Ugh... I don't want to go to work...
Even though the morning drill is gone, my internal clock still jolts me awake at 05:30. First, I wash up. The smell of yesterday's booze has clung to me.
I should've taken at least one more sip.
If you asked me whether I like drinking, I'd say no. I only keep pace with others, distinguishing liquors by burn alone. What stings is that I couldn't savor a familiar flavor right in front of me, and the snacks were too good. I'm the sort who eats the bar food as an excuse to drink.
Even if I asked Lin, she probably wouldn't share.
No matter how much of a drinker, she wouldn't hand booze to a child. She'd just tease me forever—and I refuse to be mocked by an ageless goddess.
For breakfast: rice, egg roll, and… what side dish did I have?
I rummage through the fridge, hunting down today's provisions.
Alright. Let's eat.
Normally I'd kill time until J opens the shop, then eat, but with yesterday's backlog of reports, it's better to get to work a bit early.
Uniform's fine. I'll be off, then.
No one's around to reply, but I say it anyway—like someone who's had Lasik still reaching for nonexistent frames.
"Talulah? Where have you been?"
I open the door and face Talulah, sweat beading on her brow. Midwinter at dawn, and she's sweating in those thin clothes…
"Morning workout. As you told me last time: 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, then a 10 km run…"
"You're diligent, doing that at this hour."
"I tried it, but it doesn't seem efficient for me, so I added five more rounds on the way back."
"…You won, you know…"
Hear me, all gods of Terra! Is this a testament to species disparity or what, damn it!
"I won? No—I lost last time. I haven't beaten you yet."
"True. Hey, lean your head forward for a moment."
"W-why all of a sudden?"
"There's a leaf in your hair. In midwinter, of all times. Some 'Last Leaf' stunt or something?"
"Th-thanks… Hey, you're too close…"
"What? Hey, your face is suddenly so red. Are you okay? Do Dracos catch colds too? Let me feel your forehead."
"No, I'm fine! It's just… well!"
"No fever... but just in case, wash with warm water when you get home, drink something warm, and get plenty of rest."
"Uh? Oh, okay… Um, Hyun?"
"Yes?"
"I… don't… smell sweaty, do I?"
"I don't think so. My nose is basically frozen."
It's dawn in midwinter. No matter how thick the coat, you can't stop your nose from freezing.
"Really? That's a relief…"
Why is that a relief? Not smelling sweat?
"Well, I'm not sure, but even if you did smell like sweat, Talulah, I wouldn't mind."
"Huh? W-what?!"
"Brr, it's cold. I'll head off first. Rest up."
Sweat smell? Hard to say. Did I ever smell it? I'm not sure. Maybe it was pleasant.
"Team Leader, you drank yourself senseless last night."
"Ugh... hey, bring me some water... my head... "
"You should've listened when I told you to take it easy."
"I shouldn't have done it, but I didn't know…"
"What good is regret now? You're already wasted."
I quietly fetch two glasses of cold water and hand him one.
"Pah… ugh… why are you just holding onto that other glass?"
"Oh. If one cup won't sober you up, I was going to pour it over your head. Need it?"
"Whoa, that snapped me awake."
Yeah—splashes wake you up better than drinking.
"By the way, I heard Wei Yenwu handled your report."
"Old man, in Danguk there are three bonds most helpful in life. Want to hear them?"
"Go on."
"Academic ties, regional ties, and blood ties are the best."
"That's a saying that cuts deep..."
"A parachute's better. Always thrilling—always new!"
"Honestly, you're not a parachute; you're a wingsuit."
"Why?"
"That guy who signed on without warning showed a portfolio claiming he free-dived from the sky and made it back alive. How is that a parachute?"
"Anyway, do I just go on patrol now and handle grunt work?"
"That's right. Oh—if you could help me with my paperwork..."
"Gasp! There are dangerous things out there right now! Citizens of Yongmun, hold fast—Magpie is on her way!!"
"Uh… I see. You don't want to help, huh...?"
Of course not, damn it. Who wants to help with a mountain of paperwork?
I step into the winter morning and begin my patrol.
"Let's see. My zone's adjacent to the Infected perimeter."
Infected...
"Mister, dumplings please."
"Planning to clear out another tray again?"
"Of course. Here's the money."
Buying dumplings has become routine.
"Hey! You all here?"
"Sniff sniff… this smell? Noya—hey, you're here!"
"You remember people by their smell? By the scent of my dumplings?"
"From the morning... that medal of yours…"
"It's a contract position."
"National Sword… if you're here to arrest us..."
"No need. What good would it do? It'd only be bad for me."
I stay friendly to pick up information faster. Arresting you gains me nothing.
"Got any news?"
"Nothing. Everyone's laying low, so we're safer than usual."
"Because of the Ironworks Guild?"
"Probably. A mid-tier organization in Yongmun was practically wiped out, so everyone's cautious."
With the Ironworks Guild's leadership detained, their remnants are scrambling for new backers or getting stamped out.
"But soon it'll flare up again."
"Yeah. Once that power's down, every other faction will war over its territory."
If that happens, the Black Cloud Society will surely move—this is their best chance to expand.
"You guys okay?"
"We've got enough experience. We'll just hide if it gets rough."
In gang wars, the biggest victims are kids—easier to eliminate than verify if they're informants.
I know the fear behind their calm; I've been in fights too.
"Hey, can you fight at all?"
"A… little?"
"Clench your fist. I'll teach you to land more blows than you take."
In this world, you eat or get eaten. That's all there is.
"Why go this far for me?"
"I have nowhere else to buy dumplings."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know! Come on—learning to fight means taking hits first!"
"What? Hey, wait a minute!!"
There is no wait in real combat.
"Fine, I'll spar with you for exactly two hours."
"I don't need it!!!"
"Patrol report!"
"You're late. Did you get into a fight?"
"No... I just scoped out the back alleys. The vibe was tense."
"Dangerous, huh. The ones who crossed you must be in trouble. Here."
The team leader, dark circles under his eyes, thrusts a paper at me.
"Ah, this is it. The Dragon Head requested it."
"Duel requests from guys who signed up over the weekend—tell them to face you. Beat them mercilessly."
"How far? Is it okay to break bones?"
"…Cancel that. Just leave them sore enough to be bedridden the next day."
Damn—no one's got any backbone these days. Bones break and mend stronger, after all.
"So you really won't help me with my paperwork?"
"Buy me dinner, and I'll help."
"Go on—look at how much just one dinner costs."
"Okay, okay. I'm off."
Until quitting time, I carried paperwork, made coffee, heckled the Dragon Head, and then finally clocked out.