[EN] MLQC Chapter 23 – The Door of Eternity

[Main Story 23-01]

NW’s investigation didn’t go on for very long. After confirming a few times that I had nothing to do with the satellite incident, I was free to go.

The day had grown dark, and before I realized it, I was back at home.

The gingko bracelet on my wrist glinted faintly in the dim streetlight. Time seemed to have circled back to that day when Gavin first gave the bracelet to me.

…so I can come instantly in an emergency.’

Every time I thought back on those peaceful, carefree days, the stinging in my heart grew deeper.

After days in a row of running around, I was finally returning home. I forced myself to perk up my spirits and fished out my keys.

But when I put my key in the door, no matter which direction I turned, it wouldn’t open.

After looking up and checking several times whether I’d gone to the wrong floor, an ominous feeling welled up inside me– could someone have been up to something in my home?

Was it Black Swan monitoring me? Or an STF investigation? Or NW–

*Click*

The door lock suddenly turned, and the door swung slowly opened onto a strange man’s face.

My heart leapt into my throat, and without realizing it I had grabbed my phone to call the police, but the man started chattering first.

Stranger: No wonder I haven’t been able to sleep soundly these few days. Turns out I’ve had a thief skulking around my home. But I’ve caught you now!

{{MC}}: What do you mean this is your home? This is obviously my home…

Stranger: So you’re a liar and a thief… I’ve lived here for years, and never seen the likes of you around!

To prove he was telling the truth, he indignantly held me by the sleeve and called building security.

Stranger: I’ve caught a thief here red-handed! Are you people going to do anything about it or not?!

{{MC}}: Who’s calling who a thief?! You’re the one breaking into another person’s house!

Setting aside the fact that a stranger was in my house, the security guard– who I knew well– actually greeted the man, then cast a confused look at me.

Guard: So, Miss, you say you live here… Have any proof? When did you move here? Is there anyone who can corroborate what you’re saying?

{{MC}}: I–

‘After all, everyone’s forgotten you’… ‘You are now someone who shouldn’t exist’ …

That moment, Shaw’s words flashed through my mind again.

My hope of reasoning my way out of this predicament faded, and a shudder of fear swept over my body.

My existence, my connections to this world, they’d all vanished into thin air, leaving not a single trace.

{{MC}}: I…

Did I really belong in this world? Would anyone remember me or be able to attest to my existence?

Stranger: You see! She can’t even get her story straight! If she’s not a thief, then who is?!

??: Did you forget the apartment number again?

A familiar tone interrupted the dispute, coming from behind me.

I looked back in a daze and saw Lucien walking out of the door across the way, a soft sigh on his lips and a look of gentle reproach in his eye.

This one little line from him brought old feelings welling back up inside me. As I looked at him, my eyes started to tear up, and I found myself speechless.

Lucien: I couldn’t get through to you on the phone. I thought you’d stood me up.

Lucien: Don’t be so careless next time.

Walking up to me, he cast a glance at the stunned security guard and the man. He kept a polite expression, but his tone was audibly a few degrees cooler.

Lucien: Sorry, she’s my friend. Remembered the wrong apartment number again. Would you mind letting her go?

The man recoiled for a moment, then resentfully released his hand.

Lucien: Let’s go.

Taking me by the wrist, not suspecting for a moment that I’d resist, he casually led me toward his apartment.

I don’t know if I was running from the truth or just trying to get out of this pointless argument, or perhaps because I subconsciously still relied on him, but I didn’t put up a fight.

His apartment was still decorated in a familiar style, but the furniture appeared brand new, as if no one had ever lived here.

I shook my cup of tea and stared blankly into the ripples.

The sofa cushion next to me bounced slightly. Lucien, a first-aid kit in hand, had sat down beside me.

Lucien: Give me your hand.

{{MC}}: …What are you going to do?

Ignoring my question, he reached straight for my hand and put it on his knee.

He rolled up my sleeve, and a slight pain ran up my arm as the cloth rubbed against my skin. I just now noticed that my arm was covered with scratches and bruises.

I felt distressed and wanted to pull back my hand, but I couldn’t break free of his grip.

Lucien: Brash action is not a wise way of going about things. If you don’t tend to your injuries, how will you continue with your investigation?

{{MC}}: …You know everything?

He didn’t say another word. Under the lamplight, his long eyelashes fell slightly, casting a patch of grey on his cheeks as his eyes sunk into profound stillness.

He lightly rubbed a medicine-soaked cotton swab on my unhealed wound, as gently as if he was stroking a flower petal.

But every act of caring kindness, every tender word, the smile on his lips… it all came from a place of cold calculation and insincerity.

As if constantly reminding me, the person before me was Ares, and not Lucien.

Lucien: Alright. Now your other hand.

The spot on my wrist where he had held me was burning hot. He didn’t bring up a word of our previous disagreement, letting me get caught up in the moment of tenderness like old times without realizing it.

I felt puzzled for a moment. I didn’t know what his goal was in getting close to me, and had less of an idea what was in store for me.

After finishing tending to my wounds, Lucien lifted his head and looked at me.

Lucien: Your wounds should be fine, but you should take it easy for a few days. And it’s already quite late. You can rest here.

{{MC}}: B-but this is your house. It wouldn’t be right for me to stay here…

My cheeks flushed unconsciously as I unthinkingly blurted out my excuse. He looked surprised for a moment, then start laughing.

Lucien: You seem to be misunderstanding something. This is a new home I’ve prepared for you.

New home? Does that mean Lucien doesn’t live here? But I clearly remember him moving in here not long after we met–

It dawned on me with great worry that everything about my past no longer seemed to hold true in this world.

Lucien: Relax, I won’t stay here. You can rest undisturbed.

({{mc}}’s Moments: [A Place to Stay]https://mrlove.wiki.gg/wiki/MC%27s_Moments

[Main Story 23-03]

After Lucien left, the empty room seemed even more cheerless.

Looking out the window, I could see scattered pedestrians walking home from work and children having snowball fights under streetlights. The world seemed as normal as ever, with everyone just going about their usual lives.

If this ‘Eternal Winter’ incident hadn’t happened, I’d probably be one of them too, wouldn’t I?

‘No matter who you are, the fate of this world shouldn’t have to rest on your shoulders alone.’

Ever since we parted, Gavin’s words had been swirling around in my mind.

But right now, I wasn’t anybody at all.

There were less than 24 hours until the satellite launch. Could I really depend solely on Gavin and his investigation, and just do nothing?

And moreover, in order to get at the truth, he’d surely have to use that self-destructive power more frequently… a thing which I wanted to avoid most of all.

I slapped at my tensed cheeks and let out a breath.

There was no sense in staying mired in a fear of the unknown. If I didn’t want to accept the shackles of fate, then I’d have to search for a way out of this myself.

After thinking calmly about it for awhile, the only thing I was sure of was that this heavy snow was only a test. The real threat was with that satellite, poised to launch from an as-yet-unknown location.

And that meant that if the launch wasn’t stopped, the eternal winter could soon spread to the whole world!

After the disturbance at North Mountain, NW would definitely be conducting an investigation into the satellite.

I wouldn’t be able to get information directly from NW, but STF had been stealing their intel all along, so perhaps I could…

I jumped out of bed and without hesitation dialed the only number in my phone.

After several rings, Shaw’s voice came from the other end of the line.

Shaw: Yo, finally woke up?

Not caring to banter with him, I got right to the point and told him my plan.

The sarcastic reply I was expecting didn’t come. He listened to my whole plan without making a sound, and then let out a laugh.

Shaw: Pbbff, you really have an affection for STF.

{{MC}}: …Can you please focus on what’s important right now!

Shaw: Is that the attitude you should have when asking for help? I’m hanging up now.

{{MC}}: …Hang on!

{{MC}}: …Shaw– great, powerful Shaw… do you think you might have some special means to help me infiltrate them?

Shaw let out a jolly chuckle as he slowly replied:

Shaw: You’re smarter than you look. You’ve come to the right person, and at the right time.

Shaw: Tonight, around 1 am, something unexpected will occur at STF.

Shaw: You’ll be able to slip in then. Good luck!

Before I could ask about the details, the sound of the dial tone was all I could hear.

{{MC}}: …

Although I was already used to this guy’s cavalier way of doing things, this habit of not letting the other person finish talking was really annoying!

Be that as it may, I put my blind faith in Shaw and put on an inconspicuous outfit to infiltrate STF under the cover of night.

Tonight really did go as Shaw had said, and STF’s security was much more lax than in the past.

The personnel on patrols had all left their posts, and not a sound could be heard in the corridors. The alarm system also seemed to have been disarmed, and the verification system previously so strict was now deactivated.

Even though I’d made it into the classified missions command room without a hitch, I still didn’t dare let down my guard and hurried about my investigation.

In the faint light of the computer screen, I anxiously typed in the password Shaw sent me. To my surprise, all permissions were instantly unlocked.

{{MC}}: This guy really does know everything…

As the documents slowly transferred, I browsed through the pages of classified documents and found out that NW’s investigation had actually ground to a halt as well.

Even after screening every satellite base in the country, none of them matched up with the signal from the North Mountain underground base, nor were there any signs of irregularities.

Which was to say, the satellite plan was going forward without a hitch, and both the criminals behind it and the exact launch coordinates were both a mystery!

The newly-kindled hope in my heart was all at once snuffed out with a bucket of cold water.

I had planned to copy the files and then split, but just as I was leaving, the sound of low voices talking drew my attention.

Thinking I might be able to glean some new information if I eavesdropped, I carefully pricked up my ears.

??: …Hasn’t the Commander’s goal been reached already? That incident tricked quite a few people.

??: The plan isn’t over yet. You take care that you don’t let anything slip.

At the sound of the word ‘Commander’, my heart jumped with excitement–

Could Leto be plotting some conspiracy in secret? What exactly… was STF’s position in all this?

??: Going forward, all we need to do…

Their talking was suddenly cut short. Just as I was about to get closer so I could hear better, a loud ‘crash’ sounded behind me.

The ceiling panels shook, spilling down a heavy cloud of dust. I couldn’t hold back a sneeze, and the voices started sounding clearer.

??: Something came from over there. Go see, quick!

Are– are they coming my way?!

The sound of footsteps drew closer and closer. With no time to think, I took off running down the corridor in the opposite direction.

[Main Story 23-05]

I ran without a plan down the same path I had taken coming in, and turning a corner I ran unexpectedly into an icy embrace.

At first I thought my luck had run out and I’d run into my pursuers, but when I lifted my head in fear, I found myself looking into a surprisingly familiar face.

Silver hair, blue-grey eyes, and that same icy expression that seemed to say ‘keep your distance’ from the last time I’d seen him.

Both of my eyes practically popped out of my head in shock– what was Helios doing here?!

Helios: Keep quiet if you don’t want to get caught.

Under his menacing gaze, I obediently shut my mouth, but I couldn’t resist casting a few glances at him from the corner of my eye.

He seemed to be gravely hurt, blood dripping in a stream down his forearm onto the floor. But one hand seemed to be clutching something tightly.

–Could he be the reason for this disturbance at STF tonight?

Just what did he do? Even the walls have collapsed…

??: They’re in there!

The sound of noises coming this way sent me in a panic.

I had no doubt that my nimble companion would be able to get himself out of the situation, but I had much lower hopes of my own chances.

Footsteps grew closer. A cluster of people appeared at the end of the corridor. With nowhere to run, my anxiety levels spiked.

But Helios just perked an eyebrow and smiled, as if he didn’t notice his wound at all. Then, as cool as a cucumber, he looked at me to see what I would do.

Our pursuers soon had us surrounded. He raised his gaze up to their dead black gun muzzles, and suddenly those gloomy eyes flashed with golden light.

Helios: I command you all to submit to my control. Leave this place.

An agent had just leveled his gun at me, but the moment his eyes met Helios’, his body went stiff and rocked to and fro, then he stalked off awkwardly the way he came.

My mind froze for a second too, becoming a total blank.

A name that I hadn’t said in a long time climbed up from the depths of my mind, becoming more and more distinct.

For an instant, my mind was floating with lots of images of Kiro.

His laughing eyes as he took off the bear costume head, the way he shined on the stage, how we parted ways on the rooftop…

They all gradually blurred and overlapped with Helios in the background.

Helios: What are you just standing there for? Get going!

{{MC}}: I…

I looked blankly at his face, and my throat grew dry and constricted. For some reason, tears formed in my eyes, but no words would come out of my mouth.

…It was so obviously him, the person I’d been looking for for so long, but could never find!

{{MC}}: Are you…?

Before I’d gotten the words out, his face suddenly turned extremely grim.

The agents under his control suddenly halted their steps, staring blankly at one another.

And Helios, as if he’d been hit with some kind of backlash, fell to his knees.

One hand clutched his chest, the other a gun as he held himself up, breathing violently as all the blood faded from his face.

It was as if he’d been cut up again and again with an invisible knife. His torn clothes were soaked with blood.

Dim moonlight seeped into the corridor with its collapsed wall, and flurries of snow came to rest on his quivering shoulders, before quickly melting.

He wiped away some blood from his lip with his fingertip. His brow tensed, as his chest continued to heave violently and his voice tremored with pain.

Helios: Urngh… the anti-Evol device has been activated.

Helios: Don’t stay here causing trouble. Go now.

He coldly spat out these words, then struggled to his feet, still shielding me behind him as he raised his gun at our pursuers.

Just at that moment, my phone made a beeping noise, and the screen lit up with a message from Shaw–

‘What’re you standing around for! Get going!’

I had no time to wonder about why Shaw knew what was going on here, because my mind was entirely occupied with the fact that ‘Helios is Kiro’.

But with the situation here looking so dangerous, no matter who he was, I couldn’t just think only of myself and leave him behind here!

Helios leaned against the wall and got to his feet, staring coldly at the people before him as the sound of his constrained breathing grew worse and worse.

The pursuing agents ignored me and pointed their weapons at the greater threat, Helios.

Now that I was freed, I had no time to try to confirm my guess. All I could do was rack my brain trying to think of some way to bust out of here–

If my memory was correct, the power control room was right near here!

While everything was in chaos, I pulled the power switch, and the moment the lights went out, I quickly propped him up and started running toward where I remembered the exit was.

The corridor was pitch black, and the only sounds were the pressing cries of the now reanimated agents.

But his lifeless arm kept slipping from my shoulder, so I had to keep lifting him up.

Helios: I don’t need your help…

{{MC}}: Well I can’t lose you!

The heavy breathing next to my face paused a bit. Perhaps I’d imagined it, but his arm on my shoulder seemed to press down a little harder.

Helios: …You’re going the wrong way. It’s the path on the left.

His voice sounded vulnerable and exhausted, which gave me a faint feeling that he started to trust me.

Even though I didn’t know where he went, or why he was hiding his identity, or why he pretended not to know me… all that wasn’t important.

No matter who he said he was, whether Kiro or Helios–

I had to get him out of here!

A howling wind blew icy snowflakes into our faces. At the end of the black corridor, a sliver of light appeared.

We weren’t the only ones staggering around in the darkness. The agents were also scrambling around, and still hadn’t caught up with us.

The moment we stepped outside the door, the heavy snow enveloped us, making it difficult to see where we were going.

STF agents would probably be back on our tails soon. Where should we run to?

As I came to a stop huffing and puffing, Helios turned and looked at me.

Helios: You’re just giving up here?

{{MC}}: You run along first. You’ll go faster alone…

Helios: Shut up.

With those two cold words, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me running in the other direction.

The sky exploded with a sudden peal of thunder, followed by the startled cries of winter birds in the distance.

I pushed my exhausted body to keep pace with him. When we reached a run-down old building, he finally stopped.

He let go of my hand, opened the door of the black SUV in front of us, gave me another look, and suddenly laughed.

Helios: Get in.

Helios: Whether or not it’s occurred to you, we’re accomplices in this thing now.

-Inside a Bar-

The bartender cleaned glasses, occasionally eyeing the expressionless man at the end of the bar.

For a little while now, the man had been engrossed in his phone, leaving a half-drunk cola on the rocks just sitting there.

After impatiently rejecting the fourth woman to come up and ask for his phone number, he finally popped up from his seat, grabbed his skateboard, and left with a slam of the door.

Boom! Another crack of lightning rent the sky.

[Main Story 23-06]

A sliver of light burst through the murky sky. Dawn was at hand.

In the faint daylight, I finally realized that even my own hand was soaked in Helios’ blood.

I took a breath, then without hesitation I pushed him into the passenger seat, opened the driver-side door, and got in the car.

Helios: You–

{{MC}}: Don’t worry. I can drive!

With his injuries like that, I wasn’t going to let him talk me out of it.

Although I’d confidently given him my assurances, I was suddenly dumbfounded as I looked down and found a bunch of extra buttons and dials on his dashboard.

Helios: You sure you can drive?

{{MC}}: …Are– are you buckled up?

Helios: …

I gripped the steering wheel and took a deep breath.

{{MC}}: You said it yourself. We’re accomplices in this.

{{MC}}: I… I trust you unconditionally, so you do the same for me, okay!

As I stepped on the gas pedal, the car peeled away with a roar of its engine.

The early-morning highway was empty and serene, and the road stretched on into the distance, seemingly without end.

Probably completely worn out from pulling me along on that last run, Helios closed his eyes. There was a look of exhaustion on his brow, and he was silent.

But his balled up right hand never released its grip, as if he was holding something very important.

Just as I was sneaking a glance in the rearview mirror, his eyes suddenly opened in an icy flash.

Helios: What are you looking at?

{{MC}}: N–… nothing.

{{MC}}: …How about we listen to some music? What kind of music do you like?

Helios: This car doesn’t have anything like that.

{{MC}}: …Well, are you badly wounded? Does it hurt? Is that anti-Evol device powerful? Maybe we should go to the hospital…

Helios: …That’s none of your business.

{{MC}}: But your injuries–

Before I’d finished talking, a rapid burst of gunshots rang out behind us, shattering the peaceful mood of the morning.

In the rearview mirror, I could faintly discern the outlines of a few cars emerging from the shadows, speeding right toward us.

{{MC}}: Is it STF? How did they catch up to us so fast?!

My hands on the wheel broke out in a cold sweat. Before I could calm my nerves, the sound of gunshots cracked the silence again.

With this threat right on our tails, I grit my teeth and stomped the pedal to the floor–

We need to go faster!

Just as we were reaching the next intersection, Helios reached out lightning quick and swung hard on the wheel.

The car rocked as it careened into a turn. When I finally regained my balance, I realized with a racing heart that there was a car on fire laying in the road.

{{MC}}: …That was close!

Helios: Keep a sharp lookout. I’m sure there will be other traps.

The minutes and seconds ticked by, and the lights of the city receded in the distance as the shadows of trees in the night thickened into a deep swath of black.

The snow fell in tufts on the windshield, and the ear-piercing gunshots reverberated in the bitter wind. It was like one endless chase scene.

Was STF after us because of the intel I’d stolen, or because of whatever was in his hand?

After a violent crash, Helios’ injury seemed to worsen. Thin streaks of sweat formed on his forehead, and his strained breathing grew more hurried.

If we could just get away, if we could just escape all this–

Helios: Look out!

Before I could let out a breath, the headlights of our car suddenly flashed upon a truck!

Dizzying white light filled my vision, and a sharp moaning sound broke out in the air.

With its brakes screeching, the car slid out of control across the ice and thudded heavily against the ground.

As the car hit the ground, someone suddenly dove over and held me tightly.

The world around me felt soft and warm. My whole body was aching beyond words, but inside I felt a strange peace welling up.

It seemed that as long as he was by my side, even if I had no strength left, I also had no fear.

The final moment as my consciousness faded, I hazily saw the black cartridge Helios had been gripping in his hand go flying out.

–He took such heavy damage to get it at all costs. It must be important, right?

Without thinking, I reached out and grabbed that little black cartridge.

Other Side of the City–

Covered under a thick tangle of vines, a silver and white building stood in the dawn light.

The snow-blanketed city seemed to have gotten rid of all objects of decay and decline. Everything gleamed sparkling and new.

Gloomy daylight seeped in through the high dome ceiling. In the darkness, a man sat with legs crossed on a bench.

All around, display screens glowed with faint light, continually flashing with images, but he was lost in thought, his eyes trained forward on a chessboard.

Black and white pieces were lined up on either side, as if gathering their energy for an attack.

He bent over, and with long, black-gloved fingers he picked up a white piece.

He examined the little piece pinched between his fingers, as if pondering something, his lowered eyelids hiding his emotions.

Just then, a screen beeped, and he looked up.

The image on the screen suddenly froze, then blurred as it enlarged and focused on an SUV toppled over on the ground.

In the image, a severely-injured Helios lay unconscious, but still holding tight to a girl in his arms. From a distance, the piercing headlights of vehicles drew near.

His gaze fell contemplatively on that girl, his knuckle tapping on the arm rest as he did. When he saw the object she held in her palm, his eyes narrowed.

(Shaw’s Call:Forgotten Corner)

(Breaking News:Who was racing downtown late at night?)

[Main Story 23-07]

My eyes snapped open, wrenching me from a nightmare.

A ghosted image of shattered ice seemed to linger on my retinas, and an icy chill ran throughout my body, taking my breath away.

Even though I knew it was a dream, I felt a profound fog of grief and confusion in my mind that I was unable to shake.

Will this dream come true one day too?

My temples throbbed faintly in pain, and my throat felt like sandpaper. I struggled to lift my head and finally realized that something about my surroundings was off.

I found myself looking around at a pitch black space with seemingly no walls, just soft starlight flashing in the darkness.

I clearly remembered being in the car before losing consciousness, so how did I get to this strange place…

As I was planning to get up and explore my surroundings, the sound of footsteps suddenly drew near.

Lucien: You’re awake?

That familiar face once again appeared before me totally unexpectedly.

Lucien walked closer, crouching down slightly, and accompanied by an aura of danger clouding around him.

I panicked for a moment at the realization that I was once again face-to-face with Lucien, and I reflexively took a few steps backward.

We locked eyes for a split-second, and he just smiled softly, not taking my distrustful reflex to heart.

Lucien: You don’t want to see me?

Lucien: That’s not the attitude you should have toward the person who saved your life.

Lucien: You should know, it was not at all easy for me to get you out of STF’s hands.

{{MC}}: …And what about Helios? How is he?

Lucien: Rest assured, he is the last person you should be worrying about.

Lucien: Although, since you two have spent a lovely evening together, now you should give your time to me.

He drew nearer as he spoke, a hint of warmth in his otherwise ambiguous tone.

I didn’t dare look up the whole time, as if as soon as I met eyes with him, my front of cool rationality would evaporate into nothing.

If he knew what Helios and I had been doing, then did that mean he’s been monitoring me this whole time?

A bone-chilling dread ran from my legs all the way up my body, and I bit hard on my lip trying to hold back my feelings, forcing myself to stay calm before him.

{{MC}}: …Thank you for saving me, but I still have things to do. Can I go now?

Lucien: If you insist on leaving, of course I won’t stop you.

Lucien: But I should mention, this is Black Swan’s headquarters, so perhaps you can take a guess at how that would work out for you if you left this room by yourself?

{{MC}}: You…

Before I could finish, Lucien suddenly grabbed me by the chin, and his hot breath enveloped me as he spoke.

His gentle voice, with an undertone that implied he would not be refused, fell steadily on my ears.

Lucien: Don’t panic. I know you don’t want to be here, but you also have lots of questions, which I will patiently answer.

Those eyes fixed on me like deep, dark pools, opaque and unfathomable.

…But I had to admit, as ‘Ares’, he surely had information that even NW and STF couldn’t access.

All this time, the truth has been like a series of sealed off, concentric circles, and I was thrown in the darkness on the outside.

At a time like this, I shouldn’t let any chance go by, even if the ‘truth’ from his lips was just another lie.

I lifted my head and made eye contact with him, trying to keep my voice calm.

{{MC}}: Since you’ve been monitoring me all this time, then you must know what it is I’m investigating.

{{MC}}: I want to know everything concerning the ‘Eternal Winter’ incident. Do you have anything you can tell me?

Lucien: Yes.

Lucien: But now is not the time to answer this question.

{{MC}}: …

He seemed to take delight in seeing the look of expectation rising on my face suddenly freeze.

{{MC}}: …It appears you people at Black Swan actually don’t know everything!

But he seemed prepared for that. No matter what hard front I put up, he went on patiently as if he was placating a pouty little girl.

Lucien: But, are you not even a little curious about what Helios stole from STF?

At his reminder, I suddenly remembered that little black cartridge I caught before losing consciousness.

Lucien slowly opened his folded hands, and that peculiar little black box lay in his palm.

{{MC}}: …What is this?

Lucien: The key to the Black Cabin. STF got their hands on it, but they had no idea how to use it.

My confusion grew– the Black Cabin that exists alone outside of the world actually has a key?

Lucien: However, not just anyone can wield its power. Aside from you, others can only serve as temporary keepers.

Lucien: This object belongs to you, and only you can wield its full power.

Lucien: Haven’t you been looking for the truth about how you’ve come to be forgotten?

Lucien: The truth you seek, the future you yearn for, is right here.

[Main Story 23-08]

Under his consuming gaze, I once again had the feeling that all my secrets were laid bare.

Of course I wanted to know the whole truth… wanted to know why I had been forgotten, and wanted to know who was behind this ‘Eternal Winter’.

I also wanted to know, would the world really end up encased in ice like in my dream.

Lucien stared silently into my eyes, like a patient teacher, not prodding me to answer his question.

Lucien: The ‘Eternal Winter’ you’re worried about is indeed connected to the survival of humanity and Evolvers.

Lucien: But only you can resolve the crux of this issue. No matter how hard others try, they labor in vain.

{{MC}}: …Why are you telling me this?

He smiled softly.

Lucien: In chess, the queen is the most powerful piece, and also the one most easily captured.

Lucien: Rather than see you get taken off the board by someone else, I’d much rather see what you grow into.

Lucien turned and walked into the darkness, then he raised his hand, and as if he’d touched a hidden switch, the room slowly lit up with pale light, revealing the contours of the room.

An empty door of light appeared before me, with an upside-down pyramid region stuck in the center.

He didn’t say it, but his motive seemed to be building a partnership with the ‘Queen’… but not with me.

{{MC}}: …Why should I believe you?

Lucien: Because you need me.

His voice was steady, seemingly not caring whether I believed him or not. He simply held out a hand, holding the key to the Black Cabin out before me.

Lucien: Only I can lead you to the true power of the Queen, and show you the true future.

My feeling of unease was transformed by a stronger urge into a different voice, urging me to take the black object in his hand.

I stepped toward that door. The moment I stepped inside, the light seemed to become solid, jostling me forward.

My consciousness seemed to leave my body, wafting in the void. When I opened my eyes again, everything around me was different.

Darkness extended in every direction. Countless doors casting faint light hung in the space all around me, and phantom images fell all around, their echoes and lights mixing in a brilliance of chaos.

Through those doors, I seemed to see countless other ‘me’s.

I saw myself rushing to catch the last bus home, and also saw myself at the same time laying asleep in bed.

I saw myself with Kiki and the others working late into the night at the office, and I saw myself chatting happily with someone I didn’t recognize at all…

These realities all existed independently of each other, totally separate. Yet those calm and tranquil days all came to a sudden halt and entered into a different ending.

And that face I knew so well slowly went pale. She closed her eyes tight, as if undergoing some enormous pain in her dream.

I tried to reach out a hand and wake her up, but I was unable to move an inch, nor was I able to let out a sound.

All I could do was look on as fate took her life again and again, and then she rose again and again from death.

A suffocating feeling pressed on my throat, as if a million pairs of hands were squeezing me from all directions, forcing me to witness the cruel truth.

Layers of fog were scattered by a low, whining wind, and those eyes slowly opened.

The clarity in those eyes was no longer there, and in its place was pain, resolution, despair, and an enmity that filled one with dread.

She walked out of the mist, her black dress flowing behind her as everything around seemed to slow to a halt.

Her steps halted. She stood before me, holding my face in her hands, looking upon me with almost tender mercy.

The extreme torture she suffered started seeping into my body too. My mind and spirit were impaled. It was a pain that could only be healed by hiding away in the darkness.

That slim, pale face lowered slightly, lips lightly coming together, as if talking to me–

‘Do you choose to run away?’

[Main Story 23-10]

My drifting consciousness seemed to get torn up countless times in spacetime, finally falling down tattered and broken back into my body.

Those images lingering on my eyes gradually blurred and faded, and the pyramid hanging in the doorway dropped down with it.

Apparently, before my world had been turned inside out, I never truly realize what I’d had, nor did I know just how precariously, yet beautifully it was all pieced together.

That world that I loved so much and the reality underlying it had been dashed to bits and pieces by a crashing wave.

Even my very self had turned into the thing I’d least wanted to become–

But this time, will I also walk alone into death and rebirth again?

Lucien: You’re probably thinking right now that it’s better to remain in the dark rather than pull back the curtain on the cruel truth, aren’t you?

Lucien looked calmly upon me, that disguise of warmth now gone from his eyes, as if in an instant he’d transformed into inscrutable Areas.

He seemed to be proving to me with his actions that the things I saw in there were the truth, and that ours was just a relationship of mutual benefit.

As he spoke, the black room once again transformed.

Like a long shot in a movie, after the darkness passed, a faint light shone on a face that had been through untold hardships, its piteous cries drowned out by the overwhelming snow. The scene kept changing: buildings encased in ice, barren plains, vast snowy forests…

In that frozen world, all creatures had fallen into an eternal slumber.

Days and months went by. A long, long time seemed to pass, yet spring never came.

As far as the eye could see, the world was an endless swath of soft, transparent white, without a sharp corner anywhere.

Was this really the kind of world that we wanted?

Devoid of all decay and decrepitude, a pure dream-like future? Was this what everyone wanted?

That feeling from my dream that gripped my heart so I couldn’t breathe came surging back.

Lucien promptly caught me as I stumbled, and a gentle voice sounded above me.

Lucien: You’ve seen the ending, haven’t you?

{{MC}}: …Where is this exactly?

Lucien: The innermost secret of Black Swan, the door to the Black Cabin.

Lucien: Both Helios and myself are nothing more than puppets to that person. We can’t go to the Black Cabin.

As we looked into each other’s eyes, a burning light that I couldn’t quite read flickered through his eyes.

{{MC}}: But all I could do in that space was watch as everything happened… I couldn’t do a thing.

Lucien: That’s because the Queen’s power within you hasn’t fully awakened.

Lucien: Don’t worry, I will help you become the true Queen.

{{MC}}: The awakening of the Queen’s power… what does that mean exactly?

I stared blankly at him, but Lucien just perked up his lips and seemed to let out the lightest of sighs.

Lucien: The key to awakening… is within you. The thing that’s most precious to you is the source of the power.

I thought of the strange occurrence that happened to me recently, that special force that I manifested at North Mountain… was that an omen of my ‘awakening’?

I snapped back to attention from a jumble of emotions, staring blankly once again into his unfathomable eyes.

Lucien: From now on, you need to have faith.

Lucien: The existence or destruction of every world depends– on your choice.

Under the dull glow, he bent his knee slightly, then softly but resolutely held up my hand.

Warm breath bathed over me as he bent over. The kiss that fell on the back of my hand was soft, but oddly cold.

It was like an oath given without my permission; yet I knew, ever since I chose to go through that door, there was no turning back.

I stared blankly into that dark-filled void behind him, then he lifted his head and looked again into my eyes.

Lucien: The one and only Black Swan Queen. I will witness your coronation.

In the void I seemed to see a pair of black wings flap open and then disintegrate.

The feathers fell silently into the abyss, filling the air like a blizzard in an endless, riotous profusion.

[Main Story 23-11]

In seemingly an instant, the last straining thread of hope in the bottom of my heart was snapped by this gentle feather, never to bear weight again.

Incontrovertible reality had become lies. Everything I’d been through in the past, good or bad, was never to be again.

I turned slowly and looked at Lucien as I tried to choke back the bitterness in my throat.

{{MC}}: …If this is how it’s going to be, then I’ll still need more proof before I completely trust you.

{{MC}}: I need to know who’s behind this snow, and what connection Black Swan has with it.

He listened in still silence, seemingly surprised that I could feign composure even at this time.

Lucien: Not that it matters, but it’s good to stay on your guard. Trust should be built on reciprocity.

Lucien: You have enough chips to bargain with, but you’ve yet to learn how to disguise your emotions and motives.

{{MC}}: You–

Lucien: And time’s almost up.

Lucien: Instead of just telling you, it’s better that you see with your own eyes. But before that…

Lucien turned and pressed the switch on the wall again, and another door slowly opened.

When he turned back toward me, his probing gaze slid up and down my face, a hint of derision suddenly surfacing on his lips.

Lucien: We’ll start with the disguise of the superficial variety.

I finally comprehended Lucien’s words when he took me to another room and found an outfit of all black for me to wear.

With this inconspicuous uniform on and my hair coiled up under a hat, I followed along with Lucien, all the while worrying whether I’d be recognized or not.

The narrow little room was connected straight to a corridor so long that you couldn’t see the end, devoid of any light.

The people coming and going all wore the same black uniforms, and upon seeing Ares they would pause and nod their heads. He would politely nod back, but his eyes were like an impenetrable wall, cold and indifferent.

I held my head low, but those glances sizing me up from every direction made me feel totally out of place. All I could do was quicken my pace and keep close to Lucien.

Judging by his tone, he should be taking me to some important place, but I just don’t know… Oomph!

Unable to stop in time, I crashed into his back. I quickly stepped back, clutching my forehead.

{{MC}}: I– I’m sorry…

I sheepishly lowered my head, unable to look him in the eye. A delicate voice sounded over my head.

Lucien: After we go in, no matter what you see or hear, you cannot show any reaction.

{{MC}}: Wait a sec, you gotta at least tell me where you’re taking me…?

Lucien: The council of the Twelve Deities of Black Swan.

{{MC}}: …I– I see.

Even though I nodded with outward composure, at my side my fingers were clutching nervously to my clothes.

At the end of the corridor was a large black door closed tight which began to slowly open to either side, as if sensing us approaching.

I followed close behind Lucien, looking all around me out of the corners of my eyes.

Four pillars lofted high into the air, with an imposing majesty that was also forbidding to outsiders.

The soaring dome cast a gloomy light over the still space. With every step forward, I felt like I was walking into the recesses of a royal manor.

–This was the council of the Twelve Deities of Black Swan?

Time seemed to slow to a crawl. Beside the sound of my anxious breathing, the vast space seemed completely silent.

Lucien: Are you ready?

Without waiting for me to respond, he walked ahead without any wavering in his step.

Lucien: Sorry for the wait.

??: Ares, you’re finally here.

I scurried along behind Lucien.

[Main Story 23-13]

Ten people sat around a long, round table. The light grew dimmer the further in one went, and those faces hiding in the shadows grew murkier.

??: Ares, who is she?

??: This is no place for outsiders. I thought you were a man of decorum.

My heart was on pins and needles. I held my head down stone-still and not daring to breathe, in fear that someone would sense something amiss.

Lucien: She is an important element in my plan to resolve this Eternal Winter affair.

Lucien offhandedly explained my identity, and that narrow-eyed gaze paused on me for a moment, and then moved away.

Even though the Twelve were all of equal status, there seemed to be an extra fear of Ares coming from the others.

I couldn’t say why, but when this occurred to me, my heart settled down a bit.

??: Hades is absent again?

Artemis: It’s not the first time. You should be used to it.

Artemis’ cold voice piped up from the other side, causing me to duck my head even lower.

??: Isn’t he still persisting in that laughable Reset Plan? Hmph, nothing but a clown’s circus.

??: Don’t forget how assured he was of his success… It seems his ambitions are too grand for this table.

??: Excessive self-confidence will engender a destructive pride in people. Young people today seem to have no self-awareness in this respect.

A man sighed, as if in pity, but there was no warmth in his smile.

??: There are quite a few like that in this organization.

??: But as to whether it’s a shortcut or a dead end… let them find out for themselves.

A strange, muted male voice cackled in laughter. He seemed to be just making a passing remark, but also saying something very pointed.

Lucien: Time is limited. We’d best get quickly to the matter at hand.

Lucien rapped lightly on the table, and a hush fell over the room, until a low voice sounded from the other end of the table.

??: That’s right. Don’t forget, we’re here today to discuss the ‘Eternal Winter’ incident.

A young man on the left side of the table tapped at a computer, and a ghostly virtual image suddenly floated in the air.

First he brought up a map and zoomed in, showing lots of red dots marking coordinates.

This map seemed extremely similar to the satellite base distribution map from the military investigation, but it had more information marked on it.

??: Yesterday that pack of NW monsters were crawling all over North Mountain, but it seems they came up empty-handed.

??: But just what happened underground? I heard there was quite a ruckus.

??: We’re keeping watch over NW’s people. So far there hasn’t been any news.

I listened with bated breath. It seemed Black Swan still didn’t know the specific satellite launch date.

??: At this point we’re all but certain that the one behind this ‘Eternal Winter’ is one of our former members.

??: Another traitor?

??: Right.

??: These few years there’s been five traitors all told. We’ve taken care of two of them, still have three left… which is the one you’re talking about?

The man’s voice paused for a moment and his tone suddenly became very secretive.

??: One with the power to traverse time and construct dreamscapes. There’s only one it could be.

He then tapped a few more keys, and out came a document.

??: …The traitor code-named Hypnos?

With those words, a deathly stillness fell over the air, as if some indescribable darkness had stolen into the room.

Although I’d been able to hear quite a bit of crucial information, their riddle-like code had me a bit confused.

I couldn’t resist lifting my head to get a peek at the file on the screen–

True name: Unknown; Age: Unknown; Evol: Time travel, dream construction… Pitifully few clues to go on, not even a single photograph.

And if even Black Swan had nothing on this ‘traitor’, how was I supposed to get to the bottom of it?

I felt a bit let down at first, but then a tiny little clue suddenly clicked in my mind.

Time travel, dream construction… was that person who trapped me in that dream one and the same as this ‘traitor’?

If it was true that everything before happened on another world’s timeline, then did that mean this person had jumped through time to this world’s timeline?

Before I had time to put all the pieces together, another chilling voice broke the silence.

??: Just what is he planning to do?

??: Whatever it is, since he’s a traitor to the organization, it’s bound to be contrary to our goals. We must put a stop to him.

??: Continue the investigation. We must find the satellite coordinates. We cannot let him interfere with our plan.

Now it seemed, whether it was the military, STF, or Black Swan, everyone’s investigations into the satellite launch had hit a bottleneck.

If this mystery mastermind had such powerful abilities, then did I really have a chance of stopping him?

While there was a lull in the discussion, I furtively raised my head higher to get a look at the hologram.

Aside from the similar data, map, and bits and pieces of information, there was also…

That hexagonal crystal symbol wasn’t a major part of their discussion, but it struck a faint chord with a hazy part of my own memory.

I was sure I’d seen that symbol somewhere… and seemingly not long ago…

I racked my memory trying to pin down where that familiar feeling came from, and I finally remembered–

That ticket to the concert!

The symbol was the same, the date was the same. The only thing was that the location was a ship out on the sea…

In a flash, a slightly absurd, yet totally logical idea popped into my head.

Could it be possible that the satellite launch location wasn’t on land at all, but on the water!?

And that’s why STF, the military, and even Black Swan couldn’t find the exact location of the launch base!

As I was still in shock over my own realization, a piercing alarm suddenly swept through the entire building.

[Main Story 23-14]

30 minutes previous. Black Swan Headquarters.

The domed roof was like a gloomy eye casting an icy stare over everything, and the high floor-to-ceiling windows took in the view of practically the whole city.

The man standing by the window was tall and thin. It seemed that no matter where he was, he had an unhurried, easy-going air about him.

Victor: Why did you choose this place?

Hades: Being higher up always offers a better view.

Victor moved his gaze from the window and calmly regarded Hades standing before him.

Victor: I don’t have much time. State your plan.

Hades: You will find it of interest.

The holographic image floating in mid-air didn’t reveal much information. Just a few pictures and several brief descriptions.

‘Virus spreading’, ‘unable to cure’, ‘wipe out’, ‘bring under rule’… His brow furrowed, then he looked back up at the man before him.

Victor: Give me a clearer reason.

In the murky shadow, Hades clenched his fists and leaned against the table, his body leaning forward unconsciously as his voice grew more and more animated.

Hades: The voices of the old heads and old guard hold too much sway in the organization. They’re afraid of losing, and even more afraid of trying.

Hades: They will only choose the safest, most moderate path, but only a ruthless trial can drive humanity to rapid evolution and motivate us to conquer new ground.

Hades: Once the Reset Plan is enacted, those useless normal humans will be wiped out.

Hades: Human civilization has been at a standstill for too long. A revolution is required to overthrow the current world order.

Hades: In this new world, might is the ultimate arbiter. A new order and hierarchy will be established…

He suddenly paused and cast his eyes burning with ambition upon Victor.

Hades: You will be an excellent partner. You have ambition, and enough strength to realize that ambition.

Victor listened without a sound, his face showing no emotion. He only glanced down once at his watch, then looked back into Hades’ incandescent gaze.

Victor: Is this all you had to say to me?

Victor: There’s nothing innovative about your plan. I overestimated you.

The smile on Hades’ face gradually froze, and the hideous scars on his face grew more ominous.

Hades: Victor, you’re also one of the elite. Don’t tell me you believe in equality, love for all, and those hypocritical platitudes.

Hades: There will always be power imbalances, and those who cannot adapt to change will be weeded out!

Victor: Your espousal of ‘evolution’ is nothing more than a fig leaf to cover your naked ambition. Besides, your worldview is too narrow. I don’t find it convincing.

Victor: A rational person wouldn’t be so easily swayed by a greedy desire to consume one’s opponents. They wouldn’t sacrifice themselves, nor would they sacrifice others.

Victor: There are too many naive fools like you, those who think they can control this world, and who even believe they’re saving all of humanity.

Victor: If this is the card that you’re playing, then I’m sorry, this partnership is off.

Hades’ expression grew more and more grim, and then an unnatural smile suddenly spread across his face.

Hades: That’s too bad. It seems our partnership has come to an end.

Hades: Those who cannot adapt to order and rules are doomed to walk down a dead end.

Hades: If you don’t believe me, then let me give you a lesson.

Just as he said that, the whole building erupted with the urgent sound of an alarm. Hades’ ashen face stared into Victor’s, and he broke into laughter.

Hades: You know more about Black Swan than I’d imagined. There are indeed devices all over this place monitoring for Evol waves.

Hades: But even if you have used Evol to trip the alarm, so what? You buy some time? You prove to them that I’m a traitor? Or do you think that pack of rejects can stop me?

Hades: Time is short. Let’s resolve this in a simpler fashion.

He raised his arm, aiming his gun at Victor, a smile of delight creeping across his face.

Hades: Having the CEO of LFG as the first sacrificial lamb of my plan is truly an unparalleled honor.

Hades pulled the trigger without hesitation, and the bullet whistled through the air.

Time seemed to freeze for a few seconds, and the next thing he knew, he was lying on the floor, his chest in too much pain to breathe.

His pupils contracted slightly under the bright lights and finally focused on the cold gun barrel leveled at him.

That man had at some point grabbed his own gun from him and was now looking down upon him condescendingly. Hades could feel it like a blade plunged deep into his body.

He seemed to hesitate a moment, but in the end his thumb didn’t pull down on the hammer.

Victor: You have one more chance.

Hades: Even if you don’t kill me, do you think you’ll be able to run away?

Victor: It seems you still have no intention of changing your mind.

Hades: No matter what choice you or I make, the fate of this world is already sealed. It’s just a question of whether it’ll happen sooner or later.

He let out a short laugh of contempt and denial, but its sound was quickly brought to an abrupt end by a sudden ‘bang’ from the gun.

Victor looked into Hades’ slowly expanding pupils. A hint of complex emotion flashed across his face, but was gone just as fast.

Smoke drifted from the gun barrel. He took the still warm pistol and unhurriedly put it away inside his coat.

A commotion of footsteps sounded outside the door. He didn’t linger any longer and walked quickly out of the room.

The urgent alarm cut their discussion short. The others grew concerned and quickly left the meeting room.

I still wanted to get to the bottom of my investigation, so in the chaos I slipped out into the corridor. To my surprise, among the black-clothed personnel, I saw an unusually conspicuous, gun-toting–

Victor?!

The intruder is Victor?! What is he doing here? There was also a man laying in a puddle of blood. He…

It was hard to believe, but the puddle of dark red blood and the lifeless body on the floor told the whole story.

Upon Victor seeing me, a look of surprise flashed across his calm face.

Victor: What are you doing here?

{{MC}}: I…

Before I had a chance to say anything, his hand darted out and grabbed me by the wrist. I was spun around and thudded into his chest.

The next second, the icy barrel of a gun was pressed against my temple.

Victor: I’ve got one of your people.

After the sudden turn of events, the Black Swan agents were also frozen in shock.

My brain felt paralyzed. I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why Victor had pushed the crowd aside to kidnap a small-fry like me.

{{MC}}: Victor, I’m not…

He pursed his lips together wordlessly, trying to tell me to not talk.

In my helplessness, all I could do was go along with him and pretend to be frightened and reluctant.

??: Your luck isn’t all that great. You nabbed a bit player of little significance.

A mocking sneer shined in the man’s eyes as he instantly raised his gun at Victor.

??: But she’s one of Ares’ people…

Victor furrowed his brow, and his voice turned even colder.

Victor: If you know how important she is, then let us go.

The people surrounding us didn’t lower then guns, but they suddenly looked much more hesitant.

Both sides remained deadlocked in a silent standoff, until Ares walked forward and the others unconsciously stepped aside for him.

He raised a hand, signaling to the others to stand down.

Lucien: Let them go.

??: But he killed Hades. How can we let him off so easy?

Ares cast a look at the corpse on the floor and coldly said:

Lucien: He was a traitor to the organization, that’s all.

Lucien: He had to be dealt with anyway, as he was moving forward with the Reset Plan without authorization.

??: Ares, you don’t have the right…

Lucien: Do I need to repeat myself?

A look of uncertainty and hesitation came over the man’s face, then he put away his weapon and reluctantly stepped back to clear a path.

Lucien stood amongst them, placidly watching us as we left.

He seemed to be looking at me, and also looking at Victor behind me.

Lucien: Don’t worry, we will meet again.

Victor: It won’t be too long.

[Main Story 23-16]

I thought there’d be a heavy barricade blocking our path, but contrary to my expectations, Victor and I walked unhindered out of BS.

My heart was still racing, but his expression seemed as calm as if he was here at BS just visiting.

The vine-covered, silver structure behind us receded into the distance, and the heavy snow fell in dense sheets as always.

{{MC}}: Victor, you just…

Victor: Killed someone.

As I hesitated about whether to even ask the question, he just came out and said it all matter-of-factly.

Although I was utterly shocked in the moment, I also knew in the back of my mind that he wouldn’t have done it if it was at all avoidable.

{{MC}}: That person was a Black Swan operative, right? He must’ve had some hidden motive, didn’t he? And so you…

Victor: You trust me, just like that?

{{MC}}: …I just know that you don’t have zero regard for human life. If you did that, you must have had a reason that forced your hand.

{{MC}}: After all, you saved me the first time you saw me. Even for a little cat, you’d…

Remembering that now we were just strangers, I hastily shook myself from my reverie and looked nervously at him.

He very uncharacteristically fell silent for a moment, and some complex emotion I couldn’t read seemed to glitter in his eye, but very quickly it was gone.

Victor: You shouldn’t be getting yourself mixed up in this business… forget it.

{{MC}}: Then can I talk about something with you right now…

Victor: What?

{{MC}}: First– first put down the gun. Does your hand not get tired holding it this long?

He gave me a subtle glance, but he didn’t put the gun away just yet.

Victor: You still haven’t been completely cleared of suspicion.

{{MC}}: But I’m really not a member of Black Swan!

Victor: Then what were you doing in there?

{{MC}}: …You put down the gun and I’ll tell you.

Victor: Get in the car first.

He opened the car door, the look in his eyes already giving me my answer. I could only sheepishly climb into the car with him.

The cramped car interior got us out of the cold, but it made the imposing aura about him all the more intense. I reflexively straightened up my spine.

And that look he had– like he had business to attend to and time was money– it was just like…

Just like that expression he had in the beginning when I stopped him in front of the LFG office to convince him to invest in our company.

So this time, I definitely can’t fail!

Victor: I’m not going to waste too much time listening to your explanations.

I struggled to calm my breathing, then I looked him in the eye and tried to keep my voice steady.

{{MC}}: I’m really not a Black Swan operative. I just… just infiltrated them by special means to dig up news on ‘Eternal Winter’.

{{MC}}: According to what I know, this isn’t a simple natural anomaly, and it’s not a Black Swan conspiracy. There’s someone else pulling the strings.

When I brought up the words ‘Eternal Winter’, his deadpan face finally became animated.

Victor: You have inside information on the snowfall?

I quickly nodded, then followed up by telling him everything I’d uncovered these past few days.

{{MC}}: Not long ago, NW was monitoring a signal tower giving off abnormal Evol waves on North Mountain, but after they got there they realized that the source of the anomaly was underground.

{{MC}}: It was actually a satellite control station…

{{MC}}: Loveland City is only a pilot test for him. His true aim is to use satellite signal coverage to spread the effects of his Evol across the globe!

I wasn’t sure if he believed what I’d said, but he flashed me a quick look and then slowly lowered the gun.

Victor: How did you find out about all this?

{{MC}}: …There are some things that I can’t say right now, but there is one thing I’m certain of. The satellite’s location isn’t on land at all, but on the sea.

I took out a wrinkled concert ticket from my pocket, pointing at the hexagonal crystal on it.

{{MC}}: Black Swan already determined that the mastermind behind this is a traitor from their organization, and in their meeting I saw a symbol exactly like this one.

{{MC}}: Not only does the performance’s time match up with the launch of the satellite, but this symbol is even the same… don’t you think that’s too much of a coincidence?

{{MC}}: Moreover, not only Black Swan, but STF and the military have all ruled out all land-based bases from suspicion.

{{MC}}: So I guess that leaves us with only one possibility–

{{MC}}: The launch base isn’t on land at all, but on the sea!

After saying everything that was on my chest in one fell swoop, I stared anxiously at Victor.

Victor: This is just your own speculation.

{{MC}}: But the satellite launch is only a few hours from now! If we don’t go stop it, it’ll be too late!

{{MC}}: You said to me once, there’s always a chance to change anything. I can’t be 100% sure that my guess is right, but it’s better than sitting around waiting to die.

{{MC}}: …If you still don’t believe me, then I’ll just have to go alone.

I flung open the car door, but before my foot left the car, he had pulled me back in.

{{MC}}: You believe me now?!

Victor: No.

{{MC}}: Then why…

Victor: So you can prove to me that you’re right.

While I was still too flustered to speak, he had started up the car and looked at me with a gleam of a smile in his eye.

Victor: And besides, as slow as you are, it’ll be dark before you get there if you go on foot.

…This guy. I’d obviously been wiped clean from his memory, but this habit of dissing me was still there like a natural reflex!

If he did ever remember me, I would definitely use this situation to threaten him into giving me lots of vacation time!

Victor: What are you grinning like an idiot about?

{{MC}}: …N– nothing.

I hastily withdrew my gaze and pretended to look placidly out the car window.

The windshield wipers kept wiping away melted snow as more sheets of snow hit the windshield, as if thrown by some invisible hand.

Fir trees lined the streets as lush as ever, and winter birds flapped off toward the sea. The street was packed with pedestrians and cars coming and going.

No matter what disaster befell it, this city never stopped running. And all these ‘ordinary’ normal people never lost the courage to live in the face of danger.

Every life, long or short, shouldn’t have a value placed upon it by someone else, much less should their right to life be taken by someone else.

At least, that’s the world I wanted to see.

But did I really have the power to save it?

Perhaps sensing my sudden gloom, Victor cast a subtle glance toward me.

Victor: Want to turn back?

{{MC}}: …No!

I pursed my lips and looked in his smiling eyes and blurted out:

The dim light inside the car cast the contours of his face in a gentle glow. I suddenly got the feeling that I had been transported far back in time.

Whether it was the big two-year plan I talked about , or all those late-night planning sessions…

…it seemed that the courage to get through every crises always came from my willingness to prove myself to him and my competitive spirit.

I believed this time would be the same.

{{MC}}: Then do you think you could drive faster? I– I’m afraid we’ll be late.

Victor: …Got it.

The needles on the dashboard jumped up in a flash as the car sped off through the falling snow, chasing the wind down the narrow road lit up by the car’s headlights.

In the distance, the lights of a ship moored in the port flashed and blinked, revealing a coastline engulfed in a blanket of snow.

Not a word was spoken as we sat face to face with destiny, but we both had faith–

No matter how hard the snow fell, it couldn’t shake the direction of a shining beam of light.