Hearing this, the rebel commander was forced to explain:
"Those people will catch up any second. We can't escape if we're dragging this burden with us!"
"We're only here for the money. Our employer's primary objective is complete—there's no reason to risk our lives anymore."
Profit always came first. Their lives were worth far more than any so-called professional ethics, and they had never cared about such things anyway. Choosing what to abandon was simple.
"When the time comes, we'll just say she didn't survive the etheric corrosion..."
An excuse was all they needed. No one knew what had really happened—whatever they said would be the truth.
Hearing their words, Rain's eyes flashed with fear. With her mouth sealed, she could only let out muffled cries as the sensation of weightless falling filled her with despair.
At the end of the day, she was just a girl skilled in technical work. Normally, she was safe behind the scenes, far from danger. Faced with something like this, how could her heart possibly endure it?
The rebel commander, his face hidden under his helmet, looked at her coldly.
"Sorry, but you've only got yourself to blame for knowing too much..."
He loosened his grip, and Rain dropped. A muffled scream tore out from beneath her gag.
But in the short time the commander had wasted speaking, Victoria Housekeeping had already closed the distance...
Lycaon caught Rain, while Ellen with her Shark Scissors, Corin with her circular saw, and the ever-smiling Rina appeared behind the rebels.
The next moment, screams erupted one after another.
This time, the cries were far louder than Rain's...
"Damn it! Abandon the hostage! Everyone retreat now!"
Realizing the battle was lost, the remaining rebels fled immediately. Rina didn't pursue. Instead, she turned back to Lycaon, who was comforting Rain.
"Lord Lycaon, should we chase them?"
"No need. Miss Rain and the airship matter more."
Lycaon knew exactly what was most important now. Even if they caught the rebels, it would mean nothing.
Eous approached Rain, explaining that they had come to rescue her. Dazed with relief at her narrow escape, Rain snapped back to herself and blurted out in panic,
"Quick! Get to the rooftop! There's no time—the Law Court's airship is about to crash—"
BOOM!
A thunderous impact shook the building, the tremor unmistakable. Everyone's expressions turned grim.
Meanwhile, the rebels had finished their retreat. They detonated timed explosives they'd planted earlier, warping the Hollow's structure and erasing the path to the rooftop.
With the way blocked, even though Rain was safe, neither Victoria Housekeeping nor Belle could reach the airship to alter its course.
For any other Proxy, even the former Phaethon, it would have been hopeless.
But...
"Master, a Hollows exit leading to the rooftop has been detected. It's located near the lobby on the ground floor of Ballet Tower's Building B. Estimated travel time: seven minutes."
"However, there may be high-risk Ethereals along the way. I cannot guarantee the arrival time."
Seven minutes!
Fairy's voice rang in their ears, and everyone instantly understood.
There was still a chance to change the outcome.
But only seven minutes!
After a quick exchange, the group moved out immediately toward the location Fairy had indicated.
...
On the way, Victoria Housekeeping once again proved their strength.Any unavoidable battles were dispatched cleanly and quickly. Just as Lycaon had said, "They're only Ethereals—they cannot stop Victoria Housekeeping."
But as they reached the ground floor of Building B and prepared to enter the Hollows exit, something changed.
In the vast hall, glittering with ether crystals, music began to play softly. It was elegant and leisurely—like a tune for afternoon tea.
"Wait... this music... don't tell me it's the same as before..."
Eous spoke, while Belle, at the very first note, immediately recalled her ordeal from yesterday.
Then, a sudden beam of light cut through the hall.
Gray Veil Marionette appeared before them.
She bowed her head and bent low, like a puppet on strings. As the music continued, her stiff body began to jerk into motion.
Gray Veil Marionette twisted slowly, her needlelike feet sparking against the floor with each movement, as though she were lost in an unfinished ballet.
But each motion carried a chilling edge. If the earlier performance, when she invited Zane, had been enchanting, this was a frenzied display of self-indulgence.
Her arms swung wide—suddenly splitting into four. Then Gray Veil Marionette and Black Veil Marionette bent sideways together, revealing themselves. The eerie symmetry made it seem as if Black Veil Marionette had been born from Gray Veil Marionette's body.
Eous instinctively took two steps back, a chill creeping through her. She suddenly remembered the legend she had heard before entering the Hollows.
She had thought Gray Veil Marionette was just a stronger, unique Ethereal—but now, it felt like she was staring at a phantom.
Sensing Belle's unease, Lycaon glanced at his pocket watch and said calmly,
"No need for concern, Master Proxy. This time is more than enough for Victoria Housekeeping."
He stepped forward. Rina followed with a gentle smile, lifting her skirt slightly as she said,
"Your wish is our command."
Corin and Ellen hurried to catch up. At Lycaon's order—"We're in!"—the battle began instantly.
The hall erupted into chaos. From the edge of the fight, Eous watched nervously. Glancing at Zane in the corner, she scurried toward him on her short legs.
"Ahhh, this is terrifying! It's exactly like that urban legend—the Twin Ghosts of the Ballet Tower..."
reaching Zane, Eous immediately started talking, as though seeking comfort. But her words fell into silence.
Something was wrong. Her heart sank.
Eous stiffly turned her head toward Zane, her eyes filled with unease.
"Zane... Zane, why... aren't you saying anything...?"
The sounds of battle echoed all around, but Belle felt oddly disconnected, her nerves stretched to the breaking point. After two tense seconds, Zane finally spoke.
"Talking... and what exactly should I say..."
In the shadows, Zane slowly turned his head. His face was obscured, and then, with a flicker, his form shifted.
Like a broken illusion, the shape of an Ethereal emerged before Eous—identical to the original human-mimicking prototype.
"What should I say... little one who wandered right into the trap..."
Eous collapsed onto the floor, staring blankly at the strange Ethereal before her.
No... no way... this isn't real...
You're lying...
It's over... I'm done for...
"Haha..."
"I guess you really are the more entertaining one after all..."