Sense of Kinship (8)

After finishing the material support, we moved to the Association by vehicle. Erica seemed sulky or angry, and I couldn’t help but feel deflated as she ignored me even when I occasionally tried to talk to her.

Although it’s an impertinent emotion, I was also happy in a way. My heart was pounding because I could see Erica’s cold side.

Taking this opportunity to observe Erica more, I kept sending laser-like stares from the seat next to her.

“How can even your side profile be so pretty?”

“Be quiet.”

Usually, she would blush, but this time Erica seemed to be firmly closed off, keeping her eyes shut without even turning her head.

“I’ve always said it.”

I raised my finger again. At the end was Erica.

“I have no intention of obediently listening to your words.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Even right now, I have so many words I could pour out.”

“Wow, that’s impressive.”

Despite saying that, she remained expressionless. There was no emotion in her voice.

The vehicle stopped. Watching her return to the Association without a word, I turned my steps and walked in the opposite direction.

It was night.

The buildings that had been destroyed after the Spirit Realm invasion and the desolate open spaces and areas were nearing the end of their restoration process. Important facilities had long been restored to their original state, and several cranes stood idle next to shops that seemed almost complete.

It was quiet. There were still no people. Even so, in the past, a few could be seen on the streets.

I looked around. I saw the cake shop I had gone to with Erica. I heard it was one of the first places to be restored, probably because it was run by an acquaintance related to Association personnel.

Walking a bit further, I saw a cafe. It was also a place I often went to with Erica.

The lights were off. The interior wasn’t visible. I saw fallen glass shards. A partially broken door was hanging loosely on its hinges.

I gently opened it and went inside.

I heard a small noise. After roughly spitting out some blood, I walked further.

“Ah… shit. There’s nothing to steal.”

A silhouette was visible in the dark place. A man wearing a mask was holding a knife in his hand.

I took a step. As the sound of glass breaking echoed softly, the man turned his head sharply.

“What! Who’s there!”

Ignoring him, I lowered my gaze and saw a man crouching while holding his head. Judging by his clothes, he seemed to be a staff member.

Suddenly, irritation welled up.

I steadied my breathing. It became uneven. An emotional voice spilled out of my mouth.

“This is the nest of my love.”

“W-what?”

“Don’t interfere with my love.”

I took out my knife. As I swung it diagonally, a blood-red curve flashed. The dark interior brightened for a moment and the man’s pupils were visible.

A scream rose. Smoke began to rise from the man’s torn chest as it started to corrode.

“Ugh, argh.”

I made the blade shine. I slashed the retreating man’s abdomen. A mixture of blood and bodily fluids spurted out weakly.

Lack of reason controlled my actions. My hand stopped. I kicked his abdomen. The man slammed into the wall.

“Does it hurt? Is your vision distorting? It’s confusing, right? You just attacked a shop that seemed to be doing what others do.”

The man let out a single scream and then focused on breathing. The man next to him trembled once, then lowered his hands and crawled on the floor. His limping leg left blood marks.

“You just happened to see a person, so you crippled his legs and struck his skull. And then you encountered me.”

The predetermined sequence comes like that. Darkness arrives unprepared. It devours the world and destroys the self.

“Fuck! What! What did I do wrong! You’re a criminal too! You’re just like me!”

“That’s right! Because I’m a bad woman too! Ranked 1st among wanted awakened ones!”

That’s why I dreamed of a brilliant death. I hoped to crumble in a crumbling world.

“I knew it well! I knew I was just being trampled on constantly! That I was powerless! Like you! Like me!”

The knife pierced the man’s heart. His intense groan signaled his final moment.

“But you know. I’m scared. It’s painful to stand alone in a dark alley. What should I believe and chase after? I don’t even know if the path I’ve chosen is right.”

I killed another person.

I exhaled. Tangled blood splattered on the floor.

[Calm down.]

“I could have sent him off cleanly.”

[I know. You can stop thinking about it now.]

“It’s hard to breathe. I’m tired.”

[You still did well. You’ve tried hard enough.]

I dropped the knife. I slumped down in a chair. The sweat that had run down various parts of my body irritated my nerves.

“I don’t want Erica to find out.”

I stared blankly into space.

“Who would like someone like me? Who would love me? Ah. I shouldn’t think like this.”

[Isn’t that girl there?]

“I don’t think so.”

Maybe everything was an act. The Director, Erica. Perhaps all the beings who had spoken to me.

“Even her blushing, and sometimes treating me well. It was really just to humor me.”

[Aureli.]

“Yeah! That’s right! Isn’t it! It, it was all lies! Bad women! I knew it all along!”

[……]

In the corner of my vision, I saw the spirit sitting quietly at the table.

“You, you too, right? You don’t like someone like me?”

[No, Aureli.]

“You saw it. Right? You, you just saw it. I killed a person.”

[Compared to the past, you’ve improved a lot. You’ve tried hard enough. Haven’t you grown?]

I still looked at the dark ceiling. The overwhelming sense of self-loathing crushed my mind.

“What’s the point of that? Again, again I’ll become a fugitive, kill people, be chased again.”

The world is still dark, but.

I know.

I can’t keep throwing tantrums forever. Time flows and greater pain constantly arrives. The walls I face become enormous.

I can’t cry in anguish every time that happens. I have to take steps forward, even if forcibly.

[I’ve watched over you for 4 years. We’ve spent time together. Even when the world was too dark, weren’t you searching for the meaning of life? Just by realizing love, dreaming of a cozy daily life, and constantly pursuing happiness, you are a precious child.]

“Y-yes. I am, I am precious. Hi, hihik.”

[That’s right. You are a sufficiently pretty and good child.]

I stood up.

With staggering steps, I pushed aside the surrounding tables and chairs and approached the man huddled in the corner.

“Are you, are you okay? You endured well. You must have been scared.”

I forcibly grabbed his hair and lifted his face. Eyes filled with terror came into view.

“I’m a good, good person. I’ll help you. What can I do for you?”

Silence fell.

[Aureli.]

“Answer me! I’m asking you right now!”

An urgent voice irritated my ears.

[It doesn’t seem necessary. The man’s life doesn’t seem to be in danger. Let’s go home for now.]

“Didn’t you say I’m a good child? Shouldn’t I help?”

[He seems a bit embarrassed, so. Isn’t being considerate at times like this the model of a good child?]

“I-is that so?”

[Yes. So calm down. Let’s slowly recall the breathing method I taught you.]

Someone like me doesn’t need breathing.

I stepped back, turned on the faucet I saw, and roughly washed my face.

I heard the sound of glass breaking. Footsteps grew louder.

“Oh my.”

The lab coat emitted a faint light. Green hair fluttered.

“I see you, Aureli.”

“Ah, hello.”

Jekyll looked at me for a moment and then smiled slightly.

Should I kill her?

“I was on my way to the Association, but I smelled a familiar scent and stopped by, and what do you know. It was you, Aureli.”

I roughly pushed a chair. Jekyll flinched and then sat down docilely.

“Thank you. You’re indeed full of consideration.”

“This is how a kind and precious child should be.”

Jekyll blinked.

“You don’t need to act.”

“What do you mean?”

“Um, well. I mean you don’t need to put on something that doesn’t suit you, Aureli.”

At the edge of my vision, I saw the coldly dead man.

“The strong of the era don’t need to maintain reason, do they? It’s easier if you accept it.”

Jekyll took out an electrified dagger. The corpse floated in the air.

“In other words, we’re villains. Like most top-ranked ones. And me, and you, Aureli.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. So you don’t need to add patience. It’s hard for you, isn’t it?”

The dagger cut diagonally across the corpse’s chest. Blood splattered and a cube was formed.

The cube was placed on the table. It’s red.

“It’s such a waste to let such powerful strength, which can control others, rot. We need to set an example for those who oppose us.”

The dagger rotated and was placed on the table.

“For those vicious ones who ignore us as we breathe heavily.”

Her green eyes shone elegantly. She started to twist a lock of her hair but stopped.

A tombstone fell. Fog swept through the interior. Skeletons rose and an eerie energy encompassed the lightning.

A huge shovel blew away the fog. Silver hair fluttered.

“So you were here. Aureli.”

“Oh my.”

“Ugh. Why is she here again?”

“After stalking me, hoho. You’re shy.”

“The crazy woman’s blabbering is making me more irritated.”

Reaper grabbed his forehead and then turned his gaze to me.

“Are you sick somewhere?”

“I’m fine.”

“I guess Jekyll was talking nonsense again. Just ignore her. A woman who failed miserably after starting a rebellion isn’t worth listening to.”

Jekyll puffed her cheeks. Reaper swung his shovel. Jekyll stepped back.

“Ack!”

“Don’t even think about plotting something again. You’re the one actually destroying the world. You’re the only one who considers coloring the streets with corpses as a noble act, calling it the hierarchy of the food chain.”

“Reaper, you just don’t understand.”

Jekyll smiled slightly.

“Our anger.”

“Stop it.”

I exhaled. It was hard because of all the dust.

“I’m just happy that you all talked to me. It was my dream to spend time with someone. Especially with acquaintances. So please don’t fight.”

In the past, everyone was busy and the world was noisy, so it was difficult to do that.

“I understand Jekyll. Because when I look at Jekyll’s green eyes, I can feel an overwhelming tiredness.”

I wanted to say more but didn’t. That was my own understanding.

“But I’d like you to be quiet for now. Because I’m not in a good mood.”

Silence fell.

“…Well, I’m sorry for causing a disturbance.”

Jekyll smiled slightly.

Reaper held out a magic scroll.

“This is the Behemoth combination formula you ordered.”

Blue sentences glowed faintly. My mouth began to tear mechanically.

“Suddenly, I’m in a good mood.”