Chapter 198
Chapter 198
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 198
Chapter Title: A Special Meeting at the Association Headquarters (4)
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The 63rd floor of the Association Headquarters, reachable only by taking a dedicated staircase up one more level from the 62nd floor.
Like the Blue Floor, this was one of the special areas where access was impossible without clearance.
The primary purpose of such special areas was for famous figures, like single-digit Fixers, to stay in secrecy.
Or, perhaps, to discreetly handle work or research that couldn't be disclosed to the public.
For the record, there were other special areas like the top floor of the headquarters or deep underground research labs.
The existence of these various hidden zones was also the reason why ghost stories often circulated throughout the headquarters.
In any case, the official name of this hidden 63rd floor was the Chartreuse Floor.
The moment I first set foot here, my eyes widened, unable to hide my astonishment.
‘I already knew about this from the original story, but… this is ridiculous. Is this really inside a building?’
The first thing that greeted me after climbing the stairs was a vast, expansive celestial sphere.
The pale blue sky filling the space above me, without a single cloud, felt somewhat overwhelming.
But what truly surprised me was something else.
The fact that this wasn't a real sky, but an artificial creation.
After all, with more floors piled on top of the 63rd, it couldn't possibly be the real sky.
If my memory served me right, it was a kind of augmented reality created by an artifact.
Even so, the realism was incredible! It was so fascinating I wanted to jump up and down on the spot.
“Is it that fascinating? Well, I suppose seeing something like this when it's not even a rooftop is surprising.”
“…Ah.”
Ugh, had I already started doing it without realizing…?
A wave of belated embarrassment washed over me. I pressed my lips together and pointlessly brushed dust off my knees.
Hah, my body has been acting out of sync with my thoughts a lot lately.
Acting before I think, or coming to my senses only after I've already done something.
It made my claim of being a proper adult seem utterly hollow.
Maybe being treated like a child by everyone has finally gotten to my head.
‘No? On second thought, I think I've been like this ever since I first woke up in Nighthaven…’
So where did this behavior of mine come from?
Perhaps a person's mind and spirit are simply bound to their physical body…
Just as I was pressing a hand to my lips, lost in rather serious contemplation.
A sudden, strong gust of wind blew from behind, pushing against my back.
It was a gale strong enough to send my white hair flying wildly in every direction.
As I held the sides of my head, someone appeared without a sound.
“You've come. I was waiting.”
“Ah, yes.”
A handsome man with long ears stood with a noble posture, as if he had been there all along.
It was Lukserion, the 3rd-ranked Fixer, whose identity was immediately obvious without a second thought.
Unlike with Prau, whom he'd met earlier, Raven seemed to feel a certain distance from him.
It was likely because, unlike her, he had no real connection with him and Lukserion was much older.
Elves were famously long-lived, and Lukserion was a High Elf, a member of their royalty.
He had a very youthful face, but he had probably lived for thousands of years.
‘…If there wasn't a reigning elven queen, he'd probably be called a king instead of a prince. Though his looks do suit a prince better.’
No wonder he's one of the most popular Fixers.
Honestly, with a face like that, he could have succeeded as an idol or an actor.
While I was lost in such thoughts, admiring his long, exquisitely blended blue and white hair.
Raven and Lukserion exchanged greetings, looking at each other with rather serious expressions.
“Lukserion. It's been a while.”
“From my perspective, three months feels like a brief moment, but I suppose it's quite a long time for a human. It's in moments like these that I'm reminded of our different perceptions of time.”
“Haha…”
So the logic is that for a human who lives a century at most, three months feels like a week to an elf who lives for a thousand years.
It makes sense. The brain perceives time as passing faster when repeating familiar experiences.
For an elf who has lived several times longer than a human and experienced so much, it wasn't strange for time to feel like it's flying by.
In fact, wouldn't it be more difficult to endure such a long life if they didn't feel that way?
That's probably why pure-blooded elves, not half-elves, generally seem so dry and emotionally reserved.
As I was staring blankly at Lukserion, my thoughts drifting.
Having more or less finished his conversation with Raven, he glanced at me and spoke.
“So, this is the psychic. Quite an unusual appearance. Do you have elven blood, perhaps?”
“She's purely human.”
“…A lighthearted joke. I can see her ears aren't pointed.”
This guy makes jokes?
Raven's eyebrow twitched, his expression seeming to say just that.
After all, Lukserion was known for his perpetually unchanging, stoic demeanor.
If you had no connection to him and had never spoken with him, you'd certainly think he was a serious person in all matters.
Well, thanks to my knowledge of the original story, I knew he was actually quite relaxed on the inside.
If he were to suddenly hit me with an elven joke, I was confident I could retort.
…Ah, right. I can't talk, so retorting is impossible.
Anyway, one way or another, I couldn't just stand there after receiving such a blatant compliment.
Ahem.
Clearing my throat lightly, I bowed my head deeply, offering the best greeting I could manage.
“…Nya, nyan.”
“Nyan? Are you trying to greet me? It seems you have a problem with your throat.”
“…”
“Are you suffering from an illness?”
If I had to say, it's something like that. I nodded as if to answer in the affirmative.
My throat itself seems fine and healthy, but I'm afflicted by a curse or something.
However, perhaps he didn't feel the need to pry into such deep matters right now.
He gave a slight nod of understanding before shifting his gaze back to Raven.
“I heard from Prau. You came to entrust an item to us?”
“It's a crescent-shaped object that has the power to mimic people.”
“Hmm, I see. If what you say is true, this will be a good opportunity to investigate psychic powers. Is that all you came for?”
“Yes. While I was here, I was planning to see the old man… I mean, Tempest. I heard he was staying in the hospital here at the Association Headquarters.”
“…!”
Oh, we're going to see our Tempest too?
At this welcome news that made my ears perk up, I looked up at Raven and fidgeted.
The last time I saw him was during the interview for the last Fixer exam.
This would be our first meeting in months, since the news that he'd been injured and hospitalized.
I still vividly remember turning down his offer to join the Fixer Association…
What would have happened if I hadn't refused back then? Various thoughts suddenly crossed my mind.
“I see, you're going to see Tempest… The hospital has set visiting hours, so you'll have some time to spare before then, won't you?”
“Uh, yes. So I was thinking of looking around the headquarters a bit…”
“Perfect timing. In that case, would you mind lending me something for a moment?”
“Huh? What would that be…”
Raven looked slightly puzzled, as if he didn't quite understand his intention.
I tilted my head in confusion as well; it was hard to understand what he wanted to borrow.
However, Lukserion himself seemed to have a clear intention.
With an utterly calm expression, he said something startling.
“I'd like to see Miss Yuria's skills.”
“…Excuse me?”
“…!”
S-see my skills?
Stunned by the unexpected proposal, I whipped my head to the side.
Perhaps he hadn't anticipated this turn of events at all.
Raven also wore an extremely troubled expression, as if he didn't know how to react.
This means… he wants to see the extent of my psychokinesis for himself, right?
After a moment of deliberation, I made up my mind and gave Lukserion a firm nod.
Immediately, Raven's brow furrowed into a serious expression as he called my name.
His face was stern, as if asking why I was making that decision on my own.
“Yuria, you…!”
“…Raven.”
But I had something to say too.
I've been thinking lately. This guy… he's been a bit overprotective of me.
When we first met, he had a ‘do whatever you want’ attitude, basically leaving me to my own devices.
But ever since I became his ‘sister,’ he's been trying to hold me back a little.
Don't use your psychic powers outside, avoid dangerous situations as much as possible, don't walk around alone late at night…
And if I break those rules, he scolds me so fiercely it nearly brings me to tears.
‘I'm not his real little sister… This kind of treatment is a little problematic.’
Not that I dislike his concern, though.
I took a bold step forward and spread my arms as if to block him.
This is important for me too, so don't interfere. That was more or less the meaning.
Quick on the uptake, Raven seemed to understand what I wanted to say.
The corner of his mouth twitched in displeasure, and he let out a low groan.
I turned my head back, glanced at Raven, and gave him a confident smile.
With my skills, it won't even be a proper fight anyway. I'll be back in a flash.
Should I call this confidence, or a lack thereof?
It was a strangely ambiguous, yet bold, thought.