Chapter 393: A Young Girl, a Simp, and an Uncle
“Hello, senior. I’m an intern responsible for delivering documents here.”
Their gazes involuntarily met, and Kazumi, realizing she couldn’t stand there impolitely, quickly bowed her head and greeted the person in front of her, who was clearly a hero from the agency.
“Hello, you’re… Kazumi Shimizu, right? I think we’ve met before.”
The “Treant” nodded, forcing a smile onto his somewhat distorted face. Then, his thick, ancient bark peeled away little by little, revealing a middle-aged man with a square face and a look of weariness.
“You’re… Senior Crystal Grass who was in charge of the assessment? Are you alright?”
Kazumi recognized the man. He seemed to be the hero at the agency who was in charge of the assessment a few days ago, and he also seemed to be quite familiar with Noyoru Yokota. However, this hero didn’t seem to be in very good condition. The young girl looked worried and asked.
“It’s nothing. There was a small problem during the ability test, but it’s fine.”
Waving his hand to indicate he was okay, Crystal Grass Jian Mu saw the documents in the girl’s hand, walked to the office door, and pushed it open.
“Let’s go, you can come in with me. Noyoru is also here. After he takes off his testing gear, he can come and keep you company for a while.”
“Okay, thank you, Senior Crystal Grass.”
Seeing Crystal Grass Jian Mu’s attitude, Kazumi obediently nodded and quickly followed him into the office.
“Mr. Crystal Grass, are you alright? Do you need to rest?”
As Crystal Grass Jian Mu entered the office, the woman in work clothes, who looked like an assistant and was sitting by the entrance, stood up and rushed forward, asking anxiously.
“Let’s rest for a bit. This plan is still not working.”
Frowning, Crystal Grass Jian Mu shook his head, picked up the water on the table, and took a sip, rejecting the test plan that had been set. He then pointed at Kazumi, who was following behind him, and said,
“Sakurako, this is the intern who delivered the materials. Please take the documents and arrange a place for her. She’s a friend of Noyoru’s, so let Noyoru rest with her for a bit. You’ve both been busy all afternoon.”
“Okay, Noyoru’s friend? Come with me, little sister.”
Nodding and taking the documents Kazumi handed over, Sakurako Amami’s face showed a hint of curiosity. After carefully observing Kazumi, she led her towards the inner room.
“Then, Kiyomizu, you can rest here for a while. We’ll process the documents and bring them to you in about half an hour. You can play with your phone or something during this time.”
Sakurako Amami poured Kazumi a glass of water and said with a smile, then took the documents and walked out the door, leaving the young girl alone in the somewhat empty lounge. Kazumi wasn’t a very reserved person. After a brief look around the well-furnished lounge, she comfortably took out her phone and started playing. Free rest time was always welcome, and she didn’t want to go back to her desk to be a typist.
However, what was noticeable was Noyoru Yokota’s treatment. It seemed that Crystal Grass Jian Mu, who could transform into a Treant, was conducting some kind of ability test for him, and their addresses and attitudes towards him were quite intimate.
“Kazumi! You’re here too.”
Just as the pixelated character in Kazumi’s hand was about to clear the final stage, the lounge door was opened from the outside, and with a joyful exclamation, in walked a young boy with a towel draped over his head, looking tired and disheveled. His disheveled appearance coupled with his unique temperament made him resemble a delinquent who had lost a fight after school, both pitiful and detestable.
“Yeah, the team leader asked me to deliver some documents, and I have to wait here for Sakurako-san and the others’ feedback.”
“Oh, oh, how was your first day of internship?”
Noyoru Yokota walked to the chair beside Kazumi and sat down, looking at the young girl with concern.
“It’s okay. There’s a lot of work, and it’s quite different from what I learned in school, but I can basically adapt.”
Controlling the character to eat the last diamond at the finish line and successfully entering the stage clear settlement interface, Kazumi saved and exited the game, then turned to look at Noyoru Yokota beside her and responded faintly.
“That’s good. Let me tell you a secret, your first day of internship was intentionally assigned the most demanding work. When you rotate to the departments later, it won’t be as boring as the documentation department. Just get through these two days.”
Although Kazumi’s expression didn’t change much, Noyoru Yokota could still feel a hint of disappointment in the girl’s tone. He quickly jumped in to comfort her by revealing the agency’s somewhat anti-human internship system.
“Oh. I’m fine. How about you? You look very tired.”
A flicker of light flashed in her eyes. In gratitude for the comforting news Noyoru Yokota had given her, Kazumi feigned concern and asked.
“A little, a little. I’ve been busy with ability testing all afternoon, and it’s still not done.”
The girl’s concern made Noyoru Yokota’s smile deepen. He scratched his head helplessly and said.
“Knock, knock, knock—”
As they were chatting idly, with a knock on the door from outside, Crystal Grass Jian Mu walked in with a serious expression. He seemed to have changed his clothes and was holding a plate of something.
“What, am I interrupting you?”
Crystal Grass Jian Mu’s expression wasn’t as serious as his appearance. He looked at Noyoru Yokota sitting beside the girl with a strange smile and said.
“Uncle Crystal Grass!”
As if sensing the meaning in Crystal Grass Jian Mu’s eyes, Noyoru Yokota called out bashfully.
“Don’t worry, don’t worry. I just came to tell you something. It’ll be quick, I won’t interrupt your whispering.”
Placing the fruit plate and snack plate on the table, Crystal Grass Jian Mu still had that strange smile and said.
“Um… Senior, perhaps I should wait outside for a moment?”
Before Noyoru Yokota could object, Kazumi took the initiative to ask. After all, the man seemed to want to talk to Noyoru Yokota about something, and it was good for her, an outsider, to be aware of it.
“It’s fine, no need. It’s just about this stinky kid’s ability. It’s not confidential. Don’t tell me you haven’t shown her your ability yet?”
Looking at the girl who had stood up, Crystal Grass Jian Mu’s eyes flashed with a hint of admiration. Her sensible behavior was very pleasing. However, what he was about to say wasn’t too confidential, so it wouldn’t matter if Kazumi knew.
“The ability test is still not working, Noyoru kid. Your ability is a bit too difficult to control.”
Watching Kazumi sit down obediently, Crystal Grass Jian Mu took out some snacks and distributed them to both of them. Then, he peeled an orange, tore off a segment, and put it in his mouth, saying.
“You can’t do it either, Uncle Crystal Grass? That shouldn’t be the case. Even though the instrument has the effect of amplifying abilities, with your strength, Uncle Crystal Grass, you shouldn’t be unable to resist it?”
Hearing Crystal Grass Jian Mu’s words, Noyoru Yokota also showed a look of disbelief. After all, as the person being tested, he could only see the test failing and didn’t know the specific situation. However, in his understanding, this old ability user who retired from the police department and joined the agency, although his ability wasn’t very powerful, the accumulation of long-term experience could compensate for many things. He couldn’t possibly be affected by his own ability to this extent.
“What are you talking about, you brat? You’re looking down on me, aren’t you!”
Crystal Grass Jian Mu cursed Noyoru Yokota with a huff and puff, then extended his hand. The old bark instantly climbed onto his palm, turning it into an oversized wooden hand.
“If I were to use my ability to cover it completely, I could indeed offset the influence of your ability, but my hand would turn into this state, and I wouldn’t be able to operate buttons or touchscreens.”
While manipulating the heavy hand, Crystal Grass Jian Mu said helplessly.
“Ah, is that so… Then, what if you don’t use your ability?”
“It’s completely impossible not to use my ability. The killing intent and malevolent aura in your ability are too strong. Even my old bones can’t hold on for that long.”
As if recalling what happened in the testing room earlier, Crystal Grass Jian Mu rubbed his brow with a headache, looking at Noyoru Yokota, who had an innocent look on his face, and said.
“Sorry… Uncle Crystal Grass, I’ve troubled you.”
Hearing Crystal Grass Jian Mu’s words, Noyoru Yokota also thought of his damn ability. His originally bright eyes dimmed a little, and he lowered his head and said.
“What’s there to be sorry about? This just shows how powerful your ability is, you silly kid. Otherwise, why would the boss choose you!”
Unable to help himself, Crystal Grass Jian Mu punched Noyoru Yokota. He thought quite highly of this young man whose personality didn’t match his appearance at all. Of course, it would be even better if he could get rid of that trace of insecurity.
“It’s fine, it’s fine. Let’s rest today. I’ll go to the logistics department tomorrow to get a combat suit to try on. If I can’t get it done by tomorrow morning, I’ll have to go find the BOSS, but the BOSS and the others are quite busy, and if the ability test is delayed too long, it will be very time-consuming…”
Heroes like Crystal Grass Jian Mu, who are older, are ability users rehired by the agency. They are generally retired from the police force or professional hero forces and are responsible for some logistical management and teaching work within the agency. They work to support themselves in their old age while using their experience to help their juniors grow, which is a very healthy training method. If even he cannot withstand Noyoru Yokota’s ability, then other staff members of the agency would be even less capable, and they would have to seek help from the always busy field professional heroes.
“Uncle Crystal Grass! Let’s try again. I’ve found a way to control my abilities.”
Crystal Grass Jian Mu’s worried look made Noyoru Yokota feel more guilty. It was clearly a problem with his future ability development, but this senior uncle who had mentored him cared about it as if it were his own business. He quickly raised his head and said.
“You, get some good rest first. We’ll talk about it tomorrow!”
Looking at Noyoru Yokota, who looked tired but was trying to appear energetic, Crystal Grass Jian Mu smiled happily, didn’t expose the young man, just waved his hand, and stood up, preparing to head for the door. He just came to explain the situation to Noyoru Yokota. As for being a third wheel, as an experienced person, he really didn’t want to be that bad guy.
However, just as Crystal Grass Jian Mu reached for the doorknob, a shout he had never expected came from behind him.
“Senior Crystal Grass.”
“If it’s this issue, can I give it a try?”
