Chapter 113

As I opened the door and entered the boutique, the waiting sales clerks all bowed their heads in unison.

“Welcome!”

Their neat postures and tidy attire remind me of an idol group’s synchronized dance.

As I move past them into the deeper part of the boutique, a slightly higher-ranked employee is visible.

“Oh, Edu. You arrived right on time.”

With a smile that seems to convey delight, a female employee reaches out her hand.

“Um, who…?”

“Oh, maybe you’ve forgotten since it’s been a while since we last met.”

The smiling employee approaches me, grabbing my arm and pulling me gently.

“Oops—”

Losing my balance, I slip atop Bungbungi.

But in the next moment, as my body was about to fall to the ground, it is caught in the employee’s arms.

“Uh?”

“Do you remember me now?”

Her soft voice.

As I hear her voice in this embrace, forgotten memories resurface.

“Oh, were you the one who took me to Lisesse last time…?”

“That’s right, my name is Seri.”

As she replies, she lifts me onto Bungbungi.

Her gaze shifts behind me.

“You have companions as well.”

“Yes.”

Her eyes are fixed on somewhere intently.

One of the soldiers from the 1st Corps reacts to her gaze.

“What’s the matter?”

“It’s fine if others come with you, but carrying weapons could disturb the guests, so I’d appreciate it if you could either return them for a while or hide them from view.”

A polite yet firm request.

Two soldiers turn their eyes to Simonia, but she responds with a curt tone.

“Why are you staring blankly at me?”

“…Yes.”

One soldier obediently returns his weapon.

The other soldier hesitates for a moment before slinging his military rifle behind his back.

Whirring, click.

An extended metallic arm receives the rifle and connects it to the reinforced exoskeleton’s backpack.

Once all actions are completed, Seri nods.

“Then I will guide you to the Madam, this way.”

Leading the way, she proceeds further into the boutique.

“Hmm?”

“Hey, that kid—”

People who were shopping turn their curious gazes toward us.

Passing them, Seri opens an ornate door and steps inside.

Inside the room sits a middle-aged woman, someone I recognize well.

With her splendid purple dress and a beautifully crafted fan covering her face, she exudes elegance.

“Madam, I have brought Edu.”

“Thank you for your hard work, Seri. Hmm?”

Lisesse’s gaze turns toward me.

Her sharp eyes fixate on Simonia.

“Well, there’s an unexpected face. What brings the one leading the 1st Corps here?”

With a flick of her tongue and adjusting her sunglasses, Simonia looks at Lisesse with golden eyes split vertically, but Lisesse remains unfazed.

“Why? Is there a rule against beastmen being here?”

“Not exactly, but you seem quite relaxed compared to other corps commanders.”

An icy chill fills the air.

Despite there being only a conversation happening, a heavy atmosphere wraps around us as if blades were being thrust against our necks.

“Uh….”

“Aww?”

Nisia’s flustered voice and Seol’s tilted head as they observe the two.

Realizing the atmosphere could worsen if left as is, I quickly intervene.

“Hmm?”

“Edu?”

The gazes of both turn toward me.

“Both of you, calm down. There’s no need to blush for no reason.”

Once again, Simonia and Lisesse glare at each other.

After a long moment of staring, they abruptly turn their heads away.

“Tsk.”

“Hmph.”

Still, they refrain from raising their voices further, as if listening to my words.

Seri, having taken a step back, approaches.

“Shall we begin the shoot now?”

“Yes, what should I wear—”

Just as she starts, the curtain behind her is swept aside, revealing a rack of clothes hidden behind it.

“Could it be… huh?”

A sound escapes involuntarily at the unexpected sight.

Numerous garments, from flowy dresses to gothic lolita outfits, plush fur coats, and cozy pajamas, are densely hung.

“….”

Words fail me.

Silently pointing at the clothes, Seri smiles brightly and lifts me up.

“Shall we change right away?”

“Wait, just a moment! I’m not ready! Aah!?”

Holding the screaming Edu, Seri glides past Lisesse and Simonia.

In her hand is a complete outfit that I don’t know when she picked up.

Thud.

The dressing room door closes.

Not long after, the door bursts open, revealing Edu, now dressed.

“Ugh….”

Her delicate, trembling hands clutch at a fluffy animal onesie, enveloping her.

Upon seeing that, both simultaneously raise their voices.

“She looks like a cute princess straight out of a fairy tale; it’s as if she’s wearing a cloud rather than a fur coat.”

Lisesse’s flowery praise is filled with ornate words.

“She looks soft and cute; it suits her well.”

Simonia’s compliment, in contrast, is very straightforward.

“Th-thank you.”

Edu bows her head again.

However, the gaze of both is not on Edu.

“Eek…!”

“Tsk…!”

It feels like sparks are flying in the air as they glare at each other.

A trivial matter of pride, yet neither seems willing to back down.

“Next outfit!”

….

While such happenings unfold inside the boutique, a vehicle enters the parking lot lined with cars.

A van with windows heavily tinted, appearing as if painted with ink.

Though its exterior seems rather dull, the interior is an entirely different story.

Inside, there are mysterious symbols engraved like sharp objects.

Between the traces of madness, odd symbols resembling human eyes are visible.

“Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord—”

A middle-aged man is crying out to a nonexistent god.

“Ehehehe, ahahahaha—”

A woman with a vacant stare drools while emitting a chilling laugh.

– Hss… Hahhh….

The zealot’s eyes burn calmly behind the oddly-shaped gas mask.

Soon, the vehicle comes to a halt, and the bodies of those acting differently freeze in place.

“Now, brethren, let’s get ready.”

At the words of the man in the gas mask, the entire group dons masks.

As the gray mask only has two eye holes, the last vestige of humanity vanishes.

Click, clack.

They attach magazines to old Eastern European firearms and pull back the bolts.

The man in the gas mask speaks once more.

“Brothers, remember, our goal is to sprinkle sacred blood and wake the closed eyes of the lambs.”

He rummages through his clothing, pulling something out to offer to the group.

On the thick gloved hand is a syringe filled with teal liquid.

“Let us not fear moving toward salvation.”

Barely has the man’s words finished when those around him snatch the syringe and plunge it into their bodies.

As the liquid penetrates their bodies, they tremble, and their eyes gleam with pleasure.

“Now, let’s go and punish the foolish beings who stand in the way of salvation.”

Eyes filled with madness.

The car door swings open, and the unidentified assailants rush into the boutique.

….

“Edu, you look wonderfully elegant, effortlessly blending styles from both old and modern times.”

“So sparkly and beautiful!”

“Ahhh….”

The two came close to me, showering me with explanations and praises.

Though I was glad for the compliments, the intense competition between Lisesse and Simonia showed no signs of ending.

“Then onto the next outfit—”

As Seri spoke, picking up another clothing item, a sound indicating an anomaly emerged from outside.

Tatata-dang!

The sound of gunfire echoed loudly.

– Aaaaah!!

– Ru-run away!!

Followed by the screams of people.

“Huh?”

Simonia turned her head towards the source of the noise.

The soldiers nearby quickly readied their weapons.

The soldier who had returned his firearm now carried a folding close combat weapon similar to a six-foot pole, while another reached for the rifle they had stowed in their backpack.

And with a bang, the closed door flew open.

A figure with a hooded outfit and a rough mask stood there.

Ragged breathing reached us, and their eyes shone with madness.

In hand, a vintage Eastern European rifle.

“Shoot.”

Tatadang—

The military rifle belched fire.

The bullets pierced through the body of the assailant, blood bursting forth as they collapsed.

Thud.

The assailant fell to the ground.

“Check on them.”

“Understood.”

A soldier armed with close combat gear stepped forward.

But before he could reach the assailant’s body, something unusual caught my eye.

“Huh?”

Something was shimmering just behind Simonia.

It resembled the kind of distortion representing an invisible enemy in a game.

‘When did that happen!?’

“Sim—”

The moment I opened my mouth, the distortion lunged upward.

It took on the shape of something raised high.

Realizing I was running late, my body moved of its own accord as I jumped towards her.

Thump—

“Eh?”

With a sudden shock, Simonia moved slightly to the side.

At the same time, a strike whizzed through the air, grazing my cheek lightly.

“Ugh!?”

“Edu!”

Nisia’s shout.

At that moment, others finally noticed the strange presence in the room.

“Commander!”

Soldiers raised their voices and turned their gun barrels.

But Simonia was faster.

Bang.

Gunfire resounded, and blood sprayed into the air.

Bang bang.

Another bullet was fired, piercing the strange distortion, causing its height to shrink significantly.

Bang bang bang.

The consecutive shots fired without stopping.

When the sixth bullet pierced the distortion, the hidden figure revealed itself.

“Kihihih—”

A masked woman let out a chilling laugh.

Yet, the moment Simonia recognized the assailant’s form, her face turned ice-cold.

“What are you splitting, bitch.”

The gun was aimed.

Once again, gunfire resounded.

Thud.

The masked woman fell back.

Seeing the assailant incapacitated, Simonia rushed towards me.

“Edu! Are you okay?”

“I-I was just grazed.”

A tingling pain coursed across my cheek.

While the actual injury was shallow, I responded like that to avoid causing unnecessary worry, but Simonia’s expression grew even colder.

She gently brushed my cheek where blood had beaded and stared closely at it.

Turning back to look at me, she smiled, but the atmosphere around her felt dangerous.

“…Yeah, I was just a bit careless. Thanks for saving me, Edu.”

She gently patted my head.

“So, I’ll handle the rest, so could you wait here for a moment?”

After saying that, Simonia reloaded her gun and took a deep breath.

“You stay, and you follow me.”

Pointing to a soldier with a gun first, she motioned to a soldier equipped with close combat gear.

“But Commander, the orders from the General—”

“Shut up and do as I say.”

“….”

The cold reprimand left the soldier speechless.

Then Simonia turned to me and smiled brightly.

“Just wait a moment, Edu. I’ll be back soon.”