Morning rose over Megar with a gentle glow and a light breeze carrying the distant echo of floating trams.
Nene, still holding on to the warm memory of her dinner with Linx, woke up at the very first hint of dawn. Her eyes still carried a trace of fatigue, but her body moved in a rush.
Linx had sent her a message saying Jorgen's group was leaving at 0800 hours, but had asked her to come earlier to discuss a few matters face-to-face.
"…Damn it… I have to replace my knives…" she muttered quietly as she finished buttoning her blouse and straightened the insignia of sword and shield pinned to her chest. "Miss Linx is gonna kill me when I tell her…"
She crossed the old floor of her apartment, the tiles creaking with every step, until she reached the small counter in the kitchen. She picked up the bread that had been left out and took a bite.
As she chewed, a small noise made her turn her head. Among the piled trash in the alley outside, a raccoon stared at her shamelessly while rummaging through rusted cans. Nene smiled softly.
That was her "little tenant." A raccoon with a coat of gray and brown that had slipped in months ago.
Nene had long since given up trying to get rid of him. He always came back. So, she had "adopted" him—or more precisely, she just didn't close the window near the bathroom so he could come and go as he pleased.
"Well, Raccon… I'll be back later. Don't wait up for me."
Her words were carried away by the morning wind as she walked off, her footsteps echoing against the damp stones of the city.
The Association towered like a titan. The bustle of hunters and merchants filled the lobby, voices blending with the crackle of screens and the clatter of metal boots against the polished floor.
When she reached Linx's office, Nene was greeted by the imposing silhouette of her manager: a woman of elegant beauty, whose sharp eyes seemed capable of stripping away the last of one's secrets. Her expression, however, was hardened with barely contained irritation.
"G-good morning… are you mad at me for something I did?" Nene asked in a trembling voice, noticing how the warmth of the other night had vanished from Linx.
"What do you think, Nene?" Linx replied, her tone as cold as the edge of a knife.
The girl lowered her gaze, fidgeting with her fingers.
"…Could you maybe tell me what I did this time?"
Linx crossed her arms, leaning back against the desk.
"I don't know. Maybe losing your knives? Or trying to go into a Fissure without weapons? Or better yet… not telling me any of that? Which one would you prefer?"
Nene's heart skipped a beat.
"…S-sorry… I was just about to tell ya…"
A sigh slipped from Linx's lips.
"You're lucky I found out yesterday."
From her desk, she pulled out an object wrapped in blue cloth. With feline grace, she sat on the surface, crossed her legs, and held the package out to Nene.
The girl took it as if it were a priceless treasure. When she unwrapped it, the reddish gleam of two new daggers lit up her eyes.
"They're for you," Linx's voice softened, just a little. "A gift. Be grateful that Laila opened her shop at night just for me."
"Eh!? These are Lady Laila's daggers! Wow!" Nene couldn't help shouting in amazement. They were Crimson Daggers, an improved version of the knives she had lost.
"That's what a good manager would do. But listen to me: if you lose them, not even that puppy face of yours will convince me to buy you another set. You'll have to figure it out yourself, got it?"
Nene's eyes sparkled.
"Thank ya, Miss— I mean, Linx! See you later… love ya!"
A faint blush crossed Linx's face. That unfiltered sincerity was disarming, especially for someone used to moving through masks and lies.
"Take care…" she murmured, barely audible, though her expression changed as soon as she realized she'd forgotten something important. "Wait—I haven't even told you what the Commission is about!"
"Oh, right. Sorry, I got a little carried away."
Linx smirked, her light tone masking the rigid precision of someone used to keeping order.
"The commission is simple. The Neo Group plans to explore a Fissure that appeared near the forest to the south. They want to gather as many materials as they can, going through all of the Fissure's floors."
All of them? Nene thought, scratching at her pinky finger.
Fissures behaved strangely. They were internally divided into sections, which the Porcelux Organization had classified as floors. The deeper you went, the stronger the Ethereals became.
The thought of clearing a Fissure from the first floor all the way to the sixth made her nervous. Still, she calmed herself by remembering she'd be with a strong group.
The night before, Jorgen had said his group had two Rank Ds. So they shouldn't have any problems… at least not them. As for her… well, that was another matter.
"Which means your job is to gather resources, as always. That's it. Any questions?"
"Nope! So, I think I'll head out now. The group must be—"
"Ah, no. Don't think you're slipping away. You know it's protocol to check your stats."
"But we already know they haven't changed…" Nene replied, lowering her head, resignation weighing heavier than any armor.
"Well, yes. But you said it yourself. You took this commission with pitiful pay just for the experience. So, if you've managed to improve, it'd be good to know." Linx crossed her arms, her voice firm. "Now stop whining and sit down."
"Yes, ma'am!" Nene straightened up like a soldier. The act of discipline lasted only a few seconds before she dragged a chair clumsily in front of Linx, spun it around, and plopped down, resting her arms on the backrest.
"Alright. I'm going to touch your back, okay?"
"Go ahead… I've told ya, you don't have to ask permission."
With a measured, professional gesture, Linx slid Nene's off-shoulder blouse down to reveal her back. The white lamp light revealed skin marked with scars, a map of past cuts etched across her surface. At the center of that battlefield rested a simple tattoo: a solid black circle with sharp edges.
Linx's gloved finger traced its outline. The faint contact drew out an involuntary squeak from Nene, as if her skin still remembered every wound that had carved into it.
"Sorry… it's just… it tickles," she stammered, pressing her lips together.
Without a word, Linx slipped off her right glove. Her bare skin revealed a tattoo of her own: the delicate stroke of a dark feather, vibrating faintly with a dormant power. She pressed her palm against Nene's black circle.
"Manager Technique Deployment IV: Scanner. (25 RP)"
The air grew tense. A cold current slid down the girl's spine, sinking past skin and bone. It felt as if something invisible was piercing through her, scanning her from the inside. She shut her eyes and held her breath.
After a minute, Linx pulled her hand away, letting Nene fix her clothes.
"Want me to read you your weekly report?"
"…Yes. Please."
"…You really do need to learn how to read. What will you do when there's no one around to read things for you?"
Nene let out a nervous laugh, scratching her head. She knew Linx was right, but she just couldn't make sense of letters!
Linx extended her bare hand. A blue panel appeared out of thin air, hovering like liquid crystal, and she began to read:
▼ Neonphy Nerlhyta.
● Species: Human.
● Rank: F-▼
● Resonance: Residual Synchrony
● Resonance Points: 20.
● Output: 0.5 h
● Role: –
● Strength: 25.
● Vitality: 30.
● Dexterity: 35.
● Passive Techniques▼
● Agility.
● Stamina.
"As expected… still the same, huh?" Nene murmured with a weak smile that never reached her eyes. "I already saw it coming. After all, I've only killed two Rank F Ethereal Beings since I started…"
"Come on, don't let it get to you." Linx interlaced her fingers, leaning toward her. "I know it looks bad, but that doesn't mean you can't change. And I know you don't care about popularity or recognition. All you want is money. So keep that mindset. Even if you never level up or get a Role, as long as you're making money, you'll be fine. Right?"
Nene lowered her gaze. It sounded like encouragement… but to her, it was just a prettier way of calling her useless. She couldn't argue against it, and still, the words burned in her chest.
It was true: she didn't want fame. But it was unbearable being so weak, so dependent. The one everyone had to save.
Even she had a little pride. She wanted to be more reliable. That's why she wanted strength.
"Yes… you're right, Miss Linx." She swallowed hard, the words dragging like stones in her throat. "Even so… I'd like to be just a little strong."
Her lips trembled with that confession, and she quickly tried to cover it up with clumsy haste: "A-anyway, I'll be going. I think I'm running late."
Linx looked at her for a moment, as if she wanted to say something more, but in the end, she let out a resigned sigh.
"Eh… oh, of course. Take care, Nene."
Nene shot to her feet, too quickly, as though afraid of being trapped in that gaze. She adjusted her blouse with nervous hands and headed for the door. The echo of her footsteps filled the silent office, trailing her like a bitter reminder of her own weakness.