Volume Five: Return from Beyond the Shore - Welcome to the Organization (Part 2)

Around fifteen years old, in poor health, with a slender and petite body—this was Evelynths's first impression of Neumann.

But as she spent more time with him, she realized that Neumann was not actually the person she had imagined.

Holding several stacked plates in one hand and pushing a wheelchair with the other—strictly speaking, one shouldn't push a wheelchair with only one hand, but Evelynths didn't know that all she was doing was helping Neumann was struggling to turn the wheels, lighten his load.

She looked at Neumann's body sitting in the wheelchair.

Her limbs were very thin, clearly indicating a naturally weak constitution—but she wasn't exactly "petite".

Because she has been in a wheelchair for a long time and is also very thin, she gives people the illusion that she is very petite. In fact, according to Evelynths's estimate, Neumann's height is between 165 and 170 cm, which is considered above average for a woman.

Furthermore, according to Neumann, her age is not "fifteen years old," but seventeen, less than three years younger than Sister Sakura Dance.

And...

Evelynths frowned as she looked at Neumann's upper body.

To be precise, it was her breasts.

Large breasts? Not quite.

But it's pretty close to the truth.

Not to mention, compared to her slender body, her breasts appeared even larger.

She's supposed to be a sickly, disabled girl, so why are her breasts so big?! Does all the nutrition go to her chest, which is why the rest of her body is so thin?

That said, even the idiot butterfly's breasts are larger than the average for a twelve or thirteen-year-old girl, while her own—

Evelynths looked down.

How barren it was.

We don't even need children's underwear.

I should be about the same age as the idiot butterfly!

How could it be repaired!

That awful difference in breast size!

"Okay, just put it here."

In a corner of the kitchen, Evelynths, following Neumann's instructions, put down all the bowls and plates still filled with steaming food and looked around curiously. The kitchen seemed no different from any other small family kitchen she could find anywhere; it wasn't very spacious, and it felt a bit cramped for two people to fit inside.

"So, what do we do next?"

"Well..."

Neumann shrugged, took out a knife, fork, chopsticks, and an empty small plate, and pulled out a napkin from somewhere to wrap around his neck.

"You... you're going to eat them?"

"We can't waste food!"

"Well..."

Watching Neumann quickly and elegantly finish the food she didn't want to eat, she suddenly felt a strong sense of guilt.

No, no! How can I feel guilty towards the enemy! This must be their battle plan; I can't be fooled!

"Um, won't you be able to handle it?"

"It's okay, don't let my appearance fool you, I actually have a surprisingly big appetite."

"Then... shall I help wash the dishes?"

"This... no need, I can handle it."

Neumann scratched his face; although his expressionless face remained unchanged, a hint of embarrassment flashed in his eyes.

"... Actually, I feel that our Leader has already wronged you by ignoring your will and kidnapping you, so I wanted to at least make your life more comfortable in ordinary times, although it seems I haven't been very successful... Hahaha..."

She gave a dry laugh, the laughter as tasteless and forced as her expression.

"..." Oops!

The guilt I feel is growing stronger!

What to do, what to do, what to do!

Calm down, this guy is the enemy!

To distract herself, she looked toward the kitchen window.

Because she had been under house arrest, Evelynths had never left this building, which was no different from an ordinary house inside, and the scenery outside was always blurry. This was the first time she had the opportunity to see her surroundings clearly.

You won't believe it until you see it, and what you find will shock you.

A black sky, a silvery-white earth.

The sky was filled with countless stars, so numerous that even from the high mountains of Spirit Star, one could not see such a night sky.

The earth was perfectly smooth, without a single flaw or undulation, like a large mirror made of mercury.

All signs indicate that her location is far removed from common sense.

After a few seconds of stunned silence, she finally came to a conclusion.

"... This isn't Spirit Star?"

"--Huh!? You saw it?"

"..."

"Well... I'm sorry, actually this is the far side of the Silver Moon. Even if I told you this, it wouldn't change anything, and it would only make you more anxious. So I haven't told you. I'm very sorry."

"That's alright, but... are we in outer space now? On the far side of the moon?"

"To be precise... we are located in a space on the far side of the moon, but we ourselves are not on the far side of the moon."

"Ah?"

"The original inhabitants of the Silver Moon carved out the Mirror Sea as their main settlement on the far side of the moon. Their Leader... uh... supposedly, after wiping out the original lunar inhabitants, he occupied the Mirror Sea and then instructed Mr. Void Realm to insert a virtual axis into the Mirror Sea's spatial coordinates, creating non-existent coordinates, and using this as a base to construct this non-existent space. So we are actually in Void Space, but this Void Space is constructed based on the actual space where the Mirror Sea is located, so blah blah blah blah..."

Hearing this, Evelynths was completely bewildered. What on earth was this "Void Realm, Virtual Axis Void Space"?

No! We can't expose our ignorance to the enemy! We need to change the subject quickly!

"By the way... where's your chef?"

"...(startled)!"

"To be able to prepare such a lavish—no! such an inedible meal—is utterly unacceptable for a chef! Don't think you can lure me with delicious food! Not to mention, all of that is awful!"

"...(Strike)!"

"No matter how comfortable this place is, it's not really home! Even if my body is imprisoned by you, my heart will not submit! So stop pretending to be friendly with me, you murderers! I won't be fooled!"

"..."

Oh no! Evelynths finally came to her senses.

What am I even saying?! Why did I say things that would only anger her? It's only hurting me!

Evelynths's biggest flaw is that she can't control her mouth when she gets excited. Why does she have to make this mistake in the enemy's lair?

This is bad, she's definitely going to be furious—thinking this, Evelynths looked at Neumann cautiously.

"... Oh, that's really... I'm so sorry."

I received an apology.

Neumann's expressionless face remained unchanged.

But those amber eyes were dimmer than before, and seemed to be covered with a layer of mist.

"I know you must have been very anxious all this time... I'm so sorry, but I'm not good at talking or comforting people, so all I can do is try my best to make sure you eat well and stay comfortable..."

Her excessively thin hands twisted together nervously, and her body trembled slightly.

"But ultimately, my abilities are limited. If I still can't put your mind at ease... I'm truly sorry!"

She hastily lowered her head, and her fair forehead made intimate contact with the armrest of the wheelchair, producing a dull thud.

"Ooh! Eee..."

"Hey, hey, this doesn't have to be like that! I'm sorry! I was too harsh!"

Evelynths panicked instantly; she never expected that the one who should have been angry would be the one needing comfort! She quickly grabbed a towel, dampened it, and placed it on the spot where Neumann had been bumped.

"Ouch—wait, wait a minute! That's the rag for wiping raw meat!"

"Eh?! What about this?!"

"Those are thick gloves for holding very hot things... The ice pack is on the left... Ugh... inside the second cabinet from the left."

"Knew!"

"I'm so sorry, you must be laughing at me. I can't even handle physical pain—even something like this—I'm a bit useless..."

The back of the wheelchair reclined slightly, and Neumann lay back wearily, an ice pack on the spot on his forehead where he had been hit hard.

"No, it's still because I... I speak without thinking when I get excited."

Evelynths sighed. What was supposed to be a bold declaration now sounded like a joke.

Speaking of which...

"You really know this kitchen well; you know exactly where everything is."

"Uh, well..."

"Right! So-- um?"

Evelynths suddenly realized something was wrong.

Although Neumann kept mentioning the presence of a chef, the small kitchen showed little sign of use, and Evelynths had never seen anyone other than the higher-ups and herself inside the building where she was being held captive. Moreover, in this organization teeming with eccentrics, who knew which mischievous individual might cause trouble? Therefore, logically, the Leader would never allow anyone other than the higher-ups to approach him (who was currently very important to them).

Hey, hey, hey, could it be...?

"Um, Miss Neumann?"

"...(cold sweat)!"

"Could it be that... you actually cooked all the meals yourself during this period?"

"Ugh... I'm sorry!"

She hurriedly tried to bow her head and apologize, which startled Evelynths, who quickly pressed her down to prevent her from having another close encounter with the handrail.

"Why did you hide such a small thing from me...?"

"Actually... I've noticed you've always been resistant to me. I'm worried that if you find out I cooked, you'll refuse to eat it no matter what, and that will make your health weaker and weaker..."

She didn't hear an Evelynths she said anything else.

Looking at the kitchen countertop, she finally understood why the countertop was lower; it was to accommodate the height of Neumann's wheelchair.

A girl paralyzed in both legs, to reassure another girl much younger than herself, tirelessly works every day, using her frail hands to pick up a kitchen knife and spatula, facing the cooking fumes with her thin body. Unable to stand, she can only move inching along like an insect, adding unnecessary burden to her already weak body.

"Sorry!!!!!!!"

Evelynths suddenly burst into tears and hugged the bewildered Neumann tightly.

"I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry!! You're such a good person!!! I misunderstood you all this time! I'm so sorry! From now on, I'll definitely finish all the food you serve!"

"Uh... wait, what's wrong...? Actually, you don't need to worry about it..."

"You're an angel! Waaaaaah!!!"

"No, no, well, Blood Sister said angels don't exist..."

"It exists! It's right in front of me!... Hmm? Blood Sister?"

"Ah... well, when I was first 'joined' the organization, the senior sisters who took great care of me, but just a year ago..."

Her voice grew softer and softer, finally turning into a melancholy sigh.