The adorable Augetta showed no sign of "only having one day left," as if she had already forgotten that fact. To her, it simply didn't matter.
Meanwhile, Zane, who had only just woken up, was still in a half-dazed, "sleepwalking" state...
"Mr. Zane?"
Augilia called out to him, a smile tugging at her lips. In truth, when he was like this, Mr. Zane didn't seem any different from an ordinary person.
Shaking her head, she lifted her gaze to Augetta, who also turned to look back at her sister at that moment. The two exchanged a knowing glance.
Augetta pressed her lips together, hesitating as she looked at Zane, who seemed fully awake now. The thought she'd carried since last night—it was time to say it.
She recalled the conversation she and Augilia had shared the night before, and her resolve grew firmer.
Yes. The gentleman had done so much for her and her sister, always staying by their side. They couldn't let things continue like this. They had to repay him somehow.
But what could they possibly offer? Anything they could do would mean little to Zane.
There was only one thing left.
That thought made Augetta's gaze more determined. She looked at Zane and spoke earnestly.
"Master, my sister and I want to take the stage again... Dance has always been our passion and our dream.
So... would you allow us to dance for you once? This is our wish."
Perhaps offering their final dance was the best, most heartfelt way they could repay Zane.
Augilia also turned her expectant gaze toward him. Faced with the sisters' looks, Zane could hardly refuse.
"Of course. It would be my honor."
He nodded, and the sisters exchanged a smile. Then Augetta clung to his arm, adding playfully,
"Hehe, actually, there's no need to rush with the dance, sir. We still have a whole day, after all..."
"A very, very long day!"
Augilia nodded at her younger sister's words. Yes—a very long time.
If they could fulfill this final wish, then in a sense, they would have no regrets. That would be enough.
"So, sir, where are we going to play today?"
Augetta repeated her earlier question. Naturally, she and her sister would follow Zane's lead.
"Hmm... let's go to the Hollow."
"To Hollow Zero."
After a brief pause, Zane's eyes lit up with inspiration.
By now, New Eridu wasn't much of a novelty to the sisters—especially after spending all of yesterday exploring. Hollow Zero, though, would be different.
Nicole had also spent the whole day out yesterday, and she was probably busy now with the new school construction for the orphanage...
With the Cunning Hare's House now exposed to public scrutiny, they couldn't take on too many commissions as cover anymore. And besides, for Nicole...
Yes. Having something to do was always good.
Pulling his thoughts back in, Zane smiled gently at the sisters, who were looking at him with shining eyes.
"Let's go. We'll leave now."
For the two of them, the time they had spent as Eternal Bones meant being trapped in the Hollows—but they had retained little memory of it.
Besides, this was Hollow Zero. Even before the fall of the Ballet Tower, they had never set foot there.
Why would a pair of dancers ever wander into Hollow Zero? To feed the Ethereal?
But now, it was the perfect opportunity.
And as for Ether Affinity, the sisters no longer needed it. Having undergone Ether Energy Fusion, Ether Corrosion no longer affected them at all.
"Yay! To Hollow Zero!"
Augetta threw her hands up in excitement, while Augilia looked on with curiosity. Naturally, both had heard of Hollow Zero's legendary reputation.
Soon, Zane rose, tidied up the cat café, and left with the sisters, who were already prepared.
...
"Superior officer, please proceed."
The checkpoint opened. The Defense Army soldiers stationed there watched Zane enter Hollow Zero with respect and admiration.
The Falkenhayn Mercenary Troupe was already a standard of excellence within the Defense Army—and Zane's own rank was nothing to scoff at.
Even without personal sentiments, his identity alone ensured unimpeded access within Hollow Zero. After all, in a sense, Hollow Zero was the private domain of the Falkenhayn Mercenary Troupe.
Augetta and Augilia had never seen anything like this before. After stealing a curious glance at the heavily armed checkpoint, they quickly lowered their heads and followed Zane inside.
The moment they stepped into Hollow Zero, it was as if an entirely new world opened before them.
"Wow! Sis, look, that building is floating in the sky!"
"Wait, wait—it looks like it's coming toward us! It's not gonna fall on us, is it? We better run!"
Augetta grabbed Augilia's hand and bolted. Zane didn't bother to stop her, following quietly behind.
Augilia, though, already guessed from Zane's calmness that the skyscraper wouldn't fall. She said nothing, letting her sister drag her along.
Before long, the three had entered deeper into the outer region of Hollow Zero.
Panting, Augetta finally came to a stop. After seeing countless floating skyscrapers and realizing none would fall, she understood and calmed down.
Not far behind, Zane also stopped. But unlike the sisters, who were resting, he turned his head slightly to glance behind them.
Between the ruined high-rises in the shadows, Ethereal beasts lurked, eyes gleaming. They had been drawn by the noise the twins made as they ran.
Yet none of them attacked. Why?
Suddenly, the Ether flow across the entire area grew unstable. The sisters didn't notice, but the Ethereal certainly did.
One beast fled.
Then a second. A third.
Like falling dominoes, within moments the entire kilometer-wide area had been cleared. Every Ethereal creature had vanished.
The cause of it all—Zane—had already rejoined the sisters, unfazed.
"By the way... want me to take you to the Falkenhayn Mercenary Troupe's base?"
"Huh? The Falkenhayn Mercenary Troupe? That's the army you're in, sir? But... are we really allowed to visit?"
"Come on."
"Mm-hmm!"
...
By the time they left Hollow Zero, it was already afternoon. When the three returned to the Janus District, dusk had passed.
Under the night sky, they stepped into the district's largest opera house.
"Mr. Zane... there's no one here."
Augilia looked around the vast, silent building with curiosity.
"Is that so? Did you rent the entire place, sir?"
Augetta chimed in.
Zane shook his head.
"No. I bought it. In your names."
"Nothing less would be worthy of your dance."