Chapter 45: The first shot

I’ve delivered numerous packages so far, but this is the first time delivering something from Piltover.

When I think of Piltover, all that comes to mind is a feeling of being filled with machines, so I thought the item inside the box would also be a machine or something similar to parts.

It doesn’t quite match that someone needing such an item exists in Ionia.

Anyway, work is work, so I headed to the listed delivery address without complaint.

The place isn’t too far from here, so if I’m lucky, I might be able to deliver two more.

These days, I’m slowing down my delivery speed for the sake of a normal life.

That is, back to the speed before my body became strange.

Right now, if I really put my mind to it, I felt like I could reach speeds close to the physical limit.

However, doing so would inevitably make everyone notice the strangeness of my body, and simultaneously, the package would shatter into pieces, so it was an unavoidable choice.

If it weren’t for that, I could have delivered 10 packages a day, earned big money, and become rich.

Then I could have realized my dream of owning a home much earlier.

Lost in such idle thoughts while walking towards the destination, I saw that there wasn’t much distance left.

Just like stepping on the blue path of a particularly clear sky under the sunshine, my steps also became lighter.

The sign at the delivery reception office also says ‘Speed is life in delivery,’ so I decided to pick up the pace slightly.

Arriving at the destination, it seemed the recipient hadn’t come out yet.

Casually estimating the current time by the sun’s altitude, it seemed I arrived about 20 minutes earlier than the other delivery personnel.

Since the location is just a street people pass through, and I don’t know where they are staying, I decided to use the brief gap to think about what might be inside the delivery box.

It’s light, and it didn’t make noise when shaken, so it should be a bulky object, but what on earth could be ordered for delivery from Piltover?

Or maybe they just put a lot of shock-absorbing material in the inner packaging, so I couldn’t hear anything?

In that case, it could also be small.

Hmm… then the range of possibilities becomes too wide…

I came up with various answers on my own, but none felt exactly right.

Then, as the scheduled time approached, I ended up getting up from my spot unsatisfied.

Just then, a tall, handsome man with brown hair walking over there seemed like the recipient of this package, so I walked towards him too.

Confirming that I was approaching, the man extended one hand and spoke to me.

“Did you bring the item? Let’s check it.”

“Wait!”

Seeing the man unknowingly trying to cross the line, I immediately responded with a sharp rebuke.

There’s something that needs to be done before handing over the item.

Things must be handled in order, and before handing over the package, there’s something I absolutely must receive.

Especially in times like these, the line must be strictly adhered to.

Yes. You are…

“Cash on delivery. You need to pay the delivery fee first.”

I preemptively block any attempt to run away without paying after receiving a cash-on-delivery item.

This is a policy implemented by the head office (central branch) after hearing that customers occasionally run off without paying the COD fee when receiving packages on the street instead of at their doorstep.

As a mere delivery person, I have no choice but to follow this policy?

The man took out his wallet from his pocket and paid me the fee.

Then, as he received the package I handed him, he let out a groan.

“Ugh… That bastard, using such a cheap trick…”

It seemed there was some issue with the sender, but that was outside my jurisdiction.

There was no need to interfere, so I was about to turn around and leave (saying ‘20000’ – a slang farewell), but I stopped when I saw the man showing signs of opening the package.

I couldn’t miss the chance to see what was inside.

The box opened, and what came out was… an enormous amount of bubble wrap and a strangely shaped mechanical device.

It looked like a device that would deal extra damage if you got hit by it, but honestly, after seeing the contents, I was more interested in the bubble wrap.

‘If I take that bubble wrap to Set, he’ll have fun popping it with his tiny hands.’

Well then, I’ve received the delivery fee and satisfied my personal curiosity, so this time I’ll really head back…

Bang!

—–side jhin—–

I already knew that delivery person was peeking at the props for my masterpiece.

Simply leaving it be would be like revealing the contents of the performance beforehand, but this time it doesn’t matter.

Because from now on, that delivery person will also become a part of my work, an actor.

What problem is there if the actor knows the content of the performance?

I could have disguised myself before that delivery person arrived.

However, I chose not to.

Therefore, that delivery person witnessed my bare face, the face of Khada Jhin.

My true face, which can only be shown to the audience.

From the moment we met, she had already entered my artwork.

The slight discourtesy she committed towards me can be forgiven.

Normally, a strong sense of aversion, like intense pain driven by self-consciousness, would have arisen, but today is a performance day.

And the final preparation for that performance has arrived in my hands at this perfect timing.

There was a minor incident, but if it doesn’t interfere with the performance, there’s no need to worry much.

And now.

It is time to begin the opening ceremony to announce the start of the performance.

As that delivery person turned back again and started heading towards the designated position, I put on the mask hidden in my bosom and took out Whisper, the brush that will paint this stage with brilliant colors.

12 o’clock direction, distance 2005, firing angle 93 degrees, muzzle velocity 300m/s, under these conditions, I perfectly target that delivery person.

Feeling my whole body enveloped in shivers at the touch of the trigger on my fingertip, I fire the first bullet to announce the start of this performance…

Bang!

Slowly, and gradually closer, the bullet flies.

Each bullet, imbued with my soul, will reconstruct that woman’s body the moment it embeds itself, changing her into a more beautiful form.

For instance… yes. Turning someone who knows nothing of art into the arabesque pose of ballet.

And in those traces, a single flower will bloom.

Now, anyone who sees her will burst into tears of emotion.

She was a nameless doll, but once I touch her, anyone attains that level of value.

It was a brief encounter, but now it is time for farewell.

Then, goodbye…

“Slow.”