Time flowed without pause from the day of that mission. Before we knew it, autumn had arrived, and we had all continued to grow.
"You little rascal! How many persimmons have you eaten?!"
"Hey, what's wrong with that? I earned them!"
"Let him be. He needs to eat now if he wants to keep growing."
We weren't yet on many missions, but we'd started taking a few, and recently I'd even operated solo.
"Ah…so…? I don't know, you lot, get out here!"
"What's with that lunatic?!"
"Holy shit, you bastards!!!"
It was the usual back-alley delinquent cleanup. Compared to that first mission's high difficulty, these small-scale takedowns were trivial.
"Oh…you've stashed some cash?"
We grabbed the loot, too. Seeing the piles of money grow made me happier than I'd expected.
"…What are you doing?"
"I meant to celebrate your first solo success, but you showed up earlier than expected."
"Faust saw this coming."
"Then tell me sooner! That ruins the surprise paaar-ty!"
"Well…didn't everyone already know you'd been raiding the office before I got here?"
"Still, you came too early, rookie!"
"So should I wait outside? You guys…"
"By the way, what's that in your hand?"
"Ah, I, um…brought chicken. Want some? There's a place called Eunbongine down the road."
"Baekhyun…"
"What's with those looks? Why are you all staring at me like I'm your adult kid? Keep your eyes off!"
"Come here! Let me pat your head!!"
"Normally, one would express gratitude in this situation."
"Enjoy your meal. I'm proud of you."
"Take your hand away!! You're messing up my hair!!"
"Um…I'm back…what on earth is happening here?"
"Sinclair, are you here too? What's that in your hand?"
"Ah, um…we were deciding what to do with the reward money, so I bought some chicken for everyone…"
"Sinclair…!!"
"Hey, wait? Everyone? Why are you rushing me? At least warn me?!!"
"Ha ha, now it's your turn! Group pummeling!!!!"
By now, after all the punching and beating, we'd grown fond of each other. Though I'm not sure if that fondness came with every cut.
"Well then, bon appétit."
Mm…chicken really is the truth. The crispy batter, the juice-filled meat that practically bursts. But is this really made from chickens? Do chickens exist here? There are hunters and beasts, so I suppose it's not impossible.
"Hmm? What's wrong?"
"Nothing, I just felt I should look over there."
"That's quite a strange feeling."
"Yeah. Otis! Shoving your leg over like that is crossing a line!"
"Hey, where did you sell the honorific 'Miss'?"
"Selling it would be on your conscience! Give me back my leg!"
"Shouldn't it be obvious that those who are late will die? Meals are no exception."
"That fox lady has no conscience!!!"
"Who invited you to call me 'lady'?!"
Ugh, every time we start to get attached, this is how it goes with this crazy bunch.
"Baekhyun, and Sinclair. I have something to say to you two."
"Huh? Now? During a meal?"
"If it's information for everyone, I thought best to share it while you're all here."
They say Ursus folk are never bothered mid-meal—but apparently we're the exception.
"Do you remember the Ironworks Guild? The purge request for that group you targeted came from Dragon Gate."
"What? Seriously?"
"Yes, it's true."
From the enormous city of Dragon Gate? And weren't we a criminal group?
"Your expression suggests you're wondering how a hunted outfit like us got this assignment."
"Right on the mark. Are you some kind of diviner?"
"I simply observed your facial reactions and drew that conclusion. Anyway, we're contracted as a small private mercenary unit. So the team heading to Dragon Gate this time is me, Otis, and Baekhyun—three in all."
"Isn't three too few?"
"The more people we move, the more exponential the chance of being spotted, rookie. And above all—"
Sinclair cut in: "The more people absent here, the more lax the Black Cloud Society's guard will be…"
Sinclair interrupting Otis was unexpected.
"Correct. And Lee Sang, Faust, Don Quixote, and Sinclair must fully block the Black Cloud Society. Can you handle it?"
Meursault had listed four names, but the question clearly addressed only one.
"Yes, I will!"
"That's it, kid! Now straighten your back and show those thugs who you are!"
"Ouch! Hey, timeout!!"
"I'm your brother. I won't go easy on you."
"Hmm! Good kiai!"
"If you keep hitting me like that, I'll throw up what I ate. That wouldn't be ideal."
"Just…hold on a bit."
"Ugh…almost did."
"The purge is scheduled for December. Until then, continue operations as usual. That's all."
"Hmm? You called me this time, right?"
"Lee Sang will handle it."
"That's harsh…you thought I'd answer to that?"
"Hmm. I'm going in now."
"Faust, please gather Dragon Gate reference materials."
"Why not just use Terran Common?!!"
"Such a weak idea before entering foreign lands! There are regions where Common doesn't reach, and you must prepare for solitude #@^%#@@#"
"Your nagging…I'll…do it…"
"Then I'll finish the patrol! Let's go, Rocinante!! Day and night, unceasing, for justice!!!!"
"…Let me help too…"
"Thank you…Sinclair…"
That day, only Sinclair noticed how unusually moist Lee Sang's eyes looked.
"Area clear here as well! Ha…why do these things always creep up on me…"
The weather had turned fairly chilly; winter must be on its way.
"Can't these people even turn on a single heater? What kind of office is this?"
Not some low-budget game dev company—those even have boilers…right?
"Well then, should we start wrapping up and head back…"
Fwoosh!
'An ambush?'
Something flew fiercely through the broken window. If I'd been standing still, it would've hit my head.
"Is this…a stone?"
Yes, a stone. Just a common pebble you might pick up on any street.
'That's too pathetic to call it an attack.'
But stones don't sprout legs, nor do they fly by themselves.
"Who on earth would do such a thing…"
"Hello there, kiddo? Having a good lunch? I wonder if you've eaten."
'She was behind me when?!'
I had swept away all the small fry; none was female. Yet that was a woman's voice.
"Black Cloud Society?!!"
What I saw was a smiling Ursus woman in Black Cloud Society attire.
"Hi~ I'm Roja. I have a longer name, but it's stiff, so just call me Roja."
She was a Wakashu of the Black Cloud Society, the one who introduced herself as Roja.