"Is Nagazora City haunted or something?"
Raven was starting to question her life, a sense of unease rising within her, making her want to back down.
First, she had found a technological artifact from Fire Moth, an organization from 50,000 years ago that had long been swept into the dustbin of history, and then, she had seen a girl who had appeared out of nowhere.
And although the girl looked very pretty, it was as if she had clairvoyance, able to see her from so far away…
Th-this, although she had heard that there were a lot of ghosts in the Far East region, as a World Serpent executive who knew the secrets of the world, she had never believed in such things.
But now, it seemed that she had no choice but to believe!
"I should just leave quickly."
Although her mission was to observe, Raven, who was feeling a little creeped out, muttered to herself and felt like she should just give up on this mission.
What if she ended up encountering something unclean? She almost had enough money saved up for that little island villa. She hadn't even enjoyed it yet! With this kind of pay, why should she risk her life?
Raven, who had been a mercenary, was very pragmatic.
She immediately started to leave!
Just when she was about to get up and leave, she heard the unfamiliar voice of a young girl:
"Hmm~ Where are you going?"
Raven slowly turned her head around. The pink girl, who was looking at her with a smile, raised her hand, and her energetic voice rang out:
"Hi~"
There was no doubt that this was the face she had seen through the third Divine Key's observation function at the North Station Underground.
And now, looking at the other person, who was so close, Raven wasn't admiring her beauty,
But only had one thought—
"A ghost!"
Being able to notice her from so far away, appearing out of nowhere, and even silently appearing beside her, the only thing that could fulfill all of those conditions was a ghost, right?!
But, the words that she had blurted out made the ghost [lady] before her furrow her beautiful brows—
"Seriously, calling a beautiful girl like [me] a ghost, so rude!"
The pink girl puffed up her cheeks. She seemed very displeased and angry. But, a moment later, she quickly relaxed and returned to her original smile:
"But, since you're very cute, and this is our first time meeting, so… I'll forgive you~ You can't do this to other girls~"
The girl's azure eyes contained a hint of amusement.
—She never thought that she would encounter the Little Island Bomber Raven here.
And also…
Even the Seven Thunders of Retribution was here.
It was like sending a pillow to someone who was sleepy.
Jiang Qiao, whose gaze swept over the Seven Thunders of Retribution in Raven's hand, had the corner of her lips curl upwards.
She had originally thought that it would take a little bit of effort to get it.
However, while [she] was observing the Seven Thunders of Retribution and the Little Island Bomber Raven, the latter was also observing Jiang Qiao.
Although she was shocked at first, but as a highly trained mercenary, Raven quickly calmed down and used this brief moment to carefully examine the strange pink girl.
A glint of vigilance and wariness flashed in her burgundy eyes.
She had been specially trained, and was someone who had experienced countless battles.
Whether it was combat techniques, reconnaissance, or counter-reconnaissance, her skills were among the top in the world.
Not only was this girl able to easily notice that she was observing her with a higher dimensional observation ability, but she was even able to silently approach her without her realizing it until she spoke.
Dangerous, incredibly dangerous!
This person might be the most dangerous enemy she had ever encountered in her life!
Raven couldn't help but think this.
Run!
Could it be that she wanted to run?
Jiang Qiao, who was staring at Raven, keenly noticed the change in her eyes and had that thought.
Oh dear, that wouldn't do.
She was going to need the Seven Thunders of Retribution very soon.
"That's not good, you know. If this girl's face gets hurt, won't she cry when she sees it?"
Jiang Qiao picked up a raven feather and held the sharp feather in her mouth as she watched the Little Island Bomber Raven, who had put her idea into action, and was now fleeing quickly, disappear into the distance. He sighed helplessly:
"It would be troublesome if I let you get away~"
A bow, made of crystal, slowly appeared in [Elysia]'s hand. She slowly pulled back the bowstring, aiming at Raven, whose figure had already disappeared behind the buildings.
Along with the rising curve on her lips, she said with a smile:
"—Don't you even think about running away~"
…
Eden had long since gotten used to the fervent cheers from a sea of people.
Although her acting career wasn't as smooth sailing as many people had imagined, due to the talent she was born with, and her sincerity and complete devotion to art, she quickly became a world-famous celebrity.
—Celebrity, a fitting title for her, wasn't it?
As radiant as gold, as dazzling as the stars, Eden was an undeniable star.
Like always, a concert tour. A different venue, with the same audience enthusiasm.
On this dazzling stage, she poured all of her heart and soul into her singing, responding to the love that people had for her.
However, when the concert ended, and she returned backstage, amidst all the praise from the people around her, Eden always felt like something was missing.
What exactly was it?
Looking at her beautiful face, dressed up, in the mirror, Eden pondered the source of this emptiness.
Her memories returned to the concert that had just ended.
Ah, it seemed like it was a girl.
She finally remembered where this feeling of loss, that she had been constantly bothered by, came from.
It was a beautiful pink-haired girl, wearing a summer outfit and a straw hat, in the audience.
She was so pretty.
Recalling the girl's smile that she had accidentally glanced at, Eden had such a thought.
Unfortunately, she seemed to have disappeared halfway through her performance.
Was it because she didn't like it? Or did something come up?
If it was the former, then Eden felt a rare sense of emptiness.
She didn't expect everyone to like her songs. After all, even she herself had music and art that she couldn't accept, no… couldn't appreciate.
Everyone had their own interpretation. She couldn't, and wouldn't force others to like her art.
What Eden could do was simply to use her music and play her tunes to the extreme.
But, she had a different feeling towards that girl that she had accidentally seen—it would be nice if she liked my music.
Could it be that she actually cared about that person?
It was so strange. She was just one of her countless audience members.
Why would she have such a thought?
As she gently caressed the material of the luxurious clothes before her chest, she could feel her pounding heart under her hand.
But, what replaced it was a deep regret.
After all, the world was really big.
Although she hoped that she could meet that beautiful girl again at her next concert,
Thinking that this might be the only time they would meet in this life, Eden couldn't help but let out a sigh.
Until, she vaguely heard a complaining voice—
"Hey, why is it like this? I clearly handled things as quickly as I could…"