Daylight (6)

It was unexpectedly smooth.

Well, I guess it’s natural since I’ve shown my face at the Association so often.

As I arrived at the Association office with light footsteps, the employees, should I call them that? They seemed startled to see me, but their attempts to ignore me and focus on their monitors in front of them became quite a spectacle.

“What are you doing?”

“Eek!”

It was a test. To approach the one whose eyes I just met and speak to him, observing his reaction.

Whether he was surprised by my sudden voice or by seeing me,

Well, it didn’t matter.

I could roughly guess what kind of instructions had been given to those glancing at me in the office.

She’s been strangely cooperative with the Association for a week, showing a friendly demeanor to Rankers and Hunters. So ignore her as much as possible, that kind of thing.

It was good for me too. I could get closer to Erica.

“Wow, what’s this? It looks really difficult…”

“Please stop bothering our staff and come here.”

Hearing the tone in my ear, I responded and turned my head.

“Hello.”

“…..”

“Are you jealous by any chance?”

“Please shut that mouth.”

The atmosphere was cold, but this was good in its own way.

It was a brighter uniform than what she usually wore. A clean and neat white uniform. Not too tight, not too loose, optimized for fieldwork.

And matching it, golden short hair and pure, beautiful eyes.

It’s really a good combination.

As I silently examined Erica’s body for a moment, I could feel her gaze sharpening in real-time.

Still, having stared so intently at a woman’s body, shouldn’t I offer some kind of appreciation?

“You’re pretty.”

I smiled gently. What came back was a sigh, but.

Along with that, what Erica handed me was the restraining suit I saw yesterday. A dark gray outfit that looked a bit bigger than my movements. I wonder if I’ll waddle like a penguin when I wear it, like the coat I usually wear when going out.

The restraining belts visible here and there looked a bit constricting.

“You agreed to wear it, right?”

She was confident. Maybe this is her stance for today.

“You really want me to wear this?”

“Yes.”

The restraining suit swayed. It looks heavy.

“I don’t know how to put this on.”

“I’ll help you wear it.”

“Putting on a restraining suit, is that your preference?”

There was no answer. I quietly approached in front of Erica and our eyes met.

“Mmph.”

As if not allowing even that moment, a stiff texture was felt from my head, and as the solid clothes that began to cover my body were put on, my vision was blocked for an instant.

Squeeze squeeze.

“Phew.”

I almost had a big problem because I couldn’t breathe.

“My hair’s all messed up.”

I tried to raise my arm to fix my hair, but it was a bit difficult, perhaps because the clothes themselves were heavy.

And what I saw were various gazes. Erica remained the same, but most of the employees were sending looks of surprise and slight unease.

All I could do to them, restrained as I was, was to open my mouth with a smile as usual.

“Don’t worry, everyone. I’m safe today. I won’t go wild or anything.”

If I had intended to in the first place, I wouldn’t have even put on this restraining suit.

Saying that, I took a step forward. There wasn’t a problem with moving, but it was a bit uncomfortable. My arms didn’t move well either.

Fortunately, it was only worn on the upper body, so there was no problem with my legs.

“Let’s go now.”

“Wait a moment.”

But I couldn’t just let this opportunity pass.

“It’s too heavy.”

Our gazes crossed for a moment. Erica looked at me calmly.

“So?”

“Could you hold my hand? My body doesn’t move well, so I’d like someone to pull me along.”

I really, really hoped a little, but it didn’t work at all.

I didn’t expect her to leave me behind and exit the office first.

[Hurry and follow her.]

“I was going to do that anyway.”

All I could do was follow her trail.

It was a vehicle.

If we’re talking about the type, a large van. Black, luxurious.

I didn’t like the crumpling texture of the restraining suit as I leaned back in the seat, but separate from that, the seat was comfortable. To the point where I wanted to close my eyes and stay like this.

“It wasn’t an easy place to track. I wonder if they know they’re being targeted, they kept moving their hideout periodically.”

“It must have been hard work.”

“It’s thanks to Erica. The latest model should have been distributed earlier.”

The woman in the black suit said that and then met my gaze. Then she hurriedly avoided it.

“Good job…”

“Ah, yes…”

The reluctant response to my words was, how should I put it, pitiful.

The agent who was supposed to wait and come pick us up after the operation was over, was it? She’s really going to have a tough time.

The vehicle shook greatly once, then stopped and the side door opened.

“Have we arrived?”

“Let’s get off.”

Outside, the sun was shining brightly. It was just entering the afternoon. What I saw was our vehicle parked on a country road and us getting off in front of it.

And a noticeable abandoned building was visible in the distance.

After giving a small greeting to the agent, I started waddling after Erica, who was turning around.

Stretching my neck to look over the device she was holding, I saw a screen that seemed to be a finely divided map. A few blinking signals and red signs visible here and there caught my attention.

I wonder if we’re going based on that. Those rare detectors must be widely deployed.

There was no particular conversation. The surroundings were quiet, and I just silently walked while staring at Erica’s back as she walked along the shaded roadside. It seemed like she might be walking slowly on purpose to accommodate me.

“Do you have a plan?”

“I’m going to kill them all immediately. As soon as we see them.”

A frontal assault, huh. That’s not bad either.

“I’m worried it might end too boringly.”

“I suppose so.”

It was a soulless answer. She didn’t seem to be worried at all.

Separate from that, I was harboring some expectations. A swordswoman, huh. In the past, I was only interested in my own weapons and stats, but after encountering Erica, I started to become curious about how that sword would attack me.

Therefore, I couldn’t help but be interested in the upcoming battle that would soon unfold before my eyes.

In other words, for an awakened group that pushes with a large number of personnel including high-ranking stats,

“A wide-area build utilizing saturated stats or…”

“…Pardon?”

One long sword strike piercing through the air, cutting down all enemies at once.

Or.

“Individual combat using close-quarter techniques.”

“…..”

Of course, in this case, Erica is alone. Therefore, she might choose to approach while avoiding and defending against all attacks concentrated on her, and thrust her sword in close combat.

I was very curious.

“Which do you prefer?”

While not stopping her steps, Erica glanced at me following behind and frowned.

“I’d rather not reveal my weaknesses.”

Of course, as she said, if we break it down further, it’s also a story that directly leads to weaknesses and strengths.

Simply put, if there’s enough internal magic power, choose the former; if not, and agility and strength are superior, choose the latter.

“I know all your weaknesses and strengths.”

“…..”

“If we keep spending time together like this, I might get to know everything about you.”

“…We’re almost there.”

I kept smiling and continuing the conversation, but Erica seemed to have decided not to show her face, turning her head away.

I couldn’t tell from far away, but up close, it was a bright building.

It looked at least 3 stories high, feeling more like an old unused church than an abandoned building.

There were many windows too, though most of them were broken – which made more light shine inside to the extent that there was no sense of reluctance to enter.

Of course, we couldn’t do that.

“Three detectors, two awakened ones.”

What we saw, hiding our bodies in a small jungle created by huge trees,

Were 3 drone-type devices patrolling the air, and two hunters loitering in front of the entrance with guns.

Erica rummaged through her belongings and took out a small spherical device, gripping it tightly.

“Follow me.”

With the sound of the device activating as it was thrown into the air, waves scattered like electricity and the drones floating in the air stopped functioning and crashed.

And at that instant, Erica launched her body and appeared behind the hunters in a flash,

“Heurgh!”

A man whose heart was pierced twice by the sword uttered his death rattle and collapsed, and the man next to him screamed and hurriedly aimed his gun here and there towards the invisible her.

“Wh-What the!”

Watching this scene, as I stepped lightly into the sunlight with my restraining suit, it didn’t take more than a few seconds for the face of the man right in front of me to turn to confusion.

“Hello.”

What a pitiful man. Just by being in this role here, he doesn’t even have a chance to open his mouth.

I hope he can say a lot even now.

“F-Fuck!! That bastard…!”

Squelch.

The long iron that pierced through the man’s body, after savoring the red liquid, slipped back into the air.

He collapsed helplessly to the ground by Erica, who had twisted her sword and stomped on his head with her foot.

“That’s cruel.”

“As if you’re not…”

Erica glanced at me, twisted her sword, and turned her back.

I exhaled while waddling after her.

The restraining suit was stifling.