Chapter 11

“I heard you weren’t feeling well.”

Why would anyone bring up something that pointless...? Erabelle Vermilion looked up at him, puzzled and wary.

“You drank a lot yesterday. Maybe I should’ve stopped you?”

“I’m fine.”

Erabelle spooned up the oatmeal as politely as possible, carefully trying to gauge his mood.

“Um, Commander... is there something you need me to do?”

She racked her brain for some way to appear even more respectful. If it had been allowed, she would have knelt. Maybe even prostrated herself before asking.

She was so tense that the muscles in her neck were starting to seize up. I need to get a prescription for muscle relaxants tomorrow... assuming I’m still alive by then.

“There you go again.”

He chuckled, then looked down at her in silence before asking, “Lieutenant, does having me here make you uncomfortable?”

Is that even a real question?

Leaning casually against the table with one hand, he asked as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

The way he looked down at her was suffocating.

Her body instinctively shrank in on itself, and her stomach clenched so hard that the answer came out on reflex.

“N-not at all.”

“But I want to get closer to you, Lieutenant... and yet you seem awfully tense around me.”

“Not at all. I swear I’m not uncomfortable.”

“If you hate it that much, should I leave? If the homeowner tells me to go, I’ll go.”

“No! Really, I’m absolutely not uncomfortable.”

Even as she answered, she could tell the conversation was careening off the rails.

But knowing that doesn’t mean I can stop it...

“I’m honestly very happy to have you in my home, Commander. I’ve always wanted to get closer to you.”

“Really?”

Only then did Dezeb Avganis relax, a soft smile appearing on his face.

Erabelle smiled back in relief... then hesitated.

“I’m glad to hear that. I was worried I was making you uncomfortable. Good. Then let’s try becoming friends, starting now.”

“Y-yes...”

This isn’t right...

“The movie we watched yesterday has a Part 4. Want to keep going?”

“Sure... that sounds good...”

Dezeb crossed the living room in a few long strides and started up the fourth horror movie. The apartment was so small that someone with legs as long as his only needed a couple of steps.

He picked up the remote as naturally as though he had done it a hundred times before and flipped through the channels like he belonged there.

It was scarier than the movie itself.

Am I... really going to die like this...?

Erabelle stared blankly at his back as he stood in front of the TV.

He looked like a living weapon.

Somehow, he seemed even larger than he had in the adjutant’s office, intimidating in a way she couldn’t quite put into words. At 188 centimeters, with a lean yet powerful build, his sheer presence made her want to curl into herself.

The difference in their physiques was overwhelming. He was all sharp lines and solid structure, and simply being near him was enough to make her body tense.

At 160 centimeters, running away wasn’t even an option.

This wasn’t a question of strength.

It was a question of leg length.

If he so much as tapped her, she felt like she might shatter like glass. And just like the night before, her mind immediately began replaying murder, death, dismemberment on an endless loop.

Of course, even in moments like this, he was beautiful.

Maybe that was what made him even more terrifying...

“Do you like it?”

Caught staring at his back, Erabelle quickly turned away, suddenly remembering the draft of her will sitting in the freezer.

Should I add anything? Change something? If I’m going to die today, I’d better do it now.

“If you’re finished eating, take your medicine with some water, then come relax.”

He said it while lounging on the couch, looking more at home there than she did.

Erabelle obediently followed his instructions, took her stomach medicine with some water, cleared away her oatmeal bowl, then returned and sat beside him.

“You fell asleep near the end of Part 3 yesterday. Want to start from there?”

“That’s fine.”

“Hmm... or would you rather watch something else? There are plenty of options. Some funny ones too. You don’t like comedies?”

Is it just me, or does he seem kind of... excited?

Erabelle gave him a sidelong glance.

Commander Dezeb sat with his legs crossed, one arm draped lazily over the armrest as though he owned the place.

He looked... unusually relaxed.

Maybe the Nover Federation stock market had suddenly skyrocketed or something.

“I think horror is best.”

“Alright.”

He started Part 4.

The studio logo rolled across the screen.

Come to think of it, she {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} couldn’t remember how Part 3 had ended.

Maybe he was right.

But that wasn’t the only thing bothering her.

She had no idea when—or where—the Commander had slept last night.

Please tell me he didn’t sleep in my bed...

Or worse—

Did he not sleep at all? Does that mean I passed out drunk while he stayed awake right next to me?

Well, if she was going to die, blacking out beforehand was probably the best-case scenario.

Comforted by that thought, Erabelle found herself wishing for unconsciousness all over again.

“Um... beer...”

“No. You have gastritis.”

“Yes...”

I mean, yes, I have gastritis... but why does that mean I can’t...?

Erabelle shut her mouth and quietly stared at the TV.

At some point during Part 4, she began to feel a strange sense of camaraderie with the vengeful spirit on the screen.

And once again, just like the night before, she felt Dezeb’s intense gaze drilling into the side of her head.

She didn’t dare turn to meet his eyes.

Terrifying... Absolutely terrifying. I swear, he’s going to burn a hole straight through my temple.

She could barely breathe under the pressure.

His gaze never wavered.

And once again, her mind went blank.

There was no alcohol tonight, which somehow made everything worse than it had been yesterday.

Now even the movie couldn’t hold her attention.

Just the two of them, trapped together in a tiny apartment...

It was the perfect setting for something horrible to happen.

If he grabbed my head with those huge hands and smashed it against the armrest of the sofa... that would be the end of me.

Cleaning up afterward would probably take longer than the killing itself.

Actually, if he didn’t feel like dealing with the mess, he could just snap her neck.

Quick and clean.

Getting rid of the body probably wouldn’t take more than ten minutes... if she was lucky.

If he decided to toy with her first, though, that was when things would become truly horrific.

What if he made me sing my favorite song while I died... or forced me to write a final letter to my family instead of a will?

She had heard stories.

Plenty of them.

And over the past two years, she had seen things.

Far too many things.

Erabelle felt nauseous again.

If she hadn’t taken her medicine earlier, she probably would have been hugging the toilet by now.

Her lower back had stiffened, and cold sweat trickled down her forehead.

Noticing the color visibly drain from her face, Dezeb let out a small laugh and finally looked away.

The sense of mercy in that simple act was unmistakable.

She was so grateful she nearly burst into tears.

He turned his attention toward the TV, as if he were actually watching the movie.

But he couldn’t stay still for long.

Before long, he got to his feet and began moving around the apartment.

The moment he left her side, Erabelle felt a sliver of relief.

She slowly inhaled, then let the breath out even more slowly.

Dezeb strode around the apartment on those long legs of his.

The place was so small that she could still catch glimpses of him no matter where he went.

While the movie continued playing, he took a shower—in someone else’s home—changed clothes, and even opened her refrigerator as casually as if it were his own.

When the movie finally ended, Erabelle had no choice but to look over at him.

Commander Dezeb Avganis, now dressed in casual clothes, looked unbelievably relaxed.

He wore light gray sweatpants and a plain white T-shirt.

His hair, hanging over his eyebrows and brushing against his ears, was still damp from the shower.

He looked so comfortable that it almost felt as though he were the one who lived there.

Does this mean he’s staying over again tonight...?

But this is still my house. My opinion... didn’t he ask earlier? “Should I go?” he said. And I told him no...

...Right.

That’s fair.

It’s not like speaking up against that man would lead to anything except an early death. I’d rather die with at least some dignity. A natural death. Or euthanasia, if it comes to that...

I really don’t understand. He said he wants to be friends? Out of nowhere? Three years into my service, and now he suddenly wants to bond?

...One month. Maybe a month and a half.

Erabelle sucked in a short breath as she remembered the bet the others had made.

Meanwhile, Dezeb had taken out a laptop and set it on the kitchen table.

He really brought a lot with him.

A change of clothes.

Oatmeal.

A laptop.

And the strangest part was that she was only just realizing it now.

Dezeb Avganis... carrying all of that himself? I can’t even picture it.

She couldn’t remember seeing him come in carrying anything at all.

And now this 188-centimeter, model-built man—who had apparently arrived with an armful of supplies—was casually rummaging through her refrigerator.

“I’ll buy more of this tomorrow, alright?”

He held up an already opened can of beer as though it were no big deal.

“Uh... yes, sir...”

So... he’s coming back tomorrow too...?

“But seriously, Lieutenant. What do you live on?”

He turned toward her.

“...Sorry?”

“Your fridge is a disaster. The only things in here are instant meals and beer.”

Dezeb stared into the open refrigerator with a completely deadpan expression.

“There should be some milk. And a few cans of fruit...”

For some reason, Erabelle felt compelled to defend the honor of her refrigerator.

At that, he closed the fridge and looked directly at her.

He seemed to be... smiling a little.

Why was he smiling?

“They’re all expired.”