Central Government Castle, Dominatus — Vanguard Residence.
His brows furrow.
"Huh?" he murmurs softly, already aware of what crosses his mind, yet asking to confirm.
"That is most unfortunate," Johan replies calmly, "if the one you are searching for has already died."
Light's gaze sharpens at once.
"And he would have been a worthy opponent for you, in my opinion," Johan continues.
Silence lingers for a moment.
"And yes," Johan adds, "the one I sent did not find the crystal pendant around his neck."
—THUD. Light clenches his fist.
His fist slams into the table between them.
—CRAAASH. Cracks spread instantly from the point of impact. The thick wood partially shatters, fragments lifting slightly.
Light exhales once, heavily.
He lowers his head, then slowly raises his face again.
His gaze is cold.
"I have no intention of troubling myself to leave this planet without that crystal around my neck," he says flatly.
His hand rises, supporting his cheek, his elbow resting on the cracked table.
"Entertain me," he continues, "with whatever plan you have."
Johan smiles faintly.
A smile that clearly carries a hint of mockery.
"Of course," he replies lightly.
He folds his arms across his chest.
"I shall ensure my guest is entertained."
Light stares at him without blinking.
Johan leans slightly forward.
"I am nearly fully prepared," he continues, "to send them."
Light does not interrupt.
"Individuals of immense strength," Johan says, "who died in the past."
He lifts his chin slightly.
"I have revived them."
Silence returns.
The wind from the window grows stronger, causing the curtains to sway more widely.
Johan continues.
"I will use them to eliminate the remaining rebels."
His tone remains calm.
"And after that…" he pauses briefly, then looks up toward the ceiling, "…I will take control of this world completely."
Light tilts his head slightly upward as well.
"Hm?" he murmurs.
His gaze returns to Johan.
"…With that magic near you?"
Johan does not answer immediately.
He simply smiles faintly.
"What else?" he replies.
He leans back casually.
"Their bodies have been preserved for a long time."
Johan raises one hand, gesturing lightly toward the floor, as if indicating something unseen.
"I have kept them myself," he continues, "since that laboratory ceased operation."
Light narrows his eyes.
Johan continues without pause.
"The rebellion of the previous generation," he says, "and the last holder of the crystal who joined it… threw everything into chaos."
He exhales briefly.
"Well, that is in the past."
Light remains silent.
Johan looks directly at him again.
"This magic I have just obtained," he says, "requires time to adapt."
He raises one finger.
"At least a week."
Johan begins to rise from his seat.
He stands upright.
Then he looks upward once more.
His arms spread wide, as if welcoming something immense.
"I will send them after that, and I will obtain what I desire," he declares.
The wind enters again through the window.
The curtains billow more forcefully.
Light observes.
"Heh," he murmurs.
"What is so interesting about that?"
He tilts his head slightly.
"Are they stronger than those who stand in your way?"
Johan slowly lowers his arms.
His head follows.
His gaze returns to Light.
"I am reviving individuals with vast experience," he answers.
His tone remains flat, yet firm.
"Far beyond them."
He raises his brows slightly.
"Experience never lies, you know."
Light does not respond immediately.
He continues to stare.
Johan resumes.
"Just wait."
He tilts his head slightly.
"If they cannot be stopped so easily…"
Johan pauses briefly.
His faint smile returns.
"…then I will send the pinnacle of humanity."
Light raises an eyebrow slightly.
Johan meets his gaze directly.
"As a fitting conclusion," he says softly.
"For them—and for us."
---
Day seven after Hiro's death, one week later.
Inside a quiet room, the window curtains are half closed. Faint morning light seeps in, illuminating part of the messy space.
On the bed, Rose lies on her side.
Her body curls into itself.
Both arms clutch a pillow tightly.
Her face is pale.
Dark circles are clearly visible beneath her eyes.
Her eyes are closed, but she is not truly asleep.
Around her, photographs are scattered across the bed.
Some are folded.
Some have fallen onto the floor.
One of her hands holds a camera.
It is the same camera she bought at the market at the beginning of the journey.
Her grip is weak, yet she never lets it go.
Slowly, her eyes open.
An empty gaze.
She does not move at once.
She simply stares at the wall in front of her.
A few seconds pass.
Her other hand moves slowly.
She reaches for one of the photos beside her.
It is slightly crumpled.
Rose lifts it carefully.
Her eyes fix on it.
In the photograph—
Hiro is sleeping soundly.
His head tilts slightly.
His face looks exhausted.
A thin line of drool rests at the corner of his lips.
Rose remembers.
That moment inside the carriage.
Oliver is holding back his laughter beside her.
Rose herself is almost laughing.
She keeps taking pictures.
Holding back her laughter because Hiro's face looks terrible while he sleeps.
The corner of Rose's lips moves slightly.
A faint smile appears.
For the first time in days.
But—
A tear falls.
One drop.
Two drops.
They fall onto the photograph.
Drop. Drop.
The smile remains.
Along with the tears.
Her hand trembles slightly.
She continues to stare at the photo.
Another memory surfaces.
Rose almost always photographs Hiro while he is asleep inside the carriage.
Sometimes during the day.
Sometimes at night.
His face always looks the same.
Tired.
Unaware.
And always terrible when he sleeps.
Rose exhales slowly.
Her hand moves again.
She takes another photo.
A mountain landscape.
Endless rows stretching outward.
The sky wide above them.
In the distance, the sea lies along the horizon.
It feels as though the wind flows out from the image itself.
Rose stares at it for a long time.
But—
Her hand moves again.
The next photo.
Hiro.
On horseback.
His expression is serious.
The wind moves through his hair.
His eyes are focused forward.
Rose exhales softly.
Another photo.
A vast panorama from the side of the carriage.
Mountains.
Lakes.
Long rivers.
Rolling hills.
Small settlements.
Everything is clear.
But—
Once again.
Hiro.
On horseback.
Captured from a different angle.
Rose stares at it longer this time.
Her hand begins to tremble more strongly.
Her breathing changes.
Short.
Heavy.
Her eyes begin to redden.
More tears fall.
Drop. Drop. Drop.
Her chest rises and falls.
She inhales—
Then holds it.
Her hand tightens around the photograph.
Then—
She presses her face into the pillow.
A muffled sob escapes.
Soft.
Yet clear.
"Ukh…!"
Her body trembles.
Her crying deepens.
Not loud.
But continuous.
Outside the room, footsteps are heard.
Soft.
They stop in front of the door.
The door opens slowly.
KREEEK.
Olivia enters.
Her eyes immediately turn toward the bed.
She sees Rose.
A curled body.
A pillow covering her face.
The sound of restrained crying.
Olivia says nothing.
She walks closer.
Sits on the edge of the bed.
Slowly, she places a hand on Rose's head.
She gently pulls her closer.
Rose's head now rests on her lap.
Her other hand strokes Rose's shoulder.
Slowly.
Repeatedly.
"Stop grieving, Rose…" Olivia murmurs softly.
Her hand continues to stroke her shoulder.
"I am always here."
Rose does not respond.
Her quiet sobbing continues.
Olivia exhales lightly.
"Breakfast is ready," she continues.
She lowers her gaze slightly.
Looking at Rose.
"Come and eat..."
A few seconds of silence.
The wind from the window shifts the curtain slightly.
"After that, we will be traveling to Gaelvorn..." she adds.
Her hand pauses briefly on Rose's shoulder.
"... To meet your father, alright."