Here Comes Your Butterfly!

"They're all in there. Three thousand seven hundred and twenty-six lives. I remember every person's name, where they came from, and how they died."

Rover took the record of sins and opened to the first page. Dense writing filled his vision, every character neat, every stroke solemn.

It was no perfunctory gesture, but the only thing a person could do after bearing the burden alone for centuries.

"You remember them well."

"How could I forget? I know full well that what I did, directly or indirectly, affected them and caused one tragedy after another..."

"I've kept them all in my heart. This is my sin."

Phrolova spoke softly, but her words weighed more than any of her earlier shouts.

At some point, Triss had come to Phrolova's side and quietly wrapped her little hand around her fingers.

"Big brother, she... she really knows she was wrong," Triss said softly, her eyes full of pleading.

"She made those mistakes for our sake. If we can, we're willing to bear the burden with her!"

"As you should." Rover closed the record of sins.

"But no matter how you atone, these people won't come back."

Triss fell silent. Young as she was, she understood the weight of a life.

"But you're still here..."

Phrolova raised her head. Those eyes, once full of resentment and obsession, were now clear to their depths.

"With you here, those innocent people have a chance to live again, and I have a chance to make amends. Fate must have sent you to me!"

Rover's expression shifted slightly. Blood Oath Covenant slid back into its sheath, and the sharpness in his golden eyes softened somewhat.

"From today on, every time you atone, you'll gain a use of Book of the End."

"Really?"

Phrolova's eyes lit up for a moment, brilliant as gemstones.

"When have I ever lied to you?"

"The time you broke your promise..."

"I'd lost my memory!"

"And when you stabbed me!"

"That was outsmarting you!"

"You scoundrel..."

Phrolova puffed out her cheeks, but she was entirely different from before, brimming with energy and hope.

Triss covered her mouth and giggled beside her, her eyes curving into crescents.

"Sis, you're obviously happy. Why are you still scolding big brother?"

"Wh-who's happy?!" Phrolova whipped her head around, the tips of her ears turning red. "I just think he's finally done one decent thing!"

"But you were smiling so happily just now..."

"Triss!"

Phrolova made as if to hit her, and Triss laughed, darting behind Rover and poking half her head out to make a face.

"Enough playing around. Let's get down to business. How are you going to atone?"

Only then did Phrolova compose herself, though she couldn't suppress the light in her eyes.

I just have to do good deeds, right? That's easy!

Rob the rich to help the poor, punish evil and promote good, help old ladies cross the street...

But that's a little too slow!

Phrolova frowned and counted on her fingers. The more she calculated, the bleaker the prospect seemed.

Three thousand seven hundred and twenty-six lives. Even if she saved one person a day, it would take ten years.

She couldn't wait that long!

"I've got it!"

All of a sudden, inspiration struck, and she thought of a brilliant idea.

Weren't opportunities right at hand? There were plenty for the taking!

The Fractsidus, the cancer of the world, a sinful existence, the source of all evil!

She, Phrolova, swore to be their sworn enemy!

The president, Scar, Christopher, and those Fractsidus Overseers... They were practically atonement vouchers in plain sight!

Colleagues? What colleagues? Colleagues melt in your mouth!

The moment she decided to defect to the Wanderer, the world opened wide!

"I have something to report!"

Phrolova raised her hand high, like an elementary schooler eager to answer a question.

"Speak!"

"There's a Fractsidus base in Lament Valley in Ragunna. They're conducting secret experiments and planning to revive Imperator and turn it into a controllable Threnodian!"

Boom!

A powerful surge of energy burst out, and a keen killing intent swirled around Rover.

The Fractsidus were as deranged as ever.

"Where exactly is it?"

"Take this!"

Phrolova took out an Other Shore Flower petal that contained a special frequency.

"Use it as a guide, and you can pinpoint the exact coordinates. You can also use it to slip easily into the depths of the base."

Rover chuckled and took the Other Shore Flower petal into his palm, feeling the frequency pulsing within it. The target was locked, the coordinates were clear, and he knew the route by heart.

The Fractsidus had led him around by the nose all this time. Now he could finally get ahead of them and prepare in advance.

Was this the benefit of having an inside contact?

"Notification: Phrolova's resolve has been confirmed. The mission has officially begun. Reward: ten uses of Book of the End, and the Research and Development Department item, Gigai, has been unlocked!"

"You've been a huge help. I'm going on ahead!"

Rover didn't hesitate or waste a moment. He spread his wings and left Beyond.

He had thought Imperator was gone for good, but unexpectedly, there was still a glimmer of hope. He had to seize it.

Phrolova took two steps after him, then stopped abruptly. She cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted at his receding figure, "Come back alive! Do you hear me?!"

Her voice echoed through the sky over Beyond. She didn't know whether he had heard her.

Phrolova stood there, her chest rising and falling for a while before she slowly lowered her hand. Her palm was glowing.

Just then, the right to use Book of the End had fallen into her hands.

Ten uses!

Enough for her to do a great many things.

"That's wonderful, sis... Should we bring the people from the town back to life first?"

Triss was delighted and full of anticipation.

"No..."

Phrolova hesitated for a moment, then lowered her head and looked at her fingers.

"First, we'll save the people who died because of me. I need to go to Jinzhou first."

"Why? The people from the town have waited so long..."

"Because they can afford to wait." Phrolova crouched down and placed both hands on Triss's shoulders. "The people from the town have already waited hundreds of years. A few more days won't matter. But some of the families and friends of those who died because of me are still alive, and some are still waiting. I want to repay that debt first."

"Sis..." Triss's eyes reddened.

"I support you!"

Triss hugged Phrolova, burying her face against her waist. "Then I want to help too," she said, her voice muffled. "I'm really good at things!"

"You?" Phrolova looked down at her and poked her forehead. "First learn to stop causing trouble."

"I don't cause trouble!"

"Who was it that egged someone on to spank me just now?"

"That was Triss's strategy!"

"If big brother felt sorry for you, he wouldn't have the heart to punish you."

Phrolova froze for a moment, her face turning even redder. She promptly pinched Triss's cheeks. "You little schemer, you're asking for a spanking!"

"Ow, ow, ow! Mercy, sis!"

The two tussled, their laughter echoing through the open expanse of Beyond.

"How wonderful..."

Phrolova lay down on the grass, breathing greedily, feeling that everything was full of enchanting color.

The clear sky, the snow-white clouds, and the azure butterfly...

"Wait? A blue butterfly? Oh no!"

Phrolova's hair stood on end, and she sat bolt upright, feeling strongly as though she'd been caught cheating!

The blue butterfly flew toward her, while a vivid Camellia flower also gave off a dangerous fluctuation.

"How did you get in here? Get out!"