"Joseph, Joseph."

"Are you excited too?"

Turing patted Joseph's neck satisfyingly, and the horse neighed happily, running even faster.

The Smoke Fairy Festival's fireworks were dancing in the sky, and Turing looked far into the distance as they raced on the mountain road. In the wilderness, the quaint and elegant giant horse field used for the race appeared before their eyes.

"Good boy, give it a little more effort, we're almost there..."

"Turing!"

An affectionate call seemed to come from a distant place deep in the Underworld, and it shook Turing's soul from inside out.

Overjoyed, Turing tightened the reins, turned the horse's head, and looked back.

A handsome boy in a windbreaker stood on a rock, seemingly smiling helplessly.

His delicate skin seemed to be adorned with glistening dewdrops, filled with a sensibility and softness akin to that of a girl.

"Turing... You did it."

Merka's smile was still as dazzling as it was a few years ago, making one feel dizzy.

But the curved corners of his mouth seemed to add a touch of solidity and profoundness to it, like a rock.

"Merka... Of course we did!"

"I told you we would win."

Turing jumped off Joseph and ran towards Merka.

He rubbed against Merka like a little cat, holding him in his arms and feeling the sincere warmth on his skin.

"It's been such a long, long month."

"You know... Merka."

"I've never missed you like I do now."

"I really don't know what to do... Merka."

"I have so many things I want to tell you."

Merka comfortingly stroked Turing, gently patting his head.

"I have a lot to tell you too."

"But I hope you keep it short and sweet, little Xixi."

"The race is about to start."

——————————————————————————

Turing and Merka exchanged their experiences and experiences of the past month.

From the bizarre and terrifying laboratory Turing had been through, to the suspenseful hunting competition Merka had participated in, they shared everything.

"It was so tough over there..."

Merka leaned against a rock.

Turing sat on Merka's thigh, gazing into the distance at the oval-shaped racecourse, and whispered to Merka.

"But it was tougher where you were."

"I shouldn't have... made you come back for me."

Merka was stroking Turing's hair.

"Well, it's alright."

"It's like meeting the parents in advance."

"Oh, oh."

Upon hearing Merka's words, Turing blushed a bit.

Even Joseph, who was chewing on wild grass next to them, seemed a little embarrassed and lowered his head.

"What do you think... of my mother?" Turing asked cautiously.

Merka paused for a moment and let out a deep sigh.

"Turing."

"I'm asking you seriously."

"Do you really still want to compete?"

"Maybe it's better to just give up."

"To risk your life for that woman..."

"It's simply not worth it."

Turing became anxious and wanted to argue with Merka's words, but suddenly didn't know what to say.

Although the cruel Oedipus may no longer be Turing's goal in the competition.

But the curse she placed on Turing's childhood memories was like a twisted spell, coiling in her young heart.

No victory, no value.

Turing could never understand how she could achieve her worth without relying on others.

"Merka, I must go to the competition."

"Even if not for my mother..."

"For myself, I have to go."

"..."

Merka gently stroked Turing's pink hair, her voice trembling with pain.

"Even if you know she's deceiving you?"

"Even if she never had your best interest in mind?"

"...Hmm."

Turing softly hummed, her voice faint as if she was singing an ancient melody.

"I had... a premonition."

"But isn't that how relationships between people are?"

"No matter how noble or romantic."

Deception will never diminish."

"I just hope that the emotions I experienced were not false."

"That's all."

"..."

Merka remained silent for a while before speaking again.

"What about after the competition?"

"Are you going back to Altria's family?"

"Oedipus might erase your memories again."

Turing shook her head.

"...I don't know."

"After the competition, I might plan to have a final conversation with my mother."

"In truth, even at this point, I can't see my mother as a bad person."

"I still want to give her a chance..."

"There might be some misunderstanding."

"I want to make my desires clear to her."

"After the conversation's outcome, I'll decide where to go."

Not too late, right? Merka thought to herself.

But perhaps it was already too late.

Oedipus was not a woman who would leave any loose ends.

Even if it was a sincere conversation with Turing, it would definitely be a conversation with a knife to her throat.

However, even with these thoughts, Merka didn't advise Turing against going.

He could sense that Turing needed to go through this phase of making a firm decision on whether to break free from her mother or continue relying on her.

Otherwise, as long as the dominating maternal impression of Oedipus is still imprinted in Turing's mind, she will never be able to grow up.

"I understand."

"Then go ahead and compete to your heart's content."

Merka pecked Turing on the cheek.

"You are my pride."

"Uh-huh."

Turing responded softly.

She leaned against Merka's embrace, a blush appearing on her cheeks.

Like the faint morning sun on the horizon, discreet, minimalist, yet powerful.

"By the way, about Diana..."

Before parting ways, Merka whispered something in Turing's ear.

---------------------------------------------

Having bid farewell to Merka for now, Turing hurried to the competition venue. After weaving through the bustling crowd, Turing finally managed to find the designated rest area for participants.

"Where's Mother?"

"She didn't come to watch my competition again."

Taking a towel handed to her by a servant of the Altria family, Turing wiped her weary and dusty face after the long journey.

In the vast arena, Turing was left standing in the rest area.

No one dared to approach her, just like three years ago.

But this time, unlike the other families, even Turing's own family didn't come.

Perhaps this is the loneliness that befalls the mighty.

"Even Theresa didn't come."

"What happened?"