Shin's reaction reached Hoshimi Miyabi's ears as she finished explaining the situation. After a brief exchange, they quickly discussed their next steps.
Upon receiving word that reinforcements from the Falkenhayn Mercenary Troupe would be dispatched, Hoshimi Miyabi didn't linger on the line and prepared to continue guarding the hollow.
The transmission soon ended. Watching the screen fade to black, Shin let out a quiet sigh.
"Zane… are you sure the person you chose is the right one? Still, since you're the youngest Void Hunter, I'll trust your judgment for now."
That Miss Miyabi… she truly has no idea what she's walking into.
Shin had once wanted to take on the role of the sword-bearer herself.
But first, her strength wasn't enough—Miyabi far surpassed her. And second, her own circumstances didn't fit.
That cursed blade… it was the key.
Rationality and propriety—that was what mattered most.
"Should we… move out?"
From the side of the tent, Trigger spoke up hesitantly. Beside her, Soldier 11 leaned against the table, the long sword in her arms gleaming faintly as she turned her gaze toward their superior.
Though Shin had mentioned taking action, her expression made it clear she had no such intention.
"Wait and see."
Shin shook her head softly.
Trigger and Soldier 11 both had strong ties with Zane, which was precisely why Shin kept them close—to avoid any unexpected mishaps.
This mission could not afford failure.
...
Across the broad surface of the river, the hollow lay silent.
Night had fallen, cloaking the area in utter darkness.
But within the hollow, the scene was completely different.
Clink—
A clear metallic note rang out. A coin spun through the air, glinting brilliantly in the light before vanishing into Zane's palm.
Another flick. Another sharp clink. The dennies flipped once more, catching the faint gleam of the reflected sky as it dropped into his other hand.
Zane walked forward. The hollow wasn't dark—the sky was a vivid blue, and the waters below were calm and still.
Amid this seamless blend of sky and water, his expression remained tranquil. Each step touched the surface lightly, sending concentric ripples expanding outward.
The crisp sound echoed again. Zane tossed the dennies upward; it landed perfectly balanced on his upturned finger.
His fingers moved rhythmically, as though tracing a melody through the air. The silver coin rolled deftly left and right, up and down—upright, unwavering.
No wind stirred.
Yet Zane's hair gently swayed.
"You came."
A soft voice broke the quiet. Zane looked ahead to see a man seated calmly upon the water's surface not far away.
He said nothing. Instead, he flicked his fingers, sending the dennies hurtling forward.
The small coin roared like a cannonball, bursting across the water's surface and spraying arcs of mist as it tore toward the seated figure.
The man didn't flinch. He raised a hand and caught the coin cleanly, the shockwave rippling outward and tossing his hair.
A weary middle-aged face lifted to meet Zane's gaze. His eyes, aged yet sharp, reflected both fatigue and depth.
It was Tyce.
Though most traces of the Ethereal had faded from his form, the unsettling aura around him remained.
"After today," he said slowly, "many will die."
"Both the good and the bad."
"With the new municipal elections beginning—and this incident on top of it—New Eridu will descend into chaos."
"All those hiding in the dark will come crawling out."
As Tyce spoke, Zane's expression stayed calm. He showed no hint of emotion as he sat down across from him.
Tyce lowered his arm. Zane's coin rested quietly in his palm.
"Even if you manage to suppress the Hollow Outbreak in time," Tyce continued, "many innocents will still be caught in it."
"I know. To deceive the city this way, it's a necessary step—and an unavoidable sacrifice. But I remember… you used to hate things like this."
"Sacrificing a few for the greater good…"
Tyce shook his head. He'd made too many such sacrifices over the years. He had long since grown numb to them. But he couldn't tell what Zane was thinking now.
After all, this entire plan had originated from him.
Tyce didn't believe Zane was indifferent to those lives.
And within that plan—Miss Miyabi's connection to him was far from ordinary. Keeping her in the dark, making her bear such a cruel truth—it didn't seem fair.
Tyce wasn't doubting Zane's resolve. Whether toward himself or others, his willingness to drive that blade into his own chest had already proved everything.
He just wanted to understand why Zane made this choice.
Was it truly for the greater good?
That didn't match the man he knew—the one called the Fire Keeper.
But Zane had always been the kind who acted with absolute certainty.
Around them stretched endless blue and white, boundless and pure, as if the world had no edges.
In this vast, serene expanse, the two figures facing each other looked impossibly small.
"Some things must be done."
"What must be done… will be done."
"And what should remain… will remain."
Zane's eyes narrowed slightly as he spoke, his clear gaze reflecting the mirrored surface below.
Nothing will be lost?
Tyce frowned faintly, puzzled by his words, but didn't press further.
"True," he murmured. "Sometimes compassion is the cruelest thing of all."
A quiet sigh escaped him, his posture lowering.
He had searched endlessly, fought recklessly—not for himself, but to save others. Yet in saving humanity, how many lives had he already taken?
On the road to saving lives… he had become a killer.
Tyce looked up once more to meet Zane's gaze.
"My time is nearly over. What comes next depends on you—and the one you've chosen."
"But before that, I have a few questions."
"You are… an extraordinary being."
"Tell me—what defines good? What defines evil?"
"Tell me—what is right, and what is wrong?"
"All that I've done in this life… what does it amount to?"
Emotion flickered across Tyce's face as he stared straight at Zane, as though searching desperately for an answer.
"Thought has no absolutes. Perspective is shaped by where one stands. Everyone must find their own answer. Yours… you must find yourself."
"As for me…"
"Right and wrong are never simply black and white. Deeds and debts can never cancel one another out. Killing one to save a hundred isn't justice—for killing itself is a sin."
Zane's voice was calm as he lowered his gaze.
Tyce listened, eyes still and deep as an ancient well. After a long silence, he gave a small, weary smile and shook his head.
"Then let it be. Whether it's merit or mistake, right or wrong… let the future decide."
As his words faded, ripples spread gently across the water beneath them.
Under the boundless light of the sky, the two men sat in silence—waiting quietly for the moment that time would arrive.