"...Are you alone?"
Sakura saw that Lin was finally free, standing in a corner rubbing his eyes. She seized the opportunity and walked up.
"Ah? Am I supposed to turn into a ghost?" Lin lowered his hand.
"..."
Realizing Sakura couldn't handle that kind of joke, Lin coughed and spoke seriously: "I was just looking for someone to chat with for a while. You came at just the right time, Sakura."
Sakura hesitated before asking, "When Lin returns, will he have the memories of now?"
"You have something you want to say to him, but don't want to say it to his face?" Lin easily perceived Sakura thoughts. He opened his arms in an inclusive and exaggerated gesture. "It's alright, go ahead! Your words will definitely be conveyed to him!"
"Alright..."
Lin nonsense dispersed Sakura awkwardness. She hypnotized herself into treating the person before her as the real Lin and took a deep breath.
"Lin... I'm very sorry. Perhaps saying this after so much time has already disappointed you..."
"No."
Lin suddenly interrupted her, looking at her with a bit of amusement. "Lin isn't disappointed in you, I can guarantee that."
"...Phew." Regardless of whether it was true, Sakura breathed a sigh of relief. "We haven't known each other long. Compared to your other companions who have fought alongside you in the MOTH from the beginning, we might not even count as friends."
"You save people, I kill them. No matter what excuse I find, the fact that I am an assassin won't change, and people like me are likely what you despise most."
Whether it was at the beginning of joining the un-restructured Chrysalis Squad or her first mission after becoming a MANTIS, she had always stood on the opposite side of Lin. Even if Lin didn't say it, she could sense his growing distaste for her. She could understand Lin, just as she could understand those who whispered "monster" behind the MANTIS' backs.
She could keep her distance from others, but when Lin had passed her by without a word as if he hadn't seen her, she felt a pang of distress in her heart.
"I imagine I will continue to do things you hate in the future, so at least let me return what was originally yours."
Sakura wanted to return that ice blade to Lin. It belonged to him, and he wouldn't want to see a memento left by his friend used to kill humans.
"Someone once told me that just lips touching lips doesn't count as a first kiss."
"..."
Lin serious statement left Sakura expression frozen, and her carefully built-up emotions instantly vanished. What was he saying? But Sakura had a vivid impression; back then, right here in the Spiral Workshop, she and Lin had accidentally...
"So you don't need to return a first kiss to him, it's no big deal."
Lin stared at her and gave a couple of nonchalant, cheeky laughs, scaring Sakura so much she clutched her lips and retreated several steps.
"Instead of those things, why not think about what to do next?"
"What... to do?" Sakura didn't understand.
"I mean Rin. She's coming later. Have you thought about what to do?"
"What?" At the mention of Rin, Sakura fell into total disarray. She asked the smiling person nervously, "How could Rin come here?"
"She's on my banquet guest list, so of course she's coming," Lin said as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
How could this be...
Sakura beast ears trembled. She couldn't imagine what kind of expression Rin would have upon seeing these monster ears.
"I can tell you're not prepared. Fortunately, I anticipated this. Follow me."
Lin took the lead and walked ahead. Sakura hesitated, but after seeing him turn back to wait for her, she followed.
...
"Oh? And who are you? If you're here to 'play a game' with me, don't let it be too boring!"
The man leaned into the inner corner of the wall, a pair of beast-like eyes fixing on Kevin the moment he stepped into the Deep End.
"Kalpas, right?"
Kevin walked to the door. He could already feel a blatant, overwhelming pressure bearing down on him from the depths—a sensation no less intense than the Herrschers he had faced.
"Ho? You already know, so why ask?" Kalpas couldn't help but laugh. He seemed to have completely discarded his persona from the sanatorium; now he was closer to a beast—a wounded, vicious wolf before being picked up by Aponia. He licked his teeth and lips, pulling a bloodthirsty smile.
"Not bad... not bad! Finally, someone interesting!" Kalpas could feel his body surging. Kevin was definitely different from the others. His battle-hungry genes made him unable to hold back his voice. "You have Lin scent on you! What are you to him? Friend? Brother? What kind of expression will he have when I twist your head off and throw it in front of him!"
"...I see. No wonder he told me to be careful."
Kevin placed his hand on the bars, frowning as he met those eyes. He thought of Lin expression before he left; he must have guessed the outcome of this meeting.
"Hehe... even that guy is afraid of me?" Kalpas sneered.
But soon, Kevin flat voice came: "Don't misunderstand. He only told me to be 'a bit careful'."
Kalpas wild laughter stopped in his throat as if someone had physically choked it off. "A bit careful"—even if it was being careful, it was only a little bit. In other words, Lin felt Kalpas was no match for Kevin at all, like warning someone about a kitten that might scratch—you only worry about getting nipped.
"Whew... he really..." Kalpas said word by word, raising his anger to the maximum. "...loves to provoke me!"
"..."
Just as the atmosphere was about to force a fight, Kevin aura suddenly weakened. This wasn't a concession; rather, his purpose for coming wasn't to fight Kalpas.
Kalpas was stunned for a moment as he felt Kevin piercing gaze withdraw, then became even angrier. "Are you... ignoring me?"
"Lin said he will keep you in his heart," Kevin said, repeating the jokingly given instructions Lin had given him.
"..."
"You can obtain a degree of freedom, but it will be under the MOTH' supervision."
"Freedom? You think... this little cage can hold me?"
"You can't break out. This room is made of a special thermal insulation layer. Originally, this material was used for combat against the Herrscher of Flame."
"You..."
"Let me... talk to him..."
Suddenly, another voice made Kalpas eyes widen. He looked behind Kevin in disbelief as a figure gracefully stepped out.
"Aponia...?"
The newcomer was indeed Aponia, who had changed into a completely different nun's habit. The cross on her chest was gone, and her longer veil draped over her back like an extension of her long hair. Aponia walked to the front of him, separated only by the cage, a mere step away.