Chapter 70

The resolution always comes suddenly.

It was Erica, meeting again within a few hours. As we exchanged trivial, piercing glances, I unknowingly made a vow.

I think it would be good if our relationship became a bit more strained.

There were times when I felt like I was losing control of the relationship. There were moments when I fell to being her slave, unable to resist the pleasures and entertainments.

But now, the relationship has normalized.

There were moments of doubt about whether I should be pleased with the situation where she kept her distance from me simply because I had touched her nerves over something trivial.

People can come to dislike each other over small triggers.

“Hehe… I like your disliked face…”

As we walked down a cool path, I slapped my cheeks sharply and feigned indifference.

One mustn’t be swayed by fleeting emotions. Even today, countless bouts of mental illness have passed.

I cannot slacken my grasp on the slender thread before my fragile mind screams and surrenders.

[ Be honest, will you? ]

“Hey… I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

Though I liked her disgusted face… I also wanted her love. A warm gaze would be extraordinarily comforting in its own way.

But that thought doesn’t really matter.

I simply chose black from between black and white. I just pointed to the side that gets ridiculed.

After tearing at my face a few times, I stopped in my tracks.

I looked around at the tough little pieces of skin.

I picked up a hexagonal pillar overflowing with blue waves.

It was the core of Behemoth.

Crisp.

The third sentence shone and then the core turned into a pale smoke.

I raised both hands above my head. The crimson crown floated in the air.

As the smoke permeated the horns of the crown, I smiled as I watched it glow even redder.

I had completed my third goal.

Two sentences to go.

I placed the crown back atop my head.

I staggered and took a few steps.

“Not bad.”

“……”

I approached Erica, who was leaning against the wall, catching her breath. I played the part of someone relaxed and raised my finger.

“You look good!”

“….It’s noisy, you know?”

“Are you rebelling now?”

“Rebellion? Seriously, that’s ridiculous.”

The way she sat helplessly was no different from scenes in my fleeting memories.

I maintained my lowered gaze and smirked bitterly.

“Of course, that’s rebellion. Erica, who only likes sweet things, rebelling!”

“Why am I a child? If you look at the things you normally do, you’re… Ugh.”

Erica coughed up blood. In that moment, my arm trembled. I abruptly stopped my hand from reaching out.

“That’s what happens when you push yourself so hard.”

“……Shut up.”

“You’re suddenly getting harsh with your words. Such children need to be punished.”

I pressed the dagger against her neck. The blade narrowly grazed her carotid artery, digging shallowly into her skin.

Erica moaned.

“Ugh…!”

“Does it hurt? It hurts, doesn’t it? It will. That’s my love.”

I didn’t have a sadistic nature, yet enjoying the suffering of the one I loved was… well, not exactly pleasant.

It merely wasn’t enough to correct her.

I observed Erica’s face as it began to twist in pain, my lips twitching.

“I think it’s more than just that. I can see that you’re always struggling and tired. Facing demons and suppressing terrorists. What always decorates the end of your day is being collapsed in a corner of the battlefield.”

I nodded contentedly, recalling past memories.

Because I was aware of my own decadence, I could somehow continue this act, which seemed forced and repulsive.

“Frequent business trips and exchanges with high-ranking officials. Caffeine filling your tired mind and body. And beside you, a ticking time bomb that could explode at any moment.”

Wow.

My unusual love was invading your already busy life.

I gazed into her white eyes, which stared at me enduring the pain.

Do you think it’s severe? Is it hard? Since when did reality become like this?

Suddenly.

Even this moment, where I crush her for the sake of trampling, felt repulsive.

“And yet, you must constantly accept me. That’s only natural.”

Instead of the words I intended to spit out, a chunk of blood flew out. The pain hit me late.

I staggered as I saw the sword directly pierce my chest.

“……I’m fine.”

And my lips began to convulse as well.

I caught sight of Erica, who was now clutching her own neck to stop the bleeding.

“If you’re with me… I don’t think it matters.”

A fresh voice rang out.

My brain stopped spinning. My heart raced rapidly.

“You’ve finally gone crazy.”

I didn’t think I would ever say such a thing.

“You’ve gone mad because it’s been too hard.”

“I didn’t used to enjoy coffee so much… But these days, it’s drinkable.”

What are you saying?

Why is coffee coming up all of a sudden?

Was our conversation originally about coffee?

“The cake wasn’t that great when I ate it alone, but it seems pretty nice when I eat it with a silly someone.”

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

It doesn’t seem like a topic you should be discussing in front of the person with the knife at your neck.

From the hand she clutched, there was no more blood flowing out.

Thanks to an increase in regeneration stats.

There were results from training.

Who was it that trained her?

“Oh, no, right? Is this conversation to lure me in like the Terrorist Incident? You’re using my love, which is deeply intertwined with you, as a hostage to enchant me.”

I quickly turned my head everywhere. I didn’t see any approaching forces.

If there were such forces, wouldn’t Erica alone have faced the Behemoth?

“I’m not that bad of a person.”

“You did at the building of the Terrorist Group.”

“That was back then.”

The white blade plunged once more into my chest. The unresisting blade pierced deeply into my viscera.

It hurt.

“But not now.”

I feel like you’re taming me. Clearly, back then, you shook me under the guise of kindness, and now you’re dealing me excruciating pain, right?

Do you need something from me? You’re at a point where you can no longer justify yourself by saying you’re currently just trying to appease me.

I hesitated. Suddenly, I felt my strength drain from my body. No, no. Wait. Let’s calm down. I don’t know how many blades are currently buried in my body, but let’s calm down.

“I’m sorry.”

“What for? What are you apologizing for?”

“For the ridicules I poured onto you….”

Seeing her divert her gaze slightly felt like my heart was tearing apart. It hurts. Why?

Why are you apologizing for that? You shouldn’t be.

“You just wanted to have a conversation with me. After all, no matter how antagonistic we are, couldn’t we have been a bit kinder, even for greetings?”

The pain enveloped my body once more. With a hollow heart, I lowered my gaze. The white blade was piercing my body countless times. How many? Five? Six? It hurt.

It aches like it could tear apart. I want healing. I want to fall into Erica’s arms, cry, cling to her, and stubbornly plead that it hurts. I want to live as a slave, begging that I was wrong.

“Maybe it wouldn’t be bad to go to a cafe together sometimes… Ah, now that I think about it, we do that often, right?”

We?

Not you and me, but us?

“It seems like you’re feeling a bit rough too. It wouldn’t be bad to visit a medical facility.”

“Erica.”

The wind blew. The blade pierced my chest once more. It hurt. But I didn’t think of pulling out the sword. It felt like I shouldn’t. After all, it was the punishment she had given me for always showering her with kindness and warmth.

All I could do was thank her for punishing me and spit out blood. Then, kneeling, I repeatedly apologized, bowing my head.

Before long, I was spewing out red puddles as I exhaled, looking at Erica, who was watching me with a gentle gaze.

My lungs, heart, and skin were all stained with blood.

“Oh, but from your standpoint, it must feel a bit different. Since the medical facility is associated with the association and government… it might become noisy. Should I take care of you separately?”

“Erica!!”

I shuffled my steps. With every step I took closer to her, the ten blades that pierced my body collided, emitting a chilling noise.

I grabbed her shoulders desperately and opened my mouth.

“No, this must be a joke, right? Tell me this is a mischievous punishment for ignoring you for a few days. Ah, that might be fine too. No, that’s not what I mean.”

“Does it look like a joke?”

Her white pupils ravished my body once more. Her gentleness licked the wounds all over me. A soft touch, teasing my hair.

“It’s a bit sad.”

“Please… that mouth…”

───Click.

The sound of the chamber closing echoed.

“Thank you for your cooperation. From now on, I will proceed with the execution of the number one most wanted criminal, Orly.”

A deep voice boomed. I saw several figures in white uniforms. The double-edged sword insignia stood out.

Erica’s face hardened.

“To clarify, I have not cooperated. I merely did what I should have in front of a wanted criminal.”

“Is that so?”

A cold atmosphere flowed. What’s going on? It’s unfair to talk with Erica while leaving me behind.

“I ask that you postpone the conversation until later and step aside. The only time we can suppress her in an unarmed state is now.”

I cautiously touched the ten swords piercing my chest with trembling hands. It’s cold.

“As you know, I am a member of the association. The credits for capturing the wanted criminal belong to me. I will take charge of her arrest.”

“Miss Erica’s current state isn’t favorable. If she resists strongly, the situation could become unfavorable.”

That’s a relief.

That’s good.

No, it’s not particularly bad.

The thrill of feeling deceived by Erica again is exhilarating.

Isn’t it a significant development that my love has bound me like this?

Well, it seems like it doesn’t matter. Later, I can separate Erica from where I’ve tied her up and scrutinize what was genuinely said and what wasn’t.

“If you endure as you are, we will have no choice but to adopt forceful measures as per the Union Department’s policy.”

“Thank you!”

I turned my body and smiled slyly at the hunters pointing guns at me.

“Thanks to you, I can start a thrilling hostage situation once again!”

I drew my knife.

A good opportunity to confirm her true feelings.