I've already said this isn't a life simulator!

As they were almost back at their hotel, the girl still looked conflicted, as if she had something to say but didn't know how to say it. He said softly.

"Are you facing some difficulties? Or is there anything I can help you with?"

"Huh? Ah...no, it's just...um..."

The girl was stunned for a moment. It didn't feel good to be seen through, after all, it put her embarrassment in the open. After hesitating for a while, she sighed, seemingly letting go of her pointless shame, and said.

"I just wanted to ask if you have time later..."

"Yes, is there something I can help you with?"

When he's not on a mission, he's usually training, so in a sense he's quite free—she should know that too.

"No, well... if you're free, could we go out together?"

After she finished speaking, she hurriedly added another sentence.

"It was Ling who said that. After all, you've helped us a lot. Ling said she wanted to thank you, so she hoped I could take her to the amusement park with you."

She spoke very quickly, as if she was in a hurry to explain.

"It must be Rin who wanted to go, right?"

"Huh? Um... um! Yes..."

Hearing her somewhat absent-minded response, he began to doubt whether she had even heard what he said clearly.

So he swallowed back the words he was about to say, "Then you two can go," and instead said...

"I understand. When?"

"...I'll message you later."

"it is good."

He nodded, pushed open the door to the suite where the two were resting, and the girl followed him into the room, locking the door and fastening the chain hanging to the side.

"Click..."

Just as she was locking the door, she heard it close again. Turning around, she saw that he had already gone into his own room, seemingly preparing to rest.

The living room was very quiet, as if she were the only person there.

However, this environment actually made her feel more comfortable. She enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere and even felt somewhat happy because she had achieved her intended goal.

She walked briskly but silently toward her room, ready to rest.

The living room fell silent, as if no one lived there at all.

...and inside the room...

"The mission is complete? As expected, it had to be the two of you... You were quick and efficient."

He said with a smile on the other end of the communication.

"Isn't it true that it lives up to its reputation as a top-tier brand?"

"........."

"Alright, alright, I know you don't like wasting your breath on me. To be honest, as soon as I saw it was you calling, I knew what I had to do... As for the bounty, I'll take care of it for you as soon as the client transfers the money. It'll still be the same account, right?"

"Ah."

"That's good... You can take a break for a while after this mission. There aren't any big goals recently, so I don't need you to do anything. If nothing unexpected happens, you'll have a short vacation. So, do you have any plans? I got a ticket to the Eden concert, so I'm planning to go to Mu Continent."

"you……"

"Ugh, never mind... I know it's training again, right? And I know you don't like listening to me nag... Can't you talk to me like Al does? I thought we were friends."

"I……"

"Hmm? You're still alive... You seem to be in a good mood today~ What's up? Did something happy happen? Like finding an old friend or something?"

"You talk too much."

Xi Wang's voice turned cold in an instant.

"Okay, okay~ I'm sorry I touched a nerve, sorry~"

The other party apologized casually, without showing any remorse.

"Tell me, is there something you need from me? I'll talk to Al later."

"...Can you still buy tickets to Eden's concert?"

"Oh? Why are you interested in this?"

The other person suddenly became interested and asked curiously.

"I'm going out with some people afterward."

"Hehe... It's Sakura, right?"

"……Um."

"Wow, you're amazing! I used to think you were such a blockhead, always so gloomy and dull. I never expected you to suddenly become so perceptive..."

"?"

"Don't worry about that. We can definitely get the tickets. After all, we have some connections, and we can definitely get you good seats."

"grateful."

Xi Wang responded sincerely, after all, the other party was right about one thing—they were still "friends".

"Also... I've run out of candy, could you please get me some more?"

"Huh? So fast? You should eat less, be careful of cavities... Is it the specially made one? That one takes a while to arrive, you know?"

"No, it's just ordinary."

"Oh, okay... I got it. You can pick it up at the safe house located at this (encrypted coordinates) location. It's not far from your home."

"grateful."

"No problem, no problem~ After all, this is what I do in logistics... Oh right, so there are two of you going, right? Do you need me to arrange the hotel, transportation, or travel guide? I have some good recommendations~ Oh, and you can just use your cards, I'll reimburse you for the expenses as if it were company money! Oh, and remember to buy some gifts for each other..."

Ignoring the other party's nonsense, Xi Wang decisively hung up the call.

"........."

He remained silent, staring blankly at the direction of another room for a while, then looked down at the small notebook on the table—a hotel notebook with some scattered writing on it, which, in terms of format, resembled a diary.

[Month 2, 36 stars, mission complete (a long summary of the mission process and some fragmented descriptions of scenery and architecture), I was invited to go out and play, so I need to make time to wait for Sakura's invitation...]

At this point, Xi Wang paused, opened the terminal to search for Eden's recent concert schedule, and then continued to write at the end.

There's a concert on the evening of the 15th, remember to tell Sakura in advance.

Xi Wang stopped writing here, glanced at it casually, then tore off the paper along with the page with the writing on it, and then lit it with a lighter.

"........."

He stared blankly at the burning flames, as if he was thinking about something, or as if he wasn't thinking about anything at all; he seemed dazed.

When the flames had burned out, Xi Wang seemed to come to her senses. She swept the ashes into her palm, took out a candy box, poured out a candy, and then put the candy and ashes into her mouth.

Today's number is 37.

Xi Wang slightly revised the recorded numbers in his mind, then slowly walked to the bedside and lay down on the floor next to the bed—there was a place where he had made up a new place to rest.

Seemingly still a little unaccustomed, he turned to the side, curled up slightly, and stared blankly at the candy box and the short blade wrapped in cloth beside him, shrouded in the shadow of the bed.

Both things are very close to me; I can reach them with just a slight movement of my arm, so there's no need to worry about any accidents.

I'm eating more and more...

While savoring the strange sweetness mixed with other flavors in her mouth, Xi Wang thought to herself.

However, he didn't care.

He simply savored the sweetness, closed his eyes, and slowly drifted off to sleep.

...in another room...

"Yes... the mission is complete."

The girl named Sakura spoke to the person on the other end of the communication channel.

"Well done, as fast as ever, you guys are amazing."

The familiar voice, the familiar praise—this is how every call begins.

"So... how is our [blade] in condition?"

"very good."

"Oh? Nothing unusual? Is everything as stable as before?"

"Ah."

"Really? That's a shame."

The other party seemed a little disappointed, but didn't seem to care much, and quickly returned to the original topic.

"The bounty will be processed and transferred to you after the client sends it, to the same account, right? You can take a good rest for the next while. Of course, if you need more money, I can give you a few more tasks, after all, you still have family to take care of."

"……No."

"Going back to see your sister? That's fine, after all, it's been a while since you've been back..."

"You talk too much."

"But you have to listen, because I'm your boss."

The other person said some really rude things.

"And you don't need to be so vigilant. After all, we promised to protect your sister as long as you join, and your information will also be kept under the best confidentiality measures... We keep our word, so as long as you don't defect, you and your sister will be fine."

It's called protection, but isn't it really just surveillance?

Sakura knew this very well, but she couldn't help it... Rin was her only family and her only weakness.

"So... do I need to give you a task? [Forget-Me-Not]?"

The other party said quietly.

"...No need, please invite me to go out for sightseeing later."