Chapter 35
Chapter 35
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: His and Her Hidden Identity (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
A building in the slums.
Late at night, when everyone was asleep.
Kanpu, known to the kids as deputy commander, swept her terminal alone in the darkness.
"...Real madlad vibes kekeke..."
Blindness didn't make cyber web surfing impossible with a terminal.
Kanpu checked the comments read aloud by the voice synthesis engine, biting her lip thoughtfully.
'...Hotdog Man.'
The mysterious figure handing out free food to us.
But.
(From cyber web searches) His true nature was a terrifying gang boss.
'No wonder he wouldn't give straight answers.'
If she hadn't sent Runrun to investigate separately, she'd never have noticed the oddity in her lifetime.
Kanpu worried about Liberra, her precious comrade and family.
No matter how precious food was, it wasn't worth sacrificing Liberra's pride.
"Lately he's even got her sitting on his lap... I'm starting to get scared too. Deputy, is this really okay...?"
The intel agent (Runrun) testified there were no fools being deceived—only deceivers.
At first, she thought Liberra was tricking a good Samaritan for food.
But day by day, suspicion grew toward that 'grocery store owner.'
The conclusion reached was.
'...Not your average pervert.'
Indeed.
The grocery owner, the gang leader, clearly knew all the truths and was brazenly enjoying Liberra's torment from shame up close.
Rumors already called him a madlad all over the cyber web.
'Truly grateful he's looking after us outcasts hated by the corps.'
But Kanpu felt an unbearable anguish.
The cost being Liberra's pride.
She could've ignored it in ignorance.
But knowing the truth, she couldn't sit idle.
Then, someone approached silently and tapped Kanpu's shoulder.
A rather playful touch.
"Runrun."
"What're you doing up this late? Staying up messes up your skin."
"...Mine doesn't."
"Lucky you."
The girl called Runrun sauntered toward the candle with hardened wax dripping.
"Yah!"
She mimed a finger gun, and a small red spark bloomed from the tip.
A miracle without a whiff of oil.
"...Runrun."
Kanpu's voice dropped lower.
The blind girl's head turned toward Runrun.
"Aw, no one's watching. What's the harm."
"Still better to be careful. Especially now."
"...Got it. Sorry."
With the candle already lit, no more excuses needed.
Runrun plopped down beside Kanpu and shoved her face close, as if distance was a foreign concept.
"So what's the worry this time."
"......"
"C'mon, spill. It's about the boss anyway, right."
Kanpu gained a bit of confidence from Runrun's rough demeanor.
"...Then one favor."
"Leave it to me. Infiltrate, chase, assassinate—"
"Enough."
Kanpu tapped Runrun's mouth with a finger.
Shutting down needless chatter in advance.
"I think I need to meet him myself."
"Who? No way, you mean..."
Of course.
The manager of a certain grocery store.
I had a dream about Animal Crossing again today.
Just, the content was a letdown.
A shitty dream where I got conned by that raccoon into millions in debt.
Way better than cyberpunk life-or-death threats, but waking up right before grabbing his collar left a bad taste.
Felt sticky from morning.
And the monotonous female voice that followed.
"Yeah, good morning."
"Yeah, good morning."
Waking to a massive turret greeting me wasn't weird anymore.
Guess I'd become an honorary cyberpunk resident.
"Slept about three hours."
"Over three hours today, nice."
Body fatigue gone, but mentally drained.
'Wish I could dream longer...'
Just regretful.
Who knew over six hours sleep would feel so nostalgic.
Tsk.
I neatly folded the blue polyurethane fiber sheet, then walked from the warehouse to the grocery entrance.
The turret shifted position naturally.
Is that mechanical beep involuntary?
"Dyu."
"Yeah, dyu."
Without speakers, couldn't understand Nova.
"Got plenty of cash now. Maybe get an android body instead of speakers..."
"Would need Boss's permission first though."
No terminal for contact yet.
Walter should wake soon; ask for one as life-debt interest.
Organizing thoughts, flipped the entrance sign.
From Preparing to Open to Open.
No customers today either probably...
"Hello there, sir."
"......!!"
Legit startled.
If mildly surprised, I'd mutter 'Ow, jump scare' awkwardly.
'Was definitely no one there...'
The girl had an eerily faint presence.
The gray-haired kid struck a bold pose, hand on hip.
"Sorry for startling you. Was waiting secretly for the shop to open."
Military-style stiff speech from my service days.
Though her pronunciation was oddly soft.
"Secretly?"
"Ah, it's a secret from Liberra."
I eyed the kid with half-narrowed gaze.
Now noticed her gray hair awkwardly covered her face.
Just like Liberra.
"No need to be so wary. Me and Liberra are family. Family. Famille. ...Not some weird gang."
"Liberra's family?"
"Yes sir."
Similarities clear.
Faint presence, face hidden.
The kid bowed at right angles.
"First off, thanks always for the food. Sandwiches seem fewer lately; a few more next time would be great."
Sandwiches are tasty.
Sensed she was truly Liberra's family.
"Stuff I'd toss anyway. No need to thank."
"Not true. Thanks to you, our family eats without starving."
Very polite demeanor.
A fond smile crept up briefly.
"So why's Liberra's family here."
"Our deputy... er, big sis wants to meet Hotdog Man briefly—"
"Hold up."
I cut the kid off mid-sentence.
Hated hearing that nickname even here.
"Kid, what's your name."
"...Am I a kid?"
If so, kid. What else.
Kids that age all wanna be adults.
I nodded nonchalantly at her reaction.
"Yeah, you."
"...I'm Runrun."
"Got it, Runrun. Cute name. I'm... Abel. Abel Anderson. Just Abel's fine."
No more Hotdog Man.
Unfamiliar name too, but better than that.
"Sis wants to see me."
"Yes sir. Sis is frail, hard for her to come out, so I came."
"I see."
Liberra's family...
Parents gone, probably.
Almost teared up thinking of the poor girl head caring for siblings.
"Sis far from here?"
"Nope. Walking distance."
Makes sense; too far and Liberra couldn't commute.
I glanced back at the grocery interior.
No Michael or Liberra yet since morning (lunch), but quick trip fine.
Flipped sign back to Preparing to Open.
"What, right nearby."
"Thank you...!"
I waved to Nova watching from inside.
"Heard? Be back soon."
Speakerless warehouse turret could only mumble mechanically.
"Who you talking to?"
"Oh, my house turret."
"......"
Runrun's mouth gaped then closed.
Muttering unwittingly.
"......Definitely a bit off."
"What?"
"Nothing. This way."
Thus I followed Runrun out of the grocery.
"Oh yeah, how old are you, Runrun kid?"
"Twenty-three."
"?"