Suddenly, Malon’s appearances abruptly ceased. It had been already two weeks since he was last seen. From Sixx’s perspective, it was uncertain whether Malon had even come to see the performance in the first place. Now, nodding along with Andy’s reassurance that it seemed fortunate that the intimidating figure had stopped coming around, Sixx found himself unable to sleep that night, tossing and turning for a long while.
Had Malon’s insomnia somehow transferred to him? If so, who would he have to bed and sleep with to finally find rest… Certainly not this pillow. Someone was loudly snoring. Sixx tried to muffle it with his pillow, but to no avail.
Why wasn’t Malon coming?
Had he finished his business with the person he claimed was his business associate?
Or perhaps now Sixx could sleep without bedding someone.
Through the night, Sixx unfolded wings of imagination until dawn finally broke, and he could barely fall asleep.
Just a couple of hours before the performance, the boss who summoned Sixx informed him that due to a substantial number of repeat audience members, it was time to reconsider the performance setup. Though Sixx expressed displeasure, the boss had already finalized the plan.
“We need more provocative scenes. Today, don’t just quietly slip in and out, provoke, rebel, escape.”
“And if someone gets hurt?”
When Sixx inquired, the boss replied, “Well, a little injury won’t hurt. And then you can cleverly evade and get caught again. Do you understand, Sixx? It’s about instilling fear. Show that you’re a monstrous creature capable of attacking humans at any moment.”
Of course, Sixx had no choice. He obediently nodded and took to the stage.
The performance of that day proceeded much like any other. As the audience screamed helplessly at the sight of the towering wolf, dripping blood from its elongated jaws, Sixx menacingly revealed his sharp fangs, threatening them. It wasn’t until the staff brought a large metal cage to confine him that Sixx finally remembered the boss’s instructions and shoved the staff aside with his body. They hesitated to use force, and as Sixx pushed them away and sprinted across the stage, the audience screamed in even greater terror. Some fled in panic. Just as he thought it was enough and stopped in his tracks, a horrifying sensation of flesh tearing and stabbing attacked Sixx’s side. Gasping for breath, writhing in agony, he suddenly heard the boss’s booming voice.
“You can all rest assured! In anticipation of such a situation, we’ve prepared electric shock devices for subduing the monster. The rods contain an enormous amount of current that can instantly incapacitate any beast, so there’s no need to worry. Hurry, capture it!”
It was the moment when the culprit who had made Sixx’s legs tremble was revealed. Though he had experienced being pierced by the staff wielded by the staff before as a form of threat, this pain was incomparable. Yet, it seemed the ordeal was far from over. The staff members slowly approached Sixx, holding long rods in their hands. Both the boss and they knew well that there was no need for such items for Sixx to obediently enter the cage. However, this was a show prepared for the audience. It was unthinkable for the protagonist Sixx to refuse to act. Eventually, Sixx couldn’t prevent the electric rod from approaching, and after being shocked several times, he was finally pushed into the cage. Tears welled up.
***
Next to Sixx, who was vomiting, Andy began to administer treatment. After applying ointment and carefully bandaging the wounds on Sixx’s neck, back, and side, she sighed heavily with a stern expression.
“This is really not okay. I didn’t want to do this to the boss.”
“Andy… it’s okay. It’s not as painful as it looks.”
“Don’t joke. I’ve never seen such severe wounds. Do we have to see this every performance?”
“It won’t be like this every time… probably.”
Angered to the core by Sixx’s words, Andy stood up abruptly. Just as she was about to yell something, someone called them from behind. “Hey, Sixx, the boss said you should go to the crater today.”
Hearing that, Sixx felt his chest swell with anticipation as if it might burst. The pain from the wounds seemed to disappear completely. He quickly washed himself and rushed to the crater. Unlike the cautious approach he took last month, when he carefully opened the door and entered, there sat the man who had tormented Sixx for nearly two weeks, smoking a cigarette casually. Despite the horrendously strong smell, to Sixx, it felt as welcoming as the sweet scent of a banana split.
“Sixx, it’s been a while.”
In Malon’s characteristic relaxed greeting, Sixx finally realized that the feeling he had towards Malon was one of resentment. He knew he was insignificant to Malon, and he had no power to stop Malon from leaving, but he had hoped at least for a word of acknowledgment before he left. As Sixx nodded his head, Malon chuckled as if he had read Sixx’s mind and beckoned him over. He stood awkwardly before him. Malon gently stroked Sixx’s hair with his large hand. With each touch, Sixx felt the bitterness in his heart melting away.
“I’ve been busy with internal organization matters. The business here is something I’m personally driving, so organizational matters take priority. But you, you seem to have lost some weight. Where did all the lamb chops you were chewing on go?”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“P tjnfc’a tjv wemt bo jc jqqfalaf ijafis.”
“Qfii, sbe rtbeiv fja kfii ab ugbk qgbqfgis.”
Snfc klatbea Zjibc rjslcu rb, Vlzz’r ybvs kjr lcvffv ugbklcu gjqlvis. Pa ofia ilxf tf kjr ragfamtlcu jcv fzqjcvlcu jr lo wjvf bo pfiis. Lbkfnfg, ab Zjibc, Vlzz’r ugbkat vlvc’a rffw qjgalmeijgis cbalmfjyif. Gfrqlaf la yflcu lcfnlajyif, tf mbeivc’a tfiq yea offi j riluta rfcrf bo gfrfcawfca.
“Shall I transform into a wolf?”
“No, not today.”
Sixx’s eyes widened in surprise. Malon had never instructed him not to transform into a wolf before. Did he not need the pillow today? Then what should I do? Whether Sixx’s mind was tangled like a twizzler or not, Malon flicked off the remaining cigarette, took off his jewelry one by one and placed them on the table, then lay down on the bed. Everything seemed just like usual.
“Come here, Sixx.”
Sixx was given a different command amidst his confusion. Malon tapped the space next to him. Could it be that today he really intended to spend the night together? He knew it might happen someday, but he didn’t expect it to be today, and above all, he was uncertain. He was scared. Sixx pushed his tongue against his teeth to hide the sound of his teeth clenching. Sex feels good, right? Did the man in the mask whisper that? But the truth was far from it. Sex was dreadful, dirty, and a cruel act that made you plummet to the depths in an instant. As Sixx stood frozen like a statue, Malon irritably slapped the bed.
“Sixx, don’t test my patience.”
With those words, Sixx reluctantly walked over to the bed. Sweat poured down his back. Malon was different from that man.
Malon… But forcing something on you as a guest is still the same.
A voice whispered. Sixx desperately denied it. No, that’s not it. Malon was different, what was different was…
“What’s wrong? Suddenly turning pale…”
“Malon, I, I don’t want to spend the night…”
Malon had the possibility of indulging Sixx’s whims. If Sixx really didn’t want to, he might not insist on spending the night. Whether it was because Sixx held some value to Malon or simply because of Malon’s whim, it was unknown, but Malon was lenient towards Sixx. Sixx’s instinct for survival, always quick to seek a path of survival, inevitably noticed this fact, and in the end, Sixx begged without even realizing he was exploiting his favor. But Malon openly frowned.
“What did I say on the first day?”
Sensing that if he continued to rebel, he might really see a bad outcome, Sixx hugged his knees with both arms and sat on the edge of the bed. Malon burst into laughter as if he couldn’t believe it.
“Lie down properly.”
Another command came. Sixx complied with his orders. Lying on his back, looking up at the sky, Malon propped his chin with one hand and lay diagonally to look down at Sixx. Sensing a more dangerous scent from him than usual, Sixx swallowed hard. Just the positions being reversed, Malon seemed different. How to explain what was different… It was difficult, but anyway, something was different.
“Why are you tense? If anyone should be clinging first, it would be you. There won’t be anything for me to touch first.”
“…Are you not going to sleep tonight?”
“I’ve had enough sleep tonight. But I can’t send you away right now, in case there are watchful eyes. I won’t disturb you, so rest as you wish. You must be tired after the performance.”
“You’ve had enough sleep?”
His heart skipped a beat. Was the only reason he could sleep because Sixx rested his head on his body? Though it should be something to be happy about, for some reason Sixx couldn’t be happy, so he bit his lip tightly.
“Yeah. I slept pretty well. But it’s not a method I can use often.”
“What kind of method?”
Sixx let out a sigh of relief. It was fortunate that it was a method he couldn’t use often.
“Well, you’ll know what it is since you know everything. Sex makes you sleepy afterward. I don’t like sleeping pills because they leave a lingering unpleasant feeling even after waking up. For now, excluding you, it’s the only method.”
Sex… Until just a moment ago, he had refused the act, but it seemed the man had already done it somewhere. Although he disliked sex, just the fact that the man took the lead somehow made Sixx’s face flush. It seemed he might understand why he seemed a bit different today. His sharp eyes were noticeably softened, and there seemed to be a different scent mingled with his fragrance. If he were in his wolf state, he might have noticed it instantly. Who did he do it with? A woman, or a man? Sixx understood the concept of sex, but he didn’t know the details. He had experienced something similar only once before, and the man’s eyes beyond the mask glowed with desire towards Sixx. If Malon also desired someone so fiercely, he couldn’t help but be curious about who the other person was. Could those usually icy blue eyes sometimes blaze with intense passion?
“You said you didn’t want to spend the night, but do you have an interest because you’re also a male? You’re giving off that kind of vibe. Well, if you grow up nicely, I’ll introduce you to a good girl. Or if guys are your type, I could do it. I could embrace you, even though men aren’t my preference. But with your face, I could manage. ”
“That, that’s not what I meant…”
When Sixx avoided eye contact, Malon chuckled mischievously. He really enjoyed teasing Sixx.
“But, I don’t finish after just one or two times, so you’d better be prepared.”
“W-What do you mean…?”
“I said it’s a method I can’t use often, right? If I try to relieve my desires half-heartedly, it’ll only irritate me. Usually, those who receive it can’t handle it anymore and run away in the middle. Men can endure a little more. Still, it’s better to have two or three alternatives for rotation. We faced each other this time too.”
“I-I see…”
Sixx could barely find any words and managed to respond. He was an outsider in that area, but considering Malon’s height and physique, which was much stronger than an average man, it might be understandable. For a slightly different reason than before, his heart raced rapidly. The itchiness that remained inside his throat seemed to spread to his heart. As expected, Malon didn’t force sex on him. He attached a clue that if Sixx desired it, he could. However, Sixx didn’t know such a method of sex. For him to first feel desire, become restless, and then seek someone… Or, it might be possible. If it was Malon, maybe…
“If you don’t plan on resting, you might as well squirm a bit, don’t you think?”
“What?”
“I’ll determine the topic. Seeing you trembling like a frightened rabbit reminded me of something. When I first appointed you, that boss guy gave me a warning. What did he say? ‘I’m sorry, but that guy has some issues…’ or something like that.”
He couldn’t deny it. If Sixx were treated as merchandise, he would undoubtedly be a flawed product.
“When I asked what he meant, he said, ‘He goes berserk if anyone tries to touch him, it could be dangerous.’ I didn’t care, so I told him to bring you anyway. But do you know what that guy said, Sixx?”
Displeasure crept onto Malon’s face. It seemed recalling the memory alone worsened his mood.
“…I, I don’t know.”
“He said it would be okay to shoot him dead if he tried to resist. I passed it off lightly at the time, but thinking about it now, such words wouldn’t have been said unless there was some incident before. Explain, Sixx.”
He couldn’t breathe. His guess was accurate. It was a memory he didn’t want to recall. Just seeing a mask similar to the one the man wore still triggered him, and he was periodically haunted by nightmares of the man appearing. After experiencing that terror, Sixx became weak. No, at least he considered himself a weak human being. Even when the boss, irritated by Sixx’s resistance, scolded and punished him, he still struggled, refusing to enter the crater. Because there were peers of Sixx who frequently entered the crater, he soon felt ashamed of his own weakness. However, even as time passed, Sixx couldn’t overcome that incident. Even Corbin and Andy, who were close to Sixx, hardly mentioned anything related to that incident. They knew how much of a deep scar it left on Sixx. However, despite Malon’s indulgence towards Sixx, he was never affectionate or deeply caring. He didn’t consider others’ traumas. He didn’t hesitate to be blunt even with those in higher positions. It was unthinkable for him to empathize with a boy more than ten years younger. Realizing that he wouldn’t back down, Sixx spoke in a fading voice, pouring out his words incoherently.
“It’s nothing special… You might laugh when you hear it.”
“If I want to laugh, I’ll do so. You don’t need to worry about that in advance.”
It was entirely true. With no excuses left, Sixx finally opened his mouth.
“…About two years ago, the boss ordered me to receive my first guest. He said it was a bit earlier than the others. He said the guest was important, so I entered, but I didn’t know what to do… The boss said to just close my eyes and endure it for a while. And all I remember about that guest… was that he wore an owl mask.”
As Sixx entered the tent after cleaning himself, there was a man inside. The man, who was staring blankly into space, turned his head towards the entrance at the sound of Sixx’s cough. He wore a mask that covered his face perfectly, and the bird painted on it seemed to be an owl. The owl beckoned gently for Sixx to come closer. Sixx moved his feet slowly. Except for the mask, the owl looked neatly dressed like a gentleman. However, as he approached, the stench became increasingly unbearable. Sixx barely suppressed the urge to retch. The scent of perfume covering his body seemed to hide the smell of someone’s bodily fluids, flesh, and even blood. It even smelled like something rotten. And that someone was definitely not the owl himself…! Sixx had always had a particularly keen sense. As a wolf, he had never been wrong. Sensing danger, Sixx quickly retreated. However, the man’s hand moved faster than him, grabbing his curly hair and dragging him forcefully onto the bed.
You can’t do that. You have to be a good boy, okay?
“That person… had a lot of strange tools with him. Among them, there were handcuffs, and he started tying my wrists to the bedpost with them and began undressing me. I realized it quickly. I don’t know what that person intended to do to me, but I knew that he wouldn’t leave me unharmed after it was all over. He emitted a strong smell of blood and flesh. I don’t know who they belonged to, but I thought they might have died. And, it seems like he did something strange to me… I don’t remember well. Maybe I don’t want to remember. But if Malon wants me to remember, I’ll try…”
“I don’t really want to hear specifically what that disgusting bastard did. Keep going.”
“…When I came to my senses, there was that person’s erect member in front of me. It was large and rough, disgusting, and he was trying to forcefully push it into me from behind. It was terrifying, painful, and I felt like vomiting. And above all, his eyes looking at me were so sinister…”
“Hush, be good, darling. Stay still,” he whispered.
No, I don’t want to, it feels awful!
When Sixx desperately shook his head and cried out, he roughly silenced him with a word. No, sex feels good. Just endure a little longer. When Sixx met the owl’s eyes, which were looking down at him while spouting obvious lies, he recalled the greasy oil stains stuck to the kitchen gas burner. Within those eyes, the disgusting lust and desire for degradation felt more filthy to Sixx than any trash in the world. He retched. Sixx writhed, expressing his disgust. Then, a sharp impact struck his cheek.
Shh—
Amidst the ringing in his ears, the owl scolded Sixx, turning furious.
Damn it, you filthy brat. I told you to stay still! Do you think I’ll cut you slack just because you’re young?
At that moment, as if the lamp had gone out, all of Sixx’s emotions froze. The rationality that had been controlling his actions gradually weakened, leaving only the flesh to burn hotly under his skin.
“I wished that person was dead. I hoped he would never move in front of me again. So maybe, without realizing it, I thought I should become a wolf. I had never thought about becoming a wolf, but when I came to my senses, I was already a wolf. The handcuffs were all broken, so I immediately attacked that person. I don’t know how to describe that feeling. It felt like my body was moving on its own…”
In an instant, he recalled the boss’s warning not to ever turn into a wolf. However, the water had already been spilled, and Sixx’s large claws were already piercing the man’s shoulders. In response to the man’s agonizing scream, Sixx quickly felt better. He even thought it didn’t matter anymore.
“Did you kill him?”
Sixx shook his head. He didn’t kill him. Because people outside aimed weapons at Sixx after hearing the man’s scream. As his body returned to human form, Sixx fainted. When he opened his eyes again, there was an angry boss up to his head. The boss yelled that Sixx almost killed the owl.
“Do you know who that person is?!”
The boss shouted. The man Sixx had attacked seemed to hold a high position outside. However, what really shocked Sixx was the fact that he almost brought someone to the brink of death. From transforming into a wolf to attacking the owl, Sixx couldn’t do anything. The fact that he might turn into a monster capable of killing someone at any time was too terrifying. And he came to hate everything related to that experience. The crater, painful sex, the owl, the masks, even the desire towards him.
“What happened to him?”
“I heard that the boss somehow dealt with it. Since the person had a lot to lose, the boss negotiated after the person was taken to the hospital and left at the crater with what was left behind….”
After hearing the story to the end, Malon licked his lips with an expressionless face. Trembling at the static response, Sixx quickly finished the story by adding that the boss didn’t put him back into the crater anymore because he tried to turn into a wolf and have seizures after subsequent visits. And this was the first encounter with Malon in years. But he still didn’t get a proper response from him. It wasn’t fun, after all. So he said it was nothing much. He felt like crying. Sixx cautiously glanced at Malon. Slowly, an evaluation of Sixx’s story came from the man whose thoughts were still unreadable.
“It’s definitely not fun, but…”
“…Y-yeah, of course—”
“I don’t really feel like laughing. I would have laughed if you had surrendered, but you didn’t, right? I rather liked that you left him half dead. If my subordinate did that, I would have praised him.”
