NOVPUBA Fixer reinforcement unit that had arrived on a supersonic aircraft in a moment of crisis.
Their lineup was so dazzling it was hard to believe they’d been assembled on such short notice.
After all, single-number Fixers usually operated in separate territories so their strength wouldn’t overlap.
For three of them to gather in one place like this—it was an unprecedented situation.
Still bound by Vespera’s restraints, I soon noticed what they had in common.
They were all Fixers active around Nighthouse.
‘Now that I think about it... Tempest noticed Vespera just yesterday. So if he alerted the Association in the meantime and asked for reinforcements just in case... that would explain it.’
The Fixer Association surely understood the weight behind Tempest’s request—they would never refuse it.
If so, then all of this happening right now was thanks to Tempest.
Once again, I couldn’t help but silently praise his presence and authority.
"Heeeh... flavorless prince, tasteless salad, tough beef, a dusty bookworm... and a crow. We all know each other, don’t we? You’ve all changed a bit since last time, haven’t you?"
Even in front of this absurd display of power, Vespera still brimmed with confidence.
She pointed at each Fixer with a finger, smiling like she found the whole thing amusing.
The one she called tasteless salad—Alraune—and tough beef—Minotauros—both scowled at once.
Luke, however, furrowed his brow with a sigh of disbelief and retorted:
"Hmph, the one who's changed the most is you. Speaking in a calm tone now? It’s so unlike you it gives me goosebumps. You bloodthirsty lunatic."
"Fufu, that old nickname... I’d really rather you forgot that one."
Vespera covered her mouth as if trying to hide an unpleasant memory.
The others might not have known, but she and Luke seemed to share a long-standing connection,
like they’d been seeing each other since the early days of the otherworld. The way they looked at each other felt different.
But maybe I was imagining that hint of nostalgia.
Vespera swept her tired gaze across the group and spoke again:
"So, what now? Planning to throw down with me here? Wouldn’t it make more sense to go help your precious Tempest instead? I’m not even that involved with the Liberation Army, you know."
"That’s none of your concern. Besides, if we don’t stop you here... you plan to feast on Lord Tempest’s flesh and blood, don’t you? Tell me I’m wrong."
"Bingo. That’s why I hate smart people."
The moment she finished speaking, all the Fixers except Luke immediately tensed up.
The reason for their reaction was simple—
Vespera had suddenly drawn upon her mana, letting out a menacing aura.
It felt like she could launch a devastating spell at any moment.
But then, that fierce pressure vanished in an instant, like mist dispersing.
The reason was equally simple.
Vespera, who’d been playing with her fingers a moment ago, suddenly dropped her shoulders and relaxed.
Just seconds ago, she’d been radiating murderous intent like she meant to slaughter them all—
so seeing her lose all will to fight had the Fixers completely thrown.
"...Forget it. It’s not like today’s my only chance. I’ll see you all next time."
"You... are you running away?"
"It feels like my body can’t keep up with the recovery of my mana. I think I need to stabilize a bit first."
Maybe even for her, fully digesting the World Tree Seed was too much of a burden.
It seemed she realized that clashing with this much firepower before she was fully stabilized would be reckless.
Which, honestly, was a relief from the Fixers’ perspective.
Even with three single-number Fixers, a strengthened Vespera was still an uncertain enemy.
Unless they fully neutralized her, fighting her while accepting massive losses would be a bad deal in every way.
Sensing her intention, Luke seemed willing to let her go peacefully.
With the urgent battle against the Liberation Army still ongoing, turning Vespera into a full-blown enemy would be a nightmare.
"And looks like things over there are pretty much wrapped up too."
"Over there...?"
Vespera muttered to herself, gazing off into the distance.
And I instinctively realized—she meant Tempest.
Come to think of it, the tremors that had been shaking the Sky Garden as if splitting it in half had recently stopped.
The fight between Tempest and the Liberation Army must have ended.
The fact that she could tell just by glancing into the distance...
once again made me realize just how powerful Vespera really was.
"Fufu, well then... I’ll be going. Little one, we’ll meet again later."
"...."
"Hm? Now that I think about it, that girl is..."
"Wow, wowowow...! What a stunningly pretty child!"
With a gentle smile, she released the blood restraints that had been binding me.
And just like that, all the Fixers’ eyes turned toward me.
She definitely did that on purpose to make things harder for me.
I rubbed my sore wrist and turned my head to the side to avoid their gazes.
Whether she understood my feelings or not,
Vespera left behind one final creepy promise as her entire body dissolved into blood droplets and scattered away.
And once it seemed clear she was fully gone,
Luke, who had been rotating the glowing orbs of light around him in vigilance, dispelled his magic.
A truly hair-raising situation, where mass casualties could’ve occurred at any second, had finally come to a close.
‘Why the hell did she have to say something weird... Now they’re all staring at me!’
Even after Vespera vanished, I couldn’t relax.
Because thanks to the cryptic remark she’d left behind, all the Fixers were now laser-focused on me.
If stares had physical weight, I would’ve been skewered through the body several times over.
As someone who desperately needed to avoid attention, it was excruciating.
"Hmm, strange... With a face that distinctive, there’s no way I wouldn’t remember her..."
"Shouldn’t we secure her as a person of interest for now?"
"A girl coveted by a Progenitor... There’s definitely some huge secret behind this...!"
I’m not like that!!
Holding back the urge to cry, I decided to quietly slip away.
Getting caught now would be a nightmare in every possible way.
Even though I dyed my hair black, the watch was still on my arm, and it could easily give me away.
If I somehow managed to remove the watch and pretend not to be a candidate—
that would be its own problem.
Thanks to my previous interaction with Tempest, I was unlikely to be turned into a lab rat if I got caught,
but I’d definitely have to give up living as "Yuri" from now on. And that... I really didn’t want.
But just as I was about to turn and bolt, Luke—the de facto leader of the group—furrowed his brow and spoke.
"This isn’t the time to stand around chatting. Vespera’s dealt with. We need to assist Lord Tempest immediately. Prepare to move."
"Uh, but... she seems like an important witness connected to all this?"
Luke turned expressionlessly toward the Fixer who replied—a woman whose body seemed plant-based.
Maybe he was annoyed at being asked something so trivial at such a critical moment.
But it wasn’t an entirely unreasonable point.
So Luke turned his head and spoke to the man who had been staring at me in stunned silence.
"Raven. Secure the witness, please."
"Ah, yes. Leave it to me."
"Let’s go. Every second counts."
With a sharp turn, Luke made it clear he wouldn’t tolerate any more needless objections.
The other Fixers nodded in understanding and quietly glanced toward Raven before taking their leave.
Right now, Tempest was more important than the strange girl who had been near Vespera.
Luke’s judgment was perfectly reasonable—
and to me, it was so overwhelmingly relieving I nearly cried.
The forest, wrecked by blood and battle, was now empty save for me and Raven, who stood awkwardly scratching his head.
"Man... I’m not exactly great with kids..."
"...."
"Uh... for now, could you not run away? I’m not planning to hurt you or anything."
Raven fidgeted and rubbed his neck awkwardly, unsure of what to do.
Then he slowly raised both arms in front of him.
Maybe that was his way of saying, ‘I won’t hurt you.’
He looked like someone trying to calm a stray cat—and for some reason, that made me feel even more deflated.
Even meeting him here of all places... Raven was still Raven.
I felt my tension ease slightly, and unconsciously let the stiffness melt from my shoulders.
Then, as he cautiously shuffled a few steps closer, he tossed out a question in a casual tone:
"I was kinda worried you might be hurt... How’s Alice doing?"
"...."
His calm question caught me off guard, and I found myself thinking deeply for a moment.
Come to think of it, I hadn’t actually run into Alice in the Sky Garden yet.
This battlefield was overrun with the Seven Calamities and their guard forces—
even someone like Alice could easily be in danger here.
But I was sure she was okay. She had to be.
Still, I immediately realized I’d made a mistake.
That moment of hesitation—however brief—was all it took for him to get his answer.
"So it’s true. Ah, I had a hunch, but still... You’re Yuri, aren’t you?"
Thump!
A sinking weight ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) pierced through my chest.
He found out—my mind instantly flooded with the realization. Cold sweat trickled down my jaw.
Of all people... I got exposed to the one person I should’ve been most cautious around.
What do I do? Should I take him down right now and run?
No—he still hasn’t realized I’m a psychic, so I shouldn’t act rashly.
But if I let him capture me, that’s a whole different problem...!
My mind was in chaos, thoughts tangled in a spiral of panic.
And then—
Wobble. My balance collapsed forward.
"...?!"
"What the—?! Tch, Yuri!"
Before I could hit the ground, Raven closed the distance in a flash and caught me in his arms.
Being held so suddenly, I widened my eyes in shock—
but I soon realized this wasn’t the time for silly thoughts.
‘No way...’
The scene before me was enough to make my head explode.
Everything was rising into the air.
The dirt, the trees, the rocks, the water—everything.
Like gravity itself had been turned off on Earth.
Still cradled in Raven’s arms, I felt a crushing pressure twisting my insides—
and realized what was happening around us.
‘The Sky Garden... is falling?!’
It was a nightmare so horrifying I could barely even comprehend it.
