“Alright, I’ll head home now. Last night’s meat party was a blast. Thanks for inviting me!”
“Yeah. Tell Lily to stop hiding cameras everywhere so Yuria doesn’t keep finding them.”
“Haha… well, I doubt she’ll listen to me. Anyway, see you tomorrow, Yuria! Bye!”
“…!”
Alice, who had spent the night at the office, stayed only until lunchtime before heading home.
She seemed reluctant to leave, but knowing her sister Lily was likely worried about her, she couldn’t just stay.
A sweet and caring little sister who cooks for you and worries about you—she really was the kind of person any sibling would adore.
As Alice waved goodbye at the entrance, Raven and Yuria saw her off, then returned to the office.
Raven poured chocolate milk into a glass from the fridge, watching Yuria crawl into the closet in his peripheral vision.
The closet was far from a comfortable spot.
It was too small to stand in, dimly lit, and musty, having never been designed as a living space.
True, Yuria’s petite frame allowed her to sit inside without hitting her head, but even so, it barely deserved a 5 out of 10 as a resting place.
If Raven hadn’t quietly swapped out her blankets for freshly washed ones or placed a portable air purifier in the corner, it wouldn’t have even scored that.
Maybe it’s the secret base vibe. Guess that’s fun at her age.
Raven chuckled to himself as he rinsed his glass and returned to his bed.
Rustle, thud, bump.
Noises came from the closet as if Yuria was busy doing… something.
The sounds weren’t loud enough to be disruptive, but they were hard to ignore entirely.
As long as she’s not ripping the blankets again.
Shrugging, Raven lay down and tapped his terminal, checking the day’s drake racing schedule.
Sundays were race days—the kind that ignited the fiery passion of any true fan.
Drake racing, the sport of massive, dragon-like creatures thundering down a track, demanded keen attention to every factor: weather, wind, competitors, starting positions, and more.
“Whoa, Mega Bright and Starlight Highway are racing today? This might be another legendary matchup.”
“….”
“But legendary matchups often have surprise winners. What if Stardust Comet, who’s been in top form lately, snatches first place…?”
“…!”
“Hey! When did you get here? Weren’t you just going to the bathroom?”
Startled, Raven looked up to find Yuria leaning on his bed frame, peering curiously at his terminal.
Though he’d noticed her leaving the closet earlier, he hadn’t expected her to sneak up like this.
Oblivious to his reaction, Yuria fixated on the terminal’s screen, which displayed a race scene.
Raven, noticing her interest, asked if she was curious about drake racing.
Yuria tilted her head, then nodded as if to say, “Yeah, kind of.”
Raven adjusted his posture, grinning slyly.
“Perfect timing. This is a great season to get into it. Check this out—this is the DR Finals from two years ago at the Nighthaven Royal Stadium. Every drake in this race has an incredible story….”
On the screen, massive drakes—called arongs in this world—powered down the track with explosive strides.
Though they lacked the intelligence and magic of true dragons, their sheer physical might dwarfed ordinary beasts or monsters.
Watching their races, a spectacle of raw power and grandeur, it was no surprise that drake racing was the most popular sport of the era.
As Raven raved about the race, he noticed Yuria was just as engrossed, her small frame leaning forward, eyes locked on the screen.
Haha, I’ve made another fan.
Feeling triumphant, Raven glanced at her again.
Wait. Is she rooting for…?
Her focus seemed to be on Grey Manister, a battered, lower-ranked drake currently trailing the others.
Grey Manister’s story was well-known: once abused by an illegal organization, he’d been rescued and trained as a racer. While he managed decent results, he was far from a fan favorite.
Of all the drakes, why that one?
Raven frowned slightly. Did she identify with Grey Manister’s struggles?
Unaware of Raven’s thoughts, Yuria’s eyes sparkled at the sight of the drakes charging forward.
It’s times like this that make me acutely aware she’s the Ghost.
Raven’s expression darkened as he watched her.
While Yuria never openly acknowledged it, her unexplainable powers and behavior left no doubt in his mind.
A city irregular wielding impossible abilities, the Ghost was a key figure Raven had been tracking.
He’d never seen Yuria’s powers firsthand, but her unnatural speed and casual disregard for logic fit the description perfectly.
Even so, Raven had no evidence linking her to the Nexus Project or the invaders.
The real issue was how close she’d grown to the rest of the office. If confronted, she might run away, and Raven didn’t want to imagine the impact on Alice or David.
Sigh. If I’d been sure she was the Ghost, I wouldn’t have let her stay here. Now all I can do is hope she’s not a threat.
Raven ruffled Yuria’s hair, playfully shaking her head.
Startled, she flailed her arms in protest, but Raven just laughed.
“Sorry, your head’s just so round. Couldn’t resist.”
“…!!”
“What do you want for dinner? Steak sound good?”
“…!”
Yuria hesitated, then nodded, the prospect of food quickly dispelling her irritation.
She’s so easy to please. What am I going to do with her?
Shaking his head with a smile, Raven stood up.
Just as Raven pondered Greg’s prolonged absence, his terminal pinged with a message.
The sender was none other than Greg himself.
Yuria, noticing, bounced on her heels, eagerly motioning for Raven to open it.
How does she always know? Is she watching me?
Suppressing his thoughts, Raven opened the message.
The text made both of them freeze, exchanging uneasy glances.
[ Raven, sorry, but I need your help. ]
The message, brief and rushed, hinted at an urgent situation. Something was definitely wrong.