Of course Fang Jie knew Twilight Street, a place teeming with talent, and... after the Honkai outbreak, everyone except the talented ones had been wiped out by your sister and Kalpas. Only Pardo, who had fled in advance, along with the surviving Kalpas and Aponia, remained.
Even then, Aponia and Kalpas could still have been silenced by the higher-ups at any moment afterward, and were imprisoned for a long time.
He said nothing. Rin probably had not expected an answer from him anyway, and simply began speaking of the past, of her memories of the apocalypse.
Yet Rin did not want to say much either. She merely whispered, "Determination, courage, hatred, fear, loneliness... everything will deteriorate and twist with time, no matter what expectations you hold."
Fang Jie remained silent as he approached those fighting over the rare supplies. All of them looked malnourished. Even with productivity nearing that of an interstellar civilization, energy constraints had left the Upper District short on supplies. The Underworld could only rely on trading heavily exploited Geomarrow resources.
Who was exploiting whom was none of your business. Just pretend Cocolia had eaten it all herself.
Wasn't Otto in that other world the one who had consumed nearly all the Soul Steel of modern civilization, not to mention other resources?
Production and distribution had become disconnected, and production required energy. The more supplies there were above, the less Geomarrow there was below; the more Geomarrow there was below, the fewer supplies there were above.
But Geomarrow could not keep increasing. Everything below would only grow scarcer.
A vicious cycle.
Until collapse.
The so-called apocalypse was truly more terrifying for its lack of order. Even if that order itself was unfair, or rather, had never been fair—at the end of the world, perhaps people would be crushed by fear before The Eternal Freeze even arrived, degenerating into beasts amid chaos.
Rin fell silent. Before others, she was terrifyingly quiet. Only occasionally would she say a few words to Fang Jie.
"Who are you?"
Someone among the drifters and miners had already noticed the uninvited guests. Clearly, they had no intention of taking on more people to share with. As they shouted their rebuke, they opened fire—after noticing how excessively clean the newcomers were.
Before the drifters' attack could land, a purple figure suddenly appeared in a blur. With a single sweep of her scythe, she split the bullet apart and snapped irritably,
"You've got some nerve, making trouble on my turf."
She did not look like she had just arrived.
She was slender and tall, but by no means frail. An unusual vitality radiated from her, projecting toughness and heroic spirit—meaning that she could move freely through such freezing weather in a miniskirt and a crop top, without even a pair of stockings over her fair, long legs. As she darted about, her dark blue hair streamed behind her like a cape, making her headlong charge especially conspicuous.
And there was that flash. So bright. It was practically like tossing a flashbang into the darkness, making a clamorous entrance!
"Underworld Fire is here!"
The drifters immediately cried out,
"It's that monster butterfly! Damn it, run!"
They grabbed everything they could carry and fled in disarray.
The newcomer did not pursue them.
"Bastards who bully the weak and fear the strong!"
The rather gallant girl glanced at the remaining supplies and gestured for the others to continue transporting them.
They had not exchanged Geomarrow ore for these supplies, so this batch was practically free. She should perhaps have been happy, but the moment she considered how abnormal the people above were acting, there was not much joy left.
When something was this bizarre, there had to be a catch. She had personally seen those people who would rather eat half their food and throw the rest away—how could they suddenly develop a conscience?
"And who are you?"
In the middle of the deep mine tunnel, the girl stood at the rear of the group that had begun moving the supplies, confronting the excessively clean Fang Jie and the "injured person" behind him. Dim light flickered across her scythe.
Rin was naturally ignored in spectacular fashion. Perhaps because they were both pink-haired, Yae Sakura obscured Rin's presence so completely that she seemed like a doll.
Fang Jie stepped forward to communicate. "We're aliens."
"What? Forget it. I don't care who you are. Since you've come down here, I can't just leave you alone. Follow me."
Seele did not understand, nor could she be bothered to listen. She acted according to her own judgment.
There was an injured person, at least. And though they were clean, they could not even react to a firearm attack. Thinking of that idiot woman who had claimed to be delivering supplies on the Great Guardian's orders, only to somehow escape down here afterward, these two had probably been caught up in it and left with nowhere to go. Otherwise, why would anyone from above come down here for no reason?
Underworld Fire had enough leeway to treat people like this. They might even turn out to be useful talents. Seele possessed that much sense of the bigger picture.
And just like that, Fang Jie was assigned a destination. He was a little bewildered. This kind of Seele...
"Stop dawdling. Keep up."
Seele barked at him.
She was still in a hurry to ask what had happened with that woman. The Underworld was getting more and more lively. Not long ago, Sampo had brought several strange people down here looking for some Stellaron, and one of them had even been a Garrison Officer from the Silvermane Guards. Just thinking about it annoyed her!
Fang Jie exchanged a glance with Rin. The latter did not care.
"Then let's go. The doctor I'm looking for is along this route too."
Could a place like this really have a good doctor?
Rin was skeptical, but then she remembered Twilight Street, which had produced so many talents, and did not object.
Along the way, seeing that they obediently followed, Seele spoke a little more. "My name is Seele, and I'm with Underworld Fire. Since you've come to the Underworld, you need to understand a few things. You people listened to the Silvermane Guards so well up above; down here, you'd better listen to Underworld Fire too. If anything happens, you can ask Underworld Fire for help. If we have time, we'll help you. Got it?"
"Nice to meet you, Seele. I'm Fang Jie. This is Rin, and this is Yae Sakura."
"I don't care who you are. Hurry up and follow."
Clearly, Seele had a kind heart beneath a pretty face, though her temper was a little explosive.
It was understandable. The Underworld was so much harsher than the Upper District, and she had to manage things while handling all sorts of trouble. If she was not fierce enough, she could not keep people in line.
That was also why Natasha did not become Underworld Fire's public leader. Even carrying a grenade launcher, she was too beautiful and also a doctor, which only invited more probing.
Fang Jie watched everything along the way. Underworld Fire had indeed maintained a certain degree of order. The group followed a resource exchange route that had been properly maintained but was inevitably old and damaged, heading toward Boulder Town.
The road was not particularly rugged or winding. The passageway converted from mine tunnels even had "transportation," but Geomarrow was too precious, and the people of Underworld Fire had no intention of wasting it on travel. They carried loads on their shoulders and in their hands, or pushed mine carts. Paired with the advanced tools they carried, the sight was strangely mismatched.
The closer they came to Boulder Town, the further they emerged from darkness. In the vast underground space that suddenly opened before them, enormous mining lamps served as the main lighting, and they were quite bright.
Boulder Town was practically as bright as daylight. The faintly warm light pointed the way home. Seele, who had been alert the whole way and constantly running about, visibly relaxed.
"Hey, Fang Jie, right? Your friend looks like she needs help."
Seele could not help glancing at Yae Sakura again. Honestly, there were hardly a few people as beautiful as her to be found around here. Constant labor and scarce resources left ordinary people looking sallow and emaciated. Only a "monster" like Seele could fear neither the bitter cold nor retain a little beauty.
She was a talent.
With a face that pretty, she had to be a talent.
"Then thank you."
His tone was gentle, as though he were speaking to a friend.
Seele spat. "You're so dense. You probably won't survive down here for long."
"..."
I thanked you, and that's what you had to say?
Fang Jie knew Seele had never truly let down her guard. After all, Mr. Fang was handsome and dashing—his handsomeness had doomed him to be viewed with suspicion.
If he had not been carrying an injured person, someone dangerous-looking like him would have been interrogated thoroughly by Seele at the very least.
No joke.
Resources determined a civilization's order and its state of survival. When even food was a problem, expecting people to remain civilized and courteous was arrogance.
This tendency was not yet so obvious in the Upper District, especially since the Astral Express team's entrance into Belobog had been incredibly dramatic. But in the Underworld...
When faced with someone who was clearly different from everyone else and especially beautiful, people had to be cautious.
Seele, who occupied that beautiful ecological niche, wore an even darker expression. "Listen carefully. Even after you get to Underworld Fire, don't trust just anyone. That includes me. I don't know why you trust me so much. Are you that confident? Did I rescue the wrong person? You don't need anyone to save you at all."
Rin silently mocked him, her expression teasing.
Honestly, she rather liked this savage and crude Seele. Perhaps everyone liked Seele.
Fang Jie only felt wronged. "I trust you not because I'm confident, but because of your face."
Seele's expression darkened further, and she looked ready to take issue with Fang Jie.
"What's wrong with my face?"
During her wandering life, she had encountered no shortage of people with all sorts of intentions, especially as she grew prettier. Whenever that happened, Seele would use her fists to teach them what it meant to be Underworld Fire's strongest fighter.
"You resemble an old friend of mine. Of course, she's younger than you, probably... only about this tall. You're what she would look like after growing up."
Fang Jie gestured, only reaching Seele's chest.
Actually, she was even shorter. Whether Black Seele or White Seele, both were little girls right now.
Landa Duck was even more so. So that Landa Duck honestly looked rather strange to Fang Jie, especially with those black stockings.
"Oh? And where is this friend of yours?"
Seele had already approached with ill intent, her clenched fist cracking.
"She isn't in this world. If there's a chance in the future... I'll show you her picture."
Fang Jie had already made up his mind. He would not casually transport people between worlds—not even under the logic of "it's fine if something happens."
After all, Nihility.
"Hmph."
Seele punched Fang Jie in the chest. It was not very hard. "Enough nonsense. Follow me. I'm only taking care of you because I'm in a good mood today. Otherwise, who would care whether you live or die?"
She led them to find a doctor.
Before long, Natasha's clinic was ahead of them. Fang Jie had already spotted March 7th nearby, facing away from him with her eyes closed as she counted.
Strange. He looked around, but did not find the Stellaron Spirit spawning beside any trash can.
That was not a roof, Hook. That was the sky.
"Human life is but dew and bubbles; March remains, but Little Grey Hair is nowhere to be seen."
Fang Jie was overwhelmed with emotion and grief...
Then he finished grieving.
Unable to find the Stellaron Spirit, Fang Jie could only watch March 7th play with the children in all seriousness, utterly, utterly absorbed in it.
And among the children playing with her, though he could not see the others, one small figure hiding with her back to March 7th was unmistakable:
—"The will to preserve awakened at the end of winter's apocalypse. Black Hook the Great has awakened!"
Fang Jie sensed astonishing, terrifying talent surging within her. She was an unparalleled genius with the potential to save the world and become a hero.
But the Astral Express's arrival had strangled that possibility in the cradle. How delightful. How delightful.
Completely unaware of Fang Jie, March 7th shouted with her eyes still closed, "Are you hiding properly? Big sis is coming to catch you~!"
No one answered.
How despicable, Little March. She was trying to trick the children into revealing their positions this way.
It did not matter if they did not reveal them. She had real skills too.
"Here I come!"
March 7th looked utterly arrogant as she opened her eyes and looked around, only to see—
"Ah! Why is it you?"
She jumped in fright. Meeting Fang Jie's teasing gaze, she did not lose any confidence. "Wait a moment. This young lady still has something important to do."
Then she focused wholeheartedly on catching the children.
Seele found it hard to comment. She found it hard to comment on both Fang Jie and March 7th. Rarely stopping and turning back, she looked even more suspicious of Fang Jie's background. "You know each other?"
She knew March 7th had been brought here by Sampo. Supposedly, she was one of the outsiders. Since Fang Jie knew her too...
"You're not from Belobog?"
"Obviously not."
Fang Jie looked perfectly natural. He had already said they were aliens.
"Hmph. Fine, then."
Seele's attitude actually improved considerably. Her state of mind was difficult to describe, but the relationship between the Underworld and Upper District was plain to see.
"You outsiders really are strange."
Seele could not help looking over Fang Jie's group several more times before turning to March 7th. "You're all carrying an unconscious companion, yet you still have the mood to play with children here."
Of course.
Before you continue