Sense of Kinship (3)

Erica let out a frustrated sigh.

Usually, Aureli would persistently cling to her saying she liked her, but today she was acting strangely for some unknown reason.

Her gestures. Her expressions.

She wouldn’t even meet her eyes, and seemed to be intentionally avoiding and keeping her distance.

“In front of the square. Yes.”

Erica hung up the phone and glanced at Aureli again.

She was twisting a lock of her hair and feigning indifference. Her pupils were trembling. Cold sweat was flowing.

“What is it this time?”

“What?”

Seeing Aureli briefly meet her eyes and then immediately avoid them, Erica was at a loss.

“Fine. Keep doing that, let’s see how long you can keep it up.”

Erica turned away with a sullen expression, leaving Aureli flinching for a moment.

What wind has blown this time? Do I have to put up with this for a while again?

She saw the corpse disposal team agents approaching. Erica briefly explained the situation and then moved on.

Footsteps echoed softly behind her.

That aside, the fact was that one more task that had to be done had been added.

When she opened the office door and entered, the Director, who should have been upstairs, was at his desk. As she approached, the Director fluttered a piece of paper.

“Ah, Erica. About this report…”

A moment of silence passed. The Director blinked.

“What, did you fight again? Didn’t you make up?”

Looking back, Aureli was peeking her face out from behind the office door. Erica let out a hollow laugh.

Why is she really acting like this?

“We didn’t fight. She must be having some strange thoughts on her own.”

Of course, about me.

Suddenly, a sense of deflation welled up.

“Still, treat her well. She’s been behaving so far.”

“What? Even with the Alliance’s terrorism, do you know how much I’ve been on edge?”

“Isn’t that nothing compared to Aureli’s past actions?”

Erica was at a loss for words.

“Anyway, you handled the previous necromancer group well. I saw the report that came up. The Alliance personnel are also nearing the end of their treatment process.”

“That’s good.”

“Any other contact from the Association Chairman?”

Since coming down to the Gyeonggi-do branch with Erica’s department, they had been in occasional contact with the Association Chairman – Lindergel, but lately, the headquarters seemed busy and there had been no news.

“The headquarters must be busy interacting with the top-ranked ones. That’s why government support is pouring in.”

“We’re relieved to have Aureli. The support has become substantial lately.”

It was partly because of being in the metropolitan area, but the standing of the number one ranker was on a terrifyingly different level.

“Lately, it seems like you’re always taking Aureli’s side, Director?”

“Taking sides? I’m just stating facts. The Association is a profit-seeking group, after all.”

Erica twisted a lock of her hair and turned her head slightly with a sulky expression. Aureli, who had been peeking, quickly hid behind the door when she noticed Erica looking.

Should I scold her a bit?

No, no.

I should just ignore it.

Erica blinked. Still, she couldn’t help but be curious about why Aureli was suddenly acting this way, given the time they had spent together so far.

She had been treating her kindly, and sometimes took care of her when she was sick.

It’s a bit embarrassing to think about, but she had even considered slightly giving in if invited to her house, as if she had no choice.

It’s absolutely not because she likes her. Nope. Absolutely not.

It’s because it’s a good opportunity to learn the weaknesses of a wanted awakened one.

Erica inwardly repeated “of course, that’s right” several times before turning her head again.

“Right. You called the corpse disposal team earlier.”

“A corpse presumed to be an awakened one was found. There was a torture device made with magic engineering technology around the neck, and traces of magical fragments scattered around the scene were also exposed.”

Erica was twisting a lock of her hair when she paused.

If the culprit happens to be from the magic field, the investigation scope would be broad because their build is common compared to other awakened ones. Moreover, high-tier awakened ones in that field strangely often hide and don’t reveal themselves.

It’s somewhat a reflection of the character’s personality.

For a moment, she felt a throbbing in her head.

“Any other points?”

“Aureli was at the scene, but…”

The Director slightly gestured behind him.

“What did she say?”

“She said she didn’t kill them, and doesn’t know who the culprit is.”

The Director was silent for a moment.

“Why don’t you call the team below to investigate slowly, and take a break for today?”

“Already?”

“Ah, I misspoke.”

The Director pointed at Aureli with his eyes.

“I meant to strengthen your relationship more. Isn’t there a cake shop nearby?”

Erica suddenly remembered hugging Aureli and repeatedly saying she wanted to know more about her.

Embarrassment came over her.

“……”

That aside.

If she remembered correctly, in the atmosphere of that conversation, an opinion to spend time together was born, but it hadn’t been kept since then.

“…I’ll ask her first.”

Erica turned around immediately. For a moment, joy came from getting a break, but when her eyes met Aureli’s, subtle emotions began to form.

Did I do something wrong?

Watching Aureli trying to turn around and run away in one breath, Erica leisurely opened her mouth.

“Stop.”

Halt.

Like a trained dog hearing that food is being given, Erica sighed watching Aureli tremble and creak.

The door got closer.

“What’s wrong with you?”

“What did I do?”

Really unbelievable.

“Are you going to keep playing around?”

Watching Aureli slightly avoid her eyes, Erica unconsciously put her hand on top of her head.

And the air was stroked.

“G-get away.”

Aureli pushed herself against the wall and widened the distance.

“Ha…”

You’ve finally gone crazy.

When did you act like you liked me?

When did you cry in my arms?

Suddenly, irritation welled up.

“Won’t you come here?”

“No!”

Watching her slip into the office, Erica reached out to grab her. Of course, she couldn’t catch her.

“You’ll regret this! Just obediently listen to me!”

Erica felt a sense of discomfort after saying that.

The relationship seems to have reversed.

Silence fell. The office’s attention was focused on her.

“Director! Erica is bullying me!”

You’ve gone crazy. You’ve finally lost it.

Erica first calmed her excited mind. She’s usually not this type of person, but she gets like this only when meeting Aureli.

The gazes around were also like that. She was known as the Association’s famous ranker, but what is this unseemly behavior?

To others, it would look like the two of them are having a lover’s quarrel while everyone else is working.

Erica quickly racked her brain.

And calmly lowered her voice. She opened her mouth.

“Three.”

Aureli was startled. She turned her creaking neck towards Erica and then hid behind the Director.

“Director! Director, please help me…!”

“Two.”

The Director smiled and slightly pushed Aureli towards Erica.

Aureli looked at the Director with a dumbfounded expression.

“One.”

Aureli ran quickly towards Erica with a terrified expression.

Silence fell.

The office rapidly cooled down.

Erica put her hands on her waist and sighed.

“Did I do something wrong?”

Aureli said nothing. She just kept her lips tightly shut and her gaze lowered.

She felt indignant. She should be punished.

Erica raised her hand and placed it on Aureli’s head again.

Aureli blinked. She quickly messed up her hair.

Silver streams scattered here and there. A shallow moan was heard, but she ignored it.

“I-I styled that…”

“You look good.”

“……”

The Director, who had been quietly watching, casually blurted out.

“You’re going too far.”

Suddenly, the gazes around were felt. Erica stopped her rough stroking hand.

Am I completely the villain?

“…It’s fine. You don’t have to say anything. You must have your reasons.”

What reasons?

Are there reasons for disrespecting someone?

“…I’ll buy you chocolate cake, so follow me.”

As they went out to the street, it became much quieter. Suddenly, her mind felt at ease.

Feeling the presence following behind, Erica exhaled.

She knew well that they couldn’t reach a state of complete mutual understanding. But she could vaguely gauge.

That Aureli was still inexperienced in dealing with others. The occasional forced tension or emotional aspects like the tears she shed showed that.

However, she wasn’t hung up on such aspects of Aureli. She had just been doing her best to embrace her lacking sides.

Perhaps this incident was also one of Aureli’s whims.

She was slowly seeping into her atmosphere. In the bleak and cold city, as emotions were fading, she was building memories together with Aureli.

The store came into view ahead. Looking back, Aureli was trying to pull the hood of her coat over her head.

She seemed to be struggling because it was too small and wouldn’t go on properly.

“Let me see that.”

Erica sighed and slightly tidied Aureli’s bangs. Then she pulled the coat’s hood, pressed it firmly on the crown of her head, and put the hood on.

Their eyes met. Aureli opened her mouth as if spitting out words.

“Don’t treat me well.”

“What?”

“Didn’t you hear me? I said don’t treat me well.”

A moment of silence passed. Erica’s eyebrow twitched.

“Does it make sense for you to treat me well? We’re supposed to be enemies.”

“What about when you were whining to me?”

“That’s possible because it’s me.”

This is unbelievable. Just when I thought we were having a conversation, she makes me want to give her a good scolding.

“I don’t have any kindness, you know. That’s why I do as I please. I cling to you, and I stab your chest with a blade.”

Eyes faintly holding light reflected.

“But you shouldn’t be like that. While I’m abusing you, you should resist.”

“Why should I? Is there a law saying I have to?”

“Because you hate me.”

Erica stopped in her tracks.

She did hate her. At first, she hated her extremely. But perhaps she had grown fond of her despite disliking her? Even when they were enemies, she had vaguely started to feel affection.

That’s because she faced a different side of Aureli. Her slight smile was pretty. Her innocent actions were almost cute.

In fact, she didn’t know herself. Had she gone crazy in this changed reality? To feel this way even when looking at a crazy woman?

But Erica decided to be honest with her feelings. She couldn’t ignore the sight of her struggling with her sickly body, gasping desperately.

In a relationship that had already become twisted, she reached out her hand. In a world that was already broken anyway, it would be okay if this kind of relationship crumbled too.

It was because she had already started falling for her.

Gradually.

“You’re right. I hate you.”

“That’s right. You should.”

“Then from now on, I’ll hate you even more.”

Erica raised her hand. Before Aureli could avoid it, she pinched her cheek hard.

“Ow, it hurts. It hurts. It hurts!”

“I really hate you.”

“Wait! It really hurts! For real!”

Keep whining. I’ll give you a good scolding.

“Do you admit you were wrong?”

“This is coercion! Aah! Ack!”

She pinched harder. Seeing tears starting to form, Erica smiled slightly.

“I’ll ask again. Do you admit you were wrong?”

“I was wrong! I was wrong! Let go! Please let go…!”

Seeing her kneeling down, Erica slightly let go of her cheek.

She had let her do whatever she wanted until now, so this much punishment was only natural.