The Price of Vision

After four long years, Nightingale’s world was once again imbued with color.

She lifted Luna high, turning the cat to face herself. Instantly, the scene shifted, and her own face appeared in her vision.

She saw it.

Nightingale’s breath hitched, her heart pounded wildly, and her mind went utterly blank.

Meanwhile, Ming Yu had not noticed anything unusual about Nightingale.

After tidying up, she rubbed her shoulders and walked over to the girl. For some reason, Nightingale suddenly flipped Luna over, and the cat’s azure eyes met her blood-red gaze directly.

Their gazes locked.

Ming Yu felt that Luna’s gaze was somehow different from before, a little strange, carrying an unspoken emotion.

Perhaps cats, much like people, inevitably feel a bit unaccustomed when settling into a new place.

Thinking this, she found it quite understandable.

“Little Nightingale, do you need a nap? If so, I can take you to your room to rest.”

Ming Yu let out a soft yawn, her eyes narrowing slightly.

Since morning, her accumulated fatigue was nearing its threshold, already affecting her mental state.

Fed and satisfied, all she wanted was sleep.

Hearing Ming Yu’s question, Nightingale shook her head.

At the same time, using Luna’s vision, she cautiously observed the woman before her, terrified of revealing anything.

‘I know I’m not normal.’

‘And precisely because I’m an anomaly, I’ll be rejected.’

She had grown accustomed to others’ rejection and to facing it in silence. Yet, she absolutely could not bear for Ming Yu to distance herself.

‘This, above all, must not happen.’

‘If Ming Yu learned of my strange ability, would she be angered by the invasion of her privacy? Would she then cast me out of this home?’

Though she had only stayed for two short days, Nightingale already considered this place her home.

‘Because Ming Yu is here.’

‘Therefore, I simply need to remain silent, just as I always have.’

Nightingale silently resolved to conceal her abnormality from Ming Yu.

‘Sister Ming Yu is so beautiful…’

‘Like an angel.’

Her gaze swept inch by inch over Ming Yu’s body, from her face to her hair, from her neck to her ankles, imprinting an indelible mark upon her young heart.

“Then I’ll go rest for a while… if anything comes up, you can wake me anytime.”

“Mm-hm.”

****

“Luna…”

“Meow~ (o.O?)”

Luna poked out her pink tongue, licking her little owner’s hand, her beautiful cat eyes darting around.

“I saw Ming Yu…”

Nightingale’s voice was slightly choked.

This gift, this heartfelt gesture from Ming Yu, had brought her back to the light.

A hope that had existed only in fantasy had now become reality.

****

It was a long while before Nightingale managed to calm her turbulent emotions.

Ming Yu was still resting; she couldn’t disturb her now.

Out of sheer idleness, she slowly extended her hand, stroking Luna’s soft fur.

As she gently caressed Luna’s belly, a peculiar sensation slowly arose from her own waist.

Suddenly, Nightingale froze.

“…”

‘Why do I feel something on my own body when I stroke Luna?’

Nightingale stopped her hand, taking deep breaths, trying to calm the strange sensation emanating from her waist.

Her thoughts were muddled, and she began to form some conjectures.

‘Could this be the price of borrowing her eyes?’

‘Did I acquire other senses along with her sight?’

Nightingale concentrated, attempting to dispel Luna’s vision from her mind.

Another wave of disorientation passed, a sense of weariness washing over her as the visual landscape in her mind gradually faded.

The world returned to darkness.

****

Hunter Association Headquarters.

After reporting their work to their superior, Chainsaw was about to turn and leave when Chairman Seti called out to him.

“Wait a moment. There’s something we absolutely must clarify.”

The elder narrowed his eyes, pondering the information Chainsaw had brought back. His alloy knuckles tapped against the desktop, producing a crisp sound.

“You just said that the hunter who killed the second Steam Squid was someone else, correct?”

“That’s right,” Chainsaw said casually, spreading his hands. “The battle was over before Xingtian and I even arrived.”

“Who was it?”

“We don’t know.”

“Were there any witnesses?”

“Yes, and according to their descriptions, the one who dealt with the Steam Squid was a white-haired woman, likely an S-rank as well.”

“What do you make of it?”

“Well, experienced, skilled, every strike hitting a vital point… undoubtedly a seasoned professional.”

Hearing this, Seti nodded slightly in agreement.

“I had someone retrieve the surveillance footage. While we found the target, we also pinpointed her residence… However, that face does not appear in the Association’s registry.”

Although his words were casual, Chainsaw’s expression gradually grew serious.

“Are you implying…”

“She might not be a citizen of Pharos. She could be from Fino, or perhaps Dresa… Who knows? There’s more than just our fortress on this ocean.”

“Should I make contact with her?”

“Not yet, unless she clearly shows hostility,” Seti said, changing the subject with a calm tone. “For now, unless there’s an emergency, try to keep you and Xingtian from going out to sea.”

“Understood.”

****

The sky gradually darkened.

Ming Yu hadn’t expected to sleep from the afternoon all the way until evening.

She threw off the covers, rubbed her eyes, and swung her legs out of bed. Walking to the floor-to-ceiling window, she drew back the dark curtains.

The evening streetscape unfolded before her eyes.

In the residential zone, towering buildings stood in dense rows, every inch of space utilized to its absolute maximum.

During the evening rush hour, pedestrians jostled shoulder-to-shoulder in the narrow streets, while aerial transit vehicles, packed with people, carried their hopes of returning home.

Aside from the morning’s alarm, people’s ordinary, monotonous lives remained largely unchanged as they shuttled daily between their workplaces and homes.

Within a sea fortress primarily driven by internal circulation, order—order maintained by law—was especially crucial.

For humanity yearned for freedom.

Ming Yu was no different.

Thus, emotions and bonds were needed as shackles to make people willingly and spontaneously uphold order.

Yet, those who maintained order were also protected by it.

At the very least, they were still alive.

Ming Yu gently closed her eyes, letting out a soft breath.

After her body’s changes, her perspective on things had shifted, becoming rather emotional.

This was a very bad sign.

Out on the open sea, if one allowed emotional considerations to overshadow decisive judgment, death would not be far behind.

She lightly patted her cheeks, turned, and slowly stepped out of the bedroom.

Ming Yu paused, her steps faltering slightly.

Nightingale was nowhere to be seen on the sofa.

“Little Nightingale?”

A hint of anxiety tinged her voice.

The girl couldn’t see; how could she wander off by herself?

Before she could call out again, Nightingale, cradling the cat and with her golden hair nearly sweeping the floor, calmly walked from the balcony into the living room.

Ming Yu hurried forward, a sigh of relief escaping her heart.

“You… it’s good that you’re alright.”

“Sister Ming Yu…” Nightingale suddenly spoke.

“What is it?”

“I want to go for a walk outside.”