Hanette whispered suspiciously, staring intently.
Zion met her gaze, his expression hardening.
"...I wouldn't think of such things."
"You might."
"Sigh... In a place where beasts could appear anytime, you think I'd entertain such thoughts?"
"You said beasts rarely appear here, right? So it's possible."
"I haven't, though."
"Really? Then you won't mind sharing a room with me."
"..."
Zion fell silent, his expression troubled.
Sharing a room with Hanette wasn't inherently problematic. One could sleep on the bed while the other slept on the floor. But sharing a room, just the two of them, felt burdensome, especially since they weren't staying just one night. Rumors could spread.
"It's not a problem, but there's no reason to share a room, either."
"Even if one of us sleeps on the floor, we'd still be in the same room. The only difference is the location. What's the problem?"
"Back then, the knights were with us."
"Does it matter whether they're here or not? What did you tell me?"
"...What are you asking?"
"You said as long as I don't leave, you'd protect me till the end, right?"
"Well... I did say that."
"Look at this. The necklace you gave me. I always wear it, except when bathing."
Hanette pulled out the necklace from under her armor and gently shook it.
Though the color had faded, it still retained its shape. It was more precious than any other piece of jewelry, something she must always keep with her.
"You told me to stay in the mansion when you were away. So I always stayed there, waiting for you to come back!"
"Well... you did as you were told."
"I didn't follow your orders because I expected something in return. I followed because I had to!"
Hanette spoke with difficulty, then took a deep breath.
Zion watched her quietly, not interrupting.
"I've done everything you asked. So you need to keep your promise!"
Sure, she had been a bit prickly at times and nitpicked over trivial matters. But she always tried to accept Zion's requests. They were for her own good, and she believed Zion had his reasons. Most importantly, his requests came with promises she wanted to see fulfilled.
"...I understand. If that's the case, I'll follow your lead."
Zion accepted Hanette's wish fully. Hanette had followed his lead, trusting him enough to come this far. Therefore, he felt responsible for her.
"Just stay with me. I'll sleep on the floor, so you can have the bed."
Hanette worried about this but didn't dwell on it too much. She trusted Zion to be cautious, even if they shared a room. She wouldn't have been satisfied with Zion just being in the next room; she needed him close.
"I can't let my partner sleep on the floor."
"It's fine, I'll sleep on the floor."
"Hanette, stop being stubborn. Can’t you let this one go?"
"I can't. You take the bed."
"Sigh... You want me to watch you sleep on the floor?"
"Should I watch you instead?"
"I'm fine."
"But I'm not!"
"I’ve followed your lead. Can't you follow mine this time?"
"...I don't care. I'm sleeping on the floor."
"Sigh..."
Zion sighed deeply, a smile appearing on his face.
She wanted to give up the bed for him out of consideration. Even if he didn't take it, she wouldn't change her mind.
'How should I handle this? It's tough.'
Hanette often acted stubbornly, but without ill intent. It was just her awkward way of expressing herself. Maybe she was too shy to reveal her true feelings.
'With time, it'll get better. Eventually...'
Nakmor Fortress, Zion and Hanette’s room.
After unpacking, Zion and Hanette removed their armor. They washed their faces and hands with the limited water available, taking a brief rest. Hanette waited alone in the room for Zion to return.
'What's taking him so long?'
Hanette, resting her chin on her hand, stared at the door.
Zion had left, saying he was going to the bathroom, but he was taking longer than expected, which worried her.
'Maybe he went to see the knights?'
Though the knights were from their respective houses, Zion couldn’t ignore them. They had come to assist.
'Or he might have gone outside. He must be feeling cooped up.'
They were in the safest place at the front lines. Even if the outer wall was breached, they could hold out inside the inner fortress and retreat if needed. The inner fortress, where the lord and commanders lived, was better than the barracks or camps. But compared to noble estates, it lacked in many ways, possibly making Zion uncomfortable.
'Why did he go alone? What about me?'
Hanette, feeling puzzled, got up from the bed.
Zion had promised to stay by her side, yet he had left without a word. Shouldn't he have told her or taken her along?
'Stay calm... Mistakes happen.'
Suppressing her irritation, Hanette left the room.
Even Zion couldn't be perfect all the time. She, too, had her flaws, so they had to understand each other's shortcomings. They had already committed their lives to each other.
'I have this... so it’s okay.'
Hanette wandered the corridor, fiddling with her necklace.
Though she treasured it, it had faded and gotten scratched. She kept wearing it despite this, as putting it away would defeat its purpose.
'Still, I should check.'
Hanette headed to the knights' quarters.
Maybe he hadn’t gone outside but was talking with the knights.
"Oh, Lady Hanette!"
The knights stopped what they were doing and turned to her.
Hanette quickly scanned the room, counting the knights.
"Everyone's here. No problems?"
"Yes, we're all resting."
"Um... has my fiancé been here?"
"Sir Zion hasn’t come here. Has anyone seen him?"
"..."
The knights fell silent, glancing at each other.
It seemed Zion hadn’t come here.
"He hasn't? Rest well until tomorrow."
"Understood!"
Hanette answered softly, quickly moving on.
He must have gone outside.
If he were coming back, they would have crossed paths.
'Why did he go out alone? Hmm...'
Hanette left the inner fortress, starting to look for Zion.
The sky darkened as the sun set.
He had probably gone for some fresh air, so she should find him soon.
'...Huh?'
Hanette spotted Zion and quickly hid.
He was talking with someone in a robe.
Though she couldn't see their face, the silhouette and body shape suggested it was a woman.
'Meeting a woman here? Leaving me behind? That damn kid...'
Zion used the bathroom excuse to sneak out of the inner fortress.
The evening sky glowed with a fading orange hue.
He paused to admire the view, but someone in a hooded robe approached.
"...You've come."
"You’ve changed quite a bit."
Enrite slowly spoke, stepping closer to Zion.
She had observed Zion since entering the fortress, but Exceed Rain hadn’t acted up. The malevolent energy persisted, but Zion remained composed.
"Time changes everyone."
"...Are you really the one I know?"
Enrite glared, her magic spreading through her body.
She couldn’t guarantee victory but knew she wouldn’t lose. It had always been this way; if neither disappeared, the same results would repeat. But to face the three demon lords and the four calamities, they needed Exceed Rain.
"Do you want to confirm it yourself?"
Zion released his magic, summoning Exceed Rain.
Enrite tensed but saw no movement.
She just observed Zion, controlling his magic calmly.
"Exceed Rain can't control itself. But it needs a medium to act. Usually, a human or beast serves as that medium."
"Do you think I'm being used by Exceed Rain?"
"If you were being used... you wouldn't have made it here."
Enrite knew Exceed Rain better than anyone.
It was her sibling, a primordial Magic Sword.
Light and dark, good and evil, white and black, creation and destruction, life and death.
They possessed completely opposing forces, denying each other's existence.
"I'll make it clear here. I'm not being used by Exceed Rain. I'm the same Zion Laird you met, Cardinal Serenine."
Zion calmly responded, holding Exceed Rain.
Consuming the red Limpi Machina and Enrite's holy water had neutralized its mind control and magic erosion abilities.
If this setup were wrong, he’d have met a grim fate.
"...Did the holy water I made help?"
"Yes, it was a great help. I'm grateful for what you did then."
Enrite vaguely understood the holy water's purpose.
She couldn’t be certain, but it likely helped control Exceed Rain.
"Then you also know my true nature."
"Though different from Exceed Rain's magic, I feel a similar presence. If my guess is right, you, Cardinal Serenine, are..."
Zion feigned hesitation, deliberately stopping mid-sentence.
Knowing too much could arouse suspicion.
It was best to only infer the existence of the Magic Sword and Enrite's identity.
"Your guess is correct. I am a Magic Sword with a consciousness. I reluctantly mimic humans."
Zion, enveloped in silence, dismissed Exceed Rain.
Enrite claimed to imitate humans, but she acted more human than anyone.
Maybe, over the long years, she had become fully human.
"I don't think you're mimicking. You're genuinely human, Cardinal Serenine."
"Thank you, but... even if I act human, my essence doesn’t change."
"Aren’t you already mingling with humans? You’ve accomplished much and become a Setinos Quasar. A non-human couldn't have done that."
"......"
Enrite hesitated, momentarily reflecting on herself.
She thought she needed to look human to avoid suspicion.
Becoming a Setinos Quasar was to achieve her goals more easily.
She had intended to find someone who could handle her, but instead, she was recognized as human.
'I’m a Magic Sword, not a human...'
Enrite sensed a presence and spotted someone approaching.
Zion instinctively noticed and turned around.
Hanette, with a cold gaze, slowly approached.
"Having fun with another woman? Is this what you are?"