Chapter 2 Under The Olive Trees, Among The Irises
"Yes," he replied coldly. Levi, known for his stiffness and firmness, didn't want to waste time on small talk. He wanted this matter resolved quickly so they could leave.
The middle-aged man looked at Nami with an annoyed look, as if to convey that he hadn't expected her to know a renowned young, super-genius scientist like Levi.
Yes, who doesn't know Levi Sanders? In a modern world where technology has advanced rapidly and mysterious monsters have begun to emerge, the existence of a genius scientist like Levi is crucial. He is the brains behind extraordinary inventions that help humanity combat the monsters that emerged after the mysterious eclipse 28 years ago.
Before he was born and grew up, several cities were destroyed and devastated by monster attacks. Humanity didn't know how to deal with monsters, and the technology at that time was designed solely for fighting humans, not monsters. Because of that, there are countless deaths due to monster attacks that appear unexpectedly.
After hearing Levi's short, cold answer, the three men looked at each other. They, who had initially been extremely annoyed by Nami's return, now felt guilty for forcing a renowned professor like Levi to intervene in this matter.
"Wow, Miss, it seems you're no ordinary person. You've made the most respected professor come here in person to resolve a problem you created."
"T-that—" Nami smiled awkwardly. It was clear she felt very embarrassed by Levi, considering this wasn't the first time he had helped her.
"Is this still a long conversation? I don't have much time now. You just need to tell me how much compensation for the damage to this building is, and I'll pay it all!" Levi said, starting to lose his patience.
"Do you hear that? Hurry up and tell him! He'll pay for everything, and then stop looking at me like that!" Nami was getting cocky, knowing Levi was on her side. She always did this when people blamed her for everything she had done.
"Tch, you shameless girl. Okay, Professor, let us inspect all the damage and calculate the compensation costs first, and then we'll let you know right away!"
"Okay, you can contact me. Excuse me!" Levi said, handing him his business card. The middle-aged man intended to shake his hand, considering this was a rare encounter. Levi was very famous and also one of the most influential scientists today, and his busy schedule meant he rarely interacted with the public. But instead of shaking the man's hand, Levi immediately left the place with a cold and unfriendly expression that made him seem arrogant and very unapproachable.
Nami hurriedly followed, not wanting to engage in conversation with the three men any longer. However, she felt a little sorry for Levi's ignoring them.
"Wow...you're ignoring that man. I think he's the building manager!"
"That's none of my business!" Levi arrived in front of his car, where his personal driver was ready to open the door.
"Are you going back to the laboratory?"
"Yes."
"It seems like having a steady job is so great. Being unemployed is really sad."
"Didn't you get a job in construction?"
"They fired me yesterday."
"Why?"
"They're afraid of me because I lift dozens of concrete blocks with my bare hands. They feel uncomfortable around someone like me. Yeah, maybe they think I'll make the mistake of destroying the building. I actually quite like that job, hahaha..." Nami giggled, but Levi noticed her unease.
It was difficult for others to accept her. She was incredibly strong, even beyond human limits. She wasn't accepted anywhere, and even became homeless because she was too old to live in the orphanage where she grew up. The friends she grew up with at the orphanage, including Aiden, had been adopted years ago. She was the only one left, while new babies and children kept arriving. Eventually, Levi agreed to take her in and let her stay in his laboratory as a security guard at night.
"You're already a security guard at the laboratory, which means you have a job and a place to live."
"But that's not enough, Levi! I have to make more money!" Nami protested. Her wages as a laboratory security guard were only enough to support herself.
"What exactly do you need so much money for?" Levi began to suspect her. He felt he was already paying Nami a very decent salary. Not to mention, he provided her with a nice bedroom and daily meals.
Nami fell silent, feeling uneasy about telling Levi. Since she first met Levi nine years ago, she had always been a pain in the ass. But Levi had always helped her time and time again.
"I-I can't tell you that," she said, her face downcast. She couldn't look Levi in the eye.
"I've considered you my friend. You could say you're my only friend. I'm not interested in making friends or hanging out with friends. But if you think of me as a stranger, that's your own problem," Levi said as he got into his car and asked the driver to drive. Nami remained rooted to the spot, not moving even though Levi's car was out of sight.
Friend? That Levi considered her a friend was quite unexpected. He remembered the first time they met nine years ago, when he was sitting leaning against an olive tree surrounded by blue irises.
It was raining, but not too hard. Nami, who had a small cut on her forehead after winning a fight with some boys, sat under a tree for shade. It was the same tree she had found on the hill with Aiden six months earlier. Whenever she missed Aiden, she would sit under it.
A boy who looked older than her walked up to her holding an umbrella. He had black hair and sparkling blue eyes. The boy stared at her for a moment without saying a word. But he seemed to know what the little girl had just experienced.
"Who are you?" He asked the boy, who looked like a teenager.
The boy had a cold, unfriendly expression on his face, but instead he offered her another umbrella.
"Want to come to my place? I'll treat the cut on your forehead!" He said. Nami was stunned, for some reason she wanted to cry. Even though she could beat up many boys and win fights, she was still a girl.
She nodded slowly and immediately approached the strange boy. She accepted his umbrella and followed him. She had no idea that her decision to follow the boy would change her life.
"W-what's your name?"
"Levi."
"M-my name is Nami."
"Nami?"
"Yes."
Nami smiled as she wiped away her tears. Every now and then, the boy glanced back to make sure she was really walking behind him.
"Levi, from now on, I'll follow you."