I am currently sitting inside a car.

I thought this before getting in.

Whether it's because it's an expensive-looking vehicle or not, the cozy ride quality is truly exceptional.

If the situation weren't like this, my mind would have been as comfortable as the ride.

"Is the seat comfortable, Siwoon?"

Smith, sitting in the driver's seat, speaks to me.

His sidelong glance at me is reflected in the rearview mirror.

Judging by the atmosphere alone, this would appear to be just a peaceful drive.

"...Well, yes. It's comfortable. Very."

And on both sides of me.

It would have been even more comfortable without these hulking gentlemen.

Comfortable my ass...

I muttered inwardly.

Indeed.

My current posture and position were essentially completely isolated.

Perhaps because everyone in the car except me had bulked up to some degree.

Physically, I couldn't spread my shoulders.

I was literally squeezed in.

With a small laugh, Smith continued.

"I'm sorry this isn't an aerial vehicle."

"Well, that's fine."

Aerial vehicle or whatever.

It's just that my posture is uncomfortable.

I silently added.

"We'll arrive soon anyway. Please bear with the discomfort a little longer."

With those final words, Smith focuses on driving again.

I'm sure any vehicle these days would have an autonomous driving system installed, yet he's deliberately holding the steering wheel and driving manually.

That's typical of Smith, who's thorough about principles.

By the way, it doesn't seem like we've been traveling long, but he says we're almost there.

He must be driving at an incredible speed.

I'm not sure what the speed limit is here, but we're definitely moving faster than the other cars passing by.

I turned my gaze to the rearview mirror.

"..."

Something seems off.

I looked around the vehicle I was in.

Several identical black sedans were following this car in a line.

They weren't just visible in the back through the rearview mirror. They were on the sides, in front, and even diagonally.

It looked as if they were forming a perimeter around the car I was in.

After confirming this, I very cautiously opened my mouth.

"Um, Mr. Smith."

"Yes, what is it, Siwoon?"

Smith answers without looking back, as he's driving.

"...By any chance, how many people came with you?"

"Hahaha."

Smith laughed as if he'd heard something funny.

But that laughter sounded somewhat mechanical.

"When escorting you, we couldn't just come unprepared."

So how many?

A brief silence begins.

Smith, perhaps finding the silence awkward, opened his mouth again after a moment.

"Just about 2 teams, appropriately."

2 teams, huh.

[After checking nearby signals, I estimate a total of 4 teams have been assigned, I assess.]

Hmm.

Just hearing that made me feel suffocated.

No, I was physically suffocated because of the hulks sitting next to me.

"Um, it's a bit stuffy, so could I open the window?"

No answer came.

Instead, Smith pressed one of the buttons next to the steering wheel with his index finger.

A monotone voice sounded from the car.

《Activating air circulation system.》

[It seems Orc 'Smith' has no intention of opening the window, I judge.]

Seems that way.

Then Smith said,

"Hahaha, just in case."

"Pardon?"

Just in case what?

What could I possibly do?

Despite my curious response, Smith continued to laugh mechanically while focusing on driving.

Could it be.

Does he think I might jump out the window and run away?

"..."

That was actually a better idea than I thought.

With protective magic, I wouldn't get seriously injured even if I jumped from a moving car.

Maybe I should break the window now.

Would running away be the better choice?

As I was considering this,

"We've arrived, Siwoon. Let's get out."

I must have deliberated too long.

We had already arrived at No Answer.

7. Unwanted Obsession (1)

It was still early for people to be drinking.

Close to lunchtime.

But there were still many people at "No Answer."

I remember mentioning this once before.

I had described this place as having the atmosphere of a club, bar, or high-end lounge.

In reality, it didn't just function as a club or bar.

It was natural that there would be many people even during the day.

The first floor had many rookie mercenaries and a club-like atmosphere.

The second floor had experienced mercenaries and a high-end bar atmosphere.

And the third floor where I had now arrived,

The actual ruler of No Answer, the idol and pinnacle of all brokers in Neon City.

A figure whose very existence most rookie mercenaries don't even know about, only existing in rumors.

"Water, or cola?"

"...I'll have cola."

"Got it, then rum and coke it is."

I don't know when cola started including alcohol.

I have no idea.

She, the boss of No Answer.

Natasha Petrovna smiled at me.

Her captivating smile was clearly visible.

While she briefly left her seat to get what was either cola or rum and coke, I took a deep breath.

Whether it was because of her beautiful appearance.

Or because of her high status in Neon City, I couldn't tell.

But she was a slightly overwhelming figure to me.

When taking on assignments with other colleagues, it was a bit less burdensome, but it was more stressful when meeting her one-on-one like this.

Natasha placed a glass of cola in front of me.

Fortunately, what came out was pure P company cola without any alcohol mixed in.

She had a playful side that didn't match her position as the boss of No Answer.

For some reason, she seemed even more playful with me.

I took a swig of cola first.

I was curious about why she suddenly called me.

But my throat was parched from being squeezed between those hulks on the way here.

Natasha sat on the sofa opposite me.

As she did so, she habitually moved one leg to cross it over her knee.

Her luxurious black hair fell around her neck.

A small golden hairpin was carefully inserted into her braided hair.

Natasha was dressed in a China dress, different from her usual attire.

Her sky-blue eyes pierced through me.

It was truly intimidating.

Natasha was the first to break the silence.

"I believe Smith mentioned that you promised to visit at least once."

"...Ah, well. I've been quite busy lately."

It was because of the backlog of new games.

Definitely not my fault.

"Hmm, but you weren't just playing games at home, were you?"

How did she know?

[Anyone could make that assumption, I think.]

I see.

Anyway, my opponent knew too much about me.

I took another sip of cola.

When there's nothing appropriate to say, not answering at all is also one of the good methods.

The problem was,

Since I didn't answer, Natasha also remained silent.

Eventually, I had to think of another question to change the atmosphere.

"...So, why did you call for me?"

"You're making it too obvious that you want to finish quickly and leave."

"...That's not it."

Actually, it was true.

I wanted to leave.

This atmosphere was too difficult for an 'I' like me.

She unfurled the fan she was holding with a swoosh.

Dragon patterns in LED and hologram elegantly appeared on the surface of the fan.

Natasha naturally covered her mouth with the fan.

The gaze remaining above the fan was sharp.

"..."

If I used magic to pierce the ceiling and bring down lightning, could I escape from here?

I secretly entertained such a fantasy.

It was then that Natasha rose from her seat.

She slowly walked toward me.

Since there were only two people in this room, Natasha and me, there was no one to stop her actions.

I froze like a frog before a snake, just watching as Natasha approached.

I felt a drop of cold sweat trailing down the nape of my neck.

I didn't know what I had done wrong, but the atmosphere suggested I should kneel and apologize right now.

With her mouth still covered by the fan, Natasha drew closer to me.

Slowly, she extended her hand.

Natasha's fingertips brushed against my eyes.

It was the location of my deep dark circles.

The pressure I was feeling gradually doubled.

"Maya, was it? That girl you told me about before."

I flinched at the unexpected name.

I was puzzled as to why Maya's name suddenly came up here.

And how did Natasha know about Maya now?

Did she hear news through the bioware specialist I had entrusted Maya to?

I couldn't collect my thoughts at the sudden mention of the name.

"Such curious eyes. You know that I know almost everything in this field."

Her finger continued to move.

Only after reaching my eyes, mask, and under my chin did it return to its place.

"You're always living such a busy life."

...It was true that I had been busy.

But something felt off.

Her tone was different from when she said I was just playing games earlier.

Since I had nothing to say,

I just sat quietly again.

"Well, that aside. That's not why I called you today."

"Did something happen again?"

Or maybe there was an urgent assignment to take on?

No, if that were the case, she would have called my other colleagues too, not just me.

So she didn't kidnap me just to see my face?

That was a twist, if anything.

Natasha takes a step back from me again.

Between the sofas where we were sitting was an elegant-looking table.

Walking to the table, Natasha pressed a button on it.

Soon, a large holographic image was created in the air with a beam of light.

A 3D design of a smiling emoticon.

If there was one difference from a regular emoticon, it was that there was a red blood vessel pattern drawn on the yellow forehead.

It looked like it was expressing anger while smiling.

"Do you know who this is?"

"A smiling emoticon?"

"Hehe, no."

Did the smiling emoticon have a separate name?

I really couldn't understand the cyberpunk aesthetic.

"This is a new 'Virtual Terrorist'."

"?"

"His name is Smile John."

He was more deranged than I had imagined.

What's a Virtual Terrorist anyway?

Someone who terrorizes in netspace?

Or is it someone who maintains a virtual appearance like Pete Mac or virtual broadcast streamers, but carries out actual terrorism?

Either way, I didn't understand.

I don't remember seeing anything like this when playing the game that formed the basis of this world.

But,

"...Why are you telling me about this lunatic?"

"Ah, you don't know yet, I see."

Natasha sits back on the sofa.

Those intense sky-blue eyes look straight at me.

"This terrorist is targeting you right now."

"...Pardon?"

Why me?

In this unexpected situation.

My mouth just hung open wide.

I had no interest in being obsessed over by terrorists.