It went more smoothly than expected.
Well, since I had shown my face at the Association, it was only natural.
When I arrived at the Association office with light footsteps, I saw the staff, or should I say employees? They seemed startled for a moment when they saw me, but then tried to ignore me as they focused on their monitors, which was quite the spectacle.
“What are you doing?”
“Eek!”
It was a test. I approached the person next to me, who had just made eye contact, to see their reaction.
I wasn’t sure if they were surprised by my sudden voice or by my presence, but it didn’t really matter.
From the glances I was receiving from within the office, I could roughly deduce what kind of instructions had been given.
Since a week ago, I’ve been increasingly cooperative with the Association and appearing friendly towards Rankers and Hunters. So, they probably were advised to ignore me as much as possible.
That was a good thing for me. I could get closer to Erica.
“Wow, what’s this? It looks so difficult…”
“Please don’t bother our staff and come over here.”
At the sound that reached my ears, I turned my head in response.
“Hello.”
“……”
“Are you perhaps jealous?”
“Shut that mouth.”
The atmosphere was cold, but it was good in its own way.
It was a bright uniform rather than the clothes I usually wore. A neat and tidy white uniform. It wasn’t too tight, but it wasn’t loose either, perfectly optimized for fieldwork.
And it matched well with her golden short hair and her beautiful, pale pupils.
It was a really nice combination.
As I quietly observed Erica for a moment, I felt her intense gaze on me in real-time.
Having stared at a woman’s body, shouldn’t I provide at least a comment on it?
“You’re pretty.”
I smiled slightly. The only thing I received in return was a sigh.
Along with that, Erica presented me with the restraining suit I had seen yesterday. Dark gray and appearing a bit larger than my size. I couldn’t help but wonder if I would look like a waddling penguin wearing it like the coat I typically wore when going out.
The restraining belts that were occasionally visible looked a bit tight.
“You decided to wear it, right?”
She was assertive. This might be her stance for today.
“Are you really telling me to wear this?”
“Yes.”
The restraining suit shook. It looked heavy.
“I don’t know how to wear this kind of clothes.”
“I’ll help you wear it.”
“You have a preference for putting on restraining suits?”
There was no answer. I stepped obediently towards Erica, and our eyes met.
“Ugh!”
As if to not allow even that moment, the stiff texture was felt from my head, and the solid outfit began covering my body, blocking my vision in an instant.
Squeeze.
“Phew.”
I almost had a hard time breathing.
“You messed up my hair.”
As I lifted my arms to tidy my hair, it was a bit difficult, perhaps due to the weight of the outfit.
And in my view were various gazes. Erica remained as she was, but most of the employees sent looks filled with surprise and a bit of anxiety.
What I could do, being restrained, was to simply smile and speak as usual.
“Don’t worry, everyone. I’m safe today. I won’t go rampaging.”
If that were the case, I wouldn’t have even worn this restraining suit.
As I said that, I took a step forward. It wasn’t problematic to move, but it was a bit uncomfortable. My arms didn’t move very well.
Fortunately, since only the upper body was being covered, my legs were fine.
“Let’s go.”
“Wait a minute.”
But I couldn’t just let this opportunity slip away.
“It’s too heavy.”
Our gazes crossed for a moment. Erica looked at me calmly.
“And so?”
“Can you hold my hand? I can’t move well, and I’d like someone to guide me.”
Although I was really, really slightly expecting it, it didn’t go anywhere.
I hadn’t expected her to just leave me behind and exit the office first.
[ Hurry along. ]
“I was thinking of doing that anyway.”
All I could do was chase after her retreating figure.
It was a vehicle.
If I were to categorize it, it was a large van. Black and luxurious.
I disliked the crumpled texture of the restraining suit against the seat, but aside from that, the chair was comfortable. I could almost close my eyes and drift off.
“It was a hard place to track. They seem to be aware they’re being targeted, as they periodically moved their hideouts.”
“You must have had a hard time.”
“Thanks to you, Erica. The latest model should have been spread out a long time ago.”
The woman in a black suit said this, and our eyes met. Then she hurriedly averted her gaze.
“Thank you for your hard work…?”
“Oh, yes….”
Her reluctant response to my words felt a bit pitiful.
She was probably a waiting agent who would come to pick us up after the operation. She was in for a tough time for sure.
The vehicle jolted once, then stopped, and the side door opened.
“Have we arrived?”
“Let’s get out.”
Outside, the sunlight blazed down. It was just entering the afternoon. What I saw were the vehicles parked on the road outside and us getting out.
In the distance, a dilapidated building caught my eye.
After briefly greeting the agent, I turned my body, following Erica as I started to waddle along.
Peeking over the device she was holding, I saw a screen that appeared to be a detailed map. A few blinking signals and some red signs scattered throughout caught my attention.
I wondered if we would be going based on that. It seemed like there were quite a few of those rare detectors set up.
There were no particular words exchanged. The surroundings were quiet, and I silently watched Erica’s back as she walked along the shaded roadside. It felt as if she was deliberately walking slowly to accommodate me.
“Is there a plan?”
“We’ll kill all of them immediately upon sight.”
A full-on assault, huh? That’s not a bad approach.
“I’m worried it might end too boringly.”
“True.”
Her answer was devoid of life. She didn’t seem to be particularly worried.
Regardless, I felt a flicker of excitement. As a swordsman, I hadn’t cared much about my weapons or stats before, but after encountering Erica, I started to wonder how that sword would attack me.
Therefore, I couldn’t help but pay attention to the battle that was about to unfold before my eyes.
In short, against the group of Awakened Ones crowding with a large number of personnel, including their high-rank stats,
“A wide-area build using saturated stats.”
“…What?”
With a single long strike slicing through the air, all the enemies were cut down.
Or,
“Close-quarters combat involving individual battles.”
“….”
Of course, in this scenario, it would be Erica alone. So, it made me curious if she would choose to dodge and defend against all attacks directed at her, then deliver a thrust in close combat.
I was very curious.
“What do you prefer?”
Without stopping her walk, she cast a glance back at me and frowned.
“I don’t want to reveal my weaknesses unnecessarily.”
Of course, as she said, breaking it down further leads to a discussion of strengths and weaknesses.
Simply put, if their magic power is sufficient, they would choose the former; if agility and strength are superior, then they would select the latter.
“I know both your weaknesses and strengths.”
“….”
“If we keep spending time together like this, I might learn all your secrets.”
“…We’ll soon arrive.”
I kept smiling as I continued the conversation, but it seemed Erica decided not to show me her face again.
From a distance, I hadn’t noticed much, but up close, I saw it was a bright building.
It looked like it was at least three stories tall, giving off a vibe more like an old, unused church than a dilapidated building.
There were many windows, most of which were broken, but the fact that more light poured inside created a feel where entering didn’t seem repulsive at all.
Though, we couldn’t do that.
“Three detectors and two Awakened Ones.”
What was visible to us, hidden within the small jungle formed by the massive trees, were three drone-like devices roaming the air and two Hunters loitering at the entrance, guns in hand.
Erica rummaged through her pocket and pulled out a small spherical device, gripping it tightly.
“Follow me.”
As the device was thrown into the air, with a puff, it activated, sending shockwaves across, and the hovering drones powered down and crashed to the ground.
Immediately afterward, Erica launched herself and revealed herself behind one of the Hunters.
“Ugh!”
The man, pierced through the heart by her sword, let out a dying cry as he collapsed, while the other man shouted in panic, frantically pointing his gun in the direction she had vanished.
“What, what the hell!”
As I stepped lightly into the blaring sunlight, with the restraining suit, it only took a few seconds for the face of the man in front of me to turn from confidence to confusion.
“Hello.”
What a pitiful man. Just taking on this role here means he wouldn’t even have the chance to speak.
If only he could say a lot right now.
“F-Fuck!! That bastard…!”
Puhk.
The long steel pierced through the man’s body, drawing out a red liquid before disappearing back into the air.
He crumpled to the ground, helpless under the weight of Erica, who was pressing him down with her foot.
“That’s brutal.”
“As if you’re not the same….”
With a glance directed at me, Erica wielded her sword and turned her back to me.
I wadded along after her, exhaling.
The restraining suit was stifling.
