It Allowed Me to Meet Senior

"Bang!"

As if symbolizing his current mood, the red and black magic bullet struck a target with more force than any previous shot, sending it flying against the wall, where it shattered into pieces.

"Haa…"

Exhaling, Luo Zhen retracted the fingertips that had been releasing magical energy, as if he no longer wanted to continue shooting.

However, Luo Zhen still didn't turn around to look at Mashu.

There was a reason for this.

If Mashu were to see his current expression, Luo Zhen wasn't confident that he could hide his true thoughts.

That being said, Luo Zhen didn't hide his inner thoughts at all, blurting out his answer.

"...To be honest, I don't know."

This was Luo Zhen's most honest thought at the moment.

In that instant, Roman's words surfaced in Luo Zhen's mind.

"Chaldea is no longer the cruel facility you imagine it to be, so at least here, I hope you can let your guard down."

Roman probably sincerely hoped for that, right?

However, Luo Zhen still couldn't trust Chaldea.

That wasn't just because of his aversion to the existence of a Magus, but also because of Luo Zhen's past.

In light of this, Luo Zhen really didn't want to cooperate with Chaldea's actions.

But…

"If the operation fails, humanity will have no future."

Mashu, holding Fufu, looked at Luo Zhen's back and said softly.

"Does Senpai think that's okay?"

This question was the focus of Luo Zhen's confusion.

Is it okay?

How could it be okay?

Leaving aside the noble goal of saving humanity, Luo Zhen couldn't just stand by and watch Mashu and Roman die.

Not to mention, Luo Zhen himself didn't want to die either.

Not because of fear.

Fourteen years ago, Luo Zhen had already accurately recognized death, and the fear it produced had long been abandoned.

However, Luo Zhen didn't want this life, which had survived thanks to a miracle, to wither away so easily.

And if Singularity Point F wasn't repaired, not only Mashu and Roman, but Luo Zhen himself wouldn't be spared.

On one hand, out of inner resistance, Luo Zhen didn't want to cooperate with Chaldea's actions.

On the other hand, for the sake of Mashu, Roman, and himself, Luo Zhen couldn't just stand by and watch the Foundation of Human Order fail.

These two conflicting feelings left Luo Zhen unsure of what choice to make.

What should he do?

At this point, Luo Zhen couldn't help but feel troubled.

Luo Zhen didn't think about his own problems any further, and instead asked Mashu.

"What about Mashu?" Luo Zhen asked. "Do you want to participate in the first operation?"

Seemingly not expecting Luo Zhen to suddenly ask her in return, Mashu was momentarily stunned.

However, after a moment, Mashu gave her answer.

"If possible, I don't want to give up the opportunity for the first operation."

This was Mashu's answer.

To this, Luo Zhen had only one thought.

"That's just like you."

That was all Luo Zhen could think.

The time he had spent with Mashu, at most, was probably two years.

Luo Zhen believed that he had a good understanding of Mashu's personality.

Turning around, Luo Zhen looked at Mashu.

Her pink, shoulder-length hair hung down very smoothly, as if every strand could be seen clearly, distinctly separated.

One side of her bangs covered one eye, and she wore a pair of plain-framed glasses on her face.

She was wearing a white uniform, with a short skirt below, and her healthy-looking legs were covered in stockings, with long boots on her feet.

As for her figure, it was both slender and graceful, undoubtedly too developed for her age.

This kind of girl often wore an expression filled with seriousness and a touch of ethereal vulnerability.

At first glance, she seemed like an aloof girl with a somewhat mysterious aura.

In reality, Mashu wasn't aloof, just a little awkward at expressing her emotions.

Like Luo Zhen, she had little life experience but a wealth of knowledge.

Usually, Mashu was quiet and taciturn, adopting a no-nonsense attitude and speaking style when talking to people, as if controlling herself, only speaking when necessary, giving others a hard-to-approach feeling.

In fact, Mashu was a girl with a strong curiosity and initiative. She would greet others, talk to them, ask for opinions, and was very earnest and hardworking. She was full of curiosity about the outside world and wanted to explore a wider world. She was a kind and pure girl.

And an ordinary girl, of course, wouldn't like fighting.

Therefore, Luo Zhen knew very well that Mashu didn't want to participate in combat because she liked it.

On the contrary, Mashu was actually very afraid of fighting.

However, because she was in a situation where she had to fight, Mashu wanted to work hard to overcome the difficulties.

This first battle was the same.

Faced with a battle she had to do, Mashu's choice was often only one.

That was to work hard to overcome it.

This was something only Luo Zhen knew.

That's why Luo Zhen had to ask.

"Mashu, are you okay with this?"

Luo Zhen couldn't help but ask.

The past of this pure and kind girl before him, like Luo Zhen's, was something she didn't want to look back on.

Even Mashu's fate was more cruel than Luo Zhen's.

At least, Luo Zhen had already been saved.

But Mashu hadn't.

This made Luo Zhen have to ask that question.

"Don't you hate Chaldea?"

The question made Mashu's eyes widen slightly.

Then, Mashu smiled.

A very shallow, very light, but very beautiful smile.

"Yes, I don't hate Chaldea."

Mashu smiled and gave such an answer.

"Because it allowed me to meet you, Senpai."

The gratitude and warmth carried in her heartfelt words touched Luo Zhen's heart.

Luo Zhen couldn't possibly not understand the meaning of this sentence.

This made Luo Zhen recall the scene when he first met Mashu.

Mashu also seemed to recall that time, and the expression on her face became more and more gentle.

Seeing such an expression, Luo Zhen knew.

He had no other choice.

"I really can't beat you."

Luo Zhen also smiled.

The distress in his heart had vanished.

Rather than resisting Chaldea and the Magus, Luo Zhen didn't want to see the smile of the girl in front of him disappear.

This was Luo Zhen's most genuine thought right now.

Compared to this, the resistance in his heart had also become unimportant.

Therefore, there was only one choice left.

No matter what, he couldn't let this girl in front of him fight alone.

This was what Luo Zhen had to do.

So…

"Let's do our best together! Mashu!"

"Yes! Senpai!"

In the training ground, the boy and girl made a strong declaration to each other, one relaxed, and the other showed a surprised expression.

"Fufu!"

Fufu, lying in Mashu's arms, seemed to feel the bond and warmth between the two and also made a concurring sound.

On this day, Luo Zhen made the decision to fight.

In order to take back the future of mankind, he embarked on a long journey.