Ch.94Chapter 13. Superiority (1)

# Chapter 13. Superiority and Inferiority

Returning to her apartment, Leticia removed only her coat and collapsed face-down on the bed. Still lying there, she stripped off all her clothes in disgust.

“So stifling.”

Had the livestream footage stimulated people’s fetishes? Spandex tights perverts were wandering around all over the country. It was a kind of copycat crime, but different from ordinary crimes.

The citizens’ reaction.

When a petty thief steals someone’s property, they become a villain despised by all. But when a masked figure in spandex tights scatters money and treasures on the streets, they become a folk hero.

Whether they stole from the rich or extorted from the poor didn’t matter at all. When free money and jewels were rolling around on the street, what mattered more than rushing to pick them up?

Meanwhile, Hampton, the origin of all this chaos, had quieted down. Leticia’s Special Security Team had been working passionately, but the popularity of the “White-Haired Witch” also played a role.

Whenever people heard rumors that “the White-Haired Witch cuts off thieves’ limbs while they’re still alive and throws them to zombies as playthings,” they recalled Virginia raging on television.

To people, she was like a massive tiger or a huge python. Beautiful and impressive, but only when viewed through a screen.

Being acknowledged by such a woman was a pleasure even for Leticia.

“What’s the status of securing the outskirts?”

“Contamination completely eliminated: 20%, Recruitment rate: 4%.”

Leticia had three main tasks. First, arresting the tights-wearers; second, completely eliminating contamination sources in Hampton’s outskirts; and finally, organizing the regional reserve forces.

Zombies from unprotected zones, having run out of food, were gradually approaching the city’s perimeter. From the zombies’ perspective, they could just die and be done with it, but the city had to deal with the aftermath, which was no small task.

Virginia had proposed organizing regional reserve forces as a solution. She personally conducted street promotions to encourage participation.

‘This is not for Elsa, nor for Hampton. Stand up to protect your own families, neighbors, and property.’

With her pale skin, silver hair, and purple eyes, the beautiful woman stood out wherever she went. Compared to the 14th National Gendarmerie, which people barely knew existed, she was widely praised for her effectiveness.

Especially residents of the city outskirts, who had long been dissatisfied with the Gendarmerie’s handling of matters, believed Virginia’s promise that they would receive food exchange vouchers just for standing guard with guns near their homes, and joined the reserve forces.

“Is there anything the Commander can’t do?”

Leticia muttered while lying on the bed. Commander Virginia always took control of situations. When her superior, 8th National Gendarmerie Commander Camio Minto, put her in the public eye, it was partly a warning not to hide behind him and cause trouble.

But Virginia turned it into an opportunity. After failing to manipulate Camio Minto, she stepped into the spotlight herself and raised her personal approval ratings.

“She is pretty, I’ll give her that.”

Even casual parade photos looked like professional shoots because of her beauty and figure. The neat, orderly impression of her uniform won many people’s favor. New order, sharp justice. That’s what people called Virginia.

“She’s certainly beloved.”

Finally, Leticia put down her phone. She wasn’t jealous. Virginia belonged to a completely different world. In fact, Virginia was one of Leticia’s biggest supporters.

She just felt very sorry.

After that, Leticia continued to roam the night streets in her “transformed” state. The first transformation had been somewhat impulsive. Not only the 14th National Gendarmerie but also members of the 8th didn’t like Leticia and tried to check her power.

It was unavoidable. The Special Security Team was, after all, a task force drawn from various departments of each Gendarmerie. Subtle checks and balances, power struggles, differences in approach…

She didn’t dislike debates themselves. Sometimes they made her realize things she had overlooked. But the first day’s meeting was, literally, a disaster.

When discussing how to defend and patrol Hampton, everyone just proposed methods convenient for themselves. To Leticia, these were strategies full of holes. Putting collars on zombies and using them as guards would have been more effective.

But the officers insisted their proposals were correct. Leticia easily recognized this as an attempt to undermine an officer who had been “rapidly promoted.”

“Fine, let’s try it your way for now.”

That night, after the officers had smugly withdrawn with attitudes saying “Look at this upstart acting high and mighty,” Leticia “transformed.” Thinking this was for Hampton’s safety and to instill a sense of discipline in the lax military, she exploited their weaknesses.

The next day, each unit’s “regimental colors” was delivered neatly packaged to the security headquarters entrance. Each flag had “Stupid Idiot Bleh” written on it.

While the officers hung their heads in shame, Leticia performed a desk-flipping demonstration in the conference room. She actually wanted to smash the desk like Virginia had done, but that would have broken her wrist.

“We need soldiers, not parasites who just collect food rations! If that’s your attitude, stop wasting taxpayer money and get out now!”

All the officers begged for another chance, even submitting resignation papers, and Leticia added her own to submit to Virginia.

“I apologize, Commander. I made such a mistake on the first day.”

Virginia tore up Leticia’s resignation but filed the others in a cabinet.

“Growing pains are inevitable in a hastily formed organization, and I expected that. I also expected you would handle it well. If we continue like this, I don’t think there will be major problems.”

“Thank you.”

“But this self-proclaimed ‘magical girl’s’ behavior crosses the line. If she’s arrested, she’ll face public punishment. Citizens need to see what happens to those who mock public authority. I’ll have to consider a punishment worse than cutting off limbs and throwing them to zombies.”

After leaving the commander’s office, Leticia collapsed into a chair. She felt relief at having escaped a crisis, terror at what horrible fate would have awaited her if caught, and a certain thrill.

‘…This is fun.’

Leticia was hated, but the phantom thief was loved. Almost no one paid attention to her, but the phantom thief aroused curiosity. She was bound by the chains of reality, but the phantom thief escaped from all that.

Above all, she could freely mess with those who deserved it.

‘What crazy thoughts am I having? Get a grip!’

Leticia dreamed every night. While Virginia coldly looked down at her from above, countless zombies rushed to violate her. Captured Leticia struggled desperately, but her leather outfit was mercilessly torn away.

Then, Caesar dramatically rescued her. With nothing left to hide, she crossed over to a happy world beyond with Caesar.

After such dreams, she always felt empty. Leticia still slept naked. Even when morning came, all that greeted the lonely woman was a sweat-soaked blanket and empty bottles rolling on the floor.

Tonight would likely be no different. Leticia was sick of it all. She was just fidgeting with her phone, reviewing tomorrow’s tasks when…

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

Her heart pounded fiercely with each vibration of her phone. She thought she should calmly have a drink of gin first and walked toward the refrigerator, but her hand answered the phone before she could.

“He-hello? Caesar? Is it really you?”

– Leti! How have you been?

“Why didn’t you contact me! I was so worried! Where are you now? Are you okay? Are you being threatened? You’ve escaped from those bad people, right? What’s going on… has it been a month? More than a month?”

– I’m sorry I couldn’t contact you. Um, I’m healthy and doing well. I haven’t escaped from ‘them’ yet, though. It’s a complicated situation.

She wanted to bring the security force and retrieve him immediately. But she barely managed to realize that she “couldn’t know what situation he was in” and collected herself.

“Can we video call?”

– I’m not sure if it’ll work, but let’s try.

Leticia immediately switched to video call. Then she belatedly realized she hadn’t taken off her uniform. Screaming, she threw her phone on the bed and hurriedly removed her top first.

– Leti? Can you see me?

“S-sorry! Just a moment!”

Seeing herself in the video, Leticia nearly fainted. Her bra strap was slightly visible.

Thinking this was improper, she removed her underwear as well. At least now her underwear wouldn’t show. She just needed to keep the camera above her collarbone.

“It’s good to see you, really. I missed you. Thank you for contacting me.”

– It’s nothing. I’m doing much better now. I’ve been busy here and there. Got some decent alcohol too.

“I’m curious, can you show me your room?”

At Leticia’s request, Caesar showed various parts of the room with his phone. It was an extremely neat and tidy place. Under the candlelight in a lantern, she could see white tiles, a hospital bed, and a desk and chair with neatly arranged guns and ammunition.

“Looks like you’re in some kind of hospital.”

– Well, something like that. It’s comfortable, which is nice.

Though the call was brief, the signal seemed unstable and started buffering. In Leticia’s experience, once buffering started, it was best to give up for the day. The noise would only get worse.

“Can you hear me well?”

– …can…hear…you…see…

“It’s a shame, but we should end for today. If there’s anything you need to say, message me. And contact me more often! I’ll… contact you often too.”

– …miss…you…

“I miss you too!”

Minsk must be having problems these days. Before, signals didn’t cut out like this.

Buzz. A message arrived.

– Leti. Want to meet? I have something I want to exchange.

Leticia was thrilled.

– …And talk about things we couldn’t discuss.

– Sure! You’ll bring alcohol, right? Do you need anything? If I can get it, I’ll try.

Leticia was willing to get him anything he wanted. But the items he requested were somewhat unusual. Some she didn’t even recognize.

– Leti. If it’s difficult, just one or two items would be enough. I’ll somehow…

– No, no! I’ll try to get them! I’ll contact you as soon as I do!

– (Photo sent)

“If only he’d angled the camera a bit lower.”

But Leticia was simply happy. The man she saw after a month looked more dependable and masculine. Above all, she was glad he was healthy.

“But these really look like pharmaceuticals or reagents. Why would he need these?”