Struggling (7)

Erica gently woke up Orli, who was sleeping in the car.

She tidied her disheveled hair, kneaded her cheeks, and then tapped her shoulder.

“We’re here.”

“…..Mmm.”

One thing Erica had learned while spending a lot of time with Orli was that she sleeps quite a lot.

That’s not all. She realized that Orli had a quieter side than expected. When they first started spending time together with the Association as a semi-forced hostage, it was something she couldn’t have known about Orli, who used to open her mouth at every opportunity.

A calm and mature atmosphere.

It was like that on the day she visited Orli’s house, or after the terrorism at the Alliance building this afternoon, when Orli acted aloof while indulging her whims.

She recalled how Orli calmly calmed her down and smiled at her when she was flustered because the treatment wasn’t going well.

Erica unbuckled Orli’s seatbelt.

Yes.

Erica realized again.

She was slowly melting into Orli while sharing a lot of time with her.

She felt different emotions while going through many things together.

She was facing a twisted situation in a distorted relationship, at its center.

Erica supported Orli, who was floundering in drowsiness, as they got out of the car.

Is this something she’s doing wrong?

Orli is a wanted Awakened One. This is an unchanging fact.

Although she’s been inevitably spending time with her, caught up in her countless hostage situations, originally they should be pointing swords and knives at each other just from making eye contact.

But Erica didn’t do that. Neither did Orli.

That’s because this relationship had already collapsed. Because it had changed to the point where she could speak kindly to Orli.

How did it come to this?

Erica stroked Orli’s hair as she leaned slightly on her shoulder, and boarded the elevator.

Am I feeling special emotions?

She’s never been in love before. She’s never liked anyone before.

Is she enjoying this twisted situation in a bleak reality?

Have I finally gone crazy?

Erica lowered her gaze. She saw faintly trembling eyelashes along with a tired mind and body.

She just wanted to show affection.

Is this love?

Light poured out and Erica stepped forward.

That’s not it.

This isn’t love.

She’s too young and inadequate to know such things.

“Ah, you’re here. And beside you?”

The Director blinked.

“It’s Orli?”

“You don’t seem surprised anymore.”

When Orli momentarily lost her balance in her sleep, Erica hurriedly wrapped her arm around her shoulder.

“You’ve worked hard.”

“…..It’s nothing.”

It’s not particularly hard.

She doesn’t know why herself.

As she gently laid Orli down on the temporary bed in the lounge, a red round creature escaped from her pocket.

Watching it pat Orli’s chest with its small body, Erica tilted her head.

She’s seen her carry it around sometimes, but what is this?

It seems like a spirit.

As she came out of the lounge, the Director held out a paper cup.

Erica took it and nodded slightly. It meant thank you.

The Director directed his eyes to the empty air for a moment.

“I feel somewhat sorry.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s such cheap coffee?”

Erica blinked and downed the paper cup. It’s just sweet.

“It’s fine though?”

“Don’t you always receive high-grade coffee as gifts from Orli?”

Suddenly, the cafe mocha set placed on her desk flashed through her memory.

“…..That’s true.”

A moment of silence passed.

“How’s the situation?”

“Ah….. it’s a bit serious. There are only injured people.”

“Seems like you handled it well?”

“I somehow held out until you sent reinforcements.”

Erica downed the paper cup once more.

“When I worried, she was so flustered. Pfft. She didn’t expect that, I guess.”

“I see.”

The Director smiled bitterly.

“You’ve worked hard. I’m really sorry.”

“Why are you sorry, Director? It just….. just turned out this way.”

It’s not only the Director who gives her such looks. Sometimes when she returns from meeting high-ranking officials, Erica feels emotions full of worried glances and awe from them.

Because it’s widely known that Orli is sticking to the Association.

Erica twisted her side hair.

It’s hard, but, still.

It’s okay.

She doesn’t know why herself.

“I hope you treat Orli well.”

“Don’t worry.”

“…..Thank you.”

An untimely emotion was conveyed. It was wistful.

“Because I’m taking good care of her.”

Erica smiled slightly.

The meaning of treatment had changed, but she didn’t mind.

“You don’t need to be sorry. I’ve received a lot of favors from you too, Director.”

“Haha. I don’t really remember anything like that.”

“It was more so after the department transfer. For my sister too.”

Suddenly, she was reminded of her sister who’s hospitalized in the Association’s Special Magic Power Room. Come to think of it, it was time to make new medicine this time.

“Looking after your sister a bit and finding out the medicine formula isn’t anything difficult.”

Erica smiled bitterly.

“Thank you.”

“Speaking of that, are you managing your body well? After all, the energy stat is important.”

“I’m controlling it. It’s been stabilizing lately too.”

Not just the energy stat, but the mana stat too. It’s fortunate that her regeneration ability is on the better side, otherwise she would have had a headache just preparing medicine for her sister Ere.

Erica twisted her side hair and blushed. After being bitten by Orli a few times, her stats started showing high concentration values.

Should I like this or not?

Walking through the dim corridor, she entered the brightly lit hospital room.

“Sister!”

“Yeah. Ere.”

Erica felt relieved. The haggard face that had been visible for a long time had long since receded from her sister, Ere. Taking a lot of time to slowly develop the treatment process had paid off.

“It’s been a while!”

“Yeah. Right?”

Erica answered like that and lightly stroked Ere’s hair. Then she took out a small, long glass bottle filled with red liquid.

It’s blood containing her magic power.

Due to the characteristics of Awakened Ones’ bodies sharing magic power channels and blood vessels, to inject magic power into others, one must use the method of making medicine using one’s own blood.

Her high-concentration regeneration stat further awakened that effect. She started thinking of an appropriate treatment method for Ere, who has a chronic illness in her heart where blood enters and exits.

“Today friends came…..”

“Friends?”

Always with the same conversation, Erica took out a magic scroll. A long sheet of paper filled with formulas fluttered.

Along with sentences glowing in the air, it emitted a faint current. A gentle breeze blew and a handful of green powder escaped from the scroll.

Erica opened the lid of the glass bottle. The powder seeped in and mixed with the sticky blood, then gradually solidified.

A few minutes later, she took out the small pill that had solidified from the glass bottle.

“Phew.”

Erica sighed faintly and continued the conversation. While handing over water and the pill.

[ Wake up. ]

I opened my eyes.

I immediately closed them again.

[ Don’t you need to see the girl you like soon? ]

“That’s true.”

For a moment, I felt a sense of discomfort. Unlike his appearance, Bloody has a shy personality and doesn’t often speak in front of others.

Then it means Erica isn’t here.

I looked around. It’s an empty lounge.

“Liar.”

[ I have never lied. ]

I roughly ignored him and sat up. The temporary bed creaked.

[ How’s your body? ]

“It’s fine.”

[ I reduced the medicine, but we should observe the progress and discuss further measures later. ]

“To the point of discussion.”

[ It’s your body. ]

Bloody flapped his wings. Red currents scattered.

[ You should cherish it. ]

“Thanks.”

I pondered for a moment.

I’ve been through too many situations for days. Unintended phenomena gave me a headache.

Anyway, for now, there’s a goal to look at.

“About the Behemoth synthesis method.”

[ Is it that thing you’ve been pondering lately? ]

“I didn’t do PvE. Do you perhaps know?”

[ Hmm hmm. There’s nothing the princess doesn’t know! ]

“So do you know?”

A moment of silence fell. A black cloak covered Bloody’s face.

[ J-just wait a moment. I’ll remember! ]

“You’re a foolish princess.”

I twisted my side hair. Should I search the library?

[ I remember! ]

“The synthesis?”

[ Th-that’s not it….. ]

“It’s okay, tell me.”

[ Behemoth is of the necro race. ]

Bloody flew through the air. Blue sentences were created in the air.

[ However, it’s different from the pure necro bloodline that has taken root for thousands of years. ]

“That means?”

[ They have a core that the others don’t. In that sense, it’s like the undead. To use an analogy, it could be called a side branch next to the main long branch that forms the axis. ]

“I could ask Mr. Reaper then.”

Bloody blinked his snow-white eyes. More formulas increased.

[ Do you mean the necromancer man? ]

“Yeah. That short silver hair.”

[ That man probably knows most of the materials and synthesis methods. However. ]

The formulas crumbled and letters flew through the air.

[ To synthesize a monster of Behemoth’s level, you’ll basically need corpses of the necro race. ]

“The assimilation rate?”

[ About 80% should do. ]

Then it’s an even better opportunity? It doesn’t matter since I was planning to wipe out the necromancer group anyway.

“You really are a princess. There’s nothing you don’t know.”

[ Heheh! Praise me more! ]

As I was roughly listening to him, the lounge door opened.

“You’re awake?”

I was about to answer but closed my mouth.

“You have no strength.”

“What?”

“Where did you use your magic power?”

“That’s….. right?”

Is there a need for a ranker sometimes?

“Then I’ll have to supply it again.”

“What?”

I smiled slightly. And I slightly opened my lips to reveal my fangs.

Erica stepped back.