Whipped Cream (8)

The office I arrived at early was cooler than usual.

“I’m here.”

“You lack energy today.”

“I tossed and turned all night.”

The interior was quiet.

“Where’s Erica?”

“Probably sleeping.”

“She’s a sleepyhead.”

“There’s no one who comes to work at 6 AM, right?”

I looked at the clock. The hour and minute hands were in a straight line.

“Oh…”

He comes to work himself. Does he live here?

But his hair looks too lively for that.

It’s not really important.

“The Magic Branch made contact.”

I grasped the glass bottle placed on the desk. Brown liquid sloshed inside.

“They say that girl couldn’t possibly not be active in this spirit realm invasion, so they’re deploying a special force or something.”

What am I supposed to do? Kill them all?

I’m going to be busy today.

“Is it okay to tell me such top-secret information?”

“It’s more beneficial that way.”

I twisted a lock of my hair.

“You can inflict as many serious injuries as you want. Just go easy on them.”

Even the director must know the result.

“It seems those people don’t value their lives.”

“You know how it is.”

I opened the bottle cap and a rich coffee aroma rose.

“Those who’ve become too immersed in their characters and lost their minds.”

Well, that might be the only way to protect the city.

Why don’t they live like me? Committing terrorism when I want, loving when I want.

“Why don’t you rest a bit?”

The director pointed to the break room.

I pondered for a moment.

“I’d like Erica to be in front of me when I wake up.”

It might not be bad to have Erica wake me up.

“Good times, huh.”

“Not at all.”

“I’ll hint at it when she comes in.”

I smiled slightly and put the coffee I was drinking into my pocket.

Heading to the break room, there was a makeshift bed. As I grasped my tired mind, sleep came over me.

[ Will you be alright? ]

“With what?”

[ I mean Seran. ]

I lay down on the bed and looked at the ceiling.

Together with the director, we roamed many battlefields as a trio. We trusted each other’s abilities without doubt. We always occupied the ranking positions.

We bickered, but often fought too.

“I don’t know. I’m not sure.”

But it was fun. At least I thought so. Those two seemed preoccupied with arguing with each other.

I don’t want to think about it anymore.

“I should sleep.”

Today my mind is a little.

Very.

Painful.

“Wake up.”

“Mmm…”

I breathed heavily as if my mouth was craving oxygen. I rubbed my eyes hard as if there was fog in front of them.

“Are you okay?”

What I saw was a rippling uniform. At the nice scent troubling my nose, I immediately rushed in and hugged her.

“W-wait, you…”

“Just five more minutes…”

“You’re already awake, what do you mean five more minutes.”

“Sleep is coming on strong… I want to stay like this…”

I couldn’t help but smile brightly at the feeling of her hand stroking my hair.

“Promise you’ll open your eyes in a bit.”

“…Okay.”

Why is she being so nice? Did the director say something?

“He said… you seemed to be in a lot of pain…”

“Who…?”

“You.”

“That’s not true…”

As the position became uncomfortable, I pulled her hand. Feeling like she had climbed onto the bed, I leaned slightly into her embrace.

“Today’s Erica is docile.”

“…Are you in a lot of pain?”

“I told you I’m not in pain…”

Anyway, she’s a person with a lot of sympathy. She should take care of herself with that energy instead.

This will need education later.

“And well… They said you’re taking on a big mission today.”

“…Me?”

“Yes.”

How much did they tell you?

“That’s right. Like defeating a large monster.”

“……”

With the feeling of her stroking my hair, I even felt suspicious.

I wondered if she might stab my heart after lulling me into a false sense of security.

Such a happy death might not be bad either.

I opened my eyes to my broken mind. Maybe because I was in her embrace, I could only feel the sensation of her back.

“…I’m curious.”

“About what?”

“Why are you being nice to me?”

Watching Erica lower her eyes, I tilted my head.

“This spirit realm incident, and the usual training, and even caring about my health…”

“Don’t you want to do that for someone you like?”

“Again with those words…”

I smiled slightly at the feeling of my cheek being pinched.

“No matter what you say, I won’t spare your life.”

“Thank you.”

I rather wish she would misunderstand.

That it’s all a plan to manipulate her.

Flickering light filled the room. A moment of silence fell.

I blinked. Actually, I don’t care what the reason is. The essence remained unclouded within our twisted relationship. Even in times of comfortable atmosphere and cozy conversation, when it’s in the middle of a battlefield during a hostage situation, she points her sword at me without mercy.

So I was reassured. Paradoxically, I was happy that I could see her smile. I’m feeling pleasure at being able to handle the situation as I please.

I’m aware that I’m garbage. Receiving her caressing touch by taking advantage of her weakness of having a lot of sympathy.

The director must have said that knowing this too.

For my sake. So I felt grateful.

When I returned to the office from the break room, I saw several hunters and staff. It looks cool how they’re preparing weapons and getting ready to leave.

I followed Erica and got into a vehicle that had started its engine. It feels rough, so it might be a combat vehicle.

“Get some rest.”

“What are you trying to do while I’m sleeping?”

Seeing her glare at me and turn her head, I leaned slightly on her shoulder. As I was rubbing my cheek against her pretending not to notice, a hand came and pinched my cheek.

Inevitably, I detached my cheek and looked out the window.

“Aren’t you nervous?”

“It’s something I’ve done countless times, so.”

“You’re a pro.”

That’s cool. Really.

It might be the aftermath of the diligent life I’ve been living for a while. My eyes hurt a bit, making it difficult to maintain a clear mind.

As I was forcibly looking outside, I saw a dark rift forming. Countless flower petals were settling on the vast field visible in the distance.

The air currents distorted and space shook.

“Stop for a moment please.”

“…Aureli?”

The moving outside scenery returned to stillness, and when I flung open the vehicle door, the cool outside air greeted me.

I turned around and smiled slightly.

“I’ll see you in a bit.”

The door closed and I watched the vehicle drive away as I took out my knife.

My shoulders twisted and I unfurled my wings. I kicked off the ground, flew up, and raced through the air.

The wind was cold. The air currents were sharp. My floating body and wings were disturbing the air.

I spotted a man and landed on the ground. My wings fluttered once more, awakening noise.

“Lady Aureli.”

Seran turned his head and faced me.

“It’s nice to see you!”

“It’s been a while. That appearance too.”

I twisted a lock of my hair. Come to think of it, it has been about a year.

“Does it look cool?”

“It goes without saying.”

I wonder.

They’re wings full of scars though.

Seran looked at the horizon stretching far away. Knights were walking out in formation from numerous open gates.

“This is the achievement I’ve made in a year.”

The ground grew vines and the air was dyed green.

“My grand plan, which I created by grinding my bones after the great massacre, had not a single flaw.”

I nodded.

“If it weren’t for you, Lady Aureli.”

“Gasp!”

“Did you love the human realm?”

“No?”

I shook my head.

“Then I should have pushed forward earlier. I kept bringing offerings thinking you had lingering attachments and trying to bend your will, but it was all in vain.”

“You mean the red glass bottles? I feel a bit sorry!”

“It’s alright.”

Seran stretched out his hand. His rough touch held out a glass bottle.

“Rather, I’m more sorry. Because I only belatedly realized you were spending your days like that.”

I felt bitterness at his calm tone. Is that sincere? I’m glad he doesn’t seem to hate me though.

“When I saw that the only person who thwarted my first invasion had such colorless eyes, I felt emptiness first.”

“That’s sad.”

“It is.”

The glass bottle was fixed in the air.

“That doesn’t make sense. Someone who has endured and achieved something must certainly be revered. That’s what a beautiful world is!”

Golden eyes turned towards me. I blinked at the eyes filled with resentment and sadness.

“I respect you, Lady Aureli. I respect your life being targeted countless times in a withered city. I bow my head to you enduring with a body that coughs up blood and commits murder.”

“Thank you.”

“But that’s all.”

The glass bottle shattered and beads fell.

“No one acknowledges such a life. You die living like that. Isn’t it empty? Isn’t it futile? For me and for you, Lady Aureli, the world has long since perished! There’s been no value in living for a long time!”

As I grasped my knife, flowers bloomed around me. In the distance, gates closed and knights spread out in a flash.

“Law and order have collapsed and rotted. Flowers and light have become tangled and can’t even breathe. Darkness has arrived and only terrible howls remain, dedicated to tearing ears apart.”

“That’s right.”

“So I created a new world. I built a new project. A grand plan where humanity perishes and the spirit realm swallows the Earth!”

His eyes turned towards me. I saw black colors wavering in the gold-filled color. It was a light I had never seen before.

I smiled slightly.

Still, I was happy.

That he was doing this for me.

Seran held out his hand.

“I want you to come with me. We can extract as much blood as we want. Whether it’s from human corpses or extracted from spirits.”

For a moment, I twisted a lock of my hair and examined Seran’s face. Beyond the fluttering robe, I could see skin that looked split. Along with tired breathing, I saw cheeks holding heat.

I smiled slightly.

“Good job. You’re amazing. I couldn’t do that much.”

I grasped my knife and raised it. Faint lines stretched out and swallowed the knights. A storm raged and air currents tangled.

“How hard it must have been for you. To rise to Spirit King. How much magical power you must have researched and tried.”

I nodded my head sincerely. That was my own best expression of approval.

Seran was that kind of person. Passion and fervor.

“But I’m sorry.”

I pointed my knife.

“There are still things I need to know.”

Blood-colored rings rippled.

“So I can’t go with you.”

“Then!”

His face contorted. The split-like skin convulsed.

“We must part ways here.”

“That’s right.”

The ground shook and hazy smoke invaded the air. The earth split and giant thorns rose up. I flew up right away and took out my knife from my chest. Twisting my body, I circled around the thorns and rushed towards Seran.

Cutting down the huge vines charging at me, I condensed the spurting blood together. Grasping a giant red sword with both hands, I struck down on his shoulder. An arm was cut off and blood gushed.

I offered my abdomen to the swinging spear and spun my body once. I thrust my foot in and Seran fell backwards. I quickly widened the distance and pulled out the spear. Blood spurted out and pain enveloped my body.

“You’ll regret this!”

I shattered the sword. I gathered the red droplets together and condensed them into a giant hammer. Flapping my wings, I rushed towards Seran. As soon as his shield was raised, I stopped and immediately struck the ground right below.

The ground split and the earth went berserk. Green plants were torn apart and floated in the air. Seeing Seran stagger, I quickly shattered the hammer and condensed it into a scythe.

I closed the distance and swung. The shield was helplessly torn and he coughed up blood. I gathered the blood and thrust a double-edged sword into his abdomen.

“How long will you just endure!”

Seran frowned and raised his hand. The air currents shook and giant stems rose up along the ground. White flower buds shook and then raised pure white leaves.

A giant flower bloomed.

It spewed smoke and disturbed the air. Petals shooting up like a fountain filled the world. My breathing was blocked and I couldn’t breathe. As I clutched my abdomen and coughed up blood, long thorns pierced my abdomen.

“It will be hard for you! Now! And in the future too!”

I smiled slightly and cut off my abdomen along with the thorns. Blood gushed from the ruptured area. Red droplets swirled and led to a storm. Flower petals and smoke were swept away and air currents shook.

Clutching my abdomen, I fixed my knife in the air. I turned my body to expose my back, and pain arose right away. From my back, three long red stems spurted out with round fruits blooming in front. As they rushed towards Seran, they soon formed the mouth of a giant monster.

Green stems were chewed up in the mouth and flower buds burst. The giant flower was destroyed and trampled. A momentary scream rose and the ground where Seran stood collapsed. The earth crumbled and air currents shook. The air trembled and turned red.

Rain began to fall. The gloomy clouds spewed tears and swept away the black colors.

I flapped my wings and approached where he had been. Seran, who was staggering with his whole body torn, soon opened his eyes weakly.

“Good job!”

“Why on earth…”

I blinked.

“If you come with me…”

Black eyes that weren’t visible before craved light. Split skin spewed fluids, dirtying his face.

“A joyful… life…”

“There are still things I want to do here.”

Here.

“Things I want to know too.”

What love is.

“Who am I, that kind of thing…”

“You are… the savior…”

I smiled.

“Thank you.”

His robe got wet in the falling rain. The gloomy sky is still pitch black.

“It will be… hard for you…”

“I suppose so?”

“You’ll get tired… want to cry…”

“That’s right.”

To be honest, I’m not confident. I don’t know how much longer I can endure. I can’t gauge when streetlights will light up on this bleak road.

“But even so, for that…”

The movement of the robe subsided. Seeing him about to collapse, I smiled.

“There are things I must do.”

The robe came off and black hair rippled. Seeing him unable to even open his mouth, I took out a glass bottle.

“When you wake up, you’ll probably have a new body.”

“Still… doing as you please…”

Plop.

Seeing him collapse, I reached out my hand. His huge body was enveloped in light, then shrank small and turned into a doll wearing a robe.

I put it in the glass bottle and dropped it in my pocket.

“Haa.”

When I exhaled, white smoke rose.

“My eyes hurt.”

My vision started to turn red.