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Barbara and I saw Noel’s memories.
‘Barbara must have figured out that I was in a similar situation to Noel. She’s a woman who would do anything for others.’
I have to make a decision. Barbara is a very dangerous person. Common sense tells me that I should kill her here and now, even if it means breaking my promise.
Crack.
My knuckles creaked with the force of the pull. If I had to, I could have squeezed Barbara’s neck and burst her head. A moment would suffice.
‘Would it be to our advantage to kill Barbara here? Wouldn’t it just invite a greater disaster?’
It was difficult to even deduce what Barbara had prepared for her own death.
I couldn’t just kill her because I didn’t know exactly what Barbara’s abilities were. Barbara knew that too, so she boldly faced me in reality.
“Huh, you too… … are in a complicated situation.”
“Barbara said. She stirred and rose from the examination chair.
“Barbara, I don’t see you as someone loyal to the Empire. You must be acting for some personal purpose. Or maybe you’ve made a deal with the higher-ups.”
I’ll get straight to the point. To understand Barbara, you have to know her purpose. If you know her purpose, you can understand her behavior.
“Do you think I’ll confess my weaknesses? You know that to survive in the Empire, you have to hide your true intentions and goals. Especially not at a time like this. I’ll curl up tight and not even breathe until the storm passes.”
Barbara is crazy, but she is wise. She is a woman who can control her madness with reason. She was watching this situation unfold.
‘That means Barbara’s goal is ultimately self-preservation and survival.’
The chaos that enveloped the empire was, in a way, an opportunity for advancement. To watch quietly meant that one was not greedy for wealth, honor, or power.
I didn’t expect Barbara to answer my question either. I just asked the question to bring up the topic and use elimination to infer.
‘If that’s Barbara’s goal, then it’s fortunate for me. I won’t report the information I got today to the Empire. I’ll use it to make a deal with the Empire someday.’
This means that for now, Noel’s memories will not leak out.
My thoughts were long, but physical time was fleeting.
Barbara straightened her collar and looked at Giselle. Giselle took a step back and aimed her pistol at Barbara.
“Just because Luca lets you live doesn’t mean I won’t kill you. Just open the door and quietly get out.”
Giselle’s words were as cold as ice. Not even a shudder or agitation came out. It was excellent for someone who had no combat training. If it weren’t for Barbara, I would have praised her.
“Peet, don’t be so harsh. You know my situation now. I had no choice at the Academy. Please understand my circumstances, Giselle.”
Barbara smiled bitterly enough to make her eyebrows curl. But it felt strangely awkward. It could be because it wasn’t her own body, or it could be because she had some kind of emotional impediment.
“No, you are a psycho.”
Giselle pulled the trigger. I was also a little taken aback by her determination.
bang!
The bullet pierced Barbara’s left shoulder. Barbara staggered back two steps, reeling from the impact.
Chijik.
A red liquid of refrigerant substance flowed from Barbara’s left shoulder.
“You shot me? Oh, oh, yes, Giselle.”
Barbara said, looking back and forth between Gunsang and Giselle. She had an expression that made it hard to tell whether she was crying or laughing.
“Next is the head.”
Giselle said, keeping the gun’s muzzle in line with Barbara’s forehead.
“You can’t shoot me. You don’t have the gall to commit murder.”
Barbara tried to take a step forward.
Whirl!
I pulled out my Graken Boot and aimed it at Barbara’s nape. The Graken Boot dug into her hair and glowed white.
Barbara stopped moving. I spoke calmly behind her.
“But killing is a daily occurrence for me. If you want to test my patience, just step forward and do it.”
“Luka, Luca, Luca. You promised not to kill me.”
“That’s why I’m not killing you. And for moral reasons, I’m not breaking your legs either. Tell me why I should endure this any longer.”
Barbara carefully turned back and pushed my Graken boots with her fingers.
“Then there’s nothing we can do.”
Barbara walked to the door. She squeaked open the door and said her last words.
“Luka, Giselle. It was nice meeting you. I think I like you guys quite a bit. If you need my help, just contact me anytime. It was a fair and good deal.”
“It was a good deal, Barbara. So let’s end it on a positive note.”
I responded indifferently.
Barbara made a pistol shape with her fingers and put it to her chin. She made a suicide gesture.
“Bam! The first time is hard. The second time is easy. That’s the case with anything. Whether it’s murder or taboo. That’s why I wanted to take Giselle’s first time. People remember the first person they kill for the rest of their lives.”
After speaking, Barbara slammed the door shut.
dump.
Giselle sank to the ground, her legs giving out.
* * *
Giselle and I left the illegal clinic. The weather outside was worse than when we came in.
Swaaaaaaah!
It was pouring rain. It was raining with strong winds, so no matter where you were, you would get soaked.
Wheein! Wheein!
Siren warnings rang out in the skies. A no-fly order was issued for air vehicles. There was really no way to get back to the Custoria mansion now.
‘I wanted to send Giselle back to her hometown… … .’
If we’re lucky, the weather will be suitable for flying again for a day or two. If not, the air vehicle will not be able to take off for more than two weeks.
‘There is no safe place.’
The G&G factory and the gang office were equally dangerous. I couldn’t leave Giselle there.
Thud thud thud!
The water droplets hitting the hood I was wearing felt heavy. Giselle and I entered the alleyway with our masks covering our lower bodies.
“What are we going to do now?”
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Giselle said, avoiding the puddle of sewage.
“I need to avoid the rain first. I also need time to gather my thoughts.”
“Then, go in there.”
Giselle pointed to an old inn outside the alley. It was a four-story building, and at first glance it looked like it had been built for a hundred years.
“If you pay with a credit chip, your location may be discovered.”
“To whom?”
Giselle said, hitting the nail on the head.
“… … to anyone.”
“Then pay in kind. This should be enough.”
Giselle took off her earring and handed it to me. It was too precious a piece of jewelry to be used for lodging expenses.
“There must be a better place than that.”
“If you get rained on any longer, you’ll catch a cold. We’re not all human beings. I’m especially vulnerable.”
That’s right. No matter what happens next, I have to be in top condition. I went ahead without saying a word.
Click.
At the entrance to the inn, only a palm-sized window opened. It was a security measure. This was a place where vagrants and robbers ran rampant.
“Do you have money?”
The innkeeper looked us over and said, I lifted Giselle’s earrings.
Squeak.
The door opened just enough for one person to pass through. The homeless people who had been getting drenched in the rain looked around, their eyes shining as they watched for any chance of an opening.
Less noise!
The innkeeper quickly closed the door and locked it. The inside of the building was covered in iron sheets here and there, like a house before war. The tightly locked windows looked like they could withstand a hail of bullets.
“This is for the storm. If you’re out at this time of year, you’re likely to die. There are people who try to crawl under the roof.”
The owner spoke, tapping his heavy shotgun. He walked down the hallway and paused for a moment in front of a bloodstain on the floor.
“Do you see the bloodstains here? The previous owner took in some homeless people during the last storm and was murdered. He left them there to remind us that there is no mercy for trash.”
The master showed his yellow teeth. It was also a warning to us not to commit a crime.
The owner walked us up the stairs and to the front door. He handed us the key and took the earrings as payment for our stay.
“Then for the time being… … .”
I tried to make arrangements for a long-term stay, but the owner just smiled and shook his head.
“Oh, sir. This is about the cost of one night’s lodging. Now is the time.”
I resisted the urge to knock out all his front teeth. I shouldn’t have handed him the earrings from the beginning. I should have arranged a date and given him the earrings.
But there is no need to create unnecessary friction. We are not in a situation where money is tight.
I was still immature. I was inexperienced in areas where I had no experience. Even Gabriel was good at back-alley bargaining, so he wouldn’t have been so easily defeated.
“What about internal security?”
“No, there isn’t. It’s all analog. If you leave anything out, it’ll all be stolen.”
The owner opened the door as he spoke. The room contained nothing but shabby furniture and a noisy refrigerator. There wasn’t even the usual holographic projector. It was literally just a place to avoid the wind and rain.
Kiing.
I checked the inside as a matter of habit. There was nothing to worry about.
“Have a nice time.”
The owner disappeared without even giving directions to the facility.
Squeak, thud.
The door closed. Giselle tried to turn on the ceiling light.
Click, click.
The light from the lamp did not come on.
“Even if I call, you won’t fix it, right?”
Giselle said, sounding embarrassed.
“I guess so, judging by the way you’re acting. Or should I just break your arms and legs and drag you here?”
I said with a sigh. Giselle shrugged and felt around on the wall.
Click.
Luckily, there were other lights. Well, I don’t know if I should call that lucky.
A soft red light spread along the ceiling frame. It was a mood lighting. Giselle looked at me with a red face because of the lighting.
“It’s better than nothing, right?”
“Well, it’s better than not being able to see anything.”
We were in no position to enjoy the awkward atmosphere. We were very tired.
dump.
I sat on the sofa and stared at the ceiling.
‘Could I make a different choice than Noel?’
I have drawn all the cards up to the last one, and checked the cards that others have shown. What remains is my judgment and decision. I have to find the best hand I can make.
“This is a real mess! And you’re still taking money for this?”
Giselle, who had entered the shower room, became angry. She kicked Susan in frustration.
“If it breaks down, there will be an additional charge.”
“There’s no way it’ll break! It’s just black rust. You can’t wash it! What about drinking water?”
Giselle’s last bit of patience seemed to have run out at not being able to shower. Nobles tend to be particular about cleanliness.
“You should have thought about it after seeing the building’s exterior. It’s been a hundred years since the plumbing was changed. I told you to go somewhere else.”
“Yeah, yeah. You’re right. You’re great, really.”
Giselle sat across from me with her arms crossed.
I closed my eyes, lost in thought. The fatigue from the simulation still lingered in my brain. Noel’s traces wandered through my mind like a ghost.
‘I’m not you, Noel. So get out.’
Clearly, Noel and I have similar paths. But they are not the same.
‘Where are we different?’
That’s probably the key to making a different decision.
Gulp.
It wasn’t a sound coming from my stomach.
Giselle bit her lower lip and pretended not to know. Hmm, I must be crazy too. I found that sight cute and I couldn’t help but laugh.
I stood up and took out a collapsible water bottle with a bar-shaped faucet and a drinking filter from my bosom. I poured some green liquid into the bottle and handed it to Giselle.
“Do you always carry that with you? Hmm, the water tastes good.”
Giselle said, holding up a water bottle with a water filter. She put her mouth to the intake pipe and drank the water. The rust in the bottle was sucked up.
“Every soldier carries this. It’s basic necessities. Take this. If you eat just this much, you’ll last you a day.”
I cut the bar in half and threw it at Giselle.
For soldiers with a living digestive system, high-calorie meals and clean water are essential, as there is a limit to how much willpower can withstand to starvation or water changes.
“Ugh, this is tasteless. Did you eat this your entire time at the Academy?”
Giselle took a bite of the bar and frowned. She must have been reminded of me eating this on the bench every lunchtime.
“I couldn’t help it because you always left me behind and went to restaurants alone. I didn’t even know how to use a restaurant.”
I said mischievously. Giselle blushed, wiping the crumbs from the corner of her mouth.
“No, back then, I kind of hated you. That’s why. I’m sorry, Miss. Is that okay?”
I stared at Giselle. Agatha came to mind again because of Noel’s reflection. They are similar, yet different. Giselle is not Agatha. You shouldn’t be mistaken.
Dead Agatha projected me onto Noel, so I made a mistake.
‘Agatha tried to protect me even though I wasn’t Noel. She made a mistake in judgment because of her feelings for Noel.’
As the founder of the Custoria family, I made a mistake. I put all my descendants in danger. I am definitely not Noel.
… … That’s why I won’t make the same mistake as Noel.
Noel Mulizka never told Agatha anything. He never told Agatha anything for her sake. It was a very selfish act. Because of that, Agatha suffered for over two centuries.
“Giselle.”
I opened my mouth.
This could be my childish misjudgment. After all, I am less experienced and immature than Noel.
“Why again? I already apologized. And now that I’m eating it, it’s edible.”
Giselle grumbled. I smiled faintly.
I don’t know if my choice right now is a condition that would allow me to make a better judgment. No, it doesn’t matter because I’m not calculating it that way.
I didn’t want to fool Giselle any longer. White lies aren’t my cup of tea.
“I am Aquis Domini, the Emperor’s Watcher, performing my duties.”
The dice of fate are rolled.
