Chapter 207
Chapter 207
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 207
Chapter Title: Yuria and the Two Psychics (4)
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The stands at Tempest Stadium were divided into three main tiers.
And like any other stadium, the cost of the seats increased the farther down you went.
The view and the immersive experience were likely quite different between the first and third tiers.
In any case, due to the multi-tiered structure of the stands, it was nearly impossible to look up from below.
The underside of the upper tier formed the ceiling for the tier below, blocking the line of sight between them.
In other words, if Ren was truly sitting somewhere in these stands…
I would have no choice but to go through the painstaking effort of checking every seat from the first to the third tier.
Yes, it was a dreadful conclusion that made me dizzy just thinking about it.
“Excuse me, coming through!”
“Does it get more crowded every year? I’m getting dizzy.”
“Still, you can’t miss the finals! I even took the day off for this!”
“…”
Overwhelmed, I squeezed my eyes shut and moved to a secluded spot so I wouldn't be in anyone's way.
Rather than moving recklessly without a plan, I decided to first assess the situation.
Alright, first, let’s think about how long it would take to search the entire stadium.
Considering its size, it would probably take about ten minutes to get from one end of the stands to the other.
Of course, factoring in the dizzying crowd and the time needed to check each person's face, it would likely take twice as long.
Did that mean it would take a full hour just to search all three tiers?
Hmm, if I could deploy a few dozen people and push through with sheer numbers, maybe.
But no matter how I looked at it, finding her on my own was far too unrealistic.
There’s a limit to how much you can bang your head against a wall. This was a shortcut to getting my head cracked open.
‘Isn’t there a better idea? A way to single out one person in this vast space…’
The most plausible option was still to recklessly bring in Fixers or agents to help…
But my inability to speak properly and the fact that I wasn't an active Fixer were holding me back.
Should I just fly around using my psychokinesis and find her myself?
No, even in desperation, revealing my identity was too great a risk.
And what if I went to all that trouble only to fail and let her get away…
Yeah, the Association would surely look at me with disappointment, wondering what on earth I was doing.
‘Ugh, this won’t work, that won’t work… Then what am I supposed to do!’
Feeling a tightness in my chest, I scratched at the side of my head in frustration.
My own incompetence and the anxiety of not knowing how things would turn out were driving me crazy.
But perhaps my pathetic display, crouched in a remote corner, was drawing attention.
Suddenly, footsteps stopped nearby, and a gentle voice spoke to me.
“Hey there, little one. Are you lost? Did you lose your mom?”
“…”
Huh? What? It’s not like I’m distressed because I’m lost…
I had been clutching my head with both hands, and I looked up at the woman who had suddenly spoken to me.
I mean, I can see why she’d misunderstand from my appearance! But that’s not the situation at all!
Hunched over, I felt a sudden wave of embarrassment and shot up to my feet.
Then, I waved my hands dismissively, signaling that it was nothing, and scurried away.
Getting involved could complicate things. It was a desperate plea for her to leave me alone.
“Oh, oh…! Hey, kid!”
“…!”
Phew… I was almost sent to the lost and found.
Hiding among the crowd, I clutched my chest in relief when something suddenly caught my eye.
It was none other than a giant screen.
A so-called Jumbotron, so massive that its contents were clearly visible even from a distance.
It had been located in a spot that wasn't easily visible from where I was before. As I stared at it quietly, an idea sparked in my mind.
‘Wait, come to think of it… they sometimes show the audience on camera during the match to enhance the broadcast's sense of presence or to encourage crowd participation. Yes, if I use that camera…’
It would be much more efficient than wandering through these vast stands myself!
On the spur of the moment, I embraced the rather decent idea and turned around, leaving the stands.
Then, in a corner of the less crowded inner hallway, I cupped my hands around Echo’s screen.
This was to avoid letting anyone see me operate it without touching the screen.
‘Echo, can you find one person using the cameras inside the building?’
[ That is not a difficult task. …However, I am not adept at distinguishing between humans, so you will need to provide detailed characteristics. ]
Since I’d never tried this before, I asked the question with some hesitation.
Echo replied without much deliberation that it was entirely possible.
Well, considering Echo’s godlike performance with electronics, it made sense.
It was a task that even an ordinary AI could handle, so there was no reason Echo couldn't.
Still, I had my doubts, so this was a huge relief.
Since there were cameras that could survey all the stands…
With Echo’s help, finding Ren shouldn't be too difficult.
‘The person I'm looking for is a girl with long black hair and a build similar to mine. She's wearing a black jacket and hot pants. Her hair is tied back in a ponytail, and she's wearing a mask that covers the area around her eyes.’
[ Understood. I will begin searching the stands for an individual with those characteristics immediately. ]
‘Ah, her hairstyle could be easily changed. So, if you find anyone else who matches the other features, include them in the search too.’
[ Yes. Understood. ]
This should do it.
Echo’s skills were reliable, so it was unlikely she’d be missed.
And Ren probably wouldn't be conscious of every single camera among the countless ones here.
If she was in the stands, the probability of finding her was practically 100 percent.
That’s a bit of a relief. Having cleared that small hurdle, I leaned against the wall and let out a sigh.
Suddenly, I heard the roar of the crowd from the stands inside.
I wonder if some fun event is happening over there.
Their reaction suggested they were completely oblivious to the potential threat looming.
Then, an unsettling thought popped into my head.
Wouldn't it have been best to send everyone home for their own safety?
‘Hah… If an Invader were attacking outright, I could be more proactive. Not knowing the enemy's intentions… is such a headache.’
But the biggest problem right now was that I couldn't be sure of Ren's intentions.
The woman I saw near the stadium was undoubtedly her.
It would be strange not to recognize her, given that perverted outfit that exposed so much skin.
And chronologically, it was highly likely she was still staying in Nighthaven.
However, her purpose remained a complete mystery.
Was she really planning to cause some trouble at this stadium?
Or was I just a coincidence that I ran into her while she was loitering around the stadium?
If it was the former, it was an emergency that required immediate and major preparations. But if it was the latter, it was best to let it pass quietly.
As long as the Association was hiding the truth about psychics…
I, who collaborated with them, couldn't make any rash moves.
‘Ah, seriously! If only I could speak properly, this would be so much easier! This is so frustrating!’
Who on earth put this curse on me?
Feeling a frustration I hadn't experienced in a while, I threw a few punches into the air.
If they were right in front of me, I would've pummeled them! My resentment was piling up.
But… it’s okay! Once I find Ren in the stadium, I’ll have taken a step forward.
Hoping for a good result, I anxiously chewed on my lip.
[ Lady Yuria, is the person you are looking for among these individuals? ]
‘…Is this really all of them?’
[ Yes, it is. ]
Unfortunately, Echo’s response betrayed my expectations.
Among the photos Echo had secured from the stands… Ren was nowhere to be seen.
Then what was going on? Was Ren’s appearance at the stadium just a coincidence?
I clutched my head, unsure how to process the situation.
Just as things were descending into a maze of confusion…
Someone came out of the stands into the hallway, panting for breath.
I shifted my gaze to check their face and realized it was the woman who had asked if I was a lost child.
When she saw me sitting slumped in the corner, her tired face brightened considerably.
She hurried over, sweating profusely, and said to me.
“Pant, pant… F-Found you. Hey, kid, I’m not a scary person. I’m just an aspiring police officer… I won’t hurt you!”
“…”
She’s treating me like a stray cat…
I let out a hollow laugh at her utterly desperate demeanor.
I could feel the sincerity in her expression, how she’d chased after me, genuinely believing I was a lost child.
*Sigh*, I appreciate your concern, but I’m a little busy right now.
To let her know I couldn't speak, I gently tapped my throat with my fingertips.
The kind woman looked puzzled, as if she didn't understand what I meant.
But soon, her eyes widened in surprise as she seemed to grasp that I was unable to speak.
“Oh, uh… I-I see. So that’s why…”
Hmm, why does she look so sad? Her empathy is off the charts.
To politely decline her kindness, I stood up and strode toward her.
With people like this, you have to be firm, or they won't back down.
In situations like this, a clear expression of refusal was needed rather than hesitation.
‘Huh? This is…’
But just as I got closer to convey my refusal…
A familiar and profoundly ominous sensation suddenly tickled my ears.
*Whisper, whisper, whisper…*
It was a bizarre sensation, like countless unintelligible voices overlapping.
Following the sound, I instinctively grabbed the woman’s wrist.
“O-Oh? What… What is it?”
“…!”
And then I realized the sound was coming from the entry wristband she was wearing.
It was a faint power, unnoticeable unless you got close, but it was unmistakably the aura of an Invader.
It seemed… Ren’s plan was already underway.