Game of Higher Hands - A New Face

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyIDhsHeRd

I rub my head.

"...That was weird."

The giant door.

The archive.

The books.

The dust.

Everything still feels real.

I shake my head hard.

"No."

"Maybe I was just too tired."

Or...

maybe I walked into another bug.

At this point...

would that even surprise me?

The world already has monsters.

Forbidden zones.

People with abilities.

Maps that grow by themselves.

An ancient archive hidden inside a forest?

Honestly...

it almost sounds normal now.

I laugh quietly.

"Guess I'm getting used to this place."

I stop thinking about it.

There are more important things.

The forbidden zone.

I start running again.

Several hours later...

I finally arrive.

"...Too late."

The forbidden zone is already collapsing.

The black fog is disappearing.

The air feels lighter.

I sigh.

"I missed it again."

As I walk closer...

I notice something strange.

The Chosen Team is here.

All six of them.

But this time...

they aren't chasing anyone.

They aren't searching.

Instead...

they are standing around someone.

A girl.

Curious, I walk closer.

"Did I miss something?"

Ethan looks up.

"Oh... Jax."

Ben folds his arms.

"You really have great timing."

"I know."

"I keep arriving after everything ends."

Ryan laughs.

"At least you're honest."

I look toward the girl.

She looks about my age.

Maybe seventeen.

She has a neat mullet haircut.

Black cargo pants.

A chocolate-brown T-shirt.

Long black coin-shaped earrings hang beside her face.

She is sitting on a broken stone.

Holding a bottle of water.

Lily kneels beside her.

"Are you feeling better?"

The girl nods quietly.

"A little."

I raise an eyebrow.

"What happened?"

Ethan answers.

"We met Charly."

"...Again?"

He nods.

"We tried following him."

"But..."

Mia sighs.

"He disappeared."

"Just like that?"

"Just like that."

Nobody looks happy.

I can understand why.

Trying to catch Charly must feel like chasing the wind.

Ben kicks a small rock.

"We couldn't even keep up."

"So how did you get the shard?"

I ask.

Ryan smiles.

"Luck."

"The boss was still alive after Charly left."

"He never went to the deepest area."

"We defeated it ourselves."

"So this time..."

Ethan reaches into his pocket.

"...we got the shard."

I look at the crystal in his hand.

Then smile.

"Congratulations."

I actually mean it.

Winning after so many failures...

must feel pretty good.

Then I look back at the girl.

"So..."

"Who's she?"

The girl looks up.

A little nervous.

Ethan answers before she can.

"We found her inside."

"Inside the forbidden zone?"

"Yeah."

"She was alone."

I blink.

"Alone?"

The girl scratches the back of her head awkwardly.

"I... got lost."

"...Inside a forbidden zone?"

She gives an embarrassed smile.

"I know..."

"It sounds stupid."

I stare at her for a few seconds.

Either she is incredibly unlucky...

or incredibly lucky.

Lily smiles gently.

"She has an ability."

"Oh?"

The girl nods.

"A space ability."

I immediately become interested.

"What kind?"

She looks down.

"My space can only store things."

"...Storage?"

She nods.

"I can't fight."

"I can't attack."

"I can only keep supplies inside."

Ben laughs.

"We thought it sounded useful."

Ryan nods.

"Food."

"Medicine."

"Equipment."

"That'll help a lot."

The girl smiles shyly.

"I'll try my best."

I quietly observe her.

She doesn't look strong.

She doesn't look confident either.

Just...

calm.

Too calm.

Maybe that's just her personality.

Or maybe...

I'm thinking too much.

I shrug.

Ethan turns toward her.

"If you don't have anywhere to go..."

"You can come with us."

The girl looks surprised.

"...Really?"

"Of course."

"We look after each other."

For the first time...

her smile looks genuine.

"Thank you."

I watch the whole conversation silently.

"...Looks like your team is getting bigger."

Ben grins.

"The more people, the better."

I put my hands into my pockets.

Maybe.

Maybe not.

A bigger team also means...

more weaknesses.

More responsibilities.

More things to protect.

Still...

they all seem happy.

I smile to myself.

"Well..."

"Looks like the Chosen Team just welcomed a new member."

I take one last look at the quiet girl.

For some reason...

I feel like there is more to her story than she is saying.

But I don't ask.

Everyone has secrets in this world.

Including me.6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xjAWALjIt

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