Chapter 168
Chapter 168
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 168
Chapter Title: The Black Crow and the White Ghost (5)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The chill was so sharp it felt like my skin would freeze solid.
After all, the cold always deepened the longer the night wore on.
So, how cold must it be in the dead of night, not long after the day had passed?
Especially since Nighthaven was a city famous for its fierce winds, being so close to the sea.
The wind that brushed past after sunset was painful enough to make you want to scream.
*Sigh*, I wish this dreadful winter would just pass already.
As that thought crossed my mind, I scurried forward, my gaze fixed on the ground.
Both my hands were tucked deep into my pockets, too numb with cold to even consider taking them out.
“Hey, don’t walk with your hands in your pockets. It’s dangerous. What if you fall?”
“…”
“What, you planning to use your psychic powers if you fall? Let me give you some advice: don’t use that power if you can help it. Even using it secretly should only be for when you’re in real danger. Got it?”
But what am I supposed to do when it’s this cold?
I shot a silent, accusatory glare at the one responsible for dragging me out here in the first place.
Of course, I was wearing a fox mask right now.
It was a shame Raven couldn’t see the fierce look in my eyes.
“Tsk, I should’ve made you wear gloves… Yuria, give me one of your hands.”
“…?”
“My body temperature is higher than most people’s. It won’t feel that cold.”
Was he bluffing?
When I reached out from my pocket and touched his hand, a wave of warmth immediately spread through mine.
It wasn’t scorching hot, but it felt like a well-used hand warmer.
It was a surprisingly warm body temperature for a bitterly cold day like this, with the sharp wind blowing.
As expected of an enhanced human, whose metabolism was several times that of an ordinary person.
From now on, I decided it would be a good idea to linger near Raven whenever it got cold.
“So, we’re at the park you mentioned… Is there really a laboratory under here?”
How long had we been walking through the night streets of Nighthaven, hand in hand with Raven?
Just as my toes started to feel numb despite being fully armed with thermal underwear and socks.
Raven and I finally reached the deserted park on the outskirts of the city, the one I had pointed to on the map.
A park so unpopular it was beyond deserted, receiving only the bare minimum of maintenance with virtually no visitors.
Perhaps because it was so late, a lone, towering streetlight cast an eerie glow.
To think a secret laboratory was hidden in such a brazenly open place, even if it was a deserted park.
Worried Raven might be suspicious, I carefully glanced up at him to read his expression.
“…!”
“Ah, I’m not doubting you. Experiments related to psychic powers are so meticulous and carefully planned that they don’t leave any traces. In fact, the very fact that it’s so inconspicuous makes it more credible.”
Raven’s reply was that the lab’s location inside the city actually made him trust it more.
His unexpected reaction left me no choice but to show my surprise.
But come to think of it, he had a point.
Fixers reacted almost pathologically to anything related to invaders.
If even experts like them couldn't find it, it made sense that he would find it more believable.
So, does that mean I’ve pulled off something amazing again? You should be very grateful to me!
Feeling a surge of pride, I puffed out my chest in a gesture full of confidence.
But I guess my intention didn’t come across clearly.
The look Raven gave me was simply… peculiar.
“So, where do we go from here? Do you remember where the entrance is?”
“…”
It was only a few months ago, so I still remember.
As if to say so, I tugged on his hand and gently led him deeper into the park.
Given the time of night, our only guide was the beam of light from the flashlight Raven had brought.
We carefully made our way through the withered winter woods, which looked like something out of a horror movie.
But it’s amazing that there are still green grass and leaves alive even when it’s this cold.
As I walked on, marveling at this strange detail, I suddenly realized a problem.
‘Huh? Come to think of it, that ventilation shaft… can Raven even fit through it?’
I froze.
Perhaps because my brisk steps came to a sudden halt.
Raven glanced at me and asked what was wrong.
But unable to speak, it was a difficult thing to convey.
How was I supposed to mime, ‘There’s a passage, but it’s probably too narrow for you’?
“What’s wrong? Is there a problem?”
“…!”
So, I shook my head to tell him it was nothing.
First, I decided to show him the passage to prove I wasn’t lying.
And how far did we walk, treading carefully over the grass?
When we finally reached the familiar place faintly etched in my memory.
I bounced on the balls of my feet, pointing to the spot and looking up at Raven with a bright expression as if to say, ‘Here!’
“This is it? Hmm… Well, it doesn’t look like anything special…”
Upon arriving, Raven let go of my hand and quickly scanned the area, his eyes observing everything.
His gaze was as sharp and fierce as a hawk searching for prey from high in the sky.
But perhaps because there was nothing out of the ordinary on the surface.
He soon stood stock-still and closed his eyes lightly, as if concentrating on the sounds.
Then, in just a few seconds, his eyes snapped open, and he strode forward with a look of realization, crouching down.
“I can hear the faint sound of wind leaking from over here. There’s definitely something under the dirt.”
“…?”
Wow, that’s amazing. You can actually hear that.
Just what I’d expect from someone who can shoot a bullet with another bullet.
I was inwardly impressed by Raven’s skill, and after confirming once more that no one was around.
I quietly spread my psychokinesis underground and lifted the lid covering the ventilation shaft.
Dry, hard dirt and grass, withered from the cold, pattered to the ground.
And a suspicious-looking ventilation unit was naturally revealed.
Hmph, I helped you so you wouldn't have to go through the trouble of digging.
Aren’t you so grateful you just want to pat my head?
As I stood there with my hands on my hips in a proud pose.
Raven stared at the lid moving on its own with a look of disbelief, then whipped his head toward me and spoke with a very firm expression.
“Yuria, I told you not to use your psychic powers unless it’s dangerous. What if there’s a spy cam around here?”
“…”
“Wipe that frown off your face. I can tell even with the mask on.”
“…!”
…He’s like a ghost. How did he know?
I had been pouting inside my mask, and his follow-up words made me jump in surprise.
I was starting to seriously wonder if Raven had eyes like Vespera.
No, but… this was clearly the moment for him to say thank you and praise me.
I helped him save time, and all I get is a scary look and a scolding.
Feeling hurt, I resolved not to help him next time and quietly watched Raven as he examined every nook and cranny of the ventilation unit with his flashlight.
“Hmm, the passage is too narrow for an entrance… Yuria, you came out of here, right?”
“…”
“It certainly looks just wide enough for a small child to squeeze through. So this gap connects to what’s below.”
“…”
“Still… I can’t get in this way. It looks like we’ll have to find another entrance.”
Raven continued talking to himself without waiting for my response.
But the conclusion he finally reached was rather troublesome.
Another entrance? I don’t know anything about that…
Does that mean if we can’t find a suitable entrance big enough for him to go down, we have to keep wandering around this freezing park on this damn cold day?
‘That doesn’t sound good. And it’s not like we’ll find it easily…’
But Raven seemed full of determination, even in this cold and dark weather.
It seemed he had no intention of giving up on finding the entrance to the lab, seeing this as a rare opportunity.
If I said I was tired and wanted to go back, he would probably try to find it on his own.
But letting Raven work alone while I’m somewhere comfortable… that just doesn’t feel right.
So, feeling conflicted for various reasons, I briefly mulled it over before quickly making up my mind.
I’m going to freeze to death at this rate. Let’s just get this over with quickly and go home.
“…!”
“You, what are you—!”
*Rumble, rumble, rumble…*
The ground around us trembled as if a small earthquake had occurred.
The shock was like a chain of explosions going off underground.
Well, it wasn’t strange for it to shake like this.
I was forcibly using my power to widen the ventilation duct!
The shaft was quite deep, but thankfully, the duct itself wasn’t very sturdy.
In an instant, I was able to create a passage wide enough for Raven to pass through.
He, who had been momentarily stunned, seemed to quickly realize that it was all my doing.
Raven then shone his flashlight into the ventilation shaft and muttered in disbelief.
“Did you just forcibly twist the ventilation shaft to widen it? I can’t believe that’s even possible. How absurd.”
“…”
I want to go home quickly. Are you going to say something about this too?
I looked away, feigning indifference, while carefully gauging Raven’s reaction.
After all, he had just scolded me for using my psychic powers without permission.
My heart was pounding, worried he might scold me harshly again.
But after tapping the wall a few times to check its condition, Raven let out a deep sigh.
He walked over to me, standing there anxiously, and suddenly draped the coat he was wearing over my shoulders.
“Sigh… right. Maybe I was getting impatient without realizing it…”
“…”
“Why are you so scared? Relax, I’m not going to eat you. And… this will definitely be a big help. I’m sorry for being so harsh earlier, and… thank you.”
“…!”
I was surprised once by the heavy weight of Raven’s coat.
And a second time by his unexpectedly gentle words.
I never thought Raven would be the first to say something like that.
It seemed that his bad memories related to psychic powers had made him unconsciously on edge.
No wonder he seemed scarier than usual.
Still, if he apologized, it’s only right to accept it.
Feeling the warmth from his coat, I slowly nodded my head in understanding.
As a respectable adult, it was very important to show a forgiving attitude.
“Alright, let’s go. Down below.”
And so, Raven and I headed toward the lab through the passage that was now wide enough for both of us to pass through.
Of course, the inside of the ventilation unit was quite uncomfortable, as it wasn’t designed for people to travel through.
But whenever we encountered a difficult part, I used my psychokinesis, and we were able to enter the lab without much trouble.
And the sight before my eyes after exiting the ventilation shaft and landing on the floor left me utterly bewildered.
The inside of the lab looked completely different from before.