What hurt the most?
Nothing more than watching your own face age little by little while an old friend remained unchanged.
Just like now.
Hanks gazed at An Kai's youthful face, dazed.
It was as though he had returned to that afternoon.
An Kai had led an aging yellow horse over and traded the "junk" he had spent so long saving for a Lower-grade Magic Stone...
Back then, Hanks's stooped back had still been an act.
"How wonderful..."
Hanks murmured, staring blankly at An Kai's face.
Cough, cough, cough...
Suddenly, Hanks coughed violently several times, his face turning pale.
In a hoarse voice, he slowly said, "Right now, I truly envy you."
An Kai froze, then waved a hand. "Envy, my ass!" His face shifted, his youthful features aging somewhat as crow's-feet appeared at the corners of his eyes.
"Envy? I was younger than you to begin with, you old bastard. Of course you should envy me."
"Well? Do I look any different now than I did back in Nameless Town?"
Hanks paused, then chuckled. "Hahaha, you do." He knew An Kai had deliberately aged his appearance to comfort him.
Waving a hand, Hanks turned and headed out of the Castle. "I'll come find you once I've thought it through."
At the doorway, Hanks abruptly stopped and studied An Kai again and again. "You've changed..."
"But... it's a good change."
Like an elderly man praising a youngster, Hanks left with a broad smile...
"Changed?"
"That old bastard just loves talking in riddles."
An Kai muttered with a fond curse, then flickered out of the Castle.
As he passed Hanks, he even heard him humming an unfamiliar, cheerful tune. He seemed to be in a good mood.
An Kai found Milton, the Spirit-infused [Heavy Armor Warrior], then brought Wayne and the