"Can that child handle it?"
The crisp sound of hammering rang by their ears without pause, accompanied by Nearl's uniquely dazzling Originium Arts. It really did resemble a construction site. Ch'en had found two hard hats from somewhere, putting one on herself and helping Yae Kasumi with the other.
"You're pressing down on my ears."
Yae Sakura said coolly.
"Ah... I didn't think that through."
Fox ears were long and soft, while the two holes at the top of the hard hat were extremely small. A slight misstep would press against them.
Yae Kasumi adjusted the angle between the hard hat and her ears. After finally finding a comfortable position, she picked up a traffic baton and directed the vehicles trying to move forward toward another ramp.
"You asked whether that child could hold up just now. That's an unnecessary concern. Heavy Bunny is linked to the Imaginary Space and draws energy directly from the Quantum Sea. Even if it were blown to pieces, it could recover immediately, let alone fight someone."
Yae Kasumi replied, "Unlike me, that child was born expressionless. She's well suited for acting."
"Oh..."
Ch'en thought Yae Sakura really was not good at acting.
"All right, I'll watch this side. You go to the other end of the street. Considering Operator Nearl's endurance, this fight might last all day."
"Is it really that terrifying?"
Ch'en was not worried in the slightest.
Her first thought was whether she should buy some popcorn in advance. Sitting around directing traffic was pretty boring, after all.
Inside the arena.
The battle was intensely thrilling for a time.
Hoshino imagined Ptilopsis's eyes—the indifference of an emotionless young girl, tinged with an emptiness born of seeing through the world. They were so clear, yet so complex, nothing like an expression that should