The journey ends in the middle of the wilderness, among dense trees.
"Breakfast first."
"All right. Let's do that."
Rose begins preparing a few slices of bread, canned food, and a bottle.
Still wearing that disgusted expression, I ask, "Is it really that disappointing, hm?"
Rose lets out a very heavy sigh. "Huft. I will not set my expectations too high again after this."
Her silliness clings to her so naturally that it almost makes me smile for the first time in a long while.
"Eat the bread, the food, and drink the milk. You're the one driving after this," Rose says as she hands them to me.
I lift my head toward the darkened morning sky and close my eyes. "I have a bad feeling, Rose," I say quietly.
Rose looks at me. "Hm? What is it? Do you sense something, Hiro?"
I shake my head. "No," I say while rubbing my neck. "Just a feeling…" I let out a heavy breath. "Huff, don't worry about it. Let's finish breakfast first."
Rose smiles faintly and nods. "All right. Let's."
---
The journey begins again after we finish breakfast together.
"It has already spread everywhere, Hiro," Rose says suddenly, breaking the silence that has followed us since the journey resumed.
"Hm?" I murmur.
She slides a newspaper toward me, one that is far too familiar. "This paper. You are a wanted man now—just like your father, Hiro."
I make a strange expression and stare at her for a moment. "You bought this and kept it?" I ask.
"Hehe." Rose grins.
I take the newspaper and look at the face printed on it—my own.
"Does this make you uncomfortable or pressured, Hiro?" Rose asks.
I shake my head. "No." I hand the paper back, and Rose takes it.
She slips the newspaper into her bag, then turns to me. "So, the journey is heading to Solcendria, right?" Rose asks.
"I don't know," I answer, letting out a slow breath. "All I know is that this journey continues until word from Olivia reaches us."
Rose begins looking around. Many of the forests are dead, the sky buried under thick clouds, the light still struggling to break through. "With scenery like this," she says, scratching her head, "I am truly curious about the long story behind what happened in the land of Nimurelle."
I glance at her. "So am I."
"So this is the one who still survives while rumors liken the conflict to the old days—the mad fighter?!" From between the trees, a voice emerges out of nowhere.
"Huh?" I murmur.
From a direction I almost recognize, he drops to the ground from the opposite side. "Another obstacle," he says. "They keep coming again and again, don't they?!"
He lands cleanly, straightens up, and walks toward me—and Rose. "Hahah, I never expected you to make it this far. Someone must be helping you from the inside, huh?!"
I close my eyes. Rose reaches for her bow, but I touch her hand, stopping her.
He steps closer, glancing toward the differently colored carriage—the VVIP one he means. A crooked smile forms on his face. "Who is it?!"
---
"Are you ready, Loki?!" asks the figure in the shadows, seated upon his grand chair.
"The time has come, Brother," Loki replies.
"So my brother has been watching this man named Hiro all along?!" Loki asks.
"My guess—there is no case he fails to resolve, except this one. So…" The figure rises from the grand chair. "This is your stage to prove yourself, Loki."
Loki stands from his own chair, slipping both hands into his pockets. "I will bring him back."
"And if you fail?!" the shadowed figure retorts.
Loki stops mid-step. "I don't know. I think I must succeed."
He continues toward the exit, lifting one hand in a casual wave. "Until we meet again, Brother."
He closes the door.
Another room stretches ahead, half in shadow, half in light. Loki heads for the stairs.
"What if Paragon awakens?!" Albert asks, emerging from the shadows, arms crossed, staff beside him.
Loki looks at Albert for a moment, then smiles broadly. "Then I will beat him down, Albert," Loki replies.
Albert's gaze sharpens. Loki exhales softly. "I will finish this before he awakens, Albert."
Loki keeps walking, pulling on his cloak.
"Hey," Albert calls.
Loki turns. "You are my brother as well. Take care of yourself," Albert says.
Loki answers only with a smile.
---
The figure behind the cloak appears unclear—another Vanguard, I assume.
Loki begins removing the cloak. "I thought my brothers would have already come to face you. I am curious what it feels like," he says, tying the cloak around his waist.
I slightly raise my hand toward Rose, signaling her not to do anything—to stay behind me.
Loki pulls something out. "Doesn't this sound fun?" he says, placing a pipe in his mouth and lighting it. Smoke coils into the air.
"Can you entertain me?" Loki asks, staring at me sharply.
Loki walks forward slowly, both hands in his pockets.
I step forward as well. I close my eyes. Loki charges without a weapon.
But it is not a punch—my sight shows it clearly. Loki attacks with his legs.
I open my eyes as he rushes in.
Head—his kick snaps toward my head. I block it forcefully, my eyes closing again.
Ribs—from my head, he shifts to my ribs in an instant. I barely manage to stop it in time.
"All you ever do is defend, huh?!"
A fighter who relies on his legs—my sight struggles to find an opening. I must endure long enough to strike back.
Then something small comes to mind. A trivial thought, yet it creates a gap.
"Your brothers could not defeat me. What makes you think you can?" I say as he switches his attack from his left leg to his right. I block it again.
"Huh?!" he mutters.
There—an opening.
"You think you are tough?" My sight guides me to use his own technique—Paragon. He freezes.
SKLAK—the gap is his pipe. I kick it out of his mouth.
No more openings. At this distance, the position is not in my favor. My sight guides me to create space. I step back several paces.
His face twists with anger.
From amusement to fury in a single breath.
"You know," he says, "I thought I would be the one entertaining you."
The fight has only just begun.