Exiled from paradise

Chapter 11: Mysterious Enemies

The bright sunshine was already gleaming past the window. Turning my head into a digital clock hanging on the wall. I noticed that it was already 9:00 in the morning. I lay my head back on the soft pillow on my back with my eyes closed for a brief moment.

Yesterday I nearly crossed the line of death. I thought I was a goner and everything would end at that moment. Or the possibility of me taking the offer is likely. However, I refused after seeing Kisara’s melancholic expression on my head.

Her tears I want to reach out to her and wipe them out for her. Her words of “Don’t leave me alone…” that night hurt me.

What’s wrong with me being sympathetic with a girl who nearly killed me and never respecting me as a human being?

I opened my eyes again after reminiscing yesterday and trying to learn something about what happened.

The concrete ceiling, a fan spinning and a light bulb. Surely, this is not the apartment. After the event, my body was so exhausted I lost unconsciously. I was brought into the infirmary room.

I rubbed my eyes first and sat up. I was still able to stand up and the pain wasn’t felt anymore.

“I guess I’m all okay…”

“Morning.”

The medical officer, Princess, entered the room, greeting me with her angelic face.

Her cerubic smile washed away all the bad things bothering me. She’s not just a princess in my eyes. She’s also an angel.

She walked closer to me and asked a few questions.

“Is there a painful feeling?”

“No.”

“How about your head? Dizziness? Hurting?”

“I don’t feel anything. I feel refreshed.”

“Then, things turned out great. Your body sure is sturdy. I heard what happened yesterday and it was unexpected. The exam supervisor was together with the demon kind baiting the entire batch during that day's examinee. Trusting people is very hard, you don’t know when someone is suddenly going to betray you.”

“What happened to the exam supervisor?”

“Kisara took him on…”

The prince lowered his eyes downward. Her slight gesture made me realize already what Kisara did to him.

“I was extremely lucky… Kisara arrived at the right moment. Saving my life once again. I owe my life to her again.”

“Then, when the time comes and she needs salvation. Do you do anything to reach her out?”

The Princess said.

She walked to the drawer on her desk and gave me a small bottle of medicine tablets. She told me that I would only take it to relieve sudden pain.

She got back to her work and I decided to leave the infirmary. I’m fully healed and there is nothing to do here. There is no reason for staying.

Saving Kisara from her sadness.

How exactly would I save someone like her?

I thought while walking on my way to the cafeteria.

Stale breads are free together with water. No one gives attention to this poor bread every day. They just sit on the basket and nearly no one touches it. It was replaced every day. Spoiled bread was thrown immediately by the kitchen staff. I’m sure it's safe to eat.

Even without money, I could survive in this place.

I have no money. I wonder how much I would make if I became a full-time Exterminator. Kisara is able to rent and provide necessities with her earnings.

People are literally desperate to become exterminators. The stampede I experienced in the exam is one concrete proof. They would certainly kill just to pass the exam.

That gives me the idea that exterminators' earnings are quite good.

“Look, our dog is feeling fine now.”

A sweet voice from the psychotic blonde girl, Charlotte.

If she is here, the other is also here.

“I’m glad that you are fine… Why do you seem bewildered by my words?”

Asked Kisara who, just sat down opposite mine. On her table, a tray with a big hamburger and soda on the side. Charlotte sat beside her with the same exact meal.

“I’m just surprised that you worried about me.”

“Please don’t think too much about it… You’re just a slave, a pet, and a tool. Just behave and follow all my orders. We’ll have a good relationship.”

She shifted her gaze to my stale bread and continued:

“... Hey, do you want some?”

“Is that poisoned flavor?”

“Why would I poison you?” She asked back.

Sometimes I can’t believe what's coming out of her mouth. She seems sincere and she’s in a good mood. These might be the few instances where I can consider her a normal person.

“I have never eaten one of those nearly expired breads.”

Charlotte looked at the bread in my hand in wonder.

“They have their own appeal and I don’t have money. I don’t want to ask you two and become a burden.”

“You’re such a good boy… Did you hear that, Kisara? Red is so considerate of us. He might be the perfect slave for us.”

Kisara silently stares at me with her sharpened eyes. She took a knife and cut the hamburger in half. She turned her face away from me and handed me the other half.

“Here… I-I promised to give you a tasty treat after you clean the apartment. This is how you’re treated for being a good boy.”

Giving me a treat is hard for her. She doesn’t look at me straight into my eyes.

“Me too… Me too…”

Charlotte had half her burger and handed it over to me.

Placing the two halves together. I got myself one whole burger. The juicy meat patty and the delicious aroma. The look is already delicious…

I took one big bite and my mind went into heaven. I never tasted anything like this in my entire life. I lack any vocabulary to describe what exactly makes it taste wonderful. The explosion of flavor in my taste buds is unforgettable.

I think I have my favorite meal.

“So good.”

“We have taste after all… Fun fact, that burger is made with vegetables. It’s good for our diet.”

“How is that possible? It tastes like meat.”

“We can thank science for that.”

Swallowing my big bite, I took a gulp of water to push it down my throat. Afterward, I made a satisfied expression.

I have no recollection of what exactly happened at the exam. I guess this would be the perfect time to ask Kisara and Charlotte about the details.

Like how did they know about the horrific plan for Rio?

“ An assistant of the exam supervisor was so guilty about the truth and she told us about the exam supervisor's plan. It was the last second and many people had already been eaten by that Demon kind.”

“Kisara was so worried about dashing outside the company… We also got a notification from Mister Fluff and he got into a fight with the exam supervisor.”

Kisara worried about me? Feels unrealistic…

What pulls my interest more is the fact that Mister Fluff could go into a battle. Mister Fluff was said to win. I regret not seeing him in action. I would love to see him fight.

“She is strong, but I’m stronger… That’s why she fled away.”

“That demon king almost has no difference from a human. She even offered me to become one of them.”

“Hmm… Good thing. Well, if I find out that you’re a demon, I won’t show any mercy. Killing every single one of them is one of the reasons I became an exterminator... About yesterday, who was the irritating master you’re talking about?”

We’re still in that quarrel?

I thought we had already moved on.

“Forgive me for that… The important thing is that I refused the offer and decided to stay.”

I put my hands together and bowed down to her.

Kisara stares at me again blankly and smiles. She didn’t appear to be bashful and wore a fleeting shy curt of lips that looked ever so slightly pleased.

“As long as you follow my orders and decide to stay. We have no problem.”

“Kisara’s smile is different. It's sweeter than usual.”

“W-What are you saying? This is my usual smile.”

She clears her throat with a cough and continues.

“...About the half-demon kind. Seems like their organization is moving again. They are attacking other shelters and recruiting more people, deciding to side with them. With their faction steadily increasing. So do our opponents.”

Charlotte, who had already done eating her burger, lay down her head on the table and sipped the soda on a straw lazily.

“Yeah, that means lots of work… These weeks we’re almost outside every day.”

“Those half-demon kinds are enemies…”

“I’m kinda irritated that she managed to escape. She is not ordinary. I’m amazed that you’re able to fight with her. My expectation of you rises… I almost forgot.”

Kisara took something from her pocket and placed it on the table. Sliding it to my side.

“An Identification card?”

“That’s your license as an exterminator. Lars approved it immediately after he heard the story about your fight with a demon kind.”

I passed the exam, which means I can talk to him about the way to go back to paradise.

“When can I see him?”

“Too bad he's out of town right now. You’re sleeping when he goes out and probably it will take a long time before he comes back. He is on a mission to exterminate a powerful demon kind.”

Everyone sure is busy. It’s a shame that I can’t have a talk with him right now.

Knowing what my goal was is vital for the thing I should be doing.

Now, I’m stuck again in mystery.

I took the license and put it in my pocket. Continued my delightful launch together with Kisara and Charlotte.

“Kisara, can I borrow some money?” I asked.

“You just say something like “It would be embarrassing if I asked for me and Charlotte money”…”

“This is important… While in the middle of a battle with Rio. I slipped my hand on my sword and now I don’t have any weapons. I promise to pay you back when I get my earnings.”

As an exterminator, a weapon is one of the most important things I must have.

Kisara took a deep breath and replied immediately.

“Sure… Sure…”

♦♦♦♦♦

Area 02, death wasteland.

A group of four people gathered to have a meeting. One of them was the little girl in a raincoat, Rio. A man with a gigantic frame and a mixture of feminine and man’s face. The other one is a scrawly man resembling a big mantis. Lastly, a man wearing a black robe and ashen white hair.

“I heard that you nearly got killed, Rio.”

Said the gigantic man.

“Please don’t joke around. You know I'm strong, that woman-wielding flame is just on another level. That reminds me of something…” She shifted her gaze to the man wearing a black robe. “That Kisara girl is you’re previous lover, isn’t it?”

“I have no recollection of becoming her lover.”

“But I am deeply in love with you. There must be something we can do to take advantage of that feeling.”

“I already have something to do. Her strength would be great if I managed to force her to join our faction. She would be a great kind of demon.”

“Ah~ Poor girl~ Poor girl! I pitied that girl in advance. Her poor heart will be quashed.”

“Lance Company is being a pain in the ass. Destroying that company and teaching the lesson. We must make it clear that we Demon kinds are the new ruler of this land.”

"The flame girl has a new toy with her. I spent some time with him and noticed something different in him. He, unlike any other human. His kind and would help anyone in his sight. More importantly, I could sense blessing s running through his veins."

Rio said.

"You mean blessings the mysterious power God gave the world a thousand years ago."

"I want to play with him again... I think he came from paradise..."

"Interesting, we have more reason to cut down frighteningly." The mantis-like man turned his body around while wearing a frighteningly excited smile. 

"Where are you going?"

"To slice off some worthy opponents."