Three Days Later, Ackerman House.

  “Good morning, Eldrid. This is Jake Dousa with your Demonic Activity News Report.

  The World Association of Sorcerers—commonly known as W.A.S.—has confirmed a sudden and rapid surge in Anti-Tenzen density across the entire Eldrid region.

  Current readings show Anti-Tenzen levels exceeding negative twenty-four percent, a threshold classified as high risk.

  As a result, civilians are strongly advised to reinforce personal security measures and avoid remaining outdoors past 9:00 p.m. Further updates will follow as the situation develops.”

  Everywhere fell silent.

  The silence in the sitting room was suffocating, broken only by the crackle of wood in the fireplace.

  "So, she isn’t awake yet, huh?" Van asked, lifting his gaze to Code and Ryūma sitting opposite him.

  "Yeah," Ryūma said grimly. "Finn’s taking care of her right now."

  "Arrgh, Ryūma," Van sighed, his tone darkening.

  "Huh?" Ryūma gulped.

  "I thought I gave you just one job," Van continued.

  "Y-yeah," Ryūma stammered. "But she activated it before I could stop her. If I’d tried anything, I would’ve been caught up in the sphere."

  "Jeez." Van shook his head and dragged a hand through his hair.

  Code’s eyes shifted between them. ‘I never knew Van could be this emotional. But shouldn’t he be mad at me instead of Ryūma, since Hina used the technique to save me?’

  "Whew, what’s with this eerie atmosphere?" Ken boomed as he stepped into the room, scanning their faces. "It’s not like she’s dead or anything."

  "Nah, it’s not that, Ken," Van replied, looking at him. "It’s the backlash from using Aralyss’ technique."

  "There’s a backlash?" Ken blinked, slightly shocked.

  "I’m the only one who knows this," Van said. "Whenever she uses that technique, she experiences the same pain her opponent feels."

  "Heh?" Code and Ryūma gasped.

  "Sh-she never told me that," Ryūma said, voice slightly raised.

  "Yeah. She didn’t want to worry anyone," Van replied. "That sphere is a double-edged sword. The same rule of belief that applies to her opponent applies to her too. It’s not about someone begging for death. It’s about who gives in to the pain first."

  "W-what?" Code exclaimed. His heart pounded as he swallowed hard. ‘So that’s what she went through… and after all of that, she hid it with a smile?’

  Sweat slipped down his face.

  "Heck, man, that’s deep," Ken muttered.

  "That’s why I told you to stop her from using it," Van said to Ryūma. "The risks outweigh the gains by far."

  "B-but—" Ryūma tried to protest. "If you’d told me all this earlier, I might’ve tried harder."

  "Nah, it’s not your fault," Van said.

  "It’s my fault," Code cut in.

  Everyone turned to him.

  "The reason Hina activated that technique… it was for me," Code said, his head lowered. "She did it to save me from the demon. She did it because I was weak. So don’t blame anyone else. Blame me!" he yelled, rising to his feet before storming out of the room.

  "Code," Ryūma called after him.

  "Boy, oh, boy," Ken sighed, sinking into the sofa.

  .....

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  The discussion between Aralyss and Hina had begun.

  SPIRITUAL REALM OF LINKAGE.

  "You really don’t hide your hatred for me, do you?" Aralyss said, a smirk tugging at her lips.

  "Fuck yeah. I don’t," Hina replied bluntly.

  "Arrgh, such profane words," Aralyss sighed, resting her chin on her palm. "Shouldn’t you address me with more respect? I am, after all, the one who can return you to life."

  "I’m not interested in talking to you," Hina said flatly, glaring at her. "More than anything, I want to kill you, so just bring me back already."

  "What if I don’t feel like it?" Aralyss muttered. "This place gets very boring without you."

  "I don’t care about your loneliness," Hina rasped.

  "Such an unhinged personality," Aralyss said, smiling ominously. "That’s why I like you. I still don’t regret using you to wipe out that clan of fools."

  Hina’s gaze darkened.

  "Their cries for help, their prayers, their screams while we tortured them to death… it was delicious."

  "Tch. Fucking sadist," Hina muttered, jaw tight as she gripped her sword.

  "Haha. You should know by now that physical attacks don’t work on me," Aralyss chuckled. "Even after all this time, you’re still useless without me. You still rely on my power to win."

  "Shut it," Hina snapped.

  "You’re still my cute little puppet."

  ..........

  Back to Reality.

  The cool wind blew softly against Code's face, tugging his cloth. "Arrgh," he exhaled, resting on the balcony, as he stared at the setting sun.

  A few seconds later, the door behind him slid open and Van stepped out.

  "Arrgh, what fresh air," Van said, the cool wind blowing his hair aside. "We don't see peaceful evenings like this a lot."

  "We almost never," Code replied flatly.

  Van looked at him. "So, feeling guilty?" He asked, concern filling his tone.

  "I just needed some fresh air," Code muttered, and turned away, as if trying to avoid the conversation.

  "Ehhh? You sure that's all of it?" Van purred, moving his fingers through Code's hair.

  "Arrgh." Code sighed as another cool wind blew past. "I..." He paused. "I couldn't protect anyone."

  Memories of the mission with Ran and Kael flickered in his mind.

  "...I couldn't even protect myself. But when I met you, when you said I was a zero, I felt an inner joy. That maybe, just maybe, life had finally decided to reward me for all my pain. I finally had a chance to become stronger."

  "Hmm." Van hummed.

  "But after today's mission," Code continued, "I realized I'm still weak. Even after that day, even after awakening my powers, I never got stronger. Because I still can't protect myself. I'm still the same as the guy in the slums," he said. "And worst of all, I made someone risk her life for such a crappy asshole like me."

  Van let him finish before speaking. "Yeah, I get that feeling of weakness," he said. "But let me tell you something weird. I once drank this very bitter beer called Hoo Lawd."

  "Eh?" Code blinked. "What are you talking about?"

  "Very nasty thing. Bitter as hell," Van snorted, his expression twisting. "Everyone tried to drink it straight to prove they were 'tough', and every single one regretted it."

  Van smirked faintly. "But you know what I did? Mixed it with stout and a lot of water. Suddenly, it became sweet."

  He looked directly at Code. "Life's pretty much the same. People think the only way through a problem is brute strength, by drinking the bitterness straight. But sometimes the solution isn't being stronger. It's finding a way that works for you, even if it's not what others expect."

  Code stared at him as Van stepped closer.

  "You're not failing to protect yourself because you're weak. You're failing because you're trying to solve every problem with the same kind of strength. Find your own way to face things. That's when you'll really grow. The important thing is realization."

  Another wave of wind blew across Code's face. "S-so you're saying I shouldn't get stronger?" He asked.

  "No, you're getting me wrong." Van shook his head. "I'm saying you should get stronger, but in your own way. And if things don't work out, just mix in some more beer."

  ...

  Inside the house, in a room upstairs, at the centre of the room was a bed with Hina lying on it. She wasn’t breathing, and her heart wasn’t beating. Her eyes stayed shut, skin pale.

  Finn's palm hovered over her face. He stood beside her, holding a cup filled with a translucent liquid. "Hina," he whispered, concern thick in his tone. "This is the only medicine I haven’t tried."

  He stepped forward, lifted her neck, placed the cup to her lips, and poured the liquid in.

  As the liquid entered her mouth, Hina’s eyes snapped open.

  She instantly sat up, as Finn stepped back, eyes widening in surprise.

  "That bitch," Hina rasped, turning her head until she saw Finn.

  "Huh?" Finn gasped as their eyes met. Hina felt the liquid in her mouth and swallowed.

  An awkward silence settled over the room before it finally dawned on her.

  "You bastard!" she yelled, grabbing Finn’s hair and pulling it. "What kind of medicine tastes this bitter?!"

  "Ou-ouch," Finn groaned. "It was the only one left!"

  "Then don't give it to me!!" Hina thrashed.

  "Ok...ok...just don't pull my hair!" Finn cried, trying to free himself from her tight grip.

  Their voices quickly reached the parlor where Ryūma and Ken sat.

  "Wait, that voice," Ryūma exclaimed and immediately stood up, turning toward it.

  "Eh?" Ken paused, blinking at him.

  Van and Code stared at each other in shock. "Did I hear wrong?" Van asked, brows furrowing.

  "Nah, there’s no way," Code replied, expression slowly changing into a smile. "She's awake!" He announced.

  Van turned to the door, and lunged to open it, but as his finger grazed it, a strange feeling suddenly coursed through his body. He stopped mid-step.

  "Huh? Van, what's wrong?" Code asked, alarmed.

  Van stood still for two seconds before snapping back to reality. "Nothing. It's nothing," he said with a light chuckle.

  "You sure?" Code raised a brow.

  "Whew, it's so cold," Van said quickly, changing the topic, as he stepped inside.

  Code walked in. "Arrgh, now that my mind's clear, I'm feeling hungry." He said. As soon as he left, Van's eyes narrowed, brows knitting.

  "This feeling... it's unmistakable," he muttered, and stared at his palm. "The Vesta barrier has been breached. Who could have done that?"