The Doppelganger Extermination - 1
Even though becoming an adult clearly brings things you’d rather avoid, there are tasks you must inevitably face. Moments arrive when you have no choice but to do what you hate. This was one of those moments.
Splash. Splash. The sound of bare feet trampling across a stream bank. Huff. Huff. Her lungs gasped desperately for air. Her heart felt like it would burst and kill her, yet she kept pushing her legs forward with everything she had.
A hill and meadow fragrant with the gentle scent of flowers. Bright, dazzling sunlight and a warm, gentle breeze that carried no bite. The woman ran out into the outside world with a beautiful smile spread across her face. She leaped over the high city walls and reached a vast realm where beautiful nature danced freely.
But perhaps she had played for too long. The time came when her heart still raced, yet her feet could run no more. It was truly, bitterly regrettable.
The girl with deep blue hair slowly shook her head. A look of deep remorse surfaced on her lovely face. After letting out a long breath, she soon broke into a bright, sunny smile. It was so pure and radiant it looked completely genuine.
The girl turned around. A police officer was aiming a pistol at her. Green eyes glowed with an eerie, sinister light.
Ashily Dolores smiled warmly at the dear friend who had followed her. How did it come to this? Despite the question swirling in her mind, her lips moved without hesitation.
Ellyse Bertman pulled the trigger.
Bang!
And so, one woman’s life came to a full stop. Crimson blood scattered through the air. Red paint drew a picture across the meadow.
Demian Cloud witnessed the scene with perfect clarity. He stared down at the corpse at his feet in a daze. Then he dragged a hand down his face and muttered.
Thank goodness. Demian let out a breath of relief and finally opened his eyes.
Blood-red lighting flickered. An unfamiliar ceiling greeted him. His heart pounded violently. He exhaled slowly, trying to accept the current reality.
Yes. What had just happened was a dream. This was reality. The moment he repeated that to himself, a vampire appeared from one side of the room and grinned.
Bathory Erzsébet flashed a refreshingly bright smile. Demian Cloud, on the other hand, felt anything but refreshed. He had zero desire to play along with the damn demon’s jokes.
Without saying a word, he counted the days in his head, then asked in a voice that sounded half-dead.
Bathory answered with the same smiling face.
It was something that might very well happen in real life.
On Tuesday morning, Ellyse Bertman headed to the Central Police Department as usual. She had received an enticing offer the previous evening but turned it down and went to bed early. She woke earlier than anyone else and arrived at the office first.
In truth, she had barely slept and ended up waking early anyway, but regardless, she faithfully showed up for work. Although the matter weighed on her mind throughout her shift, she firmly resolved to focus on her duties. Or at least, she tried to.
Yes. Spying on someone else’s date was an absolutely unacceptable, shameless act.
“…Haha.”
Ah, but why did this bother her so much?
Ellyse Bertman gave a bitter smile at her unusually scattered thoughts and finished writing the after-action report for last week’s subjugation operation, which she had been ordered to submit as a formality. She carried the documents over to the desk of the Special Affairs Division’s second-in-command—Inspector Ellyna Bastard.
Though she was an idiot and incredibly loud, she was still a proper superior and the unit’s commander.
“…Ughhh… Why… why the hell do I have to do this goddamn bullshit…”
She was also just another office worker who had to write reports. Watching Ellyna mechanically scribble away while groaning, Ellyse finally broke into a clean, refreshing smile and nodded.
Suddenly, she felt much better. Even though she could no longer ask who had been assigned to the Cloud case, this was good enough. After all, people become happier when they share their suffering with others.
I’ll ask about it later.
Thus, Ellyse Bertman turned away with a light heart. She returned to her desk and began reviewing old case files she had pulled from the archives. She studied information on doppelgangers and various other monsters. Knowing them would make it easier to catch them whenever they appeared.
Both Inspector Ellyna and Chief Inspector Kimbray had told her to take it easy, but she paid them no mind and did her best to work diligently.
“Good work today!”
Finally, it was time to go home. For those handling case reports and the administrative staff, once six o’clock arrived, officers throughout the office began rising from their seats and gathering their belongings.
Ellyna Bastard, however, seemed to be having an even busier stretch than yesterday. She remained glued to her desk with dark, exhausted eyes.
“Looks like today’s a lost cause.”
Ellyse clicked her tongue and stood up. It seemed she would have to give up on leaving together today. After packing her things, she passed by Ellyna’s desk and said, “Good work,” before heading out.
From behind her came a zombie-like groan instead of a reply: “Gwoooargh.”
Ellyse renewed her vow never to end up like that and left the Central Police Department building.
The sky was clear and cloudless. The breeze that gently tugged at her collar was neither cold nor harsh—it felt warm and comforting. Spring really is here.
Only then did Ellyse realize it. She adjusted the strap of the bag on her shoulder and smiled brightly.
Well, in three days it’ll be April.
Yes, spring had come. Though she had no idea how far away the day might be when she would finally have a lover of her own.
“Quitting time, right this second!”
She stretched her arms wide and strode forward with confident steps. It wasn’t that she disliked her job as an inspector, but there was something almost magical about the word “quitting time” that made people happy.
Yes. In this very moment, Ellyse Bertman felt refreshed. Her body, which still hadn’t fully recovered and remained a little stiff, the news of Ashily and Demian’s engagement she had heard yesterday evening, and even the question of who had been assigned to the Cloud case—none of it mattered right now.
She wiped it all from her mind and began strolling through the streets. Not to enjoy the scenery or visit any particular shop, but for the simple reason that it was her commute home.
Unlike Ashily, who always rode in her family’s car no matter where she went, Ellyse always walked. She usually took the tram rather than using a personal vehicle. On days with especially nice weather, she had even ridden her bicycle all the way from the mansion to the Central Police Department.
She had chosen to do so because she wanted to live as an ordinary inspector, independent of her family name. Besides, it would be ridiculous for a mere inspector to show up for work in a luxury car. She preferred to avoid unnecessary attention.
For that reason, while she wore her inspector’s uniform, Ellyse chose to live as an ordinary citizen. She wanted to remain grateful for what she currently had. She did not live extravagantly like some people, and she rarely indulged in any form of entertainment. She lived what others might call a wholesome but boring life.
Yet even that was enough for her to feel happiness and gratitude toward her own existence, so she had no complaints. She harbored no particular desires.
But perhaps it was because that foolish, airheaded Ashily had come to her yesterday with news of her marriage. Or maybe it was because she had seen Inspector Ellyna buried under a mountain of paperwork and practically dying earlier today.
Suddenly, Ellyse’s gaze was drawn to a poster on the wall.
Midnight Tryst
A romantic love story performed at a small theater. The tale of two lovers who share a kiss.
It was a common story for this era—one in which the couple overcomes every obstacle and ultimately achieves love. Normally, it was the kind of play Ellyse would never have gone to see. As the young lady of the Bertman family, the venue was far too shabby, and as an inspector, it would have been a waste of time.
But sometimes, a little deviation was necessary.
Today, Ellyse suddenly felt like watching a play. She felt like wasting some time. Even though she had only returned to duty two days ago, she sensed the need to rest both her body and mind.
“One ticket for the 7 p.m. show, please.”
“Yes, here you are.”
So Ellyse took the ticket from the staff member and walked deeper into the theater. She disappeared down a dark corridor. The theater employee smiled brightly and prepared to greet the next customer.
Crack. Crunch.
A sound like something twisting echoed several times. Before long, the employee’s face had transformed to resemble that of an inspector. Brilliant golden hair and blue eyes that seemed to hold the color of the sea. A confident demeanor that would never yield to any situation and a radiant face.
Perhaps because it was a quiet, out-of-the-way theater on the edge of the street, no one witnessed the process of that change. For her, that was a welcome thing.
Ellyse Bertman smiled brightly, her eyes sparkling. She murmured softly.