"So let me get this straight. You're going on a suicide mission with that dickhead Marcus and some plant monster that eats everything?"
Kaito cracked his knuckles like he was about to punch someone.
"Pretty much, yeah."
Nero flopped onto his bed like a dead fish.
"That sounds absolutely fucking insane. And Vincent just expects you to waltz in there and solve everything?"
Haru shook his head.
"Welcome to my life, bro."
"Are you sure this is safe, Mr. Nero? I mean, intelligent monsters sound really scary."
Yui sat on the edge of Aurelia's bed, looking like a worried mom sending her kids off to war.
"Safe? Nothing's been safe since this whole apocalypse started. At least now I can actually fight back instead of running like a little bitch."
Nero laughed.
"The mission presents acceptable risks given our current capabilities."
Aurelia stood by the window, still in her tactical outfit that made her look like a badass action movie star. She turned to face the group with her usual stoic expression.
"Acceptable risks. That's angel speaking for 'we might die but whatever.'"
Kaito repeated.
"I do not speak in such casual terms."
"See? Proves my point."
Nero sat up and stretched his arms.
The month of training had definitely paid off, but he still felt like he was about to wrestle a bear with his bare hands.
"Look, guys, we've handled worse shit before. Remember that giant earthworm that almost turned me into human paste?"
"Yeah, but this time you're working with Marcus. That guy's about as trustworthy as a chocolate teapot."
Haru pointed out.
"Hey, at least chocolate tastes good. Marcus is more like a shit sandwich."
"M-Mr. Nero!"
Yui gasped, but she was trying not to laugh.
"What? I'm being honest here."
"Lord Nero's assessment of Marcus's character appears accurate."
Aurelia's lips twitched slightly. It was the closest thing to a smile anyone would get from her.
"Wow, even the angel thinks he's garbage. That's when you know someone's really fucked up."
Kaito said.
"But seriously, what's the real plan here? Vincent's not exactly known for his honesty."
Haru leaned forward.
"The real plan is to go in, assess the situation, and hopefully not die. If this plant thing is as dangerous as they say, we handle it. If it's some bullshit setup, we handle that too."
Nero rubbed his chin like he was some sort of tactical genius.
There's really no way around it, it's not like they have any stealth skills to just eavesdrop and waltz into Vincent's office.
Even asking for some reconnaissance information about him would draw suspicion to them.
I mean, who knows how many "eyes" or allies that guy has in this base of his?
"And if it's both?"
Haru was already drawing conclusions.
"Then we improvise along the way and hope Aurelia can carry our asses to safety."
Nero could only shrug, as that was indeed the plan… well, if you could even call that a plan that is.
"I will ensure Lord Nero's survival regardless of circumstances."
Aurelia's matter-of-fact tone made it sound like she was discussing the weather instead of life-or-death situations.
"... I–I wish I could come with you guys. I know I'm not much of a fighter… b-but maybe I could help somehow."
Yui fidgeted with her hands.
"Hell no. You're staying here where it's relatively safe. We need someone here who can patch us up when we come back looking like we went through a blender."
Nero said immediately.
"But what if you don't come back?"
The room went quiet for a moment.
It was the kind of silence that made everyone uncomfortable because nobody wanted to think about that possibility.
"We'll come back. I've got too much unfinished business to die now."
Nero said with his usual laid-back tone.
He even glanced at Aurelia when he said it. She was looking out the window again, but her posture had shifted slightly. Like she was listening more carefully than usual.
Judging from her cold expression, it seems she won't even allow him to ascend to the next life as long as the angel is breathing.
"... Besides, Aurelia would probably drag my corpse back just to lecture me about dying without permission."
Nero continued with a chuckle.
"That is not inaccurate."
"See? I'm covered."
"Well, if you guys are determined to go fight some nightmare plant, at least try not to get eaten. Best of luck to you guys!."
Kaito stood up and stretched.
"Gee, thanks for the confidence boost."
"Anytime, bro."
"We should probably let you guys get some rest. Big day tomorrow and all that."
Haru also got up.
"..."
Yui looked like she wanted to say more with her worried face, but instead, she just gave Nero and Aurelia a quick hug.
"Please be careful, both of you."
Yui said.
"We will. Thanks."
Nero smiled for a bit.
After the others left, the room felt way too quiet.
Nero stared at the ceiling while Aurelia continued sightseeing outside the window.
"Hey, Aurelia?"
"Yes, Lord Nero?"
"Want to go for a walk? I'm still weirdly energized to sleep right now."
"... That would be acceptable."
She turned from the window.
***
The night air was fresh and clean, nothing like the smoky mess most cities had become.
They walked in comfortable silence until they reached a small clearing behind the camp's main buildings.
It was far enough from everything that they could actually see the stars without light pollution screwing things up.
Aurelia tilted her head back and gazed at the sky.
"It's beautiful," she said softly.
Her voice had a different quality to it, less formal and more like... human.
"You mean the stars?"
"All of it. The night sky, the silence, the peace." She paused. "I have vague memories of nights like this, but they feel distant. Like dreams I can barely remember."
Nero sat down on a fallen log and patted the spot next to him.
Aurelia hesitated for a moment, then sat down.
The space between them was small enough that he could smell that faint heavenly scent she always had.
"What kind of memories?"
"Standing on celestial battlements, watching over creation. There were others like me, I think…. My sisters in arms." Her golden eyes reflected the starlight. "But their faces are blurred. Their names are gone."
"... That sounds lonely as hell."
"It was… Is…" She looked at the ground with a faint blush on her face. "But these past weeks with you have been different. More vivid. More real than anything I can remember."
Nero doesn't know if the angel was aware of her face or not, but there's one thing he's sure of…
*Thump!*
Nero's heart is doing that stupid fluttering thing again.
His damn angel waifu is making him feel all sorts of ways again by doing that face.
"I should be the one thanking you, to be honest," he said. "... A month ago I was a useless piece of shit who couldn't fight his way out of a paper bag. Now I can actually hold my own."
"You were never useless, Lord Nero."
"Come on, I was a walking stickman waiting to be blown over."
"You had potential. I simply helped you realize it."
She was quiet for a moment, then added, "You gave me purpose beyond just following orders. You made me feel like... like I matter as more than just a weapon."
*Thump! Thump!*
There went his heart again, betraying him like the treacherous organ it was.
"You do matter. Way more than you know."
The conversation was getting dangerously close to feelings territory.
Nero coughed and changed the subject before he said something stupid.
"... So, about tomorrow's mission. What's your take on it? Find anything fishy about the whole setup?"
Aurelia's expression shifted back to tactical mode.
"Several inconsistencies concern me."
"Like what?"
"Vincent's team composition is deliberately problematic. Pairing us with Marcus creates unnecessary tension and reduces operational efficiency."
"Yeah, that's what I thought too."
"Additionally, the mission parameters are vague. An intelligent plant monster with absorption abilities should warrant more detailed reconnaissance before engagement."
She turned to face him fully.
"There's also the matter of timing. Why now? Why not wait for better intelligence or additional resources?"
"Because Vincent's up to something," Nero said. "The question is what."
"I believe we're being positioned for a specific outcome. Whether that's our success, failure, or something else entirely remains unclear."
"Great. So we're walking into a potential trap with a team member who might stab us in the back."
"That is an accurate assessment."
Nero laughed despite everything.
"You know, most people would try to sugarcoat that kind of news."
"I am not most people."
"No shit, you're a divine angel."
"... Indeed."
It's almost funny how the pure Aurelia can now agree with him despite the profane word he often uses.
They sat in comfortable silence for a while, both were lost in their own thoughts.
The stars wheeled overhead like distant diamonds scattered across black velvet.
It was peaceful in a way that felt almost illegal given how fucked up the world had become.
But suddenly,
"Lord Nero."
Aurelia stood up.
"Yeah?"
"I believe it's time we sparred."
"... Come again?"
Nero blinked.
"You have progressed significantly in your training. Your foundation is now solid enough to handle combat application of your skills."
She moved to the center of the clearing and turned to face him.
"Additionally, tomorrow's mission will likely separate us during critical moments. You need to be prepared to handle yourself without my constant protection."
Nero felt his mouth go dry.
During the entire month of hellish training, Aurelia had never once suggested they actually fight each other.
It had all been conditioning, technique practice, and form work.
Never actual combat.
"You think I'm ready for that?"
"Yes. Your body can now withstand the stress of real combat without breaking. Your technique, while basic, is fundamentally sound."
She drew her sword in one fluid motion.
The blade gleamed silver in the moonlight like something out of a fantasy movie.
"More importantly, you now possess enough power to make this a meaningful exercise rather than a swordplay."
Nero gulped.
He could only chuckle as he stood up, his hand moving to Dawnbreaker's hilt.
"Well, shit. When you put it like that, how can I say no?"
It was a duel to test his newfound strength.
'Let's see how I fare now.'
***
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