Junkyard Heart Pounding
Frey's heart pounded fiercely. She was the one who always mocked Enoch for his bird chest, but in truth, hers fluttered even more than his—if not more. So getting caught red-handed like this turned her mind blank and froze her body solid.
What do I do...
She'd boasted too confidently. Never caught in five years, so she figured today would be the same. But who knew they'd all show up together on this day of all days? Even if she'd been alone, it wouldn't have changed much. No, it might've been even scarier. She might've collapsed right there and bawled like a baby...
Frey swallowed dryly and stole a glance at Enoch. He had instinctively slipped a hand into his coat, readying a weapon for whatever might come. Then his eyes narrowed. The man's face seemed familiar, though he couldn't place from where. Good guy or trash? Enoch's scales tipped toward the latter. To him, familiar faces meant people he'd crossed paths with during "cleanup" jobs.
Still, he couldn't act rashly. This was Northrica. In the true heart of Eden, killing someone with a junkyard this size would unleash hell. No need to think hard—plenty of bad outcomes sprang to mind. So Enoch looked to Angela.
The weather was just a touch chilly, but faint white breath puffed from her lips. Proof her hacking tools were revving her body heat. Even so, she couldn't move carelessly. Northrica residents came with ICE as standard issue. Poke the wrong thing, and it could turn into a hornet's nest. One slip, and hundreds of drones might swarm.
Eventually, Angela's gaze shifted to Soo. To swat the bees, they needed her overwhelming power. The eyes passed Frey, skipped Enoch, hit Angela, and finally landed on Soo.
Soo just said, "Hi."
"I'm Soo."
"...Yes, hello. I'm Agner Etherdam. Owner of this waste incinerator too."
His attitude was incredibly polite. But that alone didn't reveal his true nature. In this world, plenty wore kind faces over rotten cores. Especially the rich ones—it was practically a species trait.
I wonder if Soo was wary of that inner rot. While everyone pondered, Soo stayed utterly chill.
"We haven't gone in yet, so let it slide?"
"Haha, well... true, it's 'not yet' as you say, Lady Soo. Without me, you'd have slipped through that side path you cut behind here."
"Yeah, fair."
Agner's face faltered at Soo's brazen yet honest reply. Borderline rude, really. But he didn't snap. Not from weakness or fear of them. Just as Enoch and Angela guessed, Agner had layers of defenses. He'd beefed up security after that recent incident. A bomb here wouldn't kill him. And even if it did, his wife and daughter in the office would be safe.
Still, he stayed cautious—extra cautious. Out-of-district visitors, especially mercenary types, were walking bombs. And the biggest threat? The girl who'd clocked their hidden CCTV on entry and sized up the whole guard system at a glance.
"What brings you here?"
"Gonna pick something out once I see."
"Doubt there's anything worthwhile."
"You never know. Trash to others might be treasure to us."
"That's... well said. Almost too good for this spot."
Agner's head tilted slightly.
"Lady Soo, was it?"
"Yeah."
"Are you... a mercenary, by chance?"
"Yep, mercenary."
"I see..."
Soo's eyes sparkled as she watched Agner's odd expression of acceptance.
"Why?"
"Not the sort of thing to ask as owner facing thieves, but... you seem familiar. Had to check."
"This face? Unforgettable after one look."
"True enough... haha."
Soo was right. A face that beautiful? Impossible to forget, even from a passing glance. Not from twisted thoughts—Agner had a loving wife and daughter dearer than life. Just the shock of it, like that recent accident, burned into memory.
"Well... regrettably, time for the main point?"
"Sorry for barging in."
"Mm... appreciated. But not something to brush off. Been wondering if you're behind all the past incidents here."
"First time for us. Only Frey here's a regular."
"Gasp... S-Soo...!"
Why sell me out? Aren't we friends? Sure, I suggested coming, but! No lies in your words, but! Still hurts!
Tears welled in Frey's eyes.
"Even if you say that... would a thief admit it? First time meeting you all. You say the same about me, so no trust there. Plus... maybe I'm not even the owner?"
Soo casually glanced at Angela and Enoch behind her.
"Yeah, seems like it."
Her words suggested belief in Agner's ownership. Not from naivety—her gaze held strange certainty. Feeling that odd disconnect, Agner spoke.
"Same here. Bodies dumped now and then, sensitive docs tossed, bombs hidden, mines planted. Real headaches. And lately, that horrific accident—"
His words cut off as a wadadada! echoed from afar. Not footsteps—an excited kid's sound effect.
"Wadadada! Daddy!!"
"No...!"
A little girl raced up. Neat bob of yellow blonde, red ribbon pin for extra cuteness. Anyone could see she was Agner's daughter.
"Lucy...! Lucy! Come here now!"
"Daddyyy!"
Behind her, a woman—clearly Agner's wife—chased desperately. But she couldn't catch the girl called Lucy. Agner eyed the four warily, ready to trigger security if they tried anything.
Unaware of her dad's tension, Lucy charged full speed and—
"...Lucy, it's dangerous here—"
"Daddy!!"
"Guhk!"
—headbutted his gut.
"What."
"Oh my?"
"Gasp..."
"Huh."
Smacking her hardworking dad's head that hard? Some ungrateful brat—
"Daddy! This big sis isn't bad!"
Up close, she seemed sweetly raised, pure and proper. Impressive to keep that humanity in this world.
"L-Lucy... what do you mean?"
"The hero sis who saved us!"
Enoch's eyes widened. She'd seemed familiar, nagging at him. Now he knew. He stared at Soo in shock.
Soo grinned and nodded. Relief washed over him briefly—then anxiety spiked. Wait, what did that girl, Lucy, just call her? The hero who saved us? But they were under Noise camouflage then. How'd she spot them?
"Lucy...? Really?"
Lucy's mom, panting from the chase, gaped like Agner.
"Mom doesn't know? This sis! The one who zapped the monster away with chiijik!"
Lucy's head whipped around. Bursting with energy, that girl.
"Right? Zappy sis!"
She opened her clenched fist. In her tiny white hand: a candy. The one Soo had given her.
"Right, right? I have the candy sis gave me—does sis have my marble?"
Lucy stepped closer; her parents watched anxiously from behind. Her comrades stared, baffled. Under all those eyes, Soo pulled a blue marble from her pocket.
Then she wrapped herself in Noise, crouched to Lucy's level.
"Yeah, hi."
"Yay! Sis! Missed you!!"
Lucy leaped into Soo's arms. Tiny as Soo was, her embrace easily held one little girl.