Chapter 7
“Healed again this time too.”
Though his tone was casual, a faint relief crossed his face.
Watching Kay get up unsteadily, he let out a careful breath.
Though it was something he’d always witnessed, there had been many anxious moments. With Kay safely leaving, he stared at Boss, who remained standing still.
He knew all this was training. But he still didn’t like Boss. There were many other methods that didn’t resort to this one.
Yet Boss chose the method that would hurt Kay the most. If he’d thought about Kay even a little, he wouldn’t have done this.
He disliked Boss’s lack of consideration for Kay. Clicking the mouse, he closed the conference room window.
After a few more clicks, a new window appeared before him. An email window.
“This is…”
As he read through one email, his eyes gradually sank. A hint of contempt began to emerge.
“How long…”
How long would this have to continue? He bit his lip until it bled.
His expression slowly distorted. Though he wanted to refuse the email, he couldn’t. He was no different from a dog that had to obey them.
It was his fate to follow any order given.
Exhaling a dry sigh, he typed on the keyboard. With every movement, his breath caught, and breathing became laborious.
After sending the email, his gaze dropped to the floor.
There was nothing he could do according to his own will.
How long would he have to live like this? When he sent an email, another came, and then he had to carry out yet another order.
It was a hell that continued like a hamster wheel. Was there truly no way to escape from here?
He no longer wanted to live like this. He wanted to move according to his own will, not by someone else’s orders.
And so, today again, he harbored a wish that would never come true.
***
It was generally known that superpowers couldn’t be used inside Peace. But that too was due to a barrier.
If so, one could apply another barrier that allowed superpowers.
The bracelet fastened on my wrist was a device for creating that barrier. Zenon, befitting his S-class barrier ability, could create barriers remotely as long as he had a medium.
“It’s good that Kay has my bracelet.”
Zenon muttered almost like he was humming as he infused power into the bracelet. Through his gently swaying silver hair, his flushed face was visible.
“Please be as quick as possible.”
It meant to stop saying unnecessary things. I was used to Zenon saying such things by now.
Normally I would have let it slide, but not today.
It was a day with an important operation. Rather than chatting with him, it was more important to think about how to complete the mission.
At my words, Zenon started grumbling. I ignored him as he rapidly spat out words about how I could be like this.
Instead, I organized the schedule in my head. I’d received the information from Fenil, so I just needed to report to Boss. I was surprised by how detailed the information was, but the more detailed it was, the easier it would be to infiltrate.
When I consistently ignored Zenon’s words, he changed his expression as he realized I wasn’t listening.
His eyes, which had been drawing rounded arcs, rose coquettishly. It was an expression that unmistakably revealed his displeasure.
“If Kay’s going to be like this, I won’t do it either.”
Zenon subtly pulled his hand away. At his demeanor that suggested he might run away at any moment, I grabbed his wrist.
“I’d appreciate it if you finished before leaving.”
I didn’t care whether Zenon left or stayed. But the barrier wasn’t complete yet. Even if he left, he needed to finish it first.
Of course, Zenon was just saying that, so he didn’t actually leave. He just continued working while not hiding his discontent.
“I like Kay, but it seems Kay doesn’t like me.”
As I was about to leave the room after the work was finished, Zenon said this to me. His eyes, which had been raised, were now lowered pitifully.
After hesitating for a moment at his dejected voice, I spoke.
“To be precise, you probably like my ability.”
His unusually downcast voice was concerning, but Zenon had always been like this. Since I first met Zenon five years ago, he’d shown constant interest in me.
I could vaguely guess the reason was because of my ability. When others showed affection toward me, it was only because of my ability.
I could understand why, given it was S-class and rare. But Zenon, who had been mulling over my words, shook his head.
“Hmm… that’s not it. I really do like Kay, you know?”
I stared at Zenon, who spoke as if it was obvious. His eyes sparkled purely, as if there was no falsehood contained within.
“…You mean me?”
At Zenon’s demeanor, I could only mutter like a fool.
“Yes, although your ability is good too, I like Kay himself more.”
Zenon’s words didn’t quite reach me. Although we were just a step apart, his voice sounded faint, as if it might fade away.
I couldn’t believe that everything he’d done so far was out of pure goodwill. After all, without my abilities, I was a worthless being.
My ability was me. It proved my existence.
But Zenon said he was interested in me. What exactly did he see in me to feel this affection? Perhaps this too was just hollow words.
“I see.”
My past didn’t allow me to believe it at face value. Through the silence, I formed words from my twitching mouth.
Even if it was a lie, it was something I’d never heard before, so this was all I could say.
As I nodded dully, Zenon crinkled his eyes playfully. His golden eyes shone brilliantly.
“So think about me at least once.”
His foot moved one step toward me. Seeing Zenon lean his face toward me, I stepped back.
“That won’t happen.”
The words came out without even processing the thought. Unlike the uncertainty I’d felt just now, the answer was clear this time.
I could understand that what Zenon was talking about wasn’t just a simple thought. But such a thing could never happen, even if I died and came back to life.
Because Boss was everything in my life. Just as a well-running gear gets damaged when a foreign object gets in, I couldn’t accept anyone else.
At my firm words, Zenon laughed it off as if he’d expected it.
“I thought so. I like that aspect of Kay too.”
The words that flowed in gently struck me jarringly. An uncomfortable and awkward sensation washed over me. Just like the day I received my name from Boss. I fidgeted with my bare neck.
The leather choker caught my hand. My neck, which normally didn’t give any sensation, felt somehow stifling.
Was it because unnecessary emotions had wedged into my life?
“Oh, before you leave, wear the wig and contacts too. I’ve prepared them here.”
“Thank you.”
Words came out unconsciously as I looked at Zenon, who was smiling broadly.
The meaning of those words, which I realized belatedly, was something even I didn’t notice. I just felt like I should say it.
The reason for this gratitude, which I didn’t recognize now, would be something I’d understand much later.
***
The sunlight coming through the gap in the window cast a shadow on his face. Boss’s gaze, who was tapping his desk with his fingers, fell on me.
“Just keep in contact until the infiltration is over. We can’t give them even a sliver of possibility.”
I bowed my head at Boss’s words.
“Understood.”
No matter how well one concealed oneself, coincidences could happen anywhere.
To prevent such coincidences as much as possible, living according to Hans’s movement patterns was the best course of action.
Hans was the person I was to disguise myself as, and he was affiliated with Peace’s security team. The reason Boss specifically ordered infiltration as that person was simple.
Being part of the security team would allow relatively free movement. It was the optimal department to examine the interior of Peace in detail.
Fortunately, Hans’s routine was ordinary. He wasn’t very talkative, so acting wasn’t difficult. I didn’t know if Fenil had chosen this person with me in mind, but at this rate, the infiltration would proceed smoothly.
“Have you fully grasped all the information about Hans?”
“If it’s the information Fenil provided, then yes.”
Though Hans’s life story was densely written, for me, who was accustomed to memorization, it wasn’t very difficult.
If I couldn’t memorize it, I just had to keep looking at it until I did.
After three days of memorizing, I was able to recall all his information. From his way of speaking to minor habits. I’d ingrained it into my mind as if I myself were Hans.
“Do you think you can become Hans himself?”
“As of now, I believe so.”
Hans was quite similar to me. So if my acting was good enough, it wouldn’t be a problem. If there was an issue, it would be that I’d never acted before.
My tasks were mainly assassination contracts, so there was no need for acting.
It wasn’t that I hadn’t learned acting, but it wasn’t without pressure.
“I’ll leave the rest to you, Kay.”
But it was a task ordered by Boss.
“I will succeed no matter what.”
I couldn’t fail the operation due to pressure. After a short deep breath, I bowed my head. This operation was a matter of Alice’s survival.
Failure wasn’t acceptable. It had to end in success no matter what.
“I wish you luck.”
Boss gently raised his head. I could see his eyes, warmly creased.
“Thank you.”
Today’s Boss was more caring than usual. Normally, at least one part of me would already be broken by now.
Was it because the operation was that important?
“By the way… it’s intriguing to see a flamboyant Kay.”
His gaze turned to my face. Deep red hair and navy eyes. These colors were very foreign to me, who had brown eyes and brown hair.
The me reflected in Boss’s eyes was unfamiliar.
