The next day...
Lig stood silently, looking at the damage reports projected before him. His expression remained calm, but his eyes reflected the weight of the destruction.
"Nemo, how much damage has it caused?"
Nemo answered without hesitation.
"Nearly 150 billion Iko, sir."
For a brief moment, silence filled the room.
"Is there anything... or anyone inside?" Lig asked.
"Yes, sir," Nemo replied. "Four humans. They are all safe."
Lig gave a small nod.
"Let's go. I want to meet them."
AOB Sector 512 Health Facility
The reinforced corridors of the health facility were unusually quiet. Bright white lights reflected off the polished metallic walls as Lig and Nemo walked towards the highest-security safe room.
Behind the thick protective door were the four surviving humans from Planet 10E.
As the door's observation panel became visible, Lig looked inside.
One of them was sitting on the floor with tired eyes. Another paced restlessly across the room, unable to stay still. The remaining two were carefully inspecting the walls, perhaps searching for an exit or simply trying to understand where they had been brought.
Their faces carried the same emotions—fear, confusion, and disbelief.
Lig turned towards Nemo.
"No one has entered the room, right?"
"Yes, sir. No one has entered since they were brought here."
Lig gave a silent nod.
"Open it."
The heavy door unlocked with a deep mechanical click before slowly sliding open.
Lig stepped inside, with Nemo following closely behind.
The moment the four humans saw them, they froze.
Their eyes widened.
Instinctively, all except one stepped backwards in fear, unsure whether the two figures before them were friends or something far more dangerous.
Only one girl remained where she was.
She stared at Lig without blinking, as if trying to convince herself that what she was seeing was real.
After a long moment, she spoke in a quiet, trembling voice.
"...Am I dreaming?"
Lig looked at her calmly.
"No," he replied gently. "You're not."
The girl swallowed nervously before taking a hesitant step forward.
"My... my name is Ezra."
Lig smiled warmly.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Ezra. I'm Lig... and this is Nemo."
He gestured towards the woman standing beside him.
Nemo gave them a reassuring smile and raised a hand in greeting.
"Hello. There's no need to be afraid of us. We're friendly."
The tension in the room eased ever so slightly.
Lig took a few slow steps closer, careful not to make anyone uncomfortable.
"I believe I know all of you," he said. His gaze finally settled on one of the young men. "Especially him."
Ezra frowned in confusion.
"How...?"
"We've been observing your planet for many years," Lig replied calmly. "Among the 8.5 billion people living there, he stood out. There was something different about him. He really is..."
He paused, leaving the sentence unfinished.
Ezra let out a small smile and completed it for him.
"Yes."
She looked towards the young man.
"Just dragging."
Lig chuckled softly, recognising the familiar phrase.
"I thought so."
For the first time since arriving, the fear on Ezra's face faded. She turned towards the others and spoke with growing confidence.
"Guys... it's okay. They're good people."
The remaining three exchanged uncertain glances before slowly stepping forward.
Ezra began introducing them one by one.
"She's Ukiah."
The young woman gave a hesitant nod.
"He's Alan."
Alan offered a cautious smile.
"And he's Chris."
Chris simply folded his arms and nodded once.
Ezra looked back at Lig.
"They're all AHI..."
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"...except me."
Lig looked at the group with a warm smile.
"It's nice to meet all of you."
For the first time, Chris stepped forward. There was curiosity in his eyes, replacing the fear that had filled them moments ago.
"You said you've been watching us," he said. "Can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"What do you think about humans?"
Lig smiled faintly before answering.
"You are... just like every other intelligent civilisation."
The four listened in silence.
"You are beautiful artists, capable of creating things that leave even the universe in awe."
His voice softened.
"But you are also destroyers."
The room grew quiet.
"You possess incredible intelligence, yet you often act like fools. You build wonders with one hand and tear them down with the other."
He folded his arms.
"And there's one thing I've noticed about humanity."
The four waited.
"You hold on to your past far more than your future. Many of you believe what you're told without questioning it, and too few choose to think for themselves."
A brief silence followed.
Alan raised both hands dramatically.
"Woohoo... that's brutally accurate."
A small laugh escaped everyone, easing the atmosphere.
Nemo clapped her hands together.
"Enough of the serious talk."
She smiled brightly.
"Come with me. I'll give you all a small tour. Trust me, you're going to love this place."
Ezra's eyes lit up.
"That sounds amazing."
She glanced at Lig before looking back at the others.
"You three go with Nemo."
Then, turning towards Lig, she added,
"I'd like to spend some time talking with Lig."
Lig nodded.
"Alright."
A few minutes later...
Lig and Ezra arrived at one of the city's floating sectors.
Massive platforms drifted effortlessly through the sky, connected by elegant bridges of shimmering alloy. Crystal-clear streams flowed between gardens suspended in mid-air, while countless aircraft glided silently above them. The city seemed to exist somewhere between science and fantasy.
Ezra slowly turned in a circle, unable to hide her amazement.
"This city..."
She looked up at the floating structures with wide eyes.
"...it feels like it's straight out of an anime."
Lig smiled.
"Thank you."
His gaze wandered across the skyline.
"It wasn't always like this."
Ezra looked at him.
"Then why didn't you help us?"
Her question came without hesitation.
Lig let out a quiet laugh.
"Straight to the point."
"Answer me."
Her voice remained calm, but there was determination behind it.
Lig rested his hands on the railing overlooking the city.
"If I had interfered..." he said quietly, "everything that happened on your planet would still have happened."
He paused.
"Only... much more slowly."
Ezra frowned.
"But he..."
"I know."
Lig's expression became unusually serious.
"I know exactly who you're talking about."
He looked at her.
"But if you knew everything... if you heard the complete truth..."
His voice lowered.
"...you wouldn't have asked me that question."
Ezra blinked, completely caught off guard.
"Huh...?"
Lig remained silent for a moment.
Then, in a calm voice, he said,
"He is Death."
Ezra's eyes widened.
"What...?"
Before Lig could explain further, the peaceful atmosphere was shattered.
Footsteps echoed rapidly through the floating sector.
Nemo came rushing towards them, breathing heavily. Close behind her were Ukiah, Alan, and Chris, their expressions filled with concern.
Nemo stopped in front of Lig.
"Sir... it's an emergency."
Lig immediately turned serious.
"What happened?"
Nemo took a deep breath before speaking.
"The King of the Western Kingdom has been assassinated."
She paused.
"He was killed by the Royal God's Daughters."
Lig's expression hardened.
"You mean... those four sisters?"
"The daughters of the God Society?"
"Yes, sir."
Nemo nodded.
"They've taken control of the kingdom."
She hesitated before continuing.
"The Royal Sisters now rule the Western Kingdom."
A heavy silence followed.
"And, sir..."
She stopped midway.
Lig sighed quietly.
"I know what you're trying to say."
Ezra looked from Nemo to Lig, completely confused.
"But... why is everyone so worried?"
She frowned.
"Won't they turn the kingdom into a paradise?"
A faint smile appeared on Lig's face.
He looked away, his voice dropping to little more than a whisper.
"Really...?"
He let the word linger.
"Then tell me..."
"What did they do at Sakuta... eighteen years ago?"
Ezra froze.
The confidence in her voice disappeared instantly.
"What... happened?"
Before Lig could answer, Nemo stepped forward.
"It's nothing."
She forced a gentle smile.
"Forget about it."
Looking at the four humans, she continued,
"Come with me. I'll take you to your hotel so you can rest."
Ezra looked back at Lig.
There was something about him that made every answer raise even more questions.
This guy is... really interesting.
And I want to see what happens next.
Nemo noticed the curiosity in Ezra's eyes but chose not to say anything.
Lig quietly reached into his pocket, took out his phone, and made a call.
...
Vrrr...
Vrrr...
Vrrr...
The call connected after the third ring.
Anny answered almost instantly.
"Yes, Cap."
Lig let out a quiet sigh.
"Sorry to interrupt your date... but this is an emergency."
His voice had completely changed. It was calm, but carried an unmistakable urgency.
"Where are you two right now?"
"We're at the Royal Hugo Hotel in Hanamori."
The moment she said the city's name, Lig's expression darkened.
"Shit."
His reply came almost instinctively.
"Listen carefully. Whatever you do... don't leave the hotel."
A brief silence followed.
"Okay..."
Anny sounded confused.
"But why?"
"Turn on the news."
"...Alright, Cap."
The call ended.
Lig immediately looked towards Nemo.
"Any information about Hanamori?"
Nemo's holographic display flickered to life.
"No, sir."
She shook her head.
"After the incident, the entire city was engulfed in complete darkness. We've lost all visual contact."
She enlarged a heat map.
"There are no confirmed signs of life..."
She paused.
"...but we're still detecting multiple heat signatures."
Her expression became increasingly serious.
"We have to act quickly."
"If we delay any longer, they'll reach them first."
"Our men are already in danger."
Lig nodded once.
"I'm coming."
"Give me a moment."
Without another word, he turned and walked away.
His footsteps echoed through the corridor until he disappeared into his private room.
A tense silence settled over the hallway.
Nemo looked towards the four humans.
"Come on."
"I'll take you to your hotel."
Ezra, however, didn't move.
Her eyes remained fixed on the door Lig had just entered.
"Can I... talk to him?"
Nemo gently shook her head.
"He won't."
Ezra remained quiet for a moment.
"Then..."
She took a slow breath.
"At least show me where his room is."
Nemo studied her face for a few seconds.
She could see the determination in Ezra's eyes.
After a brief pause, she gave a small nod.
"...Alright."
"Follow me."
Nemo stopped outside a quiet room and looked at Ezra.
"He's in there."
Without waiting for a reply, she quietly walked away, leaving Ezra alone in the silent corridor.
Ezra stood before the door for a few moments. Taking a deep breath, she gently knocked.
"I'm coming in."
Receiving no reply, she slowly pushed the door open.
The room was dimly lit.
Lig sat alone on a chair beside a wide glass window, a warm drink resting in his hand. Beyond the glass, the endless sky stretched across the horizon, painted with soft shades of gold and blue. Birds drifted peacefully through the air, and the distant gardens swayed gently in the breeze.
He never turned around.
Instead, he continued looking at the sky.
"Isn't the sky beautiful?"
His voice was quiet.
"And nature..."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Isn't it beautiful too?"
He took another sip from his cup.
"The songs of birds..."
"The fragrance of flowers..."
He closed his eyes for a brief moment.
"Don't they make it feel as though we're already living in heaven?"
Ezra slowly walked to the window and stood beside him.
"Yes..."
"They do."
For a long moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Lig whispered,
"And they're coming..."
His eyes remained fixed on the horizon.
"...to burn all of this."
The warmth in his voice disappeared.
"Even as the Captain of AOB..."
He let out a bitter laugh.
"...I lost."
His head slowly lowered.
"I was the reason."
"I was foolish."
"They tore my heart away... right before my eyes."
His grip around the cup tightened.
He slowly looked down at his own trembling hands.
"She was lying here..."
His voice broke for the first time.
"...in my arms."
"I tried to stop the bleeding."
"I tried..."
"But no matter what I did..."
He stared silently at his hands.
"...I couldn't stop the blood."
The room fell into complete silence.
"I was lost."
He swallowed heavily.
"And while I stood there..."
"I watched the whole of Ingria burn."
His eyes slowly closed.
The horrifying memories returned as vividly as if they had happened only yesterday.
"I can still hear them..."
"The screams."
After several long seconds, he slowly opened his eyes again.
"To save the people who were left..."
"I fought."
"I fought until the very end."
A faint, exhausted smile crossed his face.
"And we won."
His smile disappeared just as quickly.
"But before they fell..."
"They promised..."
"They would return."
Silence.
Then, almost as though he was speaking to himself rather than to Ezra, he whispered,
"I was the villain."
"I caused all of this."
He lowered his gaze once more.
"So tell me..."
"Was it worth it?"
His voice had become little more than a whisper.
"They were right..."
"N..."
Ezra looked at him for a long moment before speaking.
"A person who keeps standing... who keeps fighting until the very end..."
She paused.
"A person who spends his life protecting others..."
Her eyes met Lig's.
"...how does someone like that become the bad guy?"
Lig remained silent.
"I don't know much about this world," Ezra continued softly. "But I do know one thing about humans."
She let out a faint, bittersweet smile.
"They love being saved."
She took another step closer.
"But after they're safe..."
"They expect their saviour to keep sacrificing everything."
"And if that saviour falls..."
"They're quick to call him the villain."
Ezra gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
Her touch was light, almost hesitant.
"They rarely stop to ask what the person standing in front of them is feeling."
"They'll make jokes."
"They'll criticise."
"They'll humiliate."
"And if you finally gather the courage to tell them what you're carrying inside..."
A sad smile crossed her face.
"...some of them will simply laugh."
Silence filled the room.
"But even a hero..." she whispered.
"...needs to rest."
"He needs a place where he doesn't have to pretend to be strong."
"He needs someone."
Lig stared out of the window again.
"The closer you get to your dream..."
His voice was calm, almost emotionless.
"...the lonelier the journey becomes."
He smiled faintly.
"The more you choose to be yourself instead of becoming what others want you to be..."
"...the fewer people remain beside you."
Ezra nodded.
"That's true."
She looked at the endless sky beyond the window.
"But one day..."
"You'll meet someone who understands that loneliness."
"Someone who's just like you."
A gentle smile appeared on her face.
"It won't be easy."
"But it'll be worth it."
Lig gave a quiet laugh.
"I already lost that chance..."
His eyes lowered.
"...many years ago."
After a brief pause, he added,
"Maybe..."
"She was never meant to be mine."
Ezra looked at him with quiet certainty.
"No."
She shook her head.
"You haven't lost it."
"You just haven't reached that chapter yet."
Her smile grew warmer.
"So don't stop."
"Keep moving."
"For yourself."
Lig looked at her for several seconds before smiling.
"We've only known each other for a few hours..."
He chuckled softly.
"...yet I think you're right."
Ezra laughed.
"When you finally take off those invisible glasses..."
She pointed gently towards his eyes.
"...the world begins to look different."
"You start noticing the tired smiles..."
"The silent battles..."
"The people who keep giving without expecting anything back."
She looked at Lig.
"And suddenly..."
"The world doesn't feel one-sided anymore."
Lig slowly stood.
For the first time since she had entered the room, there was a genuine smile on his face.
"You're right."
He looked at her with quiet admiration.
"You really are... different."
He returned to his chair and made a small gesture towards the empty seat beside him.
"Sit."
Ezra smiled and sat beside him.
Without saying a word, Lig picked up another cup from the table and handed it to her.
Ezra looked at the warm drink curiously.
"What is this?"
Lig smiled as he handed her the cup.
"It's coffee."
Ezra looked at it for a second before her eyes lit up.
"A latte?"
Lig nodded.
"Yes."
A bright smile spread across her face.
"It's my favourite."
Lig chuckled.
"Really? It's my favourite too."
For a moment, they simply enjoyed the peaceful silence, sipping their coffee while watching the sky outside.
After a while, Lig spoke again.
"So..."
"Are you planning to return to Earth?"
Ezra nodded slowly.
"I think we'll try to go back as soon as possible."
"I understand."
Lig rested his cup on the table.
"But before you leave..."
His tone became slightly more serious.
"Can you all keep everything you've seen here a secret?"
Ezra didn't hesitate.
She smiled warmly.
"We will."
Lig looked relieved.
"Thank you."
After a brief pause, he looked at her again.
"Before you go back..."
"Would you like to meet next Sunday?"
Ezra blinked in surprise.
"...Okay."
A playful smile slowly appeared on her face.
"But why?"
Lig scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"I haven't... gone out like that with anyone for years."
Ezra studied him for a moment before asking,
"That girl..."
"The one you were talking about."
"Was she your crush?"
Lig smiled faintly.
"Yes."
He looked out of the window once again.
"But we were never in a relationship."
"Oh..."
Ezra nodded thoughtfully.
Then a mischievous smile appeared on her face.
"By the way... are we just hanging out next Sunday?"
Lig laughed.
"You can call it that."
Ezra couldn't help smiling as she lifted the cup and took another sip of her latte.
After a moment, curiosity got the better of her.
"So..."
"What exactly is AOB?"
Lig leaned back in his chair.
"Here, AOB is an independent military and all-in-one private organisation."
He continued,
"AOB stands for Allies of Blossoms, and it's owned by Blossom Industries."
Narrator
"He's right."
"AOB is an independent military and an all-in-one private organisation."
"But it is only one piece of a much larger world."
"There are countless organisations, kingdoms, alliances, and powers still waiting to be discovered."
"Some truths refuse to reveal themselves before their time."
"Some mysteries are meant to unfold one chapter at a time."
"So, be patient."
"The world will reveal itself as the story moves forward."
The narrator paused, as though leaning closer to the reader.
"But before we continue..."
"Let me leave you with one small question."
The person you believe is standing beside you at the High Table...
...are they truly on your side?
Elsewhere...
Inside a room at the Royal Hugo Hotel, an uneasy silence hung in the air.
Anny paced back and forth, her hands trembling slightly.
"We're completely screwed."
She looked towards Leo.
"If they find us, we're finished."
Her voice grew heavier.
"They'll throw us into prison the moment they learn we're from AOB territory."
Leo remained calm despite the growing tension.
"We'll be okay."
He offered a reassuring smile.
"We've been through worse."
Before Anny could reply—
BANG!
The hotel room door burst open, splintering into pieces.
Several armed figures stormed inside.
A commanding male voice echoed through the room.
"Catch them!"
Narrator
"What exactly is happening?"
"Why didn't Lig reveal her name?"
"What happened in the past?"
"What secret is he hiding that continues to haunt him?"
"What fate awaits Anny and Leo?"
"And the biggest question of all..."
Is Lig truly the hero of this story...
...or has he been the villain all along?