Tsuna and his party returned to the surface after encountering the talking Siren.
"A talking Siren… So there really are other monsters just like Wiene…"
Tsuna explained everything that had transpired in the Dungeon to Hestia and the others. Learning that entities like Wiene actually existed left Mikoto and Lili stunned.
After returning to the surface, Bell had gone for a walk around the city, saying he needed some time alone to think. Haruhime was playing with Wiene, and Reborn had been summoned back to their original world by the 9th Boss.
"Lili believes we need to stop harboring Lady Wiene."
"Miss Lili!? What are you saying!?"
"I will be blunt. We are stepping into an incredibly dangerous, highly suspicious powder keg. Between [Irregulars] that not even the Gods know about, and an armed group actively hunting these talking monsters—not to mention the fact that we've now confirmed the existence of other individuals capable of human speech—this situation is far too volatile for us to handle."
"But to stop harboring her… What would happen to Lady Wiene!? If we abandon her, she will be…!"
Haruhime had grown deeply attached to Wiene. Hearing Lili's proposal, Mikoto immediately pushed back on Haruhime's behalf.
"Then I'll just use my illusions to…!"
"Can you maintain a perfect illusion around the clock?"
"That's…"
"And even if you could maintain it constantly, what happens if we run into someone who can see through it, or another illusionist? Master Tsuna, you were the one who told us the weakness of your illusions."
"…"
Having his own words from the War Game used against him, Tsuna couldn't formulate a counterargument.
"There are no absolutes in this world. If the city discovers we are harboring Lady Wiene, it is obvious that our Familia will be condemned by all of Orario. Therefore, she must leave the city. If she hides somewhere like the Dense Forest of Seoro, she should be able to survive."
To protect her Familia, Lili finally touched upon the grim reality everyone else had been actively avoiding. Still, unable to choose the heartless option of simply killing Wiene, she offered a compromise.
Even though they were both technically monsters, there was a massive power gap between the monsters born in the Dungeon and the monsters roaming the surface. Because Wiene was a Dragon-type born in the Dungeon, Lili reasoned she was strong enough to survive in the wilderness outside Orario.
"Right now, she is nothing but a ticking time bomb. Even if we are safe today, the day will inevitably come when she puts this Familia in danger. I know there is no point in telling this to Master Bell; he is far too soft-hearted. Even if you hate me for it, Lili must make the hard choices. We cannot protect her."
No matter how hard they tried to conceal Wiene's existence, there was zero guarantee they could hide her forever. Because Lili's logic was correct, no one could argue back, and a heavy silence descended over the room.
"We cannot stay with her. She is a monster."
"…That conclusion is a bit premature. You need to calm down, Supporter-kun."
"…I apologize."
Sensing the atmosphere becoming strained, Hestia stepped in and gently reprimanded Lili to cut the conversation short. Realizing Hestia's intent, Lili lowered her head and apologized.
Suddenly, Mikoto sensed an anomaly. She bolted out into the hallway and scanned the area.
"What's wrong, Mikoto?"
"Lady Wiene is gone…!?"
"Eh!?"
Using her [Yata no Kurogarasu] skill to sweep the Manor, Mikoto confirmed Wiene was no longer inside the building. Her face contorted in a bitter grimace.
"Don't tell me she heard our conversation and…!?"
"Hurry!! We have to find Wiene-kun!!"
Welf immediately deduced that Wiene must have overheard Lili's harsh words and run away in shock.
At Hestia's command, Tsuna and the others rushed out of the Manor to search for Wiene.
─────
Afterward, they regrouped with Bell, quickly explaining the situation so he could join the search.
We have to find her quickly!! They had given her a heavy robe to camouflage her features, but if her true identity was exposed, she would be killed. Tsuna frantically sprinted through the streets, desperately searching for any sign of her.
"I heard a monster appeared in the city!!"
"What!?"
Don't tell me!? Hearing the panicked shouts of the citizens, Tsuna knew Wiene's identity had been exposed.
"Excuse me!!"
Tsuna grabbed a passerby, asked for the location of the monster sighting, and sprinted off again. As he neared the area, the cacophony of angry shouts, curses, and terrified screams from citizens and adventurers reached his ears.
"Master Tsuna!!"
Lili, having heard the same commotion, came running up from another street.
"Lili will save Lady Wiene!!"
Seeing Tsuna here confirmed that they were heading toward the same target. Resolving to fix her mistake, Lili prepared to chant her shape-shifting magic.
"No. I'll go."
Realizing Lili intended to disguise herself to rescue Wiene, Tsuna entered Hyper Dying Will Mode and switched his flames from Sky to Mist.
"Please wait!! This is Lili's fault!! Lili must be the one to do this!!"
She had willingly played the villain to protect her Familia. But because of her careless words, she had inadvertently plunged her Familia into the exact danger she was trying to avoid. Overwhelmed by guilt, Lili tried to take responsibility.
"I know you want to take responsibility. But you aren't fast enough; they might catch up to you. If that happens, your magic will be exposed."
"!?"
Even if she changed her appearance, her base mobility was far inferior to Tsuna's. If the mob chased her down, her shape-shifting magic would be revealed. If the public learned of her ability, malicious individuals would undoubtedly seek to exploit it, and the victims she had robbed in the past would inevitably come seeking revenge.
Hearing Tsuna's logic, Lili realized that in her rush to atone, she had forgotten the severe risks involved. She forced herself to calm down.
"…Master Tsuna. Take this. It's a deodorizer."
"Thanks."
Having regained her composure, Lili pulled a small vial of deodorizer—a countermeasure against beast-people with sharp noses—from her pouch and handed it to Tsuna. He quickly sprayed himself to mask his scent.
"Bell and the others should be around here somewhere. Tell them to head straight back to the Manor."
"Understood."
Tsuna used his Mist Flames to construct a heavy robe and disguise his appearance. He leaped into the air, and Lili turned back to search the crowd for Bell.
─────
Meanwhile, Wiene was…
It hurts… it hurts so much… Surrounded by a furious mob, bombarded with curses and pelting stones, she curled into a tight ball on the ground, trembling.
After hearing Lili's words, Wiene was devastated. Desperate to find Bell, she ran out of Hearth Manor. While wandering the streets, she saw a cart lose its balance, its heavy cargo threatening to crush a small child. Without thinking, she deployed her wings to shield the child from the falling debris.
But she received no words of gratitude. The child screamed in terror. And just like that, Wiene's existence as a monster was exposed to the citizens of Orario.
Please, save me… Tears streamed down her face as she silently cried out for help.
It was then.
"Eh?"
Suddenly, a robed figure swooped in, scooped her into his arms, and leaped away. The sudden rescue left both the angry mob and Wiene stunned.
"Hold on tight."
"Eh…!?"
Because Tsuna had disguised his voice and appearance, Wiene didn't recognize the person holding her.
Tsuna ducked into a deserted alleyway. Shifting his illusion, he transformed both himself and Wiene into birds, taking to the sky.
Who is this…? Though she didn't know his identity, the stranger didn't radiate the hostility of the mob. Instead, she felt a profound, comforting warmth.
A short flight later, Tsuna arrived at Hearth Manor, landing near the back entrance just to be safe.
"Phew…"
"Tsuna…!?"
Tsuna switched his flames from Mist back to Sky, dispelling the illusion. Seeing his true face, Wiene's eyes went wide with shock.
"Are you hurt, Wiene?"
"Y-Yeah…"
"We're safe now. Bell and the others will be back soon. Let's wait for them inside."
"Hey, Tsuna…"
"What is it?"
"Am I… not allowed to stay with Bell and everyone else…!?"
"!?"
Seeing her heartbreaking expression, Tsuna felt his chest tighten painfully.
"You didn't do anything wrong… I want you to stay with us, too. But with my current power, I can't create a place where you can live in peace… I'm so sorry…"
Faced with Wiene's innocent plea, all Tsuna could do was apologize.
----
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