Flipping a newspaper over his knees, the director read as he rested in an armchair. Octavius leaned against the wall, his gaze peeking at the outside through the window.
“Hmm, would you look at that? It says here the most active criminal organization in the United States, the Bluebloods, has been successfully eliminated,” The director remarked. “They even got pictures of my wrecked organization and dead associates in their report.”
“Hmph, I’m sure they’re aware that we are still alive, so they’re just trying to add onto the list of achievements President Ada has racked up,” Octavius replied. “Sigh, I’m still curious as to how the hell they found our headquarters.”
“Apparently they were able to track down the complex after putting a bug on it,” The director replied as he continued to read. “Maybe that bastard Xavier was involved with that.”
“Tsk, well he’s freaking dead anyways, so it doesn’t matter anymore,” Octavius said with furrowed eyebrows. “But they’re awfully confident releasing how they found us in the newspaper even after knowing about our survival. There’s no way that’ll happen again.”
“Exactly…they wiped out a large portion of my organization, rebuilding will be difficult though,” The director remarked as he closed the newspaper. “But on that note…it seems as though Rose really cares for Zack.”
“...Yeah.”
“Zack had brought her in a few years ago. Her condition was really bad…she likely wouldn’t have survived without his intervention,” The director continued. “I suppose that’s the reason she cares so much about him.”
“...Now that I think about it, we don’t know too much about Rose’s life,” Octavius remarked. “She never revealed anything about herself since joining the Bluebloods.”
“That’s true, but I couldn’t care less, frankly. She’s one of my chiefs, so that’s all that matters,” The director coldly stated. “Frankly, I took a risk accepting another blessed human in my organization…since they’re so hard to control, but she’s proven her worth. I just hope she’ll continue to be useful in the rebuilding of the Bluebloods…and not only keep her gaze on Zack, my dog.”
“Sigh…yes.”
“Now…I wonder when she’s going to come out to eat breakfast today–”
“ZACK, HE’S AWAKE!”
Rose’s yells crept from the closed doors of a room, startling the two men.
“W-What?”
- * * *
Rose no longer kept track of the hours…or days they’ve been here. The room she occupied was lit only by the natural light permeating through the window; there was not a sound coming from that room, save for the occasional hissing of a ventilator.
The respiratory mask of the ventilator machine was connected to a body, still and laying on a bed – that body was Zack’s. The grievous wounds he sustained during his fight with Mohawk had all but vanished, save for stitches and a few bandages on his appendages.
Rose had occupied a couch by his bedside, her elbows resting on her knees and her hands were clasped together. She had sat there gazing at Zack…waiting for something.
“...C’mon, Zack. We already treated you…your injuries have been taken care of,” Rose remarked in a low tone. “It’s been a week now…don’t you think you’re being too much of a little bitch?”
As she gazed at Zack, her fingers couldn’t help but to traverse on his thick forearm.
“I’m waiting for you to wake up, Zack…you’re the reason I’m still at this organization,” Rose continued. “Don’t abandon me like my ancestor…you’re the only one I can rely on.”
While Rose expressed herself, the occasional breathing through the respiratory mask was disrupted by the sounds of a muffled cough.
“H-Huh?” Rose muttered as Zack’s locked eyes twitched, before slowly cracking open. “Z-Zack…?”
He stared blankly at the ceiling, before scanning the surroundings with confusion.
“Ugh…R-Rose? W-Where a-am I?” Zack muttered as he slowly sat up. “Ugh…shit. My head…freaking hurts.”
“Y-You’re awake…?” Rose muttered before jumping out the chair and shifting her gaze to the door. “ZACK! HE’S AWAKE!”
This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.
“D-Damn…you don’t have to be so loud.”
- * * *
The Queen Deathbringer stepped into the infirmary, the scent of antiseptic and alcohol immediately striking her nose. The strong scent was made worse by the aggressive yelling which resonated within the room.
“OWWWW! EVERYWHERE HURTS LIKE HELL!” Laying in a bed and being treated by several doctors was the grievously wounded super soldier whom Lilith fought.
“...I don’t necessarily want to question you, given your current condition, but time is of the essence, Lieutenant Allison,” The Queen Deathbringer remarked. “Could you give me a report of what happened?”
“Ugh…two bitches, Chief. Olivia Gray…ugh, and the unregistered S-Class criminal…Lilith Ashley,” Allison replied as she struggled through the pain and the treatment. “Olivia…wasn’t an issue, but Lilith…I couldn’t win…against that bitch.”
“Hmm, she’s that strong, huh? It really is remarkable how quickly blessed humans can become stronger if they try,” The Queen Deathbringer replied. “How much of a threat would you say she is?”
“Heh…she may be a super soldier…in her own right, but I’m sure Mohawk…or Twintails could beat her,” Allison replied. “You wouldn’t even need…to fight her.”
“In any case, disguising super soldiers as civilians seems to be a great idea,” The first gen blessed hunter remarked. “We’ll keep up that strategy for now. You can rest easy, Allison…you did well.”
“Ugh…I don’t think so, but thanks, Chief.”
Hmm, she likely believes she failed, but she’s proof that the strategy is viable…it lured those criminals out. The Queen Deathbringer pondered. The president wouldn’t be as understanding unfortunately. Well, I don’t have to tell her about Allison.
- * * *
After their quick retreat from their encounter against the super soldier, Allison, the two had returned to the safety of their home. Within minutes of returning home, the television was on, the familiar comedy show filling the living room.
There was only one problem – Olivia was the only one watching as she sunk in the couch, eating a meal likely prepared by Lilith.
Despite the one liners and the laugh tracks bursting from the television, Olivia’s expression remained rather stoic…or strangely saddened. A quiet and muffled sob, far softer than the buzzing television, had grasped Olivia’s attention as she glanced upstairs.
Both Rose and Lilith had a shared experience – both women were sitting by the bedsides of their unconscious, catatonic partner…and that was where Lilith was currently.
“H-Hello…Nathan. It’s nearly been a month since you’ve…ended up in this state,” Sitting by his bedside, Lilith remarked. “I’ve been…training a lot with the NPC…and I’ve become so much stronger…than the last time we fought…together.”
She kept her gaze with Nathan’s peaceful expression as he ‘slept.’
“I’ve seen a lot of improvement in myself…I even learned a new skill with my sword,” Lilith continued. “I felt I was starting to become someone who could keep you from any more harm…your knight…but I was foolish…to think…that.”
As she spoke, the last few words left her mouth with a crack, like Lilith was fighting hard to voice them.
“I-I encountered…an enemy…earlier today. Although…I was stronger…I subconsciously restrained myself…from finishing them,” Lilith remarked as water began pooling in her eyelids. “My decision…will definitely be…worse for us…in the future. That woman…will return to tell them…about me…and Ada…will continue…to haunt us.”
The tears came as Lilith spoke – first it came in trickles, before spilling over like a fountain. As she cried, a choked breath and sobbing escaped Lilith’s mouth. Her arms trembled as she cried.
“T-The feeling…of killing for the first…time…ate away at my mind…but I thought…I had come to peace…with that! Y-You’ve resorted…to killing if it meant protecting me,” Lilith remarked as she buried her face in her hands. “I-I’ve preached so much…about wanting to protect you…but I’m just…useless…if I can’t become…as cruel as our own…enemies.”
Her sobs increased in pitch and intensity, fully unrestrained as she finished talking. Buried by the weight of her own perceived limitations, Lilith could only cry.
“P-Please…I need you…Nathan,” Lilith muttered. “I need you…so badly. Just…wake up.”
Her sobs came in waves, resonating in the entire room. The lack of response from Nathan never made it any better. Nothing could make it better now.
Except a soft, warm and gentle sensation wrapped itself around the depressed Lilith. A soft, squishy sensation rested itself on her chest, shocking Lilith from her profuse crying.
“W-What?”
“D-Don’t call yourself useless! You’ve been trying harder than anyone to get stronger, Lilith!” Hugging her from behind, Olivia yelled with a pitch stronger than what she had ever shown, shocking Lilith. “At first you were an innocent woman thrown into this cruel world, but you’re able to take on super soldiers…look how far you’ve come!”
“...Olivia. That…doesn’t mean…anything,” Lilith’s shock quickly dissipated as she held her head down. “It doesn’t matter…how strong I’ve got, I’m weak…mentally.”
“...I was wondering why you never finished the super soldier off instead of just retreating…I’m sorry…for not realizing how inhumane it is to expect that…from you,” Olivia replied. “B-But don’t let this deter you…from wanting to protect…your boyfriend…your knight. You have to keep…fighting.”
“...I-I see,” Lilith replied as she suddenly wiped off her tears. “Y-You might…be right.”
“Y-Yes…so please don’t cry. You will protect Nathan…you’re the most dedicated to doing that,” Olivia stated. “A-And…I will lend my assistance…if you need. I’m sure…Zack would also…help.”
“...I understand,” Lilith said. Olivia’s right…there is no point in sitting here and crying. That’s not going to wake Nathan up, nor will crying keep the enemies away. Although Olivia and Zack will help…it eventually falls on me. Lilith pondered. I’ve witnessed all the suffering Nathan experienced his whole life. I can’t imagine a world without Nathan in it…so I will keep fighting to protect him…even if I have to dip into dark places.
“Olivia, do you…have your poisons?” Lilith questioned.
“Poisons? Yes, I do!”