Chapter 26: Accomplice

The pigs raised back home didn’t even stink this much.

——Sorry, I’m not interested in drunk men——

She smiled and refused clearly, but the man had another line.

——It’s okay. I booked a hotel room. Want to have another drink?——

He showed neither delight nor disappointment.

She guessed this guy must be an experienced player.

This time, Beiren said nothing and left straight away.

A set of Lamborghini car keys that didn’t belong to her appeared in her hand, which she tossed into the trash can.

Thirty minutes later, she got a message from her roommate, asking if she’d seen the car keys—this guy was really anxious.

No idea, no clue, no memory.

That was her reply.

Since then, Beiren never went to any more mixers, stuck to her routine between the dorm, classroom, and library every day until she started working.

Her first confession and pursuit left behind only the lingering stench of cheap booze.

As for what happened yesterday…

Beiren recalled Siloque’s sincere eyes.

He was incredibly earnest.

Perhaps that’s why she cared just a little—really only a tiny bit—because that kind of sincerity can only be felt intuitively…

“Mocha coffee, to go, extra sugar and ice. Hey, hello! I guarantee, Mike, our products are definitely the best. Several suppliers are lining up to do business with us!”

The harsh voice interrupted Beiren’s thoughts.

At the front counter, a man in a suit was talking on a Bluetooth earpiece, cutting in line of three people waiting, and standing at the front.

“Sir, excuse me…”

“30R. No change needed. Give me a receipt, make it quick. Yes, yes, the shipment goes to Dwight District No. 30. Don’t send it to No. 29 like last time.”

The counter staff could only smile apologetically at the others in line and started making the coffee.

The rest of the customers glared at the suit guy in anger, but he just loudly discussed business on his phone without a care.

Beiren smiled faintly.

There are always people who think that money and power mean they won’t suffer losses and can trample on others’ freedoms at will.

And these kinds of people wield their malice subtly—enough to draw the disgust of bystanders but not enough to attract strict enforcers of order.

Well then, a little lesson from me won’t hurt.

Beiren stood up and walked to the counter.

Just the right itch in her hands.

Also a good way to vent some frustration—two birds with one stone.

When Beiren was only three steps away from the suit man,

“Good evening, Gewina.”

Someone blocked her way.

The blocker wore a baseball cap and a hood, but that didn’t hide the snow-white hair beneath the brim.

“Silo…que?”

Beiren blinked several times. It really was him.

“I don’t know any rapper.”

“I don’t want to be a rapper either. It’s a pity we meet like this. Also, when will you return my student ID?”

“What student ID? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Beiren’s voice unconsciously softened and took on a teasing tone.

She lifted Siloque’s hat brim, pressed low as usual.

“You’re even wearing colored contacts?”

“…That’s a long story. Come sit over there and I’ll explain. I brought cake too.”

Beiren glanced at the annoying suit guy who was already leaving with his coffee.

“Don’t mind him, Teacher Beiren.”

Siloque stopped Beiren as she tried to approach.

Through the glass door, the suit man was talking on the phone and got into a car.

Beiren gave Siloque a glare.

The chance was already missed.

Chasing after him again wouldn’t be a pastime anymore.

Reluctantly, she returned to her previous seat, now joined by Siloque.

Siloque took out a blueberry mousse cake, giving off a cool, sweet aroma.

Compared to strawberry, Beiren preferred blueberry.

“You even know that… Hmph, then I won’t hold back.”

Beiren cut a small piece of cake with her fork and, glancing out the window again, suddenly—

Boom!!

The hood of a black sedan in the parking lot exploded, thick smoke billowing out.

Beiren paused mid-bite and saw a familiar figure.

The suit man.

He frantically rolled out of the driver’s seat, brown coffee soaking his suit. His twisted expression showed his anger and helplessness.

“How miserable, that’s a company car, will cost a lot to repair.”

Siloque said between big bites of cake.

Beiren also took a bite, tasting it even better than before, and asked leisurely, “Did you do this?”

Siloque smirked, “Maybe the car was fed up with its owner and self-destructed.”

“I meant the cake.”

“Sorry, slipped out.”

Beiren looked at Siloque’s content expression and knew he was teasing.

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll report you? The police in City of Grana aren’t that easy to fool.”

“Don’t worry. I checked the surroundings carefully before I made my move.”

Siloque pulled out something wrapped in a tissue from his pocket.

Unfolding it revealed a tiny cap.

Beiren looked back at the black sedan and saw a 3-liter bottled water container nearby with its cap missing.

It wasn’t hard to guess Siloque’s method—he’d poured a “suitable” amount of water under the hood to cause the explosion.

“I know your secret, now you have mine. We’re partners in crime.”

This cap was Siloque’s token of trust.

Nothing is more solid than shared secrets.

“Heh, heheh…”

Beiren chuckled softly—a bright laugh from deep within.

After laughing enough, she said:

“You’re so cute, yet your actions are so over the top.”

“Isn’t that contrast just better?”

“Hehehe… really interesting. But this cap proves nothing, at most it makes you a suspect. Well, I’ll just take your word for it.”

Beiren finished the cake happily and asked, “So, what did you want to see me about? Not just to show off your new hair dye, right?”

“Speaking of which, you didn’t seem surprised at all when you saw my hair earlier.”

“N-no, it’s common for students to dye their hair based on mood.”

Actually, she had secretly gone to the hospital earlier and already knew.

“Hm… alright. I want to ask you to help me edit some data.”

Siloque took off a ring watch and handed it to Beiren.

“I want you to erase information about a skill.”

“I’m the school nurse, not an IT engineer.”

“True, but your talent can help me modify it. After all, you even edited and hid your own talent.”

Beiren was almost used to Siloque’s all-knowing ways.

“Is there nothing you don’t know?”

It felt like this guy even knew the color of her underwear.

Beiren wasn’t without knowledge of Siloque herself.

In short, he was an ordinary person without any great ancestral achievements for three generations.

His talent was even the joke one called (Heating).

So why did he know so much?

“I just happen to know.”

Looking at Siloque’s harmless smile, Beiren couldn’t help asking, “What color is my underwear?”

“White with lace trim.”

“Pervert.”

“You asked.”

“You don’t have to answer honestly just because I asked.”

Beiren played with the ring watch on her hand like a hula hoop and casually said:

“3000R. Plus 300R you owe me from last time, so 4000R total.”

Beiren’s talent—(Electronic Transmission)

Anything uploaded to the internet could be accessed by her. Even though she wasn’t a programmer, she could retrieve information at will, and if used properly, even perform minor surgeries on the human body.

She didn’t use this talent deliberately.

This talent was useless in dungeons but invaluable in the information society.

Sometimes, not knowing is bliss.

Beiren fully understood its value.

After discovering this talent in high school, she modified her uploaded information to have the agency classify her as “no talent.”

So when Siloque sought her out yesterday, he was quite shocked.

Despite erasing all previous name information except for her parents’, she had no idea how Siloque knew her real name and thought the Tuner had found out.

Using this talent, she saw the earthquake news and the “black-haired boy” reports, then casually searched and found Siloque.

“So, can you deliver?”

Beiren smiled brightly.

“No problem.”

Siloque promptly transferred the money through LINE.

“You… I was just joking, and you actually transferred it.”

“Of course, because I trust you.”

Beiren couldn’t look at Siloque’s clear smile directly.

His white hair made him look even purer, making Beiren feel even more guilty.

This guy hadn’t really done anything bad, so why did she feel sorry for him?

She had a feeling she’d lose to this guy again in the future… hopefully not though…

“Tch… fine, I’ll help. But I’ll only charge you half of 4000R.”

“Thanks.”

More than the money, Beiren cared about the first message Siloque sent: the transfer record.

Such a buzzkill.

Beiren focused her attention.

Magic gathered in her eyes, turning them a faint gold.

Her fingertips condensed a ball of golden electric current.

Touching the ring watch, she examined its structure, seams, microscopic particles—everything clearly.

(Pure Black Annihilation Ray)… what a stupid name.

Sounds like a kid’s choice.

Are there even skills this obscure?

Beiren didn’t ask further; she had no interest in exploring the world of explorers.

“About those stupid things you said yesterday…”

Siloque said nothing, waiting for her next words.

“I’ll consider it, dating… or whatever…”

So hot. Spring already, but the air conditioning here still has heating on?

Beiren complained inwardly as she methodically modified the ring watch.

After a long while, Siloque stayed silent.

Seriously, I’m embarrassed enough to say that, and this guy has no reaction at all?

Beiren finished the modifications and looked up—

Siloque stared at her as if stunned, blood pouring from his nose.

“Hey, what’s wrong? Internal injury acting up?”

Beiren hurriedly took out tissues from her bag to wipe him.

Siloque, having his nose wiped, replied:

“I’m just too happy. Your casual outfit paired with that answer is too deadly.”

“Huh? Hmph, too late to compliment now.”

Beiren gave an exasperated look, smiled lightly again, and scolded:

“Idiot~~~.”