Stark looked at the little girl sitting on his shoulder, constantly tugging at his hair, and spoke helplessly.
"That person does not want to see anyone but me. So just stay here obediently. I promise I'll come right back once I'm done."
He lifted the little girl off his shoulder and set her on the ground, putting on a stern expression.
"Waaah~"
But the little girl only tugged at his sleeve with a tearful voice, looking as though she refused to leave him.
"Sigh, I really can't do anything about you. Then let's agree on this: once we get there, you can only wait outside. You absolutely cannot go in, understand?"
Stark sighed softly and said indulgently.
He truly had no way to deal with Lilynette. She was the only one who kept him company, so Stark treated her very well.
As they strolled along, they arrived at a dark and secluded corridor. Enormous stone pillars and rows of houses stood all around, making the place seem somewhat less empty.
Yet even so, they could not conceal the desolation of this place.
It carried the aura of death, the feeling of utter stillness.
Even within Hueco Mundo, a place that was itself home to the dead, it felt especially bleak.
Stark and Lilynette continued down the corridor.
Stark's lonely figure seemed to blend into everything around him. If not for Lilynette's cheerful, lively figure hopping ahead of him, it would have felt as though no one was there at all.
"Hey, Stark, can't you hurry up~?"
Lilynette crouched on a rock, looked at Stark as he walked slowly, and shouted.
"Okay."
Stark Responded in his usual unhurried tone.
They continued onward until they reached a massive stone gate.
"Lilynette, just wait here."
Stark patted Lilynette on the shoulder and entered