I wish I hadn't proposed to take on the job myself; I'm starting to regret it now. Kyle and Yasu didn't seem to blame me for my thoughts, probably because they sensed them.

"Big brother, is it because we disturbed the Mountain God by running around in the forest?"

It seemed like Yasu was pondering the same question. The rain stopped at just the right moment - only powerful elves could possibly have done it.

"I think it's probably because that orb operates from a distance... Of course, it could also be a storm in disguise."

However, the storm that was summoned wasn't an ordinary one; it was because we had intruded into the forest.

Elena, who noticed the incorrect operation, pinpointed the location of the terminal and discovered that someone was deliberately monopolizing the accuracy of that specific time, even if it was just a 0.1-second difference!

"Report to headquarters, is intervention in the time differential of that area permitted... What? Permission denied?"

"...That's right, don't interfere. If you have any questions, talk to Lord Edward in person."

"Um... understood, then we'll proceed with the energy station mission as usual."

Half an hour later.

"The terrain in that area is very difficult for the spacecraft to approach. If it weren't for the captain's extraordinary piloting skills, you guys might still be fighting against the Evil Entities at the energy station. You should go thank the captain later."

"Yeah, Yukari might have been waiting for us for a long time. If we don't go back soon, she might come looking for us herself!"

"Tsk, I really don't want to see that b**** again, or... "

"Hehe, Sister Boss is Juxi’s sister, so if you don't want to see Juxi, you can say that!"

"Hey, you shrimp, it's not your turn to speak..."

"What did you say?!"

Yuanhui and the others were finally allowed to return to their seats, but then Yuanhui immediately began fighting with Shinobi over something, leaving Chiyori twitching at the corner of her mouth.

"Shinobi, that..."

I said something unnecessary, I'm truly sorry, just as Yuanhui was about to apologize to Chiyori.

"Fantastic, this is really interesting."

Chiyori patted Yuanhui's shoulder and said with a smile.

Well, Yuanhui just raised the corners of his mouth nonchalantly.

"Let's take a little rest."

Yuanhui, with his head against the window, said absentmindedly.

"Oh, the intimacy between you guys is so intriguing, by the way, you don't have a girlfriend, do you?"

"Well, are you falling for me or something?"

"Um... you have a bit too much self-confidence."

"Hmph, let me tell you, I already have someone I like..."

Yuanhui ignored Chiyori's words, lost in his own world. But Chiyori didn't care about the details now; she just made a fuss about his previous answer.

"Oh... I see, you like guys, don't you?"

"What? No way!!!"

"Is that so... well, then you only have eyes for Juxi, huh. No wonder... tsk tsk, is Yukari your only competition?"

"Hey! Enough of your nonsense..."

Before Yuanhui could clarify with a flushed face, Shinobi sitting in front turned around, interrupting him.

"Big Sister is mine, you smelly men can just be gay together! Hmph, finally back in the senior dorms, but why does Big Sister have to live with her not-so-little brother?"

"Well, you can't say it like that," Chiyori chimed in.

It's really heartwarming, but being ganged up on by two people at the same time doesn't feel great, especially since she already dislikes boys.

"Think about it, when the three of us, you, me, and President Yukari, lived together, no one ever did laundry, we would wait a week until the weekend to take it to the dry cleaners. Sometimes when I asked you guys to help tidy up the room, it felt like you wanted to kill me, is that okay?"

"Hmph, if Big Sister lives with that kid..."

Ren still didn't give up, looking like she was ready to fight tooth and nail.

"Is that really appropriate?"

"In the bitter and painful moments in life, what you understand is far beyond just that. So you don't really get the meaning of youth…you'll understand in the future how important it is to find someone to rely on. Your 'Big Sister' won't be able to stay by your side for too long!"

"…"

It was already dusk, faint lights dotted the dim night sky, nightfall had come earlier than usual on campus, not even six o'clock yet, but the street lamps were starting to light up one by one.

And this day was coming to an end amidst arguments, or maybe… not yet!

"Hey, does Yuanhui really like Juxi?"

"...Absolutely not!!!"

...

"Kai, you must bravely live on until the day we can meet again, I'm sure..."

The scene before him became so blurry, ever since Kai was a child, he could hear that kind of voice, but... it was the most miserable scream he had ever heard.

Blood permeated the bustling city, he was only five years old and still in his crib.

With no protection, he watched as his mother was consumed by black smoke in front of him, feeling only pain and no other emotions.

"Mommy!!!"

"Quick...run, find…find your daddy!"

"Mommy..."

"Don't break our promise, leave with your sister, be brave and live on!!!"

Death approached, he saw his mother's face gradually turning from flesh-colored to gray, then finally succumbing to the darkness.

No matter how small the promise, breaking it is never a good thing.

In the bitter memories, Kai repeatedly pondered the meaning of these words, always believing them to be true.

But his mother, who originally taught him this lesson, had forgotten forever, and daddy still hasn't been found...

No, perhaps his father never broke any promise, it's just that the one who made a promise with him wasn't him, it was his mother!

"Why...why doesn't the Evil Entity attack children? Is it wrong to want to be with family, even if it means facing death...I just want to be with my family!"

Whenever it came to work, be it midnight or dawn, father would leave without complaint.

He had once locked himself in his study, forsaking food and sleep, telling his memories of his parents that the most important and top priority in his life was research.

But at some point, he stopped following through with his promises and no longer took the time to listen to his family.

Until one day...

It had been a long time since Kyle had his last conversation with him.

He couldn't even remember what he had intended to say.

All he remembered was interrupting Kyle and saying,

"Sorry, I'm really busy right now..."

And then he left, but he still remembered the uncomfortable feeling that lingered, as clear as if it had happened just yesterday.

Left alone, he finally realized that all his expectations were in vain.

"Although many places are now deserted, it's been a long time since we traveled together like this!"

"..."

The girl with white ponytails had always been by Kyle's side, her golden eyes seemingly radiating light as she kept him company.

The two walked through a city overgrown with weeds, sometimes dodging search teams from the Alliance on the streets, sometimes entering convenience stores during the day to find canned food and bottled water.

But he always stayed silent beside his sister, only reaching out to take the food and water he needed to sustain himself.

"Kyle, the flowers here are so beautiful, and... the air is really nice!"

"..."

"Kyle, have confidence in yourself!"

"..."

"Kyle, if you lose your confidence, wouldn't that be going against Mom's words?"

His sister's words suddenly snapped him out of his contemplation. At that moment, the siblings had just walked out of a convenience store on the roadside and were now on their way to the exit.

"..."

"Do you have something on your mind, Kyle?"

Not wanting his sister to see what he had been thinking about, Kyle casually looked away and answered,

"I just can't figure it out. We've been on the run for a month now, but... how long until we can see Dad?"

"Well, not much longer. Didn't Mom say that if we keep heading east, we'll reach a survivor gathering place called Elena, where apparently anyone who makes it there can be taken in."

"Really..."

Hearing that even his sister wasn't entirely sure, Kyle's mood instantly plummeted. She was now his only lifeline!

But it also became his biggest weakness—his vulnerability.

"Kyle..."

Kyle's sister blinked until she saw for herself that the current Kyle seemed much more serious than the previously frail him.

"If Kyle ever has to... I mean, ever has to live alone, will Kyle be like Mom said?"

"Huh? I think... maybe..."

"What! I see no hint of manly spirit whatsoever, you're just too perfunctory!"

His sister's angry voice puffed up her cheeks, then she sternly lectured Kyle,

"I can't be with you forever, but one day you'll have to learn to take care of others like I do. But if by then you can't even take care of yourself, what will you do?"

"..."

After being criticized by his sister, Kyle fell into confusion. Her words troubled him.

"...That does make sense."

"Hehe, maybe you're still too young? I remember when you got a fever after being attacked by the neighbor's kitten, I was really scared then."

"Oh."

"It wasn't until the doctor mentioned that the wound was infected, prescribed some antibiotics, and treated your wound for inflammation that both Mom and I could finally breathe a sigh of relief!"

"…"

Maybe it was due to the stress of enduring two months of downpours, coupled with the shock of witnessing family members being devoured by the Evil Entity face to face?

That day, Kyle nearly spoke the most words he had ever said in a single day, and almost passed out as they were getting ready to set off.