Pick Me Up!-Chapter 303.1: Ragnarok (8) (1)

I was climbing the stairs with Sijel tucked at my waist.

“Mmgh...!”

Ten minutes had passed since the first battle in Eden ended.

I was heading to the top floor of some shopping arcade I had shattered to pieces. Sijel let out faint groans every time my body shook.

“Endure it, even if it hurts. Don’t expect me to be considerate. Just be thankful I didn’t kill you.”

This one had already lost her divinity.

The immense power I’d seen back on Mobius’s passenger ship was nowhere to be found.

What remained here was just the remnants of someone who once was a god. That’s why Tel had thrown Sijel at me without hesitation.

Thud.

Having reached the third floor of the arcade, I carelessly tossed Sijel from my arms.

She rolled for several meters across the floor and slammed into the wall.

Crackle! Fzzzt!

Sparks burst from the severed wires hanging from the ceiling.

I dragged over a chair that was lying in the middle of the hallway and sat in front of Sijel.

“The Pick Me Up game director’s secretary, Sijel. That’s right, isn’t it? Nod twice if so.”

Her shoulders quivered slightly.

Then she moved her head twice.

“Lo... Lo...”

She seemed to want to call my name, but all her vocal organs, including her vocal cords, were completely wrecked.

Her voice came out as a wheezing moan, impossible to decipher.

[Ahem...]

Frey fluttered his wings and landed on Sijel’s shoulder.

I looked at Frey and asked,

“Can you do it?”

[Yup, I’ll try!]

Good.

I placed a hand on Sijel’s shoulder.

My interference force seeped into her crimson skin.

“I’ve temporarily cut off your nerves. You should be able to move, at least.”

“...”

“Frey’s going to synchronize her senses with yours now. Just say what you want to say.”

Frey closed her eyes.

Soon, his entire body began to shimmer with a blue light.

“I’ll ask again. Are you Sijel, the first-class secretary of Alpha Zero?” freewёbnoνel.com

<...Ah.>

Frey’s mouth opened.

From it came a smooth-toned woman’s voice.

I’d heard it once before. She’d calmly told me to make a choice.

<Y-Yes... that’s correct...>

“Now we can finally talk.”

Still seated, I crossed my legs.

Sijel writhed where she had fallen.

<Thank you... for sparing me...>

“Cut the crap.”

I had no fondness for this one.

Mobius’s passenger ship, the Pioneer. Back then, Alpha Zero and Sijel had given me a false choice, revealing only what suited them. They conveniently left out the fact that the Pick Me Up game stage ended at the 90th floor and that the world couldn’t be restored.

‘I only spared you because I need you.’

It doesn’t end just by stomping on Tel and the company.

While I’m clashing with the fragments at the boundary, I need someone to restore Townia. Of course, that’s not an easy task, and without the right abilities, it can’t even be attempted.

‘In that sense... Alpha Zero is the best option.’

The core architect of Pick Me Up’s system.

He betrayed me, sure, but I’m certain of one thing — he wants to revive Mobius.

‘Frey will be the foundation, and Alpha Zero will back him up.’

That’s enough for the restoration.

Any clashes with the fragments along the way — I’ll handle them.

“Do you know why I spared you?”

<To gather information?>

“That’s just a side job.”

<The Director...?>

“That’s right. I need that pervy old man.”

With my ability, I could easily bind Alpha Zero.

Brainwashing, contract, whatever I chose.

<L-Loki!>

Sijel crawled toward me and clung to my feet.

<Please save the Director! He’s still trapped in the company! He’s holding out somehow, but if a little more time passes, that woman will devour him!>

“I know. I was planning to head over there right after we finished talking.”

<Thank you!>

“Don’t get all proper with me. Just do your job.”

I crossed my arms.

“I’m going to bring this city down. Soon, the entire dimension will vanish. So, what’s your role?”

<...Evacuation.>

“There should be a decent number of useful personnel here. Even if you were expelled, you’re still a top-ranking executive. Get them evacuated outside. Handle this well, and I’ll lift the curse on your body too.”

<That’s... not necessary.>

Not necessary, she said.

<No matter what the reason, I deceived you. I toyed with the fate of the beings in this universe. That is undeniable. You don’t need to lift it. I will carry this pain as a mark of my sin, to the very end.>

“Looking like that?”

<Yes.>

I adjusted my posture in the chair.

‘These people are hard to figure out.’

They stab you in the back, and now they want to repent?

<I can feel... immense power from you.>

Sijel looked at me with her damaged eyes.

<Have you... made a decision?>

“What decision?”

<...>

“That’s none of your concern. Just do what you’ve been assigned.”

Sching.

I drew a dagger from the sheath on my belt.

After focusing interference force onto the blade, I tossed it beside Sijel’s head.

“Use this. You should be able to move at least that much.”

I reached through the shop window of a clothing store.

A long coat hanging on a mannequin was sucked into my grip.

I placed the hooded coat beside the dagger.

“Put on some clothes too. It’s not a pretty sight — cover up.”

<...Thank you.>

Snap.

I flicked ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ my fingers.

The blue magic flowing from Frey’s body vanished.

The sensory link was broken.

“Good job.”

Frey perched on my shoulder.

After glancing at the collapsed Sijel, I turned my back.

I began descending the stairs to the lower floor.

There wasn’t much time left.

Tel wouldn’t just die quietly.

I was sure she was plotting something.

Whatever she was scheming, I was confident I could crush her skull — but that doesn’t mean I enjoy the hassle.

‘Ah, before that...’

I reached the first floor of the arcade.

A convenience store sign blinked beside the exit.

The interior was a mess, but a few intact items caught my eye.

‘It’s been a while.’

Grab.

I picked up a sandwich from the refrigerator shelf.

A convenience store sandwich. Instant food that cost around 2,000 won each.

[Can I have one too?]

“Why ask me? Do what you want.”

[Okay~!]

Frey zipped over and grabbed a banana milk, poked in a straw.

Sip. Her mouth puckered as the yellow liquid vanished into the PET bottle.

I smirked at the sight, then took a bite of my unwrapped sandwich.

Between the bread were ham, ketchup, salad, and dressing.

No telling when I’d get to enjoy such luxury again after today.

I...

“Frey.”

[Yeah?]

“Here. You eat this.”

I handed the half-eaten sandwich to Frey.

She tilted his head, then stuffed it into her mouth until her cheeks puffed out.

‘...I see.’

I couldn’t taste anything.