Early morning.
Higashino Makoto stood at the entrance of the Singing Apple Garden, carrying a small leather suitcase, his long black hair swaying gently in the morning breeze.
Illya stood beside him, her long, silvery-white hair cascading over her shoulders, and she was also carrying a leather suitcase.
It was a bit bigger than Higashino Makoto's, bulging and stuffed full of her "trophies" accumulated over the past month.
A few new clothes and a novel I found at a bookstore.
Leinas stood at the doorway, dressed in a dark cloak with the hood pulled back. Her long, golden hair shimmered in the morning light, and her deep blue eyes gazed at Higashino Makoto.
She didn't speak, she just stood there with a faint smile on her lips.
"They're gone."
Higashino Makoto turned around and walked towards the carriage.
Illya followed behind him, took a few steps, stopped, turned around, and glanced at Leinas.
A complex light flickered in his crimson eyes.
Leinas looked at her, her smile deepening.
"Take care of yourself."
Illya nodded, turned around, and chased after him.
The carriage slowly started moving in the morning light. Higashino Makoto leaned back in the soft chair, his eyes closed, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest.
"Big brother."
"Um."
Are you sad?
"No, they were all just passing through. Besides, it's not like I'm not coming back."
"Is that so?"
Higashino Makoto opened his eyes and looked at her.
"And you?"
Illya was silent for a moment.
"... a little."
"Why?"
"Because I'm leaving, I don't know when I'll come back."
"Then come again next time."
Illya raised her head, her crimson eyes looking at him.
"Real?"
"Really, you can come whenever you want, no need to ask me."
Illya smiled.
That smile was innocent and radiant, and joy sparkled in her crimson eyes.
"Big brother."
"Um."
"I'll miss you when I get back."
"Um."
What about you? Will you miss me?
Higashino Makoto was silent for a moment.
"... meeting."
Illya's smile deepened.
She closed her eyes, leaned on his shoulder, and had a satisfied smile on her lips.
The carriage entered the Royal Capital under the afternoon sun.
Higashino Makoto lifted the curtain, glanced outside, and then lowered it again.
The Re-Estize Kingdom, he has returned.
A month ago, he threatened the king here, cleaned up the Eight Fingers, and forced the old king to abdicate.
A month later, he returned to see what the country had become.
The carriage stopped at the palace gate.
Higashino Makoto jumped off the carriage, with Illya following behind him.
The two entered the palace, walked through corridors, through courtyards, and along paths he remembered from his first visit.
Zanac sat behind his desk, a quill pen in his hand, a document spread out in front of him.
Hearing footsteps, he looked up, saw Higashino Makoto, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.
"Mr. Higashino, welcome back."
Higashino Makoto sat down opposite him, with Illya standing behind him.
"It's been a month. How's it going?"
Zanac put down his pen and leaned back in his chair.
"The Eight Fingers have been completely eliminated. The nobles on the list—those who should be arrested have been arrested, those who should be killed have been killed, and those whose property should be confiscated have had it confiscated. The people's reaction... is better than I expected."
What's so good about it?
"Fortunately, they saw hope."
Zanac's voice was calm, but a certain light flickered in his gray eyes.
"Before, they thought the country was beyond saving. The nobility was corrupt, the officials were incompetent, and criminal organizations ran rampant. They could only endure it, persevere, and wait. Now, they see those nobles arrested, those officials replaced, and those criminal organizations wiped out. They are beginning to believe that this country can still be saved."
Higashino Makoto looked at him for two seconds.
"You did a good job."
I didn't do it.
Zanac shook his head.
"Renner did it. She devised the plan, and I was in charge of executing it."
"That's not bad. Knowing people and assigning them to suitable positions is a virtue of a ruler."
Zanac chuckled softly.
"You certainly know how to compliment people. Don't be so modest."
"This isn't a compliment, it's the truth."
Higashino Makoto stood up.
"I'm leaving. I just came to check in. You guys did a good job, keep it up."
"Mr. Higashino."
Zanac called out to him.
Higashino Makoto stopped walking, but didn't turn around.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome, this is all thanks to your own efforts."
He stepped out of the palace.
Illya followed behind him, turned around, and glanced at Zanac.
Zanac nodded to her. Illya looked away and followed.
The two walked out of the palace, the sunlight shining on them and casting long, long shadows on the stone path.
"Big brother."
"Um."
Where to go next?
"Go back."
"Back to Novas Etier?"
"Um."
Illya paused for a moment.
"Go back... and then what?"
Higashino Makoto turned around and looked at her.
"You've been replaced. Your term is up."
Illya's lips tightened slightly.
"... I know."
Are you unhappy?
"No."
"That's a lie."
Illya looked at him, her crimson eyes flashing with a complex light.
"Big brother."
"Um."
"When will it be my turn next time?"
Higashino Makoto thought for a moment.
"Twenty-four people, rotating monthly. You just finished, the next one will probably be... in two years."
Well, if we're unlucky, it could be three or four years later.
Illya lowered her head and looked at her toes.
Two years... that's a long time.
"Not long. Two years is very short compared to eternal life."
"I know, but it still feels long."
Higashino Makoto was silent for a moment, then reached out and patted her head.
"Come back in two years. I'll be waiting for you."
Illya raised her head, tears glistening in her crimson eyes.
"It's settled?"
"It's a deal."
Illya smiled. In that smile, there were tears, reluctance, and anticipation.
She reached out and hooked her little finger around Higashino Makoto's little finger.
"Pinky promise."
Higashino Makoto looked at her for two seconds, then chuckled softly.
"Okay. Pinky promise."
Their little fingers were hooked together, in the sunlight, in the breeze, on the streets of the Royal Capital.
Illya released her grip and took a deep breath.
"Let's go back. We'll change people."
She turned around and walked towards the carriage. Her steps were lighter than when she came, as if she had unloaded a heavy burden.
Higashino Makoto watched her retreating figure, a soft light flashing in his dark eyes.
Novas Etier, Seventh Floor, private bedroom.
Higashino Makoto stood by the window, gazing at the artificial starry sky outside.
The stars do not twinkle, do not move, and hang there eternally, beautiful yet illusory.
But he's gotten used to it.
I've grown accustomed to this world made up of data, accustomed to the lives he created, accustomed to this eternal, emotionless beauty.
There was a knock on the door.
"Come in."
The door was pushed open, and a figure walked in.
Long blue hair, styled in a jellyfish-like bun, with some side hair and a section at the back of the head hanging down to the chest.
The front hair is asymmetrical, covering the left ear while revealing the right ear, with a layered strand of hair floating on the overall M-shaped bangs and parting in other directions.
Her hair was tied up with a headband with blue and red ribbons.
His light blue eyes were clear and bright, yet held a serious, unquestionable light.