Identity (5)

We came out of the Association building.

The explosion sounds that had been ringing several times had subsided, so small noises and a stuffy smell were vibrating in the air. In the dark night sky, flames were burning as if tearing through various places.

“Oh, you’ve finally come.”

I saw a man wearing a blue helmet in front of the building smiling. His eyes were still covered by the helmet.

The man bowed his head, then slapped his helmet that was about to slip off and adjusted his posture again.

“Under Jekyll-nim’s will, we’ve come to tour Uijeongbu.”

There was an explosion sound, and several buildings across collapsed, spilling debris brick by brick.

“Wow. Welcome.”

“You don’t call this scene a tour.”

Is that so?

When Erica said that in a cold tone, I went along with it.

“Ah, that’s right. It’s a bad thing.”

“That’s a bit different. Jekyll-nim clearly said that Aureli-nim wouldn’t say such things.”

That’s probably what she wanted to believe.

“Because she was firmly convinced that you would join our grand plan.”

The man laughed again. I tilted my head.

“So I came to greet you.”

“Thank you?”

“What’s there to thank for.”

Pain shot through my head.

“Why did you hit me?”

Erica glared at me and then returned to her calm expression.

“The preparations for the tour are all complete, and some areas have already begun. All that’s left is to leisurely walk around and watch the fires we’ve set.”

“Uijeongbu too? The Association building too?”

I asked with an excited feeling.

Surely, the Association in chaos would be worth seeing.

The man hesitated and then smiled.

“Yes. As you can see, we’re enjoying this place as well.”

Faintly, in the distance, laughter was heard along with the sound of destruction.

“We started by visiting the control facilities and factory areas, then went around and slightly poked at the industrial complex. The screams are thrilling no matter when you hear them. Well, there weren’t many people, so we only heard a little.”

“That’s a bad thing…”

I deliberately lowered my head with a gloomy expression and watched Erica’s reaction.

From her lack of response, it seems she’s considering how to deal with the man.

The man flinched at my changed stance, then became serious again after seeing Erica’s eyes.

“I see. To finish the story, the remaining place is the Association building.”

“Are you going to come?”

“Jekyll-nim said she would visit the Association building personally. That’s not our role.”

“I don’t like visits.”

When the man suddenly closed his mouth, I smiled slightly.

“Jekyll-nim went too far. It seems she sent you to test me. If I answer that I won’t cooperate, your life can’t be guaranteed since you’ve come this far, right?”

It’s because Jekyll has also taken on the role of a villain.

The man’s face hardened.

Erica showed a relatively relaxed expression at my words.

She’s easy to understand.

“The Association has already secured Aureli’s cooperation. We intend to continue the plan to lead negotiations with your group. Using major buildings as hostages and causing terrorism will only be disadvantageous for your side.”

The man hesitated.

I twisted my hair and blinked.

“I never said I would cooperate.”

“What?”

“I said I’d just show my face at the negotiation table, I didn’t say I’d stop the terrorism.”

After looking at the dumbfounded Erica, I turned my gaze to the man.

“How about you come right now?”

“Pardon?”

I pointed at several people flying in the air.

“Bring those people and attack the Association building now. Ah, I’ll give you weapons too.”

After thinking for a moment, I just cut my arm with a knife.

I created several daggers by combining the splattered blood.

“These will be stronger than the weapons you have.”

“Uh, well. But we have a certain order to follow…”

Seeing his hesitation, I tilted my head.

“Are you perhaps afraid? Do you value your life preciously despite how you look?”

“No.”

The man said firmly.

“I don’t consider my life precious. If the time comes to throw it away in executing this plan, I intend to let it go without hesitation.”

His voice trembled.

The conversation was racing towards its end.

“Then now would be that time. A life you’re going to lose anyway. Since you failed to persuade me, let’s resist hard. Here, take the knife.”

Erica calmly wrapped her hand in magical power.

The man mechanically gripped the knife in his hand.

His breathing was rough. His black pupils shook.

“I can… do it! For the benefit of the group, even if I have to give up this meaningless life. I, I can do it!”

“Is that the death you desire?”

I smiled eerily.

The man realized his impending fate and his hand trembled.

I exhaled.

“There’s nothing more precious in the world than life.”

I clenched my fist.

“Fear something, revere something. Struggle desperately to survive and preserve your life. Even if you no longer look human.”

I struck the man’s face. A heavy impact sound was heard and a tingling sensation wrapped around my hand.

The bomb stopped functioning and became trash.

“Cling to life.”

Because I can’t do that.

Watching the man screaming in pain, I chewed my lips.

“I hit that show-off.”

Her pupils shook as she looked at me.

So I opened my mouth.

“Praise me.”

“…You did well.”

Actually.

I was annoyed because my time with Erica was interrupted.

I disabled several visible personnel and exhaled.

They could be used as negotiation material later.

I lowered my gaze.

Blood was pooled on the ground.

“Looks delicious.”

For a moment, I imagined myself lying on the ground, elegantly licking it up one by one.

“You’re like a beast.”

“…Don’t imagine weird things.”

You know me too well.

“But it looks delicious, doesn’t it?”

I pointed at the blood with my hand.

Erica was horrified.

“…It doesn’t look that way to me. It’s dirty.”

“What is, the blood?”

“First of all, it’s splattered on the ground.”

“Is that so?”

I twisted my hair.

“If I lie down now and greedily lick all of this floor, will you get angry?”

“What?”

Stunned for 3 seconds.

“Yes.”

“Will you scold me?”

“…Yes.”

Erica sighed and grabbed her forehead.

“…What conversation am I having? I seem too calm…”

“It means you’re being influenced by me.”

She glared at me with a slightly reddened face.

I avoided her gaze and traced the puddle on the ground with my eyes.

“Don’t, don’t lick it.”

“Wow, that just sounded really erotic.”

My cheek was pinched. Erica narrowed her eyes.

“Ow. It’s stretching. It’s really stretching!”

I hurriedly distanced myself.

“But I need it.”

While watching Erica’s reaction, I was about to quickly lower my upper body.

My arm was grabbed and pulled away.

“Why are you interfering?”

“I told you it’s dirty.”

“It’s fine.”

“No, no, I’m not okay-“

When I applied force, Erica pulled me more strongly.

“…Drink mine.”

“What?”

“…I said drink mine.”

“Sorry. I didn’t hear well, what did you say?”

She glared at me with a reddened face, so I smiled slightly.

“You don’t have to give it forcefully if you don’t want to.”

“…I’m not giving it forcefully.”

“Ah, are you addicted? This is a big problem.”

“I’m not addicted either! I’m, I’m showing benevolence!”

“So that’s how you express letting me suck your blood.”

Well, it was an obvious result.

“That’s why I told you. I said it’s dangerous if you get addicted.”

“No, it’s really not…”

After watching her embarrassed appearance, I organized my thoughts.

“Then I’ll drink it next time when I want to.”

“Ugh… what on earth did I say…”

Hearing a voice that seemed to have given up, I turned around.

Her stats have risen quite a bit, so this is the final procedure.

As I was looking around a bit, a vehicle approached.

It was Alliance personnel. I hurriedly put on my hat and covered my mouth with my collar.

I heard a presence from the road across, and saw it was the Association’s corpse disposal team.

As I was blankly watching the situation unfold due to the sudden increase in people, the corpse disposal team led three blood-covered men and moved them onto stretchers.

They’re not dead, but it’s the corpse disposal team? Well, I guess if they’re physically disabled, it doesn’t matter if they’re treated as corpses.

Erica gestured, so I obediently got into the vehicle.

It was a big car, but there weren’t many people.

“Where are the others?”

“Ah, some were assigned to other regions, so that’s why.”

It seems they’ve gone through all the treatment procedures after the Alliance incident.

I slightly checked the faces of those in the car.

I don’t remember well, but they were people involved in the Alliance incident.

Suddenly, I shuddered.

I pressed my hat down a bit deeper.

It was cold.

My eyes met with Erica sitting next to me, so I avoided them.

At the end of the drive, the vehicle stopped.

As I stepped on the ground and moved my feet, I lowered my gaze.

I was nervous about making eye contact with these people.

Seeing that they’re not paying attention to me, it seems the information that I’m going with them hasn’t been conveyed.

You never know. Maybe they already know and are just acting.

A gun muzzle could suddenly be pointed at me again.

Ah, should I fight then?

But Erica is here too.

Then what should I do?

Again, grabbing people and… knives.

“Aureli.”

As I was walking among the personnel with hesitant steps, Erica whispered softly from beside me.

“Um, the Alliance members don’t know that you’re with them right now. I’m just playing the role of creating a place for negotiation.”

“Yeah. I see. But why suddenly?”

“Ah, if you’re not concerned about it, it’s fine.”

Our eyes met, so I avoided them again.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I thought you might be worried about their gazes.”

I didn’t particularly show it though.

“You know. I used to confidently carry out terrorism and cause disturbances? Now, you know? I’m being obedient because you’re soothing me well. Do you think I’ve become a coward or something?”

“That’s not it. Just…”

Erica, as if handling a child again, slightly removed my hat and placed her hand on my head.

So, I just stopped thinking.

And enjoyed her touch.