The Stalker in Amber
Warm sunlight wrapped lazily around my body. I felt the plush comfort of the quilt I was clutching, and the faint scent of a milk-fragrance diffuser lingered softly at the tip of my nose. I blinked my eyes for a while before finally coming to my senses and pushing myself up on the bed.
What, is it morning already?
I’ve moved through various lodgings, but this is the first time I’ve actually spent a leisurely morning lying in bed. Come to think of it, I’ve spent my vacation busier than a one-armed wallpaper hanger. Looking at it this way, I’m not even sure if I should call those past days a "vacation," but the match against my offline friend, L, was incredibly fun, so isn't that enough? Even a trivial joy is doubled when shared with someone else. Although I was the winner of Land Grab Tycoon, I’m sure my offline friend L, who put up a great fight, is feeling the same joy as I am.
Good. Today’s agenda is set. Since my offline friend L still hasn't given up on our rivalry, there will be no more rest until I’ve hunted down every single remaining fake friend!
After a quick shower, I opened the door to my room without even bothering to dry my damp hair. But the moment I opened it, there was a black wall in front of me.
Why is there a wall in a place like this?
I tilted my head up and saw amber eyes staring down at me steadily.
Ah, what is this. Is that what it was?
I must be dreaming. There’s no way such an absurd situation could be reality. I carefully closed the door. Usually, dreams break just by realizing they are dreams. Even if I couldn't wake up immediately, I just needed to give it some time.
I closed my eyes. I repeated to myself that everything I saw before me was just my imagination, and I focused on my body, which was likely sprawled somewhere in reality. I started to get a feeling. My blurry consciousness surfaced, and I snapped my eyes open.
The scenery that unfolded was no different from before.
That’s strange. If this isn't a dream, does that mean it’s reality?
I approached the door again, grabbed the handle, and opened it. The black wall was still there, and those amber eyes were still looking at me.
Hmm, this is definitely strange. Or perhaps I’ve developed a mental illness?
I closed the door again. However, the man standing in front of the door blocked it.
"I have something to say."
"Is that so? Then, could you let me make a quick phone call first?"
"Who are you calling?"
"The police. A pervert has appeared."
The back-and-forth, which had been tossed out like a casual conversation, stopped for a moment. The wild, stalking pervert seemed dissatisfied with something, as he furrowed his brow slightly.
"If it's the police you want, there's one right in front of you."
How shameless.
"It seems like modern police have developed a hobby of following people around without cause."
"To be precise, it's the job of following suspicious people."
"I’m not suspicious at all, though?"
"Yeah, you aren't. Because you have no intention of hiding it in the first place."
"That’s because I have nothing to hide."
Carlos’s face twisted once more. Seeing his expression crumple with every exchange felt like playing a game of 'spot the difference.'
"Then, can I go make that call now? No, wait. Come to think of it, I don't really need your permission. I’ll be right back after I make the call."
I turned my head and pulled my phone out of my pocket. Let’s see, what was the contact number for the police in this world?
I was leisurely pressing the numbers one by one as I tried to recall them, when suddenly, my hand was grabbed.
"Don't."
"I just added another reason to make that call."
"Enough with the games."
"I’ve never played any games."
"Do you know about Abyss?"
Wow. He’s so shameless. The wild, stalking pervert started saying what he wanted to say, completely ignoring me.
"Not at all. I don't know it."
"No, you definitely know."
"I’m not sure what grounds you have for saying that all of a sudden."
"I’m the one who’s curious. Ever since Inspector Nera arrived, Abyss has appeared, and Abyss always stays near the 1st Platoon. As if receiving information from someone. Inspector Nera, who do you think needs to provide the proof?"
"That’s the 'Devil’s Proof,' isn't it? Asking me to prove a crime that doesn't exist—I really don't know what you want me to do."
"Coincidences have their limits. Haven't you been moving as if you were blatantly asking to be investigated?"
"It seems like the police these days don't even follow the presumption of innocence."
"Just because a crime hasn't been confirmed doesn't mean we let suspects go free."
"This is truly absurd. So, are you planning to keep me locked up in this room all day?"
I don't know the reason, but Carlos didn't answer. He simply stroked his chin. As if he were seriously considering it.
The frail Inspector Nera felt goosebumps all over her body!
"If you're going to keep me confined in a room like this, is there any need to argue further? It seems like there’s a new criminal in this place."
"I never said I would."
"You were thinking about it, though."
"I was just thinking about other things."
"A passing dog would laugh at that."
"How unfortunate. There are only people here."
Ugh... I smell something strange. "Wow, you’re really not funny."
Finally, a thick vein popped out on the forehead of the obsessive, stalking pervert.
"I didn't say it to be funny."
Talking to the obsessive, stalking pervert made me feel a little dizzy. Ooh, the frail Nera can't survive another second here. And standing in front of the door felt like a waste of time, just exchanging words until the day passed. Besides, the obsessive, stalking pervert in front of me wasn't actually blocking my path. Though he did stop me from making a legitimate report.
I took a vigorous step forward. I was a little scared at the thought of pushing the obsessive, stalking pervert, but when I pushed with my strength, he was pushed aside surprisingly easily.
The operation was a success. Now, all I have to do is check out of the hotel and get away from the crime scene of the obsessive, stalking pervert, and everything will be solved.
However...
"Why are you following me?"
"I’m not following Inspector Nera. I’m just chasing the traces of Abyss."
"I’m not Abyss."
"Right. You wouldn't be 'Inspector Nera'."
"That’s right. It’s not me. The case is solved. So, why don't you go back now, Platoon Leader?"
"Abyss was discovered here, too. Coincidentally, right around the lodging where Inspector Nera is staying. Do you really know nothing?"
"I don't know how many times I have to say it. I don't know anything."
"Then it can't be helped. I have no choice but to search the area until I find Abyss."
After finishing his sentence, the twisted, hellish, obsessive, stalking pervert followed right behind me.
It seemed the holy crusade against my offline friend L would have to end here.
*****
It was a truly peaceful day. People were bustling about, and full-blown flower petals were scattering in the air. It would have been perfect if not for the twisted, hellish, obsessive, menhera, stalking pervert following behind me.
"This is a battle of honor."
I deliberately raised my voice. So that the twisted, hellish, obsessive, menhera, stalking pervert following behind could hear me well.
But he didn't even pretend to listen, indifferently turning his head away.
"It’s a battle to see if the perverted stalker who bullies a small, fragile girl will be caught by the police, or if he will finally prove his schizophrenic delusions."
"...Ha. I am not a perverted stalker."
"But it’s a pity. I’ve already won this battle."
"At this point, even that attitude is suspicious. Is it the inspector's strategy to confuse my mind by pretending to be stupid?"
"I have never pretended to be stupid."
"...Phew."
The twisted, hellish, obsessive, menhera, stalking pervert is the one who switched his route to a foul-breath attack, yet he has so much to say. No, perhaps that reaction is proof that my strategy is working. The twisted, hellish, obsessive, menhera, stalking pervert, who kept listening to me while pretending to ignore me, was sighing more and more by the second.
Good. If I keep pushing like this, he’ll leave eventually.
The operation is in full swing, so all that’s left for me is to enjoy the rest of my vacation in peace. For starters, should I walk around and visit all the places I was curious about?
Competing with my offline friend L was a lot of fun, but I didn't have time to look anywhere else because of it. I had a tiny bit of regret, so this worked out perfectly.
I looked around slowly. The first place my eyes landed on was a small ice cream shop. Looking at the size of the store, it was smaller than the others, but I saw a huge crowd bustling about in the middle of the day. Isn't it really curious whether it's because it's hot, or if the ice cream is just that delicious?
I walked leisurely to the ice cream shop and bought the vanilla ice cream that looked the most delicious. I licked the snow-white ice cream with my tongue. The vanilla ice cream was ordinarily sweet. However, it was perhaps too much for my small mouth to finish. It’s not that I couldn't eat it, but if I opened my mouth wide to eat it, I’d end up with ice cream all over my face.
I glanced at the twisted, hellish, obsessive, menhera, stalking pervert next to me.
"Per—Platoon Leader, would you like a bite?" I tried to say it normally, but I met the gaze of a woman who was looking at me with a satisfied expression. Hmm, even if it were the truth, wouldn't saying something like that cause a scene? I don't want my vacation to disappear.
"You know how to read the room."
"Are you going to eat it?"
The twisted, hellish, obsessive, menhera, stalking pervert looked at the ice cream once.
"I don't eat what others have touched."
"It’s delicious, though."
"I know you have no intention of giving me any."
Hmm, how did he know?
As expected, is this level of intuition basic for a twisted, hellish, obsessive, menhera, stalking pervert? It was a truly surprising discovery.