A Slap of Misunderstanding

[Location: Tokyo, Japan, Inside a Restaurant]

“Your nerves, when did they become so fragile?”

“…”

Colt’s forehead pressed against the cool table’s edge, her eyes closed. She offered no reply to the mocking words of Liliya, who sat across from her.

‘What the actual hell…’

‘What a colossal mess…’

****Two Days Earlier****

Strolling through the streets of Cape Town, Colt navigated under a scorching sun that felt capable of baking one alive. She clutched a small basket of ‘earth cakes,’ turning left and right, hoping to find a deserted alleyway.

‘Her purpose?’

While a pang of guilt pricked her for the enthusiastic vendor and the not-so-expensive bottle of medicated oil she’d spent, Colt genuinely intended to dispose of these ‘earth cakes’ she simply couldn’t stomach.

‘Throw them in a trash can?’

‘If you dared, you could try… but doing so here would definitely lead to trouble.’

‘Toss them into the ‘Corridor’?’

‘Yes, that was precisely her plan, but it absolutely couldn’t be done on a bustling street.’

It wasn’t Colt’s first time in Africa; she had some understanding of the local culture. If she were to openly make an entire basket of ‘earth cakes’ vanish on the street…

Without a doubt, she would either be branded a witch or, worse, become sacrificial material for one. The latter, she knew, spelled certain death.

‘And no, that wasn’t an exaggeration; it literally meant death! She would absolutely never risk it.’

“Buzz—”

“Hm?”

Her phone vibrated in her pocket. Was it a text message? Or an email?

Still cradling the basket with one arm, Colt freed a hand to retrieve her phone.

It was—it was Ruka’s message!

A smile bloomed on her face, brighter even than the blazing sun above her head.

‘Did she miss me?! I miss her too!’

With trembling eagerness, she tapped open the message, then joyfully pressed the Japanese-to-Chinese translation button.

Then, the smile froze on her face.

The message had been sent several hours ago. Had she not emerged from the mantle, she likely wouldn’t have received it at all, and would have remained oblivious to the events unfolding in Japan.

[Ping-chan and the others were attacked by something I couldn’t detect…]

‘Couldn’t detect…’ The two words echoed like a telepathic whisper, chilling her to the bone.

Colt didn’t read the rest of the message; there was no need.

Without a moment’s hesitation, amidst the throng of passersby, she stepped into the ‘Corridor.’

With Earth’s current technology (excluding what Liliya personally possessed), communicating through the mantle was impossible. Therefore, before leaving, Colt needed to at least inform Liliya.

She returned to Liliya’s mining machinery with all the speed she could muster. The moment her foot touched the metal floor, an urgent plea burst from her lips.

“Liliya! Something’s happened with Ruka; I’m going back now!”

She then prepared to leave again.

“Wait! Explain yourself first!” Liliya’s voice boomed.

Liliya’s booming shout startled her, and before Colt could react, she was yanked into Liliya’s own ‘Corridor.’

“Ruka’s in danger! Let me out!” Colt glared at Liliya, her eyes blazing with fury.

‘This was no joking matter; an undetectable enemy posed a grave threat!’

“Then calm down immediately and explain everything clearly!” Liliya strode quickly towards Colt and delivered a forceful slap.

“Tsk—” Colt clicked her tongue in frustration.

A stinging heat bloomed across her cheek, yet, paradoxically, it jolted her back to a semblance of calm.

Ignoring her now slightly swollen cheek, Colt handed her phone to Liliya.

“I just received a message from Ruka,” Colt explained. “Those two juniors were attacked by something she couldn’t detect.”

Liliya took the phone and scrutinized it carefully.

Then—

“Are you an idiot…?”

“Huh?”

Colt froze, stunned speechless by Liliya’s utterly disdainful remark.

“There were two messages, you fool!” Liliya snapped.

Almost raging, Liliya thrust the phone into Colt’s face.

Displayed on the screen was the second message, the one Colt had overlooked:

[My apologies, Number Two. It turns out it was their ‘Corridor’ causing trouble; there’s no enemy at all.]

“…”

Colt felt utterly bewildered, an awkward cold sweat trickling down her face. Confronted by such an incredibly speechless situation, she could only blink silently.

‘I… had acted impulsively again…’

Without a single word, Liliya deactivated the ‘Corridor’ and returned to her operator’s seat, resuming her work.

“I got slapped for absolutely nothing…”

Colt murmured softly, touching her slightly swollen cheek as she gazed at the open message on her phone screen.

Yet, a sense of relief washed over her. All that truly mattered was that everyone was safe.

Although—

Half a day later, while on the plane to Japan, Liliya slapped her again…