Chapter 78
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“Sorry, s-sorry! I didn’t mean to interrupt…!”
“Just give your report. What’s going on?”
Adrien picked up the fallen jacket and handed it to Linton as she spoke.
Jocelyn hesitated for a moment at Linton’s frosty expression, then turned her gaze to Adrien.
“There’s been a problem with the team sent to subdue the Esper showing abnormal symptoms. We need a high-level Esper to be dispatched.”
“Give me a quick summary.”
“The building was split in half, so we first thought it was an Esper with telekinesis or super strength, but at the scene, it turned out to be a flame Esper. The highest-ranking officer there is Lieutenant Michelle Grace, who also has flame abilities.”
“Who else went?”
“Captain Bailey Rossem and other defense-type personnel, plus four new lieutenants.”
“Samuel Norah too?”
“…Yes.”
A chill ran through Adrien’s whole body.
For Jocelyn to rush in like this, things had to be going very badly. Lieutenant Michelle was highly skilled, but subduing a berserk Esper with the same abilities was extremely difficult.
Samuel might be hurt.
That thought alone froze everything for Adrien.
“Dispatching a gold-level Esper or higher requires your authorization, Major, so we had no choice…”
“I’ll go.”
“Pardon?”
“Jocelyn, take Dr. Alex and whoever else you need and follow me.”
“Y-yes, ma’am!”
Adrien turned to rush out of her office, but Linton blocked her path.
Without meaning to, Adrien’s fierce energy burst forth, making her scowl. Linton flinched at the pressure but refused to step aside.
“You don’t have to go yourself. There are other gold-level Espers in the unit.”
“Linton, move.”
“So you really are just going to leave me behind like this?”
Linton’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears. Adrien let out a deep sigh and placed a hand on Linton’s shoulder.
“When I get back, I’ll let you do a contact guiding.”
There was no more time to argue. Adrien had already made her decision on how to resolve this as quickly as possible.
That should be enough for Linton, she figured—and indeed, he didn’t argue further.
Adrien brushed past him and broke into a run.
* * *
Samuel stared in shock at the man who’d just tried to burn him alive.
The man’s body was pierced through by sharp, blinding beams of light—something only one person could do.
Instinctively, Samuel turned toward the stairwell where the light had come from.
There she was: Adrien, shoulders heaving as she struggled to catch her breath.
For a moment, their eyes met. The beam that had skewered the crazed man felt as if it had run right through Samuel as well.
He stood rooted to the spot, unable to look away from Adrien.
“Ensign Samuel, are you alright?”
“…”
“Ensign?”
“…I’m fine.”
His voice came out strange and scratchy. Samuel cleared his throat.
When he didn’t answer right away, Adrien’s worried expression finally relaxed—but only for a second.
“Aaaargh!”
The stubbornly surviving man lunged forward once more.
Adrien spread her arms wide. At the same moment, a massive, thick wall of light sprang up between Samuel and the man.
Crash!
The crazed Esper slammed into the barrier, his body searing red from the impact. Unable to avoid it, he tumbled backwards in shock.
With a wave of her hand, Adrien dropped the barrier right on top of the man. A sickening sound echoed through the room, and then all was silent.
The translucent wall slowly faded, leaving behind nothing but the Esper’s pitiful corpse.
“Commander!”
“Check on the others—see to their injuries.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
The backup team, having just arrived, began to make their way to Captain Bailey, Lieutenant Michelle, and Samuel in turn.
Even amidst the chaos, Samuel’s gaze never left Adrien.
But Adrien didn’t so much as glance at him. The only time she’d looked at him was when their eyes first met—nothing more.
“Ensign Samuel, are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“Fine? Your neck is burnt raw!”
Alex approached and pressed down on Samuel’s head, exposing the back of his neck—right where the Esper’s burning hand had grabbed him.
“Look at those blisters. How’s a guide supposed to function like this? You’ll heal slower than Michelle if you don’t treat it.”
Alex’s voice was sharper than usual.
“I survived, didn’t I? I’m really fine.”
“Yeah, right.”
Alex didn’t take his hand off Samuel’s head. Samuel, exhausted, didn’t have the strength to shake him off and just stared quietly at the floor.
Suddenly, he felt someone approach—a light, familiar tread. Samuel’s heart tightened at the sensation.
“See, Commander? That must hurt like hell, doesn’t it?”
There was no doubt. It was Adrien—standing right there beside him.
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