Her clear, quiet voice rang out in the night, carrying no accusation, only the calmness of having accepted it.
Hearing those words amid the glow at the Top of the Tower, Fang Ran turned his dark eyes toward her. He was not surprised that she had so directly pointed out what he had concealed. With his hair tousled by the wind, he merely smiled somewhat helplessly.
"I just felt that telling the current Ling about this would seem like I was flaunting a favor, so I was a little embarrassed to bring it up."
The current Ling.
Hearing the way Fang Ran addressed her, the tall, cool woman looked at his expression in the night wind.
From Trinity's description, from Wandering Night Angel's battle records, she already knew what this young man had hidden from her during the day.
The Arctic, the Ice Sea, Nevernight Palace, the lights and shadows of Zero Rider and the Queen.
Only a few months after awakening, he had charged into the Arctic alone and openly challenged the ruler of Night Battle. He had even recklessly challenged that person's projection.
Even though he had fallen into the Ice Sea and been gravely wounded, nearly dying. Before that, he had never even left the country.
And all of it had been for "her."
What did it feel like to suddenly discover that someone was willing to risk his life for one's future self?
"The 'me' in the Arctic must have been very surprised when she saw you appear."
Her pale golden eyes lowered quietly. Putting herself in the place of that version of herself, Ling in her adult form brushed back her hair and voiced an especially believable guess.
Though both people involved were standing here, it felt strangely as though they were discussing a third