NOVEL NEXT Chapter 37 - Infiltration Operation
The Chairwoman’s recovery.
In a way, it was linked to Eclipse’s ultimate goal.
“You…can really recover the Chairwoman…?”
Hence her intense reaction was understandable.
“Of course, it’s not definite. It’s merely a possibility, you could say.”
“I, I see…a possibility…”
Huuu.
After taking a moment to catch her breath and compose herself, Astra seemed to regain her calm demeanor rather swiftly.
Perhaps due to many prior disappointments after getting her hopes up, she was able to settle her emotions in the blink of an eye.
“Would you care to provide a detailed explanation?”
“First, let me show you the materials I’ve uncovered.”
What I presented was a severely weathered bundle of papers.
“This is…?”
“Documents I happened to find while searching for information to aid the Chairwoman’s recovery.”
“Ancient records?”
“Precisely.”
The difference between this world and the original wasn’t limited to the mere existence of modern-day ability users.
‘Long before the advent of contemporary society, that world was filled with all sorts of mystical phenomena.’
Though those mystical elements had vanished entirely from the past, their traces would occasionally surface.
“Have you heard of the Elixir?”
The Elixir, the Philosopher’s Stone, the Elixir of Life, Excalibur, and so on…
In the original world, these were mere superstitions, but in this world, they all genuinely existed.
And they were the vestiges left behind by those mystical entities.
‘Although in modern times, those records have been completely erased, leaving only their names and purported uses known.’
“So…this is…”
“Yes, a record presumed to detail the creation of the Elixir from ancient times.”
Of course, the papers in my possession were complete fabrications.
Just some fakes I had created to make my case more convincing.
“There are omitted sections, missing parts, and indecipherable portions, but the possibility remains high, in my opinion.”
While those documents were indeed fake, the claim that they could cure the Chairwoman was genuine.
I already knew the ingredients required for the Elixir.
After a lengthy persuasion, Astra finally nodded in acceptance.
“Then what is the mission you desire?”
“Word has it that the ingredients for the Elixir are in the possession of a certain elite.”
After briefly sitting on the sofa and wetting my throat with tea, I smiled wryly at Astra.
“And this elite is reportedly hosting an auction-cum-party.”
“To procure them?”
“One could also say to steal them.”
Astra seemed to contemplate for a moment before regarding me again.
“Tell me everything you need in terms of support.”
Fortunately, my persuasion seemed to have worked.
“Woooow…!!”
“Suu…sugee!! (Ama…amazing!!)”
Several days later, inside a luxurious grand hotel.
Chise’s group, assigned to a special mission, was touring the hotel interior.
“Phew…both of you, please calm down.”
Chise and Kato gazed around wide-eyed, marveling at the hotel’s lavish decorations.
Embarrassed by their reactions, Suzuki covered her face with one hand as she tried to settle them down.
“How can we stay calm in a situation like this! Look, it’s so huge and sparkly!”
“Yeah! Shiny and clean!”
“Phew…”
“Suzuki’s just a nagging old lady who can’t appreciate this magnificence, right Chise~?”
“Yeah~, Suzuki doesn’t seem to understand how incredible this is~”
“……”
WHACK!! WHACK!
“Aaack!!”
“Kyaah!!”
Unable to bear it any longer, Suzuki clenched her fists and delivered stinging blows to their heads.
“Hey, why are you hitting us so hard when you’re not even a physical enhancement ability user?!”
“Precisely because I’m not one! Get it? So why do something deserving of being hit?!”
“Hiiing…it hurts.”
While Kato protested indignantly, Chise gingerly nursed the lump on her head with misting eyes.
“If it was just the idiot sissycon Kato, I could overlook it, but you too, Chise?!”
“…Why am I the idiot sissycon?! I simply cherish my little sister!”
“That’s what we call a sissycon. Idiot!”
Their bickering continued for a while.
“…Anyway! Both of you, at least try to stay focused. Did you forget why we’re here today?”
After the brief commotion, Suzuki regarded Kato and Chise with a calmer demeanor.
“We know, it’s a security detail mission.”
“If things go south, we just have to protect the party attendees and take down any villains, right?”
“…Well, at least you haven’t forgotten.”
The mission Optimus had assigned them was indeed a security detail.
Their role was to ensure the safety of the attendees at an auction-cum-party hosted by an elite.
“Though I don’t really understand why we have to do such a troublesome task.”
Dressing up extravagantly and prancing around pretentiously…why even bother?
Despite being raised in an affluent family, Suzuki couldn’t comprehend such indulgences.
Kato shrugged dismissively in response.
“I’m not too fond of extravagances either, but the intention is good, isn’t it?”
“Didn’t they say all proceeds from the auction would be donated?”
The elite hosting this auction party had made the unusual announcement that while auctioning off personal treasures, all proceeds would be donated to charity.
This had even made news headlines, earning enthusiastic public praise.
“……”
The intention did seem noble.
Selling personal belongings to raise funds for donation was undoubtedly a good cause.
And yet…
‘Why does it feel so unsettling?’
Beep-
-Ah. One hour until guest arrivals. Everyone, take your positions.
Though Suzuki couldn’t quite pinpoint the source of her unease, she dispelled those thoughts upon hearing the communication device.
“Let’s go. It’s time to start our duties.”
They each headed to their assigned locations.
Murmur murmur-
“Yes, thank you for coming, sir.”
“Hohoho. Thank you, young lady.”
Accompanying Suzuki’s greeting, an elderly man entered, supported by a cane.
After pasting on a smile, Suzuki sighed inwardly.
‘…Why am I stuck helping with the entrance?’
“I’m, I’m so sorry…it’s because of me…”
“Oh, no, Miss!”
Well, if one had to place blame, it was due to the woman before her.
‘Hup!’
‘Oh, oh, welcome…’
Thud!
‘Kyaah! I’m so sorry…!’
Every time she interacted with a guest, she stumbled over her words, spoke too softly, and committed all sorts of blunders, incurring their displeasure.
Unable to watch any longer, Suzuki stepped in, finally allowing the process to proceed smoothly.
‘I won’t lie and say I’m not a little irritated, but…’
“Pur…Purple…here, have this while you…”
“…Thank you, Miss.”
“Heheh…”
Observing the woman’s simpering, bashful smile, Suzuki found it impossible to feel any malice toward her.
“By, by the way…it’s kind of strange…”
“What is?”
“The, the people…wearing masks…it feels kind of weird…”
At those words, Suzuki glanced around.
Indeed, all the waiting guests were wearing masks, and even the woman addressing her and herself were masked.
For some reason, it felt rather peculiar.
“…I suppose so.”
The requirement for all attendees to wear masks was one aspect that made Suzuki find this event rather unusual.
‘Well, according to the elite’s interviews, the masks were meant to allow everyone to participate freely, unbound by their current status or positions…’
Honestly, she didn’t quite understand the rationale.
“Anyway, let’s hurry and get everyone inside so we can rest! I thought my role would be the easiest, but I can’t even manage this.”
“…Is, is it okay for a hero to slack off like that…?”
Cracking a joke to lighten the mood, Suzuki prompted a giggle from the woman.
“Pardon me.”
“Oh, yes!”
As the two chatted idly, Suzuki noticed a guest approach and promptly stood to greet them.
“An invitation? Or a participation ticket?”
“Unfortunately, I don’t have an invitation.”
“Then we’ll proceed with a participation ticket! Please wait a moment!”
“Take your time, there’s no rush.”
Smiling wryly, the man observed Suzuki.
‘…He’s quite handsome.’
Beyond his courteous demeanor, his good looks couldn’t be concealed even by the mask, instinctively drawing her gaze.
‘A celebrity? Long eyelashes and a sharp jawline…’
For a moment, Suzuki found herself openly staring at the man.
“…Is there something on my face?”
“…Ah!”
Realizing her lapse in composure, she flushed crimson at the man’s bemused expression.
‘Geez, get a grip! No matter how starved for male attention you might be lately, that’s no excuse! How could you act like that during a mission?!’
“I’m, I’m so sorry! It’s just that…you’re so handsome, sir…”
‘No, saying that makes it sound like I’m flirting!’
“Ah, no. That’s, that’s not what I…”
“Haha.”
The man chuckled in amusement at her flustered stammering.
“Why, thank you. You’re quite lovely yourself, hero.”
“Ah…arigato gozaimasu…”
Suzuki averted her gaze, prompting an awkward silence.
She felt mortified but somehow endured it.
“Your, your ticket is ready…”
“May I take it then?”
“Y,yes!”
“Thank you. I’ll be on my way then, keep up the good work.”
Not long after, the man received his newly issued ticket.
Bidding Suzuki and the woman farewell, he headed inside.
“Phew…how embarrassing.”
Once the man had left, Suzuki fanned her flushed face.
“Pur…Purple…did you maybe…develop an interest…in that man…?”
Observing Suzuki’s reaction, the woman regarded her with a puzzled expression.
“Ey, don’t look at me like I’m some easy woman? I was just feeling embarrassed, that’s all~”
She shook her head with a nonchalant chuckle.
While the man had indeed been handsome, and she may have stared a bit too intently, she certainly hadn’t fallen in love with him or anything based solely on his looks.
“Is…is that so…?”
“That’s how it is.”
After the man’s departure, their chatter resumed for a while.
Beep-
-Purple Shiny. Purple Shiny, do you read?
-It seems you’ll need to relocate from your current assigned position soon.
-Another hero will be arriving shortly to take over your role, please standby.
“Whew…looks like my ditzy act earlier is catching up to me.”
“Is…is that so…?”
At Suzuki’s disgruntled remark, the woman’s eyes widened as she stared at her.
“Oh no…because of me…”
“I was just joking, Miss! Joking! This position was always meant to rotate after a certain time!”
“Oh…I see…phew.”
‘Heheh, she’s really quite adorable.’
Watching the woman’s relieved expression, Suzuki couldn’t help but smile wryly.
Soon after, when the hero scheduled to relieve her arrived, Suzuki provided a brief handover.
“Well then, I’ll head to my next assigned location!”
“O…kay, take care…Purple…!”
As the woman bid her farewell, Suzuki suddenly remembered something and turned back toward her.
“Oh, Miss! What’s your name? We’ve been chatting for so long, but I haven’t asked your full name yet.”
“Oh, my, my name…?”
Fidgeting with her fingers against her cheek, the woman eventually responded with a bashful smile.
“…Yeri. Ahn Yeri.”
“Ah! Yeri Miss! Thank you! Next time we meet, let’s greet each other properly!!”
“Sure…take care.”
Ahn Yeri watched Suzuki’s departing figure with an amused grin.