"Different philosophies, different paths to follow, confused Phoenix people, and enigmatic Fallen Angels—exciting! This is what I want to see!" Xiling sat in the grass, eating a cloyingly sweet crepe he had just bought, while admiring the battle in front of the Church of Requiem.
"What's wrong with that guy? Didn't Lemuen say he was a helper? Why is he just watching the show?"
Xiling didn't hide in the shadows but sat openly in the grass, watching the whole thing unfold. Not only did Fiammetta see it, but everyone else saw it too.
Andoain could sense the unknown man in the grass scanning him, as if pondering where to strike.
"That's all. Farewell, my former... comrade." Just as Andoain uttered these words, a massive explosion echoed in the Church of Requiem, burying everything in flames and carrying it all away. Xiling sat on the grass as debris from the explosion hit him. He quietly watched Cecilia leave with Andoain. He finally patted his butt and stood up, about to leave, but just then, a ruthless hand grabbed him.
"...Twilight Watcher, if you keep doing this, I'm really going to spit!"
"Hey, what the hell are you doing here? You're all sitting here watching!"
"Just a passing escort. You could call me security."
Fiammetta let go of Xiling's hand and shouted angrily, "Didn't Lemuen ask you to help?"
"...Huh? Didn't she ask me to be an escort?"
Watching the Phoenix Man about to transform into the Destruction Phoenix Man, Xiling cleared his throat. "Yes, I'm here to help, but it's not the time to take action yet."
"...Never mind. It doesn't matter whether you're here or not. Let's get going and report the situation here to the Pope."
"Then let's go," Mostima smiled as they passed Xiling. ...
Time flows.
[I Don't Want to Be a Hero Anymore]: I'm feeling more and more perverted.
[High School Student Kevin]: Oh my goodness, my friend, have you finally figured this out?
[High School Student Kevin]: I'm happy about that. By the way, when are you going to jail?
[Great Magician Tarnished]: My prison here is great. Once you're in, you never come out.
[Great Magician Tarnished]: Brothers and sisters, let me tell you something. Don't be afraid.
[I Don't Want to Be a Hero Anymore]: We're from another world, so tell us what you want. No matter how scary it is, it's none of our business.
[Great Magician Tarnished]: I suspect there's a female ghost here at night.
[Great Magician Tarnished]: Last time I went to sleep, I vaguely saw a woman sitting next to me.
[Great Magician Tarnished]: I only took one look, and I'm afraid to open my eyes.
[Great Magician Tarnished]: I suspect she's got a thing for me, because I seem to see her every time I open my eyes these past few days.
[Great Magician Tarnished]: But she's neither talking nor doing anything, just sitting there quietly. What do you think? Should I take the initiative?
"Ah, could it be that piece of wood? No way, it really has its eyes on our Tarnished! That cow and horse must be blind!"
Xiling was lying on the rooftop of the clock tower, basking in the sun and chatting with the chat group. When he saw the message from his groupmates, he immediately became alert.
[I Don't Want to Be a Hero Anymore]: Don't take the initiative. You're just a useless magician, and you'll just get yourself killed.
[High School Student Kevin]: Is she pretty? I think she is, hehe.
[I Don't Want to Be a Hero Anymore]: I'll tell Mei.
[High School Student Kevin]: Hey, hey, I didn't say anything. What are you going to tell Mei?
[I Don't Want to Be a Hero Anymore]: Hmph! Don't worry about it. Just wait for death.
[Great Magician Tarnished]: I think I can ambush her. It seems like she only appears at night.
[I Don't Want to Be a Hero Anymore]: Don't. You're a melee noob. What are you dreaming of? If they get close to you, two slashes, and you're dead.
[High School Student Kevin]: I suggest you keep playing dead.
[High School Student Kevin]: Where's Lemuen? Why hasn't she come out to say anything?
[I Don't Want to Be a Hero Anymore]: She's probably hanging out with her bestie.
[Wheelchair Sniper]: I've got my gun locked on your head.
[I Don't Want to Be a Hero Anymore]: ???
[I Don't Want to Be a Hero Anymore]: My dear Lemuen, are you kidding me?
[Wheelchair Sniper]: Yes, I am.
[I Don't Want to Be a Hero Anymore]: Okay, I'm done with you.
The door to the top floor of the clock tower opened, and Cecilia appeared breathless before Xiling's eyes. However, because Xiling was lying on the upper floor, Cecilia didn't see him.
Xiling watched Cecilia take a deep breath, then began to sing the Sarkaz ballad. She seemed to pour all her emotion into it. Even though her voice was still a little childish, it was moving. Not long after, the door opened again, and at that moment, a bell rang out across Laterano.
...
Andoain gazed at the bell tower, and at that moment, the communication device began to ring.
"The bell is ringing, Andoain."
"That bell belongs to a child about to embark on a journey."
"I know."
"You should know what you'll face, the circumstances you'll endure, the possible future you'll face."
"I know."
"...Good luck. And let me tell you one thing: I forgive you, but some won't."
"Fiammetta?"
"No."
Looking at the hung communicator and at Lemuen's earlier words, Andoain thought of someone: the man sitting outside the Church of Requiem, gazing at him as if trying to figure out where to strike.
"...I already know."
...
"Laterano is truly amazing. Explosions everywhere, and no one takes it seriously." Xiling, leaping from the rafters, sighed as he observed the events unfolding on the street. He even saw the citizens of Lateran preparing to blow things up.
"So free! I actually kind of like this place!"
Just as Xiling was about to leap onto a pillar, it collapsed with a loud bang.
"...I suddenly don't like it anymore."
"Hey, sir, are you okay? By the way, why are you jumping around on the beams?" a Laterano citizen approached the collapsed Xiling, asking with concern and curiosity.
"...I was practicing running."
"So that's how it is! No wonder."
"...I suddenly feel a pang of guilt."
Xiling climbed to his feet and quickly fled amid the Lateran citizens' cries.
...
"How does he still have the energy to unleash his Originium skills!" Mostima was puzzled.
Fiammetta ignored the attacks and continued firing at Andoain.
But...
Andoain seemed to take the attacks in stride, muttering to himself, not to anyone else, as if he had grasped something. Just as the two men on the rooftop were at their wits' end, a figure suddenly leaped down onto the rooftop. Xiling clapped his hands and said with a smile. "Looks like the timing is perfect."