I Am a Man

Clack-clack-clack.

The elevator descended rapidly, plunging into the darkness. A distant pinpoint of light shone with exceptional clarity against the gloom.

The orange flame of a kerosene lamp flickered softly. Stacks of newspapers were piled on the table alongside thick manuscripts covered in messy scribbles, weighed down by half-eaten bread and empty water cups.

“It’s me, Lynch Levive.”

A sudden movement stirred in the darkness before the petite form of Maya emerged from a corner. This time, she hadn't bothered to cover her face with a scarf, running over completely unobscured.

“Why did you come down again, Mr. Levive? It’s too dangerous. Please don't take such risks next time.”

Though complaining, the female reporter could not hide her delight as she took the large tray Lynch was carrying. Her eyes then filled with surprise. “What is... this?”

Actually having a hunch already, she eagerly placed the tray on the table and lifted the domed cover. A rich, mouthwatering aroma rushed forth.

It was the signature dish from Lattis Kitchen, one of the finest restaurants for Rhine City's middle class—red wine braised veal loin.

Head chef Mr. Morpheus truly lived up to his reputation as a top-tier chef renowned throughout Rhine City for thirty years. The moment the lid opened, the savory fragrance of beef blended with the rich aroma of red wine wafted out, mingled with the mellow scent of chickpea puree mixed with cream. When darkness suppressed the other senses, the aroma of food was heightened to the absolute extreme by the sense of smell.

“Why?”

A double portion of Lattis Kitchen's signature dish cost at least six shillings, and takeout was probably eight. Ever since her ordeal began, the female reporter hadn't enjoyed a proper meal. Surprised and somewhat incredulous, her eyes blinked as she looked at Lynch with astonishment.

“You were a huge help this afternoon,” Lynch explained, his expression completely calm. “Thanks to the information you provided, I cracked a major case on the spot. Well, you'll probably see it in the newspapers next time they bring them down. I made a fortune off it—fifty pounds plus a priceless treasure. Since you played such a big role, treating you to a good meal is the least I can do. Not just this, either. I've already planned it out—once all these problems are resolved and you can leave, I'll give you ten pounds as a finder's fee.”

“I see... You gave me a fright! I thought...”

The female reporter patted her chest and gave a self-deprecating laugh. Pulling Lynch to sit across from her, she finally sat down, picked up her fork and knife, enthusiastically speared a piece of beef, and swallowed it in one unlady-like bite. Her unabashed behavior drew a wry chuckle from Lynch, who then speared a piece of beef for himself.

The last meal the original owner of this body had eaten was the beef stew from Lattis Kitchen. Experiencing it again filled Lynch with deep emotion.

A shallow coat of gravy glinted on the tender, succulent beef, glistening like crystal under the dancing flame of the kerosene lamp. Beside it, a dish of chickpea puree was thoroughly folded with sour cream, radiating a sweet, milky fragrance.

He speared a piece of beef and took a bite. Mm, the beef was stewed until tender, yet retained a wonderfully bouncy chew. As his teeth severed the meat fibers one by one, a mellow wine flavor and savory meat aroma exploded in his mouth. The wine rose straight to his nose while the rich beef flavor swept over every taste bud, the two aromas harmonizing and lingering on his palate.

Followed by a spoon of soft, slightly tangy chickpea puree, any richness from the beef was instantly cut through, whetting his appetite to attack the next piece.

The female reporter ate ravenously, clearly enjoying herself, her brow brimming with joy. Even her blood-red eyes and sharp fangs looked far less menacing. Lynch, however, only took a few bites at first before falling into deep thought while staring at her. Only after pondering for a long while did he pick up his knife and fork to resume eating, as though he had finally reached a firm decision.

Noticing his reaction, Maya's hands twitched imperceptibly on her cutlery before returning to normal. She cleaned her plate completely, exhaled a long breath, leaned back against her chair, took a deep gulp of water, and let out a blissful sigh.

“So wonderful... I can finally eat a proper meal like a human again. The food is amazing too—it really is worthy of being Lattis Kitchen's specialty.” Maya rubbed her belly, closing her eyes in bliss as she murmured softly, “If this turns out to be my last meal, hehe... it's not bad at all.”

Lynch paused, keeping his head lowered as he asked, “Is it that obvious?”

“People in our profession are far more perceptive than most, Mr. Lynch,” Maya asked softly. “Before I die, can I at least know what's really happening?”

Lynch sighed, looking up at the strange, mutated face of the female reporter.

After their secret conversation in the carriage ended earlier, Lynch had stood dazed on the street corner for a long time, gaining a complete understanding of Elder Bru's underlying motives as well as his own current predicament.

Regarding this troublesome occult event, the ghoul elder appeared on the surface to be forcing Lynch to either hand over Maya or go stop the hillmen himself. In truth, it was a choice handed directly to him.

Handing over the female reporter meant eliminating his own interference in the matter. It meant choosing to step back and let everything return to its original trajectory. Thus, regardless of how the mystery itself judged things, as far as the sewer ghouls were concerned, whatever happened afterward would have nothing to do with Lynch. He would revert to a harmless outsider, free from the risk of confronting the hillmen or facing the terrifying soul fragment of Mordiggian.

Refusing to hand over the female reporter, however, meant refusing to detach himself from the occult event and insisting on meddling. And the ghouls' stance was equally clear: You brought this on yourself, so figure out how to stop the hillmen on your own.

Of course, playing the rogue and choosing neither was an option. But Lynch had already realized that when living in this city, certain unwritten rules were best left unbroken. Otherwise, the consequences would be unpredictable, and he would likely end up suffering for it in the end.

Lynch genuinely had no confidence, which was why he had hesitated for so long. Even up until they sat down to eat, he still hadn't decided what to do.

Reason and logic dictated that he should stay out of it, but...

【Heh...】

The familiar laugh resounded in his mind, soft and tranquil.

'Neighbor, am I being stupid?'

【Mm... But I will stay by your side as you keep walking forward.】

Heh... Lynch looked up at Maya, whose gaze was filled with complex emotions, and smiled faintly.

“Before you die, I will let you know the truth. But...” Lynch blinked slyly. “...that will probably be a very long time from now.”

“Huh?”

“Everyone thinks I'm going to hand you over, but I love saying no to people like that. Besides, we can't fully trust what they say anyway—we always need an ace up our sleeve.” Lynch clenched his fists and chuckled with gritted teeth. “Since I saved you the first time, I can save you a second time. If I want to save you, not even Jesus can take you away—I said so.”

“Huh? Who's Jesus?”

“No idea. Probably an evil god from somewhere.” Lynch shrugged and stood up abruptly. “Rest easy here for a few more days. I'm going to find a way to stop their ritual and put an end to your nightmare. I was a bit shaken earlier—are you still willing to trust me?”

“Of course.” The female reporter tilted her head and smiled, pointing at the plate. “It would be even better if I could have another portion tomorrow.”

“...It's coming out of your ten-pound finder's fee, no room for negotiation.”