After finishing his chores, Alpha stepped into the garden—only to be struck speechless.
"Wha… wha-wha-wha-wha…?"
His comrades lay scattered, fast asleep as though under a spell.
Rose slumped against a bench, Endi stretched out on the ground, Jessica, Moene, and even Commander Esta—all breathing peacefully in slumber.
But what seized Alpha's chest in terror was the absence of Lamia.
Her bright smile had always warmed this place… and now it was gone.
"S-something terrible has happened—!!"
Convinced of calamity, Alpha bolted from the garden and charged into the dark woods, tripping over roots yet running on, desperate to save his friends.
At that moment, Cain rose silently, ghostlike, as if nothing had happened.
His sharp eyes gleamed, slicing through the night.
"I see… sleeping pills. And not a soul found it strange that I collapsed, even though I never ate a single bite of those sandwiches."
With a thin smile, Cain nudged Endi's face with his boot to rouse him, then slipped away into the forest like a shadow merging with the dark.
Endi clutched his cheek and snapped awake, instantly grasping the situation.
"Hey! Everyone, wake up!!"
His shout rang through the garden as he shook Rose and Jessica awake.
All of them were sweating, trembling faintly—it was no natural sleep.
Meanwhile, deep in the woods, Lamia walked alone.
The path to Indra was choked with brambles and roots. Her eyes carried both firm resolve and a faint sorrow.
"This was the right choice… wasn't it?"
Her whisper dissolved into the wind.
The resolve to sacrifice herself for her friends weighed heavy on her heart.
"Endi… I wish I could see you again."
The moment her quiet voice echoed, hurried footsteps approached from behind.
"Lamiaaa!"
It was Alpha—his clothes caked with mud, his face scraped with cuts. Panting hard, he caught up after countless falls.
"Alpha!?"
"What are you doing? We have to go back!"
He seized her arm, but Lamia gently shook her head.
"No. If I return, everyone will be dragged down with me."
"Endi and the others don't think that way! Going alone is reckless!"
Her voice rang sharp.
"This is the only way! I've already decided, so don't stop me!"
The strength of her words made Alpha falter. But then his eyes lit with determination.
"Th-then… if that's how it is… I'll go with you!"
Just as Lamia faltered for words, a massive shadow emerged from the gloom—Darmaine.
His grin gleamed like a cunning wolf.
"Laaamiaaa, I've been looking for you."
Her breath caught.
"Admiral…? What are you doing here?"
Darmaine gave no answer, only scooped her up roughly.
"You're coming with me. I'll hand you over to the Guild. Don't take it personal."
"Wait! I was already planning to head for Indra!"
"What? The hell are you talking about?"
As Darmaine frowned, Alpha clutched his clothes with both hands.
"L-leave… Lamia… alone!"
A small body, brimming with courage.
But Darmaine only laughed crudely.
"Hah? What's this brat?!"
In a flash, his kick slammed into Alpha's stomach. The boy crumpled, crying out in pain.
"Alpha!! How could you—stop it!!"
"Shut it! Move, damn—argh!!"
Darmaine screamed as Alpha sank his teeth into his arm.
"Don't touch Lamia!!"
"You little shit…!!"
Enraged, Darmaine hurled him to the ground and stomped him again and again.
Alpha's body was soon bloodied and limp.
"Please! Stop! He'll die!!" Lamia sobbed, her tears spilling.
Finally Darmaine ceased his assault.
"Put me down! I have to heal him!"
"No time for that!"
Still clutching Lamia with one arm, Darmaine hurried toward Indra.
Back in the garden, one by one, the others stirred.
"Damn it… sleeping pills? That's dirty…" Rose muttered bitterly.
"Lamia… she's trying to sacrifice herself again…" Jessica clutched her chest in anguish.
"Cain's gone. Guess he left to chase her first." Esta rubbed her eyes drowsily.
Endi said nothing, his face grave. Then suddenly he vaulted over the rooftop ledge and plunged into the forest.
"Wait, Endi! We're coming too!"
Rose, Jessica, Esta, and Moene all followed.
"Prince Rose, wait! It's too dangerous to rush off now!" Saizo's cry did not reach them.
"Oh no, oh no… this is disastrous!"
Pale-faced, Saizo fled toward the throne room.
Elsewhere in the forest, Azbal and Jackson observed from the trees.
"So the black-haired brat still lives. But no sign of the blond one."
"Indeed. Yet to head toward Indra without Lamia… are they planning an ambush?"
"Keh-heh-heh… most likely. Trying to cheat our deal, are they? Fine. I'll slaughter every last Natakam refugee in their shelter as a lesson."
Azbal sneered coldly.
He raised his hand, and colossal trees surrounding the shelter writhed to life.
Azbal could manipulate trees even at a distance, watching through them as if with his own eyes.
Countless branches lunged like serpents with blades for tongues—yet just before they reached the shelter, the entire grove burst into flames and turned to ash in an instant, as though by design.
The fire blazed like a devil mocking Azbal.
"No… it can't be…!"
Azbal knew at once.
That hated Cain was near.
"Azbal, sir… is something wrong?"
"Jackson. We're heading to Indra."
"…Understood."
The two hurried toward the training ground.
Meanwhile, in Indra's cockpit, the Guild reclined in his chair, bored.
"Nearly twelve hours gone, and not a damn thing happening. Azbal's still out and hasn't come back."
A subordinate burst in.
"Guild Leader!"
"What now, dammit!?"
"I-I'm sorry! The fourteen Nova Family members we had captured… they've all escaped!"
"Why the hell are you bothering me with that crap!? Why'd you even capture those mafiosi in the first place? They're useless as hostages!"
As his roar cowed the man, something struck him from behind—he collapsed instantly.
"H-hey! What the hell!?"
The Guild spun around. Nova stood there.
"I freed them. Couldn't drag my former subordinates into this mess."
"Subordinates? Drag in? What the hell are you—who even are you!?"
Nova's fist smashed the Guild's jaw, followed by a vicious kick.
"From here on, you and I go down together. Old Doal Army."
Nova grinned, though his eyes were hollow, absent—
as though possessed by something beyond himself.