"Bronya?"
Xu Yanwu asked Bronya, wanting to know what exactly she had seen.
Bronya was still shocked by the scene she had just witnessed.
That just now... could it have been a soul?
"Uncle Xu..."
After Rin vanished, Bronya remained somewhat dazed before finally asking Xu Yanwu, "Uncle Xu, do you know someone who looked a little like senior sister? She had pink hair too, but no long ears... Her hair was tied up like mine, though it looked a little fluffy..."
Bronya described the Rin she had just seen.
"Bronya, did you really see... someone like that?"
Xu Yanwu felt somewhat excited. He took a deep breath and said, "Are you sure?"
"Yes. She just told me that she hoped we could help senior sister Yae Sakura."
Bronya answered Xu Yanwu with certainty.
"..."
Xu Yanwu fell silent. For a long while, Bronya heard nothing from him.
Just as Bronya was about to ask, Xu Yanwu's laughter suddenly rang out in her mind.
"Hahaha... hahaha... hahahahahaha—"
Xu Yanwu laughed for a long time.
Bronya seemed to hear relief in that laughter.
And liberation.
It was as though another burden weighing on Xu Yanwu had finally been lifted.
"Uncle... Xu?"
Bronya asked cautiously.
"Hm? Bronya? Ah... sorry, sorry. Did I scare you with that laughter?"
There was still amusement in Xu Yanwu's voice. "I was just... a little... happy after hearing what you said."
"You can see Rin... This is simply... wonderful."
There was an indescribable lightness in Xu Yanwu's voice.
Hearing Xu Yanwu say this, Bronya had wanted to ask about the relationship between Rin and Xu Yanwu, but she held herself back.
"Uncle Xu, next... Bronya is going to stop that Sacrifice Ritual."
Bronya said this.
"Mm, all right."
Xu Yanwu agreed.
But just as Bronya turned away