episode_0017

The joint funeral had ended.

My father, who was by my side until yesterday, now resided within this small urn.

I gaze intently at the square, cold ceramic urn in my hands.

If you were to remove the three characters written in the center of the urn, no one would be able to tell that it belonged to my father.

Rare and sporadic contacts came from acquaintances and relatives.

This was because due to the sudden monster incident, most of these ‘acquaintances and relatives’ had either passed away or were busy with their own funerals.

In times like these, we knew it was better not to contact each other.

I walked home holding the urn in both hands, lost in thought.

As I walked, people barely paid attention to my state.

No, they couldn’t.

They were fleeing to shelters to escape the monsters or urgently calling someone.

No one cared that I was in such a miserable state.

Even though I was a top model.

I arrived at my studio apartment.

The familiar front door felt strangely unfamiliar.

I stood there blankly for a while, unable to recall the passcode.

Then, I suddenly noticed hand cream stains on the smart lock, allowing me to deduce the first number and finally open the door.

The house, left empty for days, was eerily quiet.

As if no one had ever lived there.

I placed the urn on the TV stand.

Sitting on the couch, I gazed intently at my father inside.

“…”

He had taken care of me alone after divorcing my mother.

He had never cooked before but learned by watching YouTube.

Every morning, he used to prepare my meals, but now he was gone.

Only the villain who abandoned him remained in this shell of a body.

I looked up at the black TV screen.

On the screen, the villain stared back at me intensely.

That’s when I realized.

My irises had turned red.

Unbelieving, I staggered towards the TV.

With a cathode-ray tube attached, I scrutinized my face reflected on the screen.

Red and unsettling, unmistakably the eyes of a villain.

It was as if the system had stamped me with the mark of a demon, distinguishing people.

As this thought crossed my mind, my face trembled.

Once again, my whole body itched uncontrollably.

Despite having smooth skin, neglecting baths for months emitted a repugnant odor.

I started scratching my body with closely grown nails.

Scratching turned into tearing.

But even as I tore and ripped my skin, glossy flesh emerged beneath.

Only layers of my flesh piled up on the wooden floor.

Exhausted from incessant scratching, I collapsed on the floor, curled up like a fetus.

It was a habit from childhood, during modeling preparations when times were tough.

Back then, just like now, I was insanely hungry, in pain, and exhausted.

Each time, my father would gently approach and stroke my head.

“When things get tough, talk to me.”

Even though I never showed my pain to my father, strangely, he always seemed to know whenever I was struggling.

And with a kind smile, he would say,

“No matter what happens, Dad is always on your side. So don’t suffer alone; talk to me.”

Even if you were a thief.

Even if you were a murderer.

“What if I killed Dad…?”

I asked softly.

But as expected, just like in the department store, there was no response.

Outside on the balcony, the red sun dripped like lava.

Its twilight glow enveloped my face, allowing me to open my eyes once more.

A rumbling sound emanated from my stomach.

Since the accident, I hadn’t eaten anything, so it was natural.

Ignoring the sound, I wanted to fall asleep right there.

However, my uncontrollable hunger surpassed sleep, causing my stomach to ache.

“Is it hunger that makes me sick to my stomach?”

The flesh regenerates, and the more it regenerates, the hungrier I become.

It’s no wonder that after tearing myself apart all day, I feel this way.

I got up alone today and headed to the refrigerator.

I’m sure there was nothing inside when I last checked.

But even knowing that fact, I instinctively pull the handle.

As expected, the top shelf is empty.

In the second compartment, there’s a protein bar that I left half-eaten because I got tired of it.

“There couldn’t possibly be anything to eat.”

And the moment I looked into the third compartment.

I stood frozen in place.

“This is…”

A lunchbox.

One that I know well.

Surely there was nothing at home…

Did my father come and prepare this while I was at work?

My hand holding the lunchbox trembles.

I swallow dry saliva and open the lid.

And inside…

There are sugar-pickled tomatoes.

A food I’ve loved since I was young.

Since becoming a model, I could hardly eat it because I couldn’t sprinkle sugar on top anymore…

Sometimes, even after becoming an adult, my father made it for me.

Every time he did, I would tell him,

“Don’t sprinkle sugar!”

Whenever I got annoyed like that, my father always said,

“Why – It’s your favorite.”

“You’re not a child anymore, and I don’t eat this kind of thing now.”

“In my eyes, our daughter is still a child.”

He would say with a chuckle.

Maybe he’s right. Maybe I still am a child.

That’s why I didn’t know what was more important than appearance.

With hands stained with blood, I picked up a tomato.

And slowly put it into my mouth.

The tangy tomato envelops my parched tongue.

It’s fresh and sweet.

With the long-absent food, a tingling pain is felt on my jaw.

But I continue to eat the tomatoes with trembling hands, paying no attention to such sensations.

Hot tears flow down my cheeks.

My father only thought of me even on the day before his death.

I clung to the refrigerator and collapsed in despair.

My legs lost their strength, and I couldn’t stand any longer.

With my body covered in blood, I ate the expired tomatoes as if I were insane.

That was the happiest final memory of my life.

Eating my father’s last meal in this world…

“Angelic Hand, end.”

The warm noon sunlight pours onto my face.

Blinded by the radiance, I grimace.

Grasping my heavy head, I manage to get up.

My body lies sprawled on the office sofa.

“What… Did I fall asleep?”

Frantically scanning around while lifting the blanket covering me.

The girl who was sitting across from me just moments ago is nowhere to be seen.

“She must have run away, after scaring her like that, she wouldn’t stay…”

A chuckle escapes me.

“Are you up?”

A voice comes from near my office desk.

With a feeling of disbelief, I raised my head.

It’s Moment.

She stands in front of my desk, working on something.

I stare blankly at the girl who is backlit, doing bartending without my permission.

She’s using my desk without permission; I should scold her immediately.

But for some reason, I couldn’t do it.

I couldn’t figure out whether it was because of the noon sunlight or the crimson drink in her hand.

“You seemed tired.”

“Huh…?”

“I fell asleep while I was in the bathroom for a moment.”

She says, placing a glass on the desk.

My face involuntarily scrunches at her words.

I fell asleep in that short time…?

I tried to make sense of the incomprehensible current situation.

But soon, I abandoned that thought.

I had forgotten about it while watching Shiho prepare things.

“Let’s begin.”

In a cold glass with white frost.

She pours bottled beer into the glass without removing the cap.

Creamy foam overflows.

She tops off the foam-filled glass with a full glass of red tomato juice.

The glass gradually stains with a vivid crimson hue.

Next, two small aspirins are added.

Then, a scarlet egg yolk is dropped in.

To finish, sprinkle two spoons of sugar.

Grade: ★★★★

Effect: Restores 50% of the user’s stamina.

Information: A special cocktail made with tomatoes and beer.

Its savory and refreshing taste is exceptional.

Usually, pepper or salt is added, but Shiho used sugar.

Received a bonus ★ thanks to Angelic Hand’s effect.

“Drink. It’s for you.”

Under the bright sunlight, a girl hands me the glass.

The cocktail is as vividly red as my eyes.

“Huh, even tomato-infused drinks are a thing now.”

Coincidence.

Eating tomatoes in a dream, receiving a tomato cocktail in reality.

Supposedly, the child in front of me is considered incompetent.

Yet, she chose this among numerous cocktails?

I grasp the glass.

And gaze intently at the red cocktail.

“…”

Doubts flood my mind.

However, I could soon erase those negative thoughts.

Because the girl gave me a gentle smile.

That smile felt nostalgic, like seeing my innocent self from childhood.

Young and beautiful.

Of course, not as much as I am now…

“You used my office without permission, so be prepared if it doesn’t taste good.”

I slowly sip from the glass.

Tomato pulp fills my mouth.

Normally, drinking juice right after waking up leaves a sticky feeling in the throat.

But…

Behind the fresh and smooth juice comes the cool beer.

Its crispness completely washes away the stickiness of the juice.

And then, the sweetness of sugar follows.

Perfectly complementing the lack of sweetness in the tomato.

“How is it?”

She approaches me, asking.

Shiho tucks my messy hair behind my ear as I doze off.

“I’d eat even your hair.”

In that moment, memories of my father surface from her.

The day he made breakfast for me for the first time.

Asking how it tasted while tucking my messy hair behind my ear.

“…”

My eyes well up.

Is it because of the cocktail I drank on an empty stomach, or is my chest burning fiercely?

That warmth gradually rises through my throat, coloring my eyes with tears.

“I don’t know what you did wrong to your father.”

Shiho speaks softly to me.

“But…”

“Any father would be sad seeing his daughter struggle alone.”

I stare blankly at Shiho.

She scratches her head awkwardly.

“I might have overstepped… Sorry.”

The girl smiles again and sits back on the couch.

I look at her and organize my thoughts for a moment.

Then, I slowly express my ‘organized thoughts.’

“You see…”

“I’ve tried all kinds of good drinks while working for the organization.”

The girl with short hair perks up her ears.

Looking down at the nearly finished Red Eye, I continue.

“I usually think the best way to drink good alcohol is neat.”

“So, I often thought cocktails were mostly cheap liquor. People tend to mix poor-quality alcohol to make it taste better.”

As I say this, Shiho’s expression turns gloomy.

She’s a woman whose emotions are easy to read on her face.

“But…”

I decide to stop teasing her and speak sincerely for the first time.

“I never knew something this delicious existed.”

I say this and place the glass on the table.

Gradually, Shiho’s face lights up.

“So… does that mean I passed?”

Shiho asks, clasping her hands together.

“Yes, consider it a deal. If you want any specific drinks, just say so. I’ll get them all for you.”

I reach out my hand to her.

A handshake of trust.

Shiho grabs my arm with both hands and shakes it vigorously.

“Thank you! I’ll definitely repay you when I succeed.”

“To the extent of what I owe… Sometimes, when I visit the moments, make this.”

Seeing her approaching, my face inexplicably warms up.

In this bleak world, I never expected to encounter such a warm-hearted girl.

The reason I could become callous was due to the world turning desolate.

Yet, looking at the girl in front of me, I feel like I’ve traveled back to my younger days.

I usually don’t engage in deals that seem like they’ll lead to losses.

However, this girl has shaken up my calculations.

Thanks to her, this time around, I’ve decided to invest just once in this short-haired girl before me.