Chapter 43

Seran turned her head in the momentary silence.

“I will say this one last time.”

The space warped, and a dark crack appeared.

“The project has been completed.”

The robe swayed, and golden eyes flashed. I smiled slightly.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“······You haven’t changed, have you, Orly?”

She looked lonely.

The crack closed.

The Director picked up a paper cup. The milk tea was disintegrated by dust.

“You liked it, but you didn’t even take a sip.”

“I guess you’re secretly picky about things that don’t match your personality.”

Is it only quality coffee that captivates you?

I cautiously sat on the chair with the nameplate attached to the desk.

Good.

“You look comfortable.”

“Are you always sitting in that chair, Director?”

The nameplate looks nice too.

“That’s right. It’s my privilege.”

“Oh······.”

Suddenly, I felt tired and leaned my head on the desk.

“······I’m glad.”

My fingers felt cold as I traced the desk.

“I’m really glad we could talk one last time.”

“You were too sharp, though.”

I felt like crying. But I didn’t.

“Weren’t we always like this?”

“That’s true!”

Since the Game Era, we only fought with each other.

“It seems you didn’t even drink the coffee you liked; it wasn’t milk tea.”

“I guess my taste has changed.”

It’s not just people. It’s the same in reality. It’s a flow. I have to struggle in this changing environment.

The time when we only bickered is no more. Now I have to keep my mouth shut and wield a sword.

Suddenly, I felt sad.

“Thank you.”

“What for?”

Her red eyes turned towards me. Many things arose in my mind.

However, each one didn’t hold much meaning.

“Thank you for joining the Association.”

“And then, when the staff come, you’ll make a bad face at me again, right?”

“You don’t have to do that anymore.”

I pondered for a moment.

“Is it because I’m now a regular employee?”

The Director put a cigarette in her mouth.

“That’s right.”

In reality, it doesn’t matter. Regardless of how the Director treats me, the people around will probably cater to my preferences.

In that sense, it was good. I was able to treat each other as we did in the past.

“Can we prepare for invasions?”

“The Association can handle anything.”

“Being too positive isn’t good either.”

As I twirled a lock of hair, the window opened. Faint smoke rose.

“It seems Seran wants to leave it to someone.”

“Oh······.”

I smiled slightly. It was actually the conversation I had expected.

“I’m really weak!”

“Only in front of Erica.”

“It’s how girls in love usually are.”

You wouldn’t understand. You’re so focused on one person that you can’t see anyone around you.

Watching the small flame flicker out, I felt impulses welling up within me.

I ignited the air with a spark and pulled out a cigarette. As I was about to put it in my mouth, the office door opened.

“I’m back.”

Our eyes met.

“The Association is a non-smoking building, you know.”

“E-Erica. It’s not just me. The Director smokes too…”

I glanced at the Director in a hurry. She pretended not to notice and kept reading her report.

“That’s a lie. I quit smoking years ago.”

How unfair.

I extinguished the flame and crushed the cigarette.

“Now you’re boldly lying, huh?”

“What are you gonna do about it?”

“Give it to me.”

As I blinked, Erica’s gaze became sharper.

“I asked for the cigarette pack you hid in your bosom.”

“No way, even if I like you, are you going to be jealous of a cigarette now?”

“Am I wrong for wanting it? Just give it to me?”

I pondered for a moment. It wouldn’t be bad to agree to that.

“No, I won’t give it to you.”

“Hmph.”

Seeing her rush over, I quickly pulled a small box from my coat.

“That over here······.”

As her hand almost touched my clothes, our bodies closed in, and while enjoying her shallow breaths, I threw the box out of the window.

Watching Bloody catch it, I pulled Erica’s hand.

“There are times we should go together.”

“······You’re doing whatever you want again.”

I smiled slightly.

Going outside the building, I twirled my hair. Is it because of a cigarette that she gives it that much attention?

Thinking about it, maybe we have gotten quite close. I would hold her hand and lean against her shoulder. When I showed a weak side, I would help her lean on me.

Was that born out of sympathy? Or was it merely a fleeting moment?

No matter the outcome, the feeling was nice. I wanted to spend more time with her.

Just having her match my roughness brought me joy. It felt good. The time spent together was cozy and comfortable.

Is it okay to like her this much?

“Erica.”

“Yes?”

“Do you perhaps like me?”

“What?”

I suddenly became curious. Erica avoided my gaze and twirled a lock of hair.

“······No.”

“So you dislike me!”

“Of course.”

The thought that it would be unfair if I were the only one who liked her and the relief that our relationship hadn’t crumbled coexisted.

“······But where are you going?”

“To study!”

A doubtful look returned to her face.

We arrived at a vast open area. In a secluded place where no one was around, the sun was setting, creating a chilling atmosphere.

Only the streetlights, emitting faint light, were noticeable.

“Okay, from now on, I’ll conduct a class.”

Saying that, I scattered my magic power. A translucent chair appeared, and dark magic combined to form a whiteboard.

“Erica, please sit in that chair.”

“······What is this?”

“Hey!”

We’re in the middle of something important here.

“If you don’t listen, I’ll rush to the Association Headquarters and cause a terrorist attack.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

Despite her grumbling, I was pleased to see her obediently following my orders.

To prepare for invasions, prior knowledge was necessary. Of course, that didn’t matter to me. It was information that hunters from the Association should know.

However, stopping Seran’s legion, which had loved mass assaults since the Game Era, was the duty of the hunters and Erica.

“From now on, I am the Ranker 1, wanted Orly······.”

“Stop with the nonsense and get to the point.”

Do students usually talk back to their teachers like this?

Her pupils were fixed on me.

Well, being pretty makes it worth it. I admit defeat.

I tapped the whiteboard with a long stick. Spells were set up, and graphs trembled.

The magic scattered on the ground mingled with the air, creating a knight the size of a person.

“From tomorrow, you’ll be facing a spirit force of this size.”

“······What?”

“They’re invading from the Spirit World.”

Erica looked slightly surprised but then nodded with a firm expression. Perhaps the Director, who has sensed the atmosphere to some extent, reported to the Association.

“Honestly, with your skills, facing these guys will be a piece of cake.”

I tapped the knight with the stick.

“You were already strong, but since I’ve drained your bl**d twice, dozens of knights will fall with just one swing of your sword.”

“······.”

Seeing her cheeks slightly redden was cute.

“However, you’re not facing hundreds of them alone····.”

Sentences appeared on the whiteboard.

“Now, I will teach you how to deal with knights.”

“······Okay.”

The created knight became transparent. A blue gem shone in the center of its body.

“This is the core fixed in its body. All spirits have one. Since all the nerves of the body are connected here, if you stab this place, you can take it down in one go.”

Saying that, I quickly shortened the distance to Erica.

“It’s just like when you stabbed my heart.”

“······You surprised me.”

Watching her face grow even redder was quite entertaining.

“Most of these guys are unaligned, so there’s no need to think about their matchups. Their magic power will barely reach the High-Rank Layer Awakened One.”

Several more lines appeared on the whiteboard.

As I watched Erica start to focus, I smiled slightly.

After finishing the basic explanation, I placed my hand on the knight that was fixed like a statue. My magic flowed in, and the knight’s gaze flickered. The ground trembled, and the air shook.

“Now it’s the practical stage!”

“······What?”

“Let’s try to take down just 200 of these!”

Anyway, it was a good opportunity.

I could also increase the amount of magic power Erica had as she participated in battle.

The committee had been processed, and the Association would prepare steadily, so somehow, it could be handled. Then Erica would be at ease.

“······Ugh.”

“Good job.”

It was exactly the 200th knight. I had added some of my magic to make Erica fight, but I didn’t expect her to tire out like this.

Watching Erica collapse, breathing heavily on the grass, I applauded.

“It must have been tough, but you held on well.”

“······Shut that mouth······.”

She looks quite exhausted.

“What a pity! If you fainted like this, I was going to secretly drain your bl**d!”

“You’re insane······.”

I had her fight the knights partly because I wanted to tease Erica, but since she had experienced the real deal now, she should be fine.

Seeing her drink from the water bottle I handed over, I also lay back on the grass. The sky had been darkening for a long time, and the clouds spread wide, as if trying to block the moonlight.

In truth, I didn’t care what happened. Whether the human world crashed and was devoured by the Spirit World, I had no interest.

As sinister desires surged, I didn’t bother about people dying.

When I opened my eyes, I saw Erica sitting with one knee bent. Sweat was dripping, and her weary breaths tickled my ears.

But I hoped that Erica wouldn’t do that. This is all her fault.

“Erica.”

“······Yes?”

“Why are you so beautiful······.”

“Pfft.”

The water bottle fell, spilling water all over. Was it the one she was drinking?

I hoped for it to spill even more.