Curiosity often comes unexpectedly.
“What are they doing? And where is this place?”
“It’s a café.”
Seran pointed with a glance to the people causing a commotion, making the café a mess without even looking back.
“It’s noisy.”
“Exactly.”
“Why are they acting like that?”
“Because Seran is here?”
Seran scratched his head while trying to grab the milk tea. The Americano next to him sparkled.
“Am I the only one who likes it?”
“Is it my fault?”
“In a way, yes. I always come wearing a hat and hiding my face when I come here. Right now, I’m not wearing one because everyone is drawn to your outfit.”
“You wear one every time?”
“Yeah, pretty much.”
Seran turned his head toward me, and our eyes met. The light in the golden pupils seemed to dim, possibly out of consideration.
“Why?”
You have a lot of questions.
It has been a year since the Spirit World assassination order, after all. It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other.
I was just glad we weren’t clinging to each other in hysteria.
It was comfortable. Neither of us saying much.
“Why, you ask? Because I dislike chaos. And I find that kind of gaze hard to endure, too. It’s a bit odd for someone like me to say, but still.”
The gaze he mentioned belonged to those far off, not to me. From the people urgently opening the side door and fleeing with screams, all I could see was the cold air and crimson emotions.
Seran seemed to want to say more but fell silent again.
The milk tea flowed into his mouth. His mouth resembled a dark, hollow passage. All I could see beneath the dark robe were two eyes.
“Aren’t you, well, bothered by this?”
“It feels a bit suffocating to have to cover up after turning into a woman. It’s restrictive, and I can’t breathe well.”
“Huh.”
I took a sip of the Americano while biting on a straw. It still tasted bitter. I’m glad the staff isn’t running away; I should be grateful for them preparing it somehow.
As most of the people who filled the café exited, tranquility returned. That was nice.
I noticed the robe quivering. Still, being a spirit made the emotions feel even more intense.
Anger? Sadness? Pity?
“Still, treating Lord Orly like this…”
Before Seran could finish his sentence, the door right next to us burst open and a man rushed in. His armor and magic power were quite rare. Could he be a High-Rank Layer Awakened One?
He likely wasn’t part of the association. They were currently in the middle of a negotiation, or something like it.
The higher-ups must have received word too.
So this man was probably, well, this type.
“Kill! I’m going to kill this girl right now!”
The man shouted as he swung a hammer with bloodshot eyes. A massive hand crushed his arm and bent it backward.
The robe shook and produced a strange sound.
Was it a spell? A Spirit King, yet a black sorcerer, how amusing.
“Ugh! Argh! Ough…! Hah!”
Seran lifted a spear tipped with a spike.
“Please don’t kill him, Seran.”
The gleaming eyes suddenly turned my way and swayed. Without another word, I took a sip of the Americano while Seran released a hollow laugh and threw the man to the ground.
“…Do you often face such situations?”
It seemed so. Whether it was due to an inability to adapt to the changed environment or an excessive sense of superiority from their magic power, there were quite a few who harbored baseless notions of justice.
Well, I understood their feelings. From their perspective, they likely wanted to kill me and achieve something—honor, wealth, or perhaps a story akin to a cartoon where they defeated the villain!
But reality wasn’t that lenient.
Neither for that man desperately clutching his abdomen and rushing out, nor for me.
I wondered if it would have been better if I had stayed still, allowing me to die and them to revel in their joy.
Suddenly,
I had that thought.
I smiled softly and dropped a sugar cube into my Americano. Plop, the white piece fell and sank, unable to resurface.
The bitter taste stimulated my mouth before the sweet flavor swept over my tongue. This is getting a bit better.
“Indeed, this place isn’t suitable for living. Even though Lord Orly once saved it, it seems the human world is still the human world.”
Well, could that really be considered a rescue? Killing one or two of the spirit underlings that came from the void, turning them into blood, but still, what did that have to do with saving the human world?
Even if I had saved it, in the end, the fact that people dislike me is an unavoidable and ongoing phenomenon.
“…Based on your silence, I can see what you must be thinking. I understand.”
His rough voice tickled my ears, and Seran stood up.
“Don’t worry. Once I finish handling the leftover effects from capturing the new crown, I’ll immediately start on a new project for the human world, and for Lord Orly.”
He said this and vanished suddenly.
“Goodbye.”
He didn’t even acknowledge my goodbye.
As I stepped outside, a cool wind met me.
The street, filled with streetlights, began to flicker on one by one. The sky turned into complete darkness as night fell past evening.
In the distance, I saw the Association Building standing firm.
Today’s treatment will be late.
It’s due to Seran’s sudden intrusion.
It’s not my fault.
I wonder if he’s angry because he feels abandoned?
That might not be a bad thing, either.
[ That doesn’t seem likely.]
“I can at least dream.”
Well, there’s no particular problem.
I just need to finish the stitches today, and if I confirm they’re sealed tomorrow, that’s it.
Ah, then legally, even touching Erica’s arm will be impossible.
Actually, during the treatment process, there’s no need to touch her arm.
The magic circle handles everything, and my role is just to infuse power.
Thinking of something meaningless, I entered the Association Building and took the elevator.
Unknowingly, I pressed the button for the top floor and waited, then suddenly realized I didn’t even know where Erica’s department was.
“…What do I do?”
Upon arriving at the top floor, I blinked and got off. Following my instincts, I entered the office where the director would be and—
We locked eyes.
“…Hello.”
“….”
Erica, exiting the office, frowned as she was clutching her arm.
“Are you in pain, perhaps?”
“…Yes.”
If I take too long, will there be some sort of stimulating sensation?
“I’m sorry. I’ll help you quickly.”
It seems I always initiate the greetings, so without further words, I headed toward the side break room.
The calm atmosphere began the treatment.
A ring formed, following a process that was definitely thicker and more stable than last time.
“You’ll be fine by tomorrow. All you need to do then is write down the spell. Today will be the last of the proper treatment, and there shouldn’t be any aftereffects.”
Erica nodded with a calm expression.
To be honest, I was a bit curious. What is she thinking? I’ve cut her, and I’m treating her. It’s two days after the spell entry day and I’ve been visiting the Association consistently.
In contrast to my thoughts, what Erica brought up was a different subject.
“…The location of the group has been pinpointed. Most minor locations have been entrusted to low-rank hunters, so I… should go to those classified as dangerous.”
Erica pulled out various reports she was holding and placed them on the desk. They contained pictures and locations of the group along with descriptions.
“So they decided to deploy me, huh?”
“…Consider it a good thing.”
“Then, it’s very fortunate. I’m happy to contribute to your team.”
Her gaze was sharp, glaring.
I felt an urge to inflict discomfort by stimulating the treated arm.
I held back.
“The timeframe is tomorrow. The team consists of just the two of us.”
“Just you and me? How thrilling.”
“I haven’t confirmed the exact number of staff yet, but it’s estimated to be three Tier 3 Awakened Ones and several High-Rank Awakened Ones.”
The treatment was already over. However, it seemed Erica was unaware of this. As she pointed at the reports with her finger, she recited them as if they were crucial pieces of information while offering her arm to me.
Her delicately carved, snow-white pupils alternated between me and the reports. Golden hair flowed down her cheek.
“…Are you listening?”
Unintentionally, I was staring blankly and then quickly nodded.
Was it strange that Erica continued to explain calmly in front of me, or was it wrong that I wasn’t focusing on her detailed explanation?
Perhaps it was to be expected. After all, Erica is a member of the Association, and this might be just part of her job.
“After the preliminary on-site inspection, we will begin extermination. Just follow me quietly.”
I nodded quietly. To be honest, I felt a bit relieved.
After all, I’m still a wanted Awakened One, and I thought I could restrict actions or carry a few more risks.
As I let out a small sigh, what Erica uttered next felt like it mocked my previous thoughts.
“Oh, and don’t even think about doing anything strange on the day of the operation.”
“…Huh?”
Without the slightest hesitation at my bewildered response, Erica pointed to an outfit visible through the office’s glass window, beyond the break room.
…It looks like a restraining suit?
“It’s custom-made by the Magic Bureau. A restraining suit used to transport rankers that have been wanted from high-rank Awakened Ones. Magic control, strength reduction, etc. I think you know.”
Her face was not smiling. It was a calm face that seemed to say this is what you ought to be treated as, as she organized the reports without even glancing at me.
“You’ll be wearing that, and on the day, just hide in a corner on the scene. I can handle the extermination alone.”
After a few seconds of silence, our eyes met. It seemed to have lost a bit of color.
Did the director remember what I said last week during the negotiation that I needed blood?
This might mean that if I refuse this, I won’t cooperate at all.
Well, maybe that’s the case. Somehow, things were going too smoothly. That restraining suit seems reliable enough. After all, it’s supposed to block the source of my magic power.
It’s possible that Erica might have some ulterior motive behind using that suit against me.
Was this Erica’s unilateral decision, or an order from above?
Well, it’s not a particular problem. In fact, it’s an even better opportunity for my plans. The moment you rely on something, the situation tends to turn upside down.
“Are you going to put it on for me?”
“….”
“Then I’ll gladly wear it.”
I wondered what expression she would show tomorrow and how she would satisfy me.
I smiled softly at her glare.
