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**Chapter 6: The Bone Needle and the Space Bag**

  The bone needle had missed my heart by a hair's breadth. A mere scratch, but enough to send a shiver down my spine. My recovery, however, was under my control. My ribs were shattered, and some of my veins were torn, but these were minor inconveniences. I summoned an army of platelets, endothelial cells, clotting factors, proteins from blood plasma, and 15 billion white blood cells to repair the damage. My ribs were reshaped and placed back in position, though they weren't fully healed. According to a book I'd read, protein and vitamin D would accelerate the healing process. The sunlight was strong and bright - perfect for revitalization. Obtaining these nutrients would be no issue.

  But there was one thing I needed more than nutrients: meat.

  [Kael] "I'm sorry to say that I'm a little hungry. Do you have any spare meat in your bag, your grace?"

  [Count Pera] *[Smirking.]* "You're lucky. I happen to have a mountain of meat here. The head chef prepared it specially for me. Whenever I'm hungry, I simply reach into this bag. Time is frozen inside, so the meat stays hot and fresh. Since I'm in a good mood, I'll let you eat as much as you want."

  [Kael] "I will humbly accept your kindness."

  He handed me the space bag, and I ate my fill. The meat was rich and flavorful, exactly what I needed to regain my strength. Count Pera's trust in me was absolute, likely due to the insect doll pill I'd drunken earlier. The book I'd read on Earth mentioned that vitamin D and protein could speed up bone recovery. The nutrients would go directly to my bones, aiding in their reconstruction. I used most of the proteins to heal my ribs and the rest to strengthen my muscles. At first, I had been skinny, but now my body was becoming muscular and powerful.

  The space bag contained more than just meat. Among its contents were four insect pills, likely purchased from Alucard. I didn't know what Count Pera intended to do with them, but I decided to take them for myself. After returning the bag to him, I pressed specific pressure points on his body, immobilizing him just as Alucard's henchmen did to silence troublesome slaves. I opened his mouth and forced him to swallow one of the insect pills. Simply eating it wouldn't activate the centipede inside. To hatch it, I had to draw a circle on both hands with my blood, clap, and say, "Activate."

  I bit my lip, drawing blood, and used it to trace the circles on my palms. I clapped my hands and uttered the command. The sound of hatching came from Count Pera's body, a noise only I could hear thanks to my heightened senses. Normal people on Ever the Chrono users wouldn't notice it unless they focused intently. With the centipede now active, I gave Count Pera a simple order.

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  [Kael] "Do a ten-jump slack!"

  Without a word, he began jumping, causing the carriage to shake violently.

  The carriage rattled dangerously, and I quickly ordered Count Pera to stop.

  [Kael] "Act like your normal self from now on. Forget that you ate the insect doll pill and all the meat in the space bag were eaten by yourself. This is an order."

  Count Pera's demeanor shifted instantly. He blinked, looking confused.

  [Count Pera] "I can't believe I ate the whole mountain of meat. And I'm still hungry."

  I saved my progress mentally, ensuring I could reload if things went wrong. For now, I stayed quiet, pretending to know nothing. The time had come to face the Gosa monkey, a monstrous creature that had been pursuing us. Count Pera, as expected, made the same decision as before. He ordered the guards to attack the beast, buying time for his escape. Like last time, he handed me a dagger and tried to kick me out of the carriage. I dodged his kick, took the dagger, and kicked him instead, drawing the Gosa monkey's attention. Count Pera fell to the ground, screaming for me to rescue him.

  [Kael] "Fuck yourself, pig." *[Raises middle finger.]*

  Count Pera trembled as the Gosa monkey approached. I climbed to the top of the carriage, watching as the creature ripped him apart limb by limb. The sight stirred something within me - a strange, exhilarating sensation. My heart raced, and I felt a thrill I hadn't experienced before.

  [Kael] *[Murmuring.]* "This is what people call happiness. How thrilling. I want to feel all the emotions I've been missing."

  I analyzed the Gosa monkey's attack pattern, but my weak attacks were no match for its strength. To defeat it, I would have to strike from within. The only way to do that was to use the insect doll pill to crush its heart. But it would require a sacrifice - perhaps even Count Pera himself.

  I decided to keep Count Pera alive for now, as he might still be useful. I noticed that the Gosa monkey only ate those without armor, killing the guards who were properly equipped. With all the guards and Count Pera dead, I was out of options. The main road was a dead end, and the forest offered no escape. I would have to start over, but this time, I wanted to savor the emotion of happiness.

  Just thinking about it made me smile. I burst my own heart, resetting the timeline.

  I returned to the point where Count Pera was under my control. Each time I died, I learned more about the Happiness from Count Pera death . On the eleventh attempt, I finally decided to kill the beast. I ordered Count Pera to command the guards to attack, leaving one unarmored guard behind. I made the guard eat all three insect doll pills, ensuring the centipedes inside would have enough power to crush the Gosa monkey's heart.

  The Gosa monkey devoured the guard, and I performed the ritual once more. This time, the three centipedes hatched simultaneously, their combined strength enough to destroy the creature's heart. With the Gosa monkey dead, I retrieved a crystal from its chest and left the forest as quickly as possible.

  As dawn broke, the city where Count Pera lived came into view. My journey was far from over, but for now, I had achieved my goal. I had felt happiness, and I would chase that feeling again, no matter the cost.

  ---

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