Need Money

October 1, 807

7:00 AM

I went to the orphanage to steal a black raincoat from the entrance hall without being seen. More than stealing, I like to consider it an indefinite loan. Then I leave the Academy and start walking through the streets of Fort.

It's my first time wandering these streets. Since I arrived at the orphanage five years ago, I've never been allowed to venture out.

The city streets are already bustling at this early hour, no wonder the air feels heavy.

I took the raincoat not just to hide the academy uniform, but also to shield myself from the cold wind. I need to make money quickly so I can replenish my wardrobe.

"Let's see where that facility is," I say to myself, looking at my phone.

I know there are some in Fort, but I don't know their specific locations. These are labs where human experiments are conducted, making it more likely to find demon flesh.

First, I'll go to the lab where I have more information. I remember it should be near an aquarium, seemingly a generic antique shop as a cover.

I search the internet for the address of this aquarium, and three names pop up as I load the page.

Now, which one am I looking for? I don't remember all the details, so I'll have to take a guess.

'Tatzu Fuji.' That's the name of the nearest aquarium, located on Straus Street. To get there, I need to take a bus, so I head to a bus stop.

....

7:45 AM

I board the bus and show my phone to the driver, telling him I'm a cadet from the Fort Academy. Hearing those words, he lets me on without further questions.

I inform him I need to go to 'Tatzu Fuji' aquarium, then find a seat.

Ah, memories... I rest my head against the window, reminiscing. What was that song I always listened to?

I start humming it softly.

"And all I am is a man

I want the world in my hands

I hate the beach

But I stand

in California with my toes in the sand

🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶

🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶

One love, two mouths

One love, one house

No shirt, no blouse

Just us, you find out

🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶

'Cause it's too coooooooooold

FOR YOU HEEEERE

And NOW

so let me hooooooooooold

Both your hands in

the holes of my sweater"

Too bad I don't remember the complete lyrics; it's been years since I heard it. I continue humming for a while; maybe time will pass faster that way.

....

8:45 AM

I arrive at the aquarium. I look around, searching for the elusive shop. It should be something quite generic, making it challenging to spot.

After a few minutes of walking, I notice a building isolated from the others, so I head in that direction.

No pedestrians around; it seems entirely deserted.

Once at the building, I approach the entrance of the shop. Even though it doesn't look like a shop at all, it doesn't have a sign either.

I slowly turn the door handle and enter somewhat hesitantly.

The hall is filled with counters displaying antique items. This confirms it's the shop I was looking for.

The lab should be in the basement. Somewhere in this shop, there's an elevator that leads there.

"Good morning. Are you looking for something specific?" A clear yet ominous voice comes from behind me. I turn and see the shopkeeper. He's a bald man in his forties, looking like Keze.

"Nothing in particular, just fascinated by antique items," I reply, trying to sound casual. If he senses I have ulterior motives, he might kill me on the spot.

He stares at me, as if peering into my soul.

"Alright, I understand. It's peculiar to see young people interested in these ancient works, but at the same time, they are fascinating and full of character. Let me know if you need anything; I might even give you a discount!" he says with apparent kindness. Apparent, of course, because I know his true nature.

I nod and continue browsing through the counters.

Keze is none other than the assistant to the lab's owner, Dr. Marco.

...

I slam my fist on the counter, making some items wobble.

"Is there a problem?" Keze quickly approaches and adjusts the fallen items.

I look in Keze's direction. "N-No, nothing, sorry!" Saying that, I leave the shop without looking back.

His name is Marco.

MARCO!

He also has an Italian name! Why does my memory fail me like this? Why?

I put my hand on my face.

"Azka Ban! AZKA BANNN!"

Damn that day!

...

....

10:00 AM

There should be an elevator in the shop that leads to the lab, but I can't use that. For now, I'm circling around the shop because I know a secret passage is a few hundred meters away, leading to the lab.

After a few hours, I finally receive some enlightenment.

I look at a shed, so dilapidated it seems like it's about to collapse at any moment.

Though not certain, I feel that the secret passage might be there. Evidently, my subconscious remembers reading about it in that book and gives me these sensations.

The gate is open, perhaps they believe no one would suspect anything about a crumbling structure. I start looking around; there should be a passage covered by something, so I begin lifting various planks from the floor.

"There it is!" I exclaim with relief.

There's a not-so-big hatch, and it doesn't even seem closed from the outside. I try to open it and notice a passage descending for several tens of meters. There are also lit bulbs providing a discreet view.

It would be risky to go now, so I'll wait for the night. I close the hatch and put the boards back as they were.

....

10:30 PM

I'm at a kiosk, eating a sandwich.

The day has been quite calm.

Today, I also visited the aquarium, thanks to my cadet status; I didn't even have to pay for the visit.

As for this sandwich.

Well... I plan to escape.

I have no money; I can't afford it.

People trust cadets a lot because they will be the future Heroes of the continent, so there would be no reason to distrust.

....

10:45 PM

I flee from the kiosk, hearing the seller curse behind the counter. But he doesn't even attempt to chase me.

After leaving his range, I head towards that shed.

....

11:05 PM

I reach my destination. I open the gate, then move the boards and open the hatch.

Adrenaline starts flooding my body, making me feel euphoric and excited.

Doing illegal things makes me feel alive somehow. But this is not just illegal; it's especially dangerous, considering who I'm dealing with.

Trying to contain my enthusiasm, I begin the descent. This passage has a cylindrical shape, probably just under 2 meters in diameter. After a couple of minutes, I finally reach the bottom, realizing I'm inside a large cavern.

I decide to continue fearlessly in the only allowed direction. Indeed in front of me, there's only a long path to follow.

There are light bulbs on the walls, one every three or four meters, casting a dim glow on the surroundings.

After a hundred meters or so, I arrive at a large iron door. It must be the entrance to the lab, at least from my perspective.

Well, let's open this door and do what we have to do.

I approach, but I can't find it. There's no handle; instead, I find a numeric keypad. The lock is electronic, so it requires a code.

What was the password?

...

How can I remember it, if I didn't even know there was a need for a code? This emergency exit was mentioned when the author described the lab. Probably, the password was never disclosed because there was never a need to use it.

Damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it.

I slap my face repeatedly.

I have no choice but to go back now. Today has been a day of failure, and I must simply accept it.

At that moment, I realize I feel an annoying itch on my neck, so I reach to scratch it.

There's something pierced— an n-n-n-n-needle?!?!

I throw it away from me. What the hell was a needle doing in my neck?!

I look around frantically. Above the door, in the right corner of the wall... I see something, perhaps a camera.

At that moment, the doors swing open. A figure emerges behind them, but I can't see it clearly as my vision is getting blurry, until I lose consciousness and collapse to the ground, powerless.