Chapter 61

Against my will, as time that had been stagnant began to flow, my bloody body was healed as if it had never been red.

Erica’s healing process probably contributed to it to some extent. Perhaps the several acts of blood suction raised her healing stats.

I quietly nestled in Erica’s bosom and casually opened my mouth.

“Are you satisfied?”

“……….”

“Do you like me that much?”

“……… Not particularly.”

It was a joke. There was no need to show such genuine disgust.

“That’s sad. I like you.”

“You’re lying.”

I blinked quietly.

“Why is that a lie?”

“I don’t believe your words anymore.”

“Please believe me.”

Contrary to her cold tone, she continued to hold me close. It was cozy. Painfully so.

“I can’t breathe.”

“Good for you.”

“Dying from asphyxiation isn’t so bad.”

Pain surged in my forehead. When I lifted my gaze, Erica was flicking her fingers.

“It hurts.”

“I told you to feel pain.”

Is she sulking? I felt regret as the warmth began to fade away.

“I’ll tidy things up a bit… so you just rest while I check out the remaining facilities.”

I quietly nodded.

I didn’t reach out. I felt it wasn’t the right thing to do.

I took a breath. Since Erica seemed to be out of sight, she probably went up to the second floor.

I raised my creaking body and headed toward the space where the door was broken.

A silver-haired man was pounding the ground with a shovel. The remains of the specter screamed and writhed.

“Weren’t you injured?”

“Is that really the issue right now?”

You ruined the plan because of you.

“How can you touch the modified attack system with a build like this?”

“I had no intention. My hand just moved instinctively.”

“That’s called having intent.”

The Reaver awkwardly brushed his hair. Should I stab him? Luckily, I have my knife.

“I was reminded of the time when I was deep into research. I thought I’d poke it a bit, but it turned out to be a summoning system. The one with the weakest control among the necro races…”

“I don’t care. I’m offended. What are you going to do about it?”

Seeing him stumble gave me the feeling that this might be easier than expected.

“Is there anything you want?”

“A Behemoth combination book.”

“That’s hard to obtain.”

“That’s not my job!”

“……… I also need a corpse.”

I pointed at the ceiling.

“There are plenty on the upper floor. I saw there’s a laboratory too. It would be good to stop by and gather some while you’re filling your stats.”

“I’ll try.”

“I’m very angry right now!”

I couldn’t help but vent my anger over the disrupted plan.

“It would be best to move as quickly and accurately as possible.”

I hesitated for a moment.

I twisted my side hair. It was too stiff to braid easily.

Frustrated, I just messed it up.

Thinking about it, it has been quite a while since going out became second nature. I have strayed pretty far from downtown.

“Do you have any news about the other rankers?”

The Reaver was silent for a moment before glancing at me.

“Zhukyl is looking for you.”

“Why me?”

“How would I know? From what I hear about him trying to claim the metropolitan area, he must be up to something strange again.”

I blinked. I hope he stops looking for me. I’ve had enough of those ignorant terrorist activities.

“Weren’t you two not on good terms? It seems you still keep in touch now and then.”

“Contact? That girl only got caught up on a radar network that I stumbled into while she was poking around everywhere.”

I can see it in my mind. Zhukyl flying around and drawing the attention of the rankers.

“I can guess what your response was, Reaver.”

“Of course, I said I don’t know. I said I seemed busy.”

After a brief moment of silence, the wind blew.

The sound of shattering glass filled the space.

In that instant, countless glass shards scattered as a loud voice pierced my ears.

“Yikes!”

I turned my gaze. A massive missile, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, flew into a giant hole in the glass window in one corner of the room.

On top of it was a girl.

With mid-length green hair and a white lab coat.

In the moment before she zipped by me, the missile spewed flames, and she jumped off it. She rolled once on the ground and stood up with great poise.

A crashing sound echoed. When I looked to the side, I saw the missile that had collided with the wall, shattered into pieces.

“Ouch… Oh, nice to see you.”

Glass shards fell from her shoulder. Her green eyes sparkled brilliantly. A faint smile appeared.

“I’m Zhukyl, back after a long time.”

“Oh….”

Feeling like it was the right atmosphere to applaud, I clapped my hands and smiled slightly.

“Hello!”

“Oh? This is the first time I’ve seen you smile?”

“Is it?”

I twisted my side hair for a moment.

“I’m in love right now.”

“Wow. That’s a scoop.”

“Gasp!”

How embarrassing.

“Hello, Reaver.”

“I can’t say hello.”

“Don’t you hate me too much?”

“You know well.”

Zhukyl smiled subtly.

“It doesn’t concern me, though.”

The Reaver shook his head as if tired and struck the ground with the shovel. Skeletons began to rise slowly to surround him.

Moments passed. Before long, a pillar covered in bones collapsed, leaving only empty air.

“You’re still so blunt.”

I nodded. I agreed.

“Oh! By the way, you’ve changed into a woman! Congratulations!”

“Thank you. But doesn’t your reaction seem a bit delayed?”

“Heh. I’m sorry. I’ve gotten used to seeing you as a male from all the media coverage.”

Her light pink lips quirked.

“But neither of us really places any importance on gender, do we? Neither you nor I.”

“Oh….?”

“That doesn’t matter.”

An explosion occurred from the ceiling. A corpse fell down.

“The essence hasn’t blurred. If anything, it has become clearer. Our true selves, our identities.”

Zhukyl held an electrified dagger and pierced it into the corpse’s abdomen. Red blood flowed out.

A faint smile surfaced. A soft moan echoed. The corpse’s abdomen was slashed.

“After the incident, strong power has led to wielding even stronger weapons. It solidified a vast presence and has led to a peak. A strong individual has been born.”

Blood sprayed. My face got dirty. Her arms moved even faster.

“I felt exhilarated. I began activities right away. You did too, right?”

I hesitated to wipe the blood on my gothic lolita outfit. The moans around grew louder.

My pupils wandered for a moment.

“Hick, hihick…”

“Calm down.”

“Ah, ah.”

The green eyes regained their shine.

“I’m so sorry. I think I’ve been a nuisance to you. Sometimes my body does this.”

“It’s okay. It can happen! Take a deep breath in and out.”

“Fuu, haa.”

I twisted my hair. I don’t want to be the only one who can’t breathe. I don’t want to see the people around me suffering.

“Thank you, Zhukyl.”

“What for? I have those moments too. When you get stepped on by the planned procedures, there come times when you can’t control yourself.”

“Do you understand?”

I pondered for a moment.

“I’m not in a position to understand anyone.”

Taking care of myself is exhausting.

“But I can be someone to talk to.”

“Hehe. That side of you hasn’t changed from a year ago. You were really scary back then.”

“Gasp!”

I looked away. When I looked down, fresh blood was turning into a red cube.

Two cubes flowed into Zhukyl’s hand. One was handed to me.

“The scene of beautifully blowing up the Association Building and gliding through the air! The moment you pressed a knife to the Association president’s neck and carried out a hostage situation! It was terrifyingly thrilling!”

Laughter flowed from her lips. Her trembling pupils met mine. Is she in a lot of pain?

“It seems like you, Zhukyl, aren’t particularly afraid?”

“Not at all. I’m still shaken to the core.”

Her green eyes sparkled richly.

“I admire you, Orly. You’re someone who doesn’t care about the gazes of many. I truly think that’s amazing.”

“Oh….”

Nodding vaguely, I accepted the cube. It had a unique color.

“Seeing you back in action made me realize. Ah, my eyes weren’t wrong. You’re still so cool!”

“….Even with all those praises, I have nothing to give. I’m just broke.”

I held the cube in my hand and reflected it against the precariously hanging lights.

“The clothes I’m wearing are pretty. Even if they’re stained and dirty with blood, they don’t show much due to being a black dress. In reality, I’m rather disheveled.”

As I stared at the frozen Zhukyl, I lowered my arm. Then her lips opened.

“But… but! The sight of you wielding a knife in the air looked really exhilarating!”

I met her desperate gaze. I opened my mouth, then stopped.

Even if I answered, it wouldn’t be a story she’d hear.

“Ah, it’s already time.”

Zhukyl’s wristwatch beeped. As I turned my gaze, I saw a small helicopter approaching the window.

The noise grew louder.

“I have a wonderful dream.”

Her green hair fluttered in the wind. I tilted my head.

“A beautiful dream that everyone in this world will witness. I want to invite you then, Orly.”

“Wow?”

She turned her body and ran quickly. She leaped out the giant window. As her white outfit fluttered, a ladder was lowered from the helicopter. Zhukyl clung to it and quickly disappeared.

I fiddled with the cube in my hand before tossing it carelessly into a corner.

I don’t understand why everyone keeps trying to lure me.