Is That My Alter Ego

Chapter 82 – Abduction

Kali began to run home with a heart full of joy. Her ears perked up in delight, and no shadow marred her face.

“Damn… this is life…!”

The reason for Kali’s exuberance was singular. Venice had suggested they share a meal together.

This morning. After finishing her shower, she recalled the fragrant words Venice had spoken.

“Kali. Shall we dine out today?”

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity had arrived. The master himself had proposed a date.

Is this… not a dream?! This is real, right?!

“Wha… what?!”

“…Why are you so surprised? It’s just a meal together. Kalea can join too.”

“Ah…”

What? Was that all?

The excitement that had surged within her since early morning deflated in an instant.

I thought that foolishly insensitive master was actually asking me out. Of course, it would be something like this…

“Kalea will be fine, right?”

“….Ugh… suddenly my head….”

“…Kalea! Are you okay?!”

The master and I rushed to Kalea, who had suddenly clutched her head and collapsed.

“Kalea!! Pull yourself together!!”

“Ugh. My. He. Head…”

“……..?”

I could see the master holding Kalea tightly, channeling healing magic into her. But… something felt off.

Kalea wore a faint smile that was hidden from the master, sending me a wink. She didn’t even seem to be in that much pain.

Could it be… Kalea…!

“Ah… what should I do… I don’t think I can join for the meal…?”

“Re… really? Then there’s nothing we can do. We can eat out another day…”

“No! Just bring me back some food… So, you two go together…!”

“B…but…”

“Ah… my head again…!”

It was obvious to anyone that this was a performance, yet the master remained astonishingly oblivious and dense.

Finally, thanks to Kalea, I had the opportunity to dine out with Venice, just the two of us.

Of course, my intention to suggest dining out with Venice was to make up for the neglected meal times due to my recent busy schedule, a genuinely pure intention.

But for Kalea, who was already deeply infatuated, such thoughts were nonexistent.

Hehe-

“Come on, sis! This is our chance!”

Kalea, who had entrusted her body to Venice, winked at me and conveyed her message through her mouth shape.

At that moment, I couldn’t help but give Kalea a big hug and a peck on the cheek.

“Okay… let’s proceed like this!”

In Kalea’s mind, numerous fantasies began to emerge and spread.

As she continued her happy daydreams, Kalea started heading home, where she was supposed to meet Venice.

Recently, due to the crowded counseling center, Venice had started working alone, leaving Kalea and me behind.

It was better to do something she wanted to do rather than wasting time doing nothing, a considerate thought from Venice.

Really… you’re a man who exceeds consideration! What a guy!

‘Would this… make the master happy?’

Kalea gazed at the small cat doll she had prepared as a gift for Venice during their meal time, smiling. Venice didn’t seem to dislike dolls, and with her kind heart, she would surely accept it with a smile.

And maybe… she would even pat me on the head? That always made me feel so good that I thought I’d go crazy.

If we became lovers… we could do that every day…

As Kalea indulged in her wild fantasies, someone blocked her path on the lower-class alleyway.

“This chick is kinda pretty, huh?”

“Where are you looking? Oh, this is enough!”

Kalea looked up to see the faces of the people blocking her path. Anyone could see that they were a bald, punk-like guy and a guy with a blue mohawk.

“Hey, pretty girl. You’ve got time to spare. Want to come with us?”

“There’s a way to make you feel good, you know?”

Their emotions were disgustingly simple. Lust and desire. They were just a bunch of trash.

“Ah… damn it.”

It seemed that these kinds of scum had increased in the lower-class areas recently. The influx of people had always been high, but it had gotten worse lately.

I heard that there was a drug that could drive people crazy with just one pill, and all sorts of illegal activities had started to occur.

A group of trash had formed, or so I heard.

“…What? Are you looking at me? Did you put a rag in your mouth?”

—

“Do you even know who we are—”

“And who the hell are you? Just get lost. I’m only letting you off easy because I’m in a good mood.”

It was truly a joyful day for Kali, and under normal circumstances, she might have beaten them to a pulp, ensuring they’d never show their faces again. But today, she decided to show a bit of mercy.

“Ha. This b*tch thinks she can just look down on us? Come here.”

“We don’t talk. Just kill her, you b*tch—!”

“Haah…”

Honestly, she had expected this. It was clear these cockroaches wouldn’t let her go easily.

The humans pulled out their blades, tongues flicking as they began to approach Kali.

Damn it. This is ruining my mood.

“Are you finally coming to your senses? Just stay right there. I’m going to make you—”

“Do we look like fools to you? You’re the fools, aren’t you?”

“What? What the—Gah!”

In an instant, she lunged forward, driving her fist into the gut of a cockroach with a blue mohawk. The creature flew back, unable to react, crashing into the wall.

The bald, ugly cockroach who witnessed his friend’s flight broke into a cold sweat, aiming his knife at Kali.

Ha. You think I’m going to be intimidated by that? Compared to the struggles I faced every day just to stay alive, this is nothing.

“W-What do you think you know about us—!”

“I don’t give a damn who you are, you little cockroaches.”

With a swift kick, she sent the fat one sprawling, making a disgusting noise like a pig as he followed his friend into the wall.

The two cockroaches sat there, eyes wide, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

“Honestly. It’s always the worthless ones who make the loudest noise.”

Let’s forget these nameless idiots. Now, only the path of flowers lies ahead of me!

Erasing the ugly cockroaches from her mind, she thought of Venice. The sinking, filthy feeling inside her began to brighten in an instant.

Kali started to run like a madwoman. She wanted to wash away even the slightest remnants of this dirty feeling, reclaiming it as her own.

Her exceptional physique boasted a speed that surpassed that of any human. In no time, she arrived at the warm, happy home.

“What’s this? You’re not back yet?”

She looked around, but there was no sign of Venice. Had she gone inside because Kali was late?

“Oh? Sister…? Why are you coming in alone…?”

“What’s going on? The master hasn’t come back yet?”

“Yeah… the master hasn’t returned yet.”

Hmm… So he hasn’t arrived home yet. It seems the counseling center was busier than usual today.

—

—

Well then, I might as well wait a bit in front of the house.

With a determined smile for my sister, who wished me strength, Kali stepped outside, beginning to wait with a heart full of joy.

Where will we go today? A restaurant with a bit of atmosphere? Or perhaps… a small place just for the two of us?

Can… can I really do this? No matter how much I try to muster courage, when I stand before him, my mind goes blank, and the words refuse to leave my lips…

About twenty minutes passed. Still, Kali waited for Venice, a smile lingering on her face.

Though a passing thug had thrown a flirtatious remark her way, she managed to deflect it just before crossing the line.

“……….”

Forty minutes had gone by since then. Today… he’s really late.

He had never been this late before. It seemed there were an unusually large number of people today.

Right. I can wait a little longer. They say men like women who are patient and understanding.

An additional hour slipped by. The smile had vanished from Kali’s face, replaced only by the anxious tremors of a cat on edge.

“Why… why isn’t he here?”

Where on earth could he be?

Feeling the weight of the delay, she decided to head up to his consultation room alone.

What greeted Kali was the consultation room, already shrouded in darkness. This meant Venice had finished his consultations and had likely gone down to the lower levels.

Ah, it seems our paths have crossed. That could happen!

Kali rationalized to herself as she made her way down, thinking of the master who would be waiting for her in front of the house.

“….Huh.”

Yet, Venice was nowhere to be found. Not in the upper levels, nor in the lower.

That was when the unease began to swell within Kali’s heart.

With her smile erased, she set out to search for Venice. She intended to ask the few passersby, but unfortunately, there were very few people out today.

Even when she inquired of the remaining citizens, the only answer she received was that they hadn’t seen Venice today.

…Lately, there had been an increase in kidnappings, and the safety of the area had deteriorated so much that residents rarely ventured outside.

Could it be… no, it can’t be?

Kali broke into a cold sweat, her heart racing as she dashed toward Hudi’s convenience store, clinging to the hope of finding something.

Though Hudi appeared to be just a foul-mouthed old man, he was a seasoned veteran who knew the ins and outs of the lower levels.

“…Venice hasn’t come today.”

“Huh? Isn’t Venice busy with work and unable to come today?”

“Uh… what?”

It turned out that even Hudi and Rania had no knowledge of Venice’s whereabouts.

—

—

Surely… surely…

Kali’s unease intensified. The delusions that had accompanied him swiftly morphed into disasters that must never occur.

Hudi, observing Kali’s agitation, suddenly recalled something and began to curse.

“….Damn it. If my guess is right… it seems Lady Venice has been kidnapped.”

Those words he had desperately hoped were untrue. The serious expression on Hudi’s face, voicing the possibility he had unconsciously turned away from.

Kali felt a pain as if his heart were plummeting.