Still (8)

I arrived at the office after passing through the damaged corridor. Ignoring Lindergel, who was visible as soon as I entered, I sat down on a chair to the side. Even though it was the same place, it felt chillier than yesterday.

When I turned my gaze to him, he seemed quite surprised. Just as Lindergel was hurriedly trying to stand up from his seat, the office door opened once more.

Golden hair swayed.

“Mr. Association President.”

“…Erica.”

A look demanding an explanation of the situation was visible in Lindergel’s eyes. As I just smiled slightly, Erica glanced at me and then opened her mouth.

“I think you’re aware of the situation in the Gyeonggi branch. I should have controlled Orli better, who ended up following me on the Seoul business trip. It’s my oversight.”

Hmm, well, that’s right.

“Do you remember what happened yesterday?”

“…Yesterday’s events, I seem to have blacked out. After that woman barged in.”

Erica slightly bowed her head and then leaned against the wall.

Lindergel turned his gaze to me for a moment. So I expressed my disinterest by looking at the books on the bookshelf.

“After a brief battle, I managed to negotiate. On the condition that Orli can accompany me during the Seoul business trip, we agreed to restrict her actions.”

“Accompany?”

“Ah, yes. She seems to like me.”

Lindergel’s bewilderment was visible at Erica’s calm tone. So I just opened my mouth.

“She’s pretty, isn’t she?”

“You stay quiet.”

“Okay, sorry.”

I smiled slightly.

I could see Lindergel exhaling heavily after roughly gauging our relationship.

“…I see, so that’s it. You’re saying there’s no need to worry about it?”

He was muttering some incomprehensible words to himself. Seeing him like that made me laugh, as it reminded me of him from a few years ago.

“Yes. I’ll return to my original duties.”

“Right. It’s time for that.”

Lindergel downed the water bottle on his desk in one go. Water trickled down. He looks troubled.

“I think you’ve heard about the main tasks from the Director. Tomorrow is your last day of the business trip, right? Just focus on the new recruit training part of today’s schedule.”

“It’s a bit late to mention this, but it’s not even a week, just one day?”

“Well, that’s true.”

Lindergel coughed and then continued speaking.

“The new recruits, there weren’t many. Three? The team leader in charge of those boys and girls seems to have grown fond of them. As you know, you have quite a reputation, don’t you?”

“You flatter me.”

“Yes, yes. Anyway, that team leader said he wanted you to look after those kids. When I said you’d be busy, he begged even for just one day, so. Well. That’s how it turned out.”

“Is it someone you care about?”

Lindergel was silent for a moment.

“He’s a team leader. A guy who always tries to take the lead. I want to treat him well. You never know when he might leave.”

“You’re not like your old self who said to treat people according to their skills regardless of position.”

“That’s true too.”

Feeling it was about time to get up, I closed the books I was looking at and put them back on the shelf.

“To be honest, now that I’ve come this far, I can’t gauge what’s important anymore. I want to beg, ‘I’ll give you all the fame, position, money, just please let me keep my life.'”

I’m pretty sure there wasn’t a single intact place in the interior yesterday, but only the bookshelf seems to be in decent condition.

Is it a hobby?

I left the office, clutching my pounding chest. Long ago, I used to pull my hair whenever my body hurt, but these days, each day passes in a state of no thoughts or emotions. I’ve become indifferent to whether I’m in pain or not.

As I looked forward to the not-so-distant day, the passing time also felt slow. I wished it would be slow.

After walking a bit down the corridor, when there was no one but Erica and me, I heard a voice.

“You worked hard. Really. You weren’t hurt by what I said earlier, were you?”

“I like whatever you say to me.”

“…Me too.”

Right.

Well.

I wonder if I need to fill in the hardline measures I had in mind even more strongly.

“We just need to rest a bit and then get through today’s schedule. Shall we have a meal first?”

After having lunch at the Association cafeteria, we went down to the first floor of the Association. There was an office labeled Team 1, and as I was about to follow Erica in, I was blocked.

“Orli. Sit here.”

Three chairs were lined up in the empty corridor opposite the office door. Wanting to throw a tantrum for no reason, I shook my head, and my cheek was pinched.

“Listen to me.”

“…Okay.”

As I sat down obediently, she crouched down in front of me. Our gazes met, and Erica rummaged through her chest and took out a small rectangular box.

“I need to go into the office to greet people a bit, and then I’ll need to see the new recruits later.”

A capsule came out of the box. A square sticker was placed on her finger.

“Let’s just change your eye color for a moment. You can think of it as color contacts, okay?”

“How do you do that -“

Before I could finish speaking, the area just under my eyes was pressed firmly by her finger. I felt blood circulating around my eyes, and then it subsided.

The other eye was the same. Her finger tapped around my eyes, and soon a stinging sensation arose. As I naturally frowned, she caressed my cheek, so I just stayed still, grinning broadly.

“That’s right, well done. Want to see a mirror?”

It was a hand mirror. Glancing at it, I saw that my usual blue eyes were gone, replaced by white eyes.

“They’re the same as yours.”

“…Yes.”

“I like it.”

Our gazes met. Erica blushed and nodded slightly.

“Oh! I, I also brought a hat!”

It was a black hat that covered from above the nose. I guess I don’t need the coat hood anymore.

“Thank you. Is it a gift?”

“…Yes.”

I took off my coat and pressed the hat down deeply. It seems to hide everything above the nose.

“I’m happy.”

“…I’ll give you many more in the future.”

I caught a glimpse of her flickering eyes.

Though it’s the last gift.

I didn’t say it out loud.

When we opened the office door and entered, as expected, all eyes turned to us. Those who welcomed Erica with bright faces sent various greetings.

“How long has it been!”

“We’ve been waiting since we heard you were coming on a business trip.”

Although there weren’t many people in the office, I could tell that it was starting to become lively. Everyone approached Erica and began pouring out many words.

So I just turned around alone, pressed down my hat, and sat down on a chair visible in the corner.

It was cold.

After a brief time of exchanging recent news passed, a woman approached Erica.

“It’s an honor to meet you. I’m the one who asked you to take care of the new recruits.”

“Ah, yes. Team 1 Leader.”

The woman smiled slightly and nodded, then handed several reports to Erica.

“There’s a training ground in the basement. Today is also a training day. I’ve recorded everything from stats to main weapon builds in the reports, so checking them will be helpful.”

Erica nodded. The woman who was watching her hesitated and then opened her mouth.

“It’s truly an honor.”

“You said that earlier. Hehe.”

“Ah, yes. That’s right.”

Watching this, something boiled inside me.

It’s annoying.

When we went down to the basement, there were young-looking boys and girls in a wide indoor space. They seemed a bit younger than us. They look like they’ve just become adults.

“Hello, hello!”

Erica seemed quite flustered by their appearance of running over to greet her. As she smiled slightly, I wanted to throw a tantrum for no reason. Though I didn’t because my hat was pressed down deeply.

Could it be chains disguised as love? Trying to tie me down…

My lips unconsciously pouted.

“Hi, hello. Although it’s just for today, I’m the person who will supervise you all.”

“Yes!”

“I like your energetic response. Your original teacher who managed you all has some business, so I’ll be in charge.”

“Yes! We’ve been informed!”

I slumped down on a chair in the back, feeling weak. Even Bloody is busy in subspace today. There’s nothing to do but watch quietly.

After brief introductions, it was time for a demonstration of skills.

Erica lightly clenched her hand. A huge circular line encompassing the training ground was drawn on the floor and flashed.

“From here to here. Release the maximum magic power you think you can handle.”

A boy hesitantly walked forward and raised his arm. A long red sword appeared in his hand and flaunted its radiance. He grabbed the sword hilt with both hands and forcefully struck the center of the circle. Flames flickered at that point for an instant, then burned the ground and spread throughout the circle. The burning flames were blocked by the drawn frame of the circle, rose upwards, and then extinguished weakly.

“Huff… huff…”

“Well done.”

The boy breathed heavily with difficulty. Erica smiled slightly watching him. The boy brightened at her smile.

My body twitched without me realizing. Who’s saying well done to whom? You, you should only say those words to me.

I felt a strong desire to destroy everything here and monopolize her gaze. I suddenly felt the hat covering my head.

…It’s annoying.

Erica played with her pen on what looked like a report paper and then nodded.

“We’ll need to refine the flame stat a bit more. Like in this training, there are often times when you need to attack only within a limited range when working. Especially since you’re not fighting alone but with teammates.”

Erica waved her finger in the air a few times. The flames within the circle blazed majestically and then rose sharply. The curved flames drawn in the air intertwined with each other and spread widely.

“That’s why concentrated fire becomes more important. The better you are at accurately controlling and distributing power, the better results you’ll achieve.”

The flames left black soot and disappeared in the aftermath. It was a form that occurred precisely only within the circle.

“Focus on the magic power within your body, and accurately visualize the range in your mind. Then, as if releasing something boiling over, let it out.”

The boy nodded with difficulty while breathing roughly.

“Shall we try once more?”

“Ha, uh, y-yes?”

Erica pointed to the line. The boy hesitated and then gritted his teeth. Sparks flew from his outstretched hand and began to dominate the circle. Breathing sounds were heard. His hand trembled violently. His shaking legs braced against the ground.

The flames blazed even more.

A long training session passed.

“I can’t do it anymore!”

Since Erica was suddenly called away, only the boys and girls far away and I were left in the training ground. The three children were sprawled on the floor with rough breathing, seemingly exhausted.

“We’re adults now too, couldn’t you go a bit easier on us?!”

The irritating voice of a girl hit my ears.

What’s so hard about it? You should be grateful that you can receive attention from Erica.

I twisted my hair and leaned against the wall.

“It’s too hard, I can’t do it anymore. This isn’t training! It’s just labor! Sheesh, is a pretty face everything? She’s overworking us without any concern for our bodies!”

The girl who said that had scars and open wounds visible due to excessive magic use.

“But she’s paying attention to us and looking after us for our sake, we should be grateful. Teacher Getz also trained us roughly. Saying we won’t improve unless we do this.”

A boy muttered softly while looking at the girl cautiously. The girl glared at him for a moment.

“Hey. There should still be a limit, how are we supposed to rest when she pushes us so hard we can’t even breathe!”

The sharp voice hit my ears. It hurts. Should I hurt you a bit too?

“That’s why we’re resting now. Stop complaining.”

“Shut up. I can’t do it. I’m going to complain. I’ll tell her to leave and not teach us anymore!”

The young girl, whose earlier exhausted stance was nowhere to be seen, suddenly stood up and ran towards the training room door, stomping her feet.

Watching that, I got up slightly and blocked her way.

“What?”

“Don’t want to train?”

As I smiled slightly, the girl frowned more.

“What are you saying? Move out of the way.”

“I asked if you don’t want to train. Not going to answer?”

“Hey. I said move. Ha, then I don’t want to… Kyah!”

I smiled as I watched the girl fall after I slapped her cheek hard.

“It must be tough for the person slapping cheeks too.”

My hand kind of hurts.

“Gaah! Ha…!”

The girl who had fallen down stood up staggering. Then she clenched her fist tightly. Blue flames arose for an instant.

“You crazy bitch, how dare you hit me!”

Red pupils faced me. Wind arose. The flames that rose with the briefly swung fist struck directly at my chest and then flowed behind me like water. As the flames disappeared, a moment of quiet silence flowed.

“Wh-what. What is this.”

“You should have trained hard. Begging Erica to stop would have been a good experience too.”

Though I won’t let that happen since only I can do that.

After watching quietly, I took out a small knife and stabbed near the girl’s shoulder. Magic penetrated the girl’s skin, and the aftermath flew through the air of the training ground and pierced the ceiling. Red waves extending from the beam of light surged throughout. The space shook and trembled. The walls all around collapsed with a thunderous noise.

The girl let out a small death cry, vomited blood, and collapsed.

The two boys, pale with fear, trembled as they looked at the collapsed surroundings.

“Don’t worry. I controlled it so she won’t die.”

So I can punish her a bit more, right? Why did you mention Erica? Hm? You shouldn’t do that. After stealing all the attention that should have been directed at me originally.

I grabbed the girl’s collar, lifted her up, and slapped her cheeks. The sound of impacts echoed quietly in the room.

“Ugh…”

Seeing her groan, I thought she might have woken up, so I threw her to the ground again.

“What’s going on!”

The training room door opened.

As I turned my head, my eyes met Erica’s, who was frozen at the sight.

So I smiled slightly.