“I believe I answered that waiting isn’t an option.”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t have time for a debate. I need to head to where your comrades are causing trouble elsewhere.”
The [Prim-Libra] usually patrol in pairs.
That’s why we have my diversion and Kushina’s main operation.
The goal was to create two incidents in the patrol area assigned to Hinata-chan’s pair, separating the two-man cell.
Kushina asked me to “buy her just 10 minutes,” but it’s been barely five minutes since I was reported.
I need to keep Hinata-chan occupied for at least five more minutes.
“You seem to be in quite a hurry. Are you that worried about your partner?”
“…I’m not worried. My partner is very strong.”
“Then there’s no need to rush, is there?”
“If I have time to get friendly with the enemy, it’s only natural to go help my comrade.”
“Yet you look unsettled—could it be…”
I tilt my head exaggeratedly.
“You’re not used to being Exia a Winged Guardian yet?”
If Kushina were here, she’d probably be exasperated by how obvious I’m being.
After all, we already knew that today was Hinata-chan’s first mission.
However, the girl who doesn’t know my true identity showed signs of agitation.
“…!”
“Oh my, seems I hit the mark.”
Hinata-chan is a genius, and I could never win against her even if I stood on my head.
So, I’ll exploit the weakness of you, a fifteen-year-old girl.
I’ll shake your heart and buy time.
I know all about you, the heroine, and even this first episode of today.
I’ve known for a long time that I’d be running away from you here today.
The means of escape, your Lux talent, your thought process—I’ve anticipated almost everything.
The escape route even covers the underground sewers.
“Surely today isn’t your first mission, is it?”
“N-No, it’s not!”
“Oh? But your emblem is upside down, you know?”
“…!?”
Hinata-chan hurriedly covered her chest and checked.
At the knot of her ribbon was the emblem of justice, motif’d after scales and wings.
Of course, the proof of being a Winged Guardian Exia was properly attached.
Naturally, it wasn’t upside down. In other words—
“A trick…!”
“How fresh and innocent.”
“Nnnngh!”
As I chuckled, Hinata-chan’s face turned bright red.
Ah, that expression is super cute—no, that’s not the point.
Before she regains her composure, I turn away.
—Moving to Plan B.
“See you, rookie.”
“Ah…!”
Once again, I leap from the rooftop—this time, not jumping, but falling straight down.
Just before hitting the ground, I land softly once more.
Without looking back, I dash into the back alley.
If I keep running without hiding like this, Hinata-chan will surely continue to chase me relentlessly.
“I won’t let you get away this time!”
See?
By the way, the key to Plan B is the vertical trajectory.
Hinata-chan’s 《Acceleration》 is just a speed boost; it doesn’t enhance her physical abilities.
Unlike me, she can’t just do a let’s-free-fall to the ground.
However, we’re in a narrow alleyway.
“Hup, hya, yah!”
Of course, being the protagonist, she’d easily kick off the walls of the buildings on both sides to chase me down.
The distance between us shrinks in no time.
Naturally, I expected this. —And also how cute her battle cries are!
So, without panicking, I make a sharp turn. I veer right at the intersection.
“You think you can escape me with just that—Wah!?”
Plan C: [Let’s make good use of the terrain].
Hinata-chan, who leapt in after me with momentum, had to kick off the wall to make an emergency stop.
Blocking her path is a maze of power lines.
In back alleys where buildings are close together, you can find places where the wiring is intricate.
The idea is to use this as an obstacle—that’s Plan C.
“You’ve been doing nothing but annoying things…!”
While Hinata-chan fumes, I keep running, thinking about what her next move might be.
If she chases from above the power lines, that’s Plan D.
If she descends to the ground first, that’s Plan E.
Or perhaps—
“So that’s your move.”
Hinata-chan charged through the tangled wiring.
Grabbing, kicking, using the momentum.
She’s closing the distance with her exceptional athleticism and fine control of 《Acceleration》.
“Then, let’s go with Plan F—”
And then.
I realized something crucial.
I couldn’t help but notice.
Let me reiterate, Hinata-chan is a member of the [Prim-Libra].
The Winged Guardians Exia are required to wear their squad uniform during patrol duties, just like their armbands.
However, these aren’t entirely identical.
Most of them have personalized arrangements.
Their appearances are treated as icons of peacekeeping, each member being somewhat of an idol.
This applies to the rookie Hinata-chan as well.
“I’ve caught up! I won’t let you escape—”
Hinata-chan, who caught up in no time, was just about to pass over my head.
And Hinata-chan’s squad uniform is white with peach-colored accents.
Below was… a skirt.
So, beneath the pure white pleated skirt.
“…Pink.”
“Huh…?”
Even with her hood on, she seemed to realize where my gaze was directed.
“Eek—kyaaaa!!”
Hinata-chan tightly pressed her legs together and held down her skirt with both hands.
It didn’t make much difference from my almost directly overhead view, but more importantly…
“…Ah.”
Of course, doing such a thing on an unstable footing like a power line would throw off her balance.
The wire flipped, and Hinata-chan’s body turned upside down.
She’s not a cat, after all.
No matter how blessed with Innate Talent Lux or physical abilities, there’s nothing one can do when thrown into the air without knowing which way is up.
Moreover, the height was nearly 10 meters.
Realizing what was about to happen to her, Hinata-chan squeezed her eyes shut in mid-air.
However,
“Uh—oh, huh…?”
Her fall gently stopped.
Hinata-chan timidly opened her eyes and became aware of her current situation.
In my arms—in what you’d call a princess carry, by an enemy man.
“Wha!?”
Well, it was my fault to begin with, and I’m not really an enemy, and I’m your otaku in the first place.
There’s no way I could just watch without helping.
“Eh!? Wh-what!?”
Even understanding the current situation, Hinata-chan, unable to comprehend the reason, floundered in my arms.
As for me—
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT LOCALIZERMEERKAT.PAGES.DEV
[Umbra Compensation].
It exists literally as the price for one’s “Innate Talent Lux.”
Therefore, in most cases, it’s often related to that person’s Innate Talent Lux.
For example, the café owner Yuika-san’s Umbra Compensation is said to be [Falsehood].
From this, one can infer that her Innate Talent Lux is likely related to truth, lies, or something to do with speech.
In this way, knowing either the “Innate Talent Lux” or [Umbra Compensation] allows one to speculate about the other.
That’s why it’s usually treated as personal information that can’t be shared with others.
Also, the timing when the Umbra Compensation is imposed varies from person to person.
In Yuika-san’s case, her [Falsehood] belongs to the “always active type.”
It’s a compensation that’s always being paid, so to speak.
There are three other patterns besides this—and in my case, it’s one of those, called the “induced activation type.”
To put it simply, it’s a “pay later” system.
After using the Innate Talent Lux, an obsessive feeling of “I must pay compensation” gradually intensifies in the mind. It’s said to be the most annoying among Compensation Umbras, often criticized behind one’s back.
And corresponding to my “Separation,” my Umbra Compensation is—
“Um, excuse me…”
Hinata-chan, her earlier vigor deflated, now blushing faintly in my arms.
I smoothly withdrew my right arm supporting her legs.
Confirming that she had landed lightly,
“I’ll apologize in advance. Sorry…”
With my left arm still supporting Hinata-chan’s back—I pulled her close.
“Hyau!?!?”
[Contact].
More precisely, [Contact with others].
That was my Umbra Compensation.
“!? !??!, !?!??”
I tightly embraced her small body with both arms.
Hinata-chan, writhing in my arms, let out inarticulate screams.
Even in this situation, all that occupied my mind was “paying the [Contact] for using ‘Separation’.”
This is the characteristic of the induced activation type Umbra Compensation.
The urge to pay fills the mind like water, and once the payment begins, it’s like a dam bursting.
This time, the excessive use of my Innate Talent Lux for preparation and reconnaissance before starting the diversion strategy backfired.
—This is bad, bad, bad, the Umbra Compensation isn’t ending at allll!!
Only panic grew in a corner of my mind, which was filled with paying the Umbra Compensation.
Still, I couldn’t stop midway, and eventually—
“…Uu. Ah…”
It lasted for a full 30 seconds.
Hinata-chan, who had been struggling and squirming at first, was now limp and powerless.
“—!”
As I regained my senses, I leapt back in an instant.
The remaining Exia, guardian of the celestial wings, slumped down where she stood.
“S-sorry…! That wasn’t…! It’s not what…!”
I tried to make some excuse on the spur of the moment, but nothing came to mind.
Ignoring me, Hinata-chan sat with her face bright red down to her ears, head bowed.
One hand pressed down the front of her skirt, the other clutched at her chest.
“Haa… haa…”
Due to the discord between men and women brought about by Innate Talent Lux, women in this world generally have little opportunity to interact with men.
It’s not uncommon for girls to have never spoken to any man other than their father.
In other words, many girls have zero immunity to men—and the protagonist, Hinata-chan, is no exception.
“I’ve only ever… had my head patted by my d-daddy…”
Hinata-chan’s mumble faintly reached my ears as I floundered.
She probably meant she’s only ever had her head patted by her father.
I-I need to say something to follow up…
No, but right now I’m not Ibuki, I’m “Divergence”—
“…Ah.”
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