Chapter 1
…I dreamed of old memories again.
Dreams I wish I could erase, but can’t.
I got out of bed, sunlight confirming that morning had come. My feet didn’t hurt anymore.
Whenever I recall the past, I think: could all of this—this bed, this spacious house, the clothes, the food—be some fiction my broken mind created? Pointless thoughts.
Even after ten years, I still can’t believe it. That I’m alive. That I get to live.
I passed the photos covering one wall. Ten years captured in frames. Whenever I fell too deep into my own head, I’d take pictures. Looking at them was the only way I could convince myself this reality was real, leaving evidence behind.
I picked out a suit from the identical ones hanging in the closet and checked my phone like I always do.
[Executives assemble in the meeting room.]
The message on screen was different from usual. Today wasn’t supposed to be a regular meeting day. Had something happened? My steps quickened.
I slipped on my shoes and rushed out the door. The accommodations the organization provided were close to headquarters, so it wasn’t far. As I entered the building in the middle of downtown, I heard unusually chaotic sounds.
“…the Boss?”
“Yes… situation…”
From what I could make out, it seemed to be about the Boss. Anxiety crept in. It was unlikely, but if he was injured…
Chewing my lip, a bad feeling settling in my gut, I boarded the elevator.
“Hold the door!”
Someone barely managed to stop the closing doors, calling out with a friendly smile. I bowed my head in greeting.
“Good morning, Alex.”
“Yeah, morning to you too, Kay.”
Alex acknowledged my greeting with a wave and naturally continued the conversation.
“Heading to the meeting room too?”
“Yes.”
Finally, the doors closed and the elevator began ascending with a faint hum.
“You seem uncharacteristically anxious. Is it because of the Boss?”
“…Yes. It’s not a regular meeting, and the lobby seemed unusually chaotic.”
“I see. So even you lose your composure when it comes to the Boss.”
I didn’t respond. Maybe taking my silence as confirmation, Alex changed the subject.
“By the way, did everything go well with that previous matter?”
The previous matter—the annihilation of the enemy organization that had attempted a surprise attack.
“Thanks to their carelessness, we finished without any issues.”
We’d killed their boss as an example. If they had any sense, they’d quietly go into hiding. Even if they didn’t, their funding was already cut off. They’d dissolve naturally after that.
Alex nodded slowly. He would’ve received the report anyway. This was just courtesy.
Now it was my turn to ask.
“Do you know what this is about?”
“Of course.”
“What is it?”
“It’s—”
Just as he was about to answer, the elevator doors opened.
“Better if you hear it directly in there.”
With those words, Alex brushed past me. Noticing his expression darken for a moment, I hurried into the meeting room as well.
Inside were five executives, including myself and Alex. Melia, who’d been flipping a playing card, nodded slightly when she saw me.
I acknowledged her with a slight nod and took my seat. The Boss hadn’t arrived yet. That meant there was still time before the meeting started. Zenon, who’d been grinning a short distance away, approached with his silver hair fluttering.
“Kay, good morning.”
“Good morning.”
“The Boss isn’t here yet.”
“I’m aware.”
I could see that just by looking around.
“Then do you know why the Boss called us?”
“Do you know?”
I shot back immediately before Zenon could finish. I was even more worried since Alex hadn’t told me. Zenon’s brilliant golden eyes curved brightly. He said with a cheerful smile:
“Of course I don’t!”
“…”
I’d never wanted to punch that face before. He’d always been playful, but I hadn’t expected this even at a time like this.
“I’d appreciate it if you could distinguish between appropriate times and places.”
I warned him, suppressing my anger. But he just smiled lightly and brushed it off.
“Sorry, you seemed too tense. I was trying to help you relax.”
Without realizing it, my gaze sharpened. As I stared at him silently, his smile gradually faded. His eyes darted away.
“…Kay, you look scary enough to kill me right now.”
“I don’t kill colleagues.”
Seeing him subdued, I relaxed my expression. But that was a mistake. Still not learning his lesson, he perked up again and crossed the line with his next remark.
“What if I killed the Boss?”
“…A subordinate who kills the Boss isn’t a colleague.”
My hand twitched. I barely suppressed the ability stirring inside me, trying to manifest.
I knew it was a joke, but there are limits. This time, it didn’t end with words. I manifested a werewolf’s power in my left hand. Only then did Zenon look terrified, waving his hands frantically.
“I’m sorry! I won’t do it again, please forgive me just this once!”
“Seriously, you should be more careful.”
Fenil snickered, mocking Zenon.
“That kind of joke doesn’t work on Kay.”
“Mm-hmm, that’s right. You should be grateful you’re still alive.”
Alex chimed in after her. I didn’t deny it. But since I had no desire for a real fight, I released my ability and calmed myself.
“But Kay could kill me if he wanted to.”
Yet Zenon still kept spouting nonsense. I opened my mouth to respond as he spoke with his eyes curved in a smile.
“If that’s the case, I recommend joining Peace. There, I could kill you as much as I want.”
Peace was a hero agency. An enemy to the villain organization “Alice.” If Zenon joined them, I could freely kill him. Because killing him would benefit the Boss.
When I addressed him with complete sincerity, Zenon pouted, thoroughly offended.
“Kay has no sentimentality. Don’t you think, Melia?”
Melia, who’d been silent this whole time, glanced at Zenon with dry eyes.
She caught the card she’d been flipping and spoke carefully.
“He’s coming…”
It was the King card.
