Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Crime City (5)
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'Tomorrow is another day,' someone once said.
Just like that saying, even though I'd gotten swept up in an unexpected incident, my daily routine flowed on unchanged.
An accident was just an accident, and reality was reality. I still had things to do.
I needed money right now to fill my stomach each day, buy drinks, and pay the rent.
So today, like always, I'd shown up for my part-time shift without fail.
"Hi, boss."
"Hey, Eve! Good to see you—come on in!"
The boss greeted me with her usual bright smile.
We hadn't known each other long, but in this bleak city, she was such a genuinely good person that it was hard to believe sometimes.
Not only did she treat her part-timers like actual humans, but even if you messed up, she never scolded you—instead, she'd patiently teach you step by step. And she went out of her way for you in so many other little things too. Once, when I mentioned on my way out that I didn't have dinner at home, she whipped up a fresh pizza just for me to take.
She's really such a kind soul.
It wasn't an exaggeration to say she'd made adjusting to this city so much easier. Coming to work here even felt like a kind of healing.
Honestly, today was the same. The recent incident had been such a huge deal that part of me wanted a break, and given how lenient the boss was, she probably would've given me a few days off if I'd explained. But that just made me feel even more obligated to show up.
I didn't want to disappoint such a good person, and it hadn't even been that long since I started—I couldn't just take time off now.
It's not like I'm actually hurt or anything.
Above all, I didn't want to burden her with pointless stories.
The whole incident I'd gotten tangled in felt too shady to talk about. A daytime shootout between a security firm and a gang? There had to be some complicated backstory. In the original game, events like that often spawned side quests with all sorts of messy entanglements.
If word got out even by chance that I was involved, things could get complicated fast.
Better not to mention I'd been at a scene like that.
So, pizza shop part-time shift, business as usual.
I stood at the counter, staring blankly out the floor-to-ceiling window at the street beyond.
"......."
The faces of the pedestrians strolling by in twos and threes looked so serene—it was impossible to believe that just two or three blocks away, dozens had died in a gunfight.
If something like that happened in Korea, the area would clear out instantly. It could've turned into a ghost town for months.
But here, all I saw were calm people and an utterly everyday vibe.
This disconnect kept reminding me I was in a different world.
"Sigh...."
A sigh slipped out before I knew it.
This really isn't a place for me to live.
Day-to-day life in this city was nothing like just playing a game for fun.
Here, every little choice could mean life or death for someone. No different if it was my own neck on the line. The crisis from just a few days ago had driven that home.
Which only made me want to return to my original world even more.
Lost in those thoughts, I heard a voice from the kitchen.
"Eve~ Order 268: two Supremes and one cheese! Delivery!"
"Got it! Sending them out now!"
Regardless of my stuffy mood, work was work.
I took the pizza boxes from the kitchen and headed outside. I popped open the lid of one of the delivery drones parked nearby and punched in the order number.
The drone whirred to life and lifted off toward the address.
Bzzz—
I watched it vanish into the sky amid the swarm-like hum, then headed back inside.
As you can see, I'd gotten pretty used to the job by now. It wasn't complicated to begin with.
The boss made the food herself. On really busy days, I'd help in the kitchen, but my main gig was counter duty. Even that didn't involve much face-to-face with customers. Business was good, but most orders were deliveries handled by unmanned drones.
So my tasks boiled down to loading pizzas into drones and inputting delivery codes. At first, the rush of orders threw me off, but now it was just clicking buttons.
Thanks to Kayla for hooking me up with this sweet gig, and to the boss for hiring me on the spot. Time for a prayer of gratitude....
I felt lucky to have met such good people. Amid all the incidents since landing in this world, this was pure fortune.
The work here was mostly straightforward like that.
But every once in a while...
...trouble cropped up that was a real headache.
And right now, I had a bad feeling.
The figure approaching through the glass door didn't look promising—and sure enough.
Creeeak. The door swung open. Ah, it was that guy again. My brow furrowed involuntarily. I sighed inwardly.
"Welcome."
"Hey, look at our pretty girl—here today too?"
Sloppy speech, tight t-shirt and ripped jeans. Muscled arms bloated unnaturally by cheap implants, covered in showy tattoos, hair in garish colors. The textbook street punk from Omega Detroit's back alleys.
He leaned on the counter, eyes raking me up and down. His greasy gaze felt like it was groping me outright—my stomach churned.
The old me would've brushed it off as 'what a psycho.' But now I knew how I looked to others. I could read the sleazy intent in that stare all too well.
Please, just order and go today.
"Welcome. What can I get you?"
I forced a casual tone, as businesslike as possible. I pointed to the menu to divert his eyes, but he just smirked like he saw through it.
"Order? Yeah. But hey, Eve looks extra cute today, huh? No boyfriend, right? How about after your shift, you and big bro—"
"One large pepperoni to go."
I cut him off flat. I was sick of him mangling my name from my uniform tag, sick of his childish, slimy patter.
My identity hadn't changed just because my looks had. Crude come-ons from creeps like this only creeped me out. Especially punks like him—I wouldn't even want them as friends, let alone anything else. I despised the type.
He must've seen the disgust on my face, but he just grinned wider.
"Whoa, feisty temper too. That's hot, though."
He didn't leave after ordering. He loitered around the counter, staring holes into me as I worked. Folding boxes, grabbing drinks—his gaze clung like slime.
This suffocating discomfort was a first in my life. Goosebumps prickled from the stare on my back.
"Eve's got pretty hands too. Bet the pizza tastes even better when you ring it up."
Like I even cook it. I ignored him, waiting for the pizza from the kitchen.
"...Here's your order. Twenty-eight credit dollars."
I held out the box without meeting his eyes. But instead of paying, he lunged for my wrist. I yanked back in shock. My heart pounded.
"Whoa, why so jumpy? Big bro that gross?"
"Sir, please. Just pay."
He eyed my stiff expression, then snorted and tossed bills onto the counter like trash.
"Fine, fine. I'll let you off today. But our pretty girl? I'll be back tomorrow—don't miss me too much."
He shot a final sleazy wink, grabbed the box, and sauntered out.
Ding-a-ling—
The door shut, and a pent-up sigh burst out.
"Ugh...."
Getting all hot and bothered over looks without knowing the person inside. Pathetic.
More pissed than scared or helpless, yeah.
If he wasn't a customer...
I clicked my tongue—just then, the boss emerged from the kitchen.
"Eve, everything okay?"
She wiped her hands on her apron, face full of concern. My expression must've looked bad.
"That guy earlier was sketchy, right? If he shows up again talking crap or bothering you, call me right away. I'll give him a piece of my mind!"
Her clenched fist was reassuring—and kinda cute somehow.
"No, it's fine. Really, no big deal."
I waved it off with a smile. The boss wasn't the type to scare off a jerk that easily, despite her words. She had a soft, puppy-like cuteness. If that punk saw her, he'd probably switch targets and slobber over her instead. No thanks—I didn't want to see that.
Honestly, it wasn't that bad.
If I were really the fragile girl I looked like, I might've freaked and run to her. But I wasn't. The jerk's antics were just gross and annoying, not threatening.
Just irritating, that's all.
"You sure you're okay? You look pale...."
"Yeah, totally! Probably just tired."
I flashed an even brighter smile. She checked me over a few more times, but when I insisted, she dropped it and headed back to the kitchen.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Finally, quitting time.
The bustling daytime streets had emptied out, the sun dipping low as neon signs twinkled in the dusk.
As I walked home, tension easing bit by bit, fatigue crashed in.
But tomorrow was the weekend. Thinking of crashing at the dorm lifted my spirits.
That's when it happened. A familiar, repulsive voice called from behind.
"Well, well, pretty girl. Fancy meeting you here? Must be fate, huh?"
...Worst timing. I'd just turned into a quieter alley.
I glanced back—yep, the same punk from earlier, smirking sleazily as he approached.
"Perfect timing. Big bro's heading home from work too—same as our pretty girl? Wanna hang out?"
"No thanks."
I replied as coldly and firmly as I could.
This was outside the shop now. No need to treat him like a customer anymore.
My icy response twisted his face. The grin vanished, replaced by a ugly mix of annoyance and rage.
"...Fuckin' bitch, acting all high and mighty."
His voice dripped pure hostility now—nothing like before.
"Quit playing hard to get. You think you're some princess in a penthouse up there?"
He spat on the ground and stepped closer. Cheap cologne and booze wafted off him.
"Know where you are, slut? No CCTV here."
His eyes gleamed.
"Scream all you want—no one's coming. Do whatever, no one's stopping me."
He lunged, arm outstretched to block my path.
We were down to a step or two apart. Nowhere left to dodge.
Our eyes met, and I quietly asked,
"Please don't kill him."
"Huh?"
In that instant, a hand shot from the shadows, clamping his shoulder—and crushed it.
Crunch—!