Chapter 75
I could tell without even needing to check the Sender.
Who else but the Dragon President would use such Otaku Language even in a Text Message?
He really sticks to his concept thoroughly.
Anyway, how did he know I had just woken up when he contacted me?
[Are you Daijoubu (Are you okay)?]
A sigh naturally escaped me at the string of text floating above the Watch Display.
...No. I don't think I'm okay.
More accurately, I should say I don't think I'm going to be okay.
My body is definitely not okay, and my Future Outlook doesn't seem like it will be okay either.
Just having a connection with the Megacorp Militia was as uncomfortable as having a thorn stuck in my throat, but now the Noble Family Schneider has been added to the mix.
“...I don't know.”
It was certain that agonizing over it here wouldn't solve the problem.
Well, things will work out somehow. The Dragon President seems to be reachable again, so he should be able to help.
If it feels too dangerous, couldn't I just kneel before the Chairman again and beg her to save me just this once?
Hopefully, the Chairman was satisfied with the report I had sent in advance using the Scheduled Transmission System yesterday before going to work.
Filled with complicated thoughts, I weakly reached out and tapped the AR Keyboard.
Every time I moved my fingers to type, my Flexor Digitorum Profundus pulled and my forearm ached. It was driving me Crazy, really.
[Yes, I am okay. What happened to the bar?]
It felt like it took a whole 10 seconds just to send this short message. As soon as I typed and sent it, a Confirmation Mark appeared immediately, and a reply flew in.
[Glad to hear you're okay. As for the bar... hmm. It's a long story to share via messenger.]
That was what I had been waiting for.
I hurriedly moved my fingers to reply.
[Then let's meet and talk. I have things to say as well.]
I had a lot to say.
About this incident, about the bar.
And about the other employees.
It was a Workplace with many secrets and many Suspicious points.
Until now, I hadn't bothered to ask out of respect, but I changed my mind after experiencing yesterday's events.
I needed to know just what kind of people they were, and why these things kept happening.
Considering what I did yesterday, I felt I had the right to demand that much of an Answer.
With the President away and the Bartenders having disappeared, I confronted the Luddite Leader all Alone.
My purpose was to Fulfill my duties as the bar Manager and to protect the bar.
I felt I had at least repaid the favors I had received so far. I didn't particularly feel like I owed them anymore.
If the Dragon President had A Shred of Conscience, wouldn't he Answer me seriously after I had done this much?
If he refused, well, there was nothing I could do about it.
If he hid it until the end, I would continue working... but it seemed it would be difficult to become an Employee of Dragon's Lair in the True Meaning.
Did he read the serious implication hidden in my chat? The Dragon President didn't reply for a while.
A message arrived only after I waited for about a minute.
[Yoshi (Okay). Since it's come to this, let's all talk together. The bar will probably be closed for the next three days anyway. When should we meet? Today? Later tonight?]
It was a more willing agreement than I expected. He was even quite proactive.
...A bit too proactive.
I broke into a Cold sweat and replied slowly.
[No. Wouldn't tomorrow or the day after be better?]
[Why? Good Things Should Be Hastened, so wouldn't it be better to do it quickly since we're talking about it? You probably don't have anything else to do anyway.]
It was true that I didn't have anything else to do, but I couldn't do it.
Because...
[...My body won't move.]
Because I literally couldn't move.
With my current Physical Condition, even getting out of bed was difficult, let Alone meeting the Dragon President and the other Bartenders.
It wasn't an empty statement; I had genuinely exerted myself several times to get up, but I had no choice but to give up due to the tingling pain in my muscles.
It was a Physical Condition that kept me from going Outside.
However, since sending just that might cause a misunderstanding, I added a few more words.
[It's not that my body is paralyzed or anything. It's because of muscle pain. I should be Fine by tomorrow.]
[You said your body was Fine earlier. You are a Usotsuki (liar).]
[I'm sorry.]
[Forget it. It's funny to scold someone for getting hurt while working. Get plenty of rest and take care of yourself. Contact me tomorrow if you're really feeling better.]
[Yes, understood.]
I thought that was the end of it, but one more text came at the very end.
[Oh right. And the best way to relieve muscle pain is through Exercise. I can recommend a Fitness Center I know well...]
Beep.
I turned off the Cyberwatch screen immediately after reading about half of the message.
As expected of the Gym Rat Dragon, it recommends Exercise even in this situation.
I appreciated the thought, but no thanks.
I was going to sprawl out and rest for the whole day today. I needed to fully enjoy this long-overdue break.
I was going to lie down all day and not Leave my bed. Nothing could change this resolution of mine.
* * *
It was a room, but a massive space far too large and wide to simply be called a room.
The space, large enough to comfortably fit dozens of route buses, was someone's office.
Amidst the dim light illuminating the surroundings, a samurai wearing Skeleton Armor emerged from the shadows, kneeling as he spoke.
[Chairman, the Chief Secretary has arrived.]
The very end of the office was the Destination of the machine-mixed voice that hummed through the wide space and silent air.
It was a pitch-black Mechanical Dais where a table and chair were placed in a large, elevated Position.
On its surface, an antique yet glamorous gold and black Japanese-style Pattern design emitted a soft glow.
*Above it, a phrase was engraved in elegant cursive.*
Better Than Life
(Better Than Life, BTL)
In Dusk City, no, across The Entire World, there was only one place that used such a Catchphrase.
Isiho corporation.
The Megacorp ranked 4th in the Corporate Overall Ranking.
The place they were currently in was the Skyscraper of Isiho's Headquarters. It was the top floor of the tallest building in East Monica, known as “Gintoki Tower”.
It was a Veiled Space accessible only to the Megacorp's high-ranking directors and the Chairman's closest aides.
Those who knew even a little of its true nature hushed up even mentioning it, but if they Ever had to bring it up, they would speak of it hesitantly.
As the Iron Blood Room.
“...”
The Owner of the Room remained silent on the high dais, moving a pen and paper from that seat which was arguably one of the highest in the city.
She must have heard the samurai's words, yet she showed no response at all, as if she hadn't heard a thing.
*Outside the door, the figure known as the Chief Secretary was waiting, dripping with Cold sweat.*
His clearly Anxious Demeanor and movements were caught by the samurai's Keen Senses. They were vivid even from this far away.
It was only natural. He was digitizing everything happening in this vast office and Outside, down to a single speck of dust, and receiving it directly into his brain.
Even so, he did not accommodate the Chief Secretary. He did not speak up to his Master again.
Because he knew that loyalty and patience, rather than consideration, were the virtues of an excellent subordinate.
Because he knew his Master did not tolerate making a fuss over trivial reasons.
How much time had passed like that?
Against the wall with a Golden Sun on a black background, the shadow cast by the candle moved.
As if finishing her work, she set down her pen and spoke.
“Tell him to come in.”
Her voice was unexpectedly youthful. It sounded like the voice of a girl who hadn't yet come of age.
However, within it was the aura of one who had reigned since birth, infused with a Frosty Chill.
This was the voice of Isiho's Iron Blood Chairman.
[She says to come in.]
The samurai strode forward and silently opened the large Main Gate.
The Chief Secretary, wearing a neat suit and Gold-rimmed Glasses, walked across the carpet, careful not to make a single footstep.
After advancing a certain distance, he bowed at a Ninety-degree Angle and spoke.
“It is regarding Aaron Nakamura, the Chairman.”
The figure in the high place touched her lips and spoke.
“I've already heard. The Luddites... Ned Ludd appeared, I'm told.”
“Yes. I was a little late gathering detailed information.”
At those words, her Delicate Face frowned slightly.
The Chief Secretary realized he had made a mistake. He had uttered an unnecessary excuse.
To make up for the mistake, he had to move One Step faster. He Calmly began to speak.
“According to the Secretary's Office's analysis, Ned Ludd, one of the Three Masterminds of the Luddites, died at the hands of Warawa's dispatched Employee, Aaron Nakamura.”
“Not Sasha Dragon?”
“Yes. Sasha Dragon was not at the bar. That is certain.”
“...”
She looked as if she had stopped, quietly lost in thought. Was the news she just heard Unexpected even for the Iron Blood Chairman?
It was understandable. Even the Chief Secretary himself couldn't believe it when he first received the report on the Related Content.
“Sandayu.”
[Yes, Chairman.]
After a few seconds of silence, the Chairman called the samurai.
“When he first joined the company, what were the results of Aaron's Combat Ability Test?”
[F+. It was at a level slightly above an ordinary person.]
“Isn't that the System Module's evaluation?”
[That is correct.]
“What was your Judgment?”
[In my Judgment, it was an E. He has good eyes. However, his Physical Ability cannot keep up with them, and he has an aversion to combat situations themselves.]
An Answer without the slightest hesitation. The Chairman nodded.
“And Ned Ludd's Estimated Combat Ability is between B+ and A... It's a gap that generally cannot be closed.”
And once again, silence flowed.
The Chairman merely fell into thought for a moment, yet it felt as if the entire room was submerged in complete darkness and time had temporarily stopped.
Whoosh-
It was only when the Shadowed Candlelight on the table flickered slightly that the Chairman opened her mouth.
“I'm curious about what happened. There's still a lot of time left until the next report, and above all, it would be more accurate to hear something like this directly.”
What that meant was obvious.
Isiho's Iron Blood Chairman looked at the Chief Secretary and commanded.
“Bring Aaron Nakamura here.”
The Chairman's Summons.
Unfortunately, it seemed my rest wouldn't last long.