I might as well kill it.
I don’t think they’ll help me.
It’s the very embodiment of society’s evil, so what makes me believe they’ll conduct an investigation for my sake?
It would be the same as the director’s position.
Ultimately, reducing criminal organizations directly benefits society, but the problem is me.
Would she accept an intrusion into the investigation team? What would I even do in that noisy situation? Simply put, I’m the bad girl here.
If they refuse outright, then, yeah, it can’t be helped.
I have to kill.
There will definitely be conflicts with the association in my future activities, and then I’ll inevitably run into Erica again. I really dislike interference.
I don’t particularly want to do that.
[Let’s go slowly.]
“Yeah.”
I wrapped my clothes around me and checked myself in the mirror one last time. I twisted my side hair and felt the silky texture as my hand swept over my skin.
So soft. Really,
Disgustingly so.
I turned my body and moved softly and slowly. I got on the elevator, closed my eyes for a moment, and then, once again, arrived at ground level.
“I need to go to the hospital.”
My vision blurred.
It’s been three days since I last visited the association hospital. Erica’s condition was quite serious after facing the golem, but thanks to my emergency treatment that day, she seemed to be recovering when I saw her in the hospital room.
It must be due to her high regenerative ability.
I absentmindedly tightened my coat around my body.
I had prepared diligently today. Now I’ll wrap myself up tightly so that my hat doesn’t come off easily. I plan to hide my presence.
Though my face is now mostly covered, only my eyes are visible, this girl’s body is cute, so it doesn’t matter.
[Since it’s just now afternoon, there aren’t many people.]
Now is the chance.
I trotted across the road and entered the ward. I made eye contact with the staff at the counter, but seeing their lack of reaction, it seemed fine. The slight change in my skin and eye color with magic must have helped.
“Don’t run!”
“I told you not to do that…”
Still, there are people around. I can see a few. No, it seems like quite a lot.
Even though I don’t want to feel it, I do.
The smell of life hits my nose, and the peak of the noise.
“Sigh, ugh…”
Before I knew it, my breathing grew ragged. It’s a pain I always endure.
“Hehe… ha…”
It’s okay. It’s still morning.
A little noise is more than alright.
My overheated breath echoes from my ears to my brain. I clutched my heart and lowered my head urgently.
Let’s think of something else. Right now, I’m looking for Erica.
I heard she was moved to her room after she stabilized since she had been in the emergency room when she was brought in.
It’s on the 3rd floor. Let’s take it slow. Just one step at a time.
Feeling the taste of blood boiling in my mouth, I swallowed several times.
The elevator scared me. I was afraid of running into someone. So I headed for the stairs.
1st floor, 2nd floor, 3rd floor.
It was quiet. And clean. With white walls and a sleek design. Bright lights filled the ceiling.
I wiped away the blood dripping from my mouth with my sleeves and pulled down the zipper of my clothing for a moment to take a breath.
I let out a sigh.
“Got it. Now I just have to find her.”
A long hallway came into view, and individual patient rooms with nameplates were lined up in a row.
Erica… Erica…
Found her.
Will you recognize me? Maybe you’ll know just by my gaze. The director said so.
As I opened the door to her room and stepped in, soon, it filled my vision.
A girl appeared.
“Hello.”
“Who… oh.”
Click, the door closed. I removed my hat.
Her pure white eyes, absorbing all the surrounding light, were directed at me.
Her expression twisted. Magic rippled.
“You…!”
“Looks like you’re feeling better?”
To recognize me so quickly, she must have some special ability, just like the director and everyone else.
I thought she would say something harsh for sure, but there was no sign of that.
She simply glared at me, grinding her teeth.
Well, in a ward filled with patients, it’s obvious how dangerous the situation could become if she acted out.
“Don’t worry. I didn’t come here with any ulterior motives. You have promised to kill me, so I was just worried about your recovery.”
I raised both hands slightly, palms facing up to signal I had no intent to attack.
“The golem must have hurt you a lot. It was quite a tough opponent, after all. It’s a Gate Demon, after all.”
Before I could mention the story, I wanted to speak.
“But thanks to you, the citizens weren’t hurt…”
“Shut up.”
Magic rippled. The inside of the hospital room was suddenly surrounded by a gridded barrier.
High-rank build, it comes with a huge risk, but at the same time, it suppresses the lingering magic energy from leaking out.
“Because of you, people are in danger, and the city has been destroyed…”
Her voice was filled with frustration. The seal embedded in her palm flickered.
“Don’t think that you can hold on to that life.”
“Are you angry?”
Yes, yes.
“Well, I have to admit, it was indeed a wicked thing to do. It’s going to take some time to restore the city.”
“…..Hah.”
She bit her lip. That must hurt.
“Did you hear from the director?”
“….That psycho bitch, after doing such a thing, does she intend to negotiate with the association’s investigation team? After leading the association hunters to their doom, now asking you to help?”
“Yeah.”
“You’ll die before that.”
And with that, her eyes held no sign of hesitation or anxiety.
“I will definitely crush you. I want to see you squirm in pain as I squeeze your neck and tear out your heart.”
Death, death.
If it were that easy,
If fate could change so simply,
I wouldn’t be here watching you.
“Really?”
“Rest assured that this is a hospital. If it weren’t, I would have already incapacitated you.”
I smirked slightly and turned to the door.
Negotiations are over. She already declared that she’d never cooperate before I even spoke.
So the only option left is to kill.
Thinking that, just as I was about to put my hand on the doorknob, I hesitated.
“…..Like this.”
I heard a low voice.
“If you leave here like this, will you swing your knife at people again tonight, in front of them?”
That’s right, it’s my destiny.
I have always believed that.
“Of course.”
I twisted my lips forcefully into a smile. Then I tilted my head back to look at her.
My mouth stretched widely.
Crack.
Teeth grinding, Erica trembled and clenched her fists.
“Why, do you want to stop me?”
She only glared but didn’t give any answer.
Of course, for nearly three weeks, even when I caused incidents, she never once tried to catch me.
My high-level spatial transfer build, infused with my blood, was that much of a thing. It was impossible to track.
So, I used that to open my mouth.
Suddenly, a good idea popped into my head.
“Shall we make a bet?”
“…..What?”
I straightened my posture, twirled my side hair slightly, and pulled out a knife from my pocket.
“If you can block my lovely blade and kill me by this evening, that’s your victory.”
I stopped waving the knife, then drew it vertically in the air.
“If you lose to my blade in your battle, then that’s my victory.”
The crack in the air formed a cross.
“The price for your victory is my death, and the price for my victory is your investigation team’s cooperation.”
Erica’s eyebrows twitched noticeably. The magic around her flickered too.
“What do you think?”
“…..I accept.”
Good.
Being a hostage feels comforting.
That I can engage in such a fun bet with someone who’s filled with something.
And being able to have a peaceful conversation like this is all because every patient in this ward is a hostage.
Hiding my smile, I revealed a small, mini magic circle in the air.
It seemed hastily formed by magic, and it glowed lavender, spreading energy throughout the mini city.
“With this, you should be able to track me easily.”
“…..”
See you again next time.
I placed my hand on the doorknob and applied pressure. I shattered the barrier that had been constricting me and took a light step forward.
I would be discharged today, so it would be a fair fight.
Exiting the hospital, I pulled my hat down over my head once again. My mouth was blocked again, leaving only my eyes showing.
As I threw off the magical shell that surrounded my face and skin, they quickly returned to their original colors.
For a moment, I stumbled, feeling as though my swaying vision was making me look like a waddling penguin.
Anyway, at that point, crossing the road while being mindful of others’ gazes during the afternoon,
I saw the café where I had caused a ruckus last time across the street.
No, that’s not right. To be exact, it’s a chain.
That café was around the Gate.
Today will be fine. Yeah, going in shouldn’t be a problem. How would they know with just my eyes peeking out?
“Welcome~”
Since earlier, I had been craving chocolate cake with Americano since I was at the association.
These days, cafés have such good service that they usually sell cake slices without issue.
The cute little sign visible in my line of sight was an equally adorable menu.
“Chocolate… cake and… iced Americano…”
[Don’t you have one for me?]
“I’ll share.”
Anyway, you’re such a gluttonous spirit.
I dozed off for a moment.
I was more tired than I expected.
Enduring countless gazes while going in and out of the association, controlling myself amid the commotion was an extremely energy-consuming action.
I had to endure, right?
But now I don’t have to do that.
Even if I wield a knife, the justice-loving Erica, who never forgives evil acts, will come to find me and stop me.
In the darkening evening, I carefully left the café and turned into an alley.
I condensed my blood and formed a red sickle.
This hostage is quite lucky.
No matter how much they cut me, they won’t die.
Before that, I believe you will come looking for me.
I kicked off the ground and ran down the alley.
