Chapter 42 ….
“What do you mean by that?”
Alexis felt extremely disgusted by the Kerno chieftain, whose voice was exactly like Calisten’s. On top of that, he already disliked Calisten because of Ascelia.
In truth, he had allowed the friendship between Calisten and Ascelia to remain because he thought that if Ascelia followed him, it would completely sever her relationship with Calisten. He didn’t want to be hated by Ascelia.
Moreover, since she obediently followed him, there was no reason to complain.
The only complaint he had was about Calisten. He didn’t know that Ascelia was a woman. But judging by the way she had looked and acted when they last met in her female form, he wasn’t sure how Calisten’s attitude would change the moment he realized she was a woman.
That was why he couldn’t help but hate the irritating man in front of him, who looked and even sounded exactly like Calisten.
It was as if the number of people he had to be cautious of had doubled.
“This won’t do.”
“Ugh…!”
Alexis twisted the neck of the Kerno chieftain, whose voice was eerily similar to Calisten’s, and spoke.
“I suppose I’ll have to say it was an accident.”
He intended to apply force—if he did, the man’s neck would break instantly.
Alexis stared closely at the man in his grip. His jet-black hair rippled like a black river surging in the shadows whenever the wind blew. His red eyes shone like threatening flames, even at night.
Thinking of the worried expression Ascelia always made when looking at him, he truly felt the urge to kill the man in front of him.
“Y-you… ugh… didn’t come here to see me?”
The man said, choked as Alexis held his neck. Alexis felt a strange heat in his head. He could kill him and claim it was an accident.
But he had never made a mistake in any mission. He always executed orders from the deputy director perfectly. That was because the deputy director’s ability to understand him combined with Alexis’s ability to perfectly execute her intentions created flawless synergy.
The thought of failing this mission bothered him strangely.
Above all, he hadn’t fully assumed his new identity yet, and this task was connected to the royal family. Failing it could jeopardize the future home he planned to create with Ascelia.
Ascelia.
The most beautiful woman in the world, with platinum hair and purple eyes.
‘I am Alexis, after all.’
Her pretty voice, her beautiful words…
“Damn it.”
“Ugh…!”
Alexis grew frustrated as his grip slowly weakened.
But then he thought of a child who would look half like Ascelia and half like him.
“Hah… hah…”
He completely released his grip. The man’s feet, which had been flailing in the air, dropped to the ground, and the Kerno chieftain stared blankly at Alexis, who had been holding him by the neck, and asked:
“What is it that brought you here?”
“To take you in.”
“What do you mean…?”
“I don’t know either. The Emperor ordered it.”
Alexis said, sighing, brushing back the hair that had fallen forward.
“Where are you going?”
“To get my meal.”
Ascelia, having decided to live with Calisten for just one day, prepared to leave when the bell announcing mealtime rang. Calisten, watching her quietly, smiled faintly.
“You don’t have to go.”
“Huh?”
“I’ve decided to fully receive Z-grade treatment now.”
“But isn’t that only for fully awakened Z-grades?”
Calisten nodded at her words before answering.
“I’ve reached Awakening Stage 2, so it’s fine.”
“The deputy director said that?”
“Yes.”
Ascelia noticed that Calisten’s voice sounded unusually low, and after looking at him, she awkwardly smiled and returned to her seat.
The room was as spacious as Alexis’s, but it didn’t have many belongings. There was a bed, wardrobe, a few pieces of furniture, and a washbasin. No shower or kitchen.
It felt like one large room.
“So… where should we stay?”
“Here.”
He sat by the table with a sofa and gestured for Ascelia to sit, tapping the sofa.
Ascelia, scanning the surroundings cautiously, went over and sat. Seeing her not sit next to him but in front, Calisten frowned slightly, then relaxed when their eyes met.
“Kal.”
“Hm?”
“What about the meal…?”
-BEEP-
Before Ascelia could finish, the door opened. Two boys carrying trays appeared. They seemed too young to receive Awakening drugs, both wearing provisional B-grade tags.
“We’ll serve you.”
“No, leave it.”
Calisten’s firm voice made the boys unsure if they could leave. They exchanged glances, then reluctantly placed the trays at the door.
Only once they cleared the trays would they avoid punishment.
“Do I get my meal too?”
“Yes.”
Ascelia was amazed to see her own tray. Unlike other grades, A and B grades had to eat only leftover portions after others had finished. Seeing her own tray separately was both surprising and strange.
Her hands trembled as she picked up the fork and spoon on the tray.
At that moment:
-Rumble-
The B-grade boys’ stomachs growled.
Being lower grades, they had to eat leftovers like Ascelia usually did. The meals were just for exercise; all nutrients were managed through drugs. Whether they ate or not didn’t matter much, but A and B grades only received enough to survive.
Ascelia couldn’t bring herself to touch the food, feeling pity for the lower grades.
“What’s wrong?”
“This is too much… I want to share it with them.”
Calisten immediately understood. She had told him the same thing before:
‘We eat leftovers.’
He understood her heart.
“I hate eating this garbage.”
“Kal…?”
“I won’t eat.”
“But if you don’t eat…”
Ascelia worried that the B-grade boys could be scolded if he refused.
“There.”
“Yes, Z-999.”
“Yes, Z-999.”
“Finish this completely.”
“Huh?”
“You two, finish it all.”
He still wanted Ascelia to eat her own portion entirely, hoping she’d gain some weight in her thin arms and legs.
“Mine too…”
“You eat it all.”
“But…”
“All of it.”
When Calisten repeated firmly, Ascelia nodded slightly. The B-grades came, took his utensils one by one, then carefully reached for his tray.
“Hurry up, we’re running out of time.”
He said, rising from the sofa, looking slightly annoyed, and went to sit on the bed. The B-grades, seeing the A-grade Ascelia sitting with him, finally began eating.
Calisten watched Ascelia chew. The food tasted bland, yet she chewed happily, cheeks moving like a rabbit. Watching her, he felt strangely full, despite not enjoying food much himself.
“Kal.”
“Yes?”
“This is for you.”
Ascelia brought chocolate pudding, sealed with a label.
Calisten hated sweets. Eating something sweet disgusted him, yet he enjoyed Ascelia’s natural scent when it smelled sweet. Ignoring the irony, he approached her.
Ascelia peeled the label, scooped some pudding with an unused spoon, and gently offered it.
He accepted, letting her hold the handle of the spoon, and tasted it.
“It’s… good.”
The flavor was disgusting, yet sweet and damp. He frowned, barely chewing and swallowing instead.
“I’m glad. This is my favorite.”
“Then you eat it.”
“No, since it’s my favorite, I want you to eat it.”
Her words melted his heart. Yet the sweetness he hated made it a strange mix of pleasure and discomfort.
“Then… feed me.”
“Ah, yes. I will.”
Ascelia smiled reflexively when their eyes met. Seeing him lower his gaze at her, she laughed genuinely.
It felt like feeding a cat.
“Ah.”
She opened her mouth, and he mimicked her, “Ah,” opening his mouth.
Ascelia scooped more pudding and fed him.
At that moment, B-114, watching Z-999’s tender side, spoke up:
“Are you… the Kerno chieftain?”
