Chapter 70: Kill Them All - Part 9
In front of me—there I was, eyes and mouth shut… not even breathing. “Me.”
I averted my gaze and glared at Tinkerer.
… I’d forgotten.
This guy is a technician connected to the Unseelie Court.
An inventor who works with an organization branded as a social evil… it wouldn’t be surprising if he were doing something horrifying.
I don’t know exactly what this is.
A clone, or perhaps… something else.
But one thing’s for sure—it’s definitely illegal.
Tinkerer looked at the “corpse”—looked at me.
A faint purple glow leaked from his mask.
『This is an L.M.D.』
“…An ‘L.M.D.’?”
He answered like it was nothing.
As if it weren’t some grave matter… though for me, accepting the reality in front of me was far from easy.
Normally, it would be.
If you saw your own corpse… fainting wouldn’t be unusual.
And if your mind was unstable, you might even go insane.
『Yes—“Life Model Decoy.” L.M.D. for short.』
Tinkerer opened the glass lid.
Inside was a pale, tinted liquid.
…It had a sharp, almost sour smell.
Preservative… that’s what it smelled like.
I almost covered my nose.
『The progress of science is amazing, you know. Artificial muscles, an artificial heart, a tiny supercomputer with the power of a brain… and an artificial blood called “Blue Blue.” Put all that together, and you can make a human.』
“…”
No sense of ethics at all.
It might be strange for me, a killer, to say this… but Tinkerer was insane.
“Can” and “will” are entirely different things.
Even if something is technically possible, people are supposed to be stopped by common sense and ethics.
Does he have no brakes?
“Did you make this at the request of the Unseelie Court?”
『Nope. This is personal. For my own private reasons.』
So, not even for the organization.
Then why make an L.M.D. of me…? That part I couldn’t understand.
What for?
While I was suspicious, Tinkerer spoke again.
『Where do you think a human’s life… no, soul, resides?』
“…Is that really necessary right now?”
『It is… well, if you don’t feel like answering, “nowhere” will do just fine.』
Tinkerer looked at my L.M.D.
…Now that I thought about it, that “me” was completely naked.
I didn’t feel the slightest bit of shame being seen by someone like him… but I did feel a trace of disgust.
“A soul… something that uncertain…”
It might sound absurd for me to deny it, given that I carry memories from a past life… but nobody knows that.
I denied it, but Tinkerer didn’t seem to care, continuing on.
『A human soul… is here.』
He pointed at the L.M.D.’s head.
“…The head?”
『More precisely, the brain… the “memories” engraved there.』
Tinkerer turned to me again.
…Under the mask, I had no idea what expression he wore.
Nor could I tell what emotions lay behind his words.
『A person’s guiding principles, their sense of right and wrong, their personality—all of it is formed by their “memories.” The path they’ve walked and the experiences they’ve had decide who they are. Conversely, without them… they’re as good as dead.』
“…Isn’t that a bit too simplistic?”
『Maybe so. But I believe it’s the “memories.” In fact, if I copied your memories into this L.M.D.… it would start acting exactly like you. Without even realizing it’s an L.M.D. itself.』
“…”
『And wouldn’t you call that… alive?』
I had no idea what he was trying to say.
Nor why he was saying it here, now… nor why he’d shown me my L.M.D.
But… I couldn’t bring myself to deny his words.
After all… my own past-life memories had warped my thinking, my tastes, my ethics… even my sense of self.
『There was something I… no, that I had to do. That’s why I made “this.”』
…Had to, huh.
“Past tense… so, you managed to do it?”
『No. I just realized it was impossible. I may be a bit smarter than most, but what I wanted to do… was beyond the realm permitted to humans.』
The black mask dipped downward.
I couldn’t bring myself to speak.
Yes, he was definitely abnormal.
Creating a human replica—by any normal standard—is madness.
『…Have I disappointed you?』
But the fact remains—he has saved me.
Over and over… and over again.
I still didn’t know why he made a duplicate of me.
But that alone wasn’t enough for me to judge him.
"…Not really."
『Not really?』
…Don’t repeat it back.
Seriously, this guy is irritating.
“…Haa, you’ve saved me more than once. So… fine, I’ll let it slide. You helped Herman too.”
『…I see. Sorry about that. I’d find it a little hard if you ended up hating me.』
“And besides.”
『Besides?』
“I already knew you were crazy from the start.”
『…You’ve got some nerve, saying that.』
…I’d just gone on sounding all high and mighty, but truth is, I’m just as crazy.
Probably not much different from him.
Still, he went out of his way to show me something he could have easily kept hidden.
That’s something I should take as honesty.
If I’m being honest, I do want to know his true purpose.
But the fact he didn’t tell me means… he has no intention of saying it.
Even if I pressed him, he wouldn’t spill.
For the sake of keeping things smooth between us, it’s better not to dig into his secrets.
Only an idiot would walk into a minefield blind without knowing where the mines are.
I rubbed my right arm—well, what was left of it past the elbow.
The burnt wound still throbbed.
“So, what now? What happened to fixing my arm?”
『Oh, right…』
His tone made it sound like he’d forgotten, which annoyed me a little, but I said nothing.
After all, I’m the one who needs treatment here.
Tinkerer took hold of my L.M.D.’s arm.
Its limp fingers swung loosely.
…Yeah, it’s unsettling.
Like a finely crafted silicone doll.
『I’ll cut off this L.M.D.’s arm… and transplant it onto yours.』
“…You can really do something like that?”
『It’s matched to your biological data taken from your blood… I’ll trick your healing factor into accepting it and forcefully attach it.』
…Completely insane.
Is he trying to pick a fight with modern medicine?
Even the connection of nerves and blood vessels would be left entirely to my healing factor—a reckless method.
…But wait.
Did he just say he’d cut the L.M.D.’s arm?
Wasn’t this L.M.D. something he created for an important purpose?
Thinking that, I looked at Tinkerer.
“…You’re really going to cut the L.M.D.’s arm?”
『Hm? Oh… right… It’s fine. In the end, my wish couldn’t be fulfilled. This is just human-shaped waste now.』
With that, Tinkerer let go of the L.M.D.’s arm.
…Still, to make someone’s corpse without permission and then casually call it “waste”…
It leaves me with a bit of a complicated feeling.
That vague heaviness in my chest definitely lingered.
But well, if there’s no other way to treat me, then so be it.
…I decided to help Tinkerer prepare for the operation.
When I pulled out the drawer containing the L.M.D., I saw there were rollers attached to the bottom.
Once it was set on the floor, it became a makeshift stretcher.
As I rattled along, pushing my own corpse, Tinkerer spoke up from ahead.
『Ah, that reminds me… about the surgery fee, the treatment costs… the armor payment, the weapon costs… regarding expenses—』
My whole body went rigid.
I remembered the matter of the last payment.
…The bill I got after fighting Lizard.
“Uh, ah… well, um—”
I stammered without thinking.
Last time, I’d already burned through most of my savings.
And that was just for the bullets.
If you added the cost of the black “Nightcap” armor and the surgery… the total would easily soar far beyond anything I could imagine.
There’s no way I could pay for that.
It only just now hit me.
Between my anger at Cletus Kasady and my worry for Gwen, I’d lost all sense of composure, and my thinking had been a total mess.
…Something I’ll have to reflect on.
Maybe he found my solemn expression amusing, because Tinkerer laughed.
『Heh, was that mean of me? …I’ll make it special for you—free of charge.』
“…What? Why?”
At his unexpected answer, I tilted my head.
Tinkerer projected a hologram from his arm.
A digital clock.
It displayed the date: August 11th.
『The day’s just changed… and today’s your birthday. Happy birthday, “Michelle Jane.”』
…The fact that he knew my name from when I was in hiding surprised me.
I could swear I’d never told him.
That peaceful everyday life of mine is… a place I don’t want anyone interfering with, a place I don’t want touched.
That’s why I hadn’t told Herman or Tinkerer any details.
And yet… even the birthday assigned to me by the Organization was known to him.
Apparently, his ties to the Organization run deeper than I’d thought.
However—
“Birthdays… are nothing more than fabricated data the Organization gave me.”
『Maybe so. But it could just as well be your real birthday. One chance in 365, but the odds aren’t zero… so think of it as a birthday present, okay?』
I made a sour face at his nonsensical reasoning.
Why am I being wished a happy birthday while pushing around a “corpse” that’s genetically identical to me?
It’s absurd.
Well… financially, it is a big help.
But there’s still one thing.
Something I fundamentally don’t understand.
“…I appreciate it. I do. But… why go so far for me?”
『Hmm, what do you think?』
Why does he help me?
The dress incident, the fight with Lizard, this time too.
In situations unrelated to the Organization, why step in for me?
…Could it be he likes me?
Peter comes to mind.
I hadn’t even realized his feelings until recently… I hate to admit it, but maybe I’m just dense.
No… that’s probably just vanity.
I can read intent to kill… but when it comes to affection, I’m hopelessly oblivious.
While I was mulling it over, Tinkerer chuckled softly.
I had no idea what that laugh meant, so all I could do was eye him suspiciously.
“Huuh… khh…!”
I push away the rubble pressing down on my body with all my strength.
This isn’t just small debris—we’re talking about the whole roof coming down.
Rain trickles down the rubble, turning into droplets that run down my cheek.
…At my feet is Black Widow.
She’s looking up at me from below.
“Uh… I… could really use some help here!”
The roof of the church—destroyed by Shocker… Herman—is pressing down on my entire body.
If I don’t keep holding it up like this, both Black Widow and I will be flattened.
“I could help, but it wouldn’t make much difference, you know? I’m just staying out of the way.”
“Y-yeah… maybe… but still!”
Black Widow is stronger than the average person.
Probably about as strong as a top-class athlete.
But me? I’m several… no, dozens of times stronger than that.
I mean, I’m holding up close to a thousand kilograms of ceiling right now.
So her help… in terms of ratio, wouldn’t make much difference.
“Ghh… gk…”
“See? Talking makes it harder. Just shut up and focus.”
Still, doing all this alone is rough.
Winning when the situation’s easy—anyone can do that.
What really matters is… winning when you have no help like this.
…Ugh, saying that out loud just makes me feel pathetic.
The lack of oxygen is making my head spin.
I’m getting dizzy.
If this takes too long, I’ll be crushed.
“Hah!”
I shove the rubble away with all my might.
Fragments scatter, and light pours into my eyes.
“Haa… hah…”
While I’m catching my breath, Black Widow pats my shoulder from behind.
“Good work. And… thanks.”
“Haa… y-you’re… welcome.”
Breathing hard, I sink down onto the floor and look up.
The roof is gone, and the moon is visible.
Looks like the rain stopped at some point.
When I glance to the side… the ground cracks open, and a silver arm pushes up from beneath.
“Wha!?”
“It’s Bucky. Go give him a hand.”
…Bucky?
Ah, that must be the “Winter Soldier” Red Cap mentioned.
I don’t know him personally, so I feel a bit awkward, but I jog over and toss away the heavy rubble.
And from under it… emerges Bucky, with a silver arm.
He brushes dust off his jacket, but there are plenty of cuts and scrapes from the stone edges.
He’s in rough shape.
Noticing it, Bucky scowls.
“…Sorry. You saved me.”
“D-don’t mention it?”
Bucky isn’t completely unhurt, but it doesn’t look like he’s seriously injured.
He kicks aside the remaining debris and heads toward Black Widow.
…Yeah, he’s probably not a normal human.
More like a superpowered guy with abilities like mine.
Normally, someone would have broken bones and be unable to move.
But more importantly… Gwen.
Herman tried to take her as a hostage.
…I never thought he’d actually do something like that.
He must have been desperate.
Still, Herman’s the kind of guy who’s good to women and kids—no, not exactly “good,” but he at least tries not to hurt them.
So I doubt he’d harm Gwen… but the whole hostage tactic is still out of character for him.
Even so, I can’t help but worry.
Harry went after them first, but… I need to catch up.
“Hey, you two! I’m going on ahead!”
I dash through the hallway beyond the door, in the direction Herman fled.
…Luckily, the roof collapse only affected the room we were in.
The hallway seems fine—just like when we came, though some spots have the stone tiles pried up.
As I hurry forward, I spot two figures.
One is lying down, the other sitting against the wall.
…The one lying down is Gwen.
“Gwe—”
I almost call her name out loud, but stop myself.
In this form… it would be strange for Spider-Man to know her name.
Not sure what to call her, I just run over to her side.
She’s lying directly on the floor.
I quickly lift her up—thankfully, she’s breathing.
Looks like she’s just unconscious.
I shift my gaze and see Harry sitting against the wall, clutching his leg.
…He’s trembling.
“…Harry?”
When I call out to him, his body jerks in surprise.
He lifts his head and looks at me.
“A-ah…”
That answer makes me uneasy. I gently lay Gwen down and grab Harry by the shoulders.
“…What happened? Why are you… like this?”
“I… I… ugh…”
He grits his teeth, face twisted in pain.
…How did it come to this?
“Don’t tell me—did Red Cap do someth—”
“No! It’s me! I did it!”
I’m cut off by his sudden shout.
It startles me.
Seeing my reaction, Harry’s face twists in guilt, and he opens his mouth.
“…I chased after Herman, who was trying to get away with Gwen… I thought I had to save her somehow… and then, I… stabbed him… in the back… urgh—”
Harry doubles over and vomits toward the floor.
Even now, he turns his face away so it won’t splash on me or Gwen, making sure I don’t see.
From what he said… it sounds like he saved Gwen from Herman.
But if that’s the case, what could make him this shaken?
“Harry… why are you so… down right now?”
“Down? No… it’s not that. I just… realized I can’t be a hero. Not like you.”
“Me?”
…Harry wanted to be like me?
If this were a different moment, maybe I’d feel happy hearing that.
But right now, there’s no room to feel good about it.
“I stabbed Herman in the back… I might have killed him. Red Cap was furious. He was… grieving. I’m nothing but trash. No better than my father. All I can do is kill peop—”
Trembling and crying like a lonely child, Harry—
—I slap him.
“U-eh…?”
“Harry, I’m not going to tell you ‘don’t cry.’ But giving up? That’s not allowed.”
I shake his shoulders firmly as he stares in shock.
“What makes us heroes isn’t superpowers. It’s the strength to never give up.”
“Strength… of heart?”
“No matter how many times you lose, no matter how many times you fall… you still stand up and keep moving forward. Even if you did something you can’t take back… you still have to get back up to save as many people as you can.”
…As Spider-Man, I’ve saved a lot of people.
But the sacrifices have never been small.
There were people I couldn’t save.
There were times my mistakes caused things that could never be undone.
Times I got beaten within an inch of my life by villains—more than I can count on both hands.
I’ve regretted it.
I’ve cried.
I’ve suffered, over and over.
I’ve lost count of how many times I thought about quitting Spider-Man.
But every time, I fought again.
For the people I had saved, and for the ones I hadn’t—so I could make it up to them.
If there’s someone I could save, and I did nothing, letting them suffer…
I know I’d regret it for the rest of my life.
That’s why I don’t quit being a hero.
Why I don’t quit being Spider-Man.
Harry finally speaks, his voice barely above a whisper.
“With great power… comes great responsibility.”
It’s like he’s talking to himself.
…Those are the words I once told him.
The words Uncle Ben once told me.
The essence of Spider-Man.
“That’s right, Harry. You are strong. And you do have kindness in you. That makes you a hero. So… if you try to run from that responsibility, I’m not going to let you.”
“…That’s pretty Spartan of you.”
His tears have already stopped.
“Yeah, well. Being a hero isn’t something you can do with a light heart… If you’re ever stuck, just call me. I’ll be there to kick your ass.”
“…Heh, I’ll pass on that. Sounds painful.”
When I see Harry smile, I reach out my hand.
He clasps it back, and I pull him to his feet.
…Just like during the Sinister Six incident.
Up until a few months ago, he was just an ordinary guy.
I have to keep it together as his senior hero.
“…You two finished talking?”
A voice calls out from behind us.
Startled, I turn to see Bucky and Black Widow standing there.
“Whoa… how long have you been listening?”
“From a little before you hit him.”
…So basically, from almost the very start.
I might’ve been giving a speech as a rookie hero, but Bucky’s older than me, and he’s probably been doing this a lot longer too.
Now I’m starting to feel embarrassed.
It feels like my face is heating up under the mask.
While I’m busy feeling awkward, Bucky looks over at Harry.
“I don’t have much to add. But hurting someone to protect someone else… sometimes it’s unavoidable. And to hold back enough not to hurt them, you have to be several times stronger than they are.”
Bucky lightly taps Harry on the head with his silver arm.
“You’re inexperienced. If you have time to regret, use it to train. If you don’t get stronger, you won’t be able to protect your convictions.”
…Yeah. He’s definitely better at giving lectures than I am.
Maybe a greenhorn like me shouldn’t have been the one saying all that earlier.
While I’m thinking that, Black Widow elbows me in the side.
“Your heartfelt speech wasn’t bad, you know.”
“Uh… are you trying to make me feel better?”
“It’s the truth.”
…If there were a hole here right now, I’d crawl into it.
Black Widow walks over to Gwen and hoists her over her shoulder.
She’s stronger than she looks… actually, that’s pretty strong.
…Maybe I should have asked her to help with the rubble earlier.
And then I remember something important.
“…Ah—Cassady!?”
“He’s restrained in the plaza over there.”
I turn and squint into the distance, spotting Cassady immobilized with some kind of metal plating stuck to him.
…High-tech handcuffs, maybe?
No—it’s not just his hands, his whole body is locked down.
Well, with that… I guess my job here is done.
I wanted to ask Harry about Gwen, but… Bucky and Black Widow are here.
If they figure out I know both Gwen and Harry, they might start digging into my identity.
…Though, I doubt they’d actually go out of their way to investigate me.
Just as I quietly start slipping away—
“Spider-Man.”
Bucky calls out to me.
…Yeah, I haven’t forgotten—I’m an unregistered hero in the government’s eyes.
A vigilante.
They could easily press charges against me for illegal activity… even arrest me.
I turn to face Bucky, but take a small step back.
Seeing this, he gives me a wry smile and continues.
“Fury wants to recruit you into S.H.I.E.L.D.”
“Fury…?”
I tilt my head at the unfamiliar name, and Black Widow speaks up.
“Nick Fury. Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. — the top guy in charge.”
“Heh, huh… wait, why me?”
When I ask again, Bucky answers with a look of disbelief.
“Apparently, he’s looking for young recruits.”
“Young… recruits?”
…Could Fury be behind Harry and Gwen being in S.H.I.E.L.D. too?
I glance at Gwen, still unconscious, slung over Black Widow’s back.
…Without thinking, I grit my teeth.
“Tell him this for me: ‘At the very least, I will never work under you.’”
“You’ve got quite a grudge against Fury, huh?”
Grudge… yeah, maybe.
I give a small nod and ask Bucky,
“That all you wanted to say?”
“Yeah.”
…Good.
So they’re not going to chew me out for my off-the-books hero work.
…Bucky picks something up — something shaped like an arm.
No… not shaped like. It is an arm.
Red Cap’s arm, severed by Carnage.
…Speaking of which, I wonder if he’s okay.
He’d lost a lot of blood… sure, we fought, but that doesn’t mean I want him dead.
If I keep working in New York, I’ll probably run into him again someday.
I turn my back to them and step onto the window ledge.
“…Wait. There’s something I want to talk about — about her.”
“…Huh? Her?”
“Her”… a woman… only one person comes to mind.
By process of elimination, that means Gwen.
“Oh. If you run into her, and you manage to win… I want you to restrain her and hand her over to S.H.I.E.L.D.”
“…What are you talking about?”
The way he says it, it’s like this “her” is some kind of villain.
So it’s not Gwen.
Then… who?
My mouth feels dry.
Is it just from not drinking water for hours and running around nonstop?
Or is it because I’m starting to realize something I really don’t want to think about?
“…I’m talking about Red Cap.”
My breath catches for a moment.
A few seconds later, I shake my head.
“Hah… so you’re telling me Red Cap is… a woman, like—”
…She’s a woman?
Why had I assumed he was a man?
The way she talks, maybe.
Or maybe it’s the sheer brutality — the killing intent.
The way she pinned me down and beat the hell out of me.
“…So you really didn’t know. Listen, Spider-Man. This might not be something you want to hear, but—”
Bucky puts a hand on my shoulder, almost gently, like he’s breaking bad news.
“Red Cap is a girl. And not even an adult — just a kid.”
Inside me, my feelings toward him… no, toward her… start to waver.
This is a café.
A cheap one in Midtown, New York.
I’m reading the newspaper.
I don’t normally read newspapers, but today is different.
『Death row inmate Cletus Kasady, on the run, captured!』
『Multiple dead! New York City’s nightmare!』
『Miraculous survival! Exclusive interview with Detective Patrick Mulligan!』
The headlines are catchy, but the front page is all about events from a few days ago.
And yet, there’s no mention anywhere of Spider-Man, or the symbiotes.
Of course, nothing about me either… Agent Gwenom.
Most likely, it’s all been quietly scrubbed from the record—by Nick Fury’s hand.
…As I keep reading, I reach out for my cocoa.
The moment it touches my tongue, the cacao aroma and rich sweetness spread in my mouth.
Not really my favorite taste.
But… well, Gwenom did her best.
This is my “reward” to myself—taking in some chocolate.
I lower the paper and glance at the girl sitting across from me.
…She’s drinking the same thing I am.
But unlike me, she’s sipping through her straw with a serious expression—like a squirrel.
“Michelle, is it good?”
“Mmm…”
Still sipping, Michelle nods.
This outing is to make up for… the birthday party that ended early the other day.
I brought her here, my treat.
…I look at her hand.
White… flawless skin.
…But something about it feels… off.
“…Hey, Michelle?”
“Mm? What is it?”
She sets her cocoa down on the table and looks at me.
“Let me see your right hand for a sec.”
“…Huh? My right hand?”
With a hesitant look, she slowly offers it. I take it in mine.
…It’s Michelle’s hand, just as always.
Nothing unusual about it.
When I stroke it… it’s silky to the touch, and when I squeeze, it’s soft and springy—so soft it makes you wonder if she even has any muscle at all.
But when I focus… the thing that caught my attention isn’t touch, it’s smell.
My sense of smell, enhanced by Gwenom.
I bring her hand closer to my nose and sniff.
“Wha— Gwen, what the—?!”
“Ah, I knew it.”
At my words, Michelle’s face shows a flicker of alarm.
…Well, yeah. If someone suddenly sniffed your hand, you’d look at them like they’re crazy too.
From the outside, I probably look like a total weirdo right now.
“Michelle, you’re wearing perfume, aren’t you?”
A beat of silence.
“…Yeah.”
She nods after a short pause.
Just as I thought.
From her hand, I caught a faintly tangy—probably fruity—scent.
Though… maybe a little strong.
But that’s not the point.
The point is, she’s wearing perfume.
I can’t help but smile.
…Michelle, actually caring about how she looks…
Michelle, who never wore makeup.
Michelle, who only owned beige pants.
Perfume…
“Gwen…?”
“Heh. I’m happy, that’s all.”
“Huh? Why…?”
Looking at her confused expression, I felt it—ah… life is finally getting back to normal.
After my father died… after becoming Fury’s ward…
So many awful things happened, but even then, I stayed myself.
And my friends—they never treated me differently.
They didn’t pity me, didn’t look at me like I was some tragic figure.
That’s what made me happy.
Life will go on.
My father’s gone, but the memories of our days together remain.
I finish my cocoa and squeeze Michelle’s hand.
She squeezes back, hesitantly.
She’d seemed a little down after the incident, but she looks a little better now.
…She knew my dad, after all.
So of course she mourned his death.
She’s a kind girl.
And no matter what, I want to protect her.
It seems my father’s death really changed how I think.
People… can die suddenly.
Like my father… and without help, I probably would’ve been killed by the Green Goblin too.
If Michelle were ever… say… in danger from one of those “bad guys” I met during the incident,
then I’d have to be the one to save her.
…Which means, I’d better keep up my training.
I glance at the clock, then at Michelle’s cocoa.
…Still a lot left.
Looks like she’s savoring it.
No need to rush her. I place the money on the table and stand up.
"Alright, I’ll head out first."
“...Gwen, you got somewhere to be?”
“Yeah... foster dad’s being noisy about it.”
Considering the results of the recent incident...
He’s decided that if I’m going to keep acting on my own,
then I’d better be trained well enough to handle it.
And... yeah, that’s on me.
I caused trouble for Harry too...
So lately I’ve been getting hand-to-hand combat lessons from this guy named Bucky,
plus running drills and strength training.
I can’t afford to be a burden. I’ve gotta push myself.
Michelle gave me a worried look... but smiled anyway.
“...Do your best.”
“Thanks. You too, Michelle.”
“...Huh? Do my best at what?”
Leaving her with that puzzled face tugging at the back of my mind,
I left my seat.
Once I stepped outside, I glanced back—
Michelle was calling over a waiter to place another order.
She really is a foodie.
The waiter nodded several times... then looked surprised.
How many things did she order?
I chuckled to myself,
then started heading toward Avengers Tower—
“Aah—”
“Whoa—”
I bumped into someone and almost lost my balance...
but they caught my hand.
“You okay?”
Black hair.
Sharp eyes, but with green irises.
A girl, about my age.
Her black jacket was completely unbuttoned,
and underneath she wore something very revealing—
belly button fully on display.
And yet, below that...
Jeans. Perfectly intact, no rips,
hugging her hips so tightly they could’ve been painted on.
In her hand—an honest-to-goodness paper map.
Haven’t seen one of those in ages.
A tourist, maybe?
She drew the eye, but I forced myself to meet her gaze before speaking.
“Sorry, guess I wasn’t looking where I was going.”
“Same here. I was looking at this map...
got a little too into it. Don’t you think New York’s a bit too twisty?”
...Maybe she’s from the countryside.
Without thinking, I opened my mouth.
“If you’ve got somewhere you’re trying to get to... want me to show you the way?”
...Oh, crap.
I’d made a promise to Nick Fury.
I opened my mouth to correct myself—
“That’d be great. Thanks.”
And shut it again.
Reckless kindness will be the death of me.
I made sure not to let my thoughts show as I leaned in to look at the map.
“...So, where exactly are you headed?”
“Uh, here.”
Her black-manicured fingertip pointed to a red circle.
…Huh?
That’s pretty close—actually, it’s a place I know very well.
“Avengers Tower…?”
The words slipped out before I could stop them.
“That’s right! That’s the one.”
“Heh…”
What a coincidence.
It’s the exact place I was planning to go…
I froze mid-thought.
Business at Avengers Tower?
That would mean… she’s also with S.H.I.E.L.D.?
Or maybe… an Avenger?
No, probably not.
“Well, I’m headed there too, so let’s go together.”
“Wow, what a crazy coincidence. I’m honestly surprised… Oh, right. What’s your name?”
Our eyes met.
…Her gaze was sharp.
She’s probably probing me on the inside.
Someone else going to Avengers Tower wouldn’t be just an ordinary civilian.
Which means, just like me, she’s on guard.
“I’m Gwen Stacy.”
“Gwen… huh. Got it. Nice to meet you.”
She eased up her guard and offered a handshake.
…Did she figure out I’m a candidate agent just from my name?
If so, that’s some memory.
…Or maybe she’d already looked into me.
Might be I’m just being paranoid.
Once she seemed satisfied and let go of my hand, I quickly turned the question around.
“Okay then… what’s your name? And… what’s your business at Avengers Tower?”
“Haha, that’s a lot of questions…”
She chuckled wryly, then spoke.
“My name’s Laura Kinney. Call me whatever you like.”
She smiled warmly.
And then—
“As for my business—”
Her smile twisted upward… into the grin of a wild, dangerous predator.
“I’m here to kill the bastard who blew my brains out.”
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