"Go outside once in a while."
This pattern. I feel like I experienced this last ti too.
But this ti, it was Jas, not Carol, who said it.
I spoke to Jas with a disgruntled look on my face.
"Jas. You too?"
"If you live like this, only using the computer, it is easy to fall into lethargy. Sotis you need a change of pace. So, it would be nice to at least go shopping."
"There is online shopping."
"It's not like you don't know what I an."
I began to feel reluctant to say no to the seriousness that was different from Carol's.
I scratched my cheek and listened to Jas.
"It's not nice to act as if you've lost your purpose in life. Alcohol and drugs. If you had done either of those two things, you would have fallen in love with it. This is a suggestion as a colleague. Why don't we try to refresh ourselves outside together?"
"Okay..."
I guess you were worried about .
I feel like I caused trouble.
These days, I just use things like YouTube to pass the ti.
Because I was separated from humans, I felt like half of the ti value I had pursued in human life was lost, so I seed to show my lethargy.
Shopping with Jas. Are we going alone?
"But what about Maria? Is she going too?"
"It looks like she's been busy lately. Because our affiliations themselves are different, it is difficult to know specifically where and what she does. I guess we can et again the next ti we have a big mission."
"Maria's affiliation?"
"We simply call it Cathedral... You, a devil, better not have anything to do with them. Except for Maria, the people in the Cathedral are extre."
"I see..."
As the story ended, Carol sneakily appeared, and she started making a fuss.
"The decision has been made! Using this as an opportunity, you'll start going out and experinting a lot more! I was slowly running out of reasons to conduct experints with Alice, but it worked out in the end!"
I gave Carol a cold look.
"Hide it a little."
Carol becos more and more eccentric.
I didn't want to listen to her nonsense words pouring out of her mouth anymore.
I heard her words through one ear and out the other, and gave her a cursory nod.
I was able to get out after going through a few procedures.
And since my original outfit was too foreign, I changed into normal clothes.
...I'm sure I asked for pants.
A fluttering skirt. Plus, it's too short.
It's probably Carol's doing. I'll have to scold her later.
It's winter outside! Wouldn't it be hard to get warm by only wearing stockings?
But surprisingly, it got warr.
Is this a new product? Or was it always like this?
"Haa..."
White steam cos out of my mouth.
It's a simple phenonon that can be caused just by breathing, so even when I was young, I used to do this when I was bored.
Walking down the streets dyed pure white, I felt sothing new.
I think it was a good thing I ca out.
Being in a world full of supernatural things, it's worth seeing just the crowds of people.
However...
"A lot of people are staring. Well, you do look exotic."
Blonde hair and blue eyes. No matter how you look at it, I'm not Asian.
Still, there are quite a few foreigners in Korea, but it seems there are still people who look at them with wonder.
As I was debating in my head about our country's multicultural society, Jas spoke as if that wasn't the case.
"It's because you're pretty."
"Huh... I?"
"It's different from the past, but I think you're even more pretty than before, like a doll. You could say you're an ideal girl. If possible, don't walk alone."
I never expected that I would be evaluated as pretty by Jas.
It's a look that goes well with a tall and handso gentleman like Jas... But I think it would feel really weird to be happy about it.
"That's a pretty embarrassing evaluation of appearance. Anyway, thank you."
"I'm sorry if you felt burdened."
As I stopped talking and looked around the street, I ca across a building that was in the photo on the docunt Jas had given last ti.
I've seen it several tis, so there's no room for error.
I asked Jas, hiding my anxiety.
"Isn't this the city where the kids live?"
"Right. The product the research director requested is sold only here. She recomnded this place for shopping, asking to buy sothing for her."
"Why are we buying it? You can buy it yourself!"
"Sotis people ask for favors that I don't understand. Don't worry; you'll hardly ever run into them. It's ti for those kids to go to school, and it's far from where they live."
When Jas spoke firmly, I felt relieved. It's a very miserable life for to be afraid of eting old friends.
Jas sensed my mood and went into a store that I might like.
This newly opened cafe seed to have a limited nu that was very popular.
"How about it? I heard it's a limited edition that just ca out."
I took a sip of the drink Jas bought .
It tasted like grapefruit and orange, but also had a hint of pineapple at the end.
What on earth did they do to taste like this?
This is very good!
"Hmm. It's not bad."
"Then that's fortunate. Sotis it's good to go outside. Not that I'm saying this from a position of suppressing freedom."
"That's true."
"Isn't it unfair?"
"Because you guys are probably desperate too. And I know that you could have done much worse to ."
It may seem like I'm giving a rough answer because I'm talking with my eyes turned, but I was just saying what I was thinking.
Jas knew it too and liked my answer.
After that, we had a casual conversation, but it didn't capture my interest.
"You look lost. There are tis when you think you've done it all. The map to the next place is a blank slate, and there's nothing to draw on. It's good to do sothing without thinking about it."
"Empty..."
No. It's a bit different. The feelings I feel now are not because I can't see anything in the future I'm heading toward.
I am conflicted. Longing, loneliness, and confusion mix together to tempt to pursue wishes I shouldn't.
What I, who isn't even human, really want.
"Occult items?"
A young girl's voice reached my ear. It was so faint that I thought I had heard it wrong.
"...?"
"What's wrong? Are you interested in that occult goods store?"
"Huh? Ah. That's right. There are stores like that even these days."
"When we investigated, there was nothing strange. There's probably nothing real that will interest you. Even if it was there, the agency confiscated it."
Have you investigated sowhere again?
"It's creepy. You are everywhere."
"This is an exaggerated assessnt."
Jas answered while eating a cute cookie that didn't match his appearance at all.
Judging by the slight frown between his eyebrows, he doesn't seem to enjoy sweets very much.
I'm sorry, Jas; you're overdoing it because of .
I grabbed the cup and gulped it down, intending to drink the entire thing.
At that ti, the voice that rang in my ears ca again.
"And! Look! With this, you can talk to ghosts!"
...Wait a minute, this is a voice I recognize?
"That's a superstition!"
This voice too.
"Is it okay for us, the Mystery Exploration Club, to do this?"
"Pfft!"
Cough! Cough!
I had no choice but to spit out the drink I had been drinking.
Jas wiped my mouth and, at the sa ti, assessed the situation.
"...I'm putting what I said to sha. Sorry. Let's just go back now."
"Ye, yeah."
Jas, who knew I was reluctant to et the children, led out the back door.
As I was about to hurriedly follow Jas into the car, I heard a voice again, thanks to my inhuman hearing.
"Eun-jeong, be careful because it's slippery there!"
"Woah!"
"..."
...
Jas muttered as he saw that there was only empty space in his hand instead of the small, soft hand he had been holding to help her into the car.
"You, really. You're so honest."
...
I held Eun-jeong from behind as she fell.
She just stared blankly at my face.
The other children were also surprised by my sudden appearance.
However, the kids thought they had seen sothing wrong since it is impossible for people to teleport.
"..."
I asked because I was worried about Eun-jeong, who kept looking at my face.
"Are you okay?"
"Pretty."
"Huh?"
When I was taken aback by the very unexpected answer, Kyeong-min next to tried to help.
"You should say thank you!"
Only then did she co to her senses and thank .
"Hehe... Thank you. What elentary school are you in? I've never seen such a pretty person nearby! Ah. Or are you a middle school student?"
Eun-jeong asked , pushing her own face towards mine.
"Uh... Umm. I'm not a middle school student... So... Umm."
"You seem burdened. Sorry. Eun-jeong is a bit quirky sotis."
"Urgh."
Suho appeared next to her and pulled her away.
I almost stretched out my hand in disappointnt, but I barely held back.
I said with a smile.
"It's okay."
"Ahem."
Suho cleared his throat for so reason and quietly returned to Ha-rim's side.
"Hmm... I think we're the sa age. I am Shin Ha-rim. What is your na?"
"El... I an, Alice. Please call Alice. I just moved in."
When I revealed the na, Ha-rim was amazed and said it was the sa na as the main character in a fairy tale.
"Okay. Thanks Alice! Let's et again next ti! It would be nice if our school was close."
It's been a long ti since I graduated from school.
I waved to the children.
Until they disappeared from sight.
In fact, I kept waving after that.
Wouldn't they suddenly co running from rembering ?
Or maybe I'll remind them of sothing.
...And then rember , not Ella.
With such vain hopes.
I lowered my hand and turned back to Jas.
"...Are you okay?"
No.
". Foolish. I promised myself I wouldn't get involved."
I'm feeling sad. Really. It's contradictory.
"It's not bad to be a fool sotis."
"Is that so?"
"I sotis beco a fool too. You too have to be an honest fool sotis."
Jas is a fool?
I looked at him with suspicious eyes. But it seems like he is sincere.
Jas got into his car and headed to the outskirts of the city.
I was in the passenger seat, reliving in my mind being reunited with the kids.
Tiriring.
Jas got a call.
"...What's going on?"
"I'm sorry for calling when you're hanging out, but I wanted to let you know to be careful when you return; an anomaly has been spotted in your neighborhood."
It was Carol's voice.
"Huh."
"Ah. It looks like a special unit disguised as police has set off. But I called with the simple thought that an agent who could act imdiately could reduce the damage."
"Please give information."
"Originally, giving information over the phone is prohibited, but it's really annoying, isn't it? I'll just say it. There was an incident once when an entire Arican city turned into a forest, right? I think you probably rember it. That's right. I think it's one of the wolves created back then. Haa... But should they be called one? It seems like it combined? Anyway, I don't know why it's in Korea, but it's heading towards the city. Where you and Alice are!"
"I will try to stop it first."
"Ah! And please tell Alice not to co forward unless it's really urgent. You know... Cathedral. Then please~"
Click.
"You seem to have good hearing, so you must have heard everything."
"..."
"Please co back."
"Thank you."
I created a mirror and went through it to get out of the car.
...
Jas muttered to himself, leaving the area where Alice had just disappeared from.
"Carol. A woman like a snake."
...
Running is okay, but it will attract attention.
I moved from mirror to mirror all around .
There were people who occasionally made eye contact, but everyone was so suspicious of their own mind that they didn't even question it.
Not only is moving with a mirror stealthy, but the moving speed is less than 1 second, so it can be as effective as using short-distance teleportation in succession.
After changing my perspective about 60 tis, I was able to return to the place where I t the children.
"Where are you?"
In my changed view, there was a wolf monster confronting the people who were running away.
[Whisperwhisper... Whisper...]
I could hear the voices of monsters tickling my ears.
"Okay. I'd like you."
I created a mirror with hand gestures.
A strange creature that was a combination of a rat and a bird jumped out of the created mirror.
That's the monster of eavesdropping.
Sotis people don't want others to hear what they say.
Did they hear ? Have I been caught?
It's a monster derived from such fears.
It twisted its joints, looked at , and then whispered.
[Aaaah- it's a monster. It's a wolf! Everyone, go upstairs to the cafe! Hello, it's the police, right? This is the Green Tree Cafe-]
"Thank you. It's there."
I used the mirror as a portal to move to the expected location.
In my changed view, there was a wolf monster confronting the people who were running away.
It growled viciously when it saw suddenly appear.
"Who is that girl?"
"I don't know! Hey kid! Co here quickly!"
From what I glanced at, it seed like the kids left early and didn't get caught up.
I'm glad.
By the way, sothing like this happens as soon as I et the kids.
Is it a coincidence?
Grrrr...
"That's nice of you to say, but I'm afraid if I take even one step backwards, he'll attack. Hmm. I'll take care of it."
At first glance, the wolf-type monster, which was no ordinary wolf, began grinding its teeth.
The noise rubbed against my nerves and made frown.
"If you understand what I'm saying, just surrender. Maybe we can go sowhere where we can eat sothing more delicious than eating human at?"
"Kuaaaaaaa!!!!"
"I thought so."
The wolf monster began to swell all its muscles to attack .
Murderousness and wildness that gets under your skin.
[Whisperwhisper...]
There were several monsters that reacted to it.
If there are too many, it will be difficult, so we need to find the right child.
Ah, I like this guy.
"-Okay. Try running wild."
I created a mirror five tis taller than my height.
A huge gray beast appeared there.
Its neck was covered with thick, red fur, and its body had a pattern of intersecting black bands.
A French monster.
Once upon a ti, when animals were greedy for human at and people were afraid of animals, and such primal fear abounded, there was a man-eating monster that especially ate people.
Of the 260 people attacked by it, 113 were eaten, 98 were mutilated, and 49 were fatally injured.
The unprecedented monster attack incident has been recorded, and its horror has been passed down to this day.
It is said that the monster resembles a dog and a wolf in appearance, but was the monster an abnormally strong wild dog or wolf, or was it sothing completely different?
Actually, it doesn't really matter.
In the end, this child is also derived from people's fears, so it is far from his true appearance.
"But it looks just like you. Are you a distant relative? If so, let introduce you."
Before I could finish speaking, the wolf leapt as if its feet had springs and aid for my neck.
In a split second.
The blade-like teeth glistened with saliva.
The summoned monster swung its forepaws.
I blinked once.
Wow.
Literally, in the blink of an eye, the wolf monster's face was crushed along with its teeth.
Seeing that its breathing ans that it's still alive.
"...The Beast of Gvaudan. It's a pretty old legend. I guess it was too overkill."
I handed the wolf over to the Institution and returned.
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