That Woman's Circumstances (Not Creampie)-1
That Woman's Circumstances (Not Creampie)-1
I opened my eyes, and the familiar ceiling came into view.
It was the ceiling of the one-room apartment I'd been living in since three years ago.
I turned my head slightly to the side, but as expected, nothing had changed.
Because of that, I even thought that everything from yesterday might've just been a dream... and I stared blankly at the ceiling.
"Ha~am... smack..."
What did the chairman say again?
Something about setting up an affiliate company to dispatch personnel.
He said they'd handle not just the company building but all the trivial stuff, so I just had to show up.
And we even ate some ridiculously expensive food...
"It looks like you're thinking that it all feels like a dream."
"Clare..."
"Well, it's not unreasonable to think that way..."
Today, too, Clare in her silver cat form lifted a paw in front of my eyes.
On her adorable silver paw was a single strand of golden hair.
"Ha ha."
"Does it feel real now?"
"Yeah. It's been a while, so it was really enjoyable..."
I picked up the shimmering golden strand of hair.
Right. It was right here.
Right on this mattress, I'd spent time with Scarlet.
A sticky, squelchy time, like a midsummer night's dream.
—Twitch twitch.
Remembering that moment made my innate Holy Sword (Sex Sword) try to slip out of its sheath again.
Well... mornings always have it pitching a tent anyway.
Anyway, I instinctively reached out and grabbed my phone.
Even if there's no one to message, checking your phone first thing is the modern person's duty... sort of.
Clare peeked at the screen, and an absurd voice leaked from her mouth.
"Eww, so many came in."
"Yeah."
Of course, there were messages from major corporations whose names anyone would recognize.
The president's direct something-or-other, special forces command whatever.
And a few in English too... unfortunately, my English stops at "How are you? I'm fine, thank you and you."
"What's this say, Clare?"
"It's the U.S. government. Inviting you to the U.S. base in Korea, asking you to come by once."
"Huh, really."
The Tower and Rifts where monsters emerge exist only in Korea worldwide.
In other words, the divine material known as room-temperature ambient-pressure superconductor can only be mined in Korea.
So no other country can touch it, but the sole exception is America.
From about 100 years ago until now, America is still blood allies with Korea.
Simply put, it wasn't just Korea fighting against the Tower and Rifts that appeared in the 2040s—America was in on it too.
"So this message is..."
"America again. This time from a company. 'We'd be grateful if you'd visit our Seoul branch,' something like that."
"Hmm. Looks like word of my talk with the chairman yesterday hasn't spread yet."
"Seems so. Thanks to that, we've got a ton of visitors knocking since morning."
"Haa..."
My once quiet and cozy sanctuary was gone.
The gazes of surveillance and observation from outside the window... countless, beyond counting.
And downstairs, presences lurking about in droves.
"Scarlet was right."
"Yeah. Who knew it'd get this annoying..."
The emotion I felt toward this flood of handshake requests was singular.
Pure annoyance.
So the only thought in my head was to hurry up, wash, and get out to work.
Thus, today too, I wolfed down a bowl of spicy beef stew first thing and headed out.
—Slide!
Not the door today, but the window.
Not toward the world's biggest hotel, but the streets.
Unchanging as ever, I started my deliveries.
—Ding dong~ Hero of Delivery order!
The time when everyone starts their battle called work on the battlefield called the office.
Naturally, Chairman Lee Yong-jae was sitting in his office too.
The board before him was the world.
The pieces were capital, power, organizations... people.
Like a seasoned knight making his move, the chairman decided the fate of the world on his board.
As he steadily approved documents like placing pieces one by one, a man evoking a black rook appeared before him.
"You're here, Team Leader 1."
"Yes, Chairman-nim."
"How was he? That Lee Hyun-do. Of course, I met with him one-on-one too... but honestly, I didn't feel much. To be precise, there wasn't the same pressure I feel from you."
"Haha, that's because I'm still inexperienced. So, were you disappointed in him, Chairman-nim?"
"No. Far from it. It was quite enjoyable, actually. Despite appearances, I sensed an immeasurable depth."
"I see. Now, as for my impressions..."
Team Leader 1's personal take wasn't far off from what the chairman expected.
The opponent before your eyes.
Human or not.
Strong or weak. If strong, how strong.
Hostile intent, killing aura... whether you sense any such thing.
"Heh heh, you can feel all that just by looking? Like some master from movies or comics."
The chairman's face even held innocent anticipation.
Martial prowess is something even the head of a world-shaking conglomerate can never have.
But... Team Leader 1's laughter-tinged voice cruelly betrayed that expectation.
"Hahaha, sorry, but that's tough. I'm still too inexperienced, Chairman-nim."
"Hmm... I see..."
"But even an inexperienced guy like me could clearly feel his power."
"Hmm?"
His standing posture, walking gait.
Stride, breathing, gaze.
The unconsciously emanating pressure.
"Taking all that into account, even if I attacked with full intent to kill..."
"Then? What do you think would happen?"
"It'd be a decent match. Ah, from his perspective, not mine."
"Even going all-out to kill, it'd be touch-and-go? Hahaha, impressive. Makes me want to see him myself, not just hear about it."
"You surprisingly like these stories."
"Like them? Of course. I'm over 80, and chairman of Changseong to boot. But before that, I'm just a man."
"Hahaha, yes. True."
But one can't stay lost in boyish dreams forever.
As the chairman wiped the smile from his face, the smile on Team Leader 1's lips vanished too.
Finally, the chairman adjusted his rimless glasses and asked.
"They're already moving. Corporations, government, even America. All in one night."
"We're late."
"Yeah. And these old fogeys are so stiff-necked. Lucky for us, but..."
"No time to rest on our laurels."
"Exactly. We seized the high ground overnight. But as you say, we can't get complacent."
Complacency is stagnation.
Stagnation is obsolescence, and obsolescence is death.
No need for the chairman to say it aloud; it was obvious.
"Yes, Chairman-nim. I'll widen the gap further."
"Good. Do whatever it takes. Most worldly matters only become problems if you make them so."
Do whatever necessary.
But don't make a spectacle.
Understanding the chairman's intent, Team Leader 1 bowed his head.
"Go."
"Yes, Chairman-nim."
Blue skies with white clouds floating lazily along.
The breeze caressing the skin heralds spring, and far down the road, heat haze rises.
Pedestrians' faces bloom like flowers.
Drivers at the wheel doze off, drunk on the sunlight.
The scene before me was the quintessential image of peaceful spring... but.
"Persistent, huh..."
"Yeah..."
Riding Clare down the road, I was still being stalked by voyeuristic pervs.
No matter how much I shake them off, it's useless.
Like spiderwebs that tangle more the harder you twist your body.
'I have nothing to say to you lot!'
Even proving it with actions, someone always follows wherever I go.
Someone's always watching me, anytime, anywhere.
"Stalking really is a crime, you know."
"Damn straight..."
Should I beat a few to drive the point home?
No... that's not it.
Shake off the clingy ones, and new flies buzz in at the next intersection.
Anger can't change the world, after all.
Power always changes the world.
"Not words I'd expect from the hero who saved it."
"I just did. Wasn't even my choice to begin with. You lot summoned me on your own and dumped the duty on me."
"Playing the facts card, how sly."
The silver lining: delivery orders keep coming.
Since I never know where it'll take me next.
Grab a new call and head out, and for that moment, the watchful eyes vanish.
[Hero of Delivery order!]
Like that, I set a bag down in front of a one-room door and stepped out—just as an alarm blared like it was waiting.
Let's see... oh, fancy neighborhood, rich folks live here.
Menu... chicken and beer, surprisingly normal.
"A bit early for lunch, I thought~"
Everyone's got their circumstances.
For some, it's time to enjoy lunch; for others, time to drag their weary body home.
So, no point overthinking a customer's situation—I revved Clare and hit the road.
First stop: the outer family sauce chicken place for this order.
"Thanks for your work~"
"Thanks for your work~"
Exchange the customary greetings, then off to the next destination.
Customer's place is a residential-commercial complex built by Changseong.
Note: not contactless delivery—direct handover.
"Surprising. Upper crust usually does contactless."
"Yeah."
"Heh heh... you never know. Could be some lewd housewife waiting..."
—Bang!
I smashed the trouble-stirring Holy Sword's thick skull the moment it opened its mouth.
...Didn't actually smash. No skull anyway.
"Aww, why~ You like that stuff too, Master~"
"Ha... why do you always make me sigh..."
[Arrived at destination. Navigation ended. Please double-check for missing items.]
As always, only this delivery app guides me.
I stood at the apartment entrance, one bag of chicken and one with two draft beers in hand.
—Whirr~
Thankfully, a prompt customer—no struggling at the lobby door.
Happens sometimes... those damn ones who won't open the entrance for whatever reason...
Good it didn't this time.
Lost in that thought, the elevator doors opened before I knew it.
'Direct receipt, they said...'
Naturally, I rang the bell at the customer's door.
—Ding dong~
Surprisingly normal bell sound...
Before I could think that, the door opened.
And the customer who appeared was...
"You're already here, Master♥"
"Haa... I had a feeling it'd be like this..."
"I told you~ I drink well and live alone. Heh heh..."
The customer's identity: a lewd housewife wearing nothing but fishnet stockings.