The moonlight over the ruins was as cold as ice.
Lin Shuo barely managed to stay upright with God Cutter as support. The strawberry lollipop Lao Mo had handed him melted in his mouth, almost sickeningly sweet-but the sugar did make his weakened body feel a little better.
"The intel was a trap."
Lao Mo repeated it, his dark gray eyes sweeping over the scorched earth. "But they lost more."
Lin Shuo nodded, his breathing gradually steadying.
Although he had fallen into the trap, although his chakra was almost exhausted, although his body felt utterly drained-
The Order had suffered far worse losses.
More than a hundred Ethereals, including five fully developed ones, had all turned to ash in Kirin's lightning.
Losses on this scale would have been a devastating blow to any organization.
"For the time being..." Lin Shuo coughed twice, the taste of blood still lingering in his throat.
"They won't be stirring up any trouble."
"Mm." Lao Mo pulled a small scanner from his tactical waist pouch and crouched to examine the residual ether reactions on the ground.
The numbers on its screen fluctuated wildly before finally settling below the danger line.
"Activity: zero," Lao Mo said.
"Not even any ether crystals left."
That meant the Ethereals had been completely annihilated, with nothing left worth salvaging.
Lin Shuo managed a weak smile.
"At least... Lumina Square will have some peace for a while."
Sirens sounded in the distance-the Defense Force patrol had finally noticed the commotion here.
Lao Mo put away the scanner and glanced toward the sound.
"...Go?"
"Let's go."
The two turned away from the ruins, their figures quickly disappearing into the night.
Lao Mo's concealment skills were as impressive as ever-he was clearly only half a meter from Lin Shuo, yet his presence was as faint as a shadow.
Lin Shuo's footsteps were much heavier.
His body protested with every step.
The emptiness of depleted chakra felt as though someone had scooped out all his organs with a spoon.
The side effects of the Mangekyō Sharingan were also beginning to show-blurred vision, throbbing temples, and countless needles seemingly stabbing into his brain.
"You're in bad shape," Lao Mo suddenly said.
"...Yeah."
"Need an escort?"
"No."
Lin Shuo shook his head. "I can get back."
Lao Mo stared at him for three seconds, then pulled a syringe from another pocket-it contained a pale green liquid.
"A suppressant." He handed it to Lin Shuo.
"It'll ease the backlash."
Lin Shuo took it and plunged it into his arm without hesitation.
The cold liquid flowed into his veins, easing that burning emptiness a little.
"Thanks."
"Mm."
They parted at the edge of Lumina Square.
Lao Mo headed toward the fish market, while Lin Shuo dragged his exhausted body toward the ramen stand.
The streets were quiet.
At two in the morning, most residents were already asleep, with only a few twenty-four-hour convenience stores still lit.
When Lin Shuo reached the ramen stand, he found the light still on inside.
Yuzuha?
He pushed open the door.
Behind the counter, the red-haired girl had fallen asleep with her head on the table.
Lin Shuo's coat was draped over her-he had probably left it here earlier-and her profile looked especially soft in the light.
Lin Shuo lightened his steps and walked over to her.
Yuzuha's eyelashes were long, casting faint shadows on her cheeks.
The corners of her mouth curved slightly upward, as though she was having a pleasant dream.
Lin Shuo reached out, intending to gently wake her-
"Lin Shuo!"
Yuzuha suddenly startled awake, her green eyes flying open.
The instant she saw Lin Shuo, she threw herself at him.
"You're back! Are you okay? Are you hurt? I heard there was an explosion to the south, and lightning-was that you? Was it?"
The questions came in a rapid-fire barrage.
Her hug made it a little hard for Lin Shuo to breathe, but he still gently patted her back.
"...I'm fine."
"Liar!" Yuzuha released him, her eyes fixed on his face.
"You're so pale! And there's blood-you're hurt!"
She reached out to wipe the dried blood from the corner of Lin Shuo's mouth, her fingers trembling.
Lin Shuo took her hand.
"It's just a minor injury."
"What do you mean, minor? You're bleeding!"
"Lin Shuo, you promised me... you promised you wouldn't be reckless..."
"I wasn't being reckless."
Lin Shuo looked at her, his tone earnest. "I just did what I had to do."
Yuzuha bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes.
"Then... then at least tell me! I can help! I can-"
"No."
Lin Shuo cut her off. "It's too dangerous."
"And it isn't dangerous for you?!"
Yuzuha raised her voice. "You always do this! You always go off risking your life alone! Every time, you-"
She could not continue. She buried her face in Lin Shuo's chest, her shoulders trembling slightly.
Lin Shuo held her, feeling her tears soak his shirt.
After a long while, Yuzuha raised her head, her eyes red and swollen but her expression stubborn.
"Lin Shuo, I'm angry."
"...I know."
"I'm really angry!"
"Yeah."
"So you have to make it up to me!"
Lin Shuo looked at her, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. "How?"
Yuzuha stared at him for a few seconds, then rose onto her tiptoes-
"Mm."
His lip received a gentle bite.
It was not hard, but it was unmistakably meant as punishment.
"That's the first part."
Blushing, Yuzuha said, "And the second-for the next week, you're not allowed to take any dangerous missions! You're not allowed to open the ramen stand either! You're going to get some proper rest!"
"The ramen stand-"
"When I say you're not opening it, you're not opening it!"
Yuzuha planted both hands on her hips, her expression daring him to argue.
Lin Shuo looked at her, warmth welling in his heart.
"...Okay."
"Really?"
"Really."
Only then did Yuzuha breathe a sigh of relief, but she immediately put on a stern face again. "And the third part-tomorrow, you have to spend the whole day with me! No training, no work, just stay with me!"
"...Okay."
"That's more like it."
Yuzuha finally showed a small smile, but it quickly gave way to worry. "Now, come home with me. I'll treat your wounds."
She took Lin Shuo's hand and led him outside, her movements leaving no room for refusal.
Lin Shuo followed behind her, watching her back.
In the moonlight, her red hair looked like flowing flames.
This girl was someone he would risk his life to protect.
The next morning, at Scott Outpost.
Lin Shuo was doing a little better than the night before, but he was still weak.
The suppressant could only ease his symptoms, not rapidly restore his chakra.
He stood at the edge of the training ground, watching Lin Yue and Orphie practice.
Lin Yue was indeed improving quickly-she could now maintain her Three-Tomoe Sharingan steadily for half an hour, and her throwing-knife accuracy had also improved considerably.
Orphie guided her from beside her, her green eyes full of concentration.
"Raise your wrist a little more... yes."
She helped Lin Yue adjust her stance, her movements light and gentle.
Lin Yue looked up at her, her eyes full of attachment.
"Big Sister Orphie, am I doing it right?"
"Yes, very good."
Orphie nodded, a faint smile touching her lips.
The smile was faint, but genuine.
As Lin Shuo watched, something in his heart stirred slightly.
[System notification: emotional bond establishment progress-Orphie Magnusson's affection: 79%] [Host's inner acceptance: 86%] [Lin Yue's emotional stability: 89%] [Time remaining: 12 hours 05 minutes]
Just a little more.
As long as Orphie's affection exceeded 80% and the host's inner acceptance also reached 80%, Lin Yue would be able to exist stably in this spacetime.
Lin Shuo took a deep breath and walked toward the training ground.
"Lin Shuo!"
Orphie's face immediately reddened when she saw him.
She instinctively started to step back, but then remembered something and forced herself to stop.
"You... you're here."
Her voice was very quiet, her gaze evasive.
Lin Yue, meanwhile, ran over happily. "Dad!"
Lin Shuo ruffled her hair. "How's practice going?"
"Great! Big Sister Orphie said I'm improving really fast!"
"Mm."
Lin Shuo looked at Orphie. "Thanks for all your hard work these past few days."
"It-it's nothing..." Orphie lowered her head, wringing her fingers together. "Xiao Yue is very well-behaved..."
The atmosphere was a little delicate.
Lin Yue looked at Lin Shuo, then at Orphie, before saying obediently, "Dad, I'll go practice over there."
She ran off, leaving the two alone.
The training ground was quiet, with only the sounds of soldiers drilling in the distance.
Orphie stood where she was, her head lowered, her ears so red they almost looked ready to bleed.
Lin Shuo looked at her and suddenly spoke:
"Orphie."
"...Yes?"
"Thank you."
Orphie raised her head, a hint of confusion in her green eyes. "Th-thank me for what?"
"Thank you for taking care of Lin Yue." Lin Shuo spoke very earnestly. "And thank you... for trusting me all this time."
Orphie's face grew even redder.
"I-I didn't do anything... Besides, Lin Yue is your daughter. It's only right that I look after her..."
"No."
Lin Shuo shook his head. "You didn't do it because you 'should.' You did it because you wanted to."
He looked into Orphie's eyes. "Just like the you in another timeline, who willingly became her mother, willingly fought by my side, willingly... loved us."
Orphie's breathing stopped for a moment.
"Lin Shuo..."
"I know this is very sudden for you."
Lin Shuo continued, "I also know you're confused and uneasy about a lot of things. But I want to tell you-no matter the timeline, no matter what our relationship is, you're someone very important."
He paused, his voice softening further. "Very important to me."
Orphie's tears fell without warning.
It wasn't sadness. It was... some emotion she had suppressed for too long, finally finding an outlet.
"I... I've always..."
Her voice choked up. "I've always been so scared... scared I wasn't good enough, scared I'd hold you back, scared... I wasn't worthy of you..."
Lin Shuo reached out and gently wiped away her tears.
"You're wonderful."
His tone was firm as he spoke. "You're one of the finest soldiers in Obsidian Camp, Captain Willowisp's most trusted team member, the 'Mom' Lin Yue has accepted, and... my most important comrade."
"But... you already have Miss Yuzuha... I-I shouldn't..."
"When it comes to feelings, there's no should or shouldn't."
Lin Shuo interrupted her. "Only whether they're sincere."
He paused, then added, "Besides, we don't necessarily have to copy our relationship from another timeline. We can find our own way of being together."
Orphie stared at him blankly.
"Our own... way of being together?"
"Yes." Lin Shuo nodded.
"For example, you're Lin Yue's 'Big Sister Orphie,' and my comrade and companion. As for what the future holds..."
He smiled, his smile gentle. "Let's leave that to time."
Orphie's tears slowly stopped.
She looked at Lin Shuo, her green eyes still glistening with tears, but now shining.
"...Is that really okay?"
"It is."
"Then... can I keep looking after Xiao Yue?"
"Of course."
"And... keep training with you?"
"Yes."
A smile finally appeared on Orphie's face.
It was a warm, genuine smile.
"Thank you, Lin Shuo."
She said softly, "Thank you... for being willing to give me time."
[System notification: Emotional bond establishment progress-Orphie Magnusson's affection: 81% (requirement met)] [Host's inner acceptance: 87% (requirement met)] [Lin Yue's emotional stability: 91% (requirement met)] [Completion conditions for mandatory quest "Look After Lin Yue" have been met!] [Checking spacetime stability...]
The system interface flickered wildly in Lin Shuo's field of vision.
Streams of data scrolled like a waterfall.
Then-
[Check complete! Lin Yue's existence in this timeline has stabilized!] [Risk of spacetime assimilation: 0%] [Note: Lin Yue can now live safely in this timeline until a way to return to her original timeline is found (or she chooses to stay permanently).]
It's done.
The weight on Lin Shuo's heart finally lifted.
Lin Yue won't disappear anymore.
He looked toward the other side of the training ground-the little girl was intently practicing her throws, her Three-Tomoe Sharingan gleaming dark red in the sunlight.
She'll grow up just fine.
In this timeline, in this... world with him, Orphie, Yuzuha, and Lin You.
"Lin Shuo."
Orphie's voice brought him back to reality.
"Hmm?"
"C-can I ask you something?"
"Go ahead."
Orphie bit her lip, her voice very quiet. "Were we... in that other timeline... really... happy?"
Lin Shuo was silent for a few seconds.
"Lin Yue said her parents loved each other very much."
"Even though they often argued, even though her dad always wore a stern face and her mom was always nagging, they... loved each other very much, and loved her very much too."
Orphie's eyes reddened again.
"...That sounds wonderful."
"Yes."
"Then..."
She raised her head, her green eyes looking straight at Lin Shuo. "Can we... in this timeline... be happy too?"
The question was far too direct.
Lin Shuo looked at her for a long time, then nodded.
"As long as we both try, we can."
Orphie smiled.
Her tears were still falling, but her smile was radiant.
She suddenly stepped forward and rose onto her tiptoes-
And gently kissed Lin Shuo on the cheek.
It was very light, very quick.
Like a dragonfly skimming the water.
"This is... to say thank you."
She said it with a blush, then turned and ran.
But after barely two steps, she stopped again and glanced back at Lin Shuo.
"...I'll do my best."
With that, she truly ran off, her orange ponytail swaying behind her.
Lin Shuo stood where he was and touched the spot she had kissed.
The warm sensation still lingered.
And just then-
"ORPHIE!!!!!!!"
Willowisp's roar came from Tail on Orphie's shoulder, the synthesized electronic voice cracking with extreme fury.
"What the fuck are you doing?! Huh?! Kissing a man in broad daylight?! Are you even a soldier anymore?! Huh?! And you, Lin Shuo! You actually let her kiss you?! You have a girlfriend, you know?! You scumbag!!!"
Tail's muzzle crackled wildly with electrical sparks, clearly furious.