It's So Easy, Right? (1)

NCPD (Neon City Police Department).

This place—the Neon City Police Department—was actually a little different from the typical image of "police" we usually know.

In a cyberpunk world where almost everything has been "privatized," even the police couldn't escape that influence.

In short, police corruption was a given.

Even a simple direct call to the police department cost a significant amount of credits.

That was why the reporting rate in the lower layers, where people had fewer credits, was so low.

The reason the police worked hard in the upper layers?

It was possible because the district head representing the area paid that much in credits to the NCPD.

Furthermore, by the time the NCPD's stock was traded separately as an item, it was hard to see them as ordinary police.

But.

That didn't mean the emergence of police corporations through privatization only had drawbacks.

【Inmate 'Merlin.' The charges against this inmate are as follows: illegal trespassing, illegal leak of personal information, illegal management of personal information. In addition, they hold five other charges violating city law.】

An emotionless female voice issued from the unmanned kiosk.

What the hell had he been doing?

The list of charges was far longer than I'd thought.

Anyway, I touched the hologram screen that had appeared and pressed the arrow icon.

The voice came from the kiosk once more.

【The amount of city bail ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠assessed for the subject is as follows. If an additional complaint is filed by the reporter, re-incarceration measures may be taken, and subsequently, additional credits may be required.】

The amount displayed on the hologram was considerable.

It was an amount that would have made me think, "Hmm, I should just go back," and look the other way—if I hadn't received the settlement money from Koozaka's Chairman.

But since I was overflowing with money at the moment,

I transferred the amount without a care.

【City bail has been paid. Thank you.】

Originally, the concept of "bail" didn't serve as an "indulgence."

But in a cyberpunk world whose barbarity had grown even greater than the medieval era, it took the same shape.

It was practically a release.

It was also a part that showed just how bizarre the cyberpunk world, steeped in extreme capitalist ideology, really was.

A brief moment passed.

The familiar old man patted his own shoulders as he slowly walked out from inside.

The old man, who had been looking around suspiciously, wondering who had bailed him out, spotted me and couldn't hide his delight.

"I believed in you after all! It was you who got me out! Thank you!"

"...Ah, you've been through a lot."

"Really, I tell you... Even though I said I'd already talked everything over with the building owner, no one even pretended to listen to me."

"......Haha."

Actually, it was true that things hadn't been talked over.

"Still, I'm glad you got me out. If it weren't for you, I'd have had to eat those tasteless nutrition tubes for who knows how many more days—truly terrible. At this age, you know, eating becomes important."

And the reason this old man had been caught by the police was indeed because of me.

I had messaged the Chairman that I didn't know the old man's identity.

For reference, that was the reason the old man had been detained here.

"...Right. You really almost got into big trouble."

But I deliberately kept that fact from the old man.

It was something I knew nothing about.

I brainwashed myself and greeted him with a smile.

There was no need to reveal a hidden truth and earn the old man's hatred.

At least, not now when I had "magic" to learn from the old man, Merlin.

Side EP. Easy, Right? (1)

After the incident that day ended like that,

I told Maya, who had a broken arm, that I would call emergency services, but Maya shook her head and refused, saying she was fine.

"This body is prosthetic right now anyway. So rather than going to a hospital, I think it'd be better to just go home and leave the treatment to Dr. Tera."

That made sense.

But the problem started from there.

It was human nature to grow attached even after a single glance.

And a problem had occurred with a housemate who had lived together in the same place, in the same space.

There wasn't a single person who could just let ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it pass as if nothing had happened.

When Maya returned with a broken arm,

the house was thrown into an uproar.

It was fortunate that Natasha and the Chairman, whose schedules were always busy, weren't home.

If they had been there too, the commotion would have been at least three times worse, I figured.

Maya tried to make excuses for me.

"...Really, nothing much happened. I broke this arm by myself, so Si-un-ssi truly did nothing wrong at all."

But no one believed the words of a girl who was just a simple part-timer at a fusion Japanese restaurant—and the youngest at that.

In Julia's case, because she didn't know Maya was a (former) Chrome Psycho, even she, who was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠relatively less expressive, couldn't hide her sympathy.

"Really, I'm fi—."

"Come here~."

Maya, who was diligently insisting she was fine, was caught by Dr. Tera and taken away for treatment.

Catherine, Julia, and Andrea. All three turned their gazes toward me.

Naturally, their eyes held no accusation or anything like that. They were simply filled with a desire to know what had happened, to understand the situation.

I explained what had happened:

the attack Maya suffered,

the transhumanist group,

and how we went to wipe them out.

I would have preferred it if they blamed me.

But instead, they comforted me.

"...Well, you had bad luck."

"That can happen."

"......Still, I'm glad it didn't go to the worst-case scenario."

I calmly shook my head.

"...No, it's also true that I messed up."

At the very least, it would have been fine if I hadn't taken Maya along. No matter how much Maya asked, it was me who accepted that request and made the decision.

If only I hadn't let my guard down.

If I had prepared just a little more,

Maya wouldn't have gotten hurt.

I reflected on myself.

What kind of professional mercenary was I—couldn't even protect one ordinary girl?

From the start, it was the colleagues who had stuck with me that were great, not me.

I resolved to return to my original intentions.

For that, first of all, I needed to message the Chairman-nim and ask what had been done about Merlin.

Then, while I was explaining the situation again, it was inevitable that the Chairman-nim would be shocked to hear that Maya had been hurt.

My sin was great.

* * *

[This is NCB24 breaking news. The corporation 'Black Monolith Corporation' has issued a warning statement regarding many 'extreme transhumanist' groups. Experts on this matter—.]

The news broadcast echoed through the lobby.

"Kkeuh...."

Merlin, in a manner unbefitting his age, gulped down a refreshing soda.

The product he ordered was "Koozaka's Rainbow Flavor Cola." Actually, though it was called "rainbow flavor," the reality was nothing more than a jumbled mess mixing seven flavors together.

If it were mint choco or pineapple pizza, I might understand.

I didn't want to understand that kind of palate.

My internal image of Merlin dropped a notch. Minus one point.

Still, just looking at his appearance, he was no different from a stylish old man, so I had wondered if he might order black coffee befitting that image.

I never imagined he'd order such bizarre food.

Just looking at it made my throat feel parched.

I took a sip of the molecular coffee I ordered.

We were now in a cafe.

There were too many uninvited guests (housemates) at home to learn magic there. It was a scene where I couldn't concentrate properly.

As I set down my coffee cup, Merlin finally shifted his gaze toward me.

"I was imprisoned, but I'm glad we could meet again safely like this."

"You really almost got into serious trouble."

"Haha, no."

The fact that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠he was imprisoned because of me must never be revealed. Honestly, I hadn't thought he would be imprisoned either.

I had only asked the Chairman to handle him without hurting him—I'd never said to send him to jail.

In the end, it was true that I messed up, but....

.......

Come to think of it, the things I had to hide from Merlin weren't just one or two.

The jail incident was one, and so was the fact that I was the guild master of "Jeonjangyeon."

"Normally, the NCPD would take bribes. Strangely, this time they didn't seem inclined to accept. So I nearly suffered a great deal—truly fortunate."

Probably, it was because the person who had ordered him jailed was Monolith's Chairman.

I carefully guessed.

Meanwhile, I spoke to Merlin.

"This was all because I couldn't check my messages. I'm truly sorry."

"No, you can miss things as you live. Haha."

Actually, I had deliberately ignored it.

I scratched my head, feeling awkward for no reason.

"Now that I think about it... I don't think I ever told you where our house was. How did you know where to come?"

Hacking would have been difficult, thanks to Eve.

"Ah, that."

Merlin scratched his head just like me in response to my question.

"That, ahem. Actually, that day, I pretended to go back but followed you for a bit."

"......."

Hmm.

The slight guilt I felt lessened a bit.

Merlin slowly stroked his beard.

As if embarrassed to reveal his shame, he stammered slightly.

"S-So, anyway. Ahem. Are you thinking of learning magic properly now?"

"Yes. That's right."

I nodded at Merlin's words.

The number of ways I could become stronger in this situation was small.

Installing cyberware was too taxing due to my physical traits, and my mind wasn't sharp enough to study new skills like hacking.

That was the reason I sought out Merlin.

"Magic."

Merlin calmly continued speaking.

"Yes, you thought well. If you properly learn magic, you'll truly become great. Truly."

"Ohh."

They say praise makes even a whale dance.

Still, receiving praise made me feel good.

Usually, it was rare for someone to teach such specialized skills without even paying credits.

Ever since I took up the warrior profession at his recommendation, I had looked into him, and he seemed like someone accustomed to serving others.

Merlin let out a short, fake cough.

"Hmm, anyway, re-learning magic from the basics will be a bit difficult."

With that, the atmosphere grew serious.

"People inevitably adapt to what they're used to. When did you say you started learning magic?"

"Well, it's been close to ten years."

"Then it'll be even harder."

That was to be expected anyway.

I had come to find Merlin fully accepting that part as well.

I nodded firmly and answered.

"It's fine. Let's do it."

"Good, let's begin then."

* * *

"First, feel the nature of mana— You already feel it? Ah, well, I suppose you would."

"Yes."

"Then you must absorb mana into your body through breathing... Wait. You're already doing it?"

"It works."

"...Controlling the mana within your body will be a little difficult. It doesn't move along the blood vessels. You have to feel its flow, and usually, during this process— Hmm, you can move it?"

"Yes."

The old man's face, as he continued his explanation, grew more and more astonished.

What was so difficult? Everything worked.

I waited for the old man's next explanation.