Chapter 37

The Chief’s recovery.

In a way, it connects to Eclipse’s ultimate goal.

“Um, can we really restore the Chief…?”

It’s only natural to react this way.

“Of course, it’s not certain. It’s still within the realm of possibility.”

“Y-Yeah… possibility…”

*Sigh*

Astra takes a moment to catch her breath and calm her emotions.

Having been disappointed many times before, she quickly regains her composure.

“Can you explain in detail?”

“First, let me show you the materials I found.”

What I showed her was a bundle of heavily weathered papers.

“This is…?”

“While searching for materials to restore the Chief, I stumbled upon these by chance.”

“Are they ancient records?”

“Yes.”

The difference between this world and the original world isn’t just the existence of modern ability users.

‘Long before modern society, the world was a place where all sorts of mysteries thrived.’

Though the mysteries have all disappeared, their traces are occasionally discovered.

“Have you heard of the Elixir?”

Elixir, Philosopher’s Stone, Herb of Immortality, Excalibur, etc.

In the original world, these were just myths, but in this world, they were all real.

And they are the traces left behind by the mysteries.

‘Though in modern times, most of the records have been erased, leaving only names and uses.’

“So… this is…”

“Yes, it’s a record related to the creation of an Elixir believed to have existed in ancient times.”

Of course, the papers in my hand are all fake.

Just something I made to increase persuasiveness.

“Though there are erased parts, missing sections, and undecipherable parts, the possibility is high.”

Even if the materials are fake, the fact that the Chief can be healed is real.

I know the ingredients needed for the Elixir.

After a long period of persuasion, Astra finally nods.

“Then, what mission do you want?”

“The ingredients for the Elixir are said to be in the hands of a high-ranking individual.”

Sitting on the sofa and sipping tea, I smirk at Astra.

“And that high-ranking individual is hosting an auction and party.”

“Are we going to steal it?”

“Or we could say we’re going to take it.”

Astra looks at me, seemingly pondering.

“If you need any support, just say it.”

Fortunately, my persuasion seems to have worked.

***

“Wow…!!”

“Amazing…!!”

A few days later, inside a massive luxury hotel.

Chise and her team, who received a special mission, are exploring the hotel.

“Calm down, both of you.”

Chise and Kato, with sparkling eyes, look at the hotel’s decorations.

Embarrassed by their behavior, Suzuki covers her face with one hand, trying to calm them down.

“How can we calm down in this situation? Look at how big and shiny everything is!”

“Yeah! So shiny and clean!”

*Sigh*

“Suzuki, you’re too uptight to understand this charm. Right, Chise~?”

“Yeah~, Suzuki-san doesn’t get how amazing this is~”

“……”

*Whack!* *Whack!*

“Ouch!!”

“Yikes!”

Unable to bear it any longer, Suzuki clenches her fist and gives them both a big bump on their heads.

“Hey, you’re not a Physical Enhancement Ability user, so why are you punching so hard?!”

“Exactly because I’m not a Physical Enhancement Ability user! Got it? Why do you do things that deserve a punch?!”

“Oww… it hurts.”

Kato yells at Suzuki, while Chise, with tears in her eyes, rubs her head.

“Even if Kato is a dumb siscon, why are you joining in, Chise?!”

“…Wait, why am I a dumb siscon? I just care about my sister!”

“That’s what we call a siscon. Dumb!”

The argument continues for a while.

“Anyway! Both of you, calm down a bit. You haven’t forgotten why we’re here today, right?”

After the commotion, Suzuki looks at Kato and Chise in a slightly calmer situation.

“We know, the bodyguard mission.”

“If the situation arises, we protect the party guests and take down the villains, right?”

“…At least you know, that’s a relief.”

The mission they received from Optimus is a bodyguard mission.

They are to protect the guests at an auction and party hosted by a high-ranking individual.

“I don’t understand why we’re doing such a bothersome task.”

Why do people dress up in expensive clothes and laugh insincerely while having fun…

Though Suzuki grew up in a wealthy family, she can’t understand those who indulge in luxury.

Kato shrugs his shoulders.

“I also hate indulging in luxury, but, well, the intention is good, right?”

“The money from the auction is all being donated, right?”

The high-ranking individual hosting this auction party is selling his prized possessions and donating all the proceeds.

This has even made the news, receiving enthusiastic cheers from the public.

“……”

The intention seems good.

Selling his own items to donate, the intention is clearly good.

But…

‘Why do I feel so uneasy?’

*Beep*

-“Ah, guests will be entering in one hour. Everyone to your positions.”

Suzuki feels an inexplicable unease, but the sound from the communicator erases it from her memory.

“Let’s go. It’s time to work.”

They head to their assigned positions.

***

*Murmur murmur*

“Yes, thank you for coming, sir.”

“Hoho. Thank you, young man.”

With Suzuki’s greeting, an old man with a cane enters.

Suzuki wipes her smile and sighs.

‘…Why do I have to help with the entrance?’

“S-Sorry… it’s because of me…”

“Ah, no, it’s okay, unnie!”

Well, if we’re being precise, it’s because of the woman in front of her.

‘Gasp!’

‘W-Welcome…’

*Crash!*

‘Ah! S-Sorry…’

Every time she greets a guest, she stutters and speaks softly.

On top of that, she makes all sorts of mistakes, causing complaints from the guests.

Seeing this, Suzuki steps in, and things finally start to go smoothly.

‘It’s not like I’m not annoyed…’

“H-Here… eat this while you work…”

“…Thank you, unnie.”

“Hehe…”

Seeing her silly smile, Suzuki can’t help but feel she can’t hate her.

“B-By the way… it’s strange…”

“What is?”

“P-People… wearing masks… it feels weird…”

Hearing this, Suzuki looks around.

All the waiting guests are wearing masks, and even the woman and herself are wearing masks, making her feel strange.

“…Yeah.”

All participants wearing masks.

One of the reasons Suzuki thought this event was peculiar.

‘Well, according to the high-ranking individual’s interview, wearing masks allows everyone to participate freely without being bound by their current status…’

Honestly, she’s not sure.

“Anyway, let’s get everyone in quickly and take a break! I thought this would be the easiest, but I can’t even handle this.”

“B-But… is it okay for a hero to do that…?”

“Hey, heroes aren’t invincible superhumans! We need breaks too!”

Suzuki jokes to lighten the mood, and the woman laughs.

“Excuse me.”

“Ah, yes!”

While the two chat and take a break, Suzuki suddenly stands up to greet a guest who appears before them.

“Are you invited? Or do you have a participation ticket?”

“Unfortunately, I don’t have an invitation.”

“Then we’ll go with the participation ticket! Please wait a moment!”

“Take your time.”

*Smirk*

The man looks at Suzuki with a sly smile.

‘…He’s handsome.’

His friendly demeanor and handsome face, even with the mask, draw her gaze.

‘Is he a celebrity? His eyelashes are long, and his jaw is sharp…’

Suzuki stares at him for a moment.

“…Is there something on my face?”

“..Ah!”

Seeing his awkward expression, she realizes what she’s done and blushes deeply.

‘I’m crazy, I’m crazy! No matter how much I’m craving a man these days, how could I do that during a mission!’

“S-Sorry! Y-You’re just too handsome…”

‘No, this makes it seem like I’m flirting!’

“N-No, that’s not it…”

“Haha.”

Seeing her flustered, the man laughs amusedly.

“Thank you. You’re pretty too, hero.”

“Ah… arigatou gozaimasu (thank you)…”

Suzuki bows her head, and an awkward silence falls.

She feels like dying, but she manages to endure.

“Y-Your ticket is ready…!”

“May I take it?”

“Y-Yes!”

“Thank you. Then, good luck.”

Shortly after, the man receives his ticket.

He greets Suzuki and the woman and heads inside.

“Phew… that was embarrassing.”

After the man leaves, Suzuki fans her red face.

“P-Purple… did you… take an interest in that man…?”

Seeing Suzuki like this, the woman looks at her with a puzzled expression.

“Hey, do you think I’m that easy? I was just embarrassed~”

She says playfully and shakes her head.

Certainly, the man was handsome, and she did stare at him, but it was just his appearance that caught her eye, not love or anything.

“R-Really…?”

“Yeah, really.”

After the man leaves, they chat for a while.

*Beep*

-“Purple Shiny. Purple Shiny, do you copy?”

-“It seems Purple Shiny needs to move to a new position.”

-“Wait a moment, another hero will arrive to take over.”

“Ugh… seems like I got caught slacking off.”

“I-Is that so…?”

Seeing Suzuki frown, the woman looks at her with wide eyes.

“W-What do I do… it’s because of me…”

“It’s a joke, unnie! A joke! This was supposed to change after some time!”

“O-Oh… phew.”

‘Hehe, she’s really cute.’

Seeing the woman relieved, Suzuki chuckles.

Soon after, the hero replacing her arrives, and Suzuki gives a brief handover.

“Then, I’ll head to my new assignment!”

“T-Take care… Purple…!”

As she walks away, receiving the woman’s farewell.

‘Ah, right.’

Suzuki remembers something she forgot and turns back to look at the woman.

“Unnie! What’s your name? We’ve been talking for so long, but we haven’t even introduced ourselves.”

“A-Ah, my name…?”

Hearing this, the woman scratches her cheek with her finger and smiles sheepishly.

“…Yeri. Ahn Yeri.”

“Ah! Yeri unnie! Thank you! Let’s greet each other again next time we meet!!”

“Sure… take care.”

Ahn Yeri watches Suzuki walk away, smiling softly.

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