When the Wind Blows West
Three days had passed since the mysterious bomb attacks began near the border between northern Sector 12 and western Sector 12.
"Good day to you."
The moment the clock struck nine, Vita opened the door and offered a light bow toward me, who had only just finished eating.
I tipped my head in acknowledgment. She headed into the bedroom with practiced ease, retrieved a stick of dynamite and a glass bottle of White Devil from under the bed where I had told her to find them, and came back out.
"Have another pleasant day."
"You as well, Vita."
"Thanks to you, Priest, every single day is a joy."
Surprisingly, that was not empty flattery.
"I would have preferred you said that while looking at me instead of the dynamite."
"Ah."
Ever since she had begun cleaning out the trash and the vermin, she had been reclaiming her vitality day by day. It was no joke — each time she visited, the change showed on her face with startling clarity.
"Ahem. I mean it."
"Yes. Good work."
"I'll see you tomorrow."
Already buzzing at the prospect of delivering dynamite, Vita all but skipped out through the same door she had come in by.
"She seems to carry quite the hatred."
"When someone else steals even the chance you might have had to see the light for yourself, I suppose that much is only natural."
Jamie gathered the dishes in front of me and began washing them as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"More to the point — the ten million Mora is late."
"Wouldn't that be because they're scrambling to obtain whatever you wrote on the back of that letter, Priest?"
"I don't recall writing anything particularly troublesome."
"…"
Jamie offered no reply and focused on the dishes.
"That makes every restaurant doing business in Sector 12 visited at least once."
"And of the twenty-nine, twenty-one restaurant owners got their skulls cracked open."
"If you'd taken even a single bite of what I ate, Jamie, you wouldn't have been much different from me."
"I won't deny that."
We headed back toward our nest, trading the usual idle talk along the way.
"Think we'll have a visitor today?"
"May I speak honestly?"
"Of course."
Walking in step beside me, she glanced my way and murmured softly.
"I wouldn't stake my life on it, but there's an extremely high chance that unless you advertise yourself, Priest, the only visitors from here on will be acquaintances introduced by the Boss."
"And the reason?"
"The trash who came to see you through Vita — your first promotional agent…"
Jamie trailed off and drew a thumb across her own throat.
"As you saw yourself, Priest — Vita, who was ready to throw her life away just to cure her addiction, is the exception."
"I see. Understood."
Apparently I had overestimated the willpower of the slum's residents by a considerable margin.
There was a reason for that, though. Most of the people I had met since coming to the slums had been decent enough that my expectations had risen of their own accord.
"Well, even if that weren't the case, there are plenty of other methods. I'll think on it in due time."
Taking a different route home for the sake of digestion, we arrived to find — to my surprise — a guest already standing at the door, waiting for us.
"Hi?"
"…"
It was the doll girl from three days ago.
"Have you been waiting long?"
"…"
The doll girl stared at me, blinked with exquisite slowness, and then shook her head.
"That's good."
"Mm…"
When I stroked her hair the way I had before, she obediently offered her head to my hand.
"Let's go inside first."
"…"
The doll girl nodded, and together we moved indoors.
"Sit where you sat last time."
"…"
Working her small feet with great diligence, the doll girl plopped down onto the sofa.
I watched her for a moment, then shrugged off my coat and headed for the kitchen.
"Make one for me as well."
"Tradable for one Doberman usage ticket."
"Fine."
Jamie accepted with surprising ease.
"I've already shown you nearly everything I can show, Priest. That much is nothing."
"You certainly have shown me a great deal."
Especially at night. And on the bed.
I steeped two cups of green tea and handed one to Jamie, the other to the doll girl sitting blankly on the sofa, waiting for me.
"…?"
Without telling her to take it, I simply closed her small hands around the warm cup myself. The doll girl fidgeted with it and looked up at me.
"Drink."
"…??"
Her head tilted at a crooked angle. I set it straight with my own hands, then took hold of hers and guided the cup to her lips.
"Ah."
"Ah."
She was quick enough to mimic the motion. Her lips parted slightly, and I let a little green tea slip through the gap.
"Gulp."
"…Nngh."
Her throat gave a small twitch, following mine.
"How is it?"
"…Warm."
"I see."
I had hoped the fact that she enjoyed having her head stroked meant some of her senses remained intact — but unfortunately, her taste buds appeared to be completely dead.
Still, she seemed to like the warmth, so I left the cup in her hands and went to sit on the sofa across from her.
"You have something for me, don't you?"
"…"
The doll girl nodded, then — just as before — drew a thin sheet of paper from the handbag she carried and held it out to me.
"A check."
"So they have checks as well."
A check for ten million Mora.
The paying institution was, naturally, Golden Wood — the largest bank — and the issuer's name was that of the black magician.
I should test later whether checks actually work here.
I passed the check to Jamie, who stood behind me.
"Take out the rest as well."
"…"
The doll girl nodded once more, then began setting items on the table one by one — so many of them that it was hard to believe they had all fit inside that small handbag.
A test tube filled with an ominous-looking purple liquid; several leather pouches of a distinctly unpleasant appearance; and a round glass bottle brimming with a deep green fluid.
Lastly, the doll girl held out a letter envelope.
Jamie took it first, checked the contents, and passed only the letter paper to me.
Although the first button was fastened wrong, a wrong button can simply be undone and refastened, can it not?
In answer to our open-minded Priest, who so graciously accepted my apology, I have included a few extras beyond what was requested.
The purple liquid in the test tube will instantly vaporize upon contact with air and spread the disease you asked for, Priest. However, as you requested the swiftest possible delivery, I was unable to test it myself and thus do not know the extent of its range — so please exercise caution.
Of course I have also sent the antidote, so you need not worry about suffering any harm yourself. For reference, the antidote is the green one.
Lastly, the leather pouches contain powdered medicinal herbs that amplify regenerative power, as you requested.
Simply mix with water and spread over the area to be regenerated. Do note that as these are purely powdered herbs, the pain during regeneration will be quite horrific.
Should you need anything further from me, I shall procure it at a very reasonable price — so feel free to send someone to the 18th District with this letter envelope in hand.
I handed the letter paper back to Jamie, and she read its contents in silence.
"Priest?"
"Finish your tea."
Brushing off her call, I rose from my seat and approached the doll girl. Then I stroked the ice-cold head of the doll girl sitting blankly with her dead black eyes.
"Mm…"
Her expression did not change, but the fact that she was enjoying my touch came through with absolute clarity.
"You can go back now."
"…"
When I withdrew my hand, the doll girl stared at it for a moment, then stood from the sofa. Just as before, she gave a small bow and quietly took her leave.
"Have you taken a liking to her?"
"I do tend to like well-behaved children."
But stroking the doll girl's head had not been for that reason alone. It had been purely for the sake of an experiment.
"More importantly, Priest."
"Yes. I'll be throwing it at the Western Slum."
"…"
Jamie wordlessly dragged both hands down her face in a long, slow sweep.
"If it wouldn't be too forward — might I ask what disease it is?"
"Of course."
I had intended to tell her from the start, and it was not a particularly severe disease to begin with.
"A disease that comes with mild abdominal pain and makes anal control a bit difficult."
"…"
A deep furrow carved itself between Jamie's brows.
"Even without treatment, it clears up on its own after about a week of proper rest."
"…I see."
Only then did Jamie's expression ease.
That's only if they get proper rest, though.
I had not lied.
"Shall we tidy up?"
"I'll keep the test tube."
"Go ahead."
We amicably sorted the items on the table between us.
"Priest."
Jamie and I were preparing dinner when the door burst open and Vita — the same Vita who had come by that morning — shoved her way inside. I was not surprised. Jamie had already given me advance notice.
"What brings you here?"
"They held an execution."
"An execution."
When I gave her a look demanding explanation, Vita closed the still-open door and cleared her throat.
"They cut off six heads and put them on display in front of the iron fence that marks the border. I believe they were the ones who fired lead bullets at you, Priest."
"A surrender, then."
Vita scowled with one eye, clearly displeased, while Jamie gave a light nod.
"Unless they were blind, they would have known the vehicle they attacked belonged to Mad Dog. And the only Mad Dog vehicle circulating through Sector 12 is the one I drive."
"So they knew I was the one behind the terrorism."
"Which is why they surrendered."
They seemed well aware that laying a hand on me directly would only invite divine punishment from an omnipotent god.
But just because they had surrendered did not mean this side was obligated to accept it — any more than Jamie and I had been obligated to be attacked without reason.
"Jamie. Hand that over to Vita."
"…"
"…?"
Jamie let out a deep sigh. Vita tilted her head.
"Take it."
"…Yes."
Vita stepped forward and received the test tube of purple liquid from Jamie.
"Just throw it over the iron fence when the wind blows west."
"…Does it matter when I throw it?"
Instead of giving her a timeframe, I told her what the liquid inside actually was.
"I'll go into hiding immediately."
The effect was quite certain.