After waking up, Alysa said, "Good morning, sleepy head."
Liebe said, "It's 5 PM."
Alysa said, "So what happened?"
Liebe said, "Well, got a status update on Licht and M."
Alysa said, "What happened? Don't tell me Licht somehow got her pregnant and now they are coming back."
Liebe said, "Oh hell no, Licht knows better than that."
Alysa said, "So what happened?"
Liebe said, "Those two made a mess. Apparently, when we were busy with our little endeavor, Licht and M tag-teamed two Skelos bosses that were 45 km apart."
Alysa said, "Guess their magic really is compatible, huh?"
Liebe said, "Guess so. Time for me to keep up. At this rate, I will fall behind."
Alysa said, "I'm pretty sure you are still stronger. You took down a Skelos at midnight, the point where it can use its ability, and you did it alone. I doubt even if I wasn't there you would still win."
Liebe said, "Hey, you helped too."
Alysa said, "Not enough to matter. I couldn't even heal Eosian properly. You fought and healed."
Liebe said, "It wasn't that impressive."
Alysa said, "Yes, it is. And well, I want to know—ask you something. Is it that you are searching so desperately for?"
Liebe said, "Nothing."
Alysa said, "Come on, I can tell when you lie."
Liebe said, "Fine." After hearing Liebe's reason, Alysa said, "After all this time, why?"
Liebe said, "It's my only hope. Guess it's 7 PM. I should probably head over to the Abyssal Zone. I need to win, no matter what. And so far, I have bought the right to six other Skelos bosses."
Alysa said, "Ok then."
Meanwhile, 95 km deep into the Abyssal Zone, M said, "For a noble, you aren't half bad."
Licht said, "Same to you. So why exactly did you drag me here, exactly?"
M said, "Because you are the most like me—a follower of Faust, yet nothing more than a weapon who can't afford emotions."
Licht said, "What the hell is wrong with you? Just because I'm lazy, you assume I'm some kind of victim? People don't even get to be lazy nowadays. And I may be a follower of Faust, but I do it because Liebe is my best friend, not because of duty or whatever else crap you have to say. And I'm not a huge fan of showing emotions. You are now just being racist. It's like me assuming you can cook just because you are a cook."
M said, "I can actually cook."
Licht said, "Thank you for proving me right. And well, yeah."
M said, "So are you finally able to get a sense of Afterglow and Rampage?"
Licht said, "So far, I can only understand the mana flow of Afterglow, and I'm not even sure if I have the King's Roar or not."
M said, "You do. Same as Liebe."
Licht said, "How do you know?"
M said, "Because I was born with it, and I know you have awakened it as well."
Licht said, "What makes a person who has it?"
M said, "It's something you are born with. About one in a thousand are born with it, but the thing is that among those who have it, about one in a thousand awaken it. And we can be sure one has it after they've awakened it."
Hearing this, Licht couldn't help but think, Is this what happened nine years ago in the capital? Then it makes sense that Liebe has it. But why me? I doubt there are any circumstances.
M said, "It is also possible that if two people who have it are extremely close to one another, it might resonate."
Licht said, "I see."
M said, "So answer me, why are you so loyal to Liebe Faust?"
Licht said, "Mainly because he is my best friend, and all my life he has been like a brother to me. And well, the thing is, I do it out of my own free will. But after Liebe lost his dad in the 'Rebellion of the Two Captains Incident,' my parents and sister made it clear to me they could never face his late grandfather if anything were to happen to Liebe, especially after the fact that my dad failed to save his father."
M said, "That's deep."
Licht said, "Now you tell me, why are you so hell-bent on killing Liebe?"
M said, "Because we are cut from the same cloth, two halves of the same coin."
And Licht said, "No need, I understand your reasons now. But do you really think killing Liebe will solve that?"
M said, "Yes, it will, because he is the final hurdle in completing my plan."
Licht said, "Ok then."
M said, "My goal is simple: to thank the person who saved me by making their dream a reality."
Licht said, "I understand now. And I know this may be against you, but if it's ok, maybe it will help you in the long run if you join Team Liebe."
M said, "Why would I do that?"
Licht said, "If your dream really is what you claim to be, then I can promise it will help you."
M said, "Since you are offering, I will consider it."
Licht said, "Looks like the sun is setting. Time to set camp."
M said, "Tomorrow, let's try to make it over 120 km and train there, ideally."
Licht said, "Ok then."
Meanwhile, 70 km from the walls, Liebe was fighting Skelos. As Liebe fought, he couldn't help but think, My body feels different now. Just yesterday it was difficult, yet now even at sunset I can keep up easily. Has my body adapted, or is it my own strength? Better to keep testing. As he finished Skelos with a single strike with the spell, "Dark Magic: Argo Grant Strike!" As the Skelos was defeated, seeing this from far away, Geno couldn't help but smile and say, "So this is Vanadis Eilífa Áin. Let's just see how brightly it can burn."