"What are the conditions to bring her spirit form back to her body?" Alfie asked calmly.
Suzuki watched him quietly, a faint thought crossing his mind. This kid… he's so one-minded. He doesn't think twice before speaking, and yet… he means every word.
"How about Mr. Sasaki? Can you help him as well?" Jackson asked from behind.
"His case isn't as bad as your master's," Suzuki replied, glancing toward Sasaki. "We can help him right here and now."
Alfie gently laid Sasaki before Suzuki, then turned and walked toward Watanabe, his expression firm.
"What do we need to bring our Master back?" Alfie asked, taking Lucy from Watanabe's arms.
"She needs natural rest," Watanabe said evenly, "for at least half a year or more. But it must not exceed a full year. After that period of rest, her spirit will begin to draw closer to her body again. When you feel the time is right, she'll need to soak in a hot spring infused with Renshi. That will pull her spirit back into alignment with her Renshi connection. This entire process should not exceed a year and a month — including the month-long Renshi soak."
"I see, huh…" Alfie said quietly. "A year without Master around. That's going to be a pain in the ass."
Suzuki frowned slightly, glancing toward Watanabe through telepathy. What's with this kid? He's acting awfully calm.
Don't you think it's natural? Watanabe replied. He's probably grown up — realizing everything that's been happening around him.
"Okay, okay, let's leave that," Suzuki muttered aloud, crouching beside Sasaki. "Let's attend to this dude."
"Enough peeping — you over there, come out now," Watanabe called suddenly.
From a nearby tree, a figure emerged —
DIALO THE SPECIAL DARKSIDE KNIGHT OF SAMIRA
"What's with this person? He just came out of the tree…" Jackson said in surprise.
Dialo walked forward calmly. "She's a strong-willed woman, if you ask me. After her battle with Fedora, her Renshi connection was almost completely severed. That kind of fight would have killed a normal dual-Renshi user… but this woman is different. Her will to live is stronger than anything I've ever seen."
"I heard about the solution to get her back," Dialo continued, stepping closer. "I'm willing to help — if you'll allow me."
Watanabe's gaze sharpened slightly. "Your disguise isn't the best. Wealth can't be hidden — you're obviously a special Darkside Knight. So I won't question your intentions."
Suzuki straightened. "You can take them with you back to your kingdom. The kids need to be taken care of. Don't let them suffer."
"Can I ask you something, special Darkside Knight?" Alfie said, walking toward Dialo.
"Of course you can," Dialo replied.
"Were you there when my master was fighting the so-called Fedora?"
Dialo blinked, surprised by the question. "I was there, kid. Not just me — other special Darkside Knights from different kingdoms as well."
"So you all just stood there and watched my Master fight that monster?" Alfie's voice trembled with anger. "And you call yourselves special Darkside Knights? You couldn't protect your own country — you stood there, watched her get defeated almost to death, and now you come here claiming you want to help? There's no way! You didn't help when it mattered most. You're all hypocrites — not worthy of being called Special Darkside knights. Not worthy at all,nothing is special about all of you that was there!"
"Calm down now, kid," Suzuki said softly. "You haven't even seen a percent of life yet."
"Oh, a percent, huh?" Alfie snapped. "You — the one who claims to have seen the whole world — do you have a father?"
Suzuki nodded silently in surprise.
"Oh, great. You have a mother?" Another nod.
"Your family is complete?" Again, Suzuki nodded.
"Now I see how you've seen the whole world — with a complete family," Alfie said bitterly. "I don't think you've ever lost anyone close to you, so you can't relate to any of this."
He took a deep breath, his voice shaking but steady. "My father was killed by Darkside Spirits months ago. I was separated from the people I love just to keep them safe — and to grow stronger. My best friend was taken away from me after only a few weeks together. Mister Reaper now has hope of returning to us… and now, my Master — my only hope to live — will be unconscious for a whole year."
He clenched his fists tightly. "Now I guess I haven't seen a percent of life."
"Calm down, Alfie," Jackson said softly, placing a hand on his shoulder.
Alfie exhaled deeply, trying to steady himself.
"I'm sorry for my words, kid," Suzuki said quietly. "I'm not the best at speeches — don't blame me."
"Whatever's happening is mine to carry," Alfie replied. "You're all going to leave here now and head back to your families. I'll keep wandering — to grow stronger and protect what's left of my family. I'll come visit wherever Master is taken, but I won't live in the kingdom. I can't stay weak anymore. The time to pick up the pace is now — or never. I'm sure you're with me on this one, Jack."
"I'm right here with you, Alfie," Jackson said firmly.
Suzuki cracked open the space he store items before him, sliding his hand inside. When he withdrew it, he was holding a black pill, shimmering faintly — made of pure Black Gold Oil, a condensed Renshi crystal refined into a powerful Renshical pill.
He dropped it onto Sasaki's chest, letting it melt slowly into his body.