Chapter 204
Chapter 204
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 204
Chapter Title: Yuria and the Two Psychics (1)
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It was the first weekend morning since my visit to the Association’s headquarters.
Normally, I'd be rolling around in bed, clad in pajamas much thinner than my winter ones.
But right now, I was bustling around the kitchen in an oversized T-shirt that reached my thighs.
So why was I so busy this early in the morning?
The answer lay in the various cooking utensils and dishes floating around me.
A kitchen knife bobbed up and down on the cutting board by itself, and a frying pan danced and clattered in the air.
Even the most oblivious person would have realized I was in the middle of cooking.
But perhaps it was a bit too noisy for so early in the morning.
Raven, his hair a mess as if he'd just woken up, staggered out of his room and spoke.
“Why are you making such a racket this early, kid? Are you practicing your cooking or something?”
“Mhm.”
*Technically, this is more like the real deal than practice.*
Holding a spatula for effect, I moved my hand as if conducting an orchestra.
The freely floating utensils and dishes swayed to my will, like they were doing the wave.
*Pretty cool, right? Just like in the movies.*
I looked at Raven triumphantly, and he just shook his head in response.
*Ah, I feel bad for waking him up…*
Suddenly, a good idea flashed through my mind.
So, I waved over to Raven, who was leaning against the doorframe and yawning.
He furrowed his brow, looking puzzled as if to ask what was suddenly going on.
But perhaps because he tended to do whatever I asked, he obediently came over.
I picked up a piece of the rolled omelet I'd made earlier and placed on a plate, offering it to the motionless Raven as if telling him to try it.
“Say ‘ah’~”
“Huh? What's that thing? It looks like an egg bite. Made of egg? Looks strange.”
“…Hmph.”
“Alright, alright, kid. Don't glare at me like that. It's scary.”
Fortunately, my non-threatening threat, delivered with sharply raised eyebrows, seemed to have worked.
He stopped his chatter, nodded, and meekly accepted the rolled omelet.
After chewing for a moment, Raven relaxed one eyebrow in surprise.
*If it had tasted bad, his expression would have stiffened as he tried to act like it was fine. So it must be better than he expected.*
*I mean, where else is he going to find a rolled omelet this savory and flavorful?*
Convinced this was a success, I giggled.
But while I was busy chuckling, Raven must have glanced around.
He picked up a lunch box from the corner of the table and spoke with a somewhat complicated expression.
“Don't tell me you're up this early to… make a lunch box? A homemade one?”
“Yep.”
“…Did you find someone you're interested in, or something?”
“…?”
*What's with him all of a sudden? Was the omelet spoiled?*
I gave Raven a reproachful look, as if to ask what kind of nonsense he was spouting.
*Does he really think I suddenly developed a crush on someone and am making a lunch box for them?*
*No way. The thought has never even crossed my mind, and there isn't anyone suitable anyway.*
*First things first, I need to clear up this misunderstanding before any weird rumors start spreading.*
I took out the Echo I had in my apron pocket and showed him a conversation log, as if telling him to take a good look.
[ Sabrina >> You didn't forget our plans for tomorrow, right?
Me >> Nope
Sabrina >> Don't forget we're supposed to prepare lunch boxes! I'm going to totally surprise you!
Me >> Kkk
Sabrina >> I'm looking forward to it tomorrow! ]
*I'm only making a lunch box because we agreed to trade.*
*And I started early simply because I didn't think I'd have enough time if I took it easy.*
*It's not at all because I have some weird crush on someone.*
My clear displeasure, conveyed through my pout, must have gotten through to him.
Raven let out a small sigh as if to say, *Is that all it was?* and lightly touched his forehead.
“Right…. Then let me ask one more thing. What did you make?”
“…!”
*This, that, and that over there.*
I pointed to the dishes on the plates, in the order they would go into the lunch box.
They were none other than my own versions of bulgogi, sweet and spicy fried chicken, and stir-fried fish cakes.
Today's theme was a familiar Korean-style lunch box… or something like that.
Including the white rice, finding the ingredients was honestly harder than the cooking itself.
But perhaps thanks to my early morning efforts, the results were quite satisfying.
*Seeing as even Raven, with his kid-like palate, enjoyed the rolled omelet, the seasoning must be just right.*
“You've really put your heart into it…. Well, have fun with Sabrina. *Yawn*, I'm going back to bed.”
Was he satisfied just confirming it was nothing serious?
He turned on his heel and headed back to his room with a long yawn.
*It seems he went to bed late last night because of a job.*
Not wanting to disturb him, I just watched him go.
Then, I skillfully filled my lunch box and another one for Raven's lunch later.
After putting the used dishes, utensils, and frying pan in the dishwasher, I headed for the bathroom.
It was 7:30, and my meeting with Sabrina was around 10:00.
If I took a leisurely shower and then had some of the leftover food for breakfast, I'd have plenty of time.
*It's getting hot... I should wear something light.*
Fresh from the shower, I changed into a sleeveless dress Alice had bought for me once.
Exposing so much skin still felt a bit awkward, but it was much better than getting soaked in sweat.
By the time I was fresh, clean, and ready to go out, it was around 9:00.
If I left now, I'd have a comfortable thirty-minute buffer before our meeting time.
*Well, I'm off.*
Adjusting my mask, I gave a silent farewell to Raven, who was probably sprawled out on his bed.
Then, slinging the small bag with the lunch box over my shoulder, I tried to slip quietly out of the agency.
But as I swung the door open, I froze.
A strange woman was standing there out of the blue.
*Huh? Who's this...? A client visiting on the weekend?*
A crisp, wrinkle-free gray suit, tall for a woman, with slender legs and high heels.
A beauty with dull blonde hair tied up high in a ponytail and a stern expression.
No matter how I looked at her, she was a complete stranger, yet she seemed to have clear business with our agency.
Perhaps she was a client with an urgent matter. Coincidentally, that wasn't uncommon.
*In that case... should I go back inside and wake Raven up? He's probably fast asleep.*
Just as that casual thought crossed my mind.
“Silky white hair and a white fox mask…. Are you, by any chance, Lady Yuria?”
“Huh?”
*...Wait, her target wasn't Raven, but me?*
As I blinked in bewilderment at this completely unexpected development, the woman slowly scanned her surroundings before speaking in a low voice.
“I'm from the Fixer Association. Would it be alright if we spoke for a moment?”
“…”
*The Fixer Association... Could this be about that dedicated psychic division they mentioned?*
*I can't just ignore this, but why now of all times?*
*They could have at least contacted me beforehand so I could postpone my plans.*
Feeling troubled, I squeezed my eyes shut and had no choice but to lead her into the agency.
Thankfully, Raven, who must have woken up again, seemed to grasp the situation.
I was able to safely send a message to Sabrina, telling her that something came up and I'd be a little late.
*I almost made her wait all alone at our meeting spot.*
I couldn't help but feel a little annoyed with the woman.
***
The reception room of the Crowley Fixer Agency, a place whose layout I could now recall with my eyes closed.
Perhaps she noticed that my mood had soured a bit due to her sudden visit.
The woman in the suit, sitting across from me, bowed her head deeply in apology.
…I tried my best not to show it, but she seemed to be a very perceptive person.
“I apologize for visiting without prior notice. I was concerned about the possibility of information leaking…”
“That's what she said. Calm down, she must have her reasons.”
“…Okay.”
*To be honest, my anger had already subsided.*
*I fully understood that it wasn't really the Fixer Association's fault.*
*When I think about it, this is a top-secret project.*
*If it's already been exposed, there's nothing to be done, but it's best to keep it hidden as long as possible.*
There'd be nothing more troublesome than having information leak out because of a careless message.
Especially since the Metahuman Liberation Army knows the Fixer Association has a psychic.
*If I were to be specifically identified as a psychic... well, things would get very tiresome.*
*So, not contacting me in advance was, in a way, for my own sake.*
Knowing that, there was no reason to be so upset.
“Then, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Jellin. You can think of me as the agent in charge of the dedicated psychic team.”
“Hmm, never heard that name before. You're not a Fixer?”
“No, I am not a Fixer. I'm from the shadow division, and I have no intention of stepping into the light…”
“The shadow division? That group of assassins… Hmm. Identification? Surely you didn't come empty-handed.”
“Here it is.”
“…!”
*Whoa, what's with this smooth-flowing conversation?*
It felt like watching a scene from a noir film, making my heart pound.
*Anyway... from the shadow division, huh.*
It was one of the groups clearly etched into my knowledge of the original story.
To put it simply, it was like a special assassination unit known only to those in high places.
I remembered it as a group Raven had clashed with several times back when he was a soldier.
*They weren't exactly enemies, but not allies either... More like a neutral group specializing in assassination?*
So, there was nothing particularly wrong with what she was saying.
Raven, after checking her ID, also nodded as if to confirm she was trustworthy.
“I heard the story from the old man. That a woman named Jellin would be stopping by Nighthaven for a Fixer audit. I wondered what that was all about, but I guess it was to hide your true purpose.”
“Yes, as it's a top-secret matter.”
“Then let me ask you this. What exactly do you plan to do with this kid while you're in Nighthaven?”
At Raven's question, Jellin froze as if she'd been caught off guard.
But it was only for a fleeting moment, one you might dismiss as a trick of the eye.
Slipping a hand inside her jacket, she placed something wrapped in a handkerchief on the desk.
She then slid it toward me, her gaze seeming to invite me to open it.
I picked it up with a slightly puzzled look and examined the contents. It was none other than the crescent-shaped object I had entrusted to the Association.
*Is the investigation on this already over?* I looked at Jellin in surprise.
In response, she opened her mouth, her face stern, as if answering Raven's earlier question.
“I am simply following orders.”
Jellin lifted the corners of her mouth into something resembling a smile.
But it was somehow awkward, making her seem like a puppet moving on strings.
It seemed this person was anything but ordinary.