Americano (1)

During the group battle, Erica seemed to struggle for a moment, but there were no particularly serious injuries visible.

Looking at it differently, the few battles she had fought with me so far might have been more burdensome situations for her.

And as a result, the combination of her regeneration stat and recovery ability would have been enough to raise her combat stats.

That’s why I judged that now was the timing when she could handle my magic power. However, the aftermath of the battle and the after-effects of my blood-sucking would soon hit her.

Even as I was having these calm thoughts, she was struggling while hugging the girl.

“Yes, yes. It’s over. Please come to the front of the abandoned building. There’s a patient.”

Perhaps Erica was projecting her younger sister onto the girl she was embracing. It might be a meaningless thought.

But it was completely different from how she had treated hostages until now. Just because she was a pitiful girl, just because she was hurt, she showed behavior of a different kind.

Is that what precious things are to Erica? What I gave up but she protected.

And that will become the driving force that will allow Erica to confront me in the future.

There will be a time when we meet.

That younger sister of hers too.

After hanging up the phone, Erica running out of the abandoned building looked mixed with emotions. I wanted to speak to her, but I was a bit scared that if I did, she might get even angrier.

However, my mouth seemed to be disconnected from my self-awareness.

“You don’t need to worry that much. It’s not a serious injury….”

“Didn’t you hear what I said? I told you to shut your mouth.”

“I’m sorry.”

Well, that girl didn’t do anything wrong, she just trembled and stabbed me. Right?

And then got caught up in our love quarrel, had her neck strangled and her side ruptured in the explosion… that must hurt a bit.

Erica looked at me smiling slightly, then bit her lip with a sigh.

“You.”

“Hm?”

“You, I will definitely kill you.”

That’s a good mindset.

But it’s too early now.

“Once we get to the Association….”

“No.”

“…What did you say?”

“I said no.”

Her eyes turned cold.

“It’s not something you can choose.”

“It is something I can choose.”

“Ha.”

Erica ran her hand through her hair once. I could see a black van coming in the distance.

“You need to get treatment right now. I think it’s amazing that you’re even standing right now. Your arm isn’t even attached yet.”

“Who are you to tell me such things….”

The car wheels crushed the dirt road and arrived in front of us.

Erica stopped what she was saying and handed the girl to the woman in the car.

“It’s urgent. Get her treated as soon as you arrive. I’ll stay behind.”

The woman alternately looked at me and Erica during a moment of silence.

Yes, you think so too, right? It doesn’t make sense.

“B-But Erica….”

“Please. I’ll come a little later.”

“…Alright.”

I wish she had tried to stop her.

The car once again trod the road and moved away with noise.

The wind blew and hair fluttered. After a moment of silence, she and I, left alone in front of the collapsed abandoned building, looked at each other.

“Take it out.”

“What?”

“What else? Your weapon. That disgusting knife or whatever.”

Haa, I couldn’t stop a small sigh from coming out.

I tried to treat you so preciously, going to meet you directly every time, keeping you company and treating you.

And for a while longer, I’ll have to take care of your health.

“……”

Actually, in a corner of my heart, I understand.

Because she has what I couldn’t have.

For someone who has constantly struggled and stands at the crossroads, it would be strange not to move their body.

However, what we face is reality.

I can’t help but worry.

You are the only person. The one I’ve started to fall for.

I don’t know if this emotion is love. I don’t know if it’s admiration.

But my sincerity in caring for you is real.

That’s why I could only sigh again.

To you, pointing your sword at me.

“Why are you just standing there? Are you afraid? Why don’t you smile that smile you always wear?”

“Erica.”

“It’s nice to see that precious face of yours in a mess. And it’s going to get even more so now.”

The sword drew a curve and came towards me. I crouched to avoid it and pushed her slightly with my knife.

And then came the death throes. Distortion and bewilderment, the aftermath of emotions and shaking air currents.

“Uh, ah, ugh.”

Erica, who vomited blood with a gulp, collapsed to the floor as if sitting down,

With eyes that had lost their light, there was only an expression full of questions.

“Wh-What is this….”

Gradually, with a sinking voice, her eyes closed as if looking at me.

“You probably know too. You’ve been pushing yourself too hard since morning. Your arm hasn’t healed but you went out to clear a group.”

It’s not just the after-effects of blood-sucking. It’s because you’ve been overworking your body lately.

“You don’t need to worry that much. When you open your eyes after closing them for a moment, you’ll be in the hospital.”

“…What on earth, are you….”

It must be frustrating for her trying to hold onto consciousness somehow, but before long, the eyes looking at me quietly closed.

“Will it be transfer distance?”

[You’d need to walk a bit more for it to be just right.]

Honestly, princess carry hurts my arms. Let’s carry her on my back.

It was cozy. It was quiet.

It felt so good.

The hospital room was clean and tranquil.

I need to decorate my house like this too.

Erica’s general treatment is finished. As an exception, we’re now finishing up the suturing part.

The magic circle wrapped around her arm seeped into her skin with a refreshing sound. Beyond adhesion, to the point of melting in.

The blue color harmonized and condensed into a ring shape on the sutured part, then scattered into the air and disappeared.

It’s done.

In a few hours, it will be completely attached.

[You’ve worked hard.]

“Thank you.”

[…I mean this girl.]

That too.

I didn’t do anything.

As I was drinking coffee from a paper cup, Erica opened her eyes with a groan.

“Hello again. We meet again.”

A moment of silence.

“……Ha.”

Erica, who rubbed her face dryly with one hand while crushing the blanket, leaned against the back wall with a dejected laugh.

After a moment of quietness like that, I opened my mouth while reading the atmosphere.

“The treatment went well. The amputation suturing is also finished. Now if we just wait a few hours….”

“What on earth is this?”

Eyes soaked in fatigue contained me.

“What is this situation? Why am I waking up here again?”

“Because your body wasn’t well….”

“That’s not what I mean.”

A sigh.

After a few seconds of silence, the red lips opened again.

“You’re a villain and I’ve been confronting you all this time. I’ve hurled abuse, denounced you, and pointed my sword at you.”

“That’s right.”

“What do you mean ‘that’s right’? Don’t you understand what our relationship is? This, this now…. Ha.”

I tilted my head.

I put the paper cup to my mouth again. It’s vending machine coffee, I’m not sure if it tastes particularly good.

“Why are you saving me? Why are you treating me and being kind to me? Normal people don’t do that, right?”

“Do you think I’m a normal person?”

“No, ha. Right, that’s right. You’re not a normal person. You’re trash. A beast that’s not content with just killing people.”

That’s the kind of woman you are.

“I should have died several times already. Yes, it’s odd for me to say this myself, but you’re stronger than me. You were stronger. Shouldn’t all fights end with me dying?”

In a normal situation, if we were normal villains and heroes, if that’s what justice is, if that’s how the world is.

The natural course and expected result.

It was clear that my relationship with Erica would end with her death.

And I thought so too.

I used to think so.

“What is this? Just be honest and say it. That you’re just toying with me. That you just think I’m a fun toy to play with.”

“Erica.”

“Then I’ll accept it. I’ll play along and then crush you.”

I put down the paper cup and let out a small breath. She, marked by emptiness and fatigue, faced me.

She was still pretty. Beautiful in any appearance.

If I could have you forever, if I could have the righteous and benevolent you, how wonderful would that be.

“I’m just trying to fulfill your wish.”

Really.

“What on earth is that….”

“I’ll help you.”

Looking at her bewildered expression, I smiled gently.

“So that you can kill me.”

I forcibly pulled out Bloody who was peeking out of my pocket.

I took Erica’s hand and placed it on top of him.

[W-Wait, Aureli!?]

The soft, squishy feeling will be nice.

[D-Don’t touch me! Wh-What is this! Why can’t I move my body! Gyaaak!]

“I will commit more killings in the future, and you will have to investigate each time.”

“……”

“It will be hard enough for you to find me. Let alone having to kill me.”

Erica’s hand fiddled with Bloody. It seems he likes being firmly grasped in hand.

“So I’ll be by your side every time. It means I’ll engage in battle.”

It’s like a proposal. Of course, that’s not bad either.

But it doesn’t seem good from the standpoint of having a terminally ill lover.

“…Why on earth, why do you do this.”

“Because you’re pretty.”

I emptied the paper cup and stood up in front of her, who was at a loss for words. The chair scraped, disturbing the air currents of the quiet room.

“But not now.”

[Wait! Take me, take me with you too!]

“For a while, your body won’t keep up. You need to rest.”

Bloody, who had broken free from the restraint, flowed into my coat pocket. He seems to have grown horns from the tapping.

“For a few days, you’ll spend time resting with me. We’ll also check if there’s anything wrong with your body.”

“What could be wrong with my body… Ah.”

You remember?

I sucked a lot of your blood.

“You don’t have the right to refuse. You have to be with me.”

It might be selfishness. But it didn’t matter.

It’s a necessary process.

Before long, I’ll push her again. Severely, to the point where she can’t endure.

So an interim rest is necessary.

“Do you have another favorite cafe?”

To her, still looking at me without relaxing her expression, I smiled gently.

───Crackle.

The second sentence began to glow and open.