Volume 3—Chapter 65: Mission Failed
After Viola and I encountered a man who claimed his name was Ichiro, I made the decision to interrogate him. Because we were standing in a place where logic bent unnaturally, where even your own memories could betray you. This dimensional crack we were trapped in… it messes with perception, twists it, makes you doubt what’s real and what isn’t. So I had to be sure that he was real, that he wasn’t a phantom.
He looked human enough. Nervous. Breathing heavily. Clothes dirtied from whatever he'd been through. Viola had already treated him kindly, offering him water and calm words, but I couldn’t let my guard down just yet.
I stepped back, narrowing my eyes at the man. “Ichiro, I need you to listen very carefully. There’s a phantom hiding somewhere in this place.”
His expression shifted slightly. “So you’re suspecting me of being the phantom?”
“Obviously,” I replied flatly.
At that, Ichiro gave a dry chuckle, like he’d heard something absurd after a long day.
“Kids these days… You’re not even supposed to be here,” he said, shaking his head. “If anything, I should be the one suspecting you two.”
Kids? I blinked. Oh… right. Compared to him, we probably did look like children.
He turned his eyes toward Viola, studying her more intently.
“I recognise her at least,” he muttered.
I guess almost every Esper recognises Viola thanks to her teleport ability.
Then his gaze turned back to me. “Hmm… And you…”
“I’m an A-rank Esper,” I cut in before he could guess.
His eyes widened slightly, and a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “A-rank, huh? At your age? Ah… now I get it. You’re Captain Takeru’s daughter, aren’t you?”
Captain Takeru? The way he said it made me pause.
I was sure Dad referred to himself as an Overseer, not a Captain. Was this a clue, or just how Ichiro knew him?
“We ended up here by accident,” I explained, brushing past my unease. “My sister’s trapped here too, but we got separated.”
“I see…” Ichiro murmured. “So, what now? You want me to wander off on my own because you still don’t trust me?”
Before I could answer, Viola suddenly stepped forward.
“Uh… no! Let’s stick together!” she said, maybe too quickly.
I turned to her, frowning. That wasn’t like her. I grabbed her arm gently and pulled her close, whispering, “Why did you say that? You know, splitting up is the safer move.”
“I know… but…”
“But what?” I pressed.
Her cheeks turned pink. “He’s… he’s kinda handsome.”
…
I blinked.
You’ve got to be kidding me. That’s her reason?
Suddenly, a loud crash echoed through the air, like a room full of furniture had been hurled into a wall all at once. It was loud.
“What was that?!” I said.
Ichiro’s expression sharpened. “Sounds like a battle. Someone’s fighting.”
“Fighting…?” My heart sank. “Could it be Onee-chan?”
No…this was the worst possible situation. If Onee-chan were fighting in this place…
“Or might be my partner…” Ichiro cut in.
Before either of us could take a step, Viola blurted out, “Let’s get there!”
And in the next moment, she vanished.
“What the, Viola?!” I shouted. She’d teleported away on her own.
I clenched my teeth and dashed toward the sound without waiting for Ichiro. There was no time to argue or plan.
Where was it? Down the hallway, wait... stairs?
I ran without hesitation.
Each step I climbed brought the sounds closer, crashes, bursts of flame, something heavy slamming into walls. The higher I went, the louder and more chaotic it became.
As I reached the top of the stairs, the hallway ahead was lit with flickers of white light, cold flames licking along the walls but leaving no burn marks.
Then I saw her.
“Onee-chan!!” I shouted.
Onee-chan was standing in the middle of the corridor, breathing heavily, her clothes tattered at the edges. Beside her was another girl hairstyle similar to Onee-chan but with a silver spot on her hair.. And across from them stood a blonde woman, smirking even as blood trickled down her lip. The wall behind her was smashed in, furniture scattered everywhere like a tornado had passed.
Onee-chan waved her hand, and a chair flew, tracing the motion like it was tethered to her will. For a split second, the image before me blurred and merged with that memory burned into my mind.
My knees buckled, and I collapsed to the floor.
Father… I’m sorry. I failed my mission…
Onee-chan… She’s awakened her power.
“Onee-chan!!” I cried out, my voice cracking.
She turned at the sound of my voice. “Irana?”
But unlike that day… this time, she recognised me. Her eyes were clear yet still cold.
A surge of relief hit me. But there was no time to dwell on it. I had to help her.
Before I could move, Ichiro caught up behind me.
“Shera?!”
The blonde woman turned to face him with a click of her tongue. “Tch… more interruptions.”
“What are you doing?” Ichiro demanded.
She pointed at the girl standing beside Onee-chan. “You were right all along. That girl… she’s the spectre host.”
“Wait—what?! I’m not!!” the girl snapped, her voice desperate. But Ichiro didn’t seem to hear her.
“I knew it!” he growled, pure rage flashing in his eyes. He charged forward, aiming straight for her.
But before he could even come close, Onee-chan swept her hand sideways—and Ichiro was flung across the hall like a ragdoll.
“That woman’s the actual spectre host!” the girl beside Onee-chan shouted, pointing to Shera.
But Ichiro wasn’t listening to anything.
Shera is smiling smugly and let out a chuckle. Like, this was all entertainment.
Then Onee-chan turned her gaze on me. Her eyes were cold.
I flinched.
“…Irana,” she said. “Help me keep that guy occupied. I’ll handle the blonde.”
Then she glanced to her side. “And you, Aneira. Support my little sister.”
“Uh, okay,” Aneira said, still a bit thrown.
Alright. Onee-chan awakening her power might mean I failed the mission. But… maybe it was inevitable. And now, I could fight alongside her.
As I prepared to fight Ichiro, a sudden thought struck me.
Wait a second… how did Onee-chan know I could fight?
And even more importantly...
Where the hell is Viola?!
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