Incinerator Cleared – Boss Awaits
Conversation? Nah, pass.
"Hoo."
The mob girl's heavy sigh shattered the silence. As if she'd made some kind of vow, she gripped my hand tightly once before letting go. She trudged over casually, like it didn't matter what she picked, and grabbed a mask. Right on cue, I cast purification on it. The pitch-black mask instantly turned the color of jaundiced skin.
Hmm, maybe the black one looked better? It really clings to the face like actual skin now. But hey, the smell's improved, right?
"Eh? Ehh...?"
My mob girl friend stared at me in surprise, so I nodded encouragingly. Seeing that, she made a subtle face and tucked the bag between her thighs. She slipped the flesh-toned mask on her head with practiced ease, checked her purification jar, and let out a hiss—shiiik, shiiik.
"Ah, aren't you going to wear one?"
Her voice came out a bit muffled as she asked. I nodded.
"I-Is that okay?"
Nod nod.
"Th-Then let's go."
The mob girl shook her head but extended her hand to me again. I happily grabbed it and let her drag me along, squeezing playfully. When she reached for the door, I opened it with telekinesis first. Ladies first! She seemed a little startled but soon stepped into the incinerator room.
The incinerator interior was a plain space dominated by a massive machine standing ominously in the center. This is the incinerator? Not what I pictured. I imagined roaring flames, but it's more like a huge humming electronic device. Kinda like some ancient supercomputer from a bygone era?
The machine was perfectly symmetrical. Two holes labeled "Insertion Slot" and a single lever. Above it, a tacky old LED display. Scrolling green text read:
Please deposit trash.
That's why there are two? For pairs?
"Haa, haa, hoo."
The mask must be stuffy; her breathing grew ragged. Gotta hurry. No wonder she's in a bad mood with that grimy thing on. The mob girl dragged her feet and barely made it to the front of the incinerator. I stood in the matching spot beside her. She glanced at me, then tossed her trash into the hole in front of her. I did the same—shoooot.
She's trembling and mumbling prayers under her breath. That nervous? Should I have just smashed everything and busted us out? Fine for me, but for this frail little mob girl... not sure.
Total trash: 13.7kg passed.
Slot 1: 4.2kg.
Slot 2: 9.5kg.
Please pull the lever.
A short buzzer blared loudly: Beep-. The mob girl kept her head down, avoiding the display. Guess even a single die from my trash was enough.
"G-Good! It's good!!"
She peeked up gradually, beaming at me with joy. I nodded, so she yanked the lever. Another loud beep-, followed by clanking machinery. She stood on the foot mark, waiting. I mimicked her and stepped on mine. Then the whole room shook with a rumble.
What the—?
Whoosh! Thick black smoke billowed out, filling the room. That's why the masks? This machine seriously needs an upgrade. Way too outdated. Not a single particle could touch me, but the pathetic smoke choked the air thickly. Is this normal? I glanced at the mob girl through the haze. She had her hands clasped to her chest, crouched small, eyes squeezed shut like she couldn't see a thing. Pathetic... but kinda cute. Kihihi.
Soot settled on the floor like soft snowdrifts. I was about to lazily purify it when something started whirring. The air cleared surprisingly fast, and the floor soot scattered away. Only then did the mob girl take a deep breath.
"Haa, haa. N-Now just the d-doctor checkup and we're out!"
She's pumped. I'll lag behind, though. Got claims to file and stuff. The grinning mob girl offered her hand again. Kihihi. Good girl. I purified the soot off her here and there, then took her hand.
"Th-Thank you."
Nod nod. I opened the door with telekinesis again. She casually slipped off the mask with one hand, familiar with the thing. I hit her with another purification shot as she grinned excitedly.
"Haa, calm down. Calm. Just a bit more."
She breathed deeply, savoring the purification scent, then led me by the hand toward the medical room. I floated along, dragged sneakily behind her. Why put the medical room at a fork when it's right next door? Annoying. The weird layout screams transformation gimmick, right? Right? My chest thumped with excited anticipation. I blasted the medical room door open with telekinesis—bang. Oops, dented it. Sorry?
The mob girl eyed my aggressive entrance curiously, but skip. Not much like a medical room—a cramped empty space with just a white desk. Shouldn't there be a potted plant or something? The doctor wasn't at the desk; he was at the wall, fiddling with a switch.
"Ah, customers. I'm turning off the ventilation now, per the director's orders to make it as comfortable as possible."
Wait, you do it yourself? What about protocol? The doctor wasn't some hulking brute. A tattered doctor's coat yellowed at the frayed edges. Plain knit underneath. Eye sockets hollow, with something black constantly dripping from them—otherwise, not too different from a human. Just colorless.
He shuffled to the desk without looking at us, rummaging in a drawer. Found what he wanted and gripped it.
"Well then, time for the examination..."
He glanced at me and froze.
"Ah! You both look incredibly healthy at a glance! You can head home right away. Here's your discharge papers. Thank you for using our service. Have a great day."
Huh? Rapper? Talks fast. He dropped the thing in his hand, rummaged in his coat, and pulled out two sheets of paper. Hands trembling—nerves or palsy?—the mob girl snatched them quick and shoved one into my hand. Lame. Thought he'd attack with that weird tool.
"Th-Thank you."
I tilted my head. The doctor fidgeted in his seat like it was uncomfortable—or hemorrhoids. She backed away, so I followed with a shuffle. As the dented door roughly closed, she squatted in relief with a big sigh.
"I-It’s over! No idea why they gave the discharge papers right away, but take this outside and you'll return to where you started!"
Nod nod. She looked thrilled, positively glowing. Stuttering less too. Kihihi.
"L-Let's go quick."
Her steps bounced with excitement. Watching a grown woman skip like a kid was kinda heartwarming. The way back always flies by. At the pale-glowing exit, she bowed once more.
"Th-Thank you! Not sure if we'll meet again, but thank you!"
"Bye."
Feeling shy, I waved and spoke. Her eyes went wide; she waved back and—poof—vanished. Her beaming smile as she faded? Quest complete! Satisfaction welled up. Hope she made it home safe. Kihihi.
I slowly crushed the doctor's head with telekinesis until it burst.
"Gaaahhh!"
Splurt. A dry pop echoed from afar. How'd he even get that far? Anyway, the moment I've been waiting for! Finally, boss time! Hurry and transform! Go huge boss mode! No? I shredded the discharge paper and stepped outside, staring at the building. The thumping had stopped. Under the dark red sky, the envelope monsters were gone, leaving only desolation.
Broken? My head tilted instinctively. Maybe a director dialogue gimmick? Conversation? Pass. Strong! Do I really have to talk? Ugh. Toughest enemy yet. F-Fine, head to the director. Might trigger boss on entry. After all this chaos, she's got patience. Wanted her to attack first, but oh well. I trudged back the silent way I came, energy sapped. The drab walls matched my mood. I forced some hype imagining the boss fight joy. Picturing a mighty director fusion with the building, I stepped forward.