Chapter 88
Chapter 88
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter Title: Canned Humiliation and Romantic Despair
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-Anis Harper~ Time to start~ your self-introduction~!
Hi~!
I'm a hermit!
A hermit forever flailing around in a bubble!
A frail hermit who gets easily swept away, tossed around, and hides at the slightest ripple!
Once all the bubbles burst, there's nowhere left to hide...!
-Eh~ Anis-chan, you can't swim?
That's right...! I'm a pathetic human who can't even swim alone unless someone grabs me and leads the way...!
-Eh~ That's fine~! We'll cheer you on, so do your best!
Do your best! Anis Harper!
Stand up! Anis Harper!
Do your best! Stand up!
Stand up! Stand up...!
Anis, stand up!...
......
"...Anis!"
"Gasp."
I jolted awake at the voice pulling me from my sleep.
"Anis, get up."
Betty was straddling me, looking down. I blinked up at her.
What was that just now? It felt like a really shitty dream.
Has my mind finally snapped? Have I gone insane?
They say dreams are mirrors of the mind. Maybe that dream hinted at my mental state, which had spun not just 180 degrees but a full 360.
I was well aware my sanity wasn't intact.
...Anyway.
Not a nightmare, but some bizarre, grotesque dream. Grimacing in disgust, I sat up.
"Anis, you okay? Bad dream? Your face looked really troubled while you slept."
Wasn't that because you were sitting on me, Betty? My solar plexus was crushed; it was hard to breathe.
But I, Anis Harper, wasn't so immature as to snap irritably at someone worrying about me.
"I'm fine."
"Really?"
I answered casually, and only then did Betty's face brighten.
"...What time is it?"
"Seven. Evening!"
Looking out the window, it was already getting dark. How long did I sleep? I pressed a hand to my throbbing forehead.
...I felt shitty.
"Let's go eat!"
Betty shouted. Food? Hopefully not bread again. Dragged by the hand by Betty, I stepped out of the cramped bed.
Passing the cramped bed, the rundown sink, the shabby bathroom door, I opened the old front door. Thus, I left the room where I'd slept for so long.
"Han said come eat once you wake up, Anis. Hurry."
Betty said smiling. I forced a smile back and followed her.
It wasn't far to the destination: another rundown, shabby house. Betty opened the door that looked ready to collapse without hesitation.
"You're here."
"You've arrived."
Greeting us were Kahtel and Han. Sitting neatly on the floor of the worn room without even a chair, they looked utterly impoverished.
Notably, following Kahtel, Han was missing one arm too. Last I saw, both arms were fine. What happened?
"Why the arm?"
"...There were circumstances."
Han brushed off my question vaguely. I wasn't that curious, so I didn't pry.
"Sit first."
Kahtel said to Betty and me standing at the door. Treating me like a subordinate from the start was pretty annoying.
But I knew well that rebelling here and getting kicked out meant no food anywhere.
Yes. I was starving. All I'd eaten was one tiny cream bun the size of my palm... To fill this hunger, I had no choice but to submit...!
'Kuh...! Such humiliation...!'
Swallowing my shame, I sat on the floor as the one-armed demon bastard ordered. The bare, hard floor was bone-chillingly cold.
How long had we sat? With a creak, the door opened, and Camilla entered carrying a plastic bag and a folding table.
"Ah, sorry. A bit late. Nothing looked even remotely decent."
Camilla said, unfolding the small folding table. Too tiny for five people, but we huddled around it anyway.
Once seated, Camilla placed hard metal cans from the bag on the table.
-Thud.
"...This is."
"......Canned food?"
Canned food.
No, canned food?
Even if residents looted all the food, is this all that's left? Irritation surged; my fist clenched involuntarily.
"......... "
Silence enveloped the room. It had always been quiet, but now it was beyond quiet—something heavier hung in the air.
Ten eyes from five people fixed on the cans atop the table. Various kinds, at least.
Camilla moved first.
"This is all there was."
She took the spicy chicken canned food.
"...I see."
Next, Kahtel sighed deeply in resignation and took the braised beef can.
"...Better than nothing."
Han took the spicy tuna can.
Left for me and Betty: bean can, tomato soup can, and canned yellow peaches.
"Heh, looks tasty."
Betty last took the peaches. Staring blankly at the remains, something boiled deep in my chest.
Bean can and tomato soup can.
"......... "
Something... something's boiling. My fist tightened.
"Um..."
Han, who'd been fumbling awkwardly beside me, offered the spicy tuna can.
"Sorry, but could you open this? I only have one arm."
Then Kahtel handed me his too.
"Do mine too."
I stared blankly at the cans in my hands for a while.
Braised beef and spicy tuna.
While mine were just beans and tomato soup.
"......... "
This fucking bullshit, I'm suddenly so pissed off...! My fist trembled.
...You one-armed fuckers, this is a meal? This is a demon?
Indescribable rage welled up. Unable to hold it, I slammed the table with my fist.
Bang―!
The folding table snapped in two, and all eyes turned to me.
"...I'm not eating."
I grabbed Betty happily slurping peach syrup and headed out.
"Anis? What's wrong?"
"We'll eat separately, just us."
Betty, peach syrup smeared around her mouth, tilted her head at Anis's words.
"Huh? Where? No food but cans."
"Just go outside the barrier and eat."
Hearing that, Betty pondered.
Of course, with her powers, leaving with Anis was easy.
'But everyone's eating gross cans... Is it okay if just we eat something tasty?'
Betty worried.
'But Anis seems to want to go out. What to do?'
Betty thought deeply!
"Let's go out and get jjajangmyeon."
"For real?"
Betty fell for the temptation!
"Betty, don't take off the sunglasses or mask."
"Okay."
Betty nodded at Anis's words. Both wore big sunglasses and masks covering their faces.
Of course, Betty had no money, and Anis had lost her wallet. The glasses and masks were stolen from a shop.
City center, Sector A.
Tall buildings and flashy lights illuminated the bustling streets teeming with people, full of vibrancy.
As if the slums Betty just left never existed, as if the hero-magic beast battle on the outskirts didn't matter, it sparkled luxuriously.
'Eating jjajangmyeon with Anis after so long!'
Whatever. Betty was in a good mood.
'Yay!'
Just happy!
Betty and Anis entered a Chinese restaurant in the middle of the street, ordering two bowls of jjajangmyeon and one sweet-and-sour pork. The TV on the wall played a documentary on the magic beast attack.
Sitting, Betty blankly watched the broadcast.
――After the Sector B magic beast attack, bereaved families...
Photos of smiling victims killed by beasts scrolled by, followed by grieving families.
"......... "
Her chest throbbed in response. Betty knew their tears stemmed from her.
――Gurgle...
Still, hunger came.
"Nom nom."
Jjajangmyeon was delicious.
"Sweet-and-sour pork!"
Delicious.
"So good, right?"
Exiting the restaurant, Betty beamed at Anis. Of course, they fled via teleport without paying.
"......Yeah."
Anis stared blankly into space before answering weakly. Since arriving downtown, she'd occasionally gaze vacantly like this.
Betty worried about her. Betty might seem thoughtless usually, but knowing Anis had demon energy injected, she cared more than anyone.
Bad mood?
Maybe hearing bad hallucinations or voices.
Something to cheer her up? Betty looked around.
Then, fireworks shot into the sky.
Boom―
They burst spectacularly, cascading down. Fireworks nearby.
Watching, Betty recalled the amusement park with Anis.
"Anis, wanna see the fireworks?"
"......Sure."
Betty led Anis to the observation deck in the square with the best view. Faint warmth came from Anis's hand.
The wide square, prime fireworks spot, drew crowds. Like at the park, they looked up together again.
Boom―
Fireworks exploded. Yellow light banished shadows.
Betty glanced at Anis beside her. Her gaze fixed skyward.
Betty looked up too, eyes capturing dispersing bright fireworks, feeling slight déjà vu. A sensation of peace and romance she'd never felt.
She listened to the sounds around.
Lovers whispering.
Friends chatting happily.
Parents and kids joyfully watching fireworks.
Romantic, romantic, romantic.
The place brimmed with romance.
Everyone watched the fiery flowers blooming in the sky: lovers, friends, parents and kids.
And Anis and her too.
Here, at least now, they weren't so different from others.
Mingled among those full of romance.
Unlike before, gazing different directions, now the same.
'This is romance!'
Romantic in English! Betty's mood soared.
Was Anis thinking the same?
Feeling better? Hope so.
At least this pretty sight should help a bit.
Glancing sideways, sure enough, Anis's expression seemed improved.
Fireworks bloomed in her blue eyes, like sunlight sparkling in glass beads.
While watching her like that, their eyes met.
"...Betty."
"Yeah?"
Anis called her name; Betty replied. They locked eyes.
'Th-this...! Perfect timing for a super romantic line...!'
Boom―
Brief silence. Another firework faded, and Anis spoke.
"Wanna commit suicide with me?"
Pretty romantic line.