Action Again (2)

I spent a few days staying at the Association.

I don’t know why. Maybe it’s because I don’t want to go back home after wandering outside.

Well, home is quite dirty.

After Erica cleaned it, I stayed longer and it became a mess again as if to show off, so I sighed and didn’t even look at it.

When I tried to clean, my body trembled instead, so I just accepted it and declared in front of Erica that I would stick to the Association.

She nodded calmly, but it was cute how she couldn’t hide her happy expression.

I just brought my supplies and came out, drinking a little bit secretly when no one was around. After following Erica around a few times and helping with Association work, I naturally became able to collect blood too, so it was good and I didn’t mind.

I tossed and turned on the makeshift bed, then threw off the blanket and glanced at the shelf next to me.

There was a crown that had turned completely red. The color gradually changed, but the shape and flat size remained the same.

So it was convenient to wear with the coat too.

…Hmm.

Suddenly interested, I put the crown on my head and covered it with the coat hood.

There’s no particular sensation though.

“Bloody.”

I called, but he wasn’t there. Where did he go?

We’re reaching the end of this plan, after all. I should bring it up casually.

By bringing it up, I mean just dropping it nonchalantly.

I heard the sound of the break room door creaking open, so I turned my gaze towards it and saw a red bead stuck in the door crack, fallen over.

[Ugh…]

“Where did you go?”

[Flapping wings is hard…]

Bloody blinked his eyes a few times and then rose slowly with a tired look.

[I thought I could freely glide with all the magic stones I collected.]

“You were practicing, huh.”

[Most of my power flew away after the spirit realm incident. It’s a shame to use the stored magical power too…]

I nodded.

[What’s today’s schedule?]

“They say it’s Yangju City. The demilitarized zone has been collapsed for a long time, so they said they’re going to subjugate the upper area.”

[Hmm. I see. Will you be able to go out?]

After thinking for a moment, I opened my mouth.

“Of course I can go out. Aren’t you treating me too much like a patient?”

[Of course. Your body isn’t getting better, is it? You’re just barely holding on with medicine and blood.]

Was he concerned about the seizures I had a few times before?

But I’ve gotten used to it.

It’s not that it doesn’t hurt. It’s not that I can easily spend my daily life either.

If I press it down, suppress it, it’s bearable to an extent.

“I’m fine.”

Without saying thank you.

[Aureli.]

I traced Bloody with my eyes while roughly adjusting the coat I was wearing with my hand.

[I haven’t asked much until now, but is the plan going well?]

“Of course. No problems.”

I’m tying up the loose ends of this relationship.

“I’m thinking of looking for a place. Hmm. Maybe I should clean up in advance too.”

She shouldn’t get hurt before raising her knife in front of me.

[You haven’t told me directly, but you’re planning to use that girl, aren’t you?]

“Yeah. Exactly.”

[Do you have a method?]

“I do.”

After waiting for a moment, Bloody opened his mouth again.

[So, that girl will use a knife to do this and that to you…]

Small wings fluttered and a blade shape appeared in the space, then it went back and forth, scattering the air currents.

[Is that right?]

“To put it simply, yes. The ‘this and that’ is a bit cute.”

[Hmm! Anyway, let’s move past that.]

Come to think of it, that’s right.

What method would be good?

Still, it’s a bit much for Erica to come with a rope and strangle me.

It’s not beautiful either.

Moreover, the point is in her acting with her own will.

[So what I’m saying is, will that girl have the heart to kill you?]

When I tilted my head, Bloody cleared his throat a few times.

[Right now, you two are completely… in a lover’s relationship, aren’t you?]

“Being killed by a lover, it’s certainly a romantic theme for me.”

[That’s not what I mean! Will that girl have the will to point a knife at you! Aren’t you two being lovey-dovey every day! If it were you…]

That’s right.

Yeah.

I looked at the air once and exhaled.

After racking my brain, I recalled a few words she had said in passing.

“I’ll make her have it.”

A slightly chilly wind blew.

Yangju City is always a collection of ruins no matter when you come.

Broken signboards, collapsed buildings, desolate streets. The setting sun.

As I got off the combat truck and set foot on the ground, my body shook.

“Arrived.”

Erica glanced at me and nodded.

“We’ve arrived.”

“Yeah.”

For no reason, just because I liked her voice, I hugged Erica tightly.

“Wh-what are you doing?”

She hurriedly looked around and then pushed me away.

“…You’re cold. You used to treat me well usually.”

“We’re in the middle of an operation now.”

Seeing her face turn slightly red, I deliberately pouted my lips.

Erica didn’t even look at me and went to the back of the car to gather weapons with the hunters.

[Are you enjoying yourself?]

I blinked and then answered.

“Of course. Every little action of hers is cute.”

[You’re still the same.]

Bloody, who was in my pocket, came out and met my eyes.

Feeling like he was about to say something, I asked in return.

“What do you think of me?”

[That’s sudden. Of course, my answer is always the same. I hope you wouldn’t be sad.]

“Everyone says the same thing.”

[But I’m glad that you’ve been smiling more often since meeting that girl.]

I twisted my hair without saying anything. Hearing a voice that was taking its time, I unconsciously focused.

[But… But, do you still intend to carry out the plan?]

When I blinked and looked at him, Bloody seemed slightly flustered.

[No, don’t misunderstand. I’m just purely curious if you don’t regret this happiness. I always respect your choices and judgments. I have no intention of stopping you at all.]

“Of course.”

After catching my breath, I opened my mouth.

“It’s just a momentary amusement. Think of it as a brief pleasure. Even my smiling, well, it’s just a feeling like finding a white jade in a pitch-black swamp.”

The fundamental issue isn’t resolved.

Is it just the problem of a sickly body?

What really throbs is the all-dark color I see when I open my eyes.

Someone’s stinging gaze, the mental illness that always drives me to self-hatred, two legs that can’t even stand up.

Because I don’t even have the will to live, it was hard even to sustain this miserable life.

[I understand. Thank you for answering.]

“There’s no need for that between us. Aren’t you being too polite?”

[Relationships always require being considerate of the other. I just want to tell you that I’m proud of you for hanging in there until now.]

I recalled when I was hostile towards Jekyll.

…Still, the reason I can smile.

What was it that I wanted?

I smiled slightly and nodded roughly to Bloody.

We passed the faction building and accompanied Iris. A little ahead, a small forest was visible in a somewhat wide field.

“You came early?”

“I didn’t want to come, but Erica woke me up early.”

“I dislike oversleepers.”

After contemplating, I opened my mouth.

“Then I should wake up late from now on.”

“…Are you still sulking?”

“No, I’m mature so I don’t sulk easily like someone.”

A hand approached, so I slightly distanced myself.

“This.”

But the hand that pinched my cheek more quickly caused pain.

“Ow! …Ah. Only children are good at making loud noises.”

Erica showed doubtful eyes.

When I smiled slightly, she made a sulky expression.

Perhaps displeased with the public display of affection, Iris glared and changed the subject.

“Anyway, you came at a good time. We’ve cleaned up everything from Baekseok-eup, where the demilitarized zone was, to here.”

“Does that mean you’ve dealt with all the low-grade magical beasts?”

“Ah, yes. That’s right. We’ve long since caught the common ones and passed them on as raw materials for magic stones. We don’t lack food.”

When I looked back, there were a few Association hunters and what seemed to be faction group personnel that Iris had brought.

“Ah, come to think of it, I haven’t introduced them. These are new recruits we’ve brought in on our side. We demanded a large number from the government side after finishing the 2nd faction battle last time.”

“It must have been blackmail. The government situation can’t be functioning properly either. Did you seriously threaten to send even one bomber?”

Iris glanced at Erica for a moment and then took a ‘whatever happens, happens’ stance.

“Ah, yeah. I did. So what are you going to do about it?”

“What would I do? I don’t intend to do anything. I just said that because I was jealous of Iris-nim talking with Erica.”

“We only exchanged a few words? Want to taste a bomber?”

“I have a perfect countermeasure against bombers. I had a back-and-forth with someone who shares the same stats as Iris-nim a few days ago. It’s no problem.”

“This…!”

Iris just ignored it roughly.

I smiled slightly seeing Erica fidgeting next to me.

She seemed to be hesitating for a moment, trying to gloss over the fact that she had staged a hostage situation against the government, considering the relationship between the Association and the faction.

“Erica. Surely you’re not going to scold only me? Look at Iris-nim. How much she must have smiled while capturing many prisoners and brandishing bombers.”

“Uh, well.”

Iris looked at Erica’s reaction.

As I walked leisurely, after a few seconds of silence, Erica moved her lips with a slightly reddened face.

“Against the government, well. We might have done a bit of a hostage situation.”

Oh my.

“Uh, ah. Hey! Aureli! Kyahaha! I won!”

“Ahem! Compared to the terrorism you usually commit, it’s nothing, you know? Why don’t you reflect on yourself?”

I met drowsy eyes.

I also saw Jekyll sticking out her tongue and mocking from behind.

It’s annoying.

Erica should always be an existence that embraces me.

Is this how she’s going to be?

I was going to be quiet, but it seems that won’t work.

I pouted my lips and continued walking.