At the entrance of the Goethe Hotel.
The three who had checked the guest rooms were now gathered here again.
Zeig, Dan Heng, and March 7th looked at each other.
Dan Heng spoke first:
"One must remain vigilant against others. Now that we're staying in these rooms again, it's best to be cautious."
He vaguely remembered.
Last time, Dan Heng and March 7th had stayed at the Goethe Hotel in the upper district.
They'd just reached an agreement with the Supreme Guardian during the day, but as soon as night fell, people quietly blocked the door.
It had really worn March 7th out.
"Yeah, exactly. Who knows if Wildfire is just stringing us along too." March 7th nodded in agreement.
After all, the Goethe Hotel in the lower district and the Goethe Hotel in the upper district belonged to the same family—they might have the same character.
In the upper district, the Goethe Hotel would help capture people with just a word from the Silvermane Guards.
As for this Goethe Hotel in the lower district… March 7th had eaten here with Zeig, Oleg, and Seele. When the boss lady Gertie saw Wildfire arrive, she even comped some dishes—their relationship spoke for itself.
March 7th frowned:
"If Wildfire suddenly turns on us, the boss lady here would definitely help them."
After the previous ambush, both March 7th and Dan Heng had become much more cautious.
Dan Heng looked at Zeig and March 7th and suggested:
"Let's have someone keep watch tonight."
Hearing this, Zeig silently peeled a banana, pretending to be deaf.
March 7th pressed a hand to her forehead, yawned, and murmured weakly:
"Ah~ I'm so sleepy."
Yet to her surprise, Zeig immediately raised the banana and passed the buck:
"No, Big Sis March—don't sell yourself short. Tonight, our lives are completely in your hands!"
March 7th quickly backed away, declining:
"N-No way! Big Bro Zeig, I've never pulled an all-nighter, you know? Do you have any idea how bad staying up is for the skin?!"
She looked at Zeig, eyes shining:
"Right—you're an OP player, aren't you? Just pull an all-night gaming session. That's routine for you, right?"
Zeig shrugged:
"Where am I supposed to get the stamina for that in-game? My resin's all spent—can't exactly keep farming the open world, can I?"
"Why not just do quests?"
"Too long—don't feel like it."
So Zeig turned to Dan Heng:
"How about our stoic little dragon sets an example?"
Dan Heng: "…"
March 7th immediately chimed in:
"Yeah, yeah, yeah—Dan Heng, you're the one who suggested keeping watch, so you must have plenty of experience, right?"
Just as the three were deadlocked,
a silver-haired girl slowly approached:
"I'll keep watch."
The three turned at the voice—it was Bronya.
Dan Heng looked at her, inevitably feeling some concern.
Last time, it was Bronya who led the team that stormed the hotel to capture them.
March 7th immediately said:
"Huh? You haven't gone to rest yet?"
Bronya shook her head:
"After I entered my room, Wildfire's Leader Oleg knocked on my door. He told me many things—I'm afraid I won't be able to sleep tonight."
She looked at the three and said sincerely:
"If you trust me, leave the watch to me."
March 7th didn't overthink it—after all, they'd spent some time together—and said casually:
"It's not that we don't trust you, but having you keep watch… I'm not entirely comfortable with it. You're a Silvermane Guard who came down here alone—the chances of something happening to you are higher than for us."
The lower district still harbored deep resentment toward Silvermane Guards.
Moreover, Bronya was alone—she could easily become a target for vagrants to vent their anger on, just like last time.
Yet Bronya's tone remained calm:
"If they have similar thoughts, it wouldn't be unjustified… The Silvermane Guards do owe the people of the lower district."
"If someone had stood up back then and clearly explained the consequences to Lady Cocolia… Never mind—hindsight is meaningless."
Zeig silently ate his banana. He roughly understood that the person Bronya said should have stood up was likely herself.
Bronya continued:
"No need to worry about my safety. Wildfire's Leader Oleg promised no harm would come to me. I believe a man like him will keep his word. You all go rest."
Since Bronya had put it that way, March 7th naturally had no objections.
Dan Heng glanced at Zeig, wanting his opinion.
To his surprise, Zeig immediately beamed with delight, patted Bronya's shoulder, and praised:
"Oh wow, Commander—you're such a good person! In that case, the important task of guarding us is all yours!"
With that, he swaggered straight inside.
"Ah, he slipped away too fast!" March 7th hurriedly followed.
Seeing the two leave, Dan Heng took it as agreement to let Bronya keep watch.
So he said to the silver-haired girl:
"If anything happens, just call for us loudly."
Bronya nodded:
"Mhm, I will."
Dan Heng nodded in return and slowly departed.
…
Inside the guest room.
Zeig lay sprawled like the character "木" on the soft bed, letting out a contented groan.
Then he immediately turned off the light and drifted into sleep.
No hesitation whatsoever.
…
In boundless darkness.
Scenes emerged from the depths of Zeig's memory.
"Hm hahaha… World Serpent forever~!"
"Friend or foe—choose."
"I shall… overturn all phenomena!"
"Leader Welt, I did not lie."
"Is that so? I grew up listening to Theresa's songs."
"You people are sick!"
Zeig: "…"
"SpongeBob, let's go catch jellyfish!"
"Mirror… Mirror woke up! Yan Yu! Your brother woke up!"
"Of course—for pledging loyalty to you, hahahaha!"
"Nah I'd Win"
"I'm the armored titan and his the Colossal titan"
"My name is Xiao Wu—the Wu of dance."
"My name is Elysia…"
"Mei-senpai, I don't want to die…"
"May civilization… continue like sparks of starfire… May this world… shine like gold…"
"Sweet curry—how can it be spicy?"
"Villainy I shall take to the grave… Light will reach the future… because of you…"
"In that moment, the world will turn for her alone…"
"The story goes like this… I went to a future very, very far away… experienced all sorts of adventures… and finally had the chance to tell you the truth of the world like this… Don't worry… this time… everything will change because of you… just like long, long ago… you changed a certain boy…"
"I will turn this imperfect story… into what we hope for… I just… want you to see it all too…"
"I didn't even get the chance… to say goodbye to you…"
In the dim room,
Zeig's eyes snapped open. His golden pupils faintly glowed in the darkness.
"Damn… can't sleep!"
Cursing loudly, he helplessly put on his clothes and quietly left the room.
He pulled out his pocket watch, glanced at it, and scratched his head.
Looks like sleep wasn't happening tonight.
Stepping out of the Goethe Hotel, the first thing he saw was the silver-haired girl standing in the distance.
The silver-haired girl sensed movement, quickly turned, and said warily:
"Who's there? Who is it!"
Seeing it was Zeig, Bronya relaxed.
She asked curiously:
"Can't sleep either?"
Zeig nodded and walked toward her.
"Sigh, it's a long story."
…