Chapter 5 - Black Badger (5)

We soon reached the floor with the lounge. When the elevator doors opened, we stepped out into what looked like a hotel lobby. There was no sign of anyone else on the floor. Luxurious ivory sofas stood beneath dim lights, and a long corridor stretched out behind the lobby, which practically oozed money.

Ami stepped briskly out ahead of me, then turned back.

“Let me take your trash.”

She held out a hand, looking at the burger bag I was still carrying.

I waved my hand.

“No, thank you. I'll throw it out when I see a trash can.”

“There's one over there.”

Ami pointed at a silver pillar.

That was a trash can?

I tossed the plastic bag into it, then turned back to the small woman. Ami was watching me with her round eyes. She was still wearing the same clothes I'd first seen her in.

Looking down at her—she didn't even look twenty-two, let alone seventy—I said what I'd been meaning to say.

“Thank you for the burger. I really enjoyed it.”

Ami's eyes grew even rounder. She stared up at me, then smiled, her eyes curving into crescents.

“I'll buy you something even tastier next time.”

What a good person.

My gratitude must have shown, because she gave a cheerful laugh. Even her laugh sounded like a kid's. Despite the pistol and dagger hanging from her waist, she still struck me as young.

“Your room is over there. The senior leadership use it to catch some sleep when they're too busy to go home. It's always kept spotless, so you should be comfortable.”

“Thank you so much.”

I was probably being allowed to sleep here because the head of HR had put in a good word for me. Walking down the corridor, I thought of the man who'd come back to work after going home. How had he reached a verdict after exchanging only a few words with me?

Following Ami, I cautiously broached the subject.

“About the head of HR...”

“You're wondering how he could make that judgment so quickly?”

Sharp, wasn't she?

I nodded, and Ami turned her head to explain.

“He has a natural gift for that sort of thing. He has plenty of shortcomings, but no one reads people as accurately as he does. He has an uncanny knack for knowing who belongs in which position, and he knows exactly how to boost someone's morale. That's why he keeps his job even though he leaves on the dot every day. Even when he keeps making mistakes in the paperwork... Even when his dating causes trouble, since he dates people of all ages and genders—legend has it he was never single even during the war... Oh, of course, he's good in combat too.”

I felt as though I'd just heard several astonishing things.

I stared at her wide-eyed, but she offered no further explanation. Instead, she hurried ahead and flung open a door at the end of the corridor, beckoning me inside.

An enormous bed. Smooth panes of glass in place of a wall. The nighttime view reflected in the glass was dazzlingly beautiful. Countless clusters of light lay beneath a dark blue sky.

Come to think of it, I hadn't looked outside the building since regaining consciousness. I'd never properly seen what this world looked like.

I stepped inside, closed the door, and stared blankly at the windows.

Ami must have noticed my reaction, because she gave a little “Oh.”

“Would you like to look outside?”

“Yes, if that's possible.”

“Of course it is! I'll open the upper window for you, too. The weather's lovely.”

She walked over to the central window and pushed its upper pane open. A rush of cool night air brushed my face as I moved to stand in front of it.

Ami stepped back as she spoke.

“I'll be here in the morning, too. I'll be on the sofa in the lobby by the elevator, so come out whenever you feel like getting up. If you suddenly feel ill during the night, or there's an emergency, press the emergency call button beside the bed.”

I nodded and looked out the window. I could smell the night breeze as it clawed at my cheeks.

The scent and the wind stirred a memory.

A nighttime view from some unknown time, glimpses of my white hair streaming in the wind. An endless city spread beneath my feet.

I was bewildered by the memory rising to overlap what I saw.

I was standing on a rooftop. At its edge, I looked down at my black dress shoes and the city below.

Someone stood beside me, their white clothes fluttering in the wind.

[“What do you think?”]

They spoke to me.

[“Isn't it beautiful?”]

I slowly turned my head. The car lights slipped out of view, replaced by the night sky.

And a soft, androgynous voice, impossible to place as male or female, calling my name...

“Hilde.”

Ami's voice brought me back to myself.

“Y-yes?”

“It's dangerous to lean out like that.”

She came over and tugged at my shirt. With far more strength than I'd expected, she pulled me back inside. I'd been halfway out the window.

I nodded in a daze.

“Thank you.”

“Are you all right?”

“Yes. Of course.”

I carefully closed the window. The night breeze stopped. The chill faded, and the warmth of the room wrapped around my face. I met Ami's eyes as she studied me, her head tilted.

An unfamiliar room and unfamiliar people.

I was an unexpected complication for them, someone who needed to behave and sleep here.

It hurt that I couldn't quite grasp what the memory was. But if simply looking down at the city at night had brought something back, the other memories would return little by little.

I reassured myself that I needed to think calmly.

I steadied my voice and smiled.

“Thank you for being so kind to me in so many ways.”

Ami stared up at me, then gave me a broad smile. After collecting the bag of clothes Zhu had ordered from outside the room, she wished me good night and left.

* * *

I slept without dreaming.

After waking, I lay staring at the ceiling for a long time. I'd hoped something might have changed once I closed my eyes and opened them again. Unfortunately, nothing had. All I still had was my name and a scattering of fragmented memories.

I lay awake under the soft covers for a while before realizing I was hungry. Then I remembered that Ami might be waiting in the lobby by the elevator.

I shot up and checked the time.

Nine in the morning.

Bright sunlight was pouring onto the bed.

“Miss Ami.”

Forgetting even to wash my face, I hastily threw open the door and ran out into the lobby.

“I'm sorry! I completely forgot you were waiting...”

“Oh, you're up? Good morning!”

“Hilde.”

Ami wasn't the only one who greeted me as I rushed out in my pajamas. Riccardo waved, his green eyes curving gently in greeting. I blinked at the man lounging on the sofa.

Didn't he have to go to work?

Not that I really knew what he did for a living.

My thoughts must have shown on my face. With one arm draped over the back of the sofa, Riccardo chuckled.

“I got to work, and they ordered me to stick by your side... Suits me fine. Even if I'd been given other orders, I was going to find time to come see how you were doing.”

“Oh... Then I'll be spending today with you instead of Miss Ami, Mr. Riccardo?”

“I told you to drop the ‘Mr.’”

“I'm coming along too.”

As Riccardo answered with a stern expression, Ami poked her head forward to chime in. I looked down at her sitting beside him. She was dressed far more comfortably than yesterday: white sneakers, light blue jeans, and an ivory sweatshirt.

“Is that all right?”

I nodded at her question.

“Of course. I should be the one asking you. I'm so sorry I got up late. Have you been waiting long?”

“No! And just call me Ami, too, without the ‘Miss.’ Given what we are, we care about rank, but not age.”

“Hmm... Well, if you both insist...”

Should I stop speaking so formally, too?

I considered it for a moment, but then remembered that Riccardo had told me to drop the “Mr.,” not the polite speech. Since I wasn't certain, I'd play it safe. I decided to use their names without titles but keep my wording respectful.

“Riccardo... Ami. Thank you for looking after me today.”

“Sure... Let's start with breakfast. Yehyeon says he won't have time until the afternoon...”

“Brunch! Brunch!”

Ami sprang up from the sofa. Riccardo smiled beside her as she bounced with excitement.

“You'll need to change out of those pajamas first... They do suit you.”

“Oh.”

I'd forgotten I was wearing the black silk pajamas Mr. Zhu had bought me. I looked down at the jet-black fabric and answered without missing a beat.

“The head of HR has excellent taste. Thanks to him, I slept very comfortably.”

Small smiles spread across the faces of the people on the sofa. Determined not to keep them waiting any longer, I quickly added,

“I'll get changed and come right back. Please give me a moment.”

“Take your time.”

“We'll buy you some new clothes today, too!”

Ami's voice rang out brightly.

I felt as though I was falling deeper into a debt I'd struggle to repay...

On my way back to the room, I thought of everything they'd given me. I didn't know when I'd be able to repay them, but kindness wasn't something to forget.

A burger meal. Pajamas and underwear. A comfortable place to sleep.

If I ever had the chance, I'd make sure to repay them.

I ran down the corridor and threw the door open. Sunlight poured through the open window. I crossed the room, far too large for one person, and headed into the bathroom.

I turned on the shower and looked for the toiletries. Moving briskly under the hot water, I spotted a plastic bag beside the shampoo set.

Hmm.

It looked like something someone had left behind by mistake.

A bag of medicine.

I picked it up and turned it over in my hands. The drug names printed on the outside meant nothing to me. Individually wrapped pills, green and white or red and white, rolled around inside the transparent bag.

Whoever had used this room must have left it behind. I'd take it out and give it to Ami and Riccardo. They might know whose it was.

I set the bag somewhere I wouldn't miss it and concentrated on showering.

* * *

I first sensed something was wrong after I'd finished showering and dressed, around the time I stuffed the bag of medicine into my pocket.

CLUNK!

A loud noise rang through the room.

What was that?

I froze in the middle of rubbing my hair with a dry towel, blinking and turning my head from side to side.

Where had that come from? Had Ami or Riccardo come to find me?

I scanned the spacious room, but nothing stood out. The door was closed, and I couldn't sense anyone in the room.

An enormous bed that looked more than big enough for two. A fine mahogany desk and a mirror on the wall. My pajamas, folded on a chair.

Nothing seemed particularly unusual. I couldn't see anything that might have made the noise, either.

Was there construction going on outside?

Looking around, I moved past the bed. I planned to leave as I was. My hair wasn't dry yet, but I didn't want to keep the two of them waiting any longer.

The sun would dry it once I was outside. I draped the towel I'd been using over the arm of the chair, then made to leave.

THUD!

The loud noise stopped me in my tracks.

Seriously, what was that?

I frowned and looked back.

Where on earth was that noise coming from...

Oh.

I froze the instant I saw the window.

Something was clinging to it. Not an insect or anything like that. A shadow covered half the enormous window. Sunlight shone from behind it, backlighting its shape and casting a long shadow across the room.

I forgot even to make a sound.

What was that?

What the... No, what was that? Was it alive?

Was it a machine? Or had some new species emerged during the time I couldn't remember?

Its shape was too grotesque for that. Eight legs, reminiscent of a spider's, clung to the window like suction cups. They jutted from a body covered in writhing hair, with a horse-like head attached. Several eyeballs studded the horse head's forehead.

... Were they shooting a horror movie?

The moment I tried to convince myself of a realistic explanation, the window shattered.

A leg reached toward me through the shattered glass. A jet-black suction cup closed in at astonishing speed, and I shouted in alarm at the sudden turn of events.

“Oh, what the hell is this?!”

The monster's leg wrapped around me and yanked me toward the window. At the same moment, the door burst open.

“Hilde!”

“Grab the window frame!”

Ami and Riccardo shouted urgently, but before I could answer, I was in free fall outside the window.