Franka and Liskarm seemed to have come prepared.
They were each carrying barbecue and coke.
"Hm? Were you just taking a bath?"
"No, Senior Franka, I just finished."
With that.
Jessica let Franka and Liskarm take a seat in her room, then quickly ran into the bathroom, changed into her pajamas, and jogged back out.
"Eh? Aren't you with Miss Sora, Seniors?"
Franka shook her head with a smile.
"The commission is over. The original plan was to protect her for three days to ensure the concert went smoothly. Who knew that on the very first day, something so big would happen. The concert definitely can't be held now. The little idol's company is probably going to lose a fortune on this one, at least a few million in costs that they won't recover. While a few million isn't enough to shake the foundations of a media company, it's still a huge sum of money. It seems those girls from Penguin Logistics just got back from a mission, so we're not needed for now."
"Mmm~ I feel bad for Miss Sora."
Jessica also sighed. As an idol, to be nearly taken out in a murder-suicide by one of her former 'die-hard fans' must be a huge psychological trauma.
"Liskarmy and I came over mainly to thank you, Jessica."
Putting down the barbecue in her hand.
Franka started eating without a second thought.
"If it weren't for your critical strike at that key moment, Jessica, our mission might have failed. Mission failure is a small matter, but the main thing is that the little idol would have lost her life because of it."
"Er..."
Jessica knew it was coming, the main topic.
"It's... it's what I should do. After all... I'm also a member of the team..."
Speaking of which, Jessica felt incredibly guilty, since it wasn't her who had acted at all.
"Alright, thanks have been said."
Franka clapped her hands and smiled faintly.
"Jessica, my little treasure, I also hope you can be honest with your senior. What exactly is going on with you? You've been following me for two years during your internship. Liskarm and I know what you're capable of. Setting aside the assessment, how do you explain this morning? That divine speed that crossed the entire stage in an instant, even I, your senior, can't do that. Or... have you been hiding your strength all this time, or... is there another reason?"
Franka kept her eyes narrowed in a smile.
However, Jessica was too nervous to speak. She lowered her head, not daring to look into Franka's eyes, afraid her panic would show. In fact, anyone who wasn't blind could see how flustered Jessica was right now.
"Um... Senior... I don't know either. Anyway, I was just really nervous and didn't want Miss Sora to get hurt, and then, for some reason... it was just this light and floaty feeling, and I felt my whole body filled with power..."
Jessica explained haltingly. Seeing her flustered state, Franka sighed and said.
"Jessica, there's something I need to tell you. The higher-ups are very concerned about your health, which is why they agreed immediately when I applied to transfer you to my team. Remember not to lie, and don't hide anything. If you feel unwell in any way in the future, remember to tell me right away."
Jessica had actually prepared other excuses, but she didn't expect Senior Franka to become so easygoing. Or was her acting so convincing that they believed her?
The two walked out of the room.
Liskarm asked, "Fat Fox, what are you planning to do about Jessica's situation?"
Franka shrugged and said, "What can I do? We'll have to wait and see. Jessica is terrible at lying. She just has to say one thing, and anyone can see if it's true or false. Obviously, she knows her situation and why she's become stronger, but it's a secret she doesn't want to share with us. Or, another possibility is that she's afraid that if she tells us, we'll report it to the higher-ups, and it will affect that 'secret' of hers."
"Then do you think it could really be another personality? That Jessica has two personalities?"
"How is that possible!"
Franka chuckled.
"Jessica's body is like a dagger. No matter how strong a personality or consciousness is, at most it would only manifest in different combat techniques. It's impossible to use this dagger to pierce an alloy that it fundamentally cannot pierce."
"Her performance during the assessment could be explained by another personality, but now? There's no way to explain that strike today. It was so fast that even I couldn't match it."
"I'm more inclined to believe that Jessica's body contains a special power, a power that erupts at critical moments. And, this power might contain another consciousness that takes over Jessica's body when it erupts. Otherwise, there's no way to explain it."
Franka's explanation didn't convince Liskarm at all.
"Fat Fox, your explanation is too ridiculous. Have you been reading too many novels? Though, Yanese novels do have storylines about souls possessing bodies and being reborn, but... that's too fantastical... We should believe in science a bit more. Science can't explain this at all. You might as well say Jessica has a cheat-granting old master from a Yanese novel living in her necklace."
"I'm more inclined to believe that the little girl Jessica is naturally talented, but her own personality suppresses it. The second personality that emerged just happens to compensate for this shortcoming. We've encountered this kind of situation on missions before, that girl from Sargon. When her other personality took over, she could fight you to a standstill."
-----------
In the room.
"Phew~"
"Mr. Reeve, how was my performance just now?"
Jessica asked for Lucas's praise like she was asking for credit while eating her barbecue.
"Er... terrible... the kind that can be seen through at a glance."
"....."
"Mmm~ What should I do then..."
"Whatever. Let's just take it one step at a time."
Lucas had already learned from Jessica that, apart from the addition of something called Originium Arts, this world was almost identical to Earth. On Earth, things like astral projection and body possession were considered fantasy. In Columbia, they were also considered fantasy. So, Lucas felt that as long as he didn't actively reveal himself, he wouldn't have to worry about being discovered. Besides, even if he were discovered, he was just a remnant soul. If he was gone, he was gone. A few days of rest wouldn't make much difference.
As Lucas was thinking.
Suddenly.
Jessica called out.
"Mr. Reeve!"
"Hm?"
"Miss Sora just sent me a message, inviting me to her place for dinner tomorrow!!"