Welcome to Paris (3)

Soon, the two came back with food and the stranger left us.

Oh? They have cutlery here. It must've belonged to the inhabitants of the city who lived in this area before.

Aren't they scared we'll steal it and use it as a weapon though?

It seems like I didn't really need the knives in the end.

Removing my gaze from the rankings, I watched Norwood set down the plates on the table located right next to the tent's entrance.

"Mr. Profiler, could you answer a question for me?"

Norwood didn't point out the way I called him and silently acquiesced.

"Then…"

I looked down, drawing circles with my finger on the table, and organized my words.

It was time to decide what to do now.

"If, hypothetically speaking, the world was about to explode, and you only needed to assassinate a few individuals to prevent it, would you kill them and break your principles, or would you die without doing anything?"

My fingers stopped and I rested my head on my hand, smiling slightly as I lifted my gaze to stare into his eyes.

"What would you do then, Mr. Profiler?"

I insisted on the last words, asking for his opinion as someone working with the police, for justice, rather than as an individual. Would he choose to commit murder? Or would he not do anything?

It would be an interesting social study.

Was survival more important than one's principles?

I didn't rely on my own judgment for this last question since I have dubious morals and don't really value my life, as proven by my decisions in life-threatening situations.

I mean, I have an excuse, DHB was handsome. Everyone knows that handsomeness prevents people from thinking properly. Ahem. Why am I not convinced…

Norwood paused, likely noticing that my attitude was odd, and seriously considered my question.

"…I'd probably choose to kill these individuals."

Not asking why, I nodded.

"Thank you."

My choice is made then.

Norwood shot me a strange look and silence settled in.

As I picked up a fork and began eating, the profiler changed the topic.

"You said you write fanfictions, do you also write original stories?"

Taking a bite of the vegetables, I answered him.

"Yes."

Where did they find vegetables? Come to think of it, it'd be dangerous if they put poison of sleeping pills into the food.

Well, it's too late.

"What genre?"

I said the exact opposite of my latest novels' genre.

"Romance."

"Like what?"

"…"

I hesitated.

Actually, it's not like I never wrote romance. When I began writing, I tried a lot of different genres like action, horror, romance, comedy, or everything together…

Recalling the good old times, I revealed my dark past.

"I inspired myself of my father's subordinates, wrote BL about them, then forced them to read it. So it's more on the intimate side."

"…"

It's my father who taught me the trick.

I stopped GL stories quickly though, because there aren't many females among my father's subordinates and their reactions aren't as extreme when they see a story about them ending up with a colleague. As a child with nothing to do, I was very invested into my father's subordinates' love life.

I also tried some psychological manipulation to see if I could make two men realize a hidden love for each other, find out their yearning for romantic relationships, or discover their unexpected sexual orientation by reading these stories. Since I was their daughter's superior, they were forced to agree.

It's a social experiment in a way. I was only an innocent kid with pure motives.

Norwood stared at me with mixed feelings of amusement and speechlessness.

Why are you looking at me like that? I was a very obedient and calm child, so I had a lot of energy to vent on underhanded pranks when I found an opportunity. It's not for nothing first brother thinks I'm a troublemaker.

My pranks were very hidden and harmless, though. I really don't understand why he is so dramatic about it.

Or maybe he has a grudge because I wrote BL stories with him in it as revenge since I found him annoying?

If I had known, I'd have written much worse.

"Do you like reading BL?"

I'll brainwash you into dating DHB, I only have pure and innocent motives.

Norwood wisely shook his head.

"I have nothing against BL, but I prefer action."

Yeah, me too.

I put my scheme aside for later.

Seizing the opportunity, I casually threw him another question.

"Did you read 'How to Survive at the Border of Hell'?"

"Written by Ena James? No. I planned to though."

So, he read my other stories except this one, and thus doesn't have any knowledge of the current apocalypse.

Or else he lied and I just gave myself away by showing that I knew about it.

"Really? Too bad then. Call me when you finish it."

Though I doubt that is possible since it isn't available anymore.

Recalling his reaction when he heard Cheon's name, I continued to bombard him with questions.

"Do you enjoy korean novels?"

"Yes, I'm not picky with what I read."

"And Chinese novels? Japanese?"

He scoffed.

"Is this an interrogation?"

I was very serious.

"Yes."

We're in contact because of our common interest in literature, remember?

The profiler stared at me, keeping silent for a few seconds.

As I stared back into his eyes, he questioned me with a more serious tone than before.

"What do you plan to do now?"

The light-hearted atmosphere dissipated instantly.

"…Are we still talking about novels?"

Norwood shook his head.

I met his gaze once again.

Only the sound of people walking outside was heard as he awaited my response.

I sighed lightly, my eyes wandering toward the rankings once more.

[1. Player #259969912: Wiliam Ackerman (308)]

308 people or monsters killed since the 1st scenario until now, done by only one person. That was more than the number of people in this camp.

This was also an unfamiliar name. This person had never appeared in my novel.

"You're right to bring up the subject."

We…

I planned to use 'we' but changed my words at the last moment.

"I will leave immediately after eating. You're free to join me if you want."

Norwood isn't obligated to stay with me. He only agreed to bring me here and I'm the one who planned to do something in this scenario.

I nearly forgot that fact for a while.

Aware that I didn't really answer him, I ignored his gaze and hurried to finish my plate.

He asked for my plans after all, and instead I told him I'd leave. Well, this could indeed be considered a plan.

"I'll go with you then. I don't have any acquaintances here anyway."

I felt a bit relieved.

To thank him, I disclosed where we were going.

"Great, then prepare yourself, we're headed toward Cheon's main camp. Let's start Operation Card Tower."

It's a good thing we didn't come across Cheon's camp right away in the end, that way he isn't aware of the existence of two more survivors in the area. We'll be able to enter his camp with nobody being aware of our existence.

"What is Operation Card Tower?"

I casually gave a very disturbing answer.

"A pyramid scheme."

"Hmm?"

You'll see.

"For now, let's search for Cheon's main camp. Do you have any idea where it is?"

Norwood appeared to have a lot of things to say but finally gave up and shook his head.

***

After a while of asking for directions and wandering around—it's a bit surprising that we didn't encounter any monster yet though—we finally found Cheon's main camp.

Paris sure is big. My feet hurt from walking now. Norwood, carry me.

Holding back my unreasonable request, I observed the guards' shifts to get the right timing to start climbing the wall.

It was better to not come in through the front door with what I was going to do.

As one area of the barrier got empty for a moment, I headed toward that spot.

"Lift me up," I demanded, keeping my voice low.

Of course, it's not like I really had the strength to climb up the wall. After trying for two seconds, that was the conclusion I came to. Moreover, we were running out of time.

Exasperated, but also seemingly having expected it—which is a little offending—, Norwood obliged.

When I arrived on top of the wall, I prepared to pull him up by reaching out my hand. However, he didn't take it and swiftly climbed up by himself.

Here is someone who made good use of his coins.

If only I had an average person's strength before the 1st scenario, then I would've been able to do the same…

Knowing very well that it was my fault for not having exercised more, I didn't dwell on it. On top of that, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have changed my habits to train my muscles even if I could turn back time because I'm lazy.

I sighed and deliberated whether I should jump down from the wall.

Nah, Norwood is there, let's let him do all the work until the end.

After Norwood got down, I simply stared at him with insistance.

"…"

Getting the message, the profiler opened his arms to prepare for my fall.

I don't know why, I still don't feel safe about this.

After hesitating for a moment, I recalled that people would come back soon to guard the wall and gave up.

I reflexively closed my eyes tightly as I leaped down and was caught by Norwood.

Then, I opened my eyes, taking a deep breath before standing on my own and stepping back from the profiler.

"Thank you."

Let's go through the front door when we leave.

Norwood seemed amused.

"Are you scared of heights?"

"No."

I denied it immediately. However, the profiler did not seem convinced.

Ignoring him, I walked toward the sounds of people.