Chapter 173

Grrrch…

“Oh… hey…”

I sent a message to Kajun, who might be hanging there waiting for punishment, that I had retrieved the ledger and contract, so he could relax. I reached into the bags one by one, pulling them out.

The gel-like warming solvent filled to the brim in the bottom container stretched out as I tugged at it, and at some point, it spat out the items it had been holding and returned to its original position.

That sight… no matter how you look at it, it seems more like the mucus of an alien creature than the pinnacle of human technology. Sometimes, I worry that part of this future-oriented town has lost its aesthetic sense, too entranced by the singular value of efficiency.

What kind of product is this anyway? Gelly Life…?

Ah, it’s that cleaning product company I relied on every day. No wonder it felt familiar.

I’ve recently developed a hobby of checking the logos and names of companies on new items whenever I see them.

Unlike a game where consumables continuously come in related to battle and recovery through a looting concept, it’s amusing that in reality, where I mostly shop for everyday goods or groceries, there are many unfamiliar companies.

Most of them end up being subsidiaries of Paradise, though, and occasionally receiving strange looks in the supermarket for being so peculiar …

“Ahem!”

Anyway, with a swift motion!

I borrowed something like packaging string from the kitchen drawer and tied the bags together to make them easier to carry.

Are you sure I don’t need to check the contents?

Sometimes ignorance is bliss. While I may be an accomplice in completing this operation, it’s a bit burdensome to know all the trivial details.

I’ve confirmed several times that my reflexes and acting skills have improved with this new body, and I’ve been quite benefiting from it. Still, I think my reactions change when faced with unavoidable situations or questions.

… I suppose having made some unexplainable mistakes in exchange for knowing too much has made me extra cautious?

After confirming that the bundle was securely tied with a light shake, I carelessly reached to close the open refrigerator door, but… I spotted an item among the filled snacks in the top compartment that caught my eye, and I hesitated.

“…”

Isn’t that that beautifully wrapped chocolate? It was designed like an Easter egg, practically begging for my selection.

In truth, I’m not even sure if what’s inside is chocolate. I only judged it based on a vague memory that there are high-end products like that among homemade desserts.

Hmm… would it be too cruel to take some snacks as a sort of winner’s privilege here?

But, well, maybe it’s not my place to make that final call. After all, it’s certain that Kasane won’t have the luxury to enjoy things like this in the future, so isn’t it better for someone who can to enjoy it?

… Clink!

Crumble, crumble.

In the end, the precious item I was trying to carry safely got wedged under my arm.

I pocketed one… no, two pieces… as I peeled off the shell of the dessert in my hand and walked lightly to the door.

These days, I’ve been somewhat forcefully having three meals a day with Show and eating quite well, but considering that it will all end once I escape… I felt I had chosen a luxury item that wouldn’t be too bad for a final impression.

Look at this.

As I removed the dense veil, only the essence of dessert—the chocolate that, in my view, deserves to be called the classic dessert—was released in a rich aroma that tickled my nose.

As I took a bite, the concentrated cocoa and… sugar and… milk and… cream… cream? Is the filling packed full of cream mousse? Has a person who overcame diabetes now completely disregarded blood sugar and enjoys this? I, who has one more use for caloric intake than the others, will have to be more careful.

Muttering such nonsensical thoughts, and relishing the happiness spreading in my mouth, I stepped outside.

“Gruk… Keup…! How did the mission go smoothly?”

“Pft—!?”

I crashed directly into Masanari, who was leaning against the door with trembling forearms.

Holy—! Forgetting to swallow the chocolate almost sent it down the wrong pipe instead of my esophagus, and I thought my heart stopped dead. No joke, I really did.

The sweet aroma that lingered in my nasal cavity was again overlaid with the thick smell of blood.

Since no one came looking for me in the room, that chaos must still be there… Of course.

However, while I secretly hoped that he wouldn’t die, given that he’s a huge obstruction and surveillance I must eventually separate from, it’s quite troublesome that he is in such a lively state!

I subtly glanced down and checked the neatly organized delivery package, like a Christmas present.

I had only been planning to hand this over to the troops we were meeting and leave.

Now that he’s come following me so closely, what should I do?

I don’t know how much help the hemostatic agent has been in recovery, but I can’t finish off a person I barely saved with my hands…

“Cough… If you are ready. You can move at any time. I will… follow immediately…”

“…Wait, can you walk now?”

He’s somehow standing on two legs. But upon closer inspection, Masanari’s condition is dire.

I thought the holes in his body would be completely healed by the tremendous regenerative ability of modified humans, but the skin is just barely covering the surface, and the dark insides are visible enough to be worrying.

Occasionally, he seems to have difficulty breathing, as if clotting blood is boiling; it was almost pitiful.

“Don’t worry… It’s unnecessary! I have been commanded to provide complete protection for Lady Anastasia. Failure of the mission is equivalent to death; this is the very moment to show my true worth…”

‘No, is that the extent of it…?’

Seeing his determination to never fall again after regaining that much vitality, I looked at him with mixed feelings.

Should I just shoot him a few times in the leg to make it less painful and run away? That way, he wouldn’t be able to chase after me…

No, think… think carefully.

The pursuer Masanari Gamma is now treating me not just as an escort but as a superior to protect.

With such favorable conditions, I could sufficiently separate him from me and definitely find a way to ensure this package is delivered securely.

………Ah-ha.

“…?”

With a light toss, I offered him the cold package in my hand.

As I handed him the bag, still containing its chill, he stared at me with his eyes wide open, as if questioning what this meant.

“Um…! I will stay here and wait, so you can take that slowly to either my secretary Kajun, or, if that’s not feasible, directly to the executive director.”

“……”

“…Hello?”

I called again, wondering if he hadn’t heard me properly, but there was silence.

Damn helmet covering his face prevented me from seeing Masanari’s expression.

Ugh, was the idea of sending him on an errand a bit childish? I thought it would surely work; if this doesn’t go through, my situation and the atmosphere will become quite uncomfortable.

Is he really not going to move? Or… should I maybe change my approach suitably?

“…It’s an order.”

“Order to deliver received. Given the intensity of the suppression operation currently underway, I will return as soon as possible, so please wait here as directed…!”

…Wha? Was that really all that was needed?

He bowed his head as if there was nothing else he could do and staggered away.

Given the hesitance in his manner, it seems a clear command was necessary to override that stubborn logic circuit. Guess it’s a good thing I hit the nail on the head. Phew…

Stay calm. Make sure not to mess up at the last minute.

After about a minute? I waited until it was abundantly clear, then picked the direction opposite to where Masanari had gone at the corridor fork.

This way, there would be zero chance of running into him.

An impeccable, virtually fantastic escape route opened up beautifully.

“Aaaah…!! I’ve been caged for too long… I was originally supposed to be roaming around.”

What a waste of a few months tangled up with Enema for no reason.

Stretching out and contemplating my next moves, I came to the spontaneous conclusion that rewarding myself, after all the mental turmoil I’d been through, with at least a week of leisurely rest was the right choice, and I slipped my hands into my pockets.

Fiddling with the fake egg rattling around inside… I recalled how I had dropped the first one before I had finished eating and began peeling another shell.

“Hrum, ♬~… ♪”

At this point, my previously tense body had loosened considerably.

The nerves that had been standing on edge in all directions had dropped to just maintaining a natural movement, and my stress-free mind floated in a sense of lightness somewhere.

My hands were busy securing the snack while my mind focused on determining an assembly point.

When I saw the woman in uniform appearing at the end of the corridor along with the gun she held, the decision to throw the dessert I was holding was a choice based on survival instinct and reflexes.

**Thud!!**

Crisp…

“Chew!?”

The dense blast sound detonated almost simultaneously as the chocolate shattered.

And before I even realized there was a double sound escaping my mouth, my body rolled ahead and successfully evacuated through the corridor I had just exited.

Creak!!

The wooden floor, where I had just planted my feet, splintered as another shot confirmed it was fired again.

Good. Okay…! A shooter with overwhelming skill!! Absolutely confirmed!!!

If I hadn’t made him change his target trajectory, I would have been a hundred percent dead.

He’s a skilled shooter, capable of detonating a projectile right before it reaches him, not to mention firing right after the hand leaves the weapon.

Thanks to that, fragmented pieces of dessert splattered on my head and face, but I didn’t have time to feel any discomfort about that.

From the glance of his clothing, raised eyebrows, and overall figure, the enemy seems to be one of the two heylong soldiers I had briefly seen at the party.

The name… I think I heard Kajun say something, but does knowing that change anything?

I certainly can’t think he would withdraw and introduce himself simply because we exchanged names.

Moreover, he’s a soldier from Heylong who just ruined a deal.

Given the reason to be really angry, apart from the fact that I had nearly died, I didn’t feel particularly angry. I was just annoyed that I had to deal with this random outburst of rage.

Thud!!

“Ah, that’s just…!”

Again, the panel cracked.

Damn, this is not the time for this. If it comes to close-quarters combat, I’ll be out of luck; it’s basically game over.

Whether it’s shooting skills or physical capability, it’s clearly obvious that there’s a significant difference.

A soldier belonging to Heylong is fundamentally superior to riot police, at least to the extent that they’re considered a level of enemy that would only appear in the late stages. Early on, they would be treated as named characters with a separate stamina bar.

Given his appearance, he must have at least one implant in the visual or nervous system, and even if he didn’t undergo endurance-related procedures, I’d likely be overpowered simply due to reach…

So don’t. Absolutely don’t miscalculate and get caught.

**Thud!!**

…Of course, don’t get hit by a bullet either! Damn!

With the single-minded thought of securing an escape route, I fumbled back through the path I had come.

Knowing that my only destination was the president’s office, I still couldn’t turn my back toward a sharpshooter and dart down the corridor Masanari had gone.

That would be a decision akin to suicide, not a bold and courageous conclusion.

**Thud!!**

“!!”

Unable to afford the risk of exposing my body, I merely fired the muzzle of my peacekeeper, shooting sporadically.

The woman, thinking I had no long-range means to retaliate, pulled back immediately, looking for cover.

Good. At least I bought myself five seconds.

Moreover, if she’s seriously on guard, it works to my advantage. If she thinks I have pathetic skills and pushes in, I’ll be thrilled about it.

Unless she possesses explosive acceleration like Masanari, I can hit the incoming enemy with patience while forming a firing line.

Well, you ask if I know that, and why I’m waiting so recklessly?

If she were someone who could dodge bullets, she would have been caught a long time ago. So this is a pretty significant act of desperation before getting cornered into a dead end.

Ah, while I was thinking, how much time has passed? Let’s run right now. One… Two… Three!

**Whoosh…!**

“Hu, huf, hu……!!”

Regulating my breathing, I slid right into the president’s office.

Without a moment to rest from the fact that I hadn’t been shot, I crouched down with one knee on the ground and the other leg acting as a brace for shooting posture.

With sweat pouring into my eyes, I scolded my eyelids, which were demanding a break while I focused my nerves on assessing the situation.

…Alright, let’s stay alert. Just enough to get my reflexes sharp.

I need to hit right here. It’s entirely up to my finger.

There’s no need to aim for a fatal wound.

Since it seems there’s no other comrades around, I can stop this as it is or at least incapacitate part of their limbs to cease this reckless hostile action, allowing for a victory without being cornered.

“……”

“……..”

I can’t breathe.

Is she perhaps using urban warfare equipment around the corner? She’s making it difficult to catch sight of her. Truly, she must be from a military corporation. Is there really no chance she is rational enough to realize she’s at a disadvantage and retreat?

However, while my mind has the capacity to mockingly poke fun, the physical endurance isn’t my strong suit and keeps bringing fatigue to my body.

My shoulders are aching, my neck is complaining of a fracture, and my fingers are whining to get on with it.

The overly distressed eyes are receiving a random notion warning that remarkable sweat is approaching with a different viscosity and density…?

‘Ah. Damn it.’

………Damn it, the chocolate I got on me is melting and dripping; that’s just unfair.

**Taang!!**