episode_0024

“…”

It’s been a while.

Have I ever woken up so comfortably before?

I move my body to get up.

But my body feels uncomfortable to the point where moving is difficult.

It must be because of the fight with the two high-rankers last night.

It’s understandable that my body is riddled with injuries after receiving fatal wounds here and there.

“—!”

However, I soon realize that the reason for my discomfort isn’t the fight.

Most of the wounds have already healed.

What’s gnawing at me is not pain but ‘something.’

To find out what that something is, I lower my head.

Is it Sunye?

No.

She wouldn’t be here.

It’s the bartender.

The petite bartender with short hair.

She clings to me, shivering.

Every time she exhales quietly, her soft skin brushes against my thigh.

Her name was Siho, right?

Her resemblance to Sunye makes my eyebrows involuntarily furrow.

Did she bring me to her place when I was injured?

Perhaps she has some ulterior motive as well.

Disgusting.

Thanks to that disgust, I could push her away and stand up.

However, soon that thought vanishes from my mind.

It’s because I saw something in the girl’s hand.

A squirrel character band.

It sleeps holding something that looks just like itself.

Suddenly, my hand reaches towards her face.

I touch her lips, which are twisting in her sleep.

I slowly remove a strand of hair.

As I do, Siho sniffs as if smelling something.

Perhaps she smelled my fingers.

It’s like looking at a small animal.

“—?”

The nose that was sniffing gets closer.

Eventually, her small and plump lips touch my finger.

Her sharp fangs nibble on my finger.

Moist saliva lightly moistens my fingerprint.

I involuntarily grimace at the sensation.

And in my embarrassment, I twist my body.

Due to my movement, Siho’s body also shrinks.

Perhaps because of that, her previously closed brown eyes flutter open.

The young girl breathes out strangely, making a sound.

Her chest presses against my bra.

Thanks to that, I could keenly feel the animal’s breathing.

Eventually, Siho looks up at me.

With thin eyes, as if drugged.

But she wasn’t under any drug influence.

Her pupils dilate in disbelief of her current situation in my arms.

*

It’s warm.

I enjoyed the warmth enveloping my body and the gentle texture.

I breathed deeply, intoxicated by the sweet sleep I had long missed.

Each time, the fragrant soap scent tickled my nostrils.

Because of that scent, my teeth felt itchy.

I wanted to bite into the soap.

I lightly open my eyes.

Right in front of me are someone’s fingers.

And I find myself nibbling on them.

The distinct texture widens my pupils involuntarily.

I gaze up at the owner of the fingers.

The white-haired killer was looking down at me with a puzzled expression.

Moreover, my body was nestled in her embrace, our chests brushing against each other.

I quickly jump up from the bed.

Anna lets out a short sigh.

“You’re quite the handful.”

She says dazedly.

Could it be that Anna has been watching me nestled in her arms all this time?

Just thinking about it makes my face flush.

“Oh, don’t misunderstand. I was just trying to check your wounds. But you suddenly hugged me.”

I stutter awkwardly.

At times like this, my tongue feels frustratingly clumsy.

“What are you talking about? I understand you. Don’t say disgusting things. You probably hugged me while I was asleep.”

Anna pulls up her drooping sleeve over her shoulder.

Then, as if searching for her clothes, she wanders around.

“No, you were mumbling some strange woman’s name…”

At the mention of a woman’s name, she stops abruptly.

Then she looks at me with a somewhat serious gaze.

Anna’s eyes are still as murky as diluted ink.

“I’ve never been like that.”

It feels as if she’s threatening to kill me if I mention that name again.

I bit my lip and stayed silent.

“Where did I hide my jacket? Did you steal everything inside?”

“I was trying to get blood out… so I soaked it in the bathtub. Check your brutal belongings in the kitchen.”

I pointed at the bathroom with my finger.

She headed straight for the bathtub.

Then, she walked out leisurely, holding the soaking wet jacket.

Blood dripped onto the floor of the house.

Anna paid no attention and checked her gear in the kitchen.

Dagger, a glass bottle with a strange liquid, smoke bomb case, and so on.

Anna gathered the items one by one.

She staggered towards the sink.

She started wrapping the dagger with the newspaper on the kitchen counter.

Seems like she knows it’s risky to walk around openly with a knife.

“That… jacket. I’ll dry it in the dryer for you. You’ll get caught by the Association Security patrolling around carrying it like that.”

“You wouldn’t know.”

“You left our house, so how would you not know? If you want to leave quietly, act accordingly.”

I scolded her like a younger sister.

Anna didn’t even bother pretending to listen to me like a younger sister.

“It should be dry in an hour.”

Was it because of her staggering that I unconsciously said.

“…”

The sound of crumpling newspaper stopped.

Anna stared intently at my note attached to the sink.

Finally, she asked, “What… is your purpose?”

I nervously touched my temple at the sudden question.

“What purpose.”

“Most people see me and run away in fear. Why are you showing such useless kindness to me?”

For some reason, Anna’s pronunciation seemed to have improved.

She tore off my note and read it.

The note contained the Black Velvet recipe.

“That’s…”

I hesitated to answer for a moment.

Eventually, I decided to tell the truth since there was no need to hide it.

“I don’t want to see people dying in front of me anymore.”

“Ridiculous. I’ve already killed dozens in front of you.”

“I’m a bit reckless like you.”

Anna tossed the note aside and approached me.

She grabbed my hair and pulled me towards her.

“Just one gesture from me and someone like you could be killed instantly.”

“But you won’t do that.”

I looked at her with narrowed eyes.

Her calm pupils seemed to ripple slightly.

“…”

It was a gaze that seemed to remind me of someone.

Like when I saw Jisoo noona collapse.

Anna eventually let go disappointedly.

Then she sat heavily at the kitchen table.

“Good thinking.”

I immediately put her jacket in the dryer.

I looked at her silently.

“Is the sleeveless shirt okay? I can lend you my clothes…”

“Shut up, just return that.”

Anna cut me off abruptly.

“Fine…”

I bit my lip and pressed the dryer button.

Only the sound of the dryer echoed in the quiet house.

How should I wait until everything dries?

It’s awkward.

I glanced back at Anna subtly.

She seemed lost in thought, chin resting on her hand.

Should I make some food?

I have to go to work at the inn soon.

“Would you like to eat before you go?”

I cautiously asked Anna.

She shook her head without a word.

I reluctantly started heating the wok alone.

I took out onions and eggs from the fridge.

Ingredients I had bought with hard-earned money.

Seeing me like this, Anna made an annoyed expression and said, “Do you want to die? I said I’m not eating.”

“What nonsense. I’m the one who’s going to eat.”

I replied casually to her.

Anna coughed briefly and turned her gaze away.

She must be secretly laughing inside.

But does she know how to tease people.

The smell of onions and eggs being stir-fried wafts gently.

The savory aroma makes my mouth water involuntarily.

And it seemed like I wasn’t the only one affected by it.

Though she tried to hide it, Anna’s gaze gradually shifted towards me as the tantalizing scent filled the air.

I happily stirred my chopsticks, enjoying her gaze.

What would happen if I added spam here?

I coolly opened the can of ham.

Then, I swiftly sliced the snowy white meat and sprinkled it generously into the wok.

The meat added to the somewhat bland onion fragrance.

My taste buds danced with the flavor.

This is it.

If I add freshly cooked rice to this beautiful scenery…

The fragrant smell of rice reaches its peak.

I vigorously crush the hard rice grains with a wooden spoon.

Then, I slowly start stir-frying.

Once the rice grains turn slightly transparent, I add the final seasoning.

A sprinkle of pepper completes it.

Rating: ★★★☆

Effect: Restores 50% of the consumer’s energy.

Information: Fried rice made with simple ingredients found at home.

Would anyone not know that this tastes good despite its ordinary ingredients?

“—.”

Humming a tune, I place the dish on the table.

The clean dish holds neatly cooked fried rice.

I tuck back a falling strand of hair and skillfully lift a spoonful with the other hand.

Anna stares intently at me while I enjoy the meal.

“This… is an inefficient dish. It takes time to make and is high in carbohydrates.”

“That’s why incompetent me will eat it alone. You can just wait there.”

I close my eyes and playfully shake my head.

It’s such a pity you don’t know this taste, Killer Yangban.

Anna exhales shortly and retrieves something from her pocket.

A bland protein bar with no name written on it.

She bites into it with an expressionless face.

The sound of her teeth hitting the tough bar echoes all the way here.

Is she chewing on iron or something?

Seeing her like that, I involuntarily choke up.

Thanks to that, I remember the cola in the fridge.

Without hesitation, I get up and open the fridge door.

Suddenly, a strange sensation creeps up my back.

I quickly turn my head.

And I silently chuckle to myself.

It’s because Anna is leaning over the fried rice, her face almost touching it.

Like a zoo leopard eyeing a snack held by a visitor.

“What… are you doing?”

I ask with a smile, and Anna clears her throat.

“No, it’s just a new food to me, so I was merely observing.”

“This isn’t just a lump of carbohydrates. Look, it has eggs and ham, so it’s rich in protein too.”

I smile slyly and return to my seat.

Carefully, I push the dish towards her.

“How about it? Want to try it once?”

“…”

I coax her kindly, like a trainer.

After a moment of contemplation, she sighs sharply with a decisive look in her eyes.

“Curious? Just taste it.”

Pride…

I reach for a new spoon.

But Anna grabs the one I used and starts scooping slowly.

I watch her closely.

Soon, my homemade dish enters her red lips.

She hesitates with a suspicious look.

Then, her furrowed eyebrows relax, and she starts scooping the next spoonful.

Eventually, Anna calmly finishes the fried rice in the bowl.

I offer her a glass of cola.

Despite all the talk about carbohydrates, Killer swiftly gulps down the sugary cola.

I find her shamelessness subtly endearing and raise the corners of my mouth.

Throughout the meal, Anna doesn’t say a word, focusing solely on the food.

“—.”

The sound of the dryer finishing can be heard.

As if she had been waiting, Anna quickly gets up and hurries towards the dryer.

With her jacket in hand on this cold day, she heads towards the entrance.

I’m not sure why she’s rushing.

“Already leaving? Finished eating?”

I ask her with messy hair.

However, Anna doesn’t say a word.

She just climbs up the corridor railing.

The killer throws himself into the void without hesitation.

My eyes widen at the sight.

We’re on the third floor…

I rushed out into the corridor without even properly dressing.

And I look for Anna who fell to the first floor.

She was already far away.

True to her ranker title, falling from the third floor seems like nothing to her.

I stare blankly as she runs towards the apartment entrance.

Like an animal leaving after finishing its business.

My head shakes involuntarily.

Really, all sorts of people exist.

Let’s see if she’ll ask for help again next time.

I returned home with a sense of emptiness.

The smell of savory fried rice fills my studio apartment.

Feeling slightly hungry, I check to see if she left any food in the bowl.

The bowl was clean and empty.