Chapter 115

"She's with the Internal Affairs Division right now and should be back soon. If Efnir needs her for anything, I can pass on her message."

"No need, I'll just wait here."

Reception room.

You look a little tired, are you alright?

--As it turned out, this was also the first thing Masaki Hina said to him when they met.

Facing Masaki Hina's worried and concerned gaze, Efnir sighed deeply and helplessly. Yukina followed beside Efnir, holding Efnir hand, suppressing a laugh.

"I'm fine..."

"If you're not feeling well..."

"Okay, let's not talk about this anymore."

Seeing that the topic was about to be dragged out again, Efnir reacted quickly and interrupted Masaki Hina.

"I came to see you because of what happened the day before yesterday, and also... I need to ask you for help with Yukina's identity registration."

Efnir glanced at Yukina, their intertwined fingers pressed tightly together.

"Oh? You've decided?"

"Yes... I also feel it's time to take this step."

Masaki Hina looked slightly surprised as she gazed at Efnir's right eye, which was covered by gauze. She hesitated, then sighed softly and turned her gaze to Yukina.

From the beginning, Yukina had been observing her intentionally or unintentionally, and she had also paid a little more attention to this younger sister whom her friend cherished. She was somewhat surprised to find that Yukina gave off a different feeling compared to when she met her at the temporary command post a few days ago.

Masaki Hina couldn't quite put her finger on what the subtle change was, but the feeling was undeniably real.

Masaki Hina prides herself on her keen eye for people.

If when Masaki Hina met this little girl crying her eyes out at the temporary command post a few days ago, she only gave him the feeling of a "very beautiful" work of art, then now Yukina gives Masaki Hina a dazed feeling that she "already has the prototype of a 'blade'".

Masaki Hina gave Yukina a deep look.

"It's unbelievable that you could say something like that."

"Let's not dwell on the past. In short, I'm leaving Yukina's identity registration to you."

"Since you put it that way... well, then do I need to register as your direct subordinate?"

"Let's leave it at that for now. I'll take care of Yukina's matter."

"No problem."

Without hesitation, Masaki Hina turned her gaze to Yukina.

She smiled and said, "Yukina, although this isn't our first meeting, let me introduce myself. I am Masaki Hina, and as you can see, I am the commander here."

"Um... although we've met before, I haven't formally introduced myself yet... I'm Shiomi Yukina, Naoko's Naoko sister. Nice to meet you!"

Yukina introduced herself and took another careful look at the "girl" who was a little shorter than her.

Despite looking like a middle school student, Masaki Hina is actually the commander and chief of the Orderkeepers Organization. Although I met Masaki Hina a few days ago, Yukina was still immersed in the grief of Efnir's serious injury and didn't pay much attention to the others.

Finally meeting the legendary commander face to face, Yukina was amazed by Masaki Hina's appearance.

However, precisely because of this, Yukina didn't feel much of the oppressive aura that comes with a superior. It felt like being with someone her own age, which made Yukina less nervous than when she first met Fushihara Ayaka.

"Naoko?"

Masaki Hina tilted her head suspiciously and looked at Efnir with curiosity.

"It's you?"

It's me.

Efnir pursed her lips and looked away.

"My name is Yanase Naoko now, and you can call me that from now on."

"It's actually... quite suitable for you?"

Masaki Hina suddenly realized.

Naoto, Naoko.

There are indeed some interesting alternatives.

No longer dwelling on the name Efnir, Masaki Hina smiled gently and looked at Yukina.

"Yukina, or rather, Fifina... It's an honor to work with you and your sister from now on. However, although your sister and I are officially in a superior-subordinate relationship, she is actually a very important friend to me. So you can call me by my name without feeling awkward, just like your sister does, or you can call me 'older sister'."

"Hey, she's my sister."

Efnir suddenly interrupted, pouting and emphasizing the word "mine".

Masaki Hina glanced at Efnir with a flippant expression and retorted, "Can't a friend's sister be called a 'sister'?"

"This is different!"

What's the difference?

"How well are you recovering after being discharged from the hospital?"

"It's nothing serious. I can get out of bed and move around without any problems. The doctor said I'll be fully recovered in a few days."

"Is that so..."

Masaki Hina glanced at Efnir, her gaze falling on Efnir's right eye, which was covered by gauze. She pursed her lips and sighed softly.

"Get well soon..."

Don't worry.

Masaki Hina led Efnir and Yukina to her office.

Along the way, Masaki Hina briefly explained the agent's work and matters to Yukina, and also revealed the progress of the work in the past few days to Efnir.

"Our researchers are still working tirelessly through the night on experiments regarding Angel and Apostle... This matter is being handled by Nishizaki Yuki; by the way, she's been very worried about you."

"Is she alright? I heard she's been discharged from the hospital, but I didn't see her when I went downstairs just now."

"She's been staying at the research institute these past few days. Her injuries have healed somewhat and she's much better than before, so there's no need to worry too much. However, she's been working too hard these past few days, so I ordered her to rest for a day."

"I see..."

Efnir nodded.

I was originally planning to go see her.

"Speaking of which, there's something else I need to tell you."

"What?"

"It's nothing serious... Kanade Kotone —is that her name?"

Masaki Hina spoke, her expression seemed somewhat subtle, before she smiled again.

"In short, she's the little girl who saved Nishizaki Yuki's life last time, and now she's staying by her side as her assistant."

164. Intelligence Exchange

"Kanade Kotone...?"

This time it was Efnir's turn to show a strange expression, which surprised Yukina as well.

"Kanade- kun?"

The last time she met Kanade Kotone was at school. Yukina only knew that Kanade Kotone had seemed a little down because of family matters those days, but she had never heard Kanade Kotone mention that she had become Nishizaki Yuki's assistant.

"No... wait."

Efnir was clearly just as puzzled as Yukina; she simply felt that the news had suddenly left her somewhat bewildered.

"Kanade Kotone is still just a high school student... Why did Yuki, who has always refused to hire an assistant, suddenly take a liking to her?"

It's not that I have a prejudice against Kanade Kotone.

Kanade Kotone is a very proactive and courageous girl who also studies very hard. There is no doubt that she will be an outstanding person in the future.

However, there are many things that cannot be done simply by "wanting to do them." Most of the projects that Nishizaki Yuki is in charge of are research topics related to the Order Force and the Corruption Force, which no humankind has been able to explain in detail so far. This is far beyond the scope of what an ordinary high school student can be involved in.

"Is it strange that Nishizaki Yuki would do something like this? And to be honest, it's not that Nishizaki Yuki has taken a liking to Kanade Kotone, but rather that Kanade Kotone has chosen Nishizaki Yuki."

Masaki Hina's face looks cramped.

"Besides, isn't Yukina a high school student too?"

"This is different. Yukina is Eligible, Kanade Kotone is just an ordinary person... In the end, Yuki's research is not a field that a high school student is capable of exploring."

No, you've misunderstood.

Masaki Hina did not deny Efnir's statement, but instead explained:

"Nishiki didn't let Xiaoqin take over her experiments. She just temporarily put Xiaoqin into the medical department she was in charge of, as a 'doctor's assistant'."

"So that's how it is...?"

If it's something to do with the medical department, then Efnir can understand.

Nishizaki Yuki is responsible for both research and medical work, and is the physician who directly contacts the agents.

"Ultimately, Kotone is just an assistant for now, and the things she does are very simple, not involving any secrets, and there is no danger involved."

Even so, I still believe there are better candidates...

"That's true... but it's rare for Nishiki to value someone so much. Although I'm also puzzled as to why, since she's made her choice, why not let her give it a try?"

Masaki Hina said.

"Besides, Kotone also has her own unspeakable difficulties. Don't be fooled by her usual demeanor; she's a completely different person in the files being reviewed... Well, anyway, this was a step she volunteered to take. Everything starts from scratch, doesn't it?"

"..."

Efnir glanced at Masaki Hina and sighed softly.

"I mean, why are you all so carefree... Even if you're a support staff member, this isn't child's play. Did those two really think this through?"

Rather than worrying about whether the demanding Nishizaki Yuki could get along well with Kanade Kotone and whether Kanade Kotone could be a competent assistant to the eccentric Nishizaki Yuki, Efnir was more concerned about their future.

Doctors and nurses are occasionally sent to disaster-stricken areas to support combat operations, and the dangers are obvious.

Fengling Shiyin, Uzuki Saori, Shiina Rin, Oguri Aya, Kiri Mahiru...

Enough girls have already been sent to the battlefield.

And his younger sister.

Efnir didn't want to see girls as young as Kanade Kotone and Yukina suffer from the Erosion Disaster again, but whenever this happened, Efnir felt utterly powerless and could only focus more intently on training herself. Only if she was strong enough could she minimize the danger faced by others.

"Perhaps Nishizaki Yuki has her own reasons."

"Alright, since you've already said so much, I won't say any more... Besides, I believe Nishiki isn't a reckless person; she probably has her reasons..."

"It's good that you think that way."

Masaki Hina smiled at Efnir and offered no further explanation.

"Oh, right, there's one more thing—we've actually located the vice-captain 'Karina,' from the squad the 'Apostle' sent out this time, and she's currently under our secret surveillance."

"Now that it's decided, why not just take it?"

"Of course we have our reasons."

In response to Efnir's question, Masaki Hina chuckled, lowered her voice, and gently pushed open the office door.

"There are a few other things besides that we'll discuss inside."

Please sit wherever you like.