legs and leaned back, supporting herself with her palms.
"Me? Make a guidebook?" it asked hesitantly before bouncing in front of its host.
"But why should I, host?"
"It will help your juniors in the future," she replied nonchalantly.
Her face tilted toward the 'sky' as she wondered about the possibility of creating an atmosphere inside her space.
The system glanced at its suspicious host.
Help, she said. How could she be so compassionate?
[She must be planning something.]
Its ruby eyes narrowed as it watched the host acting 'normal'. There was no way it would fall into her trap.
In reality, she was simply duping the furball into making one because she was mostly bored, among other reasons.
First, she wanted to see it busy itself with something other than calculating ways to frolic. Second, she was rather curious about how it would write on the mirror tablet with the "hands" it had. She envisioned it being an entertaining sight, so of course, she had to make it happen just to enjoy the spectacle.
Perhaps it would be even funnier than watching its frustrated expression after its failed attempts to frisk, she thought.
"Host, shouldn't you do it?"
"After all, you are the foremost tasker. You should guide your juniors on how to be as perfect as you."
[A perfect, devil-like, deceitful villain.]
It continued in its mind. This time, its abstract face completely concealed the disdain it felt toward its host's malevolence.
[A guide to becoming perfect like me.]
She pondered the notion and found it appealing.
She liked the idea of making a list that would help her become even more than perfect. Even if she was stunning as hell and had a bomb-ass personality, she couldn't help but crave more.
She also felt that she should at least set some reminders for herself in the future. Considering that she would be embarking on an endless adventure, she might as well establish some rules.
For the most part, she had a gut feeling that she would eventually lose her rationality or that whatever remained of her morals would be dulled into nothingness.
Even if she refused to acknowledge it, she could feel that something had changed within her.
In her last life, she wouldn't even have considered hurting those who had wronged her. She had always believed in karmic retribution—that fate would bestow the appropriate punishment upon sinners while she simply lived with peace of mind.
Now, she had a very strong desire to inflict pain on them in the cruelest ways possible. Particularly, she yearned to savor the sound of their screams and the sight of their horrified faces.
She sighed.
She knew she was slipping away. The old her had faded drastically, and she could feel herself delving deeper into defilement. As a matter of fact, she was fully aware of her increasingly distorted personality, yet she enjoyed the process.
She felt unconcerned about it, and that kind of detachment was unsettling.
She had to do something now, while she still retained a shred of her morality. She needed to remind her future self of the principles they had to live by and preserve them no matter what. After all, they were the only remaining testament to her original self.
"I think you're right."
After a long reflection, she finally answered. She then sat up straight and fiddled with the manual again.
Halfsie couldn't believe that the host had accepted its suggestion. Before it could ask for confirmation, she spoke again.
"However, this manual is only for me."
[This will be a set of rules from me to my future self.]
"Tell me how to write on this thing."
She glanced at the fluffball, which had been scrutinizing her.
[The host will really do it? I thought it was just a joke.]
It gathered its scattered thoughts and answered its host.
"It's quite simple, host. You only need to think of the contents you want to display. Whatever you envision in your mind will take form in the manual."
"Got it."
[Such alien technology is really impressive.]
She once again traced the golden letters while imagining the contents of her one-page enchiridion.
When the golden ink began to move, she was amazed.
The cursive sentence in the middle of the manual disappeared. The flaxen ink transformed into glittering white as it flowed toward the uppermost portion of the tablet. One by one, letters began to take shape in the heading, followed slowly by fine print just below it.
The curious Halfsie bounced onto her shoulder to get a better view.
It watched with gusto as snow-white words appeared one by one.
"Guide to Becoming a Perfect Villain?"
The childish voice read aloud.
[Didn't the host say she'd make a guidebook on how to be a perfect tasker?]
The black ball couldn't help but worry that the host might have heard its little thoughts about her being a villain. However, realizing that it was still alive, it let go of its anxiety.
It also thought that the word villain was perfect compared to scumbag, scoundrel, or evildoer, all of which sounded awful. Besides, she-devil just didn't fit the title very well.
If the host heard what the pretentious creature was contemplating, she wouldn't disappoint it. She would do her best to live up to its expectations.
When the fine print finally came into view, the goofball asked excitedly,
"Host, your name is Eve?"
[Amazing! It must be short for Evil.]
It thought the host was truly the very definition of malevolence. Even her name was proof of it.
"Eve for Evil suits you perf—"
"From Adam and Eve."
Two voices rang out simultaneously. One was childish and excited; the other, utterly lackadaisical.
Instantly, a heavy silence filled the endless space.
If the soon-to-be-dead furball had sweat glands, it would surely be sweating buckets by now.
Realizing that it had stepped on a catastrophic landmine, Halfsie began praying for the existence of the Gods it had seen in the database. It desperately needed divine intervention right now.
Contrary to its wishful thinking, a heavenly voice sounded.
"Halfsie, it seems you're tired of living. Would you like me to help you with that?"
The gentlest touch caressed its stiffened fur. The pair of golden eyes had curved slightly into crescents, and her perfectly shaped lips had formed an angelic smile.
Halfsie sensed that it was truly about to die.
[May the Gods have mercy on my pitiful soul and send me far away from this evil creature in my next life.]
It decided to shut its eyes and wait for the end.
However, Halfsie suddenly remembered that it didn't have any eyelids.
[Curse you, Eve, you evil host.]
It whimpered pathetically.