Becoming a God Starts with Acting-Chapter 75: [The River God’s Wife] - Nerio’s Part (24)

If Leonard saw himself from Nerio’s perspective, he would realize just how terrifying his smile looked at this moment. His mouth was smeared with blood, and the forced grin only made his face more menacing—he looked exactly like a demon.

[Clearly, I can feel Leonard’s despair, but why is this scene so hilarious? Hahaha!]

[[Leonard, please wipe the blood off your mouth before you start talking!]]

[And what exactly is he so afraid of Nerio finding out? Does he not realize that standing before him is also a little demon? Oh, right, he probably still thinks Nerio is a sweet little angel.]

[Please, Nerio is still a sweet little angel! As long as that face stays the same, he will always be a sweet little angel!]

Nerio remained silent, simply watching Leonard. In the quiet, Leonard could almost see his reflection in Nerio’s nearly translucent eyes—see just how terrifying and repulsive he looked at this moment.

He kept wiping his mouth while stepping back two paces. "I swear, I didn’t kill Leon! I didn’t do anything... He was just too unbearable. He left me no way out... I didn’t kill him, and he forced me..."

The more he spoke, the more panicked Leonard became, and his words increasingly sounded like an honest confession.

"I saw it."

At that moment, Nerio’s voice rang out—like a death sentence to Leonard.

He stared blankly at Nerio. The boy still stood there, seemingly oblivious to the danger approaching him.

"Please, don’t tell anyone..." Leonard muttered, stepping toward Nerio. His hands trembled as he reached out, his face torn between desperation and madness.

I don’t want to do this, but I have to. I can’t let this get out, so Nerio... Nerio has to disappear! But no—Nerio is innocent. Why am I thinking like this? I’m no different from a monster... I really will become a monster... But Nerio... I have to consume him... Nerio—no, no, no!

Leonard’s thoughts spiraled into chaos, and his expression twisted accordingly. Yet, his hands continued reaching for Nerio—slowly but steadily.

[So, are we about to witness two drama kings fight it out?]

[Hahaha, Nerio is the only one who enjoys acting. As for Leonard... I think his mind is genuinely unhinged.]

[Am I the only one who thinks that after killing Nerio, Leonard would take his own life?]

[Exactly. Just look at him—he doesn’t want to kill Nerio, but he can’t control himself. After this, he’ll undoubtedly fall into despair, unable to accept that he’s become a true monster and want to end it all.]

[This would only happen if Leonard managed to kill Nerio, hahaha. Does Nerio’s appearance still make people assume he’s the weaker one?]

The comments buzzed with discussions while the scene before Nerio shifted again. Leonard’s face twisted with a mixture of emotions. He lunged forward, gripping Nerio’s shoulders tightly. His mouth stretched open as wide as possible, revealing teeth that were no longer ordinary—sharp fangs capable of tearing through Nerio’s fragile skin instantly!

He was closing in, closer, closer still.

Suddenly, Nerio smiled.

That smile made Leonard pause for a split second. Without fear, Nerio touched Leonard’s razor-sharp teeth as if admiring a masterpiece. Then, Leonard heard the boy’s voice, clear and soft:

"That’s great. Me too."

Leonard looked doubtfully at Nerio, but what the boy did next left him utterly stunned.

Nerio suddenly threw his arms around Leonard, clinging to him as if he had just found a kindred spirit. "I’m just like you. I’ve killed someone, too."

All the monstrous changes on Leonard’s body disappeared entirely in that instant. His gaze dropped to meet Nerio’s innocent eyes. He grasped the boy’s small shoulders and pushed him back slightly. He wanted to scold and say something—but then he noticed it.

Nerio’s neat clothing, his pale skin now stained with blood.

Leonard hesitated.

He reached out and wiped at the blood on Nerio’s hands, but the more he wiped, the worse it got—his own hands were already drenched in blood.

Leonard’s eyes filled with despair, and tears began to fall.

Just then, Nerio raised a hand and gently wiped Leonard’s tears. The boy’s expression was unreadable, his gaze filled with innocent curiosity.

Leonard knew—Nerio didn’t understand. He was just a fool who couldn’t tell good from evil or grasp human nature.

"We’re done for, you idiot. Now tell me—why did you kill someone?" Leonard asked, his voice hoarse.

Nerio lowered his gaze as if he felt a tinge of guilt—though not much.

"Because he tried to kill me. I pushed him into the river to escape... but he never returned. I didn’t mean to."

Leonard was confident—Nerio had been set up. The boy had been lucky enough to survive.

The dark espers had chosen both him and Nerio to die. They probably never imagined that both of them would still be standing here.

Leonard’s expression turned serious. "Nerio, look at me."

Only when Nerio met his gaze did Leonard say, with absolute certainty:

"It was me. I killed them both. Got it?"

"Why? But I killed someone, too."

"Stop talking like this is something to be proud of! I’m protecting you!" Leonard shouted. "The point is, I’ll protect you—just let me take all the responsibility, got it?"

Nerio lowered his head as if hesitating. In the end, he nodded. His starry eyes shimmered like they contained an entire galaxy as he looked at Leonard.

"I don’t understand," he said, "but you’re a good person. Leon was bad, and Clow was bad, too. No one will blame you for killing them. I won’t either."

Leonard almost reached out to ruffle the boy’s hair, but the sight of his own bloodstained hands stopped him—such filthy hands didn’t belong anywhere near Nerio’s pure white hair.

"You idiot. That’s not how guilt works. The moment you kill someone, you become evil."

Nerio tilted his head and concluded, "Then everyone is evil. They all wanted you and me dead."

Leonard’s expression turned bitter. "You knew?"

Nerio just nodded, saying nothing more.

Leonard let him go, already forming an explanation in his mind as he turned toward the door. "Stay behind me for now. Don’t worry—I won’t leave you behind."

Nerio didn’t respond, but Leonard was sure he nodded.

Only after Leonard disappeared from sight, Nerio’s innocent expression faded utterly. His demeanor shifted so fast that even the silent spectators were left stunned.

He casually dusted off his shoulder. A thin film of water swept across his entire body, washing away every trace of filth. In an instant, he was pristine once more.

Nerio could not tolerate even the slightest bit of dirt on himself. He didn’t care if this made others suspicious.

"How adorable."

He tilted his head with a smile. No one could tell whether it was a genuine compliment or a mocking jab at Leonard.

[lol, I wish Leonard would walk back in now.]

[Leonard thinks he just saved an angel... poor guy.]

[The final line of defense has been shattered!]

[But honestly, Leonard is starting to waver. At this point, even if Nerio revealed his true monstrous nature, I wouldn’t be surprised if Leonard just followed him.]

[I agree with the comment above lol, I’ve never seen a dungeon scenario unfold so bizarrely.]

[Nerio is so annoying! You’re the one who’s cute!]

[All these people who used to scream about siding with humanity have wholly switched sides because of one adorable boy... You people need therapy!]