Makima narrowed her eyes at him. Slowly, she pushed her chair closer until it scraped against the tiles. She ignored her untouched plates, leaning in to hover right beside him, peering at the dark screen of his phone.
"What are you doing on your phone?" she asked, her tone deceptively sweet. "Don't tell me you're plotting your next escape?"
Kang Woo remained silent, still scrolling. Lines of demonic script flickered and twisted across the screen — symbols that looked like they belonged in a curse rather than a mobile app.
Makima tilted her head, studying the alien characters with a faint frown. She couldn't read a single glyph.
Finally, she sighed and rested her chin gently on Kang Woo's shoulder. she said, giving him a mild scold, "your food might get cold if you keep ignoring it. Didn't anyone ever teach you that it's bad manners to leave good food behind?"
Kang Woo glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. "I never went to school, Or any simulation pretending to be one. Instead, I went straight into battle. And it's always the same: kill… or be killed."
Makima studied him in silence, then tilted her head slightly. "Then… why let me stay close?" she asked, voice soft but searching. "Why didn't you fly away again, Kang Woo?"
Kang-Woo gave a tiny snort, faintly amused. "You'd just follow me again," he said. "Though… I'm glad you do."
Makima's eyes narrowed a fraction. "Hmm. Glad?" She shifted a little closer. " I know your angle. You keep offering me gifts — that redleash sword-gunblade, the Ring of Narya… and even the Commandment of Piety. And I keep doing the opposite of what you want… yet you never get mad."
Kang Woo's gaze softened just a hair, his expression unreadable.
"Nope, I'm just glad… because time's still moving. And the world still has a clear blue sky… "
Makima's expression faltered. For a moment, there was something vulnerable in her eyes. "Don't you ever want… peace?" she asked quietly. "To just… exist without fighting?"
Kang Woo was silent for a long breath, choosing his words carefully. His gaze drifted toward the Tokyo skyline, bathed in distant neon. "As long as I live,, and the other five like me still live… there'll be no peace. Only the unknown. And the Eternal Recurrence of Mercury… will keep spinning its cycle forever."
Inside, a faint thought flickered through him.
I'm starting to sound too much like Mercurius. I need to change that.
A decision sparked in his eyes. He lowered his gaze to his black mobile phone, thumb gliding over the screen.
With a soft, chiming glow, a magnificent object materialized on the table before them: the King's Wine of Babylonia. A golden pitcher, ornately engraved, brimming with a wine of impossible clarity and fragrance. Two golden cups shimmered beside it. ( img Here )
Kang Woo dismissed the phone with a flick, stashing it back into his inventory. He glanced at Makima and nodded toward the newly arrived treasure.
"You might want to move back to your seat," he murmured. "This might be a bit cramped."
Makima merely slid herself about five centimeters further along the bench, still firmly in his space. She tilted her head, eyes glittering with mischief. "I think being cramped is nice, "Besides… what exactly did you just bring out?"
Kang Woo gave her a faint, mysterious smile. "Why don't you try it," There won't be any other wine like this in the entire world."
Makima arched an eyebrow but lifted the golden cup to her lips. She took a small sip—and for an instant, her eyes widened before she quickly hid it behind a practiced, cool expression.
"Mmm." She gave a small shrug, feigning indifference. "Not bad. But don't think expensive gifts will make me obedient."
Kang Woo chuckled lightly. "Okay then."
He reached out as if to disperse the wine back into his inventory.
But Makima's hand shot out, lightly grabbing his sleeve. "Wait a minute."
Kang Woo paused, looking back at her with an exaggerated look of disbelief. "Wait, what? I thought you said it was average."
Makima averted her gaze, her tone dry. "It would be… wasteful not to drink it."
A sly grin curled at the corners of Kang Woo's lips. "No. You just like it. Because there's no other wine like that in the world."
Makima gave him a deadpan stare, her mind silently admitting the truth. Damn it. . I've never tasted anything like this—the aroma, the sweetness, the complex warmth… There's nothing like it except in Kang Woo's ridiculous… whatever he calls it.
Kang Woo leaned forward a little, his eyes sparkling. "Come on. Say it. 'I like it.'"
Makima sighed heavily, her shoulders slumping in resignation. "Fine," she muttered, glaring at him through half-lidded eyes. "I like your chuuni fantasy drink that comes out of nowhere. Satisfied?"
A faint, victorious smirk played across Kang Woo's lips. After some minutes, the two of them finished off the last bites and sips of the extravagant dining spread that had been brought to their private rooftop garden.
Makima leaned back in her chair and gave him a sly look. "Kang Woo—you're a glutton, but you never get fat. Even I have to watch what I eat."
Kang Woo gave a casual shrug. "I can eat as much as I want… unless some crazy Control Devil keeps nagging me to finish my food."
Makima tilted her head back and let out a soft laugh, her voice melodic. "Ufufufu… maybe I should bother you more often, then."
Kang Woo arched a brow. "So… should we head to your apartment now? You're always bragging about it."
Makima lifted her chin a fraction, a faint pride gleaming in her eyes. "My apartment is pretty big, you know."
Kang Woo couldn't help thinking, You should've seen my Delsgade. It could fit the entire city of Tokyo inside.
Makima caught the faint shift in his expression and squinted at him. "I just saw something ill-mannered toward me pass through your mind."
Kang Woo cleared his throat, raising his hands innocently. "It's a good apartment… At the Tokyo city, that is."
Makima took that as a provocation. She let out a tiny huff, grabbed his arm firmly, and glared up at him. "We're leaving. You promised you'd stay. And that includes tonight."
Kang Woo fell silent, letting himself be pulled along. Deep down, he could sense how different Makima was now from the woman she'd once been—the one who'd hidden every move behind layers of manipulation. Ever since the day she confessed her true intentions to control him and failed, she'd grown more open… bolder… even a little honest. And now, she wasn't hiding her intentions under grand plans anymore.
Makima led Kang Woo through the streets toward her apartment. But halfway there, dark clouds rolled overhead, and the sudden downpour came crashing down. Thunder rumbled ominously from above.
Before a single raindrop touched them, swirling darkness flowed from Kang Woo's body. His shadows twisted and rose around them both, forming a seamless barrier that kept them perfectly dry under the torrential rain.
At that moment, Mikhail's telepathic voice echoed in Kang Woo's mind.
Master, the Entity's progress has reached 57 percent and is stable. Also… there's leftover Auswählen rain pooling over where I am. Should I transfer it via my Zaiphon runes?
Kang Woo's eyes flickered. Please do, Mikhail.
And three seconds later, the stormy Tokyo sky calmed. The clouds split apart like silk, revealing a brilliant dome of clear blue. From above, the Auswählen rain spilled down in gentle sheets—a shimmering blue radiance that washed over the entire city.
On the streets, people paused in wonder. Those touched by the rain felt a sudden fullness in their bodies, minor wounds closing, fatigue lifting as if they'd drunk in pure vitality.
Makima watched the glowing rainfall, then slowly turned her eyes back to Kang Woo, suspicion curling her lips. "You did this to impress me, didn't you, Kang Woo?"
Kang Woo shrugged, feigning nonchalance. " Maybe the wind blew off… and suddenly, blue rain happens."
Then, without another word, he stepped out of the darkness veil he'd formed around them. He spread his arms wide, as if embracing the sky—his posture echoing Eren's stance the moment he first felt freedom.
Rain cascaded over him in shimmering streaks of luminous blue. Yet the Auswählen rain seemed almost sentient, recognizing its master. It wrapped around Kang Woo like a living aura, pouring into him, deepening the power of the Quincy King within him. He could feel his mastery rising, edging closer to the level of the Father of Quincy himself—Yhwach.
Makima watched him with a faint smirk, then stepped forward and mirrored his pose, arms stretched wide into the falling blue rain.
Kang Woo said, glancing sideways at her. " You might get wet,"And ooh boy… this rain's going to infect you from the inside out."
Makima tilted her head, hair already soaked and glittering under the ethereal glow. "This isn't the first time I've been hit by your blue rain," she said evenly. "Besides… copying is the best way to understand you."
Kang Woo was about to reply when a small voice piped up nearby.
"Mommy, mommy… what are those two people doing?" a little boy asked, pointing straight at them with innocent curiosity.
The boy's mother paled, grabbed his arm, and quickly dragged him away. She leaned down and whispered urgently to her son, though her voice was still audible.
"Those two are just crazy, honey. Or hobos. They probably don't have a home."
As the pair disappeared into the crowd, Kang Woo blinked once, then turned to Makima with a wry grin. "There you go, Makima. Your stunt's got you mocked, too."
Makima flipped her hair back, droplets scattering like diamonds, and shot him a dry look. "Isn't a crazy person enough for this duo? I heard Americans say… assholes gotta stick together."
Without waiting for his reply, she tugged him by the hand and led him toward the entrance of her apartment building. As they reached the door, she glanced back over her shoulder.
"I live on the second floor. And the third. Are you okay with dogs?"
Kang Woo arched an eyebrow. "I think it's your dogs who'll need protection."
Makima rolled her eyes and unlocked the door. "We're here."
She swung the door open—and immediately, seven dogs bounded toward her, tails wagging furiously… until they saw Kang Woo standing beside her.
All seven froze mid-stride. One of the smaller dogs—a fluffy white one—peeled back its lips as if about to growl, but then abruptly squatted and peed in fright.
Kang Woo blinked, stared at the scene for half a second—then turned on his heel to leave.
Makima grabbed his arm in a small panic. "Wait! Please… just ignore the dogs. If they offend you, I'm —"
"Nope. Not offended." Kang Woo cut her off, glancing down at her hand on his arm. "But what's funny… is that your dogs have very good instincts."
Makima blinked, brow furrowing slightly.
"They know to stay away from me," Kang Woo continued, his voice low and distant. "They're making the right decision—a decision you've never been able to make, Makima. Because your instincts have probably dulled," Kang Woo murmured. "And after all… despair and evil always bring ruin to everyone."
Makima's lips pressed into a thin line. She tilted her chin up slightly, trying to sound tougher than she felt. "Kang Woo… are you trying to break our promise for today?"
Kang Woo didn't smile. His eyes flicked briefly to the trembling dogs. "Can the dogs survive this night?" he asked quietly.