TRUE ABILITY Chapter 68

The One Being Protected

...Finally, it's my turn. I feel no tension.

"...My apologies for the delayed introduction. I am the new recruit who will be working for the Dark Side from today, my name is Yun—"

"—Wait."

Fia-san grabs my shoulder.

"I'll introduce him."

"Huh?"

Geese let out a disgruntled snort. I, too, find myself questioning Fia-san's offer.

"Fia-san?"

"..."

Without a word, Fia-san steps forward as if to shield me. The image of her locking eyes with me as she passed by is strangely seared into my mind.

"He stands here today as the newest member of our Shadow Moon."

"I know that. What I want to know is why we were all called here. A new recruit ain't usually that big of a deal, right?"

...Is that so?

"Then you should understand what he's become."

"..."

At those words, Geese's eyes widen for a moment, and he falls silent, lost in thought. Everyone else in the room seems to be having a similar reaction, myself included.

Fia-san breaks the brief silence.

"You should understand by now. He’s not just any recruit—he’s been welcomed as one of us, as an executive... as one of the Numbers."

Her firm voice sends a chill through the room, freezing the atmosphere in an instant.

Then, Geese's laughter rings out, cutting through the silence.

"Kuhahaha... I see. I see now. Fine by me. No complaints here. A strong guy joining us is a good thing, right? Ain't that right?"

No one responds to his words. However, I can sense an oppressive, almost murderous, atmosphere gradually spreading throughout the room.

All eyes are on me, solely on me.

But honestly, I have to admit that I'm not fully following the conversation.

An executive...? Me, a new recruit?

"But hey, tell me, Elf woman."

His tone, which had been high-pitched with laughter a moment ago, suddenly drops, barely holding back his anger.

Geese's sharp gaze fixes on me.

"What number is he?"

With that question, silence once again falls over the room.

"The rank granted to him by Lloya-sama is..."

Fia-san's voice strangely echoes in slow motion. I can feel the magical power surrounding Geese intensifying with each word she speaks.

A manifestation of violence.

Even Astaroth didn’t harbor such pure intent to kill.

After glancing back at me for a moment, Fia-san hesitates slightly before finally revealing the truth.

"—Number 1."

Her voice was small, but it resounded clearly in the stillness—

—In that instant, Geese's figure vanishes.

Before I can react, his glowing golden eyes are right in front of me.

Geese's approaching right hand. His fingers.

There’s no need to feel it to know—they hold deadly power.

"Ugh!"

I twist my body instinctively to evade, but Geese's fingers never reach me.

"...What do you think you're doing, damn Elf?"

Geese mutters, glaring sharply at Fia-san, who had grabbed his right arm to stop him.

A gust of wind hits my face a moment later.

...This is the result of a near-miss. I realize my face has gone stiff.

"...Right back at you. What do you think you're doing?"

In response to her question, Geese roughly shakes off the arm she held and grabs Fia-san by the collar, pinning her against the wall in an instant.

"Ugh..."

"I might have misheard. Say it again. What's his rank?"

"It's what Lloya-sama decided..."

"That person isn't here. Do you know what that means?"

Fia-san’s face contorts in anguish at the question. In contrast, a sadistic smile spreads across Geese's face.

"It means to test him, right? In the first place, what happened to Ain?"

"Ain is... him."

Fia-san’s eyes turn to me.

Geese clicks his tongue in irritation.

"...I’m asking what happened to the former Number 1?"

"He now serves directly under Lloya-sama's brother."

"Hah, a promotion, huh? Must be nice to win and run."

Geese chuckles as he roughly releases Fia-san, then slowly turns to face me.

"Shadow Moon, Number 7, Geese. Or you can call me Heine. Whatever you like."

At the same time, an overwhelming killing intent washes over me.

"Hey, do you understand? As of now, you’ve become the face of all of us."

Geese's mouth curls into a grin, but there’s no friendliness in it.

Number 1. I don't know the full significance of that rank, but judging by their reactions, it’s not hard to imagine.

"Say something, Ain (Number 1). Or what? Are you scared of me?"

The magic surrounding Geese intensifies, stirring the air inside the room. In tandem, the golden glow in his eyes grows brighter.

A fight seems inevitable.

To avoid unnecessary conflict and smooth things over, I must convince them I’m no ordinary person.

"..."

...What should I do?

Fia-san, standing behind Geese, winks at me as if to lead me to the answer.

The murderous intent, the hostility... It all rushes toward me like a torrent.

I curl my lips into a smile and speak in as low a voice as I can muster.

"How pleasant."

Geese’s eyes widen in surprise.

Fia-san gives me a thumbs-up.