Chapter 40: Zero Tis
Pure white streetlight illuminated the city road brightly.
A cleaning drone slid smoothly along the sidewalk, and as an electric tram stopped in front of the station, the transparent panel doors opened horizontally.
‘A-Class Hero Mystic Cleaner confidently recomnds! Clean Shell Spray for toxic purification!’
Screens stretched long along the exterior walls of city buildings were alternately broadcasting weather, news, and advertisents.
Greasy and savory slls wafting from restaurants brightening the night scenery caught the nose and gaze.
Amidst that, a middle-aged man wearing horn-rimd glasses with a tall height walked hurriedly with short steps.
Briefcase in one hand, coffee in the other, earphones in his ears.
An appearance like the textbook example of an office worker.
“Yeah, finished on ti today. How long has it been.”
With an exhausted voice, the man gulped down the coffee.
“No, well, even if finished, things to process are still piled up. Work is no joke these days. Why are there so many damn accidents.”
Continuing to speak, a sigh mixed with hollow laughter followed.
“Yeah yeah, let's et and have a drink next ti.”
Finishing the call, he entered the building as if familiar.
Getting on the elevator and loosening his tie, he started hitting the elevator close button repeatedly as if unable to wait.
Tting--
As the elevator door opened, he walked along the hallway and stood in front of his house door.
Ttidik- ttik- ttik-
Entering the password and the door opening, a neatly organized officetel interior appeared.
Two room doors were attached side by side in the living room.
The man stood in front of the left door among them.
Huu—
Exhaling shortly, he took out his smartphone from his pocket and checked the ti.
After nodding once, he turned the handle.
Cheolkeok—
The mont the handle turned, strangely heterogeneous air brushed past.
Dark and damp wind flowed out through the gap.
Kkiik—
Beyond the door, instead of an ordinary bedroom, a dark and old building unfolded.
The man stepped in familiarly as if it were his own house.
Chalkak—
As soon as he closed the door, the door scattered into the air and hid its trace.
The man turned his head slowly and scanned the space once.
Interior scenery seemingly abandoned long ago.
Wallpaper was half torn off, dust and cobwebs tangled on the windows, and broken wood and tal pieces were scattered on the floor.
In such scenery, a high-class wooden table and chairs that didn't fit were placed in the center.
Arrangent reminiscent of a corporate conference room.
In one of those seats sat a woman with long purple hair flowing over her shoulders.
Exceptionally alluring light purple eyes were impressive.
On one wall, a man with a thick scar crossing one side of his face was sitting on the debris scattered on the floor.
“Oh my, long ti no see everyone.”
The man entering the room trembled with chatter wearing a leisurely smile.
The gazes of the two people in that room turned to him.
One of them, the man with the scar, raised his body.
Seuk—
In the blink of an eye, he was situated in front of the man.
When did he take it out, a sword was already held in his hand.
The sword blade approached closely to the nape of the man wearing horn-rimd glasses.
“Oh my, scary.”
As the middle-aged man muttered calmly.
“Tsk, ca in a shape I want to cut again this ti.”
The scarred man clicked his tongue and said.
Blatant hostility flowed out from him.
“You two really get along well.”
Next to him, the woman with purple hair said letting out a light laugh.
Strange tension filled the room.
At that mont when everything stopped, light footsteps were heard from behind.
Approaching with quick short steps was a child.
A cute child with light blue hair braided long and wearing a red hood over her head.
However, the dark red liquid smudged between the child's fingers was telling that this was not an ordinary child.
“Uh! Edward? Is it Edward? Uwa!”
The child opened her eyes roundly and ran over jjoreureu as if glad.
Lightly jumping up and hugging the leg of the man wearing horn-rimd glasses as if hanging on, the child glared at the scarred man.
“Jack! Idiot! Can't even recognize Edward?”
Instantly laughter burst out from the surroundings.
The man called Jack looked down at the child with an expressionless face.
“Would I not recognize him, idiot. Tsk.”
He clicked his tongue shortly and withdrew his sword.
“What? Idiot? Jack is the idiot! I recognized Edward right away, you know?”
“That's what I'm saying. I recognized him too, idiot.”
“Why try to fight if you knew? Are you stupid?”
“Let's not talk.”
Tsk-
Clicking his tongue once more, he flopped down on a broken stone slab in a corner of the room.
“Seems like quite a while. Edward.”
As the woman with purple hair greeted lightly.
“Oh my! Ms. Ju Ara, long ti no see!”
Edward received it good-naturedly with the unique voice of a middle-aged man.
“Isn't it better to take it off? I like the handso face better.”
“Haha! Shall I?”
The middle-aged man's fingertips brushed his temple.
Flesh lifted smoothly, peeling off the skin like taking off a thick mask pack.
Underneath, the original face of a young man with white hair and sharp eyes slowly revealed itself.
“Huu- feels like taking it off after almost four days?”
“Oh my, must have been stuffy.”
“Still, it was fortunate that this mimicry had the sa height as .”
Smoothing the fit of the slightly loosened clothes, Edward said.
“Ca to play with
today? Thank goodness! Ara and Jack don't play with ! Especially Jack! Totally bad!”
The child pointed at Jack and said to Edward.
Like a child tattling.
“Of course. I ca to share an interesting story today.”
Edward smiled broadly and patted the child.
“What is it?”
As the child approached with eyes full of curiosity, Edward put his hand in his inner pocket.
Baseurak-
The friction sound of paper rang and soon he took out a folded newspaper.
In the center of the page, a picture of a boy and a girl receiving comndations was printed largely.
The scent of paper unique to newspapers spread faintly, and Ju Ara tilted her head as if interested.
“Mmm? Is it that by chance?”
The woman with purple hair, Ju Ara, asked showing interest.
“Yes, it is this boy. The new body Balzac chose.”
Edward answered softly.
“Hmm- handso? Picked well this ti.”
“Picked a physical type unlike him. Tsk.”
“Where? Where? I want to see too!
too!”
Jack, who approached before anyone knew, snatched the newspaper and scanned the page, causing the child to do a rabbit jump as if frustrated.
Hwek—
Jack threw the newspaper as if throwing trash.
The child, while glaring at Jack, imdiately fixed her gaze firmly on the newspaper and scanned down line by line as if indulging.
“Uwa……. It's the academy! Wow……. Balzac, I'm envious!”
Edward, who watched the child seemingly lost in her own world for a mont, smiled faintly.
His gaze soon moved to the others in the room.
“Few gathered today.”
“Everyone busy with their own work. You know?”
As Ju Ara shrugged her shoulders indifferently.
“Well, fine.”
Edward nodded and accepted simply.
“Are you leaving Balzac alone like that?”
Jack asked crossing his arms.
The lowly laid voice was quite threatening.
“Yes. I think it would be better to watch for now.”
At Edward's answer, Jack clicked his tongue shortly- tsk.
“Does the Alliance side know?”
“No. Wouldn't it be better to keep it as our own card? If Mr. Balzac lts into Zero like this, he will beco a quite useful card.”
As Edward shrugged his shoulders, Jack squinted his eyes as if displeased.
“Tsk, saying you'll play house that doesn't work. What about the Alliance request? No contact?”
“Yes, no special contact yet. Seems like we’ll move quietly for the ti being.”
Edward continued calmly.
“Please do activities freely in the anti. As always.”
“Then what will you do? Intend to keep doing that servant act?”
At Jack's question, Edward smiled brightly and tilted his head.
“Work seems unexpectedly suitable for my aptitude. Should I prepare for the civil service exam returning to my original form while at it?”
“Talking bullshit again.”
Wrinkling his brow, Jack threw a rebuke.
“Haha, it's a joke. Anyway, I plan to stay in this form for a while. Thinking this way I can keep a proper distance from Mr. Balzac. Might be able to coordinate when necessary too.”
As Edward shrugged his shoulders.
“Is that so, then I’ll go freely. First I have to see that Balzac bastard's mug.”
Jack answered as if tossing a word.
At the sa ti, Edward's expression settled calmly.
“Why? Whatever I do is freedom, right?”
“Hm, that is correct. Still, I hope you don't do too impulsive actions.”
Edward turned back to a smiling expression at Jack's sarcasm.
Watching that appearance, Jack made a disapproving expression.
“You or Balzac, working with guys whose real faces aren't even known is extrely annoying. Tsk.”
“This face is the original face though. Well, doesn't matter if you don't believe. Everyone has things they hide. Aren't we on the honest side at least.”
That mont when a subtle current flowed.
“Edward!”
The child called Edward's na.
“You know. If I go to the academy, how do you think it would be? Huh? Huh?”
The child asking brightly pointing at the newspaper article.
Edward's gaze settled slowly on the boy in the newspaper.
Soon his smile deepened gradually.
“……That would be interesting too.”
***
“The core organ of a demonic beast is neither the heart nor the brain. It is precisely the ‘Core’. Unless that core is destroyed, so demonic beasts regenerate even if the brain is blown away.”
The Demonic Beast Studies Professor's firm explanation rang through the lecture hall.
“Most species have standardized core locations, but sotis there are exceptions. So it is important to grasp the exact location in advance utilizing detection abilities or equipnt without fail.”
The day after the comndation ceremony and the incident at the planetarium.
In the morning theory class started again, I was sitting quietly at the desk.
“Uugh, bloated…….”
“Of course it is since you drank cola like that.”
Do Haru groaned clutching her stomach while lying face down on the desk.
Next to her, Seol Hayun threw a rebuke.
After Do Haru returned yesterday, a get-together started naturally.
Without alcohol but with snacks and drinks.
Seeing Do Haru perform a 1L cola one-shot, I even felt a sense of awe.
Though thanks to that she is in a state of clutching her stomach and lying down right now.
“More than that, seems like Jinwoo spoke well for you yesterday?”
Even with a face turned pale clutching her stomach, Do Haru spoke with a grinning expression.
“Hayun's expression was good when I ca back from the convenience store? I went trusting that though. Heuheuh.”
Do Haru who was laughing satisfactorily like that scread ‘Kkiyat-!’ montarily.
It seems Seol Hayun's toe pressed Do Haru's instep quietly.
Silent warning to stop saying strange things.
“There, Cadet Do Haru! Do not make strange noises during class!”
As the professor conducting the morning theory class pointed out sharply, laughter burst out from the surroundings.
Do Haru scratched her head as if embarrassed.
“Again only I get scolded. Only …….”
“Because you are the only one among us not listening to class. Your quiz score this ti too.”
As Do Haru muttered as if wronged, Seol Hayun cut her off firmly.
“Too much. Too much. Ryu Jinwoo you too. Definitely seems like you aren't listening to class, why do you do well on quizzes? Study secretly in the dorm?”
“Please don't speak as if studying is wrong.”
I returned Do Haru's arrow directed at
appropriately.
The reason I do well on quizzes is of course thanks to the Mimic solving them instead like during the entrance exam, but I can't say that.
“It is wrong, you know? Do it together then!”
“If we do it together, you’ll fall asleep as you please.”
“That is true.”
While bickering pettily like that.
“Quiet. From now on I will deliver an important announcent.”
At the professor's words, the lecture room beca quiet instantly.
“Recently a few accidents have been reported within the school. Cases where cadets were attacked or suffered violence in places with few people.”
At the professor's words, the atmosphere settled strangely.
“Anyone who witnesses such a situation or knows related information, please inform the faculty imdiately. That is the way to protect your own safety.”
Leaving only those words, the professor closed the lecture materials.
Along with the bell sound, the end of class was announced.
After the professor left, words started circulating carefully around.
“You know that guy in Class 3. Hyun Woojun, heard he got hit too. Suddenly attacked from behind, and fled imdiately or sothing.”
“What is that, too cowardly. Why do they do that?”
“Must be related to delinquent circles. This is a rumor but…… heard Crown side is connected too.”
“Really?”
Amidst whispering sounds being heard, I exhaled quietly.
Since it was a story I heard from Jin Cheongha too.
That there are many cases targeting talented freshn lately.
It was then.
“Excuse , Jinwoo-ya?”
Soone approached. A kid I don't know.
Beyond the kid speaking hesitantly, blue hair brushed past the window.
‘Sunbae Cheongha?’
Just when I wondered if I was seeing wrong.
“Sunbae outside asked
to call you a bit.”
Seems I didn't see wrong.
‘Lately, a strange circle targeting noticeable freshn has appeared. You be careful too.’
Words Sunbae Cheongha said ca to mind.
Did sothing related happen perhaps?
Feeling anxious in a corner of my heart, I stepped outside.
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