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She was excessively arrogant.

One could even say she was acting out of line, not knowing her place.

“Hngh… Hng…!”

Faced with the disaster brought on by my choice, my mistake, I was utterly dejected, but I barely managed to hold back the welling tears from falling onto the table.

My hands, demurely clutching near my knees, trembled.

Resentment, unfairness, regret, and so many other emotions swirled within me that I couldn’t even count them all.

I had never thought of myself as the type of person to shirk responsibility and irresponsibly turn away from reality, yet this damned body betrayed its owner’s belief and simply wanted to whine.

It’s not time to break down yet, you fragile body.

Where did you learn to run away just because you’re slightly disadvantaged in a fight you started by sticking your head in first?

It’s only the first shovel of dirt, and you’re already trying to make a tactical retreat.

…Is it really necessary for you to force yourself like this? –

“Sigh… Hng, this is my responsibility. Hng… I have to finish it…!”

Don’t make my resolve weaken for no reason.

I snapped at Zero, who was spouting weak nonsense, and refocused all my attention on the enemy before me.

The first thing that invaded my vision was an overwhelming wave of red.

A crimson darker than blood captivated my mind and fiercely asserted itself.

The enemy’s scale was small. It was hardly even a military force, and if I believed the warning written, it was for one person… In other words, an amount I could handle on my own.

But everything else was unbearable.

It was as if I had recklessly opened the lid of a hellish cauldron, a visual that inspired terror.

Sizzle, bubble. A symphony played by the lava still boiling from the residual heat that hadn’t been released.

Even the intense aroma that pierced my nostrils, despite the fact that I should be used to it by now.

Those things that my past self would have found sweet had now turned into shackles that bound me to this place.

…No, maybe it’s me who’s changed, but either way.

The fact that I had gained an irreconcilable enemy remained the same.

Glug, glug…!

“Hwah! Okay…”

Rinsing my mouth with a sweet drink that was more like mil○is than milk eased the pain a little.

It was a cowardly, almost heretical, stopgap measure, but it allowed me to fight another battle.

I picked up the round weapon I had briefly set down and scooped up a spoonful of Korean soul food from the blazing puddle.

Asha… –

I felt sorry for Zero, who was anxiously scanning my body, unsure how to accept the torture his owner was inflicting on herself.

They say that spicy flavor is an extension of pain? If you look at it that way, it might be torture, but the central nervous system of a frail person sometimes recognizes pain as pleasure.

So, when you eventually switch to an anDroid with a digestive system, I’ll teach you well so you don’t feel left out.

It might just be outdated table manners that no one even bothers to uphold anymore… But here, the rule that governs and conquers the dining table is only one thing.

And that is… to finish all the food you ordered.

I carefully placed the kimchi stew, which I had scooped up so as not to spill, onto the real bowl of rice that was at least five times more expensive than this whole spread, including this damned stew.

The broth seeping between the grains of rice was very threatening, but it was okay.

I had already grasped the enemy’s combat power enough with the first spoonful I had tasted earlier.

If my cold calculation was correct, the earthenware pot would be empty before this spice-weak body reached its limit, and I would leave the restaurant satisfied…!

“Shit…! Shit! Ah— You bad guys…!! The spiciness of stew isn’t just made by throwing in capsaicin, it has to be simmered so that there’s a subtle savory flavor along with it…!!”

…I will add the food cartridge presumed to have been used to make the menu to the blacklist. –

“What! A… Hwaek. Blacklist for!”

For now, it has been classified as absolutely no intention to repurchase. –

Even though it had been a while since I left the restaurant, the injustice hadn’t subsided.

Well, the damned spiciness wasn’t going away, so the anger was staying with it, but I had to make this clear.

Why!! Was the undissolved seasoning clumped together and then released at the very end!

Clunk!

Hiss….

“Eugh… Pwah…!”

I belatedly poured in a stomach protectant that I had pulled from a vending machine outside of history.

My already full stomach complained that there was no more room, but this disaster wasn’t my fault. I was also a victim who had been deceived by the illusion of perfect automatic cooking.

When I threw the empty can into the collection slot next to the vending machine, an announcement was made that 10 Credits had been refunded to my wallet.

I felt this way when I was snacking while working as a police officer, but it’s really generous.

…If I could add a little more, it would be perfect to buy a house with a good view.

As I entered the train station, the sunlight, which had been hidden by the building outside, was shining through the skylights located high up, dazzling my eyes.

In addition, countless electronic displays and irregularly ringing departure announcements greeted us as if to remind us not to forget where we were.

The buzzing noise and loud footsteps were a bonus.

An analog believer staring at the station’s electronic display that stretched almost to the ceiling until his neck broke, a net user savoring data transmitted through Cyberware as if he were used to it.

If I had the time, watching people busily moving to match their schedules and destinations would have been a pretty good leisure activity, but unlike last time, I was here as a user this time, so I couldn’t just dawdle.

I had already told Mr. Schneider’s family, who had kindly offered to give me an empty room, my estimated time of arrival, so I couldn’t delay any longer.

“Welcome! Please scan your citizenship here first, and tell us your destination, and we’ll find out the available trains for you in the meantime!”

“The destination is Neo Haven. And a regular seat on the earliest train possible.”

I reached out and stuck my arm into the beam of light, and asked the ticket office employee to issue the ticket.

Ah, saying they’ll look into it~ saying they’ll look into it~ and not booking in advance is not the result of laziness. No matter how weak I am in the morning, I’m not that lazy.

As it turned out, city regulations state that citizens below the green level are required to purchase tickets on-site and undergo a baggage check when using transportation to leave the city, because there is insufficient evidence of trust.

…They sell citizenship for money and then pass on the responsibility!

“Is your luggage just a bag and… that Droid?”

“I’m going to carry it myself, so there’s no need to register any separate checked baggage… Wait a minute, is he considered luggage too?”

I was about to answer the receptionist absentmindedly, but I became flustered when I realized that a strange expression had been mixed in.

They clearly classify escort robots as military force, but are they treating him like a bag with legs in this case?

“Don’t worry! Droids are treated as high-value valuables, so they are loaded separately in a dedicated cargo compartment and transported very safely to their destination!”

“…Add one more ticket. And find seats that are next to each other.”

“Understood!”

Usually, if something you don’t like happens, you should think carefully about whether you have enough Credits.

I glared at the employee who was smoothly continuing the work as if she knew in advance what decision I would make.

I don’t know how she’s so skilled at sucking the marrow out of a flea. At this point, it’s safe to say that it’s a basic virtue for people in the hospitality industry.

I don’t mind accompanying you standing. –

Zero, who saw me repeatedly washing my face with my hands, submitted a not-bad cost-saving plan, but I wasn’t very keen on it.

“Most of the trains are cabin-type, so if you stand, I’ll have to stand too, and then my legs will be wrecked, you little rascal.”

Well, there’s also the method of sticking to Zero’s shoulder and swinging like a swing, like yesterday.

It’s obvious that the standing-room-only cabins will be full of bad guys, and if someone asks me if I want to experience the mishaps that will occur from rolling around in such a place with a 100 million Credit ‘valuable’, I would absolutely refuse.

Isn’t it better for everyone to avoid conflicts that can be avoided?

The connections I’ve made here… well, there’s not much to them, but there were too many problems with a traveler visiting another city for the first time getting off the train covered in blood and claiming it was self-defense.

Until I rebuild my career and settle down, it’s best to stay quiet and keep my head down.

“Oh…? Are you Anastasia Valentine?”

“…Yes?”

I subtly rolled my eyes at the suddenly cautious tone.

Is there a reason to react so differently from a routine identity check?

“Confirmed! First-class cabin reservation for Astra Express A-185 is complete! Then you can head to the platform in advance without any separate inspection or waiting and board right now!”

“Hey, you son of a bitch.”

She guided me so naturally that I almost nodded and turned around.

This isn’t just price gouging, it’s just fraud!

Fortunately, the area near the ticket office wasn’t crowded. At least there were no other users to be aware of while I was meticulously questioning this outrageous handling of affairs.

“I’m not asking for the entire first-class seat…! I’m asking for two regular seats next to each other in a 2-person or 4-person room?! In the first place, how could a ticket be purchased without payment…”

“…I’m sorry! There were instructions to guide you to the designated cabins for corporate VIPs, which are always kept empty regardless of the type of train.”

“Ah?”

Corporate VIP…? Me?

I swallowed the rising hollow laughter and looked again at the employee’s uniform reflected through the window of the ticket office.

I had just passed it off because it wasn’t Paradise’s unique chick uniform, but I only now confirmed that there was an Oasis-shaped badge near the top button.

This must be… the only connection I have who’s worth anything didn’t intend to send me away empty-handed.

…Or, she doesn’t know about the existence of the IOU that I arbitrarily put on yet.