[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-becoming-a-god-through-horror":3,"chapter-becoming-a-god-through-horror-becoming-a-god-through-horror-chapter-18":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Becoming a God Through Horror",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2273561,4441,"Chapter 18: Disguise: The Old Pervert","becoming-a-god-through-horror-chapter-18",18,"\u003Cp>Esther blinked innocently, “Alright, if you say so.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Also, I’ve finished drawing the music box—won’t you take a look?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Louis watched this brilliant scene, finding it fascinating; Esther clearly chose to retreat in order to advance—what did “if you say so” mean if not a subtle way of saying Emma was talking nonsense?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She also demonstrated her magnanimity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now she changed the subject, demanding to see evidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emma seems a bit out of her depth~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, Esther pulled out a music box with four sides painted with intricate, beautiful images.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Louis raised an eyebrow—checkmate!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those paintings couldn’t have been done in a short time; this proved Esther was telling the truth, while Emma…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Emma, here—your music box sounds lovely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Esther said with deep implication.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, David, who had witnessed everything, frowned. He wasn’t angry, but he still felt Emma might be overly sensitive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like before, when she impulsively spoke in anger over winning or losing a medal, now she was probably overreacting due to Esther’s sudden arrival, leading her to pull this prank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He bent down, looking earnestly at Emma, “Emma, didn’t Dad teach you to be honest? I know Esther’s arrival has unsettled you, but I believe you’ll come to appreciate having a sister someday. Esther is a kind girl—I promise you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emma pressed her lips together, saying nothing, only lowering her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>David sighed, thinking this must be the effect of single-parent upbringing, and didn’t scold further—just told the children to return to their rooms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before returning to his room, Louis glanced next door and saw Emma with a gloomy face, clearly in a foul mood—looks like she’ll take further action.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>David went to Esther’s room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m sorry, Esther—you know Emma’s just shy. I hope you can forgive her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Esther smiled gently, “David… Dad, I’m not angry. Emma’s my little sister—just a little temper.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She immediately switched her address, calling him Dad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing her understanding tone, David nodded with relief, “Good. Esther, is there anything you want?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nothing. I only want a hug from Dad.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>David sighed helplessly and gave her a hug; Esther greedily inhaled the scent of mature masculinity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Louis sat on the chair, thinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This girl is clearly off. If you don’t investigate her origins, you’re dangerously naive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Black ribbons tied around her neck and wrists—mature, like Emma, a girl skilled in disguise…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There aren’t many evil-child roles in films. If she really is from a movie… ”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Orphan and Yulanka—two films as infamous as Bad Seed—flashed into Louis’s mind, and he began comparing them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shit! Esther! Orphan! What a giant baby!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Louis’s expression changed, frowning, feeling nauseous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He remembered the movie—specific details were hazy, but the general plot stuck: Orphan, an evil-child film where Esther was actually over thirty, stopped growing due to illness, and was violently unhinged, craving a family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Repeatedly adopted, she tried seducing the male head of each household to build her own family, using every trick—deception, murder, intimidation, manipulation—to destroy the original family’s happiness, making the man trust her more. If he refused to become her man, she’d unleash a killing spree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn it, what a mess—David, what kind of people are you adopting?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention himself—soul older than the body, future rogue cultivator, killing enemies without blinking, no good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emma’s even worse—antisocial personality, indifferent to life, eventually even killing her own father.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now he’s adopted another deadly one—a grown-up evil child who seduces others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is this some kind of Werewolf game?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why not adopt Yulanka too, and her giant-breasted mother while you’re at it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief rant,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Louis calmed down and began planning his next move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, this thing must be eliminated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike Emma, who may be antisocial but is still young, inexperienced, and hasn’t formed her worldview—and most importantly, she’s David’s daughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>David has treated Louis well, and Louis still needs this sheltered identity, so he chose to correct Emma, even if it was troublesome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Esther is different—she’s an old pervert, her mind long twisted, with her own mature yet warped worldview, and she threatens his interests!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second, he must control David—stop him from adopting anyone else. These ordinary freaks are manageable—even if they’re perverted, dark, and killers, their raw power is weak; Louis can handle them with effort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if he attracts some mysterious evil child, that’ll be trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now, let me think—where do I start to eliminate this thing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Can’t rush. He has no curse techniques, can’t act silently, and risks exposure—he doesn’t want to draw attention from Miami.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, go with the flow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This thing won’t stay quiet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Poor Emma—no matter what, she can’t outplay an old pervert.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let Emma suffer, let Esther bear the blame!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, morning school began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the lure of money, the community board smoothly issued the referral letter, and the school readily accepted it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Esther Coleman officially enrolled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On her first day, Esther drew stares because of her black ribbons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially since she was in a higher grade than Emma and the others, bullying behavior among older students began to emerge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under these conditions, Esther’s situation grew slightly precarious—but she seemed utterly unconcerned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two days later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the school hallway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thwack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A foot was deliberately stuck out, tripping her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sorry, but what’s with your ribbon? So ugly. And that Bible—are you religious?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl feigned kindness, reaching out to help Esther up—but her hand moved toward the black ribbon on her wrist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment she touched it,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“AAAAAAHHHH!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A piercing scream, sharp enough to shatter eardrums, erupted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire hallway fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emma, drawn by the noise, froze, then broke into a smug grin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hummed a cheerful tune as she sauntered back to her classroom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unaware that by afternoon, someone had slipped while pouring hot water, scalding her face and been rushed to the hospital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh right—that was a girl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",973,"2026-06-19T23:34:28.869Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","73232d7bcabf44c8747799948e3061f3d3089fa3eeca37d9c12b0f59b3a4ea89","becoming-a-god-through-horror-chapter-19","becoming-a-god-through-horror-chapter-17",253,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbecoming-a-god-through-horror-cover.jpg"]