Skadi, I Have a Girlfriend Now

Besides herself, Exusiai was even more concerned about the boy they had found. He had been stuffed into a refrigerated container like that and had somehow miraculously survived. It was truly fortunate.

It was not that Exusiai was excessively compassionate. Although live ammunition was forbidden in Lungmen, she often encountered bounty hunters and ill-intentioned scavengers when she went out. It was not as if she had never gotten blood on her hands. But she bore the boy no grudge, and seeing how he had been treated—and realizing she had nearly become an accomplice—left her angry and worried.

"Um... Officer Chen, is that kid going to be okay?"

"Don't worry. The hospital just sent word that he's recovering well. He's already... huh?"

Before Ch'en could finish, the communicator in her pocket began to vibrate. She picked it up and saw that it was Governor Wei.

At a time like this, Ch'en had already guessed what the call was about. She glanced at the uneasy Exusiai.

"You can go."

With that, Ch'en walked out and answered the call. Sure enough, a familiar, stern voice came from the other end.

"Superintendent Chen, let the people from Penguin Logistics go. The matter has been investigated."

"I understand. But Governor Wei, what exactly is going on?"

"I have already had this matter investigated. It involves another very troublesome force. In short, the Lungmen Guard Department will not pursue this case for the time being. That is my order."

It was an order from the Governor of Lungmen. Ch'en frowned deeply, but could only give a reluctant acknowledgment. Though her relationship with Wei Yenwu was poor, she would not question his decisions too much. Still, she personally had no intention of letting this matter end here.

At Lungmen Central Hospital, a penguin wearing a thick gold chain, sunglasses, and a fashionable outfit stood beside a hospital bed, looking at the boy lying on it.

Standing beside him was another person: the Governor of Lungmen, Wei Yenwu, who had just finished speaking with Ch'en.

"Do you know him, Emperor?"

Smoking was forbidden in the hospital, so Wei Yenwu merely held his pipe. It was the first time he had seen this old friend of his wear such an expression. He had been dismissive when he heard Penguin Logistics was in trouble, yet after hearing the description of Mizuki, he had hurried here at once.

"I wouldn't say I know him."

"Wouldn't say... Heh. I'm rather curious what kind of person could make Columbia's Melnade Foundation go to such lengths. They even dispatched more than a dozen elite agents, yet chose Penguin Logistics to transport him."

The Melnade Foundation was a hidden power behind Columbia, decisive and never one to drag its feet. Yet such a group had chosen Penguin Logistics for help, using an excuse so laughable anyone could see through it at a glance. It was hard not to suspect they were plotting something.

"What are you trying to say?"

Emperor glanced at the calculating old fox. After knowing Wei Yenwu for so many years, he knew this matter would not be so easily brushed aside.

"Nothing. I investigated it. The Rhodes Island Lungmen Office has no operator named Mizuki, yet his identification is genuine."

"He's one of mine."

"Very well."

Wei Yenwu nodded. Since Emperor had made it clear that he was willing to stand behind Mizuki, he would not ask further questions. As long as Mizuki did not threaten Lungmen's safety, he did not care.

Turning to look at Mizuki on the bed, Emperor's usually subtle frown deepened.

Why? Why had he appeared here?

His First Kiss Was Gone in a Blur

Dark clouds blanketed the sky, and even the sea seemed dyed black. Only the waves striking the shore flashed with a trace of white.

Yet those were not dark clouds, and the seawater that flowed was blue blood. Skadi stood atop the waves, staring ahead.

She saw her younger brother, Mizuki, tightly hugging someone whose face she could not make out as he wept. For some reason, seeing that person's death filled Skadi with grief, as though her heart were being torn in two.

"...We will never give up."

As Mizuki spoke, he picked up the broken transparent umbrella and the bloodstained operator identification card that had fallen to the ground. Tears still lingered at the corners of his eyes. After wiping them away, he raised the umbrella and pointed it at Skadi.

Skadi did not understand why her brother was looking at her with such anger, yet such sorrow.

"Miss Skadi, are you all right?"

A familiar voice came from the sky. Skadi dazedly opened her eyes and saw Amiya's long rabbit ears before her. Only then did she realize it had all been a dream. Nothing had happened after all.

The dream had simply felt too real. It even made Skadi wonder whether her current surroundings were the dream instead. But she could not help shaking her head. How could Mizuki possibly raise a weapon against her?

"Sorry, Amiya. I was just a little sleepy. The land is still rather dry for me."

Skadi sat up from the lounge sofa and could not help pressing a hand to her head. It hurt a little.

"I heard you calling Mizuki's name over and over just now. Is he a close friend of yours?"

Although Skadi's manner of speaking gave people the cold impression that strangers should keep their distance, Amiya could sense others' emotions. She understood that Skadi was cold on the outside but warm within. She had merely lost too much, leaving her somewhat withdrawn.

"No. He is my younger brother."

At the mention of Mizuki, a faint smile appeared on Skadi's cold face.

"Is he like you too?"

"He is not an Abyssal Hunter. On the contrary, no... it's nothing. He is an ordinary child. He was the one who found me when I was unconscious."

That had been a time worth cherishing. Skadi looked at her sword, grateful that she had been unable to act back then. Otherwise, it was difficult to say what might have happened.

Mizuki was special. Skadi had never imagined that such a unique being could exist. Mizuki was completely different from her enemies. He possessed a complete consciousness of his own, could think independently, and was unaffected by the will of the Seaborn Brood. Skadi found it hard to imagine what coincidence could have created such a person.

"I just don't know where he went afterward."

Skadi could not help sighing. As an Abyssal Hunter, she struggled to adapt to the dry conditions of land, but she had still come inland and become a bounty hunter. Over the years, she had continued searching for Mizuki. His disappearance without a word that day had been far too strange.

"I see. Then I'll ask everyone at Rhodes Island to keep an eye out. Rhodes Island has offices everywhere, so we should be able to help look for someone."

Amiya's promise was not made lightly. Skadi was an important source of combat strength for Rhodes Island. Even though she was not an official member, she had helped Rhodes Island greatly.

"Thank you."

Though Skadi disliked that smug-looking Doctor Kal'tsit, she rather liked Amiya. The little rabbit was obedient and lovable.

But when she recalled that dream, Skadi could not help clutching her chest. She could not understand the expression Mizuki had worn in the dream. What had he gone through to carry such sorrow?

Skadi's dream had ended, but Mizuki's continued. He dreamed that he was walking through endless snow.

The wind and snow howled around him. It was freezing. Mizuki shivered as he walked on tirelessly, not knowing why he was there. Only a voice seemed to be calling him onward.

He followed the direction from which the snowstorm drifted. On the icy snowfield, there was nothing but white snow beneath his feet and a pitch-black sky above. Black and white were so distinct here, yet they embraced one another.

Mizuki did not know how long he had walked, or even why he had to continue. He simply kept walking, until at last he reached the end of the endless snowfield.

In the ancient legends of Sami and the Ursus Empire, the northern ice fields were extraordinarily mysterious and dangerous. Countless Demons and monsters, soul-devouring creatures that stole away one's mind—the terrifying tales of the north had existed since time immemorial.

Yet when Mizuki saw the enormous skeletal phantom standing at the end of the snowfield, he seemed to understand something.

That skeleton stood taller than the mountain ranges stretching across the snowfield, higher than the sky itself. Mizuki suddenly felt at ease.

Light pierced through the thick clouds and shone upon Mizuki's face. But it could not be called warm. It was somewhat glaring, like lamplight.

"Mm..."

As he slowly woke, Mizuki felt his eyes protesting. The light before him was simply too dazzling.

"Hey, Exusiai, you're going to disturb him like that."

With a chocolate stick between her lips, Texas looked helplessly at her partner. She truly had no idea what Exusiai was doing, bringing her face so close. Was she not worried that the light tube above her head would shine right into his eyes?

"Oh, I'll be careful. Still, he really is a boy. It's rare to see one with long hair like that, and he's so cute."

Mizuki truly was pleasing to the eye. Exusiai thought he had the potential to become an idol. But she was even more curious about why the refrigerated container she had personally confirmed contained only fruit had turned into Mizuki.

She was certain the refrigerated container had not been tampered with, nor could the contents have been swapped. Could it have been some kind of spatial Originium Arts?

Furthermore, the boy named Mizuki before her was connected to Rhodes Island, whom they would soon be working with. Exusiai's keen curiosity was racing, and she could not resist reaching out to poke Mizuki's cheek with her index finger.

She pressed down, then gently slid her finger across his cheek. Mizuki's skin was soft and smooth, like freshly made tofu pudding. Exusiai felt that "skin like congealed cream" could not have suited him better.

Yet after touching him, Exusiai felt a subtle sense of familiarity. It felt as though she had done this before, as though Mizuki's face was becoming increasingly familiar, yet she could not remember where she had seen him.

"Mm..."

Perhaps the halo above Exusiai's head was too bright. Mizuki dazedly opened his eyes, but just as Exusiai was about to straighten up, Croissant, who had just arrived, laughed and slapped her on the back.

"Why are you leaning in so close? What are you doing?"

Croissant had not hit her hard, but Exusiai had already been leaning forward. She lost her balance and instinctively lurched a little farther ahead.

Then she felt a wonderful sweetness on her lips, like flower nectar.

"Mm?"

Mizuki, who had just opened his eyes, met Exusiai's gaze. Feeling each other's warmth, the two froze.

Just like that, their first kisses were gone in a muddled, inexplicable instant.

Join Penguin Logistics!

"I'm sorry, I was wrong, I'm sorry, I was wrong, I really know I was wrong..."

Facing the dark barrel of the gun before her, Croissant was on the verge of tears. She had truly never imagined that a casual slap could cause such an accident.

"Stop babbling. Today, either you die, or I make you die!"

The usual vitality and sparkle had vanished from Exusiai's orange eyes. Still, she considered herself an unmarried young woman. Though no one had ever loved her because of her personal conduct, that did not mean there was anything wrong with her!

Rather, Exusiai only looked like a refreshing tomboy. She really was a girl.

"Is there no option where I get to live?"

Croissant dropped to her knees, overcome with despair. The sisters who had once sped together and gotten thrown into jail together were now about to take each other's lives over something like this. How tragic.

"No. Someone like you staying in this world will only make rice more expensive!"

Exusiai's face had turned nearly as red as her hair. She was completely facing away from Mizuki right now. She could not help it. The moment she saw that face, she remembered the first kiss she had just lost.

She instinctively licked the corner of her mouth, as though that sweet taste still lingered between her lips and teeth. Then she immediately realized what she had just done, and her face grew even hotter.

Good heavens, boss above, is this really the Exusiai I know? The one who treats breaking rules like eating and drinking? She can actually make an expression like that?

Croissant, who caught sight of this, instinctively rubbed her eyes and began to wonder if she had seen something wrong. She had to be dreaming. How could Exusiai point a gun at her while wearing the shy expression of a young maiden? That expression simply did not belong on her face!

"Yeah, this must be a dream... Hehe..."

"What did you say?"

Exusiai's expression instantly turned cold, and she looked at Croissant as though she were a fly rubbing its hands together on Exusiai's favorite apple pie.

Right in front of Croissant, Exusiai switched her weapon from single-shot mode to rapid-fire burst mode, then aimed it at her with a cheerful smile.

"Nothing! I didn't say anything! Texas, save me!"

Croissant begged Texas behind Exusiai. Texas was talking to Mizuki while feeding him. Well, watching Mizuki gently bite into her chocolate stick in small bites made it feel like she was feeding some adorable little animal.

Except this little animal had an appetite Texas could only call terrifying. The three apple pies Exusiai had brought, the basket of fruit Sora had brought, and the huge bag of snacks that she and Croissant had brought were all practically devoured by Mizuki.

That was enough food to make all four of them stuffed, yet Mizuki still seemed unsatisfied. He was eyeing her chocolate stick, while his little stomach showed no sign of bulging.

Still, while he could eat, Mizuki's table manners were beyond reproach. Texas was curious how he managed to eat so quickly while remaining so elegant.

As for Croissant's pleading look? Sorry, she had not seen it. Even if she had, she would pretend she had not. Croissant had caused this mess herself, and Texas had no intention of playing peacemaker.

Besides, Exusiai had not lost her mind to the point of actually shooting Croissant. Compared to that, Texas focused her attention on Mizuki. She found it hard to imagine that, after such injuries, Mizuki now looked as though nothing had happened.

"Mm, what is it, Miss Texas?"

Mizuki ate the last chocolate stick and finally did not feel as hungry. As for having his first kiss stolen the moment he woke up, Mizuki did not pursue the matter much. Or rather, he did not care in the slightest.

"Nothing. Other than your name, you really don't remember anything?"

Amnesia—that was what Texas had just confirmed. Other than the name Mizuki, the Aegir boy before her remembered nothing. He did not know his background or why he had appeared in Lungmen. His only memory began with opening his eyes and seeing Exusiai.

"I really can't remember... Earlier, I only had a dream. I dreamed that I was constantly walking through a very cold place."

The speaker had no particular intention, but the listeners did. Mizuki was merely describing that vague dream, yet Texas, Exusiai, and the others fell into embarrassed silence. They had only transported him according to a commission, and they were neither the masterminds nor aware of the truth, but they still felt as though they bore some responsibility.

"What are you planning to do next, Mizuki?"

"Mm... I'll find Rhodes Island first. Maybe there will be clues about my identity there."

Licking the chocolate from the corner of his lips, Mizuki planned to investigate his past as soon as possible. Other than his name and clothes, the only thing that could prove his identity was his Rhodes Island identification.

Perhaps once he reached the place called Rhodes Island, he would remember who he was. Then he might understand why he had lost his memory and appeared in Lungmen for no apparent reason.

"I don't think that will be possible. During the time you were unconscious, Penguin Logistics and the Lungmen Guard Department both investigated. The Rhodes Island Lungmen Office has no record of you, and neither does the Rhodes Island Landship. Yet your identification is indeed from Rhodes Island."

There was one thing Texas did not say. When she went to speak with the person in charge of the Rhodes Island Lungmen Office, that person told her that only elite Rhodes Island operators possessed that kind of identification. Yet Mizuki was not on the office's roster of elite operators.

The roster was updated once a month. In other words, Mizuki had most likely become an elite operator within the past month. Only the Rhodes Island Landship had the authority to approve such a status.

"Simply put, you should be an operator from the Rhodes Island Landship. You're right that going to Rhodes Island would help you find your identity, but Rhodes Island is currently in transit. You can't catch up to it."