Struggling (1)

Facing Erica at the front door was a fresh situation.

“I saw cigarette ashes earlier too.”

“I hid them, when did you find out?”

“I don’t like people who smoke.”

“I should quit right away!”

I slightly avoided her sidelong glance.

“Don’t worry. My race can’t get addicted to nicotine. I only smoke occasionally.”

Even so, it’s just extracted from magic herbs.

“……I see. I’ll be going.”

“Thanks for coming by.”

“See you tomorrow.”

Click.

“Phew.”

A storm had passed.

First, I lay down on the sofa as if collapsing from the exhaustion weighing on my body. My body, which had gone through countless tensions, anxieties, reliefs, and pleasures, was hard to handle.

“This doesn’t make sense…..”

While I was leading my sickly, barking body, Erica appeared.

I thought she was an angel.

I imagined her with a halo. That’s cute too.

Thinking about it, I only remember gasping with pleasure. Because that’s all I could do in the time that flowed quickly like water.

I blinked. So, has my house been discovered? Should I move?

I twisted my fallen hair.

If it had been such a dangerous situation, there wouldn’t have been a me gasping in Erica’s arms.

It’s a contradictory statement, but Erica was very kind.

Who cares if I’m discovered.

I inhaled the scent left on the sofa and got up. I stepped in and entered through the locked door, activating the elevator.

Soon I walked into a festival of lights facing me. Then I let my body be enveloped by the buzzing noise stimulating my ears.

They probably know well that they can’t kill me now anyway. Even if they bring in manpower, it would be disadvantageous for her side to turn into a hostage situation…… There wouldn’t be manpower in the first place. Anyway, this house is just a place that looks like I’m living here on the outside.

I pondered for a moment. Anyway, it’s time to reestablish the relationship between her and me. I should learn more about the outside situation due to the Spirit Realm invasion, and prepare for terrorism centered on other groups that have established themselves.

Because it’s very enjoyable to see Erica coming to stop me each time.

The elevator arrived underground and I entered a space where several lights were emitting light. I grasped the robe doll that was constantly being supplied with energy through a small hose and put it in a glass bottle.

It’s a doll. Literally a substance. This materialization is what happens when spirits that are not of this world lose their power.

[ I should have killed it right then! What a waste! ]

I smiled faintly at Bloody, who had somehow escaped from my pocket and was disturbing the air current.

Do you dislike it that much?

If I had been more interested in the Spirit Realm, would I have disliked Seran too?

It’s not an important thought.

Coming up to the ground floor and leaving the house, I felt the air current had changed slightly.

I looked at the sentence emitting blue light that had finished forming in the air.

3. Core of the monster, Behemoth.

The historical evidence is certain.

It seems to have taken the name directly from the amphibious monster appearing in the Old Testament. Was there something like this in the game era?

It’s because I didn’t do PvE. I only did PvP like crazy.

Anyway, to generate a monster-class being, gates or rifts are far from enough.

It needs to be directly synthesized.

Twisting my side hair, I turned my gaze.

A rapture unfolded as the sun disappeared beyond the horizon. The vast expanse of land was full of desolation, as if the aftermath of the invasion had not yet been settled.

At times like this, I might encounter him. Because countless invisible corpses are decorating it.

Although there are many goals that need to be looked at right away, what concerns me first is Seran’s regeneration.

“It seems she won’t be able to return to her original body.”

[ She looks good. It’s all karma! ]

Is that so?

“Is it a big deal for a spirit?”

[ Not particularly. Even when in the Spirit Realm, her body was small. Like now. ]

Then was the original size of the legion that mini-mini? I’d like to see that once.

It’s a meaningless thought since it’s already been three days since its destruction.

Just as I was thinking about the materials for Seran’s regeneration, the road I was walking on slowly began to ripple.

The earth discolored to black and flowers and plants withered.

Small patches of land were dug into rectangles here and there, spewing out soil. Tombstones engraved with unreadable letters appeared one by one in those places, and skeletons began to rise from the ground, emitting noise.

A huge shovel stuck into the ground. Short silver hair fluttered. The red scar engraved on the right eye flashed.

“It’s been a while.”

“Mr. Gravekeeper!”

He averted his gaze and tidied his hair.

“I’m the Lord.”

“Mr. Gravekeeper!”

“You don’t listen, do you.”

I twisted my side hair. Anyway, just looking at the appearance, he is a gravekeeper.

“Your gender is.”

“I’m a woman.”

“How interesting.”

“I find it interesting too!”

The skeleton legion spread out in a flash following the swinging shovel.

“Are you here to extract corpses?”

“That’s right.”

“It’s creepy! Necromancer Reaper!”

“I’m the Lord.”

Anyway, she’s a person with a strong identity.

Gray eyes turned to the side. The Reaper messed up her hair.

“It’s noisy.”

“I don’t hear any sound.”

“Of course. It’s a sound only I can hear.”

The aftermath lasts long. Just because a short war has ended doesn’t mean everything stabilizes.

“You seem to have blocked it well.”

“I didn’t do anything.”

“What about Seran?”

“I took care of that one.”

I pondered for a moment.

“Ah, is this a leading question?”

“I’m speechless.”

I smiled slightly and turned my head. A skeleton was flailing in the air with a sword. Is it slashing spirit corpses?

Anyway, it’s a good opportunity. The desolate land suits well with meeting this person.

“Seran has become mini-mini.”

I took out the glass bottle. The doll was drooping.

“I see.”

“What? Aren’t you sad? She’ll die at this rate!”

“It’s not my concern. I don’t feel any emotion.”

The Reaper swung her shovel. The black air currents from all around seeped into her shovel.

“Do you perhaps dislike Seran?”

The Reaper turned her head. The doll was reflected in her eyes.

“I’ve never thought about it.”

“You’re a bad person!”

“I’m just a mediator.”

The shovel sliced through the air again. All the surrounding skeletons were destroyed and decomposed into dust.

“I’m just a gatekeeper connecting the passages of life and death. I merely follow the natural order.”

A chill set in at the emotionless tone. Is this also an ability, if you can call it that?

“That’s amazing.”

“You don’t seem very interested though.”

“That’s true!”

I can’t just enjoy the present recklessly.

“You’re consistent.”

Everyone is.

“You seem to have changed a bit.”

“My appearance?”

“That too.”

The Reaper briefly took the glass bottle. Then after closely examining the doll inside, she handed it back to me.

“I didn’t expect you to stop Seran.”

“It just…… happened that way.”

There was no reply. Probably because she’s not particularly interested.

A huge current flashed once more. In the darkness that had settled, she tapped the ground twice with her shovel.

“Anyway, thanks to you I got a good harvest. This is a reward for that.”

A black cube was handed over. I received it and tilted my head.

“If you’re talking about the spirit corpses, it’s not thanks to me.”

“Then give the cube back.”

“Oh no! It’s too late!”

I stuffed the cube into my chest. The Reaper tidied her hair with an expressionless face and turned her back.

Still a taciturn person.

I headed towards the Association, turning the cube this way and that. Judging by the various magical formulas inscribed on it, it will need a different kind of magical power.

[ Whew! I thought I was going to die from suffocation! ]

“She is a bit that kind of person.”

[ Is conversation possible with her? ]

Conversation is possible. We just have extremely little interest in each other.

“It’s somewhere between being close and not being close…..”

While roughly agreeing with Bloody’s words, the Association came into view.

I went inside and flung open the office door.

“Director!”

“You startled me.”

The paper cup shook. The coffee rippled.

“Drinking too much caffeine is bad for your health.”

“I’ve heard that twice today. Everyone’s being too much.”

The Director smiled slightly. Her face seems more relaxed these days, probably because things have been quiet.

“I found a way to regenerate Seran.”

“Oh ho.”

The Director made an interested expression at the untimely silence.

“I can do good deeds too, you know!”

I pondered for a moment. Is saving Seran a good deed?

Rather than a good action, it seems to belong to the selfish desire of not wanting to cut ties.

It’s not particularly problematic. A spirit that has once lost its power cannot regain its original strength. Even a Spirit King is no exception. Moreover, because she was greatly affected by the last battle.

I put down the black cube.

“We just need to undo the magical formula on this.”

I grasped my fingers and lightly sprinkled blood-colored magical power. A red dagger was created and stabbed diagonally into the cube.

“You’re not refusing?”

“Anyway, isn’t this form the limit if she regenerates?”

“That’s true.”

“Then it’s good. Perfect for tormenting too.”

I took out the glass bottle from my chest while watching the Director put down her coffee.

The Director flashed red eyes. Black mist spread and filled the small space. A black dagger was created and stabbed into the cube.

Light burst from the cube and formed a magic circle. I gently placed the robe doll on top of it. Dark red energy temporarily surged and rose violently. Wind blew and currents whirled. The desk fell over and furniture collapsed. Paper sheets fluttered and made noise.

Thud.

“Ugh……”

The current subsided. A deep voice was heard. The smoke soon dispersed.

The doll opened its eyes. The robe fluttered and golden eyes emitted a faint light.

“Wh-what is this?”

I blinked. And waved my hand slightly.

“Nice to see you?”

“……Did you regenerate me?”

She was too small to see her expression.

“That’s right.”

Breaking the silence, the Director picked up Seran’s robe with her fingers.

“Being small makes it perfect to hold in one hand.”

“Wh-what……?!”

A string was hung on the window frame. The Director held a clothespin in her hand. Soon, two pins pinched Seran’s arms and hung her on the string.

Dangling.

“You look good. I like it!”

“Ugh…… What is this all of a sudden…..!”

I twisted my side hair watching the Director laugh. Anyway, is she regenerated now? I guess I don’t need to worry about it anymore.

I blinked. I looked around. A chill suddenly set in at the messy office.

“Orli.”

Suddenly my throat felt parched.

“You’ve made the office into a wonderful piece of art, haven’t you?”

A chilling voice stimulated my ears. I hurriedly turned around.

“Hello. You’re pretty today too. Like an angel. Beautiful.”

Erica half-opened her eyes and folded her arms. At her beckoning to add more, I hurriedly thought of the next words.

“Cute, lovely, w-wait a minute! I’m against violence!”

It was a meaningless struggle. The broom was swung.

It hurt.