“Ugh…….”
Kenji stretched his body and leaned his head back. Due to sitting for a long time, the sound of bones came from his stiff body. Muscles interlocked, and a refreshing sensation enveloped his entire body. He moved his neck left and right and looked out the window.
The sky was clear as always. On the blue canvas of the sky, clouds were scattered like drawn by a child. The cool wind blowing through the open window made his hair flutter. It was a pleasant wind. Spring had already passed, so it wasn’t fresh, but the cheerful atmosphere unique to early summer was strongly felt.
Kenji put a mint-scented cigarette in his mouth, moved it up and down, and smiled faintly. He wasn’t particularly fond of summer, but that was based on midsummer. Early summer, which wasn’t humid and was moderately warm, was something he liked.
“……A lot of time has passed.”
He muttered so and lit the cigarette in his mouth. Because he changed cigarettes, instead of the usual peach scent, a clean mint scent pierced his nostrils. It was something he had to buy because the peach-scented cigarettes were all sold out, but it was better than expected. It might not be bad to buy and smoke it occasionally.
It had already been weeks since he returned from Gehenna. But Ha-yul still hadn’t returned from Millennium. The reason was that she was participating in an event called the Millennium Prize.
Thanks to that, Kenji’s workload increased, but it would be really petty to pick on that. The reason for participating was to prevent the disbandment of the Game Development Club, so he couldn’t shout at her to come back immediately. In the end, he had no choice but to hold back tears and handle the work alone.
But recently, the amount of complaints coming in had noticeably decreased. Perhaps because it’s almost exam period. It seems everyone doesn’t have time to file complaints at Schale because they’re studying.
For Kenji, it was something to welcome with open arms. Thanks to the reduced workload, the mountain of documents that wouldn’t disappear even if he poured a whole day into it, now disappeared with just a few hours of investment.
It was the same now. He finished processing all the piled-up documents, brewed a cup of coffee, and put out his cigarette. With a sizzling sound, the cigarette ember went out. Kenji poured the completed espresso into a small cup, then put ice in a glass. He poured cold water and espresso over it.
Ice Americano completed. He took a sip of the Americano in the cup and nodded.
Of course, he couldn’t taste it. But Americano itself isn’t a drink consumed for taste, right? The taste didn’t matter much, and he just liked the sensation of caffeine entering his body.
“……Hoo.”
He plopped down on the sofa and placed the cup on the table. Then, he took out his smartphone and enjoyed some leisure time.
Music from Kivotos wasn’t much different from Earth’s. Ballads, dance, rock, trot, etc. The genres were diverse, and there were popular singers in each genre.
However, movies and dramas from Kivotos…… were burdensome for Kenji, who was from 21st century Korea.
An action movie starring a Shiba Inu? Frankly, that was watchable. Since they filmed guns or explosives in reality without CG, the sound and direction were all excellent. The story could be laughed off considering it was an action movie. But a love story between a Doberman and a cat, or a drama about two robots biting and pulling each other, was seriously burdensome.
The problem was that such creative works were popular and poured out in large numbers. Just entering Moplix, the covers were filled with cans and dust bunnies…….
‘It can’t be helped.’
Still, there weren’t no videos to watch. Kenji took a sip of coffee and scrolled down the screen when he found a video that caught his eye. Clicking to play, the channel logo appeared on the smartphone screen, followed by a slippery snake crossing a desert.
[The Western Diamondback Rattlesnake is a nocturnal snake active at night. It got its name because the pattern engraved on its body is diamond-shaped. The toxicity itself isn’t dangerous, but its personality is violent and aggressive…….]
“This is it.”
He nodded satisfactorily and enjoyed the documentary. Certainly, documentaries were better than the oily romance of cans or the hair-fluttering modern fantasy dramas of dust bunnies. Kenji focused on the video while drinking coffee.
At the same time, a message arrived. Kenji tilted his head and checked Momotalk. And then, his face distorted.
[Kurodate Haruna – I’m sorry for being late. I was detained in jail longer than I thought, so I couldn’t keep the promise. So, I’ll come to meet you as soon as possible. Tomorrow sounds good.]
“Gasp!”
Kenji let out a long breath and jumped up from his seat.
There probably isn’t anyone who can maintain their sanity after hearing a terrorist say, ‘I’m coming to meet you tomorrow.’ Kenji was no exception. He held his throbbing forehead and desperately racked his brains.
‘She’s coming tomorrow? I thought she forgot because she didn’t come for weeks, but was that not the case? No, more than that, how did she even find out my number?’
The last question was quickly resolved. One minute after Haruna’s message arrived, Ha-yul’s message arrived. The message she sent said that Haruna contacted her asking for Kenji’s number, so she gave it without any suspicion. Kenji spat out curses again and threw his smartphone onto the sofa.
‘Not just anyone can enter Schale.’
To enter the Schale building, one must have information that they are affiliated with Schale inside the building. Otherwise, they cannot enter the building without a Schale affiliate accompanying them. No matter how Haruna is, she probably can’t go against that rule.
But, isn’t she a terrorist who blew up a train because the in-flight meal was tasteless, not a normal person with common sense? Would such people really quietly follow the rules? No. That can’t be. If it were them, they would break down the entrance with a bomb and come in.
Attacking Schale is no different from making the entire Kivotos an enemy. Considering the value of the teacher’s status and Schale’s authority, it’s natural. But this is the story when the teacher is inside the Schale building. And now, the teacher is at Millennium…….
‘Do I really have to fight and knock them down?’
Kenji thought that far and shook his head. No matter what, he didn’t want to hit students. At Arius, he controlled his strength appropriately because of the special role as an instructor, and in other cases, he didn’t want to swing his fist at students.
‘Then what should I do? Do I just have to be taken away quietly?’
No, that can’t be. This is directly related to life. When they exploded a restaurant with bad food, if you get swept up in it, it won’t end simply. Large fragments could fly and limbs could be torn off, or small iron pieces or knives could shred the body. Burns are basic.
Kenji had no intention of using his body like trash in a recycling center. So, following them was nonsense.
Then, what should he do?
He groaned and racked his brains, then suddenly raised his head at a thought that came to mind. But soon, he frowned and sank into contemplation.
Is it…… okay to put this into action?
Opinions clashed in his head. The effect when executed is certain. Not only will he have a reliable bodyguard, but he can also create colleagues to help with work. But if handled carelessly, things could go wrong. Minus times minus becomes plus, but plus minus is still minus. If the arithmetic goes wrong and they add up, big trouble will occur.
However, there was no other suitable method that came to mind. That’s how people are. Even when trying to think of other methods, the first thought keeps getting trampled. Kenji was the same. He racked his brains to see if there was any other good plan, but nothing stood out as ‘this is it.’ No matter how much he thought, the first method that came to mind seemed the best.
“It can’t be helped.”
After agonizing for a few minutes, Kenji finally decided to put the method he thought of into action.
Using poison to counteract poison. He decided to believe in the meaning of that idiom.
Kenji got up from his seat and approached the slightly open window. Then, he stuck his head out beyond the window. Since the office was on the top floor of the building, the ground looked far below, but the higher it is, the better the voice will carry. He cleared his throat once, then shouted loudly so that the ‘stalkers’ could hear.
“If you help me right now, I’ll overlook the fact that you’ve been following me until now!!!!!”
Da, da, da…….
His voice echoed. But no one appeared. Kenji was momentarily flustered, but soon, he twisted his mouth at the two presences he felt nearby.
‘That’s what I thought.’
Whoever they are, criminals are creatures who can’t miss a pardon. But the bait wasn’t enough yet. Kenji generously put bait in his mouth so that they could reveal themselves.
“I’ll even go on a date with you!!!!!”
-Whoosh! With the end of the voice, the sound of a wire came from the building rooftop. Soon, the stalkers who had been following for months revealed themselves.
A black fox and a white cat. Both holding the same wire line, they opened their mouths simultaneously.
“Husband! I, Wakamo, have come to help you!”
“Hello, cult leader. Long time no see. Have you been well?”
An unexpected appearance. Kenji let out a scream, but upon confirming the identities of the stalkers, his face distorted.
“……Wakamo? Akira?”
“Yes! I am your Wakamo♥”
“……Why am I your husband?”
Kenji asked in a disbelieving voice. The answer came from next to Wakamo.
“She’s a fox with delusions. Ignore her.”
“Shut up, you horny cat. Or do I have to break all the recorders you have to make you shut up?”
“How uncultured. Anyway, don’t talk to me. And can you let go of the wire? This is my wire. It’ll get dirty.”
“What are you going to do about it?”
“……Damn fox.”
Akira bared her teeth at Wakamo. Wakamo also snorted and reached for the dagger at her waist. Kenji watched the scene, then took a deep breath and took a few steps back.
“……Come inside first.”
“Yes, husband!”
“If the cult leader says so.”
As if they never fought, the two spoke in soft voices and entered the office. Kenji watched Akira retract the wire from her wire gun, then glanced at Wakamo.
Because he was suspicious. Is this child really the same Wakamo he had a conversation with months ago? But to say she’s a different person, her appearance was too identical.
And above all…….
“What’s wrong, husband?”
Why am I your husband?
Kenji bit his lip and barely straightened his face that was about to crumple.
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