First Encounter
It was the day I was supposed to meet the new Journey Member for the first time, yet for some reason, the whole city felt tense.
Town guards were moving about in a hurry, patrolling everywhere, and some streets were completely blocked off.
Worried I'd be late if I took the long way around, I dashed into a narrow alley that cut between the buildings, when...
Ngh?!
Out of nowhere, someone grabbed my arm and twisted it behind my back in an instant, subduing me.
Do not move.
If you move carelessly, you could break a bone.
Where are you headed? State your name and affiliation.
Wait, I'm not—
Gah!
I said don't move. State your name and affiliation.
I turned my head slightly to take a look at my assailant. And sure enough, her appearance matched the description I'd heard of the Journey member.
Where are your other companions?
Lugh, right?! You're the Journey member!
!
...My apologies for the misunderstanding, Captain.
I was on my way to meet you as well, but...
A sudden emergency was reported, instructing us to check anyone behaving suspiciously.
...I understand.
Come to think of it, you're with the Orbital Search Team, right, Lugh?
Yes, that's correct.
The Orbital Search Team.
An organization under the Polaris Observation Council. They track stellar movements, and using that data, predict disasters and incidents likely to occur in the near future across NOA and the rest of Lavistar—then respond accordingly.
This morning's forecast indicated a high probability of a terrorist-type incident occurring somewhere in downtown NOA today.
So that's why things have been so on edge this morning.
Just then, a scream rang out from the plaza.
Nobody move!
...The plaza.
Excuse me.
I ran after Lugh as she sprinted toward the plaza.
Listen up! Take our demands straight to Alicia!
See this detonator? One wrong move and the whole plaza goes up in flames!
And this hostage goes with it!
Ooh... I'm so sorry...
Ah...? Ms. Lugh...!
*Sigh*
How did you manage to get yourself caught, Naru?
Ms. Lugh! Don't worry about me and go after the perp—ow?!
I told you to be quiet!
You there! You look like you're with this one.
Take our demands to Alicia! Drop your weapon too!
State your demands.
Our demand is simple!
Take down the Divine Barrier protecting NOA!
What are you talking about?! Without it, we won't be able to stop the Voidborns from falling!
Exactly! Perishing at the hands of the Void Star is the natural law of the world!
And Alicia and NOA—those who unnaturally defy it... should be erased!
It's because they reject that order... that our lives have become miserable! You all know it!
Why we can't get jobs... or have relationships... and why NOA's housing prices keep climbing!
It's all because of that Divine Barrier!!
Wait! That's a huge leap in logic all of a sudden, don't you think?!
Understood. I'll relay your message to Lady Alicia exactly as stated.
Who is your leader? Does your group have an official name?
A-a name?
So no official name. In that case, I'll register you for now as the NOA Plaza Faction.
W-what's with that slapdash name?! Forget it!
Don't worry. I'll make sure the NOA Plaza Faction's message is delivered without fail. Now, about that hostage...
Stay right there, Observer! Don't move!
I only wish to talk. I'm not carrying any weapons.
Like we'd trust a Polaris Observer! You could be hiding something under your clothes!
If you want to talk, prove you're unarmed!
Understood. So your goal is to incapacitate me.
With that, Lugh grabbed her own left hand with her right, then twisted it sharply.
...Huh?
Ms. Lugh?!
Did you just... break your own wrist?
...What...
What the hell?! Are you out of your mind?!
If you guarantee the hostage's safety, I'll break the other one as well.
Lugh set her left hand against the ground.
What the...?
The terrorists glanced at each other, caught off guard, unsure how to respond.
...Now's my chance!
Taking advantage of the lapse in attention, the Observer who'd been taken hostage slipped free from their grasp.
Huh?! Hey...!
Ms. Lugh! NOW!
I've had everything prepared from the start.
Huh? On the ground... These are... charms? W-when did you—?
AAAAAARGH!
Electricity surged from the charms, paralyzing the terrorists and dropping them to the ground.
They're lightning-summoning charms.
It seems they have no other accomplices.
I've called for the Orbital Search Team reinforcements. They should be here soon.
Although the crisis that could have escalated into a disaster had been neatly resolved, Lugh's expression remained composed, showing no great shift in emotion.
Ooh... Ooooh!
Ms. Lugh! Thank you so much for helping the super genius elite, Naru— Ow?! Ow ow ow, that hurts!
She grabbed Naru by the temple and lifted her up...!
Ow! Ms. Lugh! Put me down!
I clearly told you to stay put in a safe area and only assist depending on the situation.
Why were you taken hostage?
Don't tell me you acted alone.
B-but...!
I had a reason! Hear me out, Ms. Lugh!
I'm listening.
With my perfect calculations, I thought if I captured all the culprits in one go, everyone's evaluation of me would change—
With the sound of something breaking, Naru went limp.
One more for the hospital, then.
Is your hand okay? Looks like the bone's out of place...
I'm fine. I can't feel pain.
Lugh calmly set the bone in her left hand back in place herself.
This is nothing.
We have some time before my team arrives.
Allow me to introduce myself properly. Pleased to meet you, Captain.
I'm Lugh, joining you on the Journey.
Then she simply stared at me in silence.
...Uh.
Yes?
That's it?
Yes. Is there a problem...?
Do you require more information?
I see my explanation was lacking. Understood.
I am the Deputy Leader of the Orbital Search Team, a sub-division under the Polaris Observation Council.
Another long silence followed.
So... your reason for joining the Journey?
Reason...?
I had no particular reason to refuse, so I joined.
I was told it would be a chance to test my skills and grow stronger...
Other than that...?
I see... another reason...
...
...Why did I join?
You're asking me?
Ms. Lugh! We're here!
Why's the apprentice on the ground?
My team's here.
There's something I need to take care of, so I'll be heading back first, Captain. Until next time.
Lugh walked over to her team, placing the terrorists and Naru onto stretchers before moving out.
Can't feel pain...
I turned to leave, remembering how Lugh's expression hadn't changed a bit when she broke her own arm.