"I'm Van."
As he spoke, Van took a few steps back, keeping a safe distance from her.
"I have no ill intent. I just woke up and found myself here for no reason. What about you?"
At his words, the girl fell silent. After a long moment, she spoke softly,
"My name is Hanabi… I don't know what happened either. Just a moment ago, I was still at home, but when I came to… I found myself here…"
"Then do you remember anything strange happening when you were at home?" Van asked.
"Something strange…"
Hanabi tilted her head in thought. Then her gaze fell on the mask by her feet.
"This mask! I remember now… I received a package today, it was this fox mask… and then… I don't remember what happened after that."
Van nodded thoughtfully, falling into silence.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
After some time, as if she had finally convinced herself he truly meant no harm, Hanabi cautiously asked, "Um… can you tell me where this is? Can you take me away from here?"
"Let's go."
Van nodded and turned to walk down the mountain.
Hanabi timidly followed behind him, though the corner of her lips curled ever so slightly in a sly smile.
But just as she was thinking about how to build up the mood to its perfect peak, Van suddenly turned around and drove a blade straight at her.
"Wha…"
Hanabi' eyes widened as she clutched her chest, collapsing to the ground, her figure dissolving like foam.
From the woods a few meters away, another Hanabi emerged, clapping her hands with a sly smile on her face.
"Oh my, my, my. How did you find me out?"
Van folded his arms, smiling faintly as he looked at her.
"Someone once told me that, rather than the lead under the spotlight, she prefers to be the inconspicuous supporting role standing in the corner."
"To clap for the people on stage, help them shine, and then at the peak of the performance, suddenly shoot into the sky and explode like fireworks, brilliantly dazzling the night."
At those words, Hanabi' smile grew even brighter.
"Ah~ what an honor~ Who would've thought our great Savior knows me so well…" She licked her lips lightly. "Surely… something must have happened between us before, right?"
"Who knows."
Van shrugged, though his eyes never left Hanabi' face, as if waiting for her next move.
Seeing that, Hanabi suddenly burst into soft laughter.
She spun lightly in a circle, almost skipping as she approached him.
"Alright, alright~ Don't be so serious~"
She twirled around him playfully, her voice light and teasing.
"Since everything's settled, I think I'll be leaving now. I'll be looking forward to our next meeting~"
Just as she was about to turn and leave, Van called out sharply,
"Wait. So this whole thing, from the start to the end, was all planned by you, wasn't it? What exactly is your purpose?"
"When you asked that question, didn't you already have the answer in your heart?" Hanabi blinked with a sly smile.
"As for why, well, that's a secret~ Think of it as punishment for how rough you were with me earlier~"
A mountain breeze swept through, carrying a few petals with it.
Amid the drifting pink-and-white shower of petals, Hanabi' figure slowly faded until it vanished completely.
Watching the petals carried away by the wind, Van stared off into the distance, lost in thought.
After a while, noise drifted up from the foot of the mountain.
Van turned his head just in time to see a portal slowly opening beside him, and within it, Sirin's figure gradually came into view.
The moment her eyes landed on Van, she ran toward him without hesitation.
"Thank goodness… you're alright…"
Sirin's voice trembled with a noticeable choke.
Her arms wrapped tightly around his waist, as if terrified he would disappear again.
Feeling the girl trembling slightly in his arms, Van patted her back gently.
"See? I'm perfectly fine."
Sirin looked up, tears still welling in her eyes.
"But just now… those bombs… I thought…"
"It's over now."
Van ruffled her hair, his gaze shifting past her shoulder to the others stepping out of the portal one after another.
Not far away, Mobius stood frozen, her eyes locked on Van, fists clenched so tightly they trembled.
After a long pause, she drew in a deep breath, her voice quivering slightly.
"Remember this. This is the last time you disappear in front of me…"
Beside her, Kalpas stood with his arms crossed, letting out a cold, disdainful snort.
But if one looked closely, they'd notice the tension in his shoulders had quietly eased.
Kevin walked forward slowly, gave Van's shoulder a light pat, and said nothing more.
Elysia watched the scene, her eyes soft, filled with warmth and a tinge of helplessness.
"As expected, no matter how much time passes… Van will always be that boy burdened with sin~"
At that moment, a deep boom rolled across the distant night sky.
A heartbeat later, a magnificent firework burst open against the dark canvas, golden sparks raining down like stardust.
Before the glow of that one faded, a second… a third followed, until the entire night sky glowed as bright as day.
Together, everyone instinctively looked up.
This time, the fireworks were even more beautiful than before.
Violet irises, crimson roses, and blue stars intertwined in the sky, painting a dreamlike masterpiece above their heads.
At that moment, everyone was lost in the beauty, soft smiles unconsciously blooming on their faces.
Elysia leaned lightly on Eden's shoulder, her voice a quiet sigh.
"So beautiful~"
Eden nodded with a small smile, though her gaze kept flicking toward Van's profile.
Feeling her glance, Van turned his head and gave her a faint smile.
The night wind brushed past, carrying with it the faint smoky scent of fireworks, oddly comforting.
———
Not far away, hidden among the shadows of the trees, Hanabi leaned against the trunk, gazing toward the people gathered at the mountaintop.
"A perfect ending, isn't it?"
She suddenly spoke into the empty air.
"So why does it feel like our dear Observer still isn't satisfied~?"
"I'm saying… instead of watching from the shadows, wouldn't it be better to just step in and join them?"
"You talk too much."
A cold, detached voice answered, as a tall figure appeared silently beside her.
"Oh, come on~ I was just saying. After all, you are my esteemed patron, aren't you~"
Hanabi raised her hands in mock surrender.
"Well then, now that everything's finally wrapped up, it's time for my act to end too. So, goodbye for now, Miss Two-Faced Observer~"
With that, her figure dissolved into petals and vanished.
Only the Observer remained, standing silently where she was, watching Van and the others begin their descent down the mountain.
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
patreon.com/AmbitiousTranslator
🥳Joining Patreon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰 You can access upto 20 advance chapter through Patreon.