Chapter 38

“Is this very expensive?”

“It’s not expensive, but I will give it to you so if you think you’re going to die you can use it.”

“C-can I just have this?”

“I get one for each mission.”

He gestured his chin to the cupboard, and I saw many bottles of the same shape.

“Why don’t you use it… .”

“It’s fine if I don’t. Didn’t I say before that I am really strong?”

Somehow, I didn’t realize what he was saying was asking for an answer. Then our eyes met, and I smiled involuntarily, perhaps because of my habit with Kalisten.

“You are so pretty.”

“Thank you.”

“I want to feast on everything from your head to your toes.”

“I have no taste.”

“I think you would be delicious.”

“No, I don’t taste good.”

It seemed that, somehow, I was gaining knowledge of how to deal with him.

“Alec.”

“Yes.”

“If you keep saying bad things like that, I think I will be scared of Alec.”

“I was joking. Have some more.”

“Why?”

“Cheek.”

I glanced at him at his words and drank what was handed to me. Then I felt as if all the wounds on my body had disappeared.

I felt a little better, but I wasn’t so dull that I wouldn’t tease him when he didn’t realize it was a joke. So I looked at him, and my eyes went downcast, and I sighed.

“I won’t do that again. I’m sorry.”

“Well okay I—-Agh!”

“Would you like to get some more sleep?”

“Ah… .”

I was surprised to see him jump into bed while holding me, but it was welcomed if I could rest more.

***

In the afternoon, Alexis had to leave on a mission, so I was able to return to my quarters.

Just as soon as I came back.

“Researcher Ivan?”

“Follow me.”

“Yes sir.”

Even though we met in front of my door, I had to follow him.

“Leave that.”

“Alright.”

I felt momentarily ashamed because of the clothes Alexis gave me. But I went in thinking it was a good thing he didn’t look closely at it.

When the door opened with a ‘beep’ sound, I put my clothes down in the corner where I kept my belongings.

“Did Z-898 give you jewels?”

“Yes.”

He looked at me as if to check whether I was lying or not. There was nothing good about making eye contact with the researcher, so I stood still, looking at my toes.

“By any chance…..”

I looked up at him when his words blurred and stopped. His expression was strange. He looked like a professor who hesitated to say something he was unsure about.

“Why did Z-898 say he was calling you?”

“He… He said I was a toy.”

“Oh, that makes sense.”

He nodded his head as if he understood and then sighed.

“Don’t be too swayed. If you want to last for a long time, there’s also a way to not trust and follow everything.”

He came from Grade A, so I thought he pitied me.

“Thank you.”

For me now, even such pity was something to be grateful for.

“It’s nothing. Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

So I headed to Z-building with him.

It was quite a long way from Building A to Building Z, but it was worth it. Above all, Ivan wasn’t the one to bother with useless words.

We were on the way without a word.

“Where are we going?”

“Deputy Chief.”

Ivan nodded to say hello, and I stayed there with my head bowed. Then the deputy chief’s feet appeared. She came near me, grabbed my cheek, and made me raise my head.

“The wound is gone.”

I closed her eyes tightly because I thought I would get hit in the cheek again if I made eye contact.

“Maybe you have the ability to be delicious prey, A-702.”

“Th-thank you… it’s… .”

She seemed to have liked the answer.

“I heard he dressed you in my clothes.”

“Ah… .”

When I tried to apologize, the deputy chief cut me off.

“It must have been so funny, you must have looked so ridiculous.”

“Sorry… .”

“Right, stay close if you want to live. Only then will that your wretched life remain intact.”

“Ugh…”

I was thrown to the floor as she let go of my cheeks. After the fall, Ivan made eye contact with me, who looked at the deputy chief and bowed his head politely.

“You’re shivering.”

So the deputy director went away, and I didn’t want to talk, so I got up quietly. Then we headed to the Z-wing.

To the room with Kalisten.

When I got to the room, I saw him.

What appeared with a ‘beep’ sound.

“He can’t recognize anyone right now. Put him to sleep somehow.”

It was Kalisten, already covered in someone’s blood.