Chương 5: Establishing Romantic Subplot
16:00 - Black Cat Cafe
Ender Light walked down the stairs of the black cat cafe. She waved and smiled kindly at the sight of Emilia standing behind the bar table. The little girl nodded a little before looking back towards the door.
"You look tense," Ender said.
Emilia looked down a little after hearing that. "I'm sorry…"
"You're not forcing yourself are you?"
"N-no, no, really, I like working here," she said.
Ender nodded understandingly. "Don't push yourself, I'm going out for a while, see you later Emilia," she said before walking out of the cafe.
"Later Miss Light."
The second she opened the door, a cool breeze swept over Ender's form. She took a deep breath of the fresh air before stepping out of the cafe. She looked at the small fountain near the restaurant and the pedestrians walking around.
The chirping of the birds and soft purring sound of the feral cats made her walk through the city even more worthwhile. She stopped by a bridge and looked down the fresh, clean water below her before walking down the quiet and calming alleyway.
'Where am I going again?' Ender thought to herself. 'Yes, I'm going to the jeep to get Marshall, but… why? The mission is over, I told Alan he passed with flying colors, I should just leave him alone and let him return tonight.'
Another thought crossed through the agent's head.
'Don't tell me I'm starting to like him… Damn it, I am aren't I? I'm starting to like this demon boy?'
Ender pondered about this for almost half an hour before she made it just outside the village. She turned towards the public parking lot and head straight towards her jeep. "Oi, Marshall," she opened the door and saw a demon just waking up from a good day sleep.
"Mmm, good morning ma'am…" he stretched his arms and yawned a little. "What time is it?"
"Around five,"
Marshall stepped out of the jeep and stretched out his wings. "Aah… What now ma'am?"
"I just got a new mission and…" Ender paused a moment after realizing she literally has no idea what she has to do with Marshall. "You… you follow me for a bit, at least until we figure out what to do with you," she said.
Marshall sighed a little. "Do you have to make it sound like I'm a burden?"
Ender felt pang guilt after hearing that but said nothing.
With that, the two of them walked through the streets. Unlike earlier today, there are almost no cats roaming around. Ender thought it's because it's almost nighttime, but then she noticed a cat scurrying away from them in a hurry.
Ah, they're scared of demons.
Ender looked Marshall and found that he's already hiding his wings and horns. So the cats in this town are somehow more sensitive to the presence of a demon. She then remembered the long cat wrapped around Emilia's neck and realized that this is the perfect chance to learn more about it.
"Say, ma'am, don't you think this town is weird?"
"How come?"
Marshall looked around a little bit. "I dunno, like…" he clicked his tongue. "It's too clean, I literally don't see any negative energy, not even from the alleyways," he looked at the alleyways. "I mean, it's like I'm in that heaven, it's sickening."
"Interesting…" now that Ender thinks about, she didn't see any violence or suffering happening in this town at all. A perfect utopia like this shouldn't exist. "Don't pry too much, it's above your pay grade," she said.
"You know about this town ma'am?"
"No," Ender replied. "For some reason, the secret of this town is a Rank-S secret,"
"Whoa… Must be some crazy secret history," Marshall said in awe. Then he realized that Ender is leading him somewhere into the town. "Where are we going anyway ma'am?"
To the Black Cat Cafe, Ender wanted to answer. But then, a thought entered her head, a silly idea that's been eating away her mind the whole day. "To our next mission," Ender said finally.
Marshall's eyes widened after hearing that. "There's more?"
"You don't want it? If you don't I can call the HQ for…"
"NO!" his voice echoes through the whole street, turning some heads. He looked around nervously, and his face reddens. "I-I mean… It's okay ma'am," he said.
They walked a bit more in silence. It's borderline awkward for Ender, but she didn't feel like saying anything.
"Ma'am," Marshall broke the silence. "I-I failed didn't I?"
"What makes you think so?"
"I mean… Shouldn't I…" Marshall looked at Ender and saw her not even bothering to look at him. "Shouldn't I be going back now if I pass?"
"Then what will you do after you return?"
Marshall blinked a little after hearing that. "Uhh… I will get my B-Rank promotion and begin my first mission?" he half asked.
"That's… right," Ender said.
'Yes, he's going back and get his first partner, what's so weird about that?' Ender clenched her fist. 'Okay, screw it, I want him to be my partner. Yes, I like him. Yes, I don't want to say goodbye to him,' she stopped in her tracks and turned towards Marshall.
The demon stopped and looked at Ender in confusion. He found her staring at him flatly and slowly shrunk beneath her gaze. "Uhh… Ma'am…" he whispered. "Did I do something wrong?"
"No, you didn't," Ender replied with a sigh before walking towards a bench nearby. "Sit down," she pats the spot beside her, and Marshall sat down beside her. "This might be the last time we meet."
Marshall looked down and sighed. "Yes… Unfortunately…"
"Do you accept it?"
"What?"
"Are you willing to accept that this is the last time we're going to meet?" Ender looked at him, her gaze boring straight into his eyes. "Do you Valmir Apocalypse,the sole heir of the Throne of Thirteenth Hell, accept this reality?"
The boy lowered his gaze once again. "I don't want to but… there's nothing I can do about it… I can't go against the Foundation."
Goddamn you pushover demon, you're putting all the work to myself…
"What if I say that I won't accept it,"
Marshall's eyes widened after hearing that. "Ma'am? Are you…"
Ender nodded a little.
"Th-then… What should I, you, I mean, we? Should do?"
The girl looked up at the now dark sky and took a deep breath. "You're gonna have to work twice as hard and prove yourself," she told him. "As for me," she took out her phone and dialed a number.
"Alan,"
"Mmm? What is it Ender?"
"Prepare mine and Marshall's partnership document.
"Haha! I knew it! No tsundere can resist-"
Ender made a hand sign, and Marshall quickly covered his ears.
"A shape of the col-"
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry! I'll get right into it."
Ender ended the call and pocketed her phone.
Marshall uncovered his ears and looked at Ender in amazement. "Wow, that was very cruel of you ma'am," his tone is that of genuine praise and admiration. "I love how you abuse your powers like that."
"That can still get me into trouble you know?"
"Still, it was impressive of you ma'am."
After a moment, Ender stood up from her seat and led Marshall through the city once again. She thought about what she just did and felt like there's something in this town manipulating her. 'No, that's impossible, nothing can manipulate me,' she thought to herself.
Nighttime in Mercat City is no less beautiful than the daytime. The river and canals sparkle from the light of the stars and the buildings of the city. The balconies of the buildings were filled with feral cats sleeping together.
"It's so quiet," Marshall said. "Isn't there any red light district or something in this town?"
"I don't think so, no," Ender replied. "This place is anomalously peaceful."
Marshall sighed a little. "This is my equivalent of hell, you know that right?"
"I know, bear with it, maybe if we're lucky we'll accidentally stumble upon the deep dark horrifying secret of this city," Ender said optimistically. "Maybe this city is built on top of a suffering of other people or something like that?"
"Yeah, that would make this mission worthwhile…" then he narrowed his eyes. "Wait, what's our mission again?"
"Remember Elliot? Well, apparently he has a daughter and my mission is to confirm if she inherited his power and to what extent,"
"I see… How are we doing this?"
"She's Elliot daughter so I prefer using the friendly approach,"
Marshall looked a bit disappointed after hearing that but nodded anyway. "Then, what do you need me for?"
"For backup, of course,"
"I won't let you down ma'am."
"Ender,"
"What?"
"You're my partner now, call me Ender,"
A small smile formed on the demon's face. He put a hand over his chest and looked at his mentor's towering figure. "Yes, Ender," he said.
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