Sugar (2)

Resolutions always came suddenly.

It had only been a few hours since I last met Erica. Exchanging meaningless, glaring looks, I unknowingly made a resolution.

It would be good if our relationship became a bit more strained like this.

There were times when I lost control of the relationship. Times when I succumbed to pleasure and entertainment, becoming her slave.

But now the relationship has normalized.

There were times when questions arose about whether I should be happy about this situation where Erica is distancing herself from me just because I irritated her over something trivial.

Because someone starting to dislike someone often begins with a small trigger.

“Hehe… I like your face when you hate me too…”

While walking down the cool street, I slapped both my cheeks loudly and then acted out a calm face again.

I shouldn’t be swayed by momentary emotions. Even today, I’ve gone through several bouts of mental illness.

I can’t let go of the lifeline until my fragile mind stops screaming and resigns itself.

[Why don’t you be honest?]

“Heh… I don’t know what you mean.”

I like her disgusted face too… but I want to be loved as well. Her warm gaze would be thrillingly comforting in its own way.

Anyway, it’s irrelevant.

I just chose black out of black and white. I just picked the side that gets condemned.

After clawing at my face a few times, I stopped walking.

I looked around at the tough pieces of skin scattered about.

I picked up a hexagonal pillar overflowing with blue waves.

It’s the Behemoth’s core.

Crunch.

The third sentence glowed and then the core turned into faint smoke.

I raised both hands above my head. I floated the reddish crown in the air.

As the smoke seeped into the crown’s horns, I smiled slightly seeing the crown flash even more red.

The third goal was completed.

Two more sentences to go.

I put the crown back on my head.

I staggered forward a few steps.

“Quite a sight.”

“……”

I approached Erica, who was leaning against the wall catching her breath. Pretending a leisurely smile, I raised my finger.

“You look good!”

“…Can you be quiet?”

“Are you rebelling now?”

“Rebelling? I’m really incredulous.”

Her slumped posture was no different from the scene in my passing memories.

I maintained my downward gaze and smiled sardonically.

“It is rebellion. The rebellion of Erica, who only likes sweet things, like a child!”

“Why am I a child? Looking at your usual behavior, you’re the one… urgh.”

Erica vomited blood. For a moment, my arm trembled. I hurriedly stopped my hand that was unknowingly reaching out.

“That’s why you’re being punished by heaven for overdoing it.”

“…Shut up.”

“Your words suddenly got harsh. Children like that need to be punished.”

I held a dagger to her neck. The blade barely missed the carotid artery and shallowly dug into her skin.

Erica groaned.

“Hng… ugh!”

“Does it hurt? It hurts, right? It will hurt. That’s how my love is.”

I didn’t have sadistic tendencies, but the feeling of tormenting someone I love was, well… not particularly good.

It wasn’t just about correcting her.

I moved my lips while voyeuristically watching Erica’s face start to contort.

“I think it’s not just that. I can see that you always look tired and exhausted. Dealing with monsters and suppressing terrorism. Always ending the day collapsed in a corner of the battlefield.”

I nodded satisfactorily, recalling past memories.

Because I was aware that I myself was broken, I could somehow continue this forced and repulsive act.

“Frequent business trips and exchanges with high-ranking personnel. A tired mind and body filled with caffeine. And me, a time bomb that could explode at any moment next to you.”

Wow.

My love, an extraordinary thing, is invading your already busy daily life.

I looked at the snow-white eyes glaring at me while enduring pain.

Do you think it’s too much? Is that hard? Since when did reality become like this?

Suddenly.

Even this moment of trampling on her for a while to be trampled on in the end felt repulsive.

“Yet you have to keep accepting me. That’s natural, of course.”

Instead of the words I was about to spit out, a lump of blood was vomited. Pain came belatedly.

I staggered, seeing the sword that had directly hit my chest.

“…It’s okay.”

And even my lips began to convulse.

At some point, I noticed Erica holding her own neck, trying to stop the bleeding.

“If you’re… by my side… I think it’ll be fine.”

A refreshing voice rang out.

My brain stopped functioning. My heart raced violently.

“You’ve finally gone crazy.”

I never thought I’d say something like this.

“You’ve gone mad because it’s too hard.”

“Coffee didn’t use to taste that good… but lately, there are some decent ones.”

What are you talking about?

Why are you suddenly talking about coffee?

Was our conversation originally about coffee beans?

“Cake was just so-so when I ate it alone, but eating it with someone stupid makes it quite nice.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

I don’t think that’s something you should be talking about in front of the person holding a knife to your neck.

No more blood was flowing from her hand that was grasping her neck.

It’s because her regeneration stat had rapidly increased.

The training has paid off.

Who gave her that training?

“Ah, no? Is this also a conversation to lure me in, like the Alliance terrorism? You’re bewitching me, taking my love for you as hostage.”

I hurriedly looked around. I didn’t see any personnel rushing in.

If there had been such personnel in the first place, wouldn’t Erica have not faced the Behemoth alone?

“I’m not that bad of a person.”

“You were like that in the Alliance building.”

“I was back then.”

The snow-white sword pierced my chest once more. The blade that I accepted without resistance pierced my lungs.

It hurt.

“But not now.”

I think you’re training me. Surely back then you shook me up under the pretext of kindness, but this time you’re pouring suffocating pain on me. Right?

Do you need something from me? I’ve reached the point where I can’t even justify it as you humoring me anymore.

I hesitated. Suddenly, I felt the strength leaving my body. No, no. Wait. Let’s calm down. I don’t know how many swords are stuck in my body right now, but let’s calm down.

“I’m sorry.”

“For what? What are you sorry for?”

“For the condemnation I poured on you…”

Seeing her slightly avert her gaze, it felt like my heart was being torn apart. It hurts. Why are you like this?

Why are you apologizing for that? You shouldn’t apologize.

“You just wanted to have a conversation with me, right? Even if we’re in an antagonistic relationship, I suddenly think we could have at least greeted each other kindly.”

Pain enveloped my body once more. With an empty feeling, I lowered my gaze. Snow-white swords had pierced my body countless times. How many are there, five? Six? It hurts.

It hurts like I’m being torn apart. I want to be healed. I want to be held by Erica, cry and cling to her, whining that it hurts. I want to live as a slave, begging for forgiveness.

“Sometimes going to a cafe together doesn’t seem bad either… Ah, come to think of it, we’re already doing that usually, aren’t we?”

We?

Not you and I, but we?

“Your body seems to be in pain too. It might not be bad to visit a medical facility.”

“Erica.”

The wind blew. The sword pierced my chest once more. It hurt. But I didn’t think about pulling out the swords. It didn’t seem right to do so. Because it was punishment given to me by her, who always pours kindness and affection on me.

All I could do was vomit blood while thanking her for the punishment. And then kneeling down, apologizing repeatedly and bowing my head.

Looking at Erica, who was now gazing at me with kind eyes, I spewed out a red puddle with every exhale.

With my lungs, heart, and skin all stained with blood.

“Ah, but from your perspective, it might be a bit difficult. Medical facilities are also Association and government facilities… It might cause a commotion. Should I take a look at you separately?”

“Erica!!”

I staggered forward. With each step closer to her, the ten swords piercing my body clashed with each other, making a chilling noise.

I grabbed both her shoulders. I opened my mouth desperately.

“That’s not it, right? This is a joke, right? Tell me you’re giving me a mischievous punishment because I didn’t listen to you for a few days. Ah, that would be fine too. No, that’s not what I mean.”

“Does it look like a joke?”

The snow-white pupils violated my body once again. Kindness licked all the wounds on my body. Gentle hands tickled my hair, teasing me.

“It’s a bit sad.”

“Th-that mouth. Please…”

───Click.

The sound of a gun being cocked rang out.

“Thank you for your cooperation. We will now proceed with the execution process of the highest-ranked wanted criminal, No. 1 Aureli.”

A deep voice echoed. Several white uniforms were visible. The twin sword mark caught my eye.

Erica’s face hardened.

“To be clear, I didn’t cooperate. I just did what I had to do in front of a wanted criminal.”

“Is that so?”

A cold atmosphere flowed. What’s with that? It’s unfair to talk to Erica while leaving me out.

“I’d like you to step aside and leave the conversation for later. This is the only time we can subdue her in an unarmed state.”

With trembling hands, I touched each of the ten swords stuck in my chest one by one. It’s cold.

“As you know, I’m an Association member. The credit for capturing the wanted criminal is mine too. I’ll take her into custody.”

“Erica’s current condition isn’t good. If she resists strongly, the situation could turn unfavorable.”

That’s fortunate.

It’s fortunate.

No, it’s not particularly bad.

The feeling of being deceived by Erica again is thrilling.

Isn’t it great progress that she’s cornered me this much under the pretext of love?

Well, I don’t think it matters. I can tie Erica up later and examine one by one which parts were sincere words.

“If you persist like this, we’ll have no choice but to take forceful measures according to the Union’s policy.”

“Thank you!”

I turned around and smiled slightly at the hunters pointing their guns.

“Thanks to you all, I can start another thrilling hostage situation!”

I took out my knife.

It’s a good opportunity to confirm her true feelings.

Chapter 71 – Sugar (3)

“Hihi…”

Pain was like a familiar stimulant to me. It always fulfilled its role of awakening my mind, not to forsake my cold duty.

To me, who had been perpetrating death, pain was a catalyst. It was like a strong pressure that subdued the taste of happiness and pleasure.

Always.

Therefore.

The rough breathing I heard after a long time wasn’t bad