The Answer Only One Doesn't Know (3)
The Answer Only One Doesn't Know (3)
The necktie wrapped around my throat was unbearably uncomfortable.
It felt like someone was methodically strangling me.
Even before I was transported into the game, I had lived a life utterly removed from anything resembling a "neat suit." On top of that, I worked a rough blue-collar trade—mage, mercenary—so wearing clothes that weren't made of bulletproof fabric just made me uneasy.
The Boss, who had been taking in the scenery outside, spoke without turning her head toward me.
"It's stuffy, but bear with it. You're attending the party as my escort, so it can't be helped."
"...It's okay to loosen the tie a little, right?"
"No."
...Didn't expect otherwise, anyway.
I swallowed the sound and kept taking deep breaths.
I felt unsettled for a number of reasons.
The fact that I was riding in an aerial vehicle floating hundreds of meters above the ground certainly contributed to the anxiety....
But what made me far more anxious was the fact that I had neither my "bulletproof coat," nor my "mask," nor a "gun"—the most basic means of defense in this world.
At least I had managed to bring the rescue signal emitter Drex gave me. If things went south, I'd just trigger the signal and get ready to run.
I turned my head and looked around.
This was my first time riding in such a luxurious aerial vehicle. Probably the last, too.
Maybe it was the plush seats, but I felt none of the usual sensation of being airborne or any sense of disorientation at all.
I was curious enough that I wanted to touch this and that. But since touching the wrong thing could forcibly reclass me from Mage to Debtor, I stayed still.
Far in the distance.
Beyond the window, the massive city barrier loomed large, blocking the view.
It was even more gigantic than the "outer wall" that formed the boundary between the city and the outside. This was the "boundary line" that separated the Upper Layer from the other districts.
You could describe it as the physical manifestation of cyberpunk capitalist elitism.
If just a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of the tax money used to maintain that barrier were spent on the Lower Layer, the living conditions for its citizens would probably improve significantly.
It definitely wasn't because I currently lived in the Lower Layer that I was thinking such things. Anyway, it wasn't.
Noticing my gaze, the Boss took a sip of alcohol—I couldn't tell if it was whiskey or a cocktail—and spoke.
"There's no need to be tense just because it's the Upper Layer. Just act natural. There's no guarantee that something will definitely go wrong."
Hm.
Whenever someone says something like that, something always happens....
I grumbled to myself and answered the Boss.
"It would've been nice if I'd had a little time to mentally prepare, you know."
"We're almost at the entrance. If it's your first time entering, the identity verification will be a bit more involved. You've got the identity data I sent you in your head, right?"
What a smooth topic change.
I checked the identity information floating in my vision interface one more time.
"...Ah, yes."
So.
The name was—.
33. The Correct Answer That Only One Person Doesn't Know (3)
I don't even know how many times my name has changed by now.
"Was it Mr. Shun Choi?"
"......Yeaaah, that's right."
"Looking at your name, I figured you were of Asian descent. Are you perhaps from Neo Japan?"
"...Haha, you could say it's similar."
"Just as I thought. People who don't know any better often make mistakes in the little things. I'll apologize on their behalf."
You're wrong too, you bastard.
But I didn't let my rotten inner thoughts show, and kept up the polite responses.
For one thing, I had entered this party under a false identity anyway, and for another, the whole experience of people calling me by the wrong name or background was something I was extremely accustomed to.
Besides, this was a world with multiple species.
Distinguishing regional races here was a tall order.
Even I couldn't tell the difference between an Asian Orc, a European Orc, and a Hispanic Orc.
.......
Incidentally, my fake name becoming "Shun Choi" was the result of the Boss's unnecessary consideration.
She said she'd give me a Korean-style alias.
And so, thanks to various issues with pronunciation, it didn't take long for "Choi Si-un" to become "Shun Choi."
Anyway.
Was it because I had come to the party with the Boss of No Answer?
So many useless people were clinging to me.
But I couldn't afford to look suspicious, so I was right in the middle of trying to smooth things over by chatting as naturally as possible.
"I was quite surprised. Usually, No Answer's 'her' not only refuses party invitations, but she's never appeared with anyone else, either."
"Haha, is that so."
"Yes, that's right. On top of that, your name was one I was hearing for the first time, so... Ah, that was rude of me."
"Haha, is that so."
"...Indeed. So, I even suspected you might be the secret lover she's been hiding......."
"Haha, is that so."
"......?"
Soon, he made a face like he was looking at someone missing a few screws, and then he distanced himself from me.
Well, that was expected.
Even if some unsavory rumors about the Boss spread because of this, I could just say I did my best when the time came.
For the record, it wasn't my fault.
I confirmed that the people who had been hovering around me had all vanished into the distance.
And I let out a short sigh.
Now that the annoying ones were gone,
it was time to resume my guard duty.
Of course, even while I was conversing (or rather, ignoring them while pretending to converse) with those strangers, I had kept the Boss in the corner of my eye the whole time.
But naturally, there was bound to be a difference compared to focusing entirely on guarding her.
For reference, the Boss had been surrounded by people who looked at least twice as numerous as the ones around me a short while ago.
They were so full of curiosity.
They chattered away ceaselessly around her, like baby birds clamoring for food from their mother.
From my position as her guard, I personally wished they would practice a bit of "social distancing"—like when some kind of virus breaks out.
But that was probably a difficult thing to achieve at a party venue.
"Sigh."
Still, the odds of an attack happening at a public function like this were low. Even at a rough glance, we weren't the only ones on guard against one.
Still, you never know. I had to stay alert.
Because you can never be too careful.
I moved cautiously.
I positioned myself behind a large pillar and kept the Boss within my sight.
With no one else around, it was much more comfortable.
Born a loner, I felt at ease in the shadows and continued watching over the Boss.
It was just as I was still hoping nothing would happen until the party ended.
My eyes met the Boss's.
"......."
"......."
The Boss wasn't wearing a dress like the other female attendees. Dressed in a men's suit, her appearance stood out more than the rest.
Just as I was about to avert my gaze, the Boss gestured toward me.
Honestly, I wanted to ignore it, but looking around, I was the only person standing here. It was clearly me she was calling.
What now.
I slowly walked over to the Boss's side.
"...You call—."
"My escort here says they have something to discuss for a moment."
I do? Have something to discuss? What?
The Boss cleanly ignored my aggrieved expression and continued speaking to the people around her.
"We'll have to save the business-related talk for another time."
And she began dismissing the crowd.
"Could that person be the secret lover...."
"Hey, pal, let's go. Quickly."
There were some clueless ones who tried to linger, but not everyone was like that, so it didn't take long for the surroundings to quiet down.
In that moment.
The smile that had been settled on the Boss's lips vanished. I'd thought so earlier too, but even when she smiled, her eyes never smiled at all.
So this was the mask you had to wear to fulfill the role of No Answer's Boss.
Before I could even say anything to her, the Boss looked at me and opened her mouth.
"I'm sorry about all this."
I didn't know if she was sorry for dragging me to the party without any time to prepare, sorry for changing my name, or sorry for letting people bother me.
"Shall we step outside for a bit?"
"Let's."
I willingly nodded at the suggestion.
I had been wanting to get some fresh air anyway.
We slowly made our way toward the balcony.
Even on the way there, a few people tried to strike up a conversation with the Boss, but the moment the Boss motioned me forward, those people all quickly melted away.
...I hope I don't get a lawsuit notice for fraud tomorrow. I worried internally as I continued walking out onto the balcony.
The evening had long since passed, so the scenery outside was completely dark.
I had secretly hoped I'd be able to take in the panoramic city view looking down from the Upper Layer, but unfortunately—perhaps for security reasons—all I could see were the spacious grounds of the party venue.
This wasn't a hotel; it felt more like a mansion.
It was considerably spacious. If anything, houses in the Upper Layer, where property values were sky-high, seemed larger than those in the Lower Layer.
"Phew, I can breathe now."
The Boss leaned gently against the railing and spoke.
Since this was a sentiment I shared, I silently concurred.
I couldn't remember the last time I'd walked around outside without a mask on. Being in the Upper Layer, the air was incredibly clear and clean.
"Ah, do you mind if I smoke for a minute?"
"...Go ahead."
Farewell, clean air....
I'd never held any strong opinions on the topic of cyberpunk women smoking. I nodded without much thought.
Pulling an e-cigarette from inside her jacket, the Boss slowly exhaled smoke into the air. A sigh turned to vapor and drifted away into empty space.
For my part, I had nothing to say.
And the Boss, for her part, was quiet.
A silence lingered for a moment.
This is a bit awkward.
Hoping to lighten the mood a little, I spoke to the Boss.
"Now that I think about it, is it really okay for you to be here with me?"
"What do you mean."
"From what I've gathered, there's a rumor going around that you have a secret lover."
At that, a faint smile flickered across the Boss's lips.
"If I had one, I would've quit smoking a long time ago."
Having answered my question, the Boss slid the e-cigarette back into her jacket.
And she added one more thing.
"What could be less romantic than tasting cigarette smoke when you kiss someone."
"Who even cares about stuff like that these days...."
"I do."
An unexpected romantic, then.
The Boss stretched her arms wide with a big yawn. As her back arched, her ample chest subtly rose.
Because I wanted to keep receiving requests from No Answer, I exercised superhuman restraint and held my eyeballs back from rolling down into my chest.
Having finished her light stretching, the Boss spoke.
"Anyway, I am sorry. You had to come all the way to a place like this and be put in an awkward position. Though I'm one to talk, since I'm the one who requested it, knowing full well."
The Boss of No Answer, who had seemed so unapproachable, was in fact an ordinary person after all.
I answered her in a much more comfortable tone.
"No, it's fine. I came here to work, didn't I."
As long as you compensate me with the appropriate amount of credits, there won't be any problems at all.
And besides, as the Boss had said earlier, there was no guarantee that an incident would definitely happen. If things went that way, I'd just enjoy the party, earn some credits, and go home.
I nodded to myself, daydreaming about the unearned income that would someday come my way.
"We've caught our breath. Shall we head back in?"
"......."
Mental exhaustion aside.
I sincerely hoped.
Privately praying that no incident whatsoever would break out today, I followed behind the Boss.
* * *
I let out a long, drawn-out yawn.
In the end, no trouble had arisen even halfway through the charity party. It wasn't that I was disappointed. On the contrary, I was just grateful.
【Everyone, did you know? I checked, and every broker who is making a name for themselves in Neon City today has attended!】
I let the emcee's booming voice go in one ear and out the other as I watched the event wind down.
【And as such! We will ensure that the credits collected through donations are transparently used for the benefit of Neon City's mercenary industry!】
I let out a short, derisive laugh.
"Huh."
To think I'd ever hear the words "donation" and "transparent" in the same sentence in a cyberpunk world.
I guarantee you, if even half of the amount gathered here was used for its original purpose, it would be considered well-spent—.
At that moment, a chill of foreboding shot down my spine.
I turned my head immediately to scan the surroundings.
No one was near the Boss.
Then what was it?
I continued the train of thought as I readied myself to sprint directly to the Boss.
【Then, with this, we will conclude today's event—.】
- Bzzt.
【Huh? A sudden blackout...?】
Soon after.
The surroundings were instantly swallowed by darkness.
I knew it.
I instinctively recognized that the situation I hadn't wished for had arrived.