Esper Story: Feng Nuxi

Finally done. But the taste...

Heng Yue is not here. Guess I'll have to try it myself.

Heng Yue, hm? Where's this beautiful smell coming from?

Don't you ever knock on the door?

Sorry... I just forgot.

Clumsy... Why the rush?

Not for myself, but for Tang Xuan.

He has lost interest in foods these days. Heng Yue diagnosed him with a loss of appetite.

So the food therapy Heng Yue mentioned is meant for Tang Xuan.

...Food therapy?

Heng Yue asked me to come up with a cuisine stimulating appetites. I gathered special ingredients from Tangton just for this.

Well, it is finished indeed. I'm just wondering how it will work as no one has tested it.

Test the food? Really?

Interested?

*Swallows* Yes, sure!

...Delicious! So very much!

Why aren't you even reacting?

That's nice. Am I supposed to do anything else?

Right! I'm getting even hungrier. Can I have some more?

...Forget it. It seems to be working.

I'm making some more. Go get Tang Xuan. You shall eat together.

Sure, I'm getting him right now, please make some more, you're the best!

Tang Xuan, Heng Yue has told me about your symptoms.

From the medical perspective, this cuisine is bound to cure your appetite loss.

As for the taste, Li Ling has tested it. He'll say about that.

Yes, sure. Believe me, it's delicious, and I felt even hungrier after eating!

Here, give it a try! Doesn't it smell nice?

Eat before it's cold, or the effect might be compromised.

Thanks. I'm digging in!

Ahhhh! Hoooot! Water... Give me water!

Huh? Hot? What are you talking about?

You are good with spicy food, but that's too much for Tang Xuan.

Maybe I should be easy on Chili.

As for the effect...

Ah, so hot, and delicious! But that's too hot! Ahhh, delicious!

So the cuisine is working.

The children must be really happy here, right?

Sure. Speaking of which, you actually made time for the children despite all the chores in the Hub and the Research Center.

It's been a long time, I really should visit. Also, I need to talk to you.

Just as expected. Tell me, what is it?

I'm inviting Colt to Esper Academy.

What? No way!

Please think twice...

No way! Not my child!

Look at him, still a kid! Now you want him inside the Academy, spending his days with all the complicated courses and filthy monster specimens?

Please, calm down, and let me finish.

Colt is talented, especially in mathematics.

Even before Transformation, he deserves training as a future talent for the Union Research Lab.

Of course, I know every kid here like my own.

I built this orphanage to offer the children a home, not a talent base for Esper Union.

...I'm not requesting every one of your children.

Let's ask Colt. What do you think?

Colt?

This is their home, right? Then you should listen to the children themselves.

Alright, we'll do that. Colt will definitely stay, anyway.

Colt!

Master... Eh? Mr. Pritzker? How are you?

I'm great, Colt. There is something I need your opinion on.

My opinion?

Yes, Colt. You can think it over, and it is okay to say no.

Mr. Pritzker, is there anything I can help you with?

I'm thinking about inviting you to Esper Academy, where you can learn more.

Esper Academy... Does that mean I'll have to leave?

You are always welcome here.

......

Take your time, Colt.

I'd like to.

......

Sorry for interrupting your calculation. I will talk this over with the master.

Alright...

I'm always wishing for a peaceful life for all the children here, but he seems to be interested in the world outside...

Alright, you can have Colt in the Academy.

What if Colt actually thinks different?

My boy, could you please tell me why you agreed to study at the Academy?

Because I can learn so much more there.

After learning all those things, I can come back and teach all the children here for our master.

In that way, she won't be working that hard!

That's my boy...

If my child isn't treated well, I will tear your Research Center into pieces.

...Of course. Can I start working on his enrollment now?

Hmph, that was a one-time deal.

The Orphanage. It has been a long time since we were last here as volunteers.

They are all healthy. You are the best indeed.

Of course. You guys are too clumsy to be around kids, but daily chores would be fine...

I remember you two as electricity experts. The circuit breaker has been tripping a lot here at the Orphanage. Can I possibly trouble you with having a check on it?

The circuit breaker?

No problem. We'll take a look.

I'm right!

No, I am!

Dane, Vivia, what's the fight about?

Master!

It's about who is the most powerful hero in Esper Union!

The most powerful hero?

Yes! I think Uncle Gaius is the best in the world!

No, that should be Miss Raven!

Alright, one at a time. Dane, why do you choose Gaius?

Uncle Gaius is so very strong! He smashes all the Miramon with his thunders!

Indeed, Gaius controls powerful thunders.

Your turn, Vivia. Why do you think Raven is the most powerful?

Thunders? Miss Raven controls mighty thunders, too!

Also, Miss Raven has ravens and the cool motorbike. They are powerful, and yes, handsome, too.

Hmph, Uncle Gaius doesn't need all those!

Hmph! You just won't admit defeat! Your Uncle Gaius just doesn't have...

Dane, Vivia, you are both right. However, you can never judge a hero through their looks.

Then how do we judge them?

You should see what they have done to earn the name.

I know that one!

I was rescued by Miss Raven herself!

And she saved a lot of people that time!

I know that, too! I have seen it in a documentary about Uncle Gaius!

He led the rescue at Estero Harbor. It is said that he saved hundreds of thousands of people!

Do you understand why they are called heroes now?

Hmm... I have no idea.

Is it because people like Miss Raven have saved many others?

That is just part of the story. Everyone helpful to others is a hero.

Saving the masses is heroic, but saving a single person is also heroic.

It is not about power, but the willingness to protect.

Hmm... I still don't understand.

You will, someday.

*Coughs* The output got a bit wild...

It just exploded. Guess we'll have to live without electricity for a while.

What? What did you just say?

Get it fixed, or neither of you is leaving!

......

......

Master is mad...

So our master is actually the most powerful one...

Look at all the injured here. That is some tough work for us.

We have injured Espers too. Nothing critical, though.

Heng Yue, treat the commoners with serious injuries first with the Medical Division. I'll go check on the children.

Alright, I'll be there soon.

Out of my way!

No way! I need to be treated first!

Your injuries are not serious. Please move, we need to see to the normal citizens first.

Not serious? Come on, I'm dying here!

Hmph!

Ah! You actually tried to hit me! Look here, Esper Union is hurting me instead of curing me!

What's the matter, Heng Yue?

This guy is asking for treatment priority.

So you are the boss?

Yes, just talk to me instead.

I was injured in a battle against Miramon, so treat me first!

Against Miramon? So you were injured while protecting these commoners?

O-of course! What else can it be?

It is not safe here. As members of Esper Union, we are planning to treat and evacuate the commoners first.

Treating you would delay the rescue overall.

That's not a problem. I'll help once I'm cured. How does that sound?

(It's working...)

Treat him first, Heng Yue.

Alright, it is your lucky day. I'll be treating you, come with me.

Hehe, wise choice, I tell ya.

*Snort*

Wh-what are you doing?

You promised to stay and help, right?

So you actually took that seriously? Come on, I have missions to fulfill at Graywater!

Oh, take that seriously?

Here are the options. Stay here voluntarily as a guard, or as an injured patient again.

Make your choice.

...You! How dare you threaten me? Hey guys! Esper Union is threatening me!

Save some breath. I have been recording all this time.

The recording clarifies everything. You'd better stay here as you were told.

You were recording?

Nothing unfair against someone like you, isn't it?

You... You... Alright. I-I'm staying to help.

Good.

Elegance! As you always liked.

The drug suppressing divine power is finished! I just succeeded!

The drug suppressing divine power?

That's right.

Test reports? Show me.

Extracted from plants in the Miracle, it could significantly suppress divine powers.

Experiments have demonstrated divine power component disappearance when in contact with the drug.

Hmm, any supporting clinical trial outcomes?

Well... Not yet.

Why?

You know, most Espers have gotten used to the power.

As a result, they won't take the drug, as success would mean the total loss of their powers.

*Sneers* So more and more Espers have forgotten about their old selves before the Miracle.

We can't change that. More Espers breaking the law is the proof.

Not all can discipline themselves faced with the powers. For those who still behave, giving up the powers that make them special is hard.

Where's the drug? Give it to me.

You are testing it yourself?

Sure! That is what I am here in the Union for.

What if it works...

I will lose the Esperhood and divine power of Nuwa, and return to my original self.

That is exactly what I have been hoping and preparing for.

Pritzker will definitely stop you from such dangerous experiments.

But... Damn it! Here you are.

By the way, I wish to restore the world without Esperhood and divine powers, too.

I can feel my body heating up, and the power is escaping.

It seems that... This time... Ah!

*Coughs* Feng Nuxi?? Are you alright?

......

Could it be that... It is working?

No, not really. The drug was neutralized and discharged with the power blast.

I can feel it, the drug worked. It's just that...

What?

...Just that my body is rejecting it.

Could it be that your powers are too strong? Maybe we should find an Esper that has just ascended.

No, the powers of new Espers are unstable. We might not even be able to predict the outcome.

Another failure... My confidence is shattering after all the failures these years.

This is bound to be hard. I'm not giving up.

I will live to see the return of a world without Miracles, divine powers and Esperhood.

I hope so...