[ I am. ]
The blood-red flame of the candle, ignited by an unexpected premonition, swayed greatly.
[ I think it’s fortunate. ]
“What is?”
I opened my mouth while lying on the floor. Perhaps because it was in contact with the cold marble, my lips felt frozen by the chill.
[ You seem to be smiling well these days. ]
“Who?”
[ You, I mean. ]
Unlike the last gasp of the flame trying to maintain its shape, I remained still.
[ Even after attracting attention and performing for years in front of you, you never reacted. ]
I blinked my eyes as a test. My vision blurred momentarily before clearing up again.
[ I’m glad to have met that girl. Really. ]
“Enough of the hysterics.”
If I had been mentally capable of responding to something that easily, I wouldn’t have taken on the role of a crazy person.
Smiling well.
Chattering well.
Acting well.
Like an ordinary person. That’s how it would be.
[ Still, there’s something I’m a bit sad about. ]
“What is it?”
So I tried even harder to achieve that.
[ Why won’t you smile when you’re with me? ]
I struggled to express my emotions.
[ When you’re with that girl, you’re lively, but you quiet down in front of me! ]
“No.”
[ Don’t lie! I can feel the flow! The flow of emotions! ]
But don’t I also need to take a break?
If I don’t want to become awkward, shouldn’t it be fine to exhale for a moment?
If a body marked by fatigue smiles and cries well, wouldn’t that be strange in itself?
Exhilarated emotions, uplifted moods, bright smiles.
Now that I can stand in front of people, I’m desperately trying to feel as much as possible.
A lot. Very much.
Ignoring the spirit flapping its wings and puffing up its cheeks, I closed my eyes.
I didn’t care what happened.
In the end, even if each of those appearances piled up to become me, I was ready to accept it.
In truth, I was quiet.
In truth, I was calm.
Since the girl named Orly became me.
Surrounded by excitement, smiling self-indulgently.
Even if my original self is concealed.
Isn’t it unavoidable? Accepting it is a natural process, following a predetermined result, like an ordinary human being being swept away by the flow.
Just like how whipped cream is placed on an Americano.
Even if it becomes a completely different taste, I was fine with it.
If I could spend just a little more of my daily life before reaching the end.
“Hello! I’m back today!”
All eyes quickly gathered before dispersing hurriedly.
It felt like I had become a popular person.
“…?”
When I made eye contact with Erica, I could soon see her holding her forehead.
She smiled slightly and sat down next to me.
“Are you okay after the aftereffects?”
“… Yes.”
“Well, the battle yesterday was cool.”
Erica let out a hollow laugh.
“I wish the person who just sat back and watched me get hurt would be quiet.”
“But you said not to interfere.”
I had just obeyed her.
“Don’t you usually follow well?”
“That won’t do!”
“Ha.”
I scattered the materials for today’s research across the desk and sat in the chair, feeling a sidelong glance from beside me.
“Um, today…”
Her hesitance was unusual; it felt like a date proposal.
“There’s a place I need to investigate.”
“So it was a date proposal after all.”
“There’s, a place, I need, to investigate.”
I smiled slightly and nodded. My expression showed no sign of compromise or misunderstanding.
“They say the Southern Gyeonggi area is experiencing frequent secondary invasions from the envoy.”
“Secondary?”
“Since the last committee meeting, on-site responses have increased, so combat has become inevitable, right?”
Nodding.
“Although it might be a vindictive mindset, there have been reports of attacks on the same location twice.”
“That’s serious!”
“After investigating the situation, I plan to visit the Southern Gyeonggi Magic Bureau directly.”
Unlike the short and concise battles that had occurred so far with the envoy, the situation itself of a secondary invasion would be quite irregular for both the Association and the Committee.
“But are you planning to go with me?”
“…”
A silence fell, and Erica turned her head. Eventually, scattered reports flowed into her hands.
“Do you know what could happen if I left you alone?”
“That’s true.”
It was a valid point.
It might be due to her profession. As I followed her outside the building, a large van was waiting.
It was of the same type we had boarded during the last crime syndicate eradication.
“Yesterday’s battle was cool.”
“I already mentioned that.”
Erica, who had been looking out the window while seated, turned her head.
“Right.”
It must have been due to the sense of discomfort; her stance during the battles I had seen before was somewhat different.
It felt slightly more beast-like. It seemed she had jumped in not to close a gate but to kill a demon.
“Just.”
As I quietly nodded, voices continued to be heard.
“There are times when you just don’t want to think about anything.”
“True.”
“I wanted to do that.”
I shook my head more vigorously. Erica let out a hollow laugh, seemingly amused.
The van stopped, and we got off in the middle of a road slightly away from the city center.
Looking up, I saw a building with one side heavily damaged.
“They say it’s the Southern Gyeonggi Power Control Facility. The invasion occurred last night…”
It seemed to be operated under magical technology. It wasn’t at the center of the city, but it was a facility governing the entire urban area.
I could feel weak magic from several individuals presumed to be staff. A large machine could be seen in the damaged area.
Sparks flew, and electricity wrapped around the outer wall.
It seemed they were in the process of restoration.
I pulled my hat down.
“Ah, you’ve arrived. You must be the incident handlers sent by the Association?”
“Thank you for your cooperation. We are here regarding incident resolution and reporting.”
It was a polite stance. Unlike the facility manager, who had a subtle request to be treated informally, Erica’s atmosphere was somewhat cold.
“I thought I was really going to die yesterday. Some bizarre things came crashing in…”
Following the leading manager, I surveyed the surroundings, and the interior was in a more disastrous state. It was akin to being wounded as a person.
“Could you provide a bit more detail about the incident?”
Erica took out her notebook. A pen also appeared from her pocket.
“Figures like white knights wielding spears suddenly entered through the main entrance. The moment I saw them, I thought, Ah, that’s dangerous.”
The manager halted. It was a large space, supposedly a central facility. The installed machine was severely damaged, leaving only debris.
“After that… while my colleagues, who were former hunters, threw themselves to block, those I didn’t know where they came from joined in, and somehow we cut off their breath.”
“Were there any other strange points?”
“Other than that… Ah, it was only after I regained my senses late that I realized they were entities mentioned in the government’s official document. But…”
The manager, who had been speaking fluently, rubbed his chin.
“There was something else behind those they referred to as knights. It was wrapped in cloth all over, so I couldn’t see its face.”
Erica played with her pen and looked at me. It was a hint asking if I had any clues.
I shrugged.
“… I understand. Is the damage situation severe?”
“Other than losing central power… it should be fine. There’s emergency power available. The entire city isn’t likely to face a blackout.”
As I observed the two people opening the door and moving to the next area, I subtly slipped away.
Walking down the long hallway, I noticed flowers and vines that seemed out of place in the dim interior.
“You wouldn’t typically visit in person.”
[ Of course! I’m practically a hermit! ]
Yet since he claimed to be a king, moving from the shadows, it wouldn’t be a trivial act.
From Seran’s personality, he doesn’t engage in unnecessary actions. Unlike most spirits easily swayed by emotions, he is rational and ruthless.
There was no sufficient reason to send another envoy seeking revenge.
Additionally, there’s no need for him to reveal himself. I dislike that too. I don’t think he would do it.
“Is he looking for something?”
[ It must be entertainment! How wicked to the core! Doesn’t he want to see the people trembling in fear with his own eyes? ]
“A noble and poised princess doesn’t get excited, though.”
Bloody fell silent. The word princess certainly seemed helpful.
I picked up a fallen flower. It was a red lily. A gentle puff caused the petals to crumble and disappear.
After taking a few more steps, I leaned against a wall. A red aura flowed in and spread widely.
I broke my concentration and blinked. Unlike the destruction seen earlier in the facility, the internal structure of the entire building didn’t suffer serious damage.
Was the purpose of the secondary invasion destruction? They hadn’t completely demolished the building.
Sucking in the faint feeling of blood, I turned back again. To better understand Seran’s intentions, one facility alone might not suffice.
Didn’t they mention they would visit the Magic Bureau later?
As I quickly retraced my steps, I saw Erica conversing with the manager in the previously visible area.
Standing inconspicuously next to Erica, I felt her gaze.
“Where have you been?”
“I got lost.”
She had a dubious expression.
I shrugged.
