“They say he’s having a good influence. Many good articles about Cheche-ssi came out too. I think I know why. My heart swelled up listening to Cheche-ssi earlier. All the reporters who were on site wrote good articles. Would you like to see?”
“Idiots.”
Evil sneered coldly. Since he turned his head toward the window as if he didn’t want any more conversation, James couldn’t continue speaking and left his seat. James perceptively moved to another compartment, so Evil could be alone. Evil looked out the window.
The sky was dark, and not a single star was visible.
All around was filled with quiet noise.
Evil pictured Cheche lying down in that cramped studio room. How did he store the packed food in a place without a refrigerator or microwave? Did he take it to the refugee facility to give to the kids? Would he even take the cold medicine? Would he look up the sandstorm articles? Or was he still writhing in guilt and pain? In an empty room where he could do nothing but smoke cigarettes.
‘Didn’t he rebuke the protesters and take your side? Saying he doesn’t think it’s natural for powerful people to help powerless people.’
People’s thoughts were mistaken. That wasn’t taking his side. Rather, it was…
‘Then why didn’t you help us?’
It was clear condemnation toward the strong who had never helped the weak.
***
Everyone is born with Aura, but those who possess the ability to use Aura are always limited to about 20% of the world’s population.
Aura Users are ranked according to how excellent their ability to use it is, and in Alcity they measure ability levels at government expense during infancy, and even if it doesn’t manifest then, they measure quarterly while going through mandatory education during adolescence. Since Aura manifestation usually stops when the growth period stops, they don’t measure after becoming an adult.
However, very occasionally, adult Non-Users manifest as Aura Users. In these cases, there are people who don’t even know they’ve gained Aura abilities, and people who deliberately hide it, so the Aura User Association played the role of monitoring them and selecting measurement targets. When the Association received a report that “this person seems to have gained Aura abilities,” they would hold an internal meeting and issue a measurement notice, and the Association’s headquarters was right here, the Aura User Center.
Several Center-affiliated users inquired whether Tar refugee Cheche was an Aura User. A week ago, many people on site had felt emotional synchronization at Cheche’s words, and some users had also detected Aura. That scene was captured on many cameras as evidence that couldn’t be ignored. Evil, the Center’s advisory director, notified Cheche to receive Aura rank measurement as soon as his cold got better.
He scanned the list of rank measurement tests Cheche would receive with a heavily frowning face.
“There’s no need to do Motion, just have him take the Soul Aura test. Just looking at him, he’s not a Motioner build. Are you guys mocking him?”
“Mock-ing wasn’t our intention. We’re sorry. Usually for initial measurements we test both Auras…”
“Motion for such a wagtail-like kid.”
“Wag…”
“Geez, and why did you leave out Adapter? You excluded what should be included and included what should be excluded.”
“Should we… do an Adapter test?”
“Do it, crazy bastard. Can’t you understand?”
“We’re sorry. We’ll do it…”
The measurement staff member bowed his head in great fear.
The reason the measurement room excluded the Adapter test item was because Adapters were very rare beings. That Cheche, from a poor country, was an Aura User (though not certain yet) was surprising (like a dragon emerging from a stream), but at best he was just an Aura User level, they didn’t think he’d be an even rarer Adapter. But since Evil’s order had fallen, they had to prepare for the Adapter test too.
“It will take some time to prepare the Adapter measurement equipment. We need about half a day…”
“Have it ready so we can measure after lunch.”
“……”
The measurement room staff looked at James behind Evil with eyes begging to be saved. James urgently mouthed the words.
‘An. Swer. Right. Now. Quick. Ly.’
The staff member was startled.
“Y-yes, yes. We’ll finish by one o’clock.”
“The answer is late, fuck. Solve everything within an hour.”
“…Yes, understood.”
Exactly one hour was given from now.
While the staff quickly prepared new equipment, Evil held out an ‘Aura Ability Self-Assessment Form’ to Cheche, who sat quietly like a doll across from him. It was a five-page questionnaire.
“You write this.”
“……”
Cheche, who usually answered yes readily, this time looked at Evil intently.
“Director, I’m not an Aura User. There’s no way I’m an Adapter either.”
“You’re a Soul Aura User. At least B rank or higher.”
“That can’t be. This is wasting precious measurement tools.”
“You survived until now because you’re a Souler.”
Looking at the emotionless face with no expectation or belief in his own abilities at all, Evil told him the truth.
“You survived being in danger many times in a war-torn country because you’re a Souler. You became an adult in a neighborhood with bombings pouring down all the time. You said everyone you knew died too. You survived because you were chosen by Aura.”
“Director, the reason I didn’t die is because other people died in my place.”
Looking at Evil’s arrogant face, Cheche told him what he knew.
“I didn’t die because other people died instead of me.”
“……”
Evil, briefly dazed, soon wrinkled his nose and leaned back the upper body that had been tilting toward Cheche.
“Fuck, if you say it like that, what does that make me…”
“I’m sorry.”
“Whatever the hell happened, you have to take the test anyway, so just write that quickly.”
“……”
“You’re not answering?”
“…Yes.”
Cheche gripped the pen and started filling out the assessment form. That’s when Evil ended up spotting the small burn scar on the back of Cheche’s hand. He already knew about it, but it caught his eye more today.
This isn’t easy.
Thinking that, Evil placed his gaze elsewhere. A frame with a strange flowerpot picture stuck on the gray-white wall, a display case with appreciation plaques received from various organizations, an orchid the secretary managed daily… and the destination was Cheche again.
He was diligently filling out the assessment form, gripping the pen with his small hands.
“…Wagtail.”
“……?”
“Never mind, keep writing.”
He’d inadvertently let out his inner thoughts.
Motion test for such a wagtail-like thing.
The sight of him pondering while showing his small crown was quite worth watching. He didn’t know why things like the shadow created by dense eyelashes or pursed lips were interesting, but it seemed like it would be fine even if told to just keep watching.
Evil, watching with folded arms, sensed the measurement staff’s unstable psychology.
It was because of this very refugee. Because he was spending too much time on each item. Results could come out wrong this way. The measurement room staff couldn’t bring themselves to say anything in front of Evil and worried alone. Evil read that worry.
The results can’t come out wrong.
Evil unfolded his arms.
“Don’t ponder long, answer right away. You have to write what comes to mind immediately like a psychological test for it to fit.”
“I’ve never taken a psychological test.”
“Ah, fuck. What the hell can you even do?”
“I can assemble KP-s678 series.”
“What’s that…”
Neither Evil nor the measurement room staff understood. Evil didn’t wait for Cheche’s explanation.
“Forget it, don’t ponder or think, just write.”
“…Yes.”
However, even after that, the time taken per item was too long.
Is he rebelling against my words?
This bastard who was indifferent to whatever was said, why is he suddenly like this—Evil, who was wrinkling his expression, realized after seeing the small wrinkle between Cheche’s brows. The assessment form written in Alcity language might be hard for Cheche to read.
The assessment form written by renowned university professors and experts would have many difficult words he was seeing for the first time.
Evil spoke while pretending to look away.
“If there are any words you don’t know while writing, ask.”
“Here, what’s ‘hyosi’?”
The question came right back.
