"Huh, you seem fine with it,"
Nox asked, genuinely curious about Henry's remarkably casual reaction to what most people would consider deeply disturbing.
"Well, it's not that it looks normal, but it's cool, right?"
Henry replied with enthusiasm, as if having a conversation with someone who possessed a mouth in their palm was the most natural thing in the world.
"Ha, your definition of cool is a bit twisted," Nox observed with amusement.
Henry's smile widened, and he looked almost proud as he explained.
"My father is a film director. His celebrity name is James Lan. He directed the entire trilogy of 'The Summoning,' so my family has been involved with the horror entertainment industry for a long time."
"I've always been fascinated by that kind of thing,"
Henry continued, his eyes lighting up with genuine passion.
"And now that I can see some of that stuff in real life, it's really cool, I guess."
Henry laughed, the sound warm and infectious. There was something refreshing about his straightforward honesty and his ability to find wonder in the unusual rather than fear.
Nox let out a soft laugh in response.
This guy was okay, he thought to himself. In a world where most people reacted to his abilities with disgust or terror, finding someone who could appreciate the artistry of the grotesque was unexpectedly pleasant.
"So what attack methods do you use against monsters, Mr. Nox?"
Henry asked, leaning forward with obvious interest.
Nox thought for a second before responding.
"Well, I use a mana gun primarily. And I can use this to protect myself."
As he spoke, a black tentacle sprouted from Ren's back, flowing like liquid shadow as it curved up his arm. The appendage moved with surprising grace, almost serpentine in its fluid motion, before waving cheerfully at Henry in a gesture that was somehow both menacing and friendly.
"Whoaa! It's like the anime Qintara Ghoul!"
Henry exclaimed, his eyes wide with delight rather than horror.
"Ha, well, if you like it then that's good," Nox said, allowing the tentacle to retreat back into his body.
"What about your skills?" Nox asked, genuinely curious about what Henry could do
"My unique skill is tracking and scouting. I can scan an entire area of five kilometers to detect if there are any traps or monsters present. It can categorize targets as friends or enemies too."
That was an incredibly useful ability for their upcoming mission. Having advance warning of threats and environmental hazards could mean the difference between success and catastrophe in an S-rank gate.
Henry's expression grew slightly mischievous.
"Oh, and do you have anything that's lost or an item that you want to find?"
Nox considered the question. "Hmm, then where's the guild master right now?"
Henry's eyes suddenly glowed with an intense purple light, the color shifting and swirling like amethyst flames. The supernatural illumination lasted for several seconds as he processed information from his scanning ability.
"Oh, he's in the toilet on the 25th floor," Henry reported matter-of-factly.
"Pfft," Nox couldn't help but let out a laugh at the mundane reality revealed by such an impressive display of power.
Suddenly, there was a hairline crack that appeared in the air behind Henry, like reality itself was developing a fault line. The space around the crack began to warp and distort, creating a small hole that seemed to lead into absolute void.
Then a fist emerged from the dimensional tear and smashed Henry directly on the head with a solid thunk that echoed through the cafeteria.
"Ouchhhhhh!" Henry clutched his head with both hands, then spun around with wide, startled eyes.
"Do you have a hobby of looking at people when they're in the toilet?"
Lu Changcheng's soft but distinctly annoyed voice rang out from the void, carrying the kind of calm menace that suggested this was not the first time he'd had to address this particular issue.
"Ahhh, sorry, Guild Master!"
Henry bowed his head quickly, his earlier confidence completely evaporated in the face of his superior's displeasure.
Lu Changcheng's hand slowly disappeared back into the void, and the dimensional crack sealed itself as if it had never existed. The casual display of spatial manipulation was both impressive and terrifying, demonstrating exactly why Lu Changcheng held his position as guild master.
"Pfft," Nox let out another laugh, unable to contain his amusement at the entire sequence of events.
"Why are you laughing at me, Noxxx? It's your fault!" Henry protested, though his indignation was undermined by the way he was still rubbing his sore head.
"Hahahahahahaha, sorry, Henry," Nox managed between fits of laughter.
The entire exchange had revealed several interesting things. First, Henry's tracking ability was incredibly precise and comprehensive, able to locate specific individuals across vast distances and through multiple floors of a building. Second, Lu Changcheng possessed spatial manipulation abilities that allowed him to travel instantly and strike from unexpected angles. Third, this was apparently not the first time Henry had used his powers in ways that invaded people's privacy.
"You really need to be more careful about how you use that ability,"
Nox said once he'd gotten his laughter under control.
"I can see how it would be useful for missions, but..."
"Yeah, yeah, I know," Henry said sheepishly.
"It's just that when someone asks me to find something, I don't really have fine control over what information it gives me. If the Guild Master happens to be using the bathroom when I scan for him, well..."
"That explains the punch," Nox observed.
"Though I have to admit, the spatial attack was pretty impressive. Is that his main ability?"
"One of them. Guild Master Lu can manipulate space and distance. He can make a hallway stretch for miles or compress an entire building into the size of a closet. In combat, he can appear anywhere within his range instantly, or make attacks that seem to come from impossible angles."
The casual way Henry described such reality-bending powers reminded Ren of just how much he still didn't understand about the upper levels of this world's power system. S-rank hunters were supposedly the peak of mortal capability, but Lu Changcheng's abilities seemed to operate on a completely different level of existence.
"Have you worked with him in combat before?" Nox asked.
"A few times, though usually as part of larger operations. He doesn't often need backup for the kinds of threats he handles personally. Most of the time when he gets involved, it's because something has gone very wrong and needs immediate resolution."
Henry's tone grew more serious as he continued.
"The Guild Master is actually really kind, despite what just happened. He's saved my life more than once when I was still learning how to use my abilities properly. I just need to remember to be more respectful of people's privacy."
"Good lesson to learn," Nox agreed.
"Though I have to say, that was probably the most entertaining demonstration of tracking abilities I've ever seen."
"Glad my embarrassment could provide some entertainment," Henry said with good-natured resignation.
"At least now you know my abilities work properly. Even if I apparently can't use them without getting punched by interdimensional fists."
The conversation had definitely lightened the mood and helped establish a more comfortable dynamic between them. Henry's mix of impressive abilities and human flaws made him seem more relatable, while his good humor about his own mistakes suggested he'd be a reliable partner even when things went wrong.
"So," Henry said, changing the subject, "what do you think about our chances for the winter gate? Based on what we've discussed about our abilities, I mean."
Nox considered the question seriously. Henry's scouting and tracking abilities would provide crucial intelligence about threats and environmental hazards. His own healing capabilities would keep them both functional even if they took damage. The combination of stealth, support, and versatile combat options seemed well-balanced for handling unknown threats.
"I think we complement each other well," Nox said finally.
"Your scouting will help us avoid unnecessary risks, and my healing can keep us in fighting condition even if we encounter something unexpected. As long as we communicate well and don't take unnecessary chances, we should be fine."
"That's what I was thinking too. Plus, with my ranger skill, I'm probably better prepared than most people for whatever weird stuff we might encounter there."
Henry's confidence was reassuring, though Ren hoped it wouldn't lead to overconfidence when they actually faced whatever was waiting in that winter gate. Still, having a partner who could appreciate the unusual and maintain his sense of humor under pressure seemed like a significant advantage.