Episode 03
“Miss, could it be that your puberty has… returned?”
“Shall I show you what proper puberty looks like?”
“That was a slip of the tongue. Even thinking back on your puberty is terrifying, Miss.”
Cherry Sinclair during her adolescence had possessed a mind as flowery—and as empty—as a field in full bloom.
Just how bad had it been?
Bad enough that, in rebellion against her parents, she had stolen a yacht owned by the Sinclair family.
And not only that—she had boldly piloted the yacht across the open ocean, fleeing to an entirely different continent.
Back then, Mother, Father, and Harrison went through absolute hell trying to find me.
No matter how well I knew the basics of sailing, I was still a novice. Crossing the ocean like that should have been impossible.
But by some miracle, the weather stayed perfect the entire time.
The heavens themselves had intervened.
Even now, I can’t deny it. I really was beyond saving.
The fact that Harrison treated me like a lunatic was a hundred percent understandable.
Anyway, I called out to Harrison again, pressing him for an answer.
“Harrison.”
“…Very well. It has been quite some time since I last took you out, Miss. Let us consider it an outing.”
At his response, I screamed yes internally over and over again.
“However, it will have to be a few days from now. I need to secure the weapons you mentioned, and there are urgent documents that must be handled first.”
I couldn’t help feeling a twinge of disappointment at his follow-up.
Still—he was coming in a few days. That was enough.
He just needed to make it to Brunel within twenty-one days.
“Alright, Harrison. Then I’ll wait for you in Brunel. You have to come quickly. Really quickly.”
“Understood, Miss. I’ll be there as fast as I can.”
I emphasized quickly one last time, then finally rose from my seat only after receiving his firm confirmation.
Next on the agenda: withdrawing money from the bank.
The Central Bank of Benton, the capital.
Today, I intended to take out every loan I possibly could.
The inheritance of the Sinclair family that had been passed down to me was locked until I turned twenty.
That meant another full year to go.
The monthly dividends from Sinclair family businesses were astronomical—more than enough to live comfortably under normal circumstances.
But now?
I needed far more than that.
Those monthly dividends were also used for family operations. If I suddenly drained them dry and ran off, the household staff—and Harrison included—would be plunged into darkness for the month.
Of course, there were other assets like real estate and stocks, but liquidating those would take time.
And time was exactly what I didn’t have.
The conclusion was simple.
A loan was the only answer.
“Lady Sinclair… you wish to take out a loan…? No—surely I misheard you.”
Bank President Morton stared at me with a face full of disbelief.
I smiled brightly in response.
“You heard correctly.”
“Are you saying… a credit loan of one hundred million gold?”
Morton asked again, just to be sure.
I nodded without hesitation.
That amount would be more than enough to prepare for the end of the world.
Honestly, with only three weeks left, I wasn’t even sure I could spend it all in time.
But what if?
If there’s any moment in life to squeeze out every last drop of emergency funds… this is it.
“Yes.”
At my answer, Morton nodded dazedly and slid the documents toward me.
“This is merely a formality, but… may I ask the purpose of the loan?”
“I’ll be using it as disaster-preparation funds.”
“…Would you like assistance?”
“What?”
“If someone is threatening you, I could discreetly contact Attorney Howard on your behalf—”
Of course he wouldn’t believe me.
Say the word apocalypse and you’re immediately branded insane.
For some reason, tears threatened to rise.
“It’s not like that.”
“Oh… then perhaps it’s related to your club? I did hear that several diamond mines were wagered in the latest game, but I never imagined the sum would be this—”
“Mr. Morton. I was joking.”
Until recently, I had been operating a high-stakes gambling club.
Exactly the sort of indulgent behavior expected of a frivolous heiress.
People criticized me as vulgar—yet ironically scrambled to apply for membership.
The profits and information flowing from that place had been very useful.
Morton must have assumed I had expanded the scale too aggressively and now needed emergency funds.
“I haven’t attended the club in quite some time. I’m planning to transfer its management soon, too. But why is this taking so long? I feel like I’m being interrogated. Are you perhaps… looking down on the Sinclair family?”
Morton turned pale, pulling out a handkerchief to wipe the cold sweat from his brow.
“My apologies. I was simply startled that the heir of the Sinclair family would request such a substantial loan.”
If only I could access my inheritance already, I wouldn’t have to go this far.
But of course—no one else knew about that restriction.
“It’s for overseas business. As you know, the Sinclair family has many projects in motion. All assets readily usable are currently tied up.”
Only then did Morton smile in understanding.
He immediately ordered the preparation of the cash.
Large bags were filled, one after another, stacked neatly.
The weight alone looked formidable.
Bringing several Sinclair servants along had been a very wise choice.
Cash is king. Long live the rich.
Soon enough, the nation would collapse, and money would become nothing more than scrap paper.
Which meant—
I need to spend every last coin preparing for the end.
Stockpile survival supplies.
All I needed to do was survive in a shelter until the protagonists found the cure.
You can do this, Cherry.
As I steeled myself and stood up, something caught my eye.
The newspaper Morton had been reading.
[Monster Disturbance at 61 Nottingham Street — Additional Witnesses Appear?!
Benton Police Authorities: “Absurd Claims. Witness Testimonies Unfounded…”]
A follow-up article to the one I’d seen before.
Last time, there had been only one witness.
People had dismissed him as insane.
But now?
There were several.
My blood ran cold.
Seeing it printed made the danger feel far more real.
When the story began, monster appearances occurred sporadically across the nation—one or two at a time, like warning signs.
Most of them died quickly, too weak from starvation, or were killed once discovered.
But then the enhanced ones appear…
And within three weeks, the virus spreads across the entire kingdom.
“…Would you like it?”
Morton must have noticed me staring.
He offered me the newspaper.
“Thank you.”
Embarrassed, I accepted it.
I read quietly as I exited the bank.
That very night—on the day this article was published—the first real monster would appear at the Nottingham Street mansion.
It was also when the heroine, Aurora, encountered a monster for the first time.
Wait… isn’t this where it shows up?
Elphinus Herb.
A plant that functioned much like a vaccine.
No one knew where it came from.
Why it existed.
Why it was at 61 Nottingham Street of all places.
The novel never explained it.
Because it got discontinued. Damn it.
Still—consume it, and you could survive being bitten once without infection.
Just once.
In the story, Aurora noticed the strange plant but didn’t know how to use it, and simply passed it by.
She wouldn’t learn the truth until two years later, after meeting the scientist male lead.
She regretted it bitterly.
Fine. Even if I leave for Brunel… I’m taking that with me.
Aurora wouldn’t recognize its value.
But I would.
And if I encountered a monster?
Well.
I’ll deal with it somehow.
There would only be one.
And I was strong.
“Wow… Miss, you’re incredibly strong.”
Susanna’s words echoed in my mind.
I had played cricket as a hobby when I was younger—knew exactly how to swing a bat effectively.
Which meant—
An axe wouldn’t be much different.
Alright. Let’s do this.
Even now, none of this felt real.
I remembered the monsters only as words on a page.
I had never seen one in reality.
I didn’t know how powerful they truly were.
Maybe that ignorance was the reason I could still be brave.
I need that Elphinus Herb. No matter what.
For now, that—and survival—were all that mattered.
Late at night.
The entrance to a Nottingham Street alley.
I pulled my robe tightly over myself and cautiously peeked out.
Though it was late, gas lamps illuminated the streets, and there were still quite a few people around.
If I’m careless, I’ll draw attention.
Just in case, I wore a mask.
Unfortunately, the only one I had was a party mask—gaudy enough that it almost drew more attention.
As long as they don’t recognize my face… whatever.
As I waited for the right moment, I mentally reviewed the characteristics of virus monsters—
