Just as Lin Wei once again climbed the small hill he had previously climbed with Raven, and was lying half-reclined in the grass, filled with the warmth of the afternoon, staring blankly at the clear blue sky, Sora, at some point, followed him up from below.
"Big Brother Lin Wei, so you're here..."
Although the hill wasn't high, it was still a bit strenuous for this slender little girl. She put her hands on her knees and panted for a few breaths, then, as if worried about disturbing Lin Wei, carefully walked towards his position.
"Sora, you're here too?"
Upon hearing the little girl's voice, Lin Wei sat up and asked, "What's wrong? Does your teacher need me for something?"
Although he knew that if Raven needed something, she would come to him directly and not ask a third person to relay the message, it didn't stop Lin Wei from casually finding a conversation starter to greet Sora.
"No, Teacher is fine, and there's nothing special."
Sora took small steps to Lin Wei's side. Lin Wei moved a fairly flat stone from the other side. Sora said "thank you," then smoothed her skirt and sat down obediently. She shook her head and said, "It's just that I noticed that after Big Brother Lin Wei came back from his trip two days ago, you seem to be much more downcast than before, often running off to a corner to daze like this..."
"Is it that obvious? Sora is such an observant child..."
Lin Wei was stunned for a moment, patted her hair, and smiled, "Don't worry, nothing happened to me. I just finally have some time to rest a little and also finally have time to think about the future. Sorry for making you worry."
After injecting the embryonic gene potion obtained from the World Serpent laboratory into Yuno's body, she quickly fell into a deep sleep.
After settling her down, Lin Wei stayed by her side, accompanying and observing her all night. Only after confirming that Yuno's vital signs were normal, her breathing was steady, and no accidents had occurred, did he finally breathe a sigh of relief and leave her room.
The things he could do for Yuno were pretty much just these. But with one matter basically resolved, there were still many more tricky problems waiting for him one by one—
Ana had fallen into Otto's hands. How she was doing now, how she was being treated, Lin Wei knew nothing. How was he going to snatch her from Otto's hands?
Yae Sakura, as the Stigmata connected to his own life, snatching her back from the hands of fate's death was an even more troublesome issue than Yuno's—according to the method recorded in the Bodhi leaf Su had given him, he had to find a way to obtain the real Sumeru World Bubble.
In other words, he would most likely have to find a way to get in touch with the real Su...
Putting aside the fact that the real-world pioneers and the Elysian Realm's Flame-Chasers were not entirely the same individuals—after all, judging by his actions towards Durandal, the real Su was clearly much more deranged than the one in the Elysian Realm—would he be willing to see him? And what could he use to persuade him to hand over the Sumeru World Bubble? That was the very foundation of his existence!
Lin Wei had no clue about this...
And even if all these factors were ignored, not considered at all, there was still a most important problem that couldn't be bypassed—that fellow wasn't in the real world at all, but hidden within the Second Divine Key, holed up inside the Sumeru World Bubble.
In other words, he had to be able to stand before the Second Divine Key first to even be qualified to consider the subsequent difficulties...
And now, the Second Divine Key had fallen into Otto's hands.
In other words, even for this simplest first step, that man named "Otto Apocalypse" was still blocking his way. And standing by his side would undoubtedly be that number one Valkyrie in the world, Durandal.
"Suddenly feels like I've shot myself in the foot..."
Remembering that it was he who had told Otto the information about the Second Divine Key, leading to the current awkward situation, Lin Wei felt a toothache—although Otto had already eliminated most of the wrong locations and answers, and was only a hair's breadth away from touching the Second Divine Key, Lin Wei had just helped him pierce that final layer of paper.
His original intention was to use this to extricate himself and, incidentally, cause some trouble for World Serpent, which had just caused the Great Honkai Eruption in Manila. But he had never expected that this trouble would ultimately turn into a perfect boomerang, landing squarely on his own head...
"Otto, heh..."
Lin Wei chewed on a blade of grass he had casually picked, lying on the ground and looking up at the blue sky, as if gazing at that floating island above the sky, as if meeting the gaze of the man who ruled that floating island across the void.
He knew very well that Otto would definitely use Ana, setting up a deadly trap around her to lure him in, waiting day and night for him to step into it. But so what?
Since the path to a new future for both Ana and Yae Sakura was destined to be unable to bypass that fellow, then so be it!
"Big Brother Lin Wei, are you feeling very tired?"
Sora, hearing Lin Wei say that, said with some emotion and nostalgia, "Before, when we were still in Nagazora City, Teacher often had to leave us, and it would be a very, very long time before she could come back..."
"Is that so? That must have been really hard on Sora, having to take care of so many younger brothers and sisters as the big sister." Lin Wei said.
"It wasn't hard! The one who's really working hard is Teacher. She has to go to work, earn money, and bring back a lot of living supplies for all of us to live together. I just want to help her share a little of the burden."
Sora shook her head and said, "Although she never complained to us about how hard it was, and always faced everyone with the happiest and most beautiful smile, I know that every time before she went out to work, or when she came back from outside, she would always be like you, Big Brother Lin Wei, finding an empty place to daze, sometimes sitting motionless for an entire afternoon, or even longer, only coming back long after it got dark..."
"...Is that so? So she's done things like that."
Lin Wei was silent for a moment, Raven's image flashing in his mind. He said with emotion, "She probably didn't want to bring any bad moods or states to you guys..."
Although Raven looks shrewd, capable, and not to be trifled with, she is a very emotional and kind person.
If the Honkai had never happened in this world, perhaps becoming a real teacher, rather than a mercenary and assassin now, would be the life she truly wanted...
"Mm, I know. Teacher never wants us to worry about her. It's just..."
After hesitating for a moment, Sora said, "Big Brother Lin Wei, the way you are now, does it mean... you're leaving again?"
Remembering the unannounced departure back in Nagazora City, she felt a wave of sadness.
When Teacher came back, she relayed that he had urgent matters to attend to, and then she hadn't seen him again for a long time.
Sora sometimes often felt regret. If she hadn't frequently asked him for help finding things needed in The Nest back then, would he not have left?
"...Mm, after your Big Sister Yuno wakes up, I should be leaving."
Lin Wei thought for a moment and decided not to lie. He just smiled lightly and said ambiguously, "Adults have adult worries. Like your teacher, I also have to work and earn money."
It's better not to tell children some things. Just as Raven wouldn't let Sora know about the hails of bullets and bloody storms she experienced in the outside world, as children, their world should be different from adults'.
"...Is that so?"
Hearing an answer she didn't want to hear, Sora's heart sank slightly, her small hands couldn't help but clench tightly. "Then... will you come back again?"
Just like now...
Perhaps children who have experienced trauma are particularly afraid of loss. Even though she knew Lin Wei never belonged to this small shelter, she was also very reluctant to part with this precious companion and brother.
"I will." Lin Wei said.
I just don't know when the next time will be, he silently added in his heart.
"Mm!"
Although it was just an answer that sounded very perfunctory, Sora still became extremely cheerful, as if she had received an incredibly precious promise, just as she knew her teacher would always return to everyone's side even after being away for a long time.
After the small heart-to-heart was over, Sora felt a little embarrassed about her actions again. She lowered her head weakly, not knowing what to say.
Seeing this, Lin Wei smiled faintly, stood up from the lawn with a "whoosh," and, holding this slender little girl's hand, turned and walked towards the small courtyard at the foot of the hill.
Those things can be thought about later. Now is the time to be with the children...
"During the time I was away, did Yuno cause you any trouble?"
Lin Wei asked as they walked. He wanted to know how Yuno and these children got along during his absence, whether it was as he had expected...
"Getting ready to leave?"
At night, when all was quiet, after the children had all fallen asleep, Raven appeared by Lin Wei's side like a ghost and asked this nonchalant question in a nonchalant tone.
"Why is everyone asking this question?"
Lin Wei felt a wave of helplessness. "In the afternoon, Sora just came to find me, and now you're here too... What, is it that obvious?"
"Something even Sora can see, do you think it would be hard to notice?"
Raven retorted nonchalantly again, even showing a hint of disdain in her eyes. "Or do you think that I, the former number one mercenary in North America, wouldn't even have this much observational ability?"
"Ha, that's true."
Lin Wei smiled, then suddenly thought of something and asked with an inscrutable tone, "But... the former number one mercenary in North America?"
"What? Don't believe me? Want to try?"
Raven raised an eyebrow, even flexing her wrists as she spoke, as if ready to teach this ignorant fellow a lesson at any moment.
"Oh, no. I was just reminded of another fellow who once claimed to be the 'number one assassin in Siberia'—that fellow, like you, has also retired." Lin Wei shrugged and said, his tone somewhat teasing.
"If you have time, shall I introduce you two? You can exchange notes."
He was, of course, referring to Bronya.
Sometimes, Lin Wei always felt that "number one" in this world wasn't worth much—what number one mercenary in North America, what number one assassin in Schicksal, what number one assassin in Siberia...
He himself had known and dealt with three of them. And that's not even counting Durandal, the "number one Valkyrie"!
"...You scoundrel."
Raven was speechless. How could she not see that this Lin Wei fellow was being improper again? She waved her hand dismissively and said, "Forget it, do as you please. I have no interest in meeting some insignificant little character you're talking about."
Having known him for so long, she was no longer easily angered by Lin Wei.
After saying that, she turned to leave, as if she had just come to show her face and confirm the news.
Lin Wei smiled, watching her figure melt into the dark night, and didn't say much more.
She doesn't ask much, he doesn't say much. This kind of tacit understanding is quite good.
"Oh right, I almost forgot something important."
But not long after, Raven appeared in front of Lin Wei again and said in a casual tone, "I left in a hurry when I resigned from World Serpent. I left something here. You can help me return it."
Saying that, she handed over a long object. Lin Wei took it in his hand and, just from the feel of it, basically understood what she was talking about.
"..."
Lin Wei gently weighed the firearm in his hand, which was not unfamiliar to him. The heavy weight, and the faint electric current he could feel when his palm touched it, were much heavier and more solid than what he had felt when simulating it with Pandora. Its name was also obviously self-evident.
"The Third Divine Key, you're just giving it to me like this?"
Lin Wei felt a bit incredulous for a moment. So casually?
"Giving it to 'you'? You wish! Didn't you hear what I just said? I'm just asking you to return it to the organization for me."
Raven rolled her eyes at him and said, "After all, unlike your Key of Corruption, this Key of Judgment is an important asset of the organization. Since I've already resigned, it's not right for it to stay with me. I can't have Gray Serpent come knocking on my door for compensation one day, can I? Anyway, you're going that way, so I'm just asking you for a favor. Consider it your accommodation fee for this period of time here."
After saying that, she turned and disappeared into the night again, just giving a high wave of her hand, as if she didn't want to hear Lin Wei ramble on anymore.
"..."
Lin Wei looked down at the brand new Divine Key in his hand again and suddenly couldn't help but smile faintly. She doesn't want to say much, he doesn't ask much. This kind of tacit understanding seems quite good too.