Chapter 25: Companions on the Road to the Apocalypse
The heavy atmosphere of the bathroom, still smelling faintly of ozone and something coppery, was where they had their first real conversation. Yukino, having finally regained some semblance of composure, pulled Ren back to the sofa in her small apartment. He didn't resist.
He had expected her to tell him to forget what had just happened, to erase the memory of her vulnerability. But Yukino didn't mention the incident at all. Instead, she asked about the evil spirit.
It was better this way, he thought. He took a sip of the black tea she had poured. It tasted quite good. He patiently began to explain.
"It's a monster formed by a kind of malevolent obsession, similar to what remains after death."
"Ordinary people can't see them; only those with 'spiritual vision' can," as he spoke, he pointed to her. "And you, you should have awakened that vision now. It probably appeared along with your ice ability."
"These evil spirits will ask if others can see them. If you answer that you can, they will attack. It's a rule for their actions. Of course, besides ordinary ones, there are also some that can disguise themselves as humans, like the girl you saw that day." He spread his hands. "That's why I said, sometimes ignorance is bliss."
"So are these… evil spirits everywhere?" she asked, her voice a low whisper, thinking about the creature in her bathroom. She had instinctively felt that not answering was the correct thing to do, a choice that had saved her.
"That's right," he confirmed. "I've already killed thousands of them, and they're inexhaustible; new ones regenerate every so often." Despite saying this, he still offered comfort. "You don't need to worry too much. You have no problem dealing with these ordinary ones now."
"Mm." Yukino nodded, processing the terrifying new reality she had been thrust into. After hesitating for a few seconds, she gathered her courage and looked directly at him, her gaze piercing and intense. Her tone was serious and sincere. "Thank you for telling me so much and for helping me so much."
"Mm-hmm, I'll accept your thanks," he said, not a pretentious bone in his body. Did he help her without a motive? No. He had already said he was lusting after her body.
"Also," she continued, her voice gaining strength, "regarding the apocalypse and the anomalies, I won't tell anyone else. I will bear these secrets with you!"
"…" Hearing this suddenly, it felt a bit like a confession. But to him, this was a promise he had received since learning about the apocalypse. He had been tense and busy every day since then. Aside from the girl named Haruno, this was the most solemn promise he had heard.
His casual gaze deepened. "If that's the case, you'll have to be prepared to face death with me." Three 12-star apocalypses. Even in a world with Star Gods, it was only an 8-star apocalypse. He himself couldn't comprehend what that meant. He was just a small figure toiling in the unknown.
Yukino showed no signs of backing down. Instead, her gaze was resolute. "From the moment you helped me, from the moment I learned everything, I was prepared. You have saved me too many times; without you, I would probably be dead. All I can do is face the apocalypse with you."
There were some words she couldn't bring herself to say. As his classmate, in her eyes, Ren had always been an excellent yet unmotivated person. He seemed indifferent to everything. But the experiences of this period changed her perception. She understood the truth. She began to perceive his true self. He wasn't born unmotivated. He was simply moving forward under some immense, lonely pressure.
At this moment, she wanted to step forward, to go with him, at least as a companion on the path of the apocalypse.
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