Chapter 34: Surveillance that’s not surveillance

“I didn’t expect Lila to tag along as both a ‘guide’ and a ‘watcher’ when I tried to go outside again.

Maybe that’s why.

The suspicion I’d been harboring half-heartedly suddenly solidified into certainty.

“‘This confirms it.’

‘What does?’

‘The underground village… I’m their real target.’

‘Wha—what?!’”

As we walked toward our destination, I quietly shared the unease I’d been feeling with Serika.

The movements weren’t directed at all of us—just me.

The puzzle pieces to prove it were already gathered in my mind.

“Think about it. There have been too many strange things happening.”

“Hmm… Everyone was unusually friendly.”

“That too, but remember when we first met Lila?”

“Yeah, of course. She snuck in saying she was hungry and almost got killed by us.”

I nodded slightly and continued.

“But doesn’t that seem off? The underground village Lila came from had plenty of food. There were shops, a makeshift market… Why would she starve and come out? …! Oh!”

Serika gasped softly, covering her mouth.

Luckily, Levi was distracting Lila in the back, so she didn’t hear.

“‘Right… We saw bottle caps being used as currency in the shops. That kind of system means they at least have food distribution…’

‘Exactly. So why would a kid from that village wander outside like a stray and just happen to run into us? Too coincidental.’”

I added quietly, “Of course, it’s possible she really did sneak out, run into a monster, and end up where we were by chance. …But the odds of that are pretty low.’ And there’s more evidence against it.”

I lowered my voice.

“Serika. Say you were saved from certain death by someone one day. Your life’s savior. But what if that savior was an “infected”? Could you bring them to our base without a second thought?’ No way! Even if they saved me, I’d be wary and observe the situation first…! Right. That’s the normal reaction.”

Serika inhaled sharply.

It had all been too smooth.

“‘We were the ones who tried to kill Lila. Yet they brought her to the village’s only refuge? Even if they were grateful, the natural response would be to hide her or keep their distance.”

As I went on, Serika’s amethyst eyes sparkled, and she nodded.

“‘You’re right… Now that I think about it, the villagers welcomed us way too warmly.’

‘Yeah. Especially how they treated Lila. It wasn’t just a homecoming—it was like a soldier returning from war.’”

***

When Lila returned to the village, the residents had genuinely celebrated.

Like a long-lost family member coming home—some teared up, others hugged her silently.

Their faces were a mix of relief and joy.

I suddenly recalled the entrance to the underground village we’d passed.

CCTV, motion sensors, automatic barricades… ‘How could a little girl slip through such a tightly monitored system?’

“‘Plus, there were cameras at the entrance. And Lila just happened to sneak out, get chased by a monster, and run into us? Doesn’t add up.’”

I glanced back.

Lila was perched on Levi’s shoulders, laughing brightly as she playfully shouted, “Let’s go!”

Her expression held none of the cheeky defiance or curiosity of a rule-breaking adventurer.

Just the blind obedience of a “good kid.”

The kind who’d follow orders without question.

“‘S-so, wait…! Chanwoo! When Flacia proposed sex, was that also part of your plan?!’

‘…Huh?’”

My brain short-circuited for a second.

‘Wait, weren’t we just dissecting high-level conspiracies?’

‘Now suddenly… sex?’

“‘Right?! That was it, wasn’t it? You’d never fall for something so shallow! You played along strategically, right?’”

Serika’s eyes shone as she stared at me like I was some tactical genius.

‘Why did she look so pure and expectant?’

“‘Hah… Well, yeah… I guess.’”

Honestly, I’d just gotten hard at the time.

But that earnest trust in her eyes… Correcting her now would only hurt my image.

So, like a true strategist, I cleared my throat and shrugged.

“‘As expected of Chanwoo! You’re amazing!’

‘Hahaha… Yeah…’”

Sure, me… I was totally that calculated.

Then again, the last of humanity wouldn’t let something like lust cloud their judgment.

And so, to deceive her, I started by deceiving myself.

“‘A-actually, back then… I even leaked pre-cum from the tip to make it look real.’

‘Wow! You’re incredible… Gulp But that’s kind of a waste… I could’ve licked it up…’”

Serika and Chanwoo were walking slightly ahead, engrossed in their own conversation, when it happened.

“Wow! You’re so tall, Levi! It must be nice being tall!”

“…Is that so?”

Levi, who had been assigned as Lila’s watchdog under Chanwoo’s “request-that-was-more-like-an-order” just before their departure, was now carrying the girl on horseback under the guise of surveillance—keeping her distracted and occupied.

“By the way, Lila. I have a question.”

“…Yes?”

Lila blinked in surprise. Levi was usually a silent, emotionless figure who followed orders without question—like a machine.

She rarely spoke unless necessary.

So for her to initiate a conversation now…

Lila instinctively hunched her shoulders, her body trembling slightly without her realizing it.

‘Why… is she talking to me now…?’

As she tensely held her breath, Levi’s question caught her completely off guard.

“Why do you call me ‘Levi-nim’?”

“Huh? Oh, well… it’s because you’re strong, cool, and… you’re my savior…”

“But every time you say it, your lips tremble slightly. It’s like you’re swallowing your words—your pupils shake, too.”

***

“…!”

A sharp observation. Underestimating a combat android had been a mistake.

Under that piercing gaze, Lila’s previously cheerful expression slowly stiffened.

Her smile faded, her fingertips quivered, and even her breathing grew uneven.

Then, Levi spoke again.

“You can drop the formalities.”

Her voice was quiet but firm.

“Eh…? R-Really? But… I’m an infected…”

Lila’s reply was cautious, her eyes wavering as if seeking permission.

“It doesn’t matter.”

Levi’s tone remained flat.

“I’ve decided not to see Lila as a dangerous infected.”

Lila’s heart dropped.

She stared silently into Levi’s eyes—lifeless, yet filled with something resembling unshakable trust.

“Really…?”

Her voice shrank to a whisper.

At that moment, Levi gave a slow nod.

“At the very least… because Chanwoo-nim sees you that way.”

The words were short and quiet, but they brushed gently against something deep inside Lila.

For the first time, she truly felt it—someone believed in her.

And the origin of that belief traced back to a single sentence Chanwoo had murmured to Levi just before their departure.

Back then, right before assigning Levi to Lila’s side, Chanwoo had said:

“Levi. Even if it’s surveillance, don’t treat Lila like a monster. Understood?”

Levi had tilted her head.

“But Lila is an infected. In some cases, she’s a target for extermination.”

“I know. I’ve accounted for that.”

Chanwoo nodded before continuing.

“But still… she’s just a kid.”

“…What if she really is a spy? Frankly, I was planning to kick her or give her a few knocks along the way.”

“…You’re gonna end up in hell for that.”

Levi fell silent for a moment.

Her mechanical eyes flickered slightly.

“What’s… hell?”

“That’s not important. What matters is this—she’s innocent.”

That single sentence.

“If I’d been born into Lila’s circumstances, I’d have done the same thing. To survive. So tell me, Levi—would you knock me around, too?”

“Th-That’s…!”

The words seemed to leave a deeper impression on Levi than expected.

“I’ll handle this myself. Just trust me. And… I’d like you to trust Lila as much as you trust me.”

Returning to the present…

“Lila.”

“…Yes?”

“I’d like to become closer to you. So please, call me casually, too.”

Lila blinked in surprise.

Then, with a slightly trembling smile, she carefully opened her mouth.

“R-Really…? But… I’m actually…”

***

At that exact moment—

Crack—

A faint vibration, like the sound of something fracturing, spread beneath their feet.

Grrrrr…

“…?!”

Levi’s expression hardened as she snapped her head up.

The atmosphere shifted instantly.

The warmth from moments ago was torn apart as if by an unseen force.

The tremors crawled up from the ground.

“The earth… is shaking?”

“Ghk! Levi! It’s a burrowing lifeform! Prepare for combat!”

At Serika’s shout, a long, insect-like monstrosity erupted from the ground.

Its body was armored with a hard exoskeleton, and when it opened its maw, claw-like appendages dripping with mucus shot out.

“Kyaaaaah!!”

A subterranean lifeform capable of hiding even in broad daylight. In an instant, it lunged—straight toward Lila, who was still perched atop the horse.

“Danger!”

Thunk!

Levi twisted her body on instinct, shielding the girl while drawing her blade with her free hand.

This wasn’t surveillance anymore.

This was protection.

“I won’t let you. Get hurt.”

Her eyes glowed with a cold, steely light.