Wh... what?
What do you mean I'm more fun?!
Hearing Zane's words, Belle snapped out of it instantly. Her face darkened as she glared at him, her eyes blazing with fury.
Eous's face twisted into a clear expression of rage. She fixed Zane with a deathly stare, her expression unyielding.
But with her current body, she clearly couldn't do anything. Even in her original body, it would have been the same...
"Alright, alright. Shouldn't you be happy that I'm not fake? What's with that sourpuss face..."
Zane chuckled softly, crouching down to ruffle Eous's head. But Belle clearly wasn't buying his "tenderness."
"Happy? I'm absolutely thrilled!"
"Pretending! Hmph!"
Eous crossed her arms, turned her head away, and wore a look that screamed "I hate you," spelling out her displeasure.
"Tsk, I'm pretending again..."
Zane sighed softly, knowing he had to resort to 'measures.' He reached out, scooped Eous into his arms, and smiled faintly.
"Wait, wait!"
Eous was lifted up, and Belle, even if he wanted to resist, couldn't. Sensing something was terribly wrong, he hurriedly protested.
"No, don't you...!!!!"
"I'm happy, really happy! Stop it, Zane!"
"Stop, stop! Don't...!!!!"
A moment later.
"Hm? Why does she feel like he's dead..."
Zane raised an eyebrow, cradling the limp Eous as he spoke with a faint chuckle.
"Who's dead... Zane, I hate you..."
Belle's feeble voice carried deep resentment. If death truly transformed one into a vengeful spirit, Zane suspected Belle might rival the Twin Marionettes...
Belle, the elegant dancer who kills?
Tsk. Why did that thought feel so absurdly amusing...
Suppressing the bizarre image in his mind, Zane's gaze shifted to the distant battlefield. The battle between Victoria Housekeeping and the twins was now entering its final stages.
But it hadn't taken much time at all, just as the seven-minute time limit dictated...
"You, are you thinking about something bad?"
Eous lifted her head to look at Zane. She felt she had reason to suspect—after all, that expression... he was definitely plotting something against her.
"What could possibly be bad?"
Zane's gaze fixed on the Twins preparing to retreat. He lowered his eyes slightly and murmured,
"Still have to go through the motions, huh... Hmph, is this what world correction looks like? I wonder what would happen if I deliberately tried to change things..."
But what could he change now?
Perhaps... a slightly better ending?
"Huh? What did you say? What do you mean, 'what could be bad'?"
Belle's confused voice echoed, though she hadn't caught Zane's final mutterings.
"I mean, there never really was anything bad... Just like you don't truly dislike me.
Our time together has been wonderful. Perhaps years from now, you'll recall this moment and smile? In any case, these are memories worth cherishing... things to treasure."
Listening to Zane's vague words, Eous tilted her head in confusion before speaking up.
"Why are you suddenly saying stuff like this... Ugh, trying to lecture me again. Annoying, annoying, annoying..."
Hearing this, Zane smiled faintly, reaching up to ruffle Eous's head. His gaze remained fixed on the twins as he spoke softly.
"Just feeling inspired.
We truly should cherish the present, every single moment."
As if sensing Zane's shift in mood, Belle, though still somewhat confused, grew quieter and settled obediently in Zane's embrace.
"Hmm..."
"Cherishing the present... I've heard that kind of talk many times before..."
Belle recalled the films she had watched and the books she had read; such sentiments were not unfamiliar.
"Yes, exactly. Only when you truly feel it can you understand such words."
Zane nodded slightly. The twins had already retreated; Victoria Housekeeping had ended this battle.
Yet Twin Marionettes, hand in hand, bowed gracefully in one fluid motion. It seemed less like defeat and more like anticipation for their next meeting.
"So, Zane, have you felt it?"
"Not yet... Perhaps someday."
Zane shook his head slightly, lowered himself to set Eous down, then began walking toward Victoria Housekeeping alongside him.
Eous tilted his head. Seeing Lycaon beckoning them, he stopped pondering and followed forward.
On the battlefield, Lycaon gazed toward the Hollows' exit. His crimson eyes remained serene as he commanded,
"Continue the mission. Move out!"
Upon hearing this, Ellen and Corin swiftly ascended the mountain. Using Ellen's shark-claw scissors as a foothold, Corin soared toward the Ether crystal's heights, cleaving the exit open.
By the time Corin descended, Eous and Zane had already joined the others. Lycaon crouched down, extending a hand for Eous to sit upon, then swiftly headed toward the exit leading to the rooftop.
The group quickly vanished into the vast hall.
...
"Belle, can you hear me? The airship is approaching the building!"
Belle, connected to Eous through the HDD system, heard the sound from outside—it was Wise.
Lifting her head, she too saw the massive "Fat Guy" hurtling toward them. The colossal airship charged like a giant cannonball.
On the airship, Billy's powerful vision spotted the group on the rooftop, his gaze locking onto Eous.
"It's the Manager!"
As if finally spotting a savior, Billy leaned over the railing and shouted urgently,
"Manager!!! I'm here!!!"
"Billy!"
Belle clearly spotted the conspicuous Billy too, raising her hand to signal. Fairy's voice chimed in beside her ear.
"Warning: Twenty seconds until airship impact."
Only twenty seconds left before the airship crashes!!!
At that moment, seeing the countdown flash across Eous's face, Lycaon remained composed. His gaze fixed on the nearby high-speed rail frame. A flash of light darted through his crimson eyes as he swiftly moved toward the structure.
Watching the airship grow ever closer, Lycaon clenched his jaw slightly before stepping back with one leg.
With a roar of engines, a burst of blue light erupted!
Using the high-speed rail frame as leverage, Lycaon shot upward into the sky, defying gravity!
"Lycaon..."
Watching his figure, Belle couldn't help but freeze in shock.
So this was the "plan" he'd mentioned?
It was... it was...
Lycaon propelled himself upward from the highest point of the high-speed rail frame. His silhouette intertwined with the full moon. The next instant, he grasped the hand Billy had extended.
Soon, using Billy's strength, Lycaon successfully boarded the airship. Those on the ground collectively breathed a sigh of relief.