Lichee said, "Let me out! I can't just sit here knowing Alysa is missing. I need to be out there trying to find her. Even if I have to destroy everything, I can't stand here."
Licht said, "Why? So that while we are looking high and low, you can slow down the very Baledia system we are using to track them and get in the way? Or make the political situation even worse?"
Lichee couldn't respond.
Licht said, "You don't have an answer, now do you? But we have found everyone."
Lichee excitedly said, "Really? Where are they? When did you find them? I want to see Alysa and the others again!"
Licht said, "Sadly, you can't."
Lichee said, "Why? Everyone is back safe and sound, so let me out!"
Licht said, "I said we brought them back. I didn't say anything about safe or sound."
Lichee said, "No... don't tell me..."
Licht said, "Alysa is alive. Same for Elizabeth. But I can't promise the same for Olivia. She died a hard death. Elizabeth and Alysa were severely injured. Elizabeth is still injured. M was shot 5 times. Even moving causes too much pain. They are at rest. While Alysa was deflowered. She has lost her right arm and her strength. She can't even communicate for now. We aren't sure if seeing her would be best."
Lichee said, "Now you have to let me out! I have to find the ones who did it to them. I will kill them myself. How dare they take the ones I care about!"
Licht said, "And then what? Dying from your magic is too good for them. I will return every shot a thousandfold over. And we know who did it. We will return it all with interest on the world stage. We will show them what horror feels like."
Lichee, trying to escape, said, "Please, let me see her again. I want to see Mom again."
Licht said, "Be patient. You can see her soon. But right now, it might be worse for you to see her. But if you can promise me you will attempt to keep a smile—even a fake one—in her presence, I will see what I can do. The doctor told us for her right now, even minor tears can bring back traumatic incidents."
Lichee said, "OK. I will wait. I will keep a fake smile."
Licht said, "Thank you."
Lichee said, "Why are you being so cold-hearted?"
Licht sat on the floor and said, "Because it's because all this is my fault. That day, it was all my fault. Keeping everyone safe was my job." As he teared up, he said, "And I have failed as the Vice Captain. And I regret everything. I should have goddamn been better. I should have gone with them no matter what. Alysa, Elizabeth—they were people I held dear. And it's because of me they are in this state. And it's because of me Liebe is in such a state. It's all goddamn my fault. And on top of that, Liebe had to come to save us. Just being there was enough to state my failure, much less everything. Now Liebe and Alysa can't be together because of me. I hate myself. I have been killing every criminal I can find just to get my head straight, yet nothing. We still have no leads on Gaia, much less who has her right now. Seeing my best friend like this is the worst of it all. I have lost my right to look Liebe in the eye as his equal. And I will get Gaia back no matter what."
Lichee said, "Then promise me. We will get Gaia back no matter what."
Licht said, "It's a promise. Then well, I have work with Iris."
Lichee said, "Tell me, Licht. Do you know where they are?"
Licht said, "I do. And I will get back at them. But before Liebe, they must die by the hands of Liebe Faust."
Lichee said, "Then let me go with you."
Meanwhile, in the hospital:
Liebe said, "Doctor, when were the symptoms first seen?"
The doctor said, "The night before yesterday when I went for a checkup. And later yesterday morning when Mr. Isurugi came to visit. She has shown fear, yet she can't speak. But sometimes she has been murmuring the words 'sorry,' 'Liebe,' 'Gaia.' And we don't know what to make of it. Unfortunately."
As Liebe clenched his fists, he said, "I understand."
Outside, as he was outside Alysa's room, he could only see her emotionless face through the door glass.
Isurugi said, "Sir, would you like to enter?"
Liebe said, "No." As he sat leaning on the door, Liebe teared up, saying, "Isurugi, I don't know anymore. How can I say 'I understand' at this point? How can I say 'OK' and 'I understand' when she has been through so much, when I can't be with her, when she can't be like she used to?"
Isurugi said, "Sir, there must be hope to heal her arm. Maybe Hazen, or the Empire, or Symphonics. Symphonics is decades ahead when it comes to medical technology. Maybe they have something."
Liebe said, "I tried it already. I talked to Alex. He can give her the most advanced prosthetics in the world, but that's it. I have checked with the best doctors from over 100 nations in the past few days. They all say they don't have a way. And to try looking for a miracle worker. If someone with Body Magic is found, then maybe—maybe they can reconnect it. But even that's impossible since the arm is lost, and by now all the cells must be dead as well. I don't know what to do as well. Why can't I do anything to ease her pain?"
Isurugi said, "Sir, please. You are the one we look upon when we don't know. Seeing you broken, it isn't right."
Liebe said, "I tried almost all of it. Miracle attributes, black market, best doctors. The only people who can heal lost ligaments are the Knights of the Round with their immortality, as well as Pride from the XENIZ. Yet Pride said his immortality and regeneration are a curse and they can't do anything. I dove into the Abyssal Zone, killed every monster whose body parts can be used to create a regeneration potion. Nothing. Even the Knights of the Round won't tell me anything."
Liebe said, "Wait. Maybe humanity doesn't have the answer. Dark Magic: Dark Castling!" As he teleported to the cathedral of House Faust.
Liebe stated, "Oculus Cordis Obscuri." And the lock opened and the gates of the cathedral opened. He entered the cathedral and said, "Dark Magic: Drop of Black!" As the ground opened and swallowed him whole.
Liebe said, "Arteos, tell me now. How do I heal her? If there is any way to heal her, I will dive into Purgatory itself."
In the hospital, Liebe teleported back with a book.
Isurugi said, "Sir, this is—"
Liebe said, "This is Alysa's favorite erotic novel. I remember how much she likes it. And well, maybe this will cheer her up a bit. Even if it's not safe to read it in public, but maybe it's OK."
As he sat leaning on the door to Alysa's room, Liebe called Fate.
Liebe said, "Fate, are you in Alysa's room?"
Fate said, "Yes, and I see you are outside."
Liebe said, "Yeah, yeah, all that. Turn your communicator to speaker mode. I want to talk to her. If she is scared to see me, maybe just maybe—"
Fate said, "OK, Maestro." As she put her communicator to speaker mode, Liebe began to read the novel, making everyone stare.
Hearing his voice, Alysa began to tear up. Alysa murmured, "Sorry, Liebe... sorry, Liebe..." As she tried to get up and stand, Fate helped her stand. She tried to walk to the door while walking, she fell on the ground.
Fate said, "Alysa, you aren't in the state to walk."
As she could only say, "Liebe... Liebe... Liebe..." She crawled even if it didnt show it on her face she was struggling like a robot to reach the door in her state and barely managed to sit leaning on the door, directly hearing Liebe read the erotic novel—most parts which aren't even safe for adults. Even if she was emotionless everyone could see her struggling .She was listening. And in a few minutes, the communicator wasn't required as she was listening directly to Liebe's voice hearing Liebe read. Seeing this, even Fate and Isurugi teared up.
Later, Alysa again was moved to her bed, but her bed was moved a bit closer to the door.
Isurugi said, "Sir, it's been 5 hours."
Liebe said, "Has it? Now then, got to go and find a way to heal her physically and mentally."
Isurugi said, "But how, sir?"
Liebe said, "You are right. I'm almost sure humanity can't do it. I scoured 100 nations. I will do a thousand more if it means it's for her. And even if humanity doesn't hold the answer, I will scour the Underworld, Purgatory, Heavens—all of it—till she is whole again. Today we may be on two sides of the door together, but tomorrow we will be talking. I must do it. No point in holding despair. I will heal her no matter what. For now, she is behind a door I can't open. But I will open it no matter what. No matter how many trillions of years it takes."
Meanwhile, in Baledia, Licht, Lichee, and Mia disguised as criminals went to an underground bar. He sat beside Loom as Loom ordered a whiskey.
Licht said, "Same for me." As he said, "What do you do?"
Loom said, "That's a secret."
Licht said, "Mine is top secret. But let me tell you, I'm a murderer and a betrayer." As they drank.