The Lifting Veil (3)"Th-that's some c-cosplay. So pretty."
Unbelievably, the street resembled Seoul's bustling districts from my previous life. People's clothing matched too. The otaku currently catching his breath before me looked like someone from that era too. Given he used the word "cosplay," it seemed the culture had been perfectly replicated.
"Ugh."
Realizing I was the only one wearing something like a combat suit among ordinary people, embarrassment flooded me. This otaku thinking I'm a cosplayer wasn't far-fetched.
As I tried to shake him off to find clothes, a mechanical sound buzzed alongside a "Vroom~". Looking toward the noise, a white drone carrying a small bag hovered nearby. Its screen lit up, revealing Aris's face.
"Forgot to mention - don't even think about wearing your original clothes. Killing World absolutely forbids entry without citizenship credentials. If you look like a wastelander, you'll attract trouble. Change into these clothes. And I've put your citizen ID in the pants pocket - carry it always."
Silently, I opened the drone's attached pocket. Inside were a white T-shirt, light blue jeans, and sneakers. If I wore these now, I'd look like a jeans model.
"Why can't wastelanders enter?"
"Obviously because there's no reason to protect them. Maintaining Killing World requires enormous amounts of Axion."
"Axion?"
Wasn't Axion the substance used as drugs? And my original purpose for coming here was to sell Axion Shards to get rich. But according to Aris, this place was inaccessible without citizenship from the start. Being kidnapped by Aris's sexbot version might've been sheer luck.
The drone's arm pointed upward.
Look up?
Raising my head, I saw where it indicated. Azure skies with fluffy drifting clouds. And endless transparent strings densely blanketing the heavens.
"The Sky Wall - Malo. Nothing can penetrate Malo. Thanks to this, we can concentrate all military forces at the gates to easily repel external invasions. And Malo's fuel is Axion."
"Axion? That drug?"
Aris on-screen furrowed her brows and sighed deeply.
"Wastelanders may consider it a drug, but Axion is an extremely precious substance for Malo's operation. Recently, those Oist bastards stole massive quantities, stopping Malo for a week. Over 100,000 died from Oist's invasion then. Had 'they' not arrived at that critical moment, even Malo's core facilities would've been destroyed."
Massive Axion stolen by Oist? Could this be...
"We still haven't recovered the Axion Shard they took. It's equivalent to what all Killing World miners could extract in six months."
Aris gestured roughly with her hands to show its size.
Watermelon-sized. Same as what I have.
No matter how I thought about it, Aris seemed to be describing the Axion Shard I obtained after defeating Oist forces.
Can I sell it?
Taking it to auction would likely get it confiscated immediately. They might torture me about how I got it.
"If you ever find an Axion Shard taken by them, immediately surrender it to authorities. Since it's crucial for maintaining Killing World, getting caught trading it or showing any suspicious acquisition methods will get you executed on the spot."
"Ah... right, of course."
This is absurd. If I can't sell the Axion Shard, why did I even come here?
Irritated, I called out to her.
"Hey."
"Hmm?"
"That 1 trillion Gelder you promised if I do what you say. Is it real?"
Aris paused momentarily, fake-coughed once, then smiled as she spoke.
"Of course. We desperately need your help to protect Killing World. If we can inform citizens how dangerous the situation is, even Honor of Brothers leadership won't be able to keep covering things up like now."
So noisy. Chatterbox.
"Yeah, whatever. 1 trillion Gelder. Correct?"
"Huh? Yeah. Right."
"Break that promise and you're dead for real."
Sensing the dangerous atmosphere, on-screen Aris hastily shook her head.
"Yes, absolutely. Why so sudden? I'll definitely keep my promise, don't worry. You have recordings of what I said about the government too. Stab me if I break it."
"I believe you. Really."
"Alright, get acclimated today and we'll talk more tomorrow."
She brightly smiled before disappearing with the drone.
Dammit... Unless I want to return empty-handed, I have no choice but to help her.
[Qualified One.]
"What now."
First that bastard, now this bitch keeps bothering me - still near Aris's lab building, and now X is annoying me too.
[You have an ongoing quest.]
The quest I'd received long ago and laughed off appeared.
Objective: Feed X the Axion Shard
Reward: Combat Stimulant
Time Limit: None
Failure Penalty: None
"Ah... Think this is your chance, you crafty bastard?"
[Did not comprehend the term 'crafty'.]
"It's in inventory. Eat it or don't."
[Understood as instruction to absorb Axion Shard.]
Click.
My patience snapped. Fucking X is too infuriating.
Before realizing, I hurled X toward an oncoming truck. Only seeing the driver's pale face made me go "Oh shit!", but X had already left my hand.
Ah, ahhh, this isn't what I meant!! Fuck, X! This is all your fault!!!
Miraculously, X blinked out of existence right before truck impact. Probably escaped to inventory.
The barely-stopped truck's driver jumped out, finger shaking as he screamed crimson-faced.
"You crazy bitch! What did you throw at my truck?! If someone died in an accident, what then?! Wanna get fucked naked in broad daylight, you psycho?!"
"S-sorry..."
I bowed apologetically. Felt like stripping naked to apologize. As panic set in, X's voice returned.
[Combat Stimulant function activated.]
Snap-crackle-pop!! (Sound of patience completely shattering.)
"Aaaaaaagh!!!!! Fucking pissed!!!!"
Crash!!!
Unable to contain rage, I full-power punched a streetlight.
Crrrrrrack!
The light pole snapped and collapsed onto the truck. Sparks flew as the street instantly became chaos.
The truck driver froze mid-finger-pointing.
"Shitshitshit, sorrysorrysorry."
Anger and guilt mixed as tears welled. Murmurs surrounded me. Felt people's eyes scanning my body. More stared at me than the wrecked street. At this rate, I'd be infamous as the naked streetlight destroyer.
I 90-degree naked-bowed to the driver, activated 'Stealth'. As I vanished, the crowd gasped louder. Squeezing through them, I entered a nearby underground parking garage.
First, get dressed.
Dropped stealth. Changed into Aris's white tee and jeans with sneakers. No bra meant nipples protruded visibly through the shirt. No panties meant my crotch rubbed uncomfortably against stiff denim with every step.
My reflection in a car window showed flushed cheeks and clearly outlined nipples beneath the thin fabric.
"I look like an exhibitionist."
But this outfit should pass as a Killing World citizen. Just endure until finding underwear.
Do I have money for underwear?
Checking pockets revealed not just ID but a credit card. Aris must've prepared it.
Exiting the garage, officials in worker robots were righting the streetlight. The truck driver blankly stared at his crumpled vehicle.
Sorry, mister. I'll compensate if we meet again.
Apologizing once more from afar, I hastily left the scene.
Walking awhile, I felt a middle-aged man walking with his wife stealing glances at my augmented breasts. Not just him - every nearby man seemed to eye my body.
This wasn't a clothing district, making underwear shops hard to find.
But why do I care? Let them look.
In the wastelands, rape was daily life. Caring about mere stares wasn't like me. What'll they do? Current me could instantly subdue any man touching me.
This replica of my old era's atmosphere was affecting me too much.
Abandoning the underwear hunt, I ordered a street hotdog. Potato bits and sugar-coated bun overloaded with mustard and ketchup.
Sweet, savory, slightly spicy aroma made my mouth water. Closing my eyes, I took a big bite.
...
...
Ahh... this is... 21st century flavor.
Felt briefly transported to my pre-reincarnation life. Not many happy memories, but small joys existed.
What did I enjoy back then?
Idol girls, anime, and games were my modest pleasures. After work, eating street hotdogs then playing fighting games at arcades.
Finishing nostalgic thoughts, I slowly opened eyes - spotting familiar signage across the street. "Amazing Game World" in colorful fonts, posters of recognizable game characters by the entrance.
"No way, that's!"
The very game I'd played daily since middle school - Strip Fighter. A globally famous fighting game, apparently recreated here too.
Arpien, you are truly luminous.
Though he created X and ruined my life, in this moment he felt utterly magnificent.
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