I lifted the paper cup. It tasted like green tea.
“Coffee.”
Where’s the coffee?
“Coffee.”
“…What do you want me to do about it?”
“Give me coffee.”
Erica, sitting next to me, looked at me as if in disbelief.
A moment of silence passed.
“Not available.”
“Why?”
“The coffee machine is broken.”
I lifted my upper body and glanced at the machine fixed to the office wall.
It was functioning well.
“It’s not broken!”
“The machine doesn’t want to give you any. That’s the problem.”
Erica blinked.
“Thinking about it again, it’s not broken. It’s just fitting punishment for someone who monopolizes the coffee machine more than 20 times a day.”
“What can I do? Coffee is that delicious…”
Erica fluttered her report. The wind stirred.
“I’ve seen you growl and push others away every time they stand in front of the coffee machine, you know?”
“Yikes!”
I’ve been caught.
“But I’m glad. It means you’ve been keeping an eye on me.”
“You’re ridiculous. Seriously.”
I’m suited for mischief.
I’m trying to be, anyway. Maybe it’s because I’m in the same office as Erica that I’m doing it more.
“Ah!”
Suddenly, I felt a cold sensation on my cheek.
“Here, have this.”
The green liquid in the bottle swayed.
“This is green tea too!”
“Don’t you like it?”
Erica turned her face away and took the bottle.
“Oh, no. If it’s from you, I can drink hundreds of bottles.”
“Are you actually aware of how that sounds?”
I hurriedly snatched the bottle. With a sigh, I unfolded the report.
“Do you have time for dinner tonight?”
“A date invitation?”
“No.”
What a pity.
“Due to the aftermath of the invasion of the Spirit World, there are many areas from Namyangju to Uijeongbu that have become corporalized.”
“Yikes.”
“According to reports, there’s a massive overflow of souls in this situation…”
Erica lifted a report. Charts and indicators obscured her view.
“They say it’s a perfect time for necromancers to run rampant.”
It’s a good opportunity for them too. Necromancers, usually shy to show up due to their weak stats, now have a chance to boost their stats connected to necromancy.
It’s not just about uncollected corpses. It’s a perfect time to reanimate spirits as well.
“What do we do?”
“So, as our association, we plan to visit the Hunter Society.”
Erica set down the report. A faint sigh was visible.
Another day of work. Although I hide it well, I need a break nonetheless.
I pondered for a moment.
It might be a bit tougher ahead, but it can’t be helped. I can give myself some leeway afterwards.
“What will you do there?”
“The basics are sharing information and collective proposals.”
Erica handed me her notebook. Several lines of numbers and sentences were written.
“And the association’s support plan.”
Erica nodded.
She twisted her hair. It’s literally a collective. A group that doesn’t shy away from death. Not using the association’s power to suppress this necromancer would expose them to high risks.
The usual weak stats are a disadvantage for necromancers. However, after experiencing an unprecedented invasion like this one, when an area gets infused with souls, it’s obvious their potential will burst forth.
The reason for the collective’s mobilization is the same. The association, struggling with a current manpower shortage, cannot handle a newly cooperating group of necromancers. Especially after dealing with the repeated gates and this Spirit World invasion.
Thus, the association’s support plan for the collective is imperative. Externally it may not seem so, but ultimately, the association needs to reveal its goodwill towards them.
I pondered for a moment.
Would Erica praise me if I just walked in and wiped out the entire group?
With necromancers surely not resisting in this situation, it would be a fun hunt.
“I’ll visit in two rounds.”
Her white pupils met mine. I smirked and nodded.
In any case, what I need most is a terrorist plan. The site has just been decided.
The collective’s building.
Imagining a situation where I hold hunters hostage and talk to Erica sends a thrill through me.
It’s been a long time since I’ve heard phrases of curses and insults; it’s a good opportunity.
“…You’re surprisingly obedient today.”
“If you say it like that, it makes me sound like a disobedient child on a normal day.”
“Isn’t that true?”
“No, it’s not!”
My cheek was pinched. It didn’t really hurt.
Erica went into the conference room, and I stood up from my seat. As I moved to the upper floor, hazy smoke was filling the air.
“The director is smoking in a non-smoking building!”
“It’s a secret from Erica.”
“Oh…”
If caught, it wouldn’t end with just a few hits.
I pondered for a moment. Getting caught wouldn’t be so bad.
The director chuckled gently. The fire went out, and the cigarette was squashed.
“Are things going well with Erica?”
“Of course. I’m receiving love and hate simultaneously.”
“Still impressive.”
Sitting in front of the desk, I saw a report. It was about measures concerning the necromancer group.
“This collective seems surprisingly cooperative.”
“Why do you think so?”
“Who knows?”
I caught a glimpse of black eyes.
“Maybe it’s because the association is controlling the famous Orli.”
“Hearing it from right in front of me is a bit embarrassing.”
“I didn’t know you could feel that kind of emotion.”
“I was human once, you know?”
I twisted my hair. I’m in the process of becoming human now.
“I can’t just watch a situation where only the association benefits.”
“Oh?”
“Because I’m a mutant. I’ll act erratically!”
Twisted beings always behave like that. They can’t bounce anywhere.
“I plan to show cooperation to the association and then stir up trouble again!”
“That sounds scary.”
The director took a drag from the cigarette. The embers ignited.
“Is there anything I can help with?”
“Why are you being so kind?”
“I have no choice but to appease you like this; otherwise, this country is in danger.”
“How sad.”
The director laughed. Green tea was handed over.
Why is it all green tea?
“How about drinking this and considering the thought of scrapping that plan?”
“Oh…”
I gulped down the green tea. It was terrible.
“Honestly, the ending is predetermined. Erica will stop me.”
“Well, that’s a relief.”
It’s natural for her, burdened with many things. That’s an unchanging law born from relationships. Planned results and predetermined sequences are such laws.
Erica is optimized for that. Filled with justice and ambition, she has always risen up. Even if she coughed up blood and her limbs were shattered, her eyes reflected a different light.
It’s only expected that she smiles in the end. It must be. A brilliant human deserves to be revered.
I already knew that pouring out crisis and treatment at the same time was disgusting. I didn’t expect her to forgive the twisted version of me.
The kindness, suffocating and jammed into my mouth, was more than I could handle. The overwhelming love was the same.
“I hope you both don’t get hurt.”
“Who, us?”
“You both.”
“Is this appeasing me again?”
A puzzled expression.
“No.”
I smiled slightly at the director’s answer. Lighting the cigarette, she took a puff. Is it pure concern?
The smoke flared and filled the ceiling. I closed my eyes, watching the director open the window.
So far, there haven’t been any deviations from the planned course. The overwhelming force makes that possible.
Suddenly, her worried gaze infiltrated my brain, seeping into my mind. Kindness stabbed deep into my guts. A gentle hand stroking my back tore through my skin.
A sudden sense of unease arose.
Sitting at my office desk, I saw the meeting’s end and stood up. The conference room door opened, and Erica stepped out.
“Good job.”
“…Shall we go now?”
“Yeah.”
It was late afternoon. The sun was leaning toward the ground.
The building where the collective meeting was taking place was not far from the association. Looking up at the building we arrived at, it was quite a large skyscraper. Many glass windows adorned the walls.
It’s known as an important building where magic engineering technology was handled during the gaming days. Is the collective using such a good building?
With Erica’s help, I got through identity checks and crossed the entrance.
“This is Erica. I’m here for the first and second assignments of the association.”
“I’m the representative of the collective. I’ll guide you to the waiting room.”
After a brief exchange, I glanced around the conference room as we walked by. The interior was spacious. The lights filled the room, and a crystal sphere made of magic technology was centered on the desks.
If they were hunters from this collective, things might be a bit different. In any case, it could provide a slightly different atmosphere from many situations I had seen before.
I blinked. Before I knew it, we had reached the waiting room. Watching a high-ranking official who had stepped away to prepare drinks, I leaned slightly against Erica.
“How long will it take?”
“The first meeting is short.”
Speaking of which, was there a second meeting? Well, then I’ll act then.
You can’t start a terrorism act just because you want to. You need a chaotic situation where distinctions become blurry. Getting Erica’s attention comes next.
If it happens in a place with strict security and silence, it would only draw the attention of the hunters sitting down.
The only one I care about is Erica. It would be easier to hold hunters’ lives hostage during a chaotic time.
In any case, I need to prepare.
A few days until the next meeting will be enough.
