Chapter 12: You can't run away! (Patreon)

"Oh? It's really Lady Hoshimi Miyabi! I never expected to run into you here—could I get your autograph?"

Musachi gazed at Hoshimi Miyabi, practically starstruck.

"You got away last time."

Hoshimi Miyabi kept her eyes fixed on Musachi.

"And you lied to me, too."

As she said it, a flicker of resentment crossed her eyes.

"Huh? What are you talking about? I don't follow."

Musachi looked back at her, feigning confusion, playing dumb through and through.

"Drop the act. You're a Proxy, aren't you? I saw you in Delin Hollow. An illegal Proxy who resisted arrest—come with me now."

As she spoke, Hoshimi Miyabi advanced on Musachi step by step.

Beside them, Remielle watched and pieced together what must have happened—Musachi must have run into her yesterday down in the Hollow.

Still, Remielle found it puzzling. This was a Void Hunter. How had a mere Proxy like Musachi managed to escape her?

"Ahem, Lady Hoshimi Miyabi, I've really never been to any Hollow. Do you have proof I was there? I'm an upstanding citizen through and through! If you don't believe me, that officer over there can vouch for me!"

Musachi pointed behind Hoshimi Miyabi as he spoke, trying the same trick that had worked before.

Only this time she didn't waver in the slightest. Her gaze stayed locked on him, the way one might stare down prey.

Seeing that, Musachi ran out of ideas.

He couldn't actually let her haul him off to a jail cell, could he?

Escaping right under the nose of a Void Hunter was simply too tall an order.

If she wanted to chase him down, she'd catch him no matter what he tried.

And even if he did manage to slip away, his identity would be blown for good.

But just as Musachi was racking his brain for an excuse, he spotted a few familiar figures not far off.

It was the Cunning Hares.

They'd all happened to come to Lumina Square today too, it seemed.

At that moment, Nicole clearly noticed Musachi and Hoshimi Miyabi. She thought it over for a second, then walked straight toward them.

"Wow! Hoshimi Miyabi! I can't believe I ran into you here—what a coincidence!"

Nicole walked up behind her and called out, deliberately loud.

At once, everyone nearby turned to look.

That petite frame, those tall ears, that expressionless yet impossibly cute face.

There was no mistaking it—it was Hoshimi Miyabi, today's celebrated Void Hunter!

"Nicole, from the Cunning Hares..."

Hoshimi Miyabi startled at the loud voice behind her.

She'd worn her uniform, but with a round-brimmed hat pulled low to cover her face a bit. Now, with Nicole's shout, her identity was blown wide open.

Just as she was feeling exasperated, something occurred to her. She spun around to look for Musachi—but by then there was no trace of him anywhere.

For a moment she shot Nicole a resentful look.

"What's wrong? Did I do something?"

Nicole blinked, the picture of innocence.

"No. It's nothing."

Exasperated as she was, Hoshimi Miyabi let it go without another word.

After a brief exchange, she hurried inside the police station.

If she didn't go now, she'd be mobbed by rabid fans right here...

She'd already spotted several fans heading her way.

Handling scenes like that had never been her strong suit.

"Whoa... Boss, I can't believe you actually know a Void Hunter! I thought you were just bragging!"

Beside her, Billy looked at Nicole, thrilled.

"Ha, please. As your boss, when have I ever lied to you?"

Nicole smirked, the corners of her mouth curling up proudly.

"But... Boss, didn't you say last time this investment absolutely wouldn't lose money? By the end of the month we couldn't even pay wages..."

Billy said it weakly.

"Yeah. Because of that I had to eat cheap burgers for half a month..."

Beside him, Anby gave Nicole a resentful look.

If not for her strong constitution, she might've wound up with an upset stomach like everyone else.

Seeing that, Billy nodded along.

"Don't even get me started. I wanted to split a single battery in half just to make it last..."

"Billy, you idiot, of all the things to bring up!"

Nicole kicked him square, sending him flying. He landed face-down on the ground, rear end sticking straight up in the air.

Like he was putting on a show for the whole street to gawk at.

"Ahh~ Boss Nicole's kick really has gotten stronger."

"I really can't deal with you..."

Watching Billy's humiliating sprawl, Nicole quickly covered her face and hurried off.

"Wait for me, Boss!"

Billy scrambled to catch up.

Meanwhile, as Hoshimi Miyabi looked at the police station, something occurred to her.

Wasn't her old classmate stationed here too?

She hadn't planned on visiting, but since she was already here, she figured she might as well stop by.

"Hello, I'm looking for Zhu Yuan."

Hoshimi Miyabi turned to the old woman sipping tea at the front counter—Qingyi.

"Zhu Yuan, huh... walk to the end of the hall and turn left, you'll find her."

Qingyi recognized her too, but having lived as long as she had, she'd seen plenty of Void Hunters and wasn't the type to make a fuss over one.

She was a little surprised, though—she hadn't expected Zhu Yuan to know Hoshimi Miyabi as well.

"Thanks."

Hoshimi Miyabi said it and walked off.

She knocked on the door, then stepped inside.

"Here for a replacement docu— oh? It's you, Hoshimi Miyabi. Didn't expect to see you here."

At the sight of her, a flicker of pleasant surprise showed in Zhu Yuan's eyes—clearly, seeing her old classmate put her in a good mood.

"Happened to be passing by, so I thought I'd drop in."

Hoshimi Miyabi nodded, then glanced around the room.

"You're not out in the field anymore?"

She sounded a little puzzled.

"No, I'm just covering for a colleague today..."

Zhu Yuan said, a note of helplessness in her voice.

Actually, at first her supervisor hadn't asked her to cover a shift at all—he'd told her to take some time off. She'd been swamped lately and hadn't had a single day off in ages; he was genuinely worried her health would give out.

But Zhu Yuan was too dedicated for her own good. No matter what he said, her answer was always the same: I serve the people—I have to be out there on the front lines!

Left with no other choice, he'd given up and lied to her instead, claiming the records office was short-staffed and needed her to fill in for two days.

"Filling in" was a stretch—the post was really just a cushy do-nothing job, a chance for Zhu Yuan to relax for a couple of days.

Well, compared to her usual workload, this place was pure vacation.

"Oh right, rest here a bit. I'll go get you some water."

Zhu Yuan glanced at her, then quickly steered Hoshimi Miyabi into a chair at the desk before hurrying out, cup in hand.

"You don't need to go to the trouble..."

Hoshimi Miyabi was about to say she'd be leaving soon, but when she turned, Zhu Yuan had already vanished.

With no other option, she settled in to wait.

Bored, she glanced at the desk beside her.

Two filled-out forms lay there.

One belonged to a Winged Thiren; she paid it little mind.

But the other—seeing Musachi's name on it, the small ID photo, and the home address listed at the bottom...

Hoshimi Miyabi sank into thought.

She wasn't exactly a stickler for rules. When it came to Proxies, she was usually willing to look the other way.

But Musachi was different. Ever since she'd first laid eyes on him yesterday, she'd felt something about him she couldn't quite put into words.

One thing she was sure of, though: she felt she'd seen him somewhere before—no, more than that, she felt she should be close to him somehow...

Looking at the form on the desk, a smile crept across her face.

This time, there's no way you're getting away.