Chapter 221
Chapter 221
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 221
Chapter Title: A Brother's Request and a Dire Warning
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After the shocking first meeting where I was called a "thieving cat" by the expressionless, angelic beauty, Lana.
Having introduced ourselves at the train station, we all headed to the Fixer Agency together.
For one, the Seraph siblings, having just disembarked from the luxury train, were far too conspicuous.
There was also Raven's concern that I might get caught in the unwanted attention.
I mean, an unidentified girl in a mask photographed among world-famous celebrities?
Someone would definitely pop up, wanting to investigate just who that person was.
Of course, it's not like they could tell I was a psychic just by looking at me…
Still, there was nothing to be gained from my face becoming known worldwide. What if I accidentally became famous?
*‘Well, it’s not like any photos will survive anyway.’*
But contrary to Raven's worries, I wasn't concerned at all about my identity getting out.
That was because I had been using Echo to thoroughly corrupt the data of any cameras secretly taking pictures of us.
Paparazzi are criminals. You should reflect on your actions. Something along those lines.
I hoped they'd be terrified by the mysterious messages left in their data.
Anyway, after arriving at the agency, our entire group naturally gathered in the reception room.
Seraph, a man whose every movement was beautiful, looked at Raven and spoke politely.
“Mr. Jin Crowley, I’ve heard a great deal about you. That you’re one of the most reliable Fixers in Nighthaven.”
“Hah, who’s been saying that? I think that’s a gross overestimation.”
“Hehe, I heard it directly from Lord Tempest.”
“Ah, that old man… What has he been going around saying?”
Raven looked utterly dumbfounded by the incredibly burdensome praise.
Knowing just how many Fixers there were in Nighthaven, he understood how extreme of an assessment that was.
And to think the one who said it was none other than Tempest, a man of absurd authority?
If I were in his shoes, I felt like my stomach would be riddled with pinpricks.
From my perspective, however, it wasn't entirely wrong.
While I couldn't call him the strongest, he was certainly the most trustworthy person from a client's point of view.
Even if there were people who could handle jobs faster than Raven, or were several times stronger than him.
People who could deliver such a perfect conclusion were probably rare. He was the protagonist of the world, after all. What could you do?
*‘Still, hearing it from this guy… is a little bewildering.’*
Sitting next to Raven, I quietly observed Seraph, who was smiling refreshingly from across the room.
An androgynously beautiful face that you’d believe belonged to a woman if only his hair were longer.
The glowing halo above his head and the pure white wings extending from his back proclaimed his angelic presence.
But the more surprising fact was… this man was the strongest, the number one ranked Fixer!
For the record, his rank hadn't risen due to Tempest's retirement; the even more astonishing part was that he had been number one for a long time.
*‘Well, the rankings reflect both performance and popularity. It’s not that strange for this guy, with his overwhelming support in Europe, to be number one. If anything, it’s more surprising that Tempest, who had retired from active duty to work as the mayor, was still holding the number two spot.’*
In terms of pure power, Tempest before his heart injury was probably superior.
Still, it was clear that his skill and recognition were acknowledged enough to place him at the top.
He was truly the pride of Europe, its guardian deity!
And he was getting an endorsement from such a huge figure.
It must be difficult for Raven to respond.
Still, it’s a compliment, so why not just accept it?
It’s not like the other party is going to make some unreasonable request.
Filled with that sentiment, I secretly patted the thigh of a frowning Raven.
In return, he flicked my thigh as if to call me cheeky.
Was it because his flicks were so vicious? His flick was painful enough to make my eyes water. He complains even when I try to console him.
“In any case, it’s a good word from Lord Tempest. Thank you also for taking on Anna’s escort. Since she is my precious little sister, I was worried. I’m glad to see nothing happened.”
“We were just doing our job. There's no need for thanks. We get paid for this, after all.”
Raven gave an extremely professional reply to Seraph’s thanks.
It was a reply devoid of warmth, but since he really was working for money, it seemed he meant it.
The two then exchanged some small talk.
The recent trends among Fixers, the current disturbances, the requests he had solved, and so on.
Just as the atmosphere warmed up with all the trivial chatter, Raven spoke calmly.
“So, what are your plans now? If you’re staying in Nighthaven for the day, it would be safest to take the client to your hotel.”
“Hmm, that was my thought as well… But if it’s not too much to ask, could I entrust you with her escort until we leave tomorrow? I’ll add to the commission fee.”
“And why is that…?”
Seraph’s unexpected request to extend the escort.
Raven glanced around, as if deep in thought, trying to read his intentions.
When I followed Raven’s gaze, I saw Anna, looking somewhat anxious.
Only then did I realize the reason for Seraph’s request.
*‘It seems if Seraph takes Anna now, we’ll have to completely step away from the job. And I, who has been sticking with the Fixer crew, would naturally have to part ways as well… Unless I’m mistaken, she didn’t want that to happen.’*
What, does she like me that much? How embarrassing.
Feeling a blush creep up my face for no reason, I scratched my neck with a finger and looked at Anna.
Our eyes met, and she gave a bashful grin, lowering her head slightly.
Perhaps sensing the warm atmosphere between Anna and me,
Lana, who had been clinging to her side and whipping her head around, turned to me with an expressionless face and said,
“…Thieving cat.”
“…Muek!”
It's not like that. No matter how you look at it, we're just normal friends.
I frantically shook my head at Lana, who was looking at me like I was a love rival.
But I guess my denial had little effect.
Clinging to Anna as if not wanting to lose her, she spoke with a hint of caution.
“Your name. It’s Yuria, right…?”
“Yeah.”
“I heard. That your face… is pretty. Is it true?”
“Mmhmm…”
It’s embarrassing to say it myself, but I do get that assessment from people quite often.
Feeling a bit awkward, I slowly nodded.
But I guess she couldn't just take my word for it.
Puffing her cheeks out in a slight pout, Lana rose listlessly from her seat and said,
“I’m curious… It’s the first time Anna’s praised someone like that… She’s never even done it for me…”
“Eh?! Lana?!”
At the sudden, shocking remark, a startled Anna shot up from her seat.
It seemed she had been secretly praising my looks to Lana.
Hmph, so that's how it is...
Calming down a bit, I subtly shifted my gaze to look around.
The adults around us were watching this whole exchange with very fond expressions.
Alice, a severe connoisseur of cuteness, was clutching her chest and breaking out in a cold sweat.
The back-and-forth between a beet-red Anna and an expressionlessly jealous Lana was apparently approaching a lethal dose for her.
*‘It feels a little strange to be part of this loop… but I guess there’s no reason to keep my face hidden.’*
As if in response to the flustered Anna and the staring Lana, I shot up from my seat.
Then, I slid the fox mask from my face, coolly revealing it.
Across from me, Seraph and Lana, seeing my face for the first time, looked rather surprised.
Soon after, Lana stared at me intently, then walked over step-by-step and nodded.
“…Cute.”
“…Yeah.”
“I want to be friends with Yuria, too.”
S-So that's how it is...
With only her eyes sparkling in her expressionless face, Lana suddenly declared her desire to be friends.
I wondered where the person who had been so wary just moments ago had disappeared to.
I felt the tension drain from my body, which I had been holding stiff in anticipation.
Was she wary of me simply because I was hiding my face with a fox mask?
I nodded, feeling like this must be what a hypnosis app feels like.
*‘Anna is… Yep, she seems fine.’*
Then, I suddenly worried about the neglected Anna and snuck a peek at her.
She was covering her mouth, deeply moved, apparently pleased by the sight of Lana and me getting close.
Come to think of it, Anna was so earnest about finding clothes for Lana that she even sought out a stand-in.
It seemed she was simply happy that her usually solitary friend had made a new friend.
Hmm, does that mean… I can consider this to have turned out well, one way or another?
Still, I’m glad their relationship didn’t get weird because of me.
With that sense of relief, the weight on my shoulders felt a little lighter.
*
After gaining two new beautiful friends of completely opposite types, Anna and Lana.
I, who had bewilderingly ended up staying at the same hotel, saw the two of them off at the airport the next day as they left by plane.
Both of them seemed to have taken quite a liking to me and appeared to want to stay longer, but…
given Seraph’s position, he couldn’t be away from Europe for long, so our parting was inevitable.
“Well then, Yuria, take care. I’ll come see you again someday!”
“Bye…”
“…Yeah.”
The farewell was quite simple.
I’m the type to be nonchalant even at school graduations, so I just gave a light wave.
Anna and Lana also seemed a little sad, but not so much that they were on the verge of tears.
It’s not as if our lives would be in danger, after all.
As long as we’re alive, we’ll meet again someday. Perhaps that was the feeling we all shared.
“Hmm, they’re gone. Miss Anna… I think I’ll remember her from time to time.”
“I never thought I’d meet the famous Seraph, but he was incredibly handsome.”
Alice and David, who had come to see them off as well, exchanged their impressions and leisurely turned to walk out of the airport.
But Raven, who was quietly watching the plane that had already shrunk to a dot, had a look on his face that suggested he had much on his mind.
His aura was so serious you’d believe him if he said there was a bomb hidden somewhere on that plane.
Considering the background, his expression wasn't particularly strange.
That was because last night, while speaking alone with Seraph, Raven had received some shocking news.
*‘The Metahuman Liberation Army’s attack on humanity is in two months…’*
The reason Seraph, the number one ranked Fixer, had crossed the sea to come to the Association’s headquarters.
And the reason he had come all the way to Nighthaven to meet the trustworthy Raven.
The war that would plunge the world into chaos was truly right around the corner.