Chapter 231
Chapter 231
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 231
Chapter Title: The Mayoral Election and Round House (9)
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The Metahuman Liberation Army might come back for Black Anchor.
Having come to that conclusion, I sat on the subdued doll-woman's back and quietly waited for the police.
I wanted to go help Raven, since it seemed like something was happening over there.
But if I left, I might lose the information I'd worked so hard to get.
However, before the police arrived, I got a reply from Raven, whom I had already messaged.
It seemed he had managed to resolve the situation on his end. Not that I was worried he would fail, to be honest.
[ Jin > Yuria, what's up? Need help? ]
[ (Photo of Yuria sitting on the doll-woman, making a V sign) < Yuria ]
[ Jin > ...What in the world is going on? ]
Raven, who had expressed his confusion via messenger, immediately called me.
Of course, since I couldn't speak properly, it was a video call.
Raven appeared on the screen, looking quite tired.
But seeing no sign of injury, it seemed he was just exhausted from using up his energy.
Raven’s eyes moved up and down, as if examining me as well.
Soon, confirming that I was fine, he furrowed his brow slightly and spoke.
[ “Yuria, seeing you so carefree, I take it things ended well?” ]
“Heehee.”
[ “Is there someone next to you who can talk for you?” ]
“Uh-huh. Here.”
“Y-Yes?”
Nodding at his question, I held out the Echo to Lindi, who was peeking over from the side.
*I can't talk, so you do it for me.* I looked at her with sparkling eyes, conveying that general meaning.
Lindi looked extremely flustered, having been suddenly thrust into a video call with a stranger.
But did she soon recognize the person on the other side of the screen as Raven? Her eyes widened as she exclaimed.
“Oh, uh... Are you by any chance the famous Fixer, Mr. Raven?!”
[ “As far as I know, there isn't another Raven... And you must be Naval's older sister?” ]
“Ah, that... Yes, yes! My name is Lindi, and... I-I'm a fan of yours, Mr. Raven!”
[ “Oh, right. Thanks. Is it okay if I speak casually?” ]
“It's an honor!”
Lindi nodded with the most enthusiastic reaction I had ever seen from her.
Well, in the original story, Naval went to find Raven because she liked him in a similar way.
Lately, Raven had become famous as a sort of dark hero, taciturn and specializing in guns.
So it wasn't strange at all for him to have a young female fan. Even though he's really just a middle-aged guy on the inside.
Anyway, after Raven's light fan service through the video call ended...
Lindi briefly explained what had happened here to him, as he'd requested.
How I, along with Naval, had found Black Anchor, smashed the organization, and freed the people they held captive.
How I'd fought against a mysterious woman who suddenly appeared, used my wits to subdue her...
And how I was now holding my position in case of another attack.
Raven listened intently to the whole story, then asked her to put me back on.
He nodded as if he now fully understood what had happened and spoke.
[ “Good work, Yuria. I'll send a Fixer your way. Can you hold the fort until they arrive?” ]
“Uh-huh. Otay.”
[ “Heh, I'll contact you again later then.” ]
Raven seemed busy handling the situation on his end, so he was probably planning to send someone suitable.
I guessed it would probably be someone from the Psychic Power division, who knew the relationship between me and Raven well.
Well, a leading mayoral candidate had almost been killed by sudden attackers.
It must be tough just trying to sort out the chaos there. He seemed to be having a hard time, so I wasn't too disappointed.
‘I just washed up earlier, but now I'm covered in sweat and blood. Ah, maybe I should ask the Tesseract to make me clean...’
After finishing the call with Raven, I sat on the doll-woman's back and quietly gazed at the ceiling.
Does this mean the Metahuman Liberation Army has started causing a ruckus inside the city now?
I had no idea how the Fixer Association would respond to this; my pea-sized brain couldn't figure it out.
I'm not particularly smart, so my ability to act first is thanks to the Echo or my knowledge of the original story.
Still, I'll do my best. Feeling the presence of the objects in my possession, I quietly steeled my resolve.
***
After waiting for a long time in Black Anchor's hideout, sharing hamburgers I'd bought with my allowance...
A familiar face finally appeared at the entrance. It was none other than Jellin, who I had parted with earlier.
I waited for so long! Bored to death, I dashed out and stood before Jellin.
For a moment, she just stared at me blankly, a confused look on her face, as if she didn't recognize me.
Ah, right. I was in my transformed state.
Glancing around, I moved closer to Jellin and discreetly showed her the Crescent from my pocket.
“Uh... By any chance, Lady Yuria?”
“Yep!”
“Ah, I apologize for not recognizing you immediately. Your appearance changed so suddenly...”
Well... it was understandable. Right now, my hair was black, not white.
I was also taller, had a better figure, and was even wearing fashion glasses!
I had become a completely different person from just half a day ago.
It would be weirder to recognize me as the same person than to mistake me for my older sister.
Still, maybe because Jellin knew I could change my appearance, she believed me without any doubt.
Or perhaps it was because she trusted that I wouldn't carelessly show the Crescent to just anyone.
“...Even when grown, your appearance is still quite imposing...”
“Mweh?”
“It's nothing. Now, we will proceed under the Association's authority.”
Was it because I was lost in thought for a second? I missed what Jellin had just muttered.
But it must not have been anything important, as she calmly began to manage the situation.
Jellin might not look it, but she was an elite agent in charge of me, someone considered a key figure within the Association.
She was smart, highly skilled, considerate, and quick-witted.
Was that why? The situation, which had been at a standstill, started moving forward swiftly.
She gathered the bound members of Black Anchor, handed them over to the police, and had them sent straight to prison.
She listened to the circumstances of the captured rare Metahumans and offered them protection from the Association.
It was an incredible speed, unfitting for a time already approaching midnight.
My handler really is competent. I felt a renewed sense of respect welling up inside me.
“...Nyeh!”
“Hm? What is it?”
“Coo'.”
“Uh, um... Th-Thank you?”
If only I could speak, I would have been able to explain in great detail how impressed I was...
After all, I was actually quite eloquent in my past life. It was a real shame.
So, to convey my feelings, I gave her a thumbs-up and stomped my feet excitedly.
Had Jellin gotten used to me? She quickly understood my meaning and showed a hint of embarrassment with a small smile.
Seeing someone who was always so businesslike look shy!
I was so happy, feeling like the wall between us from when we first met had crumbled a little.
“Sister Yuria!”
“Miss Yuria.”
“...!”
Just as I was in the middle of clinging to Jellin, pestering her in a not-so-bothersome way...
Naval and Lindi, who had finished talking with the Association and were about to leave Nighthaven, approached me.
It seemed that since the two of them had no parents or guardians to rely on...
They were going to stay at an orphanage run by the Association, as per their offer.
It wasn't a bad decision, in my opinion.
The Association prioritized the preservation of rare species, just as they protected the fairies.
They might not receive extravagant treatment, but it was highly likely they would be provided for well enough not to be inconvenienced.
So, as I nodded to myself, thinking this was for the best...
Naval and Lindi came to express their gratitude, their faces full of sincerity.
“Th-Thank you. If it weren't for you... really...”
“Mhm. S'okay.”
“I'll be sure to repay this kindness one day.”
“Hmph.”
They would probably end up repaying their debt to the Fixer Association in some way after they became adults.
However, the two of them belonged to a fairly strong species that could grow their bones and use them as weapons.
I couldn't be certain, but I had a feeling they would become great Fixers in the future.
By then, there wouldn't be any world-ending threats, and I'd be a proper adult too!
So, I smiled brightly, pulled Naval and Lindi into a hug, and patted their heads.
Since they were both shorter than me, the feeling of them fitting perfectly in my arms wasn't bad at all.
“Well then, we'll be going.”
“Sister! See you later!”
“Yep. Bye.”
“Bye-bye!”
The Bone-Spur siblings, Naval and Lindi, left in a car provided by the Association.
Likewise, some of the other captured Metahumans received help returning to their homes.
Those with nowhere to go ended up receiving support from the Association, much like taking on a debt to them.
Soon, when only I, Jellin, the doll-woman, and a few Fixers were left in Black Anchor's hideout...
The doll-woman who had been my chair suddenly lurched and lunged at a nearby agent.
Did she perhaps judge that she couldn't win even with a surprise attack on me or Jellin?
It seemed her plan was to take advantage of the moment I stood up to grab a weaker agent as a hostage.
“Hmph.”
“As expected.”
“Ugh...!”
But was it because we already knew she was awake?
I threw myself at the doll-woman to pin her down, while Jellin shielded the agent who was about to become a hostage, foiling the plan.
In truth, there was no point in her pretending to be unconscious.
The moment she regained consciousness, the mana engine inside her body had started whirring.
Still, since she attacked someone, I can't just let her be.
My mood sinking slightly, I reached for the shoulder of the doll-woman I was sitting on and crushed it.
“Aaargh!”
“... .”
Breaking a person's arm hurts my heart a little.
But she's a doll anyway. I can just ask Karen to fix her, so it should be fine.
Did she realize she couldn't put any strength into her arms now that both her shoulders were shattered?
The doll-woman, her face contorted in pain, looked up at me and Jellin and shouted.
“Kuh, ugh...! W-What are you going to do with me now?!”
“Umm...”
How should I know? You're the one who attacked first.
I shifted my gaze to Jellin, as if to ask what we should do.
I thought it would be best for the Fixer Association to take her...
Perhaps sensing my gaze, she answered the doll-woman with her usual calm demeanor.
“Well. There will likely be various interrogations to obtain information. Torture is not the Association's preference, but if you fail to cooperate smoothly... it's not entirely off the table.”
“D-Do as you please! Even if I meet a gruesome end, I will never betray my master!”
The doll-woman shouted with a resolute expression, as if her will would never waver.
They were clearly the bad guys, not us, but I felt like a villain.
Strangely, though, I didn't feel bad.
The doll-woman was tall, but she had the looks of a very pretty princess...
This is that "Ugh, kill me!" thing you see in stories, right?
For some reason, I feel like things will work out well.
I don't have any particular reason for it, but that's the feeling I got.