Chapter 66 - The Girl Wants to Be M*rdered

**Episode 66. Tension in the Air.** * * * Being dragged away by someone gripping the back of your neck is something that never feels pleasant, no matter how many times you experience it. Having your tautly pulled shirt and slender neck bear the weight of your entire body is something that any normal person, even if it's not me, would want to avoid. Of course, for some, it might be an idealistic fantasy. At least, not for me. Truly. I wonder how cats manage to feel comfortable in such situations. Scratch, scratch— "—Hey, hey!? Stop! Saeli. No, Miss Saeli!?" "Quiet. Just follow along quietly. While I'm being nice." How on earth does this count as being nice? Perhaps it's a joke only monsters would understand? A cracking sound emanated from my back bent in an improbable direction. Meanwhile, my focus was split between the hand clutching my nape and keeping my toes lightly touching the ground, attempting to maintain a precarious balance, as if performing an awkward and uncomfortable acrobatics trick. The difference was that this wasn't voluntary. Just a slight misstep would likely trigger an irreversible disaster. If not for the flexibility I had acquired over years as a mercenary, I'd likely have ended up tumbling across the ground, looking rather undignified. Not that my current posture was all that dignified anyway. Never had I been more grateful to find no one around to witness this. They say if a person can look up at the sky three times a day, they live a happy life. That's a nice thought. I suppose I’ve achieved it at least once today. “Ughhhhh—” The scenery rapidly swished past. Forced to stare at the sky, I noticed the tidy, orderly shopping district gradually turned into an area that seemed less well-maintained, giving me a rough idea of our current location. The outskirts of the city, at its edge. As buildings grew thicker and soared higher, their shadows darkened and widened repeatedly. Where there is a frequented road, there are also deserted, shadowy back alleys people tend to avoid. We had entered one of those dimly lit areas. —Whoosh! “Whoa!?” “A sigh...” Perhaps reaching our destination meant I was no longer needed to be dragged. With a swishing sound, my body was unceremoniously tossed to the ground. I wasn’t naive enough to hope for a helping hand to lift me back up, but a more gentle drop wouldn’t have been too much to ask for, would it? And could she, having tossed me aside, stop looking at me with an expression like she had touched something filthy? I wish she’d at least show me the kindness she extends towards Alice, even if it's just half... no, even a quarter of that would suffice. If I were to complain to Alice about this harsh treatment, Saeli would likely appear behind her out of nowhere, casually describing the gruesome acts she’d perform before I even had the chance. It’s brutal. There's no trace of kindness in her touch, reminding me of my pitiful situation. What's sadder is that I'm starting to get used to it. "Sniff." "...Sniff." "What does ‘sniff’ mean?" Thud, thud. Even the most desolate alleys here manage to lack garbage or filth, save for the occasional moss or plants growing along the wall. This is truly indicative of the Empire's capital. Lying sprawled on that clean pavement, I noticed I shifted slightly whenever her foot kicked me, and counted the leaves on the twin-lobed plant growing nearby. One leaf, two leaves... "Stop groveling and get up." "...Yes." I quickly rose, fearing any further fuss might really result in my demise. Like the saying goes, ‘the law is far, but violence is near,’ Alice wasn't there to protect me, whereas Saeli stood right in front of me. Perhaps due to not eating properly during my growth phase, I'm relatively short, but even accounting for that, her large frame easily cast a shadow over me, leaving me crumpled up like a newborn kitten. She parted her blood-red lips. "What did I write in the letter?" Her vertically slit, bright red eyes glared at me, sparking with intensity. Staring into those eyes, I learned people could curse you with their gaze alone. She was really angry... "Saeli... Miss? It's been a while—" "I asked, what did I write in the letter?" "Eek!?" Plan 'Greet with a Smile' was an utter failure. Relying on the wisdom that one can't spit at a smiling face, I twisted my fearful expression into something vaguely resembling a smile, but even as I greeted her, Saeli’s face showed no sign of softening. Saeli. She was the kind of woman who'd throw a punch at a smiling face without hesitation. I'm doomed. Completely doomed. That thought didn't leave my mind. "Hey, what’s going on? Where are you taking her?" "...Tch." But perhaps a lifeline had been thrown my way? Tap, tap, tap. The sound of hurried footsteps pounding the ground reverberated from the alley we had passed through. Apparently following our trail, Remi Akaia came running toward us, breathless from exertion. I considered waving to express my relief, but any attempt to lift my hand slowly dropped it back down. **From the very beginning, asking for help from the one who ignited this situation was a grave mistake among mistakes.** Ultimately, I had to navigate these life-threatening circumstances on my own. What seemed like a lifeline was nothing more than a bomb that would exacerbate my problems if grasped. "You... were told not to cause any trouble and to keep quiet..." "Specifically, I said 'don't cause a scene'... but you know that well enough. So, why did it happen? Why is she with you?" "...Hmm." Saeli's questioning words pierced through me. Honestly, I had plenty of excuses. I was simply trying to live a normal academy life when she suddenly entrusted Alice to me. Granted, if Saeli was leaving Alice with me, it signaled something unusual; that, I understood. But it all happened too abruptly. Moreover, Saeli hadn't been aware that Remi Akaia was at Muji-eon. However, thinking back to the injury on Alice's arm or how I handled none of this until Alice's mood had soured, I couldn't entirely dismiss her words. "........." Without any intention to deny or make excuses, I simply bowed my head in apology. "—Hold on, I'm asking you who you are!" "You do not need to know who I am. Nor do I wish to tell you." Did Remi Akaia realize the unusual tension in the air? Or did she instinctively feel that Saeli, standing before her, was a crucial piece of the puzzle regarding Alice's past? With long strides, Remi Akaia approached and attempted to yank Saeli's shoulder, trying to face her. —Grip. "........" "....What the—?" But if Remi Akaia failed to realize one thing, it was that Saeli was no ordinary person. No matter how much force she exerted, Saeli didn't budge. With an indifferent expression, she only glanced once at Remi Akaia’s face, whose hand rested on her shoulder, as if looking at an ant. That disdainful gaze was chilling even for me, making me wonder how much more so it was for Remi Akaia. She shrunk back slightly. Yet, with Saeli's next words, Remi Akaia's demeanor swiftly changed. "It doesn’t matter. Either way, I’m taking Alice back." "—What?" Who spoke those words, cold enough to sting? Lifting my head to the voice reminiscent of her demeanor in the greenhouse, I saw Remi Akaia's lifeless pupils. Realizing that her gaze was directed at Saeli, I could already feel the impending storm. Regrettably, this was a storm with no eye—relentless and all-consuming. "Who is taking whom? Repeat what you just said." "I said, I will take Alice back." "...Ha, just because you have a mouth doesn’t mean you should speak." The moon-like, amber eyes. The sun-like, ruby eyes. Two pairs of eyes, locked in an unyielding glare. ".....Sniff." Life is always such a struggle. I squatted down and resumed counting the leaves on the plant beside me. ** * * *