"Nice to meet you for the first time, please guide me along the way!"

The expression of the black older brother appeared much milder compared to his rougher brother, which made me feel that I could slowly accept this black friend of mine.

"Oh!"

Yukari suddenly inserted herself between us, placing her hand on our shoulders and said with a meaningful tone.

"I think you two get along well. I wonder what the other two will think?"

"The other two?"

"Yeah, don't tell me you thought there were only three of us in the organization?"

Yukari walked ahead with a hint of sarcasm, while I and Flatt hurriedly followed.

"If you can take care of that bastard Edward, maybe I won't need so many people."

"Haha, don't joke, the man the Western Alliance fears is a monster!"

Flatt immediately stood up for me, but Yukari suddenly said something cryptic.

"Well, you never know, after all, Hagrid is a complete monster too... Hahaha!"

"..."

"..."

Both Flatt and I were a bit puzzled, wondering what Yukari was laughing about.

"Hurry up, you two, if you're late, watch out for Rijiang's temper!"

"Uh... okay!"

At the mention of Rijiang, Flatt immediately ran to catch up, as if that person was a ferocious monster!

"It's best not to have any association with that kind of person, or your fragile body won't be able to handle her antics."

"Is she that scary?"

"Yes, indeed, I almost got injured sparring with her yesterday!"

"I see..."

I patted my shoulder, did a few warm-up exercises, ready to escape at any moment, as she could possibly be a spy sent by Edward to test me. Edward is not unaware of my background, and I fear he might be playing me for a fool.

The atmosphere was tense, it's been days, but I still couldn't stand Yukari's unpredictable behavior, not knowing if she's an enemy or a friend!

Summer is approaching, rain pounding outside all day long, and today's training was canceled by Yukari due to the rain.

"Sitting at home these days is so boring!"

"It can't be helped, boss."

Chiyori, facing Yukari complaining about the rain outside, remained calm as ever, indulging in her carefree self, reading her book and then stopping to talk to Yukari.

"I have a question..."

"Hmm?"

Yukari stopped her mischief and looked puzzled waiting for Chiyori to speak.

"I understand the boss's mood, but the Evil Entities have very accurate hearing during the rainy season. The medicine we have won't be effective against them."

"That's right, boss!"

Arima Shinobu, who was licking her dagger on the side, immediately chimed in.

"Our situation is very dangerous right now. If we encounter a group of Evil Entities..."

"Alright, alright!"

Yukari waved her hand disinterestedly and flopped onto the couch in the corner of the room.

"Sigh, Edward won't rest, we don't have much time left."

"I know this, but we can't just keep huddling in this small house, right?"

After being ignored by everyone for so long, I couldn't help but speak up with a few words, and Yukari immediately rushed over and hugged me tightly, praising me.

"It seems this lovely newcomer really understands me~ Uh, no~ Listen, we can't always be passive, Satan won't have so much time to waste!"

The moment you step into this room, you can feel a heavy sense of oppression, and now I've been here for so long that I feel uncomfortable all over... Maybe I should go out and practice.

"Alright, since the juniors all agree, it's one vote per person for you, and ten votes for me. Eleven to four, you don't mind, right?"

"What kind of logic is that?"

After a light snort from Chiyori, she didn't pay any more attention to Yukari, while Ryo only opposed without saying much.

After reaching a unanimous decision, we ended up running around blindly behind her, but honestly, what's so great about those rows of abandoned skyscrapers in the icy wasteland?

Although the outside world is so free, there's no vitality to make me want to stay.

Edgar had known about my existence a long time ago, and he always seemed so free, as if he were an existence that shouldn't exist in this world, just like me!

I had given up seeking my will a long time ago, because there was no need to seek. The center of the whole struggle had always changed along with me, perhaps... I was the center of the entire war!

"I believe in Yukari, but... Yukari also needs to believe in me!"

"I do believe, you are definitely not Edward's person."

"Huh?"

"Hey, what's with that? By the way, why are you suddenly saying such strange things, are you trying to pursue me?"

Unconsciously, I actually blurted it out, and Yukari politely declined.

"Oh my, it's not the first time anyways. Every day at school there's a long line of people confessing to me, but it's been much better lately. I wonder if they've given up?"

"Oh, what should I do?"

There are so many things I need to maintain, even the emblem inside me!

Death and life...

"The Death and Life Emblem was once forged by my Destruction Hope Emblem, but it's not the complete form of hope, it's the power assembled from its scattered fragments!"

A series of reminders from an old man gradually sounded inside me, was the Great God summoning me?

"But what shapes my existence are death and life. Are they just the remnants of hope?"

"Exactly!"

The Great God shook his massive body and handed me a jade green disc.

"My apostle, what you possess is not the full power of the Hope Emblem. You can master life and death, but that doesn't mean you can grasp the true essence of the Creator. The Black Dragon Emperor shouldn't fail to understand this!"

Indeed, none of that mattered anymore. Satan already knew how to open the World Tree, and as long as we opened the gate to the new world, the inhabitants of that world could peek into this one, and similarly, the people of this world could venture into that unknown world.

In the sleepless late night, I, seeking warmth, will find a space that is hard for others to enter, a space within someone else's inner world.

"The strange woman, I spent centuries trying to figure out what kind of person she was!"

Can I say 'enough' and leave this sentence behind now? Can I still utter nonsense like 'the world wouldn't miss me if I were gone'?

Knowing I would be at a disadvantage, I still willingly accepted this nominal relationship. I should probably say, it's rare to meet again... or should I say...

"I don't want to let go of anyone, not even myself!"

"What are you looking at? Go inside the station! Also, Freunde, go check the control room to see if there are any backup power sources available!"

"Yes."

"Welcome aboard this train, this journey will be your happiest one."

The final... um, the customer service voice remains as sweet as ever, but there is a slightly creepy undertone.

I felt a bit irritated by these words in my heart, then casually found a seat in an empty carriage, Freunde went to the control room alone after everyone else had settled down to check on the situation.

I began to yawn without realizing it, these days have been so tiring... I really am exhausted.

Although I had seemingly completely let go of Yukari, in reality, I still couldn't forget her!

After that, she hardly ever talked to me, and eventually made me more and more isolated.

Whether returning home from school or heading to school in the morning, there was always warm food on the table, as if timed perfectly. She would have breakfast early before going to school, and have dinner in her room later.

She always found excuses in her actions to avoid me, just like... just like...

"Half a year ago, that's how we used to be."

Every time I passed Yukari's room, I would deliberately lower my head, using my bangs as a cover.

Why, why?

Feeling a sense of self-pity, I stamped my foot on the ground hard, feeling unusually heavy-hearted.

"Do you really hate me that much?"

"Look here, the tram still has power running, I have set the tram to start in three minutes!"

"Really, thank you so much, Freunde!"

Yukari, yawning, immediately put on a smile.

"Everyone can rest now, as for who's on duty..."

On duty? Definitely not me, so I closed my eyes tightly and pretended to be sleeping with them shut for a long time.

"Hey hey, shouldn't the newcomer get some practice?"

"Well, let's start with standing guard then."

Freunde and Chiyori had me stand by the window with my eyes forcefully open, staring at the disappearing wilderness cityscape outside, which suddenly invaded this peaceful land with its grassy plains.

Ding dong... ding dong!

Drops of water hitting the steel plate with a crisp sound.

The air slowly thickened, and I seemed to have returned to a long, long time ago, but...

Inside the train, there were bloodstains everywhere from the floor to the seats!

The sky outside the window was also tinted with blood, like a nightmare!

I felt a moment of panic because of the painful colors all around, with the occasional sound of metal scraping against the floor in the next carriage, sending shivers down my spine.

"Where... where am I? Why am I here?"

I suddenly woke up from the dream, the red outside the window had turned into dusk.

"Thank you, kids these days are really thoughtful..."

As soon as I lifted my butt from the seat, the old lady in front of me showered me with gratitude, then gratefully took my spot to nap.

"Hey... huh?!!"

The train accelerated forward, drowning out my hearing with the deafening roar of the wind and the chatter of the surrounding crowd, leaving me annoyed and bewildered. I groaned in frustration.

"What a terrible day, I just wish it would end soon!"

"Hey, Hagrid, we're here... The train doors are closing, let's get off quickly!"

"Hey, wait a minute...!"

What just happened? It's been so long, why is there still someone here?