Queen and King 34

# Chapter 34

“Feeling relieved that the operation is ending? You’re even smiling.”

“Ah… no, that’s not it.”

Zenon laughed slyly when he saw that smile. Conscious of his gaze, I immediately lowered the corners of my mouth. I hadn’t expected Zenon to notice. I cut off my thoughts and stared at him.

“I wasn’t trying to criticize you. It’s good to see you smile.”

He looked at me with a curved smile on his lips. Though Zenon usually maintained a light atmosphere, today he seemed particularly relaxed.

For such an important mission, being tense would be normal. He even looked relieved. His golden eyes, filled with twilight, curved gently. His silver hair fluttered around his body.

Though it was Zenon’s usual appearance, somehow my gaze kept being drawn to him. A different atmosphere surrounded him.

This atmosphere was similar to when Zenon created a barrier for me for infiltration. Though the current one was lighter, I felt a strange energy back then too.

The difference might be that now he had changed, while back then it was just my perception.

Before the infiltration, Zenon told me he liked me just as I was. And I felt uncomfortable with his words.

It wasn’t that I disliked what he said, but even I didn’t know why I reacted that way. But now I could understand the reason clearly.

I had felt uncomfortable because Zenon’s words had penetrated my subconscious. I had wanted someone to see me for who I was, not for my ability. Now I could understand the meaning of the “thank you” that I had spoken without understanding myself.

Though much time had passed since then, I once again expressed my gratitude to Zenon.

“Zenon, thank you for that time.”

My past self was grateful to him for fulfilling my wish.

Back then, I thought no one needed me more than my ability and accepted that as natural, but it wasn’t like that fact didn’t make me sad.

Yet Zenon needed me just as I was. I had expressed gratitude without understanding its meaning, but only today did I understand its significance.

At my sudden words, Zenon thought for a moment and tilted his head.

“Did I do something worthy of thanks?”

Since time had passed, it wasn’t unreasonable for him to have forgotten. I carefully chose my words.

“When you said… you liked… me.”

Saying the words he had spoken made me stammer naturally. It felt strange, like speaking a sentence that didn’t fit the context.

Zenon’s eyes, which had been carefully listening to my labored words, began to widen gradually.

“…I didn’t think you would remember that.”

Zenon, who had spoken as if muttering, gently lowered his eyes. After continuing with faint murmurs as if contemplating something, he soon raised his head.

Eyes that shone vividly even in the sunset stared at me. Along with an expression filled with resolve, his voice was low and straight.

“I also have something I want to say when this operation is over.”

My hand twitched at his voice that fell clearly. It was a minute trembling that Zenon couldn’t notice, but it spread throughout my body like rippling waves.

“After it’s… over?”

I uttered meaningless words. The operation ends today. But will I still be alive? I couldn’t be certain I would be able to hear his words.

“Yes, something I must say.”

He said, clenching his fist as if it were important. What could Zenon want to say? Judging by his preparation, it must be something significant. Perhaps it’s related to the surveillance camera from that time.

I opened my closed mouth towards Zenon who was looking at me with unwavering eyes.

“…I understand.”

Can this promise be fulfilled?

I couldn’t guarantee it, but I hope it can be.

* * *

The 11th basement floor can only be accessed through the 10th basement floor. So, like last time, we had to use the elevator. Zenon cast a barrier with invisibility on himself and me.

There was no time to delay, so we immediately boarded the elevator.

“Alice is in A-11.”

Since he could also block sound this time, there was no discomfort in communication. When I told him the location, Zenon thought for a moment and asked.

“Should we break down the door?”

Breaking it wouldn’t be a big deal, but there was a risk of being discovered.

“Fenil said she would handle it.”

Fortunately, the door could be opened with a security card. It’s within Fenil’s capabilities. Zenon nodded at my words, saying he understood.

“You know it’s a maximum of one hour, right?”

He spoke firmly, as if implying he couldn’t hold out longer. With two people, it was natural that there would be greater stamina loss than before.

Yet the given time was the same. This meant that after an hour, Zenon would immediately be incapable of fighting.

“I know. I’ll make sure to complete it within the time.”

So we had to rescue Alice within an hour, no matter what. Otherwise, a situation so dangerous that even our lives couldn’t be guaranteed would occur.

I crossed the corridor while firmly resolving myself. Since it was well past closing time, the corridor was dark.

However, since I was wearing glasses equipped with an infrared camera, there was no discomfort in my field of vision.

“Is that where we need to go down?”

Zenon whispered after discovering stairs leading down. Seeing that the firmly closed door was now open, it seemed Fenil had done well.

—Go down and turn right, you’ll see it right away.

I moved following the voice coming into my ear. As we went down, numerous rooms greeted us.

The rooms, blocked by thick iron doors to prevent escape, were not much different from a prison. We searched for the room where Alice was while passing through them.

Since there were patrol officers on the 11th basement floor, we had to move along the route Fenil provided. Therefore, we had to take a bit of a detour, but we were able to find the room shortly.

“Is this it…”

In front of the door marked A-11, Zenon swallowed nervously.

Now we just need to rescue Alice who is inside. If we leave the same way we came, the operation will be safely concluded. With that resolve, I carefully opened the half-open door.

“I’m going in.”

After taking a deep breath, I stepped into the room. After Zenon followed, I quickly closed the door and surveyed the room.

Then I saw a child staring in our direction. The blue eyes hidden in long, flowing silver hair were unfocused.

“…”

I approached the child slowly, observing. While watching me walk without making a sound, Zenon released the barrier to talk with Alice.

Although we had blocked sound in the room in case Alice would scream, she still remained in a daze.

“We’ve come to rescue you.”

I carefully spoke to Alice, who was moving her lips with each step I took.

“Won’t you come with us?”

Zenon also kept speaking to Alice in the most gentle voice possible. Finally, a faint sound began to come from her lips.

“N-no…”

Alice’s face contorted as if frightened. Seeing her filled with terror, Zenon tried to persuade Alice once more.

“If you come with us, you can meet your family too.”

If she wouldn’t come this time, we would have to use forceful means. I truly hoped she would come with us.

But despite my wish, Alice just kept shaking her head. It seems we’ll have to take her by force after all. Just as I decided this, her lips opened once more.

“…Don’t come.”

At first, I thought it was a refusal, but something felt off. Even though she was speaking to us, Alice’s gaze was misaligned. I slowly turned my head, following her gaze towards the door.

And at that moment—

—Get out of there right now!

Fenil’s shouting voice was heard.

The place Alice was looking at was the door. And with Fenil’s voice telling us to escape.

The situation was taking a turn for the worse.

Before I could even grasp the situation, the door opened with a loud noise.

BOOM—

The individuals who suddenly appeared without any presence surrounded the laboratory in an instant.

Seemingly numbering well over ten, they all pointed their guns while fully armed.

What’s going on here? I was on edge amidst the tense atmosphere. They clearly looked prepared for this.

Almost as if they knew we would come. Was this why Alice said not to come?

To avoid being swept away by the rapidly changing situation, I tried to maintain as much calm as possible.

Zenon couldn’t close his mouth as he faced those who had suddenly barged in.

“Could it be…”

Rather than just being surprised by their sudden entry, he seemed to have realized something. Despite the masked individuals offering no information to extract, what was Zenon so surprised about?

I was about to open my mouth at Zenon’s suspicious appearance when Fenil’s urgent voice quickly came through.

—I don’t know how they knew, but you’re surrounded.

There’s only one entrance to the laboratory. So it was understandable that the only passage was blocked. But apart from that, there had been no issues with the operation.

Fenil had completely controlled the system. So there should have been no way for them to know of our existence. We were invisible and made no sound.

How could they detect such existence? Even Fenil hadn’t anticipated this situation, as she couldn’t offer a clear escape method.

“If they were lurking nearby, they would have noticed us.”

I am particularly sensitive to presence. There’s no way I wouldn’t have noticed. Plus, Fenil had been watching us through surveillance cameras the whole time.

No matter how they ambushed, they couldn’t have escaped her eyes.