Chương 34: Chapter 9 Such a Surprise(Part 3)

Not long afterward, everyone and everything had been assembled. The operation was finally underway. Before heading directly to the Gate, however, I asked them to make one stop. My workplace. Since entering the Gate, I'd never had the chance to properly resign. Under normal circumstances, I'd have delivered my resignation letter in person. Under normal circumstances, I also wouldn't have been transformed into a silver-haired girl. Life was funny that way. I handed the envelope to Miyafuji.

"Please submit this for me." He accepted it carefully.

"I'll make sure it reaches them."

"And my belongings?"

"We'll collect those as well." I nodded. That was probably for the best. Showing up in person would only create confusion. Or guilt. Or both. As the vehicle pulled away, I took out my phone. One by one, I deleted contacts. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Supervisors. Coworkers. People I'd worked alongside for years. It felt strangely nostalgic. Like dismantling a house I'd already moved out of.

"Are you sure about this?" Miyafuji asked. I looked out the window. The city flowed past. Familiar streets. Familiar buildings. A familiar life.

"People trust continuity." My voice sounded distant, even to me.

"They trust familiarity." I glanced at my reflection in the glass. Silver hair. Crimson eyes. A face no one would recognize.

"I've changed too much." Nobody had died. Nobody had betrayed anyone. Yet the result was much the same. The old connections would fade. Memories would remain. Life would continue. That's how people worked. The silence lasted until Miyafuji spoke again.

"We're almost there." I followed his gaze. The Gate stood against the evening sky. Massive. Impossible. The setting sun painted its surface gold and crimson. Even after seeing it before, the sight remained overwhelming. Police vehicles surrounded the area. Officers hurried between equipment stations. Cables stretched across the ground. Cameras were being assembled. Generators hummed. Everyone was busy. Everyone was nervous. And so was I. The difference was that I'd spent years developing a coping mechanism.

Whenever I had to stand in front of people—presentations, ceremonies, speeches—I relied on the same trick. Self-hypnosis. A lie told to myself until it became truth. I closed my eyes. Slowly. Deeply. Very deeply. A knock came at the vehicle door.

"Ms. Kuroe?" Tachibana. I didn't open my eyes.

"What is it?"

"We finalized the team."

"Good."

"Five people total." I said nothing.

"One is Miyafuji, acting as cameraman." Still nothing.

"The others have been selected." I inhaled slowly.

"Please leave me alone for a little longer." A pause. Then:"... Preparing yourself?"

"I'm preparing to perform." Another pause. When Tachibana spoke again, his tone was lighter.

"Oh, one more thing."

"What?"

"We'll be calling you First." I frowned.

"First?"

"The first person to enter a Gate and return alive." He sounded oddly pleased with himself.

"The First Lady of the Gates."

"That's a terrible nickname."

"It's memorable." I waved him away without opening my eyes.

"Use whatever you want." The footsteps retreated. Silence returned. Good. I needed silence. Because what came next required focus. I descended deeper. Into memory. Into certainty. Into role. I am an actor. I am a performer. I stand where others cannot. I know what others do not. This place belongs to me. I know the Gate. I know its rules. I know its dangers. They do not. I am the guide. The witness. The witch. A faint voice echoed somewhere inside my mind. A familiar voice. A voice that did not belong to me.

《Access to Witch confirmed. 》 My eyes opened. The world felt different. Sharper. Brighter. More entertaining. A smile formed naturally on my lips. Perfect. Now I was ready.