episode_0031

Clip-clop… clip-clop… ‘Fuck… I found it… I found it….’ Clip-clop… clip-clop… ‘To think it was in a place like that… Should I say the darkest place is under the candlestick…? It managed to hold out there for quite a while….’ Clip-clop… clip-clop… ‘But now it’s over… Because I found it… because I tracked it down… that damn bastard… that damn villain….’ Clip-clop… clip-clop……

Steps that swayed ever so slightly, for some reason. Yet, unwavering in their path toward the target, Club was walking up the stairs.

She had found the 13th, who she had been searching for. Club’s cat had found him for her. The 13th was only a few floors away. To be honest, almost directly above. The perfect position, if you were to say it was right above her head. Recalling that fact secretly irritated her.

It would be a position a normal sniper couldn’t possibly shoot, no matter what they did. No matter what gun they used, a sniper wouldn’t be able to shoot an enemy above their head, blocked by several layers of ceiling. If the 13th had chosen such a position with Club in mind, she might even have to praise him for making a rather clever choice.

‘But I thought he’d be holed up in some corner, hidden from my cat’s sight.’ That’s why the place she’d guided Spade to was also, inevitably, a corner or remote spot that cats would find difficult to access, and suitable for hiding.

It seemed the 13th had none of that, and was brazenly in the middle of the floor. Furthermore, the 13th, seen through the cat’s eyes, was sitting on a plush sofa, placed as an advertised product on the carpeted floor, fully enjoying his leisure and waiting as if to say, “Look at me!”

Thinking about it again made her blood boil. A mere villain. A mere villain…!

Clip-clop… clip-clop… clip-clop… Thud!

And finally, she arrived at the floor where the 13th was. Club opened the emergency stairwell door and stepped out onto the floor. On a sofa conspicuously placed in the middle of the floor, which was dim and utterly silent with all the lights off except for the emergency lights.

“Oh, you’re finally here. I thought my neck would break from waiting.”

The 13th, seated arrogantly with such a carefree attitude it made one forget the current situation, waved the cat’s paw he held in his arms as if saying ‘Hello!’, and greeted her with utter nonchalance.

The cat held in the 13th’s arms let out a “meow.”

* * *

“Villain 13th…! This time… we’ll see the end of it.”

Clip-clop…!

Emitting a sinister murderous aura, Club slowly walked forward onto the floor. Beyond her outstretched arm, a coin was already 『loaded』. Unlike simply scattering them in the air and shooting, the bullets she fired using her finger as a firing pin were — seven times faster and more powerful.

“Ah, haha, my, how scary.”

However, even in this situation with the ‘muzzle’ aimed at him, the 13th remained strangely calm. He was even still deeply settled on the sofa, playing with the cat. Though his mouth said “scary,” his demeanor showed no fear at all. Was it perhaps because, as before, he wouldn’t die no matter how many times he was shot or had his body pierced?

If so, then perhaps she should sever his neck separately, as she had attempted earlier? Even if he might survive with his neck cut, there would be no problem in incapacitating him. Rather, if only his head remained alive, she could take him and interrogate him. It might even be more convenient.

“Hey, Club. Where’s Spade?”

“…Why would I tell you that?”

“Be a little friendlier. We’ll be seeing a lot of each other from now on.”

At the 13th’s words, Club scoffed.

“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re going to die here. So this is our last meeting. I have no intention of ever seeing you again.”

A terrifying murderous aura flowed from Club. Perhaps sensing that murderous intent, the cat playing under the 13th’s hand startled and ran away. But it didn’t matter now. There was no need to rely on the cat’s eyes; she could see with her own eyes.

She would arrest that 13th bastard and finish this. She would put an end to it.

“Club, where’s Spade?”

At the same question as before, Club frowned. Did this man lack the ability to learn? Or was he simply trying to annoy her? Why didn’t he know that there was no intention or reason to tell him such a thing? Why was he focused on something else when she was aiming a weapon like this, giving off such strong murderous intent as if to shoot him dead at any moment?

Was he joking? Even if it was just a coin, the 13th himself had already personally experienced how much destructive power it possessed.

—How insolent.

As Club thought that, gnawing on her lip.

“I’ll change the question, Club. …Why are you here alone right now?”

What kind of question was this now? Isn’t it obvious? She was here because she had found the 13th beyond the cat’s sight. Senior-nim had clearly moved around as a scout, opening up places inaccessible to cats to widen Club’s field of vision.

Club had used that help to search for the 13th everywhere. And as soon as she found the 13th, she had come up here.

She had clearly heard from Spade Senior-nim, 『Report immediately if you find him! And since you’re a sniper, just prepare to snipe from your position!』

“………………………Huh?”

Club froze in the same posture, coin extended towards the 13th, letting out a bewildered sound.

Uh… what? Wait a minute.

‘Why am I… here?’

Her heart was thumping loudly. Cold sweat streamed down her forehead.

Spade Senior-nim had clearly told her to stay put. From a deliberately good sniping point, she had placed other cats to monitor the single, sole entrance. The plan was to launch a pincer attack as soon as the 13th’s location was found, or if possible, finish him off from a distance with Club’s sniper shot. Why had she come all the way here? Why had she bothered to come up?

Because the 13th was above her head? No, a regular sniper might not, but she could easily target an enemy above her head, couldn’t she?

More importantly, why hadn’t she informed Senior-nim? Right now, Senior-nim surely wouldn’t know she was here. Why? Why…?

—Clip-clop…

Doubt. Perplexity. Confusion. Dismay. As Club stood frozen, enveloped by these emotions, the 13th, who had somehow gotten off the sofa, was leisurely walking towards her.

What was he doing? Didn’t he see the coin she was aiming? Was it because it was a coin that he didn’t consider it a weapon? Club lowered the coin, and instead, pulled out a pistol from the holster on her thigh and aimed it. Unlike Spade’s, which contained rubber bullets, Club’s definitely held live ammunition.

Compared to that, the 13th was empty-handed. If she shot from this position, she could definitely hit his heart without even needing to use her ability.

“Oh, don’t come any closer…!”

However, strangely, Club still didn’t pull the trigger. Even with the 13th in front of her, even with him approaching so leisurely and slowly, it was as if she still had no intention of shooting.

“Fuck! I told you not to come any closer!!”

Click, she tightened her grip on the gun.

But Club still didn’t pull the trigger, and the 13th was still approaching. This entire situation was utterly bewildering. She couldn’t understand what was happening.

—What is this. What is this, what is this, what is this, what is this, what is this, what is this, what is this, what is this, what is this, WHAT IS THIS?!!

“Now, Club. Put it down. You shouldn’t aim such a dangerous thing at me.”

“Because Club is a pet, and I am such Club’s master.”

What…? What is he saying? What is he talking about?

While the 13th spoke incomprehensible words, he had already approached within arm’s reach. He grabbed the muzzle of the pistol Club held out, and lightly tugged it away.

“Let go.”

Naturally, Club tried to hold on, tightening her grip, but with that one word, her strength instantly drained away. Her gun was snatched. She couldn’t understand anything: why she had actually let go, why she couldn’t shoot, why she had ended up coming here alone.

It was an utterly incomprehensible situation. But the only thing that came to mind was Senior-nim’s strange behavior from just a moment ago. Spade’s appearance while being controlled by the 13th. She hoped not, but surely not….

“Good girl, good girl. If you just behave, I won’t do anything bad. I really like children like Club. If you just stay a good, obedient child, I’ll shower you with affection.”

“Sh-Shut up…! Who… told you to….”

“Now, just stay still like that. You can do that, can’t you?”

“……!”

Clink!

The 13th casually tossed the pistol he had taken from Club onto the floor, and as if in its stead, reached out and gently stroked Club’s cheek.

The hand of that utterly repulsive villain bastard was stroking her face, yet Club accepted it without even trying to resist.

This shouldn’t be happening. To allow a villain’s hand to touch her—it was preposterous…!

For some reason. For some reason, every time that hand touched her, an unspeakable sense of relief came over her… a feeling of warmth rising within her…. It was as if she had become a cat rolling around in the sunlight….

Strange. Strange. Strange.

It was clearly strange. What was happening? What was happening to her right now….

“S-Senior-nim… Senior-niiim…!!” Senior-nim…! Spade Senior-nim…! Please… please, help me…….