Chapter 87

It was overly arrogant.

One could say that I dared to run amok without knowing my place.

“Ugh… Huh…!”

Faced with the disaster brought on by my choices and mistakes, I was extremely intimidated but barely held back my teary eyes from spilling onto the table.

My two trembling hands clenched tightly around my knees.

Rage, frustration, disappointment, and many emotions that were hard to count swirled within me.

I had never considered myself the type to irresponsibly turn a blind eye to reality without bearing any responsibility, yet this wretched body was simply yearning to whine while betraying its master’s trust.

This fragile body is not the time to crumble yet.

Where did I learn the habit of running away just because I became slightly disadvantaged in the fight I initiated?

I had barely just begun to implement my strategy.

– …Is it really necessary to force yourself into this? –

“This… This is my responsibility. Ugh… I have to finish this…!”

I didn’t want to weaken my resolve unnecessarily.

I snapped at Zero, who was spilling weak words, and focused all my attention back on the enemy in front of me.

The first thing that invaded my sight was an overwhelming wave of red.

A deep red that was even darker than blood captivated my mind, extending its fierce assertion.

The enemy’s scale was small, to the point it would be embarrassing to call it an army, and if I believed the warning signs written, it was a one-person… meaning it was a manageable amount that I could handle alone.

But everything else was hard to bear.

It was a visual that invoked a sense of dread, as if I had carelessly opened the lid of a cauldron from hell.

Sizzle, bubble, bubble. The symphony played by the still-boiling lava due to unresolved residual heat.

Even the intense aroma that poked at my nose was unbothered despite it being time to grow accustomed to it.

What once would have felt sweet in the past had now transformed into chains binding me to this spot.

…No, it might be me who has transformed, but in any case.

The fact that I had acquired a sworn enemy remained unchanged.

Gulp…!

“Phew! Alright…”

Rinsing my mouth with a sweet drink that was closer to milk tea than milk, the pain eased a bit.

It was a despicable and almost desperate makeshift solution, but it allowed me to fight once more.

Picking up the round weapon I had put down for a moment, I scooped up a spoonful of a Korean soul food from the scorching pit.

– Ahsa… –

I felt sympathetic for Zero, who was anxiously busy scanning my body, unsure of how to accept the torment imposed by my owner.

Was it said that the spicy taste was an extension of sensation? If one were to scrutinize, it could indeed be considered torture, but the delicate human central nervous system sometimes perceives pain as pleasure.

So, when you eventually switch to an android that has a digestive system, I’ll teach you well so you won’t feel out of place.

It might just be outdated table manners, without anyone left to uphold them… but there is only one rule governing this place, a rule of the dining table.

And that is… finishing all the food one has ordered.

Carefully scooping the kimchi stew to avoid spilling, I gently placed it over a bowl of plain rice that cost five times more than the entire meal, including this damned stew.

The soup seeping between the rice grains was very threatening, but it was fine.

Having assessed its combat power with the first spoonful I swallowed earlier, I knew enough.

If my cold calculation was correct, this spicy body would reveal the bottom of the pot before reaching its limit, and I would exit the restaurant feeling satisfied…!

“Damn it…! Damn it! Ah— these bastards…!! The spiciness of the stew isn’t just about dumping capsaicin in, …hey! It should be simmered to bring about a subtle umami flavor…!!”

– ……The food cartridge likely used to produce the menu will be added to the blacklist. –

“What! For what… heh. Is this a blacklist?!”

– For now, I have categorized it as a definite non-purchase intention. –

Even after leaving the restaurant for quite some time, my resentment refused to fade.

Of course, the hellish spiciness not disappearing meant my anger lingered as well, but I had to definitely state this.

Why!! Did the clumped seasoning not dissolve until the very end?!

Clunk!

Sizzle…

“Ugh… Phew…!”

I hastily downed a stomach protector pulled from the vending machine outside history.

My already full belly complained it had no space left, but this disaster was not my fault. I, too, was the victim of the illusion of perfect automatic cooking.

Throwing the empty can into the recovery slot next to the vending machine, an announcement informed me that 10 credits had been refunded to my wallet.

I’ve felt during police work while snacking that it is really quite generous.

…If I just added a bit more, it would be nice to buy a house with a good view.

As I stepped into the train station, the sunlight, which had been hidden by the building outside, blazed brightly through the skylight, dazzling my eyes.

Moreover, countless electronic billboards and irregularly sounding departure announcements seemed to greet us so we wouldn’t forget where we were.

The bustling noise and the clattering footsteps were just a bonus.

An analog enthusiast with a neck craned toward the station’s information board, almost reaching the ceiling, while net users attentively received and savored data through their cyberware.

If I had had some free time, observing the hurried motion of people aligning their schedules and destinations could have been a pretty decent leisure activity.

But unlike last time, this time I was here as a user, so it wouldn’t be good to dilly-dally.

I had already informed Mr. Schneider’s family, who generously agreed to give me a room, about my estimated arrival time.

“Welcome! Please scan your citizenship here, and let me know your destination. I will check for available transportation in the meantime!”

“My destination is Neo Haven. And I’d like to take the earliest departing train with a regular seat.”

I reached out and inserted my arm into the light, asking the ticket office clerk for ticketing.

Ah, I’m checking~ I’ll check~ Just because I didn’t make an advance reservation doesn’t mean I was lazy. No matter how weak I might be in the mornings, I’m not that lazy.

It turns out that citizens below the green level are required by the city regulations to use on-site ticketing and baggage checks when traveling outside the city, due to a lack of reliable evidence.

…They’re selling citizenship while shifting the responsibility!

“Is the only baggage you have a bag and… that droid?”

“I’ll be carrying it myself, so there’s no need to register for separate checked baggage… Wait a minute, is this one also considered baggage?”

I was about to respond nonchalantly to the clerk but quickly asked back, realizing a strange expression had slipped in.

Are they treating a guard robot, which is officially categorized as military force, as if it were just a bag here?

“Don’t worry! Droids are treated as high-value items and will be loaded separately in the cargo area, transported safely to your destination!”

“…Add one more ticket. Look for seats that are together too.”

“Understood!”

Typically, when faced with a situation I don’t like, I should carefully reflect on whether I’m low on credits.

I glared at the smoothly continuing conversation with the employee who seemed to know my decision beforehand.

I can’t believe how skilled they are at extracting even the flea’s innards. By this point, it might be fair to consider it a basic virtue of hospitality.

– I don’t mind riding standing. –

Zero, seeing me repeating a dry wash, suggested a decent cost-saving option, but I wasn’t really into it.

“Most trains are cabin-style, and if you stand, I have to stand too, and then my legs will be wrecked.”

Sure, there was also the option of riding atop Zero’s shoulders again like I did yesterday.

But I’m sure the standing room would be filled with low-quality folks, and if I were to roll around with ‘high-value’ worth 100 million credits in such a place, should someone ask if I wanted that experience, I would absolutely decline.

It wouldn’t be good for either of us to engage in avoidable disputes, right?

The connections I built up here… well, there’s not much to speak of, but even a first-time tourist getting off a train covered in blood claiming self-defense would have way too many problems.

Until I rebuild my experience and settle down, it’s best for me to keep a low profile.

“Excuse me…? Is that you, Anastasia Valentine?”

“…That’s me.”

I slightly rolled my eyes at the suddenly cautious tone.

Was there any reason for a response so different from the routine identity check?

“I’ve confirmed it! Your first-class cabin reservation on Astra Express A-185 has been completed! You can proceed to the platform without any further inspections or waiting, and board immediately!”

“Hey, wait.”

The overly nonchalant guidance almost made me nod and turn away.

This isn’t just an overcharge; it’s outright fraud!

At least it was fortunate that the area near the ticket office wasn’t crowded. There were no other passengers to watch me as I sifted through this ridiculous treatment.

“I’m not asking for an entire first-class cabin…! I asked for two seats connected in a two-person or four-person room! How could you even issue a ticket without payment in the first place….”

“…I’m sorry! There’s a directive that designated rooms for corporate VIPs must always remain empty, regardless of the train type, so I have to guide you there.”

“Huh?”

Corporate VIP…? Me?

I held back a laugh as I re-examined the employee’s uniform reflected through the ticket window.

It wasn’t Paradisical’s typical chick attire, so I had just overlooked it, but I finally noticed the Oasis-shaped badge near the top button.

It seems like… my only connection who’s got any influence didn’t intend to send me off empty-handed.

…Or perhaps they didn’t know about the debt I had put on myself.