Ezekiel turned his head slightly and looked at her.
For a moment, he didn't answer.
Then he let out a small breath that almost sounded like a quiet laugh.
"I won't do that."
Viola frowned faintly.
"What do you mean?"
Ezekiel shifted his gaze back toward the ocean.
"If I run and leave you behind…"
He paused.
"…then what difference would there be between me and the people who abandoned me to die in that dungeon?"
His voice remained calm.
Too calm.
But the weight behind his words was unmistakable.
Viola's breath caught in her throat.
She had seen it.
Everything that had happened to him in that dungeon. The moment he had been surrounded, wounded, and left behind by the very people who were supposed to fight beside him.
People he had trusted.
People who were supposed to be his allies.
She had witnessed it all.
Yet hearing him say it so plainly still made something tighten painfully in her chest.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
The night wind passed quietly between them, carrying the faint scent of the distant ocean.
Viola lowered her gaze slightly.
"…You're stubborn."
Ezekiel didn't reply.
"But…" she continued softly, "…you're kind."
She didn't look at him when she said it.
Because she knew that if she did, the emotions in her eyes might reveal more than she was ready to show.
Ezekiel simply stood beside her.
Silent.
As always.
The two of them continued staring out at the dark ocean in the distance.
Tomorrow, they planned to enter a hidden dungeon somewhere within those waters.
A place filled with monsters.
A place where no one could predict what would happen once they stepped inside.
But tonight, none of that mattered.
For now, there was only the quiet sea.
And the two of them standing side by side beneath the moonlight.
---
Viola moved efficiently the next day, gathering the items she had prepared the night before.
She wore white combat clothing paired with a fitted shirt, a cropped white hooded jacket, and white high boots.
The outfit allowed easy movement while still protecting vital areas.
Her movements were calm, but there was a clear focus in her eyes.
Today was important.
Ezekiel emerged from his room shortly afterward.
But this time, he wasn't wearing the disguise he usually used when going outside.
Instead, he had chosen something far more practical.
A black compression turtleneck shirt hugged his frame, the fabric designed for mobility rather than appearance. Over it, he wore a dark hooded jacket with the hood pulled low over his head.
A black mask covered the lower half of his face.
The outfit made him look less like an ordinary man and more like someone dangerous.
Someone people would hesitate to approach.
Viola glanced at him as he finished adjusting the mask.
For a moment, she studied him quietly.
Then she nodded in approval.
"That works."
Ezekiel raised an eyebrow slightly.
"I'm assuming that's a compliment."
"It is."
Viola stepped closer and adjusted the edge of his hood before stepping back again.
"We should leave now."
"Straight to the ocean?"
She shook her head.
"No."
Ezekiel waited.
Viola picked up her coat and slung it over her shoulders.
"We need to stop somewhere first."
"Where?"
She looked at him.
"The black market we visited before."
"You need something from there?" he asked.
"Yes."
Viola's expression turned serious.
"There's something I need to get before we enter the dungeon."
She paused briefly.
"Without it, things might become difficult for me."
Ezekiel studied her for a moment before nodding.
"Alright."
Viola opened the door.
"Then let's go."
The two of them stepped out of the house together.
Behind them, the quiet room returned to silence.
---
It was already evening when they finally arrived at the market.
Traveling at night made things easier. Fewer people were around, making it easier to avoid unwanted attention.
Dim lights illuminated the narrow streets, casting long shadows across rows of crowded stalls. Vendors whispered their offers while customers moved carefully between them.
But Viola didn't stop.
She walked past the regular market stalls without hesitation and passed the old woman's stall as they greeted her casually and said the code.
Ezekiel followed behind her.
The alley led to a staircase descending underground.
Once again, they entered the hidden market.
Black Market Area E
That was what people called it.
They walked through the underground corridor until Viola finally stopped in front of a small store.
From the outside, it looked like a simple weapon shop.
Various blades and tools were displayed behind a dusty glass window.
Ezekiel followed her inside.
A small bell above the door rang softly.
Inside stood a woman wearing a loose jumper, with welding goggles resting on top of her head.
She had been organizing something behind the counter when she turned around.
The moment she saw Viola, her eyes widened.
"Vivi!"
She rushed forward without hesitation and wrapped her arms around Viola in a tight hug.
Ezekiel blinked in surprise.
Even though Viola was wearing a mask and hood, the woman had recognized her instantly.
"It's really you!" the woman said excitedly. "You have no idea how much I wanted to see you again!"
Viola sighed softly but didn't push her away.
"It's been a while, Lysa."
Ezekiel stood quietly to the side, observing the interaction.
His curiosity grew.
Lysa finally released her and took a step back, adjusting her welding goggles.
Then her gaze slowly shifted toward Ezekiel.
She tilted her head.
"Oh?"
A mischievous smile spread across her face.
"And who is this mysterious man you brought with you, Vivi?"
"He's my friend," Viola replied calmly.
"Oh?"
Lysa looked unconvinced.
"Just a friend, huh?"
Viola ignored the teasing tone.
"Anyway," Lysa suddenly said, clapping her hands together, "perfect timing! The one you customized is already finished!"
Before either of them could respond, she spun around and sprinted toward the back of the shop.
Ezekiel watched her disappear behind a curtain before glancing at Viola.
"You seem to know interesting people."
"She's reliable," Viola replied.
"That wasn't the word I was thinking of."
A moment later, Lysa rushed back into the room carrying a black case.
She placed it on the counter and opened it with a dramatic flourish.
Inside was a white pistol.