Americano (5)

Looking at the scattered corpses, I thought: I’m sick of this now.

That was reason enough to lock myself underground for a year, calling it a disappearance.

Inside the cafe.

Until the medics arrived, I finished the white shaved ice and got up from my seat.

I took the tray in my hand and put it on the counter to finish cleaning up.

While I was up, I went behind the counter and grabbed a mop. I wet the mop with water from the bucket and grasped the long handle attached to it.

It was heavy. Am I helpless without magical power?

Dragging it across the floor with my slender arms, I stood in front of the lobby. I nudged the corpses aside and started wiping up the red blood bit by bit. All the chairs and tables were broken and scattered in the back, so there was a lot of space to clean.

[ Are your injuries alright? ]

“Just a few bullet wounds.”

I remembered fighting that girl in the game, taking hundreds of shots per second. What was her title again, Heavy Weapons Girl?

The pain is still something I can’t get used to. Reality is several times more bitter.

“I’ve taken them all out, so it’s fine.”

I tore my skin and reached in directly with my hand.

There weren’t as many as I thought.

About 937 rounds.

“It’s too wide.”

I was clearly holding a mop, but as I cleaned, it felt like I was cleaning a vast plaza all by myself.

Moreover, how am I supposed to deal with those corpses? There seem to be over ten of them.

Should I go get some large bags?

I paused for a moment and exhaled.

That seems too difficult. For this pitiful girl’s body.

Ding-a-ling.

As I was leaning on the mop, lost in thought, a refreshing sound rang out.

It was the director and the medics.

Without the strength to greet them, I just smiled slightly. Did they hide rifles in their clothes? It was a larger uniform that I hadn’t seen before.

Well, with just handguns, they’d probably be subdued before firing a few shots.

They have it tough.

“Erica first.”

The director frowned and pushed the backs of the three pale-faced medics.

It was where I had seated Erica.

“What is this?”

“An honorable death, isn’t it?”

I opened my mouth as I watched them glance at me nervously as they passed by.

“An end worthy of envy.”

The director looked at me.

“Isn’t this actually beneficial for you, Director? You were really annoyed by the Union Department, weren’t you?”

“I was annoyed.”

The blood on the floor was trampled.

“But that doesn’t mean I wanted them dead.”

“I’m surprised to hear that from someone who didn’t hesitate to kill agents.”

The director turned his head to look at me.

“What time are you talking about?”

“Remember that new recruit who got infected by a magical beast when he first joined the Association?”

I made a gun shape with my hand. My index finger raised, and an invisible bullet was fired.

“That child was no longer human.”

“Even though he was trembling and begging for his life?”

The director put a cigarette in his mouth. Those are really bitter, you know.

“That’s right.”

He paused for a moment.

“Well, if we had left that child alone, the whole area would have been contaminated! You did well! The empty look in his eyes as he clutched his bullet-riddled heart! And your tears as you watched, Director!”

The director turned his head away.

“How beautiful!”

A chair that had escaped from among the broken furniture fell limply to the floor.

That’s not beautiful. This is not a beautiful world. An end where no one is happy is not glorious.

The world is still dark.

“The Association is a profit-seeking organization.”

The crushed fire lit the cigarette. The director inhaled and exhaled smoke.

Ah, I should have brought cigarettes too. I regret it.

“It’s an obvious choice.”

“Was sending Erica here alone an obvious choice too? If the Union Department people had been alive, Erica could have been in big trouble!”

It’s as clear as day. She would have thrown her whole body to protect them.

And I would have been troubled.

“I’m grateful to you for that point.”

“Oh…?”

“I want to bow and thank you for quickly killing them.”

Saying such things with an expressionless face doesn’t really stir any emotions.

“Is Erica so precious to you?”

“Of course she’s precious…”

“I cherish her more. Too bad, but look for someone else.”

The director looked at me as if dumbfounded. That was the most naked expression he’s shown recently.

I turned my gaze away for a moment. I saw a medic supporting Erica, who was barely managing to walk.

“Emergency treatment is complete. We’ll transfer her to the Association ward.”

“I’ll do the remaining treatment. Leave her here.”

I smiled slightly.

It didn’t take long for the medic’s expression to harden.

“But, but she’s in critical condition…”

“Don’t worry. I’m good at this.”

Though I don’t have a license.

The director nodded silently and connected a call.

“Corpse disposal team, here…”

I took Erica from them, putting her arm around my neck. The medic was trembling, seeming very reluctant to hand her over.

Is there something in the Hippocratic Oath about never giving patients to Aureli?

And I was about to start walking.

If only the medic’s hand hadn’t grabbed my shoulder.

“Who, who do you think you are to do as you please!!”

I faced his reddened face, veins visible. His fist entered my field of vision.

I swung my arm leisurely. A blood-colored mist filled the area. The medic was swept up and slammed into the glass wall, coughing up fluid.

“Hack! Cough!”

“Wow! Amazing! How righteous! That’s right! You can’t hand over the beautiful Erica to someone like me!”

The director sighed. He looked so fierce when we first met, but now he shows no reaction at all.

Was he acting then because there were many eyes watching?

He talks about being a profit-seeking organization, but he seems to know how to compromise.

“Since Erica’s makeup looks pretty today, I’ll let it slide this time.”

The remaining medics grabbed their fallen colleague and went outside. Their hurried footsteps look pitiful.

I carried Erica on my back and went into the inner break room.

I just silently watched her lying on the makeshift bed.

The treatment is complete, and I just need to wait for her to slowly open her eyes.

Her mind is already awake anyway.

She looks beautiful no matter how I look at her. Her golden bob has long been my preference. Her smooth skin and elegant posture always catch my eye.

I’ve been trapped in her swamp for a long time now.

I might be in love.

But that’s all it is.

Isn’t love meaningless if the other person doesn’t accept it?

I’m not bad enough to force her to accept my love.

I racked my brain for a moment.

On the table next to the bed were the Americano and cafe mocha I had brought.

It should be fine, right?

This is enough for me. Just having this modest pleasure is enough.

There’s no more shaved ice, but today I’ll have to be satisfied with drinking coffee together.

“Ugh…”

Lost in thought, I suddenly noticed Erica holding her forehead and sitting up.

I managed my facial expression until she came to her senses.

Should I smile? Or look sad since she’s a patient?

She probably dislikes me enough already, so seeing my smiling face as soon as she wakes up might be a bit much.

Let’s pretend to cry.

First, I pursed my lips. Blood flowed to my cheeks and tears began to well up in my eyes.

My expression must look like I’ve lost everything.

I lowered my face like that.

“Sob, hic…”

“Ow… My head, what’s going on.”

There was a moment of silence.

“Sob, hic. Erica… Don’t die…”

“Hah, really.”

“E-Erica!”

I quickly raised my face.

“What, are you crying?”

“No, I wasn’t crying…”

“This is really ridiculous.”

I was quite sensitive. I thought that no matter what, real tears wouldn’t come out, but with the help of magical power, even this is possible.

“I’m sorry… Erica…”

“No, you…”

“Hic… Sob…”

“You did this to me, didn’t you? What is this…”

Confusion clouded her angry expression.

“I didn’t know you’d get hurt this badly…”

I buried my face in her shoulder.

“Won’t you get off? What are you doing now…”

“Aagh!”

I almost had my hair pulled out.

“Get out, really. I’m leaving.”

“No…”

“Move.”

“I don’t want to.”

I smiled gently. My tears had long since dried.

“Let’s drink some water first. Hydration is important.”

I handed her water with ice cubes floating in it. The cup design is nice, maybe because it’s from the shop.

At this point, Erica will probably drink it as if she has no choice. She might even smile at my sincerity.

Her arm pushed me away forcefully.

The cup of water floating in the air shattered on the floor.

“Move.”

I felt a strong impact on my body. Erica, who had pushed me away, walked past me.

I grabbed her trouser leg.

“E-Erica. I also prepared cafe mocha that you like. At least that…”

“Ha.”

I saw a cold gaze.

“Shut your mouth and let go. You crazy bitch.”

Her sunken voice made me unknowingly let go. Her uniform remained crumpled.

“I’m sorry.”

I smiled.

Click, the door opened and closed once, and I heard footsteps fading away.

After a few seconds, silence returned.

I twisted a lock of hair on the side of my head.

Should I have given her cafe mocha instead of water? Maybe she didn’t like it because it was plain water.

But drinking coffee right after waking up doesn’t seem right. It’s not good for the body either. Giving water was the right choice.

But the picky Erica refused it.

I got up and picked up the broken glass pieces with my hand. Blood flowed from my hand at the pricking sensation.

It hurt.