When Facade said that the glinting cover across his body was a curse—D.A took it as a lie.
But a close examination was all it took to believe his words.
The fact that an odd black coverage was a part of Facade's existence—bothered her from the start.
What could possibly have made someone end up like this?
Some kind of drugs? But, even if it was the reason behind that… this looks so real.
Like he was born with it.
"He should be here somewhere. Look around." Roaming in the room for seconds—Facade let D.A join the search.
"Huh, uh… yeah. Alright."
She was still drifting through her thoughts—half focused on the given task.
Wait…Why should I search with you!??
Realizing that she'd been assigned to carry out Facade's chore, she clicked her tongue in frustration—reluctantly assisting him out of the blue.
"No one's really here, you know…"
Her words danced in the room, vibrating against the decaying walls. Two rooms stood adjacent to each other—occupied by covered furniture.
"There's no one."
"There's no one?"
"Nope. No one." D.A became perplexed the moment she joined Facade to her right—witnessing his refined movements dissolve into a flustered one when he heard the response.
"Shit…
"What?"
"Shit, Shit, Shit!" Facade winced and abruptly sprung into motion—brushing past D.A before she could even blink.
Wh… What?
What had gotten into him?
D.A wasn't left with options but to chase him back—pausing halfway just to see an empty street in front of her.
"Mister?" She whipped her head to each side. "Mister!"
The night was cold, light fog making the sight more creepy to stand alone.
"Where the hec—"
Her eyes immediately caught an apartment built right opposite to the cottage—door ajar at its hinges.
Without thinking anymore, she instantly approached the two-story building. The first floor was empty—small rats scurrying on each corner. She exhaled sharply at the Black Beast's petty behavior, then hopped for the second floor.
And like before, she was the sole person there.
"Youuuuu jerk!"
A scowling hiss escaped her lips, ready to bash Facade's head the instant she caught up to him.
"You damn it..."
D.A swirled back—retreating downstairs to find more traces when a blurry distortion passed her peripheral vision in a flash, showcasing nearly every building within reach.
She halted with a frown—rolling back her body just enough to get the same view. Her gaze stopped at the sight of a window, half obscured by the antique closet placed against it.
"Wow, what the heck was someone thinking…" D.A clutched the bottom of the closet and pulled it along her direction.
"…placing it here. Oh God! It's heavy."
She heaved a sigh after releasing the weight—studying Facade's patterns from above at last.
He was striding in cross diagonals—entering the first apartment in the right row then marching for the second in the left row. "Maybe he wanted to cover the whole area?" D.A deliberated the reason behind Facade's rhythm while dismounting the staircase.
She had already pinpointed the apartment that Facade would take after visiting the fourth on the right row.
The Fifth on the left!
After reaching her targeted position, she grabbed and turned the doorknob with a jerk—but lock jarred at its doorframe.
What the heck??
Never mind that. I need to wait for that bastard. He's ridiculously fast…
And barely visible at night!
It took a minute to spot a man covered in looping chains, each joint catching the flicker of dim lights.
Well, not barely visible, I guess…
"Hey! You! Stop!!" D.A shouted when she saw Facade turn toward another apartment—dismantling his pattern the moment he caught sight of her.
"Stop!"
He halted not until D.A blocked his path—darting left and right to cut off his way. "Seriously, what's your problem?! Unless you tell me who you're looking for, I'm not moving!" She firmly held her position, knowing that she was just wasting his time.
"Stop playing around!"
"What? You're the one who's just rushing here and there without saying a single word!!"
"Take a side."
"And what will you do if I don't? Kill me? Well, like...Seriously?" D.A faintly felt that she was being stubborn—crossing her line by interfering into Facade's work. Instead of giving him space to flee, she solely acted on her wits.
But what ignited flames inside her chest? That remained a secret.
"Get. Aside." Facade highlighted his words, tone gritting his cool bit by bit.
"Tell me who you're finding and I'll get aside," she demanded—hands stretched at her side.
While having no knowledge as to why she was questioning his actions, her consciousness could vividly hint at only one thing.
The favor she had to give Facade.
"You were the one who agreed that I'd be returning your favor and I need to get over it okay? That's all what I'm saying here!"
Facade stayed in his place—listening to D.A from feet away.
"Okay don't tell me who you're finding, just let me help you out to make it fair and square."
…
What am I saying?
Helping a criminal? Why should I help him?
Because he saved my life?
But he's the reason I'm standing here.
She was scrolling through her thoughts, lagged between her actions and reasoning.
"Y-You said you'll help me find Basili, right?" Her arms retreated when she found the point behind her rage.
Ethical paradox.
She was trapped in her own ethical paradox—gratitude and justice clashing over each other.
"I—"
"I'll kill you… if you don't get out of my way." Facade steadied his dagger, ready to unsheathe the blade anytime. D.A's lips shut close—finally getting the answer to why she favors justice over gratitude when she saw a familiar stance.
Feet angled, shoulder squared and hands close to his chest.
Comitatives stance.
"As expected..." She slightly chuckled— whispering to her naivety. "Of course, you don't flinch Black Beast—you have nothing to lose, do y—."
Facade's hand flicked before her sentence completed. "GET LOSTT!!"
Hair stood sharp on D.A's skin when she caught a sudden glimpse of a dagger—so fast that only its glistening peak was visible.
She yanked in the span of a breath—realizing that the blade nearly grazed her ear, cold and close.
A...dagger?
A mere twitch, and it could have pierced her ear. For seconds, she held her uneven breathing—the sound of a failed shot hitting the ground broke the silence.
Instead of bracing for a counterattack, she laid frozen on the cold ground.
A deep voice coiling around her throat...
"Where are your weapons, Adra?
"Did you really think he wouldn't harm you?
"A criminal? The Black Beast?
I knew he was going to attack me but...
Why… am I… terribly shaking?
D.A had learned several stances, she had sparred with various undefeatable opponents and yet— her footwork never wavered.
But why was fear surging behind her skin now?
Invincible.
Indestructible.
Inhumane.
Just thinking about Facade's various qualities reminded D.A of her utter inferiority.
She was at a complete loss—her bare hands were all that she had to survive the Black Beast's fangs.
But, strangely enough, Facade didn't act further. Instead, he became motionless—resembling a mannequin as time passed.
D.A could've sworn her heart had never pumped like that before—each beat reverberating through her bones when Facade started taking steps closer to her.
"S—Stay away!" She scrambled back to where the dagger laid—finally springing to her feet when she flawlessly seized the hilt. "Stay away! You jerk!!"
Her tone gradually hardened, sharpened by the subtle presence of a weapon. She recalled her acute stances one by one—choosing the suitable one to spar Facade.
However, her effort drowned when Facade turned his stillness into a rush—moving past D.A for the fastened door.
It took him a moment before the door yielded to him and he merged with the darkness.
Hu…. Huh!?
Wasn't he going to kill me?
Heck! It's not the time for this!
She instantly yanked her flooding thoughts—focus entirely diverted on fleeing away from Facade.
I got a hunch that he'll come for me.
He'll definitely come. I have to move!
She ran endlessly—tearing thin fog with each exhausted stride.
Screech!
D.A finally halted at the squealing of tires. She shifted her gaze to the street—a deep crease appearing on her forehead.
Th—The Military!?
"Shit, you Unluck tag!"
Blaming her curse for every unfortune, D.A forced her outworn legs to stretch her pace.
The footsteps behind her grew clearer with each step—until suddenly, a hand seized her arm—twisting the wrist while pushing the shoulder joint towards the ground at once.
Thud!
Her feet gave up without resisting. In seconds—she was pinned to the ground.
"No more running, Miss D. A." A man said—handcuffing D.A in the blink of an eye.
"You jerk! Get off me!"
"Well, that's not possible, you'll flee again..." She felt him approaching closer to her ear—reducing the space between them. "...with the Black Beast." he finally let out a whisper. D.A's blood burned with fury at his defiant manner—thrashing to free herself from his grasp.
Disgusting man!
She abruptly threw her head to the sky—enough to break the officer's nose.
"Ouch!! What the!" His hands which were restricting D.A's movement clapped around his nose—barely waving for others to constraint her mobility. The leading officer took an immediate action and made his companions to settle an ex-officer inside the passenger's seat.
"Just!" Another man in uniform tried to shove D.A inside the car but she kept fighting back—fully knowing that the comfort she'd gain from giving up would only lead to a terrible ending.
"Give up already!!" Her footing started to slip when the officer nearly drove her into the seat.
No. They'll kill me! I have to find Basili!
I can't die like that!!
"Hi…"
A merry voice floated through the interior—another man emerging from inside.
Not only were the officers shocked by the unanticipated presence but the driver himself abruptly stirred on his seat when the sound reached his senses.
…
Don't tell me…
Facade again!???
His clothes were changed into a collared uniform, dipped in pure black. A silver crest positioned at the right chest panel—golden linings giving birth to the baroque-patterned emblem.
That attire was common among the higher ranks—the same that D.A longed for.
But it wasn't the time to dwell on memories, rather, she focused on the man crouched before her—waiting for the crowd to make a way. The bunch lurched backwards after grasping the situation while Facade, at last, hopped to the solid ground.
While his physical traits weren't widely known, D.A instantly detected the disguised Colonel just by looking at his hair.
D.A wasn't sure how Facade tricks people even when they could easily spot him out from the crowd—adding to the fact that he had exposed yet another trait.
'How are they tricked?' was the only thing that lingered in her mind. Be it an unavoidable situation or stretch of peaceful days, her curiosity hovers on edge—always stirred when something is odd.
How?
While she was busy thinking, she realized that only one man clutched her arms—while others held their salute positions.
"It's an honor to meet you, sir!"
The reason the officers weren't able to spot the Black Beast was due to constraints in their intel. After the Forces took roots inside the Kingdom of Laurae, the military services were thrown beneath the honor line—making them an outcast for the Forces.
To perish would be to condemn their pride, so they held on to their insignificant positions.
"Salutations. I regard your actions as an act of offence against the military prescriptions. I command you to carry out your duty rightfully and return to the headquarters immediately."
Facade's expression stayed the same—cold and unyielding—his pose that of a true soldier.
Right hand stiffened straight—lengthening to his waist—whereas the other hand bent to his back, showcasing that he was completely attentive even to the smallest detail.
"Yes sir!" The leading officer responded with another salute before piling up the courage to press his concerns.
"Sir, I knew that someone was assigned to us starting today but… I never expected you to be this early. Forgive my rudeness but I'm confused as to how I didn't notice your attendance. I solely mean no offense, sir!" He arranged his words before spilling them in order.
Good question. He was with me an hour ago, far from this lane itself.
This… I have a wild idea about how it's going to end.
"You didn't notice me?" His voice suddenly turned eerie, conveying a sense of silent rage.
"I— I mean no offense, sir." The officer bit his upper lip—fearing that one more word would lead to his ruin.
"Well, well! Don't stiffen at useless things."
Heh!?
There was an odd turn in his tone—suddenly, it was almost charming to the ear. "I am the one acquainting you tonight. Well done… capturing a traitor."
...
Yes, he's a complete jerk alright.