Chapter 48: Chapter 48
Someone tapped on the translucent door, the kind where only one side could see through, a faint outline shifting behind the frosted surface.
Then came a voice, soft yet clear, carrying a melodic warmth that instantly filled the sterile air.
"Should I... come in?"
The voice was feminine, soothing to the ear. A voice Aziel could easily bet would’ve driven the no-life gooners from his old world insane with just a few words.
’Damn... didn’t know we had to do that first to enter. That’s new.’
Aziel thought, his gaze drifting toward Alkroz’s wrist, where a sleek, faintly glowing watch ticked with a subtle pulse of light.
His eyes lingered there a moment too long.
"What?" Alkroz said, noticing the look. "I’m not giving you this. It’s the only one I have."
Aziel smirked, feigning innocence. "Didn’t say anything."
"Yeah, but you thought it loud enough," Alkroz muttered, shaking his head slightly. He turned his attention back to the door, his tone calm but expectant.
"Yeah, I guess. Come in."
The door slid open with a gentle hiss, a thin gust of cool air brushing past them.
Aziel darted toward the nearest cover, the desk, slipping behind it with an agility that was both unnecessary and oddly strategic.
Before ducking out of sight, he threw Alkroz a skeptical look, one that practically screamed "play along."
His motive was simple, if a little twisted. If he stayed visible, whoever was entering might change their tone or behavior.
But if he vanished from sight, he could observe how they naturally interacted with the scientist, unfiltered and genuine.
In his mind, that act of foolishness counted as genius.
"This fucker..." Alkroz muttered under his breath, a sigh escaping as realization dawned on him.
He knew exactly what Aziel was up to, and yet, somehow, it didn’t surprise him in the slightest.
The door slid open, revealing a girl whose presence shifted the room’s tone without a word.
Her hair split starkly between white and black, falling in soft waves that caught the dim light. She wore a black suit with a loosened tie, a single white flower pinned neatly near her collar.
Her gray-pink eyes held a quiet sharpness as if measuring every single step.
Before she could finish, Alkroz’s reflexes were quicker than expected. With a single motion, he kicked toward the spot where Aziel had peeked.
The timing was flawless.
Aziel yelped as he scrambled upright, his head striking the upper corner of the desk with a sharp thunk.
Pain radiated across his skull, or at least what he had thought, his hand instinctively rubbing the sore spot, though nothing happened.
And then, almost theatrically, he straightened fully, shaking off the sting, revealing himself completely.
"Ah, you found me," Aziel said, his smirk returning, rubbing his head in mock exaggeration as his amber eyes flicked between the two.
"Guess I wasn’t subtle enough, huh?"
For a moment, the color drained from the young woman’s face.
Her eyes hardened, sharpening into something unreadable.
For a fleeting instant, a flicker of recognition passed over her features, quick and almost involuntary.
Then, with fluid precision, she reached into her pocket and produced a coin. With a practiced flick, she tossed it into the air, catching it effortlessly before it fell to the ground. A quick twist of her wrist rotated the coin 180 degrees midair.
"M-my coin have a conflicting opinion," she spoke, showing the side on which it had landed to Alkroz, while avoiding eye contact with Aziel.
"I guess, it’s not the best time to show up, after all. Cya, I will come at a later time."
Then without another word, she turned around about her legs and continued to march towards the door, moving as if she owed every inch of the room.
"Lycoris, wait. There’s someone I want you to meet," Alkroz called out.
Lycoris slowly turned her head toward him, but her expression remained guarded, eyes fidgeting in all directions.
"No... I guess it’s not really the right time to meet anyone," she said, deliberately avoiding eye contact with Aziel. Her gaze stayed locked on Alkroz.
"You saw my coin, didn’t you? Call me at a later rotation. Though... I think coming then would be impossible too. Yeah. I’m not coming here again."
"But..." he began, quickly grabbing a used paper from the floor and throwing it toward her.
She caught it effortlessly, her eyes scanning the contents. Disbelief spread across her features.
"N-no way in heaven..." she muttered under her breath, rereading the paper as if trying to convince herself it was real.
Aziel strode forward, his rage barely contained, voice furious. Chapters fırst released on novel·fire·net
"Oye, Alkroz! Do you even realize what you just threw at her? Do you have any idea... or do you want me dead?"
He grabbed Alkroz by the collar, shaking him slightly, rage simmering under the surface.
"You literally gave her the paper where I had revealed myself!"
Lycoris, standing a few steps away, kept her expression carefully controlled, though a flicker of tension passed over her face, as her mouth opened slightly.
"C-calm down, calm down. I-I did that on purpose. Release me, quick," Alkroz struggled to speak, though beneath his expression, a faint smug tug at his lips betrayed him, something Aziel couldn’t help but notice.
Nonetheless, he released him from the grip.
’I guess I’ll just have to convince her then.’
Aziel thought, stepping toward Lycoris. He attempted to snatch the paper from her, but she moved it sideways in an instant, faster than he could react.
Her eyes flicked to his, sharp, unyielding, silently daring him to try again.
Still, he spoke nonchalantly, trying to mask his frustration.
"Whatever you just read is fake. You know, this scientist was trying to teach me how to write. Just forget it. And yeah... don’t try pulling these kinds of stunts at home. It’s for professionals."
Lycoris rolled her eyes, the faintest smirk tugging at her lips.
"After witnessing the reaction you had there, I doubt I’ll be able to believe whatever you speak," she said, her tone tinged with amusement and maybe a little suspicion.