Hell Lies Ahead!

"Have you found the ultimate goal of your life, something you've decided to strive for your entire life?"

Before leaving, Manus had left Barty Jr. with that question. He did not need Barty Jr. to answer, yet it kept echoing in his heart.

Did he have a goal? Of course he did, but... an ultimate goal? Something to strive for his entire life?

Was he really going to spend his whole life earning his father's approval?

Even Barty Jr., who had been so preoccupied with it until now, instinctively felt that it was absurd—simply impossible.

So...

"What is my ultimate goal?"

"Oh no, another one's fallen into it."

From her seat by the fireplace, where she was reading with Pandora, Elizabeth turned a page and sighed.

Even now, she thought it was outrageous. Manus always opened with questions on the level of life's three great questions. She really wanted to tell these people to stop thinking about it; they might not find an answer even on their deathbeds.

Yet these people actually seemed to have figured something out. Pandora had, and so had that Grogan... and they had become rather frightening.

They even called it: "Once you realize there is something you want to pursue with your entire life, you'll become like this too."

It was utterly unreasonable. They even wanted to drag her into it.

"That's a good thing, though."

Pandora, beside her, smiled happily.

At first, she had felt confused too—confused without even realizing it. It was only after Manus woke her up to it that she understood she had merely been wandering in circles without a purpose.

There was no saying whether that had been right or wrong, but after finding her goal, she felt like a little boat sailing at sea that had found a lighthouse.