In response to her probing question, a sharp retort escaped his lips. It was the result of frayed nerves. She quickly collected herself and offered an apology.

"No, no. I'll apologize. I'm sorry for speaking out of turn."

It felt like being slapped in a river and then screaming rage inside a building. No matter how tense his nerves had become, lashing out at her would have been an inexcusable deed.

"I really need to find a way to relieve stress, no matter what."

Leila smoothed out the wrinkles between her eyes with her hand.

"Sorry. I think I've become too sensitive. I'll go take a break now. See you tomorrow morning."

Leaving this place was the first priority. She thought to herself. As she turned to leave, a large hand grabbed her shoulder.

"... Is Detective Cassilia going to get angry and leave on her own?"

It was Arcangelo.

"Oh, please."

Leila squeezed her eyes shut. She wanted to avoid him so badly, as she thought his face would make her truly furious.

"Did I say something wrong?"

"Maybe I'm just tired..."

"Do you think it's okay to let everything slide just because you're tired? What a convenient way to live your life."

He didn't seem to have any intention of letting go of Leila.

"I can hardly believe that you are the same person who said to me before that it was disappointing to link personal feelings with a mission."

"..."

"If you look at it that way, aren't you also linking personal feelings with your mission? Even your decision to leave on your own seems like that."

Her body wasn't particularly tired, but her mind was exhausted. She felt like it would be easier to just nod and let everything go.

Leila gritted her teeth and resolved to endure with the mentality of "A mountain is a mountain, and water is water." She had spoken without thinking, driven by the intensity of the moment.

"When they said we had to complete the mission instead of finding a cure, I was conflicted."

However, she couldn't just let those words pass by.

"Who associates real emotions with their mission? Is it the same person who advocated for a separate investigation for understandable reasons? Or Detective Cassilia let her own emotions harm her team?"

Leila struggled to keep herself composed. She bowed her head and tried to relax her clenched fist.

"Doesn't this seem like it's not about the mission?"

Arcangelo Urseau was only trying to provoke her.

"I suffered a great injury to my pride because I had to rely on you to survive. I can't just accept it easily, so I'm doing this to defend my ego."

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She knew in her head that getting angry in this situation would only harm her.

"Arcangelo Urseau doesn't want to acknowledge me. The moment he does, something in his heart that I don't understand will crumble."

She recalled the new fact she had learned today.

"This is just an unfounded suspicion. It's a way to protect his own ego."

She desperately tried not to get angry.

"Don't act like you're the only one who's clean."

"..."

"That's why you're always in second place."

However, why should I endure it?

"Arcangelo is saying everything he wants to say, everything he shouldn't say, so why should I be the only one holding back?"

He blabbered on without even knowing the meaning behind his words.

"Detective Arcangelo Urseau, you know that, right?"

Furthermore, he was not ignorant. Arcangelo Urseau at least knew what I was sensitive about. When he said that he should capture the creator instead of saving himself, he knew that I was angry.

"A dog with a loud voice is not a victorious dog, but a defeated one. It barks louder because it doesn't want to admit its defeat."

"What?"

"You know, how about being honest? I'm not the only one hiding my emotions."

I knew my eyes were rolling, but I didn't want to stop.

"The Detective Urseau thinks he's been defeated."

I wanted to say that I'm not the only one who can crush people's hearts with words.

"I became a body that had to cling onto my ankle to survive."

"Detective Cassilia, are you crazy?"

"Am I crazy? I'm just telling the truth."

Leila smiled prettily.

"Like Detective Urseau."

Arcangelo made a face as if he wanted to strangle her. But Leila wasn't satisfied with that alone.

"In fact, you know that you're admitting it. That I have Detective Urseau’s life in my hands right now."

"Now...."

"So, am I the only one going crazy here without saying a word?"

Why should I be the only one enduring it?

"Oh, by the way, I forgot to mention. Did I not tell you that I had to perform the mission instead of saving Detective Arcangelo Urseau?".

Why should I be careful not to say something that he might take offensively even in his angry state?

"If I had not done so, you would have died a long time ago. You wouldn't have been able to scratch the surface of the person who saved your life and preserved your dignity here," she continued.

"......"

"I suppose I didn't like pretending to be kind alone, so I did as you wished. How does it feel?"

Yes, let's be honest. In truth, Leila Cassilia was annoyed with Arcangelo Urseau.

If he had not been poisoned, Arcangelo Urseau would have been bullying her and would not have known his secret. He would not have had to worry about researchers scratching his surface or not being able to rest properly in such an uncomfortable place.

Above all, he would not have met someone who would be nervous or fussy with the person who came to save his life.

"I held it in so hard, but in the end, it exploded."

She spoke what she wanted to say, but her heart was not at ease. She felt like her feet were sinking into the mud, slowly but surely.

"Worst of the worst of the worst."

She hated herself, him, and everyone in this house. Leila closed her eyes with a strong feeling of self-loathing.

Suddenly, there was a rustling sound.

"Huh?"

Leila opened her eyes and saw Arcangelo holding onto his chest and bending over.

Her head turned white.

"Is it because of me?"

Anger and frustration melted into mud. She hastily grabbed his hand, but his abnormal reaction did not improve.

Unlike the previous two cases where Arcangelo suddenly fainted, this was different. Although the waves flowed in, his condition did not change. His head turned white.

"Is it really because of me?" said Leila.