Sense of Kinship (6)

I entered the building.

Like all the other buildings seen since entering Yangju City, this faction’s building wasn’t in good shape either. Although there wasn’t any severe large-scale collapse, many small breakages and cracks in the walls were visible.

“It’s because it’s the frontline.”

Noticing my gaze looking around, Iris muttered softly.

“It’s the center of the faction fights.”

When I nodded, Iris laughed dejectedly and moved on.

“How long has it been since you’ve seen Erica?”

“It’s been a few months. Today is the first time since last year’s faction suppression team.”

“You must be going on a lot of business trips these days. You must be busy. You’re amazing.”

“Not at all. Iris, you’re working hard on area purification too. You need to take better care of yourself. Hoho.”

Erica smiled. The two girls resonated with gentle voices. A rainbow formed and flowers bloomed around them.

Suddenly, I felt bad.

That smile should only be shown to me.

“Is your jurisdiction in Gyeonggi-do?”

“Yes, yes.”

“Ah, are you the main figure who completed the group extermination in just a few days this time…?”

“It was a team effort. I just did my part.”

“Ranker skills that are unmatched and humility too. Perfect!”

“You’re too kind. I can’t offer you anything even if you say such things.”

Only the area around the two girls brightened. Flowers not only bloomed but scattered petals in the friendly scene.

Although I saw a business smile, that aside, my mood had already hit rock bottom.

“I worked hard following Erica too.”

Silence fell. The flower petals were pierced by blades and shattered.

Erica glanced at me slightly and then turned her head again.

“After just taking hostages and committing terrorism, what…”

What? What is it?

Why are you like this only to me?

As we walked, the door we arrived at opened.

As Iris snapped her fingers, torches around lit up, illuminating the dim interior. A round table was placed in the quiet atmosphere.

“Shall we take a look at what you’ve brought?”

“Ah, yes!”

Iris circled around the table and was about to sit in the middle seat on the opposite side when she staggered. The woman next to her hurriedly supported her.

“I’m sorry. I showed you an unsightly sight.”

“No, not at all.”

I tilted my head.

“Are you in pain?”

“What?”

“Iris.”

“I don’t particularly feel like telling you that.”

“You’re being cold.”

“It’s problematic to expect a good response after putting our subordinates in that state.”

As I pretended to ponder, Iris neatly ignored me and inserted the syringe next to her.

“This, this. It’s good.”

“Drug addict.”

“What?”

“Addict.”

When I pointed my finger accusingly, Erica hurriedly knocked my hand away.

Then she brought her mouth close to my ear and shouted in a whisper.

“Please don’t say such things!”

“What did I do? It’s true that she’s a drug addict.”

“Shhh!”

I got scolded.

Looking ahead, Iris was nodding as if it was natural.

“Good, good. You should educate a bad woman like that!”

“Iris, who sucks drugs in the middle of official procedures, isn’t any better, you know?”

“What can I do if I can’t live without this?”

“Your addiction symptoms are severe. Junkie.”

“What! If you keep this up, I’ll cut off the contract with the Association!”

Silence fell.

I took out my knife.

“Go ahead. Then I’ll charge recklessly like before!”

Magic power was infused. A blood-colored aura rippled.

Iris flashed her red eyes. The rifle rotated in the air and flowed into her hand.

The muzzle was aimed.

“Fine! Let’s see who dies and who lives!”

“Are you stupid? It’s you die, I die, you know?”

“No? I’m going to live! The leader of the faction won’t die here!”

Erica was fidgeting anxiously beside me.

Amidst the standoff, another whisper was heard.

“Why are you doing this again…!”

“You two were chatting well without me? Did you enjoy talking with Iris instead of me?”

“Really…! You know it’s just business greetings…!”

“I don’t know about that. The important thing is that you smiled at Iris.”

“Oh really! I can take care of you after this is over! I’ll give you all the petting you like so much, so please put the knife down!”

“I don’t need it.”

The woman next to Iris was also flailing her hands trying to stop Iris. However, her red eyes showed no sign of wavering.

“Iris. It would be better to think about the Association’s supplies…”

“I don’t care! I don’t need anything! I’m going to die and kill her! No, I’m going to live and kill her!”

“Iris, you’re the leader. Think of the subordinates who trust and follow you.”

“Ugh…!”

It was amusing to see her trembling. She was conflicting between her current emotions and future well-being.

Come to think of it, when was the last time we fought? Was there a reason I left her alive instead of killing her?

“Heavy Weapons Girl Iris. You’re still as violent as ever.”

“That’s my line! Living weapon!”

“Don’t call me by that weird nickname! That’s a name stupid people made up!”

“You’re stupid too! You used to be cool. Your personality changed but you’re still violent!”

Ah. I remember. Come to think of it, whenever we confronted each other, you were always the only one who got excited.

“You were smiling well from our first meeting today? Have you had something good happen lately? Was that kind of face so easy to make?!”

“Am I not allowed to be happy?!”

“That’s right! It feels like you’ve gone far away leaving only me behind!”

I knew that the emotions I was acting out had begun to devour me at some point. I just wanted to enjoy it.

Yet you still haven’t improved.

The goal I had been hoping for circled in my head. Suddenly, Iris’s arm that had just been pierced by the syringe caught my eye.

I concentrated space and let magic power flow. In an instant, as a blade was forming in the subspace next to Iris, my body leaned to one side and I lost control.

I felt a familiar scent. I obediently entrusted my body to the embracing touch.

“…Please stay still. I’ll pet you.”

“I said earlier that level isn’t…”

A soft sensation approached. Fatigue came over me without realizing.

Iris stopped aiming the gun and threw it behind her. It seems to be because Erica was next to her.

“You’re really annoying. It always ends so anticlimactically like this.”

“Iris, you need to kill your personality.”

“What?”

My ear was pinched.

“Ow…”

“Please stop.”

“I don’t want to? Erica, shouldn’t you be on my side?”

“Why should I? You always act like this, there’s a limit to shamelessness.”

I didn’t say anything. Iris slumped down in her chair with a patronizing expression.

“I should endure. Me, who follows order so well!”

I was about to say something but held back, thinking I might get scolded by Erica again.

The conversation continued. I twisted a lock of my hair and adjusted my posture several times. The chair creaked, making an old sound.

“Regarding firearms, they say they’ll be supplied in a few days. Can you understand?”

“Of course. The Association must not be in a good situation either. I’m truly grateful just for maintaining exchanges after the Spirit Realm invasion.”

The mutual flattery began.

I got bored and opened my mouth.

“Then how is it on Iris’s side?”

Iris glared at me. I glared back.

“It’s fine?”

“Don’t lie.”

Iris crossed her legs and slightly averted her gaze.

“Last week, the enemy faction suddenly broke through the demilitarized zone we had set in the northern area of Baekseok-eup and invaded. When supplies run out, it seems they can’t see things like ceasefire agreements.”

“And?”

“So we clashed. When factions fight against factions, even our compatibility is superior. We also thoroughly know the geographical factors.”

The demilitarized zone drawn in the middle of Yangju City collapsed, and the confrontation disguised as a ceasefire was broken.

“Thinking it was an opportunity, we pushed up, but the ruined city we encountered wasn’t ordinary. For several days, we only engaged in small-scale battles in squad units and then withdrew the faction.”

“It would have been good if you could have done carpet bombing, right?”

“Ha. Exactly. There wouldn’t be civilians either, so we’d just have to be careful of interceptors! It’s nothing for me to neutralize fighter jets and anti-aircraft networks with my ability… No, wait.”

Iris’s gaze momentarily turned to Erica and then chased me.

“I guess you missed those days when you would laugh like a madwoman while turning cities into wastelands with large bombers in the early stages of the incident.”

“Are you trying to set me up? In front of Erica?”

From what I heard, Erica doesn’t seem to know how infamous Iris was in the early days because she joined the Association late even after the incident.

Of course, in a bad sense.

“What?”

For a moment, Erica, who couldn’t follow the conversation, blinked.

I extended a helping hand.

“It was a ghost town, right? Full of bad guys!”

“Th-that’s right! A crime city itself! No civilians! No non-awakened!”

Iris nodded hurriedly. It was actually unavoidable. For her to survive, she had to quickly find and kill awakened ones with firearms stats in a short period of time.

Otherwise, in the early stages, Iris’s extremely high-potential body, which had lower stats than other rankers, would inevitably be targeted by other rankers.

“I-is that so? You did a good thing.”

“It’s nothing. It’s what any good person should do.”

I clapped at Iris’s words. Who knew she could put on such an innocent face while keeping her mouth shut tight?

That’s impressive too.