Chisato Nishikigi

Passing through the kitchen into what seemed to be the living quarters, Luo Shu followed Chisato Nishikigi to a flight of steps that looked like the entrance to a basement.

"By the way, Luo Shu, do you know how to use a gun?"

Chisato Nishikigi made a finger gun and even supplied her own "pew pew" sound effects.

"No." Luo Shu shook his head. Having grown up under the red flag, how could he have had a chance to learn something like that?

"You don't... Ah, that won't do..."

As she walked down the steps, Chisato Nishikigi advised him in the tone of a senior colleague:

"Sure, Superpowers are handy, and under the right circumstances, a surprise attack can kill someone before they even know what hit them. But when it comes to lethality and efficiency, kinetic weapons like guns are still really, really powerful."

Chisato Nishikigi reached a corner and pressed the wall. With a click, a small keypad popped out.

She deftly entered the password as she continued:

"They say that even in international criminal organizations like the Astronomy of Truth and the Golden Dawn, only a tiny handful of officers can ignore bullets. Every one of them is a major figure on the threat list. Everyone else can be dealt with using guns, so learning to shoot is still very important."

"More importantly, in modern society, Superpowers just aren't as immediately intimidating as a gun."

Chisato Nishikigi nodded solemnly, then abruptly changed tack:

"Speaking of which, Luo Shu, what's your ability?"

"Ah! If it's a secret you can't share, don't tell me. I'm just curious, that's all."

Hearing Chisato Nishikigi say that, Luo Shu raised an eyebrow.

He wasn't particularly wary of this heroine. After all, as far as he knew, anime heroines generally had good personalities and were perfectly worthy of some initial trust.

"My ability is wind. I can control it."

"The wind element? A Wind Mage?!"

Walking ahead of him, Chisato Nishikigi suddenly widened her eyes and exclaimed in delight:

"A legendary ace scout?!"

"Wow! Boss is amazing! She actually recruited an ace scout like a Wind Mage?"

"An ace... scout?" Luo Shu looked a little awkward. He couldn't figure out why Chisato Nishikigi was saying that.

"You didn't know, Luo Shu?"

Chisato Nishikigi gave Luo Shu a puzzled look, then explained:

"Among onmyoji, Taoist priests, priests, nuns, and all those other special groups that we at SDS collectively call spellcasters here in Japan, Wind Mages are famous scouting experts. Their abilities activate quickly, cover a huge area, and are great for wide-ranging searches."

"I heard there's an incredibly powerful Wind Mage over in China who can monitor an entire city all by himself."

"Although I've heard Wind Mages aren't very powerful offensively compared to other spellcasters, they actually get the highest rating for convenience. Ah, that sounds so nice. I'm so jealous of you people with Superpowers..."

"Shooting is about the only thing I'm even halfway good at..."

Seeing the undisguised envy on Chisato Nishikigi's face, along with the cute way she put her hands behind her head and scuffed her feet against the floor, Luo Shu felt rather conflicted.

So to people in the know, controlling the wind element just makes me a super scout?

Luo Shu, who had rather hoped to show off, sighed and quickly adjusted his mindset.

Fine, scouting it is. Maybe scouts are actually the safest personnel. After all, I'll probably do most of my scouting through the wind without having to go there myself. Looking at it that way, it really is safer than being one of the others fighting on the front lines.

Following Chisato Nishikigi, Luo Shu reached an underground room. Watching his senior rummage through a heap of women's clothes, he couldn't help asking curiously:

"What are you doing?"

"Looking for a men's combat uniform... Ah! Why is it all Mizuki's and Kurumi's clothes? Are they using this place as a storage closet?"

Amid her complaints and the sounds of rummaging, Chisato Nishikigi suddenly paused, then turned her head and said:

"Oh, I almost forgot. I haven't explained how things work here."

As Chisato Nishikigi spoke, she kept searching through the clothes in the storeroom:

"This base belongs to the SDS operations division directly under Boss. The café is just our everyday cover. Including Mika and me, there are three other members here: Mizuki Nakahara, Takina Inoue, and Kurumi."

"Mika is the manager and our training instructor. He also handles contact with Boss and takes care of logistics. Mizuki is our intelligence operative, in charge of gathering and verifying information. Kurumi is a hacker who helps gather intelligence and handles equipment repairs and maintenance. Takina and I are partners. We're the combat personnel, and we both specialize in firearms."

"Ah, found them."

Chisato Nishikigi pulled several suits out of a cabinet and smiled happily:

"So this is where they were hidden. Honestly, I had to look everywhere."

"What size do you wear, Luo Shu?"

At her question, Luo Shu paused, then told her his clothing size.

Chisato Nishikigi took his answer in stride:

"Oh! In that case, this one should fit you better."

Chisato Nishikigi took out a black suit and handed it to Luo Shu.

"Since all our missions are carried out in secret, our younger female members generally disguise themselves as high school

"students. With your height, Luo Shu... Hmm, you could pass for a fresh-faced office worker."

"The suits are specially made. Apparently, they're some kind of bulletproof clothing specially produced by the Onmyoryo, and they can protect against Superpowers and stuff, too. They're expensive, so there are only two sets here. Remember to tell us if they don't fit. Oh, right, bring them back to the café when they need washing."

At that point, Chisato Nishikigi suddenly turned to look at Luo Shu, then paused and studied his face carefully. Once she confirmed that he was indeed very young, she suddenly asked:

"Oh, Luo Shu, do you have a part-time job? If you do, you'd better quit and come work at the café instead... Also, Luo Shu, you aren't still in school, are you?"

Luo Shu nodded at her question. "I am. At Toyogasaki, just nearby."

"That's so nice! You get paid to study. Even while you're attending classes, you still get your salary. Emergency missions are a bit of a hassle, though..."

Chisato Nishikigi spoke with open envy, then added regretfully:

"I've always wanted to go to school, but I've never had the chance..."

Hearing that, Luo Shu couldn't help frowning as he asked in confusion:

"You can't be that old either, Chisato. Why haven't you had the chance to go to school...?"

"Well..."

Chisato Nishikigi raised a hand to scratch her cheek. After a moment's thought, she decided to tell him the truth:

"Luo Shu, Boss told you about the Abyss, right?"

"She did." Luo Shu nodded.

At that, Chisato Nishikigi's expression turned complicated and unreadable as she said:

"Actually, everyone at our café except Boss came from the Abyss."

Luo Shu froze.