When faced with an entirely unexpected situation, people often freeze.

    Like a person caught off guard by a speeding truck in an alley, unable to move out of the way.

    This phenomenon, commonly called “freezing,” was exactly what happened to me when I learned Greg was in danger.

    It was something I hadn’t even considered during the entire month he’d been away from the city.

    “You said you’d be back soon! What’s this supposed to mean?”

    Clenching my fists tightly, I replayed my last memory of Greg in my mind.

    He had assured me with a confident smile that everything would be fine and that he’d be back in no time.

    As the initial shock ebbed away, a deluge of emotions surged in its place: worry, anger, frustration, impatience, irritation, and unease.

    I couldn’t just sit still anymore.

    Unable to suppress the turmoil in my chest, I bolted toward the door.

    “Wait. Where do you think you’re going?”

    “...!”

    Or at least I tried to.

    Raven grabbed my shoulder firmly, stopping me in my tracks.

    What are you doing? Don’t get in my way!

    Pain shot through my shoulder, and a pang of betrayal welled up as I glared at him.

    But Raven’s expression remained icy, devoid of emotion, as he stared back.

    “Do you even know where Greg is? Running out blindly won’t solve anything.”

    “....”

    “So don’t waste your energy flailing around. Stay put and wait. If you act recklessly, you’ll only get in the way. Trust me.”

    His tone was as cold and sharp as his gaze, stripped of his usual teasing demeanor.

    His calmness brought me back to reality.

    My heart was pounding so hard it hurt, and my breathing was ragged, like I’d sprinted a mile.

    Plans? I had none. If Raven hadn’t stopped me, I’d probably have been flying through the city, aimlessly using telekinesis.

    And that would’ve accomplished nothing. Just foolishness driven by emotion.

    Realizing this, I gritted my teeth and forced my legs to stop moving.

    Noticing the change, Raven slowly let go of my shoulder.

    He must have decided I wouldn’t rush out recklessly anymore.

    But just because my reason returned didn’t mean my emotions had settled.

    The knot of frustration and anxiety in my stomach still twisted painfully.

    “Calm down,” Raven said. “I know Greg’s important to you. He’s important to us too. We won’t ignore this, and there’s still a way to help him.”

    “...?”

    How could one vague message be enough to find him?

    I shot Raven a skeptical look, prompting him to hold out his terminal.

    “Look at Greg’s message carefully. It wasn’t sent through a regular network using a traceable number. Instead, it was sent over an internet service. Convenient, but it leaves an IP address.”

    “...!”

    “Normally, service providers protect that data. But we happen to know someone who’s a wizard at cracking things like this.”

    Without hesitation, Raven began composing a message on his terminal.

    Most likely to David, who was probably relaxing on this lazy Sunday.

    Nice. Push him to work. I approve.

    Ignoring the dull ache in my shoulder, I nodded in agreement. Raven glanced at me as he typed.

    “By the way, how’s your shoulder?”

    “...?”

    “Sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

    What’s he apologizing for? This is my fault.

    However, since Belmond wasn’t as accepting of other races as Nighthaven, Alice and David couldn’t join us.

    But Alice looks human enough. Wouldn’t it be fine?

    I mimicked drawing a sword and gestured toward Raven, questioning Alice’s exclusion.

    Raven shook his head. “If she went, she’d have to wear a magic-restraining collar, and that’d attract attention.”

    Oh, right. That makes sense.

    I nodded in understanding, reassured by his calm logic.

    Thankfully, the city’s efficient transportation system got us to the airport with time to spare before our 6 PM departure.

    “Hey, we’re here,” Raven announced.

    “Oh, the scumbag who only calls when he needs something. And... Yuria! Remember me, sweetheart?”

    “...!”

    “This feels a bit... cold,” Raven muttered, rubbing the back of his neck as Lurika gave him a dismissive glance.

    Meanwhile, I found myself instinctively raising a hand to wave at Lurika, her friendly demeanor putting me at ease.

    She reminded me of Alice—playful and approachable—but without the tendency to pull people into sudden hugs or sniff their heads. In terms of personal boundaries, I found her much easier to deal with.

    Watching me interact with Lurika, Raven simply shrugged and addressed her with a nod of gratitude.

    “Thanks for letting us hitch a ride on your private jet. It’s a huge help, really.”

    “Hmph. Don’t thank me. I only agreed because of Alice and Yuria. Tell them to thank me. What would I ever see in someone as dreary as you?”

    “Yeah, yeah, sorry for being dreary,” Raven said with a dry laugh.

    Lurika rolled her eyes and motioned toward the jet with her thumb. “Alright, hop on.”

    Inside, the jet was surprisingly crowded with staff and crew.

    Lurika explained that she was headed overseas for a shoot, and the jet was often used to transport entire teams.

    Given the logistics of such productions, chartering a jet seemed more convenient for her than booking individual flights.

    “Oh, Yuria! Raven!”

    “Huh? Wait, aren’t you...?”

    “...!”

    “It’s me, Aisha. Haha, do I look weird with makeup on?”

    Among the passengers, we ran into Aisha—a familiar and friendly face.

    As a fellow talent from Lurika’s agency, she was also heading overseas to gain more exposure through the shoot.

    Knowing some of her struggles, I silently wished her well with her work.

    The jet took off smoothly, and to my relief, no one questioned my identity.

    Being on an airplane for the first time should have been exhilarating, a moment to savor.

    But I couldn’t stop thinking about Greg.

    Didn’t they say this was for an overseas shoot? How are we supposed to get off midway?

    As I mulled over this puzzle, the answer soon became painfully clear.

    “Alright, I’m heading off. Good luck with your shoot!” Lurika called out.

    “C’mon, Yuria, let’s go,” Raven said casually.

    “....”

    Whiiisssh!

    Standing at the open hatch of the jet, I realized too late what Raven had planned.

    Strapped into a parachute, I barely had time to process the situation before being pulled along.

    What is this, some kind of battle royale?!

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    Before I could even scream, we leaped into the rushing wind.

    Who in their right mind jumps out of a moving plane with a parachute?

    That thought echoed in my mind as I plummeted through the sky alongside Raven.

    Urgency or not, this was beyond reckless.

    Raven, I realized once again, was anything but normal.