Sheathing her sword, Shining stood still, awaiting the inevitable encounter.
Soon, a voice suddenly rang out from ahead.
Where is that guy!?
Shining was not surprised at all and bowed towards the empty space in front of her.
"The Sinner is dead."
"Did you kill him?"
Vera's figure appeared, Shining remained bowed, not looking up.
"Yes."
"Shouldn't you be following behind? Why are you staying here?"
"Everything is a convergence of fate..."
Speak like a human being.
Shining sighed softly and apologized to someone in her heart.
"It was Scar Eye's guidance."
"Scar Eye? Isn't he only good at predicting disasters?"
"That's true."
Shining nodded slightly, recalled the original words, and then repeated them in a calm tone:
"Regarding why he chose to wait here, Scar Eye's original words were..."
"When all prophetic paths lead in the wrong direction, that one blank space is the path to survival..."
"... What process of elimination?"
I can't tell you where it's safe, but I can tell you where bad things might happen...
"So you believed this vague hint and waited here beforehand?"
Vera pressed for more details, expressing some doubt about Shining's straightforwardness.
"Not entirely." Shining shook his head, his voice remaining steady.
"Having only sensed the lingering aura of his battle with you, it is my duty to end it here."
Vera felt awkward watching Shining maintain his respectful posture.
"What exactly did Scar Eye say to you? Why are you being so humble?"
Shining remained unmoved by the direct question, her voice still steady:
He said, "If I follow you, I might be able to reach... the future I desire most."
You believed him just because he said so?
Vera raised an eyebrow, finding the reason rather hasty.
Following a stranger based on just a few words?
"I didn't believe it at first."
Shining readily admitted it, raising his head slightly.
"But..."
Her words came to an abrupt halt.
The moment she looked up, the golden Crown came into her view without any obstruction.
"..."
Vera noticed her unusual behavior and, following her gaze, subconsciously touched the Crown on her head, her confusion deepening.
"But what about it?"
Shining lowered her head again and chuckled softly. There was no mockery in her laughter; instead, it sounded like a sense of relief.
"But... now I'm even more certain."
"... a strange guy."
Vera was somewhat confused by her cryptic words and attitude, but after all, the other party had helped her eliminate the threat of Blood Butcher.
He awkwardly looked away, but finally whispered:
"... But thank you anyway."
"It's my duty."
"Don't talk like you're already my subordinate."
Vera couldn't stand the formality and turned to go back.
Just as I took a step, Shining's calm voice came from behind me:
"If you wish to avoid attracting further attention and scrutiny, temporarily concealing that extraordinary object would be a good choice."
Vera paused slightly, but did not answer. The Crown had already quietly disappeared.
Shining quietly followed in her footsteps, and Vera did not object, tacitly allowing her to follow.
When the two returned, this was the scene Vera saw.
The mercenaries were not resting as she had expected; they simply stood silently on the scorching edge of the pit.
Their figures were blurred in the heatwave, but the heavy atmosphere could be clearly felt even from a distance.
What are they doing?
Vera slowed her pace, a hint of confusion flashing across her face.
Her first thought was—had her attack missed something, or had the aftershocks caused accidental casualties?
A sudden chill ran through her, and Vera quickly scanned the crowd.
One, two... Hedley, Ines, Rice... all the faces she knew and didn't know were there.
Although most of them were covered in dust and dirt, their numbers did not decrease.
"No one is missing..." she muttered to herself, her doubts deepening.
"Perhaps..." Shining's calm voice sounded beside her.
"Are they looking for... you?"
"How is that possible?"
Vera immediately retorted, her brow furrowed.
"I've only known them for a few days. It's just an employer-employee relationship."
She couldn't understand how such a brief acquaintance and transaction could create such a strong emotional connection.
"Then please stay and look around for a while longer."
Shining didn't argue, but simply turned slightly to the side, casting her gaze upon the mercenaries standing silently below.
"You will witness firsthand... what your existence truly means to them."
Vera didn't reply, but crossed her arms and began to "observe".
Then--
She saw W jump into the pit like a madman, searching in the most dangerous way.
She saw Rice silently follow, then a third, a fourth...
More and more mercenaries jumped down, digging in the scalding lava with rudimentary tools.
The high temperature scorched their skin, and the dampness on their faces was washed away by the heat.
Hedley went down as well. Ines glanced at the direction where Vera was hiding, nodded slightly, and then followed suit.
Vera could no longer maintain her initial ease; her fingers unconsciously tightened, gripping her upper arm.
The red glow of the lava gradually dimmed. The first mercenary stopped and slumped to the ground, followed by the second, the third...
"A bunch of idiots..."
Vera finally couldn't help but mutter a curse under her breath, her voice hoarse.
"You're right..."
The Shining's voice rang out at the opportune moment, stating a fact.
"Many Sarkaz have survived from childhood through hardship and fighting, and have never received systematic education."
"They may be physically strong and skilled, but in their emotional cognition and expression, they are often... closer to acting on instinct like children."
"Actions are always their most direct and honest language."
Vera did not respond, silently watching the mercenaries support each other as they prepared to leave this place of sorrow.
A feeling of guilt began to grow in Vera's heart.
She needs to think carefully about how to reasonably explain her survival and sudden reappearance.
Just then, her gaze caught sight of the most obsessive figure—W.
W stood there unsteadily, seemingly wanting to do something, but her body had already betrayed her will.
[Time Stop Sound Effect]
Vera stretched out her arm and caught W steadily.
The sudden commotion caught the mercenaries' attention, and they instinctively turned around—
Time seemed to stretch out at that moment.
Is it a hallucination? Dehydration-induced visual hallucinations due to high temperatures? Or is it the return of the dead?
After a brief silence--
"Big... Big Sister...?"
A mercenary let out a gasp of disbelief, which was like lighting the fuse of a powder keg.
"Boss!!!"
"It's the boss! She's still alive!!!"
"Alive! Alive!"
The mercenaries scrambled and stumbled toward Vera's location, completely oblivious to the rugged terrain and the lingering heat.
Hedley stood there, watching Vera being instantly surrounded by the crowd, and let out a long breath.
Ines stood beside him, the corners of her mouth curving upwards almost imperceptibly.
Hedley glanced sideways, feeling annoyed as he recalled Ines's earlier words.
Why didn't you tell me?
"If I told you... then I wouldn't see that expression on your face anymore?"
Ines took Hedley's hand and, before Hedley could panic, led him down the path.
"Don't stand there, team leader. If you don't hurry... all your men will be kidnapped!"
"Will you be kidnapped?"
Ines froze, and Hedley took her hand in his and stepped forward.
"... What if I said I would?"
Hedley's voice was flat; he simply tightened his grip.
"Then I'll go with you too."
Vera stood there, holding the unconscious W, surrounded by excited mercenaries.
The noise, cheers, and a cacophony of questions assaulted her eardrums.
She tilted her head slightly, a little uncomfortable, but the words "It's so noisy!" that were already on the tip of her tongue remained unspoken.
She looked down at W, who was unconscious in her arms with a smile on her face, then glanced at the group of idiot mercenaries around her.
This is so troublesome...
She confirmed it in her mind again.
But... it doesn't seem so bad.
"Cough cough!"
"Cough cough!"
A deliberately exaggerated cough broke the chaos, and the mercenaries reluctantly made way for their leader, the noise subsiding as well.
Hedley stopped in front of Vera, and without asking about her condition, went straight to the point:
"Employer, regarding the next... mission, do you still intend to continue?"
His voice wasn't loud, but it instantly silenced the surroundings.
The mercenaries' eyes were fixed on Vera, filled with tension, anticipation, and a barely perceptible sense of apprehension.
Yes, at this moment, whether Blood Butcher has truly been completely eliminated is no longer so important.
This earth-shattering "natural Catastrophe" has already become a "calling card" that has shocked the entire Kazdel.
The Babel Tower couldn't possibly have missed it.
Vera has arguably exceeded her initial goal of "attracting the attention of the Babel Tower."
So, is there any need for this partnership, initially based on employment, to continue?
The mercenaries were filled with trepidation. They had witnessed the immense power of a falling star and had also sensed just the tip of the iceberg of Vera's hidden strength.
In comparison, the cooperation among these mercenaries, who had been rolling in the mud, was practically like... playing house.
Thinking of this, many mercenaries' eyes dimmed, and they silently lowered their heads.
Some people cast envious glances at W in Vera's arms.
At least this guy who keeps bothering the boss can be taken away, right?
If I had known, I should have been more proactive and shown more of myself in front of the boss...
Vera remained silent for a moment.
She could feel the gazes focused on her. These fools, who had just been ecstatic about her "resurrection," were now worried about being left behind.
This is troublesome, really troublesome.
But...
"Let's continue."
The sound wasn't loud, but it made all the bowed heads jerk up, their eyes flashing with disbelief.
Vera gazed into the distance, her tone carrying a hint of resignation:
"Consider it doing a service to the people. Let's clean up the pests on the list one by one first."
She gave a somewhat perfunctory reason.
But that's enough.
"Oooooooo--!!!"
"Long live the boss!"
"Eliminate the pests! Leave no one alive!"
The mercenaries' gloom vanished, and they brandished their weapons, emitting all sorts of strange cries, as if they had won a battle.
Hedley took a step back and bowed slightly:
"Yes, sir."
Vera looked at the noisy mercenaries and looked away with a headache.
As expected, it's still quite troublesome.
But...
She lifted W in her arms higher and instructed Hedley:
"Rest first, treat the wounded." Her gaze swept over the burns and exhaustion on everyone's bodies.
"The clearing operation... we'll talk about it tomorrow."
"Yes!"
The mercenaries escorted Vera away, heading in a new direction.
Vera smiled, but then quickly concealed her expression once the others turned their attention to her.
I don't dislike it...