Time passed.
A very long time.
Mao went out into the garden.
And waited.
And waited.
And waited.
After several hours, a rift finally appeared.
Mao immediately stood up.
Her eyes widened with anticipation as she watched the rift slowly open.
She stood directly in front of it, waiting.
A figure stepped through.
Sasaki.
Mao's expression immediately changed.
Something was different.
His face was calmer.
His eyes were heavier.
He looked exhausted.
Not physically.
Mentally.
Mao stared at him.
"...Sasaki?"
Sasaki looked at her.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Hey, Mao."
Mao immediately rushed toward him and wrapped her arms around him.
Sasaki was gone for three years.
Mao sobbed into his chest while Sasaki gently patted her head.
"You've been gone for so long! I missed you so much!"
Her voice cracked as she cried harder.
"I'm okay, Mao. I'm back."
Mao hugged him even tighter.
The other Architects soon arrived to welcome him back.
But they immediately noticed something was wrong.
Sasaki looked like he had just returned from a war.
Or worse.
Like he had witnessed a massacre.
Sasaki waved at the others while Mao remained in his arms.
Then, Sasaki looked at something floating in front of him.
The others couldn't see it.
His Essence window.
[Essence]
Name: Sasaki Oyuki
Height: 6'3
Age: 19
Incarnation: The Coalescence
"A man who witnessed hell and walked out like it was another regular day."
[Achievement Unlocked]
Cleared the Kingdom Simulation
Sasaki's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Hey, Sasaki. Are you okay?"
Mao's tears still streamed down her cheeks.
"Yeah. I'm fine."
Sasaki looked at her teary eyes and gently wiped them away.
"How have things been while I've been gone?"
"It's been fine," Love answered.
"No, it hasn't," Force interrupted.
"Mao has been crying every single day since you left."
Sasaki looked at Mao.
"Huh? Why would she cry for me?"
Mao immediately looked away.
"Can you let go of me now?"
"Right! I'm sorry."
Mao hurriedly let go of Sasaki.
Love looked at Sasaki.
"Did the Kingdom treat you well?"
"No."
"Why is that?"
Sasaki's expression darkened.
He slowly lifted his hand toward Love.
"This guy is annoying."
"...!"
"Sasaki, stop!"
Mao rushed forward to stop him.
But she was too late.
Love's head rolled across the ground.
Silence.
Force stared at the body.
"......"
Mao looked at the severed head and slowly closed her eyes.
Sasaki looked at Love's body.
"Oh no. My bad."
He smiled sarcastically.
"My hand slipped."
He stared at the corpse for another moment.
"That guy really pissed me off."
Silence.
Sasaki looked at the others.
"Hey, what's with the frowns?"
He smiled.
"Smile. I came back safely!"
Nobody answered.
Mao stared at him.
Her expression was filled with confusion.
Her voice trembled.
"Sasaki... What happened to you?"
Sasaki's smile faded slightly.
"A lot."
He crouched down in front of her.
"But don't blame yourself, okay?"
Mao stared at him.
"It may have been torture..."
Sasaki smiled faintly.
"But I'd do anything for you. Right?"
Mao's eyes widened.
She stared at him in horror.
And then she understood.
Sasaki hadn't granted anyone's wishes.
Not even one.
"Y-You..."
Her voice trembled.
"You killed them all."
Sasaki tilted his head.
"I wouldn't say I killed them."
His expression remained calm.
"More like Siv did."
Mao collapsed to the ground.
She covered her face as her elegant white garments flowed in the wind.
Sasaki crouched beside her.
"Mao."
He gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
"It's not your fault."
"I just..."
Mao's voice broke.
"I just wanted information."
Sasaki stared at her for a moment.
Then he cast a sleeping spell.
Mao's body went limp.
Sasaki caught her and carefully lifted her into his arms.
"Hey!"
Force stepped forward.
"Drop her. Now."
Sasaki looked toward him.
"..."
Time's expression hardened.
"Step down, Kural."
He tightened his grip on his cane.
"He's not someone to be taken lightly."
Sasaki glanced toward Time.
"Shut up, old man."
He raised his hand.
The atmosphere around him changed.
Sasaki whispered an incantation.
"O Flames of Hell..."
Dark flames began gathering around his hand.
"...burn my foes until they are reduced to ash."
Sasaki's eyes narrowed.
"Devil's Breath."