Ding! Ding!
The soft chime of the bell echoed through the lounge, signaling the arrival of new customers who had just stepped through the entrance. From the layout of the building, the entrance was located directly across the main counter, far enough that the noise didn't usually draw much attention, yet close enough for anyone facing that direction to notice.
Marcus didn't bother looking up from his plate, too busy stuffing his mouth full of fries. Song, however, instinctively turned his head toward the source of the sound.
A group of five entered. Four women and one male. Their casual attire blended well with the cozy atmosphere, but something about them immediately felt off. He felt a faint pressure that didn't belong in a place like this.
It was almost unnatural.
And why did they seem so familiar, like he'd seen them somewhere before?
He was certain he didn't know them personally, so the feeling was strange, to say the least.
'Wait… aren't those the guys from earlier today?'
Song's fork froze midair as his eyes widened in realization.
It finally "clicked."
They were the group of Espers he'd seen leaving the Tower just before his own entry and descent.
The Spearman, the Archer, the Priestess, and the Saber.
His gaze lingered on the last member, the unfamiliar woman built like a walking fortress.
A shiver crawled up his spine.
Was she… a boar or something? What the hell was that monstrosity?
Most likely the tank of the group, he thought grimly.
Yeah, that made sense.
"... Ooho!"
"Hold on, is that who I think it is?"
"Idiot! Keep your voice down or they'll hear you."
Murmurs began to spread throughout the lounge. Perhaps those guys were more popular than Nightingale had imagined because everyone began whispering and talking about them.
What's going on? Who are they exactly? he thought in confusion.
The young woman leading the group was a familiar face. Crimson hair, pristine icy eyes, ivory skin and a lithe figure that carried an air of quiet authority, accompanied by a cooling presence.
There was no mistaking her.
At the moment, she wore a black coat layered over a white turtleneck, paired with fitted pants and knee-high boots. Despite the casual look, she exuded an unmistakable elegance, a radiant confidence that drew every gaze in the room.
Quite the stunning beauty.
And upon closer inspection, it seemed all her injuries had healed remarkably well. If he hadn't seen her in her previous state, he would never have guessed that her flawless skin had once been ruined and marred by guesome wounds.
The group settled a few tables away and called over a female attendant to take their order.
'What a coincidence. To think I would meet them here.'
As Nightingale watched them, he slowly realized that the air around his own table had gone strangely quiet too.
Turning his head, he found Marcus wearing an expression he had never seen before. The black-haired boy wasn't smiling or even smirking anymore.
He was frowning. No, more than that, he was glaring in their direction and his eyes flashed with something that looked almost hostile.
You'd think they'd just stolen his lunch money.
Song blinked in bewilderment.
'What the heck is going on?'
Confused, he leaned forward and waved a hand in front of his friend's face.
"Yo, Marcus."
"…"
"Marcus?"
"..."
"Hey, Marcus! Snap out of it!"
Finally, the boy blinked, as if waking from a trance.
"Huh?"
Song gave him a puzzled look.
"I've been calling you for a while now, but you were too busy glaring at those people. Do you know them?"
Marcus looked at him as if he'd just asked something ridiculous.
"Do I know them? What kind of question is that? Who doesn't know Necessarie?"
"Necessarie?"
Marcus gawked at him.
"W-Wait, you seriously don't know Necessarie? Dude, do you actually live under a rock or something?"
"..."
"They're the most talked-about cohort of Espers right now!"
Song still looked completely clueless, which only made Marcus let out an exasperated sigh.
"Man, I can't believe this. You're telling me you seriously have no idea about Necessari?"
"I… guess I haven't really been following the news or whatever. So, enlighten me... who exactly are they?"
"Perhaps it's easier if I just break it down for you. Necessarie is a squad of Espers that rose through the ranks fairly recently, gained a ton of popularity among the public, and each member is far from ordinary. Well, they're certainly unique. Let's go through them one by one, shall we?"
He gestured toward the black-haired young man, the Spearman of the group.
"First up, that's Typhira. She hails from the Fuji Clan and her Mythic… hmm, what was it again? Ah, yes! An inheritant mythical Origin that lets her manipulate the wind. She's what you'd call an Imperial-class Esper, and her skill with a spear is nothing short of exceptional."
Next, Marcus shifted his hand toward the brown-haired archer.
"His name is Sky. His Mythic lets him manipulate light, giving him pinpoint accuracy with his arrows and the ability to vanish in flashes of brilliance. Deadly, precise, and easily one of the most feared long-range attackers in their class. Not to mention, he's a celebrity that is quite popular with the girls, though most guys hates his guts."
Song inwardly raised an eyebrow.
So he's a pretty boy… and isn't Sky a bit of a feminine name?
Marcus didn't miss a beat.
"Then there's Alice. She specializes in healing and support but she can single-handedly turn the tide of battle if she has to. Her Mythic… well, no one knows exactly how it works, but it clearly amplifies her abilities and protects nearby allies. A true lifesaver… literally, which is why people call her the Priestess or Sister. And with her petite, adorable looks, she has no shortage of male admirers!"
Lu Song's lips twitched.
'Of course, he'd be drooling over her! Not only is he a pervert, but he's also a full-on lolicon too!'
Following that, Marcus shifted his attention to the monstrous-looking woman, who was devouring her food with almost gluttonous enthusiasm. He frowned slightly before explaining:
"There, we have a lively and passionate woman named Nellibel. She's known to be hot-headed, strong, and, well… monstrous, if you catch my drift. Rumor has it she can rip grown men in half and eat them. Terrifying, really. No one dares to cross her. Most likely, her ability revolves around some form of extreme physical reinforcement. Her nicknames includes 'Man Beast' and 'She-Hulk.' Honestly, she reminds me of Chloe in a way but you didn't hear that from me, okay?"
He delivered the last part in his usual joking tone, yet the smile vanished the moment his gaze fell on their female leader.
"And lastly, we have the leader of Necessarie... Uriel. She's well-known for her ice creation and manipulation. Additionally, her father is Jin from the Hero Clan. Surely you've heard of him, haven't you?"
"…?!"
Nightingale's eyes trembled.
Even if he had been oblivious until now, there was no way he hadn't heard of Jin, the strongest Esper.
The Strongest of Humanity. The Nightmare of the 66th Floor. The War God. Vanishing Dragon.
One man carried so many titles that it was impossible to remember them all but he was famously known by his true name, "Godhound."
Jin was the only human to have ever cleared a higher floor alone and to have slain a Fallen Titan.
No one knew what kind of abomination it had been, only that the entire expedition team who entered the 66th Floor at the time were completely annihilated.
In the end, only one man came out and Uriel was the daughter of that very beast.
"How scary," Nightingale muttered unknowingly.
"Yeah, you can tell me about it. And it's said that Uriel has inherited her father's talent for swordsmanship, though it manifests in a different form. Have you seen a rapier? Apparently, she's quite skilled with it, and people are so fascinated that they started calling her Holy Rapier and her True Name is Twilight Star."
Marcus's frown deepened, as though he were choosing his next words carefully. Finally, he added:
"Though what's even more interesting about her is that she's rumored to be a Holy Mythic holder."