Chapter 197
Chapter 197
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 197
Chapter Title: A Special Meeting at HQ (3)
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Single-Number Fixer.
It was a term used to refer to the Fixers ranked from 1st to 9th by the Association.
If you thought about it in shonen manga terms… like the Four Heavenly Kings, the Seven Deadly Sins, or the Twelve Zodiac Guardians.
It might be easier to understand if you pictured one of those powerful groups that often have a number in their name.
In any case, the title of Single-Number Fixer could only be obtained by nine individuals out of more than ten thousand Fixers!
It would be no exaggeration to say that their skills and status were on a level that could not be trifled with.
This was essentially the reason why the Metahuman Liberation Army—composed of antisocial and utterly insane individuals like Necromancers, Werewolves, and Dark Elves—couldn't act rashly.
‘The only problem is that just as Fixers are scattered around the world, so are the Single-Number Fixers.’
However, since the scope of a Fixer's activities spanned the entire globe, it was a bit of a shame that the Single-Number Fixers were also divided among various countries.
Still, if these Single-Number Fixers were to gather in one place, they would undoubtedly become a formidable force.
If an all-out war with the Metahuman Liberation Army had broken out under those circumstances, it would have been over long ago.
‘Well… if things had really gone that way, the remaining metahumans and humanity would probably be busy fighting over their own interests rather than cooperating. In a way, maybe this ideal symbiotic relationship only exists because of an external enemy?’
To think that internal peace could be maintained precisely because of a powerful foe.
Considering all the people who had been sacrificed to end the war, it was a deeply ironic state of affairs.
…Wait a minute. Why am I suddenly thinking about this? There’s a limit to escaping reality.
I shook my head as if to clear away the stray thoughts and glanced at Raven, who was sitting beside me.
‘This is all Raven’s fault. If we were going to meet a Single-Number Fixer, he should have told me beforehand. I need to be mentally prepared for things like this… Now my head is just a mess.’
That was right. The reason I was suddenly dredging up memories from the original story was none other than this.
Sitting right in front of me was none other than the 8th-ranked active Single-Number Fixer, Frau!
A Plantmancer who could make countless flowers and plants bloom at will, capable of easily subduing hundreds, even thousands of enemies.
Since she had a fairly significant role in the original story, the pounding in my chest was an unavoidable physiological reaction.
‘And she even served us handmade sweets…!’
Perfectly baked cookies. This was what made me the happiest.
Feeling a little tense, I carefully brought a cookie studded with flower petals to my lips.
The cookie had an unfamiliar, mystical flavor. It was sweet, yet a cool fragrance lingered in my mouth.
Was it because it was made with flowers? It felt completely different from typical butter or chocolate cookies.
As I nibbled on Frau’s cookie, marveling at the strange sensation…
Frau, who had been watching me intently, smiled and spoke.
“It has a cool scent, doesn’t it? It’s a violet cookie… I made a batch since I heard we’d have guests. What do you think? Is it good?”
“...!”
Ah, yes. This is way more delicious than I expected.
I shifted in my seat, waving my arms wildly in the air.
It wasn't that I was trying to be cute or anything.
This was a form of performance art to convey my feelings to the other person.
A unique communication method I had acquired since I couldn't speak properly.
However, Frau didn't seem to understand what I was suddenly doing.
Tilting her head, her eyes widened as she belatedly realized something.
“This child, can she perhaps not…?”
“Yeah, she can’t really speak besides a few specific words. But she understands everything you say.”
“Oh my, is that so… She’s so brave despite her circumstances. What a strong girl.”
Frau looked at me with somewhat misty eyes, as if she were proud of me.
I sincerely wanted to object, wondering just what kind of image she had of me in her head.
But it seemed I couldn't properly clear up the misunderstanding without being able to speak.
Just as Frau was looking at me with pity and I was trying my best to convince her otherwise…
Raven, who had taken a sip of tea to wet his throat, cut straight to the chase.
“You heard the story from the old man, right? This is that psychic. This is the second time we’ve met since the Sky Garden, isn’t it?”
“...Eh?!”
You’re just going to say it like that?
Startled by Raven's sudden statement, I stared at him in bewilderment.
Wasn't my identity as a psychic supposed to be a secret from everyone else?
Perhaps my fervent thoughts, conveyed through my gaze, successfully reached him.
Raven glanced at me as I fidgeted and spoke nonchalantly.
“Ah, you don’t have to worry. I told you before there were only about five people in the Fixer Association who know your identity, right? She’s one of them.”
“Yes. It just happened to turn out that way. I remember briefly passing by you at the Sky Garden back then. This is the first time we’ve had a chance to talk, though… Say, Yuria. Would you mind taking off your mask?”
“…”
What the… So they were talking about me behind my back. He should have told me sooner.
After a moment of hesitation, I took off my mask and peeked out.
Frau, who was closely examining my face from right in front of me, seemed rather surprised.
Her eyes widened, and she covered her mouth with a similar expression to when she had offered me the cookies.
“Oh my, how adorable. I didn't realize at all back then since it was just a glimpse… What a dangerous face. You’ll make a lot of men cry when you grow up.”
“Hey, we’re having a serious conversation here.”
“What can I do? She has such a cute face.”
It would have been nice if you had a face like this when you were young. You don’t have a single cute bone in your body.
Frau pouted and muttered to herself.
Come to think of it, Raven and Frau had known each other since the war ten years ago.
To be on personal terms with a Single-Number Fixer and to casually call the great Tempest ‘old man.’
It was another reminder that Raven was truly the protagonist of this world.
Well, I suppose it was also because he had the skills to back it up!
However, Raven seemed displeased that the conversation had strayed.
He sighed softly and began rummaging through the bag he’d brought with him.
“Hah, forget it. Let’s get back to the point. The reason I brought her here today is simple. I want you to investigate a certain item, making sure no information leaks to the outside.”
“An item?”
“This.”
Clink.
What Raven placed on the table was a black, crescent-shaped object.
The object that held a special power, which I had cherished and finally awakened over the past few months.
It seemed this incident couldn't be easily dismissed.
He had suggested that it would be best for the Association to conduct a serious investigation into this item.
Of course, he promised to retrieve it and return it to me if the examination yielded no results.
Even so, I couldn't hide my disappointment, feeling as if it had been taken from me.
Then again, it seemed to have fallen dormant again after its one rampage.
No matter how much I spoke to it, it wouldn't answer, so it didn't really matter for now…
“What is this…?”
However, was the Invader’s energy only perceptible to me?
Frau showed no sign of sensing anything from the object.
If it were a magical artifact, she would have noticed immediately.
There was a reason why Fixers spread across the globe were completely unaware of the objects’ existence.
As a Fixer himself, Raven seemed to be well aware of this, and he calmly continued his explanation.
“I can’t be certain, but it’s an item related to the Invaders. It contains a psychic power that mimics people. It's not reacting at all right now, but…”
“It mimics people? Just their appearance?”
“...I can't be sure, but it seems to mimic not only their appearance but also their memories and habits. As for the limits on what it can change into or how it determines the form… I have no idea.”
“Hmm, I see. I understand for now.”
Flutter, flutter. The large petals on Frau's head swayed.
She seemed to be deep in thought, apparently unaware of it herself.
But the gravity of the situation was likely clear enough just from hearing the story.
Her previously relaxed face now wore a very serious expression.
Ever since the Invader attack, the Fixer Association had been trying to investigate them.
Even if this wasn't directly related to the Invaders, they wouldn't want to miss an opportunity to study a psychic power.
“I understand. This is certainly a matter worth bringing to me. We’ll investigate this item with the utmost care.”
“But if you don’t find anything significant, you have to return it. It’s something she was secretly hiding at home. She seems to value it quite a bit.”
“Ah…!”
“Heehee, is that so? Then I’ll do my best to get results as quickly as possible.”
Why would you say that…
I gave Raven a reproachful look before slumping my shoulders in resignation.
I had been worried I might get scolded for secretly hiding the object.
But judging from Frau’s reaction, she didn’t seem to be blaming me for that part.
Perhaps she knew I hadn’t intentionally tried to escalate the situation.
For me, who had been on pins and needles, it was a huge relief.
So, is our business at the Association headquarters finished now…?
As I was thinking this and fidgeting, Frau suddenly asked a question.
“Are you two planning to stay at the headquarters for a while?”
Stay for a while?
I glanced at Raven, asking for his decision.
I didn't have a choice in the matter anyway; I was just following his lead.
Raven seemed to understand my look. He scratched his cheek for a moment, then answered with a look of resignation.
“Well… it’d be a bit much to leave right after arriving. We’ll probably stay for a day. Catch up with some familiar faces, and she needs to look around here too.”
“Hmm~ In that case, why don’t you go upstairs? That person is probably training right about now. You should go see him before you leave.”
“That person? Who are you talking about?”
Puzzled, Raven asked her.
Frau spread her fingers as if it were the most obvious thing in the world and answered nonchalantly.
“Luxerion, of course. Were you planning on leaving without even seeing the highest-ranking person at the Fixer Association? You should at least say hello.”
What? Raven and I were both stunned.
Luxerion was undoubtedly the heavyweight ranked 3rd among all Fixers.
Moreover, he was a stickler for rules and principles, so a meeting with him wasn't exactly something to look forward to.
More importantly… does he also know I’m a psychic?
A cold sweat broke out on my back, and the nervous fluttering in my chest grew stronger and stronger.