Chapter 205
Chapter 205
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 205
Chapter Title: Yuria and the Two Psychics (2)
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The Psychic Task Force, a top-secret project planned by the Fixer Association.
From what I heard, its purpose was to conduct research on psychic powers, with me at the center.
After all, the Metahuman Liberation Army, our primary adversary, had firmly joined forces with a group of psychics.
With a great battle on the horizon, it was necessary to establish countermeasures somehow.
‘The terror of psychic powers was proven when they brought ruin to another world, one that was filled with forces far stronger than our own. So they can't just brush this aside.’
If psychic powers were so dangerous, shouldn't they have found a way to deal with them sooner?
Hmm, unfortunately, it wasn't a problem that could be so easily dismissed with blame.
In the first place, psychic power is a different concept of strength, one that can't be explained by the laws of Earth or the other world.
It was understandable that the Fixer Association hadn't produced any significant results until now.
In fact, even the psychic group calling themselves the Invaders wouldn't have dared to properly create psychics if they hadn't secured the corpse of a dimensional invader.
They had even captured psychics in an incomplete state a few times, but the mental contamination was so severe that most either self-harmed or died from debilitation within days.
The stagnation of research on psychic powers was, in a way, an inevitable outcome.
‘So, for the Fixer Association, my existence must be a stroke of pure luck. I can sort of understand why even a Single-Digit Fixer is stepping up to protect me.’
From my perspective, this increase in influence isn't bad since it expands what I can do, but…
As someone who was just an ordinary citizen, being the center of attention is a bit burdensome.
Right, once all this is over, I'll live quietly among the people I love.
I shook off the weight on my shoulders with a small sigh, pulling myself from my thoughts.
It's good to ponder the future, but for now, I had a visitor right in front of me.
And there was still an unresolved question lingering in my mind.
Right, I understood that Ms. Zelin was the agent in charge of connecting the Fixer Association and me.
But why did she return this crescent-shaped object? Shouldn't they be studying it more closely?
“…?”
“Ah, are you perhaps wondering why I'm returning this?”
“Yes.”
“To be honest… embarrassingly, it's because we couldn't figure out anything about it.”
They couldn't figure out anything?
Somewhat flustered by the unexpected answer, I blinked, my expression blank.
Zelin, her expression still impassive, continued her explanation in a soft voice.
They discovered that its constituent materials were from the other world, not Earth.
But no matter how much they investigated, they couldn't find any trace of magic; it was just an ordinary stone.
Of course, knowing its power source was psychic, they tried all sorts of things for several days.
But in the end, without any meaningful results, they decided to return it to me at Tempest's suggestion.
‘Hmm, that makes sense. If they could figure out the objects, the Fixers would have been collecting them all along. Besides, even psychics don't know about them until they're properly activated. Maybe this was an obvious outcome…’
I brought the object in my hand up to eye level and examined it closely.
A crescent-shaped stone from which I could hear whispers if I concentrated.
To think this seemingly insignificant object held the power to mimic people.
Unless one could see the future, it was truly an unimaginable thing.
Well… whatever the process, the result was very good for me.
I was already handling two objects, the Tesseract and the Echo.
If I could do something about this one before it went berserk, it was highly likely to become my power.
From my point of view, the Fixer Association's decision to return an item that had already run rampant once was quite something, but to repay that trust, I had to produce a proper result somehow.
“Then I shall take my leave. I only came today to make a brief acquaintance and return the item we were holding. I apologize, as it seems you had an appointment. I will return to discuss matters in earnest someday, after scheduling a proper meeting.”
As I stood there, holding the object and lost in thought, Zelin rose from her seat.
It seemed her only business today was to greet me and return the object.
As she finished speaking, she bowed her head deeply to Raven and me in a sincere apology.
She seemed to think she had imposed on us by showing up unannounced, even if it was procedurally necessary.
Well… she wasn't wrong, and I was actually a little annoyed.
But when you think about it, this was all for my sake. It's hard to say anything. What fault was there to find?
“Nyak!”
“Oh, yes…?”
So, holding the object in one hand, I stood up with a clatter.
Then, I quickly moved to block Zelin's path just as she was getting up.
Seeing me suddenly block her way, her eyebrows twitched slightly, showing a hint of surprise.
But I paid it no mind and abruptly held out my hand to her.
One way or another, Zelin would be my liaison agent, so we'd be seeing each other often.
Let's do our best together! That was more or less the meaning behind it.
“Heehee.”
“…Yes. I look forward to working with you.”
I wonder if the intent behind my handshake request got through safely.
Zelin's expression seemed to thaw slightly as she carefully took my hand.
Her cautious gesture was like handling glass that might shatter with the slightest pressure.
Her respectful attitude was enough to make me wonder, *Why is she being so careful…?*
Still, with a personality like this, it didn't seem like there would be any trouble, which was a relief.
I thought to myself as I quietly watched Zelin's back as she left the agency.
“She was quite… a unique person.”
“…”
She was handpicked by the Association, so there shouldn't be any problems.
I nodded in agreement before taking out Echo to check the time.
The time on the screen read 10:10.
Ten minutes had already passed since my scheduled meeting time with Sabrina.
Thanks to Raven, I'd let her know I'd be a little late, but I should still hurry over.
I grabbed the lunch bag I had set down earlier and scurried to the entrance.
And as I was busy putting on the shoes that matched the dress I was wearing today.
Raven, looking fully awake now, staggered into the hallway as if to see me off and said.
“Are you eating dinner out?”
“Yeah.”
“Alright. If anything urgent comes up, call me immediately. I'll come no matter what.”
“…!”
Raven, you don't have to say it. I always trust you.
After tying my shoelaces tightly, I made a V-sign with my hand as if to say just that.
Then, gripping the shoulder strap of the lunch bag tightly in one hand, I strode out of the agency.
Sabrina was probably still waiting at our meeting spot. There was no time to waste.
*
I hurried onto the subway and arrived at our meeting place.
I immediately spotted Sabrina sitting on a bench.
In contrast to my flowing dress, she was wearing shorts and a short-sleeved t-shirt.
It was an outfit that suited the usually androgynous Sabrina perfectly.
But perhaps her shimmering white hair was just too conspicuous.
She noticed me right away, shot up from her seat, and came running toward me.
“Yuriaaaaa!”
“Nya… Hgyaak!”
*Squeeeeze!*
Sabrina latched onto my waist and squeezed so hard my arms felt like they were creaking.
It was a sudden ambush that made me gasp for air and struggle.
This girl, just as you'd expect from a bear beastkin, giving me a bear hug the moment she sees me…!
With my arms raised, letting out a pathetic sound, I meekly gave up resisting.
It was a little suffocating, but more stuffy than painful.
I'd made her wait for quite a few minutes, so this level of playful complaint was cute.
Just as I'd expected, she seemed satisfied after clinging to me tightly.
Still attached to my waist, Sabrina tilted her head up and giggled.
“I was waiting. You wore the dress I asked you to, too, I see?”
“Myang…”
“Heehee, it's okay. Something urgent came up, right? Then it's not really your fault.”
“…”
It really was something unavoidable…
Still, I bowed my head again to show I was sorry.
I felt too bad about making her wait to brazenly claim it couldn't be helped.
It seemed Sabrina wasn't really angry but just wanted to use this as a chance to tease me a bit.
It was an incredibly cute prank. I giggled foolishly and poked Sabrina's cheek.
And soon, was she finally satisfied with the tight hug?
She gently let go of my waist, then grabbed my hand and led me toward the exit.
“Come on, let's hurry! You're only an hour late. It's still fine!”
“Okay.”
Since we're a little late, let's make the most of our time.
Thinking this, I obediently followed Sabrina off the platform.
And as we left the station, a massive stadium that drew an involuntary gasp of admiration came into view.
My plan with Sabrina today was to watch the final match of her favorite sport.
The atmosphere was already boiling with excitement even before it started, making my heart pound.
‘A crowd so thick it's hard to move forward… this must be really popular. Huh, is that…’
Having never been to a place like this, even in my past life, I was filled with a sense of novelty.
As I casually glanced around, a familiar back suddenly caught my eye.
A masked girl with black hair tied in a ponytail, trudging up the stairs.
But as if I'd imagined it, I blinked, and she was gone without a trace.
If I wasn't mistaken, that was… Ren, an executive of the Invaders.
My mind, which had been completely relaxed, tightened sharply.
Something might happen.
An ominous premonition began to pound in my chest.