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Among the ruins of humanity's former civilization, Willem led Chtholly through the crumbling remains, gazing at the familiar scenery around him.
As he walked, memories from five hundred years ago continuously surfaced in his mind.
Behind him, Chtholly was lost in thoughts of her own.
Ever since Willem's proposal, her head had been filled with all sorts of strange ideas.
For example, if she asked him for a kiss now, he probably wouldn't run away anymore. After all, they were husband and wife now.
Meanwhile, hidden from sight, Kaito quietly followed behind them.
Watching the pair with an anxious expression, he muttered under his breath.
"Come on, what's taking so long? Just do it already! Can't Willem read the mood?"
"Look at Chtholly's expression, and he's still busy staring at the ruins!"
As if Kaito's complaints had somehow reached him, Willem suddenly seemed to realize something.
A rare look of nervousness appeared on his face as he hesitantly spoke.
"About... what happened yesterday..."
Hearing those words, Chtholly's face immediately flushed red.
"Mmm..."
Encouraged by her response, Willem continued.
"How should I put this? I'll definitely do it. I'll spend the rest of my life making you hap..."
Before he could finish, a voice suddenly interrupted him.
"Hey! There you are! Over here, over here!"
A goblin came running toward them while waving his arms.
Willem's words were cut short, but Chtholly simply smiled softly.
"It's okay. We made a promise, remember? I'll always be with you."
Hearing that, Willem couldn't help smiling as well.
"Damn it, your timing couldn't be worse! Just a little longer!"
Just as Willem was about to greet the newcomer, Kaito suddenly appeared out of nowhere and glared at the goblin in frustration.
"Uh... excuse me, but who are you?"
"Kaito-sama!"
"Mr. Kaito!"
Willem and Chtholly both looked at him in surprise.
"Hehe. I was bored, so I thought I'd follow you two around for a bit. Absolutely no intention of watching you make fools of yourselves."
"Hey, you've already admitted it!"
Willem looked at the shameless spectator with a helpless expression.
"Willem, who exactly is this guy?"
The goblin looked at Kaito in confusion.
"Let me introduce you. This is Kaito-sama, also one of the administrators of the Fairy Warehouse."
"Kaito-sama, this is Grick from the salvage team. He's a good friend of mine."
After hearing the introduction, Grick nodded politely.
Kaito responded with a smile.
"Just call me Kaito. If you'd shown up a little later, they definitely would've kissed."
"Mr. Kaito, what are you saying?!"
Chtholly protested with a red face while Willem could only shake his head helplessly.
There was simply no dealing with someone who enjoyed stirring up trouble this much.
"Hehe."
"..."
After the introductions were over, the group began searching the ruins for anything useful.
Without warning, the ground beneath them gave way.
The ruins suddenly collapsed, and the group plunged into the underground tunnel hidden below.
Just before Kaito disappeared into the darkness, his right hand flickered faintly.
Two invisible golden lights slipped into Willem and Chtholly's bodies.
At the same time, three more golden lights flew toward the other three Fairy Soldiers aboard the airship.
"We fell pretty far, didn't we..."
Hearing Grick's voice, Willem climbed to his feet and looked around in surprise.
"There's a cave this large beneath Gomag City? What was this place built for?"
"If you want the answer, just keep exploring and you'll figure it out. More importantly, Chtholly seems a little off."
The completely spotless Kaito pointed toward Chtholly, who was staring blankly into the distance.
"Chtholly?"
Willem immediately turned toward her.
He was so focused on Chtholly that he completely failed to notice the fact that Kaito had fallen all the way down here without getting a single speck of dust on his clothes.
"It'd be better if we leave as soon as possible."
"This should be the route the previous exploration team took."
"As long as we keep following it, we should eventually find the exit."
Grick pointed toward the illumination devices lining both sides of the tunnel.
"Then let's get moving! Willem, stop staring and come on."
After saying that, Kaito took the lead and headed deeper into the tunnel.
He knew Chtholly still possessed her own self-awareness at this stage.
There was no need to worry.
And if something still happened while he was personally protecting her, it would truly be a disgrace to a Golden Immortal Grandmaster.
While Kaito and the others advanced through the underground passage, the airship outside was under attack from the Beasts.
Looking at the endless swarm emerging below, Nopht cheerfully spoke to Nephren beside her.
"You must be exhausted. Go get some rest."
"No matter what, for everyone's sake and for tomorrow's future, we have to keep working hard."
After saying that, Nopht spread her wings and flew out to intercept the incoming Beasts.
"Chtholly!"
Willem stared anxiously at Chtholly.
Her hair had turned completely crimson.
Before them stood a little red-haired girl sealed inside a massive block of ice.
At that very moment, Chtholly's hand rested against the frozen surface.
Even her eyes had become blood-red.
"So that's Elq, the last Star God..."
Kaito quietly muttered to himself while observing the girl.
However, neither Willem nor Grick heard him.
Their attention was completely focused on Chtholly.
"Hey, Chtholly?"
Willem repeatedly called out to her.
Slowly, Chtholly turned her head.
Her dull crimson eyes settled on Willem.
"Willem...?"
"It's me. Pull yourself together. Don't lose yourself!"
But Chtholly didn't answer.
Instead, she suddenly collapsed forward.
"Chtholly!"
Willem quickly caught her and held her tightly while calling her name over and over.
Just then, the cavern shook violently.
Realizing what was happening, Grick shouted urgently.
"This is bad! Hurry and get the little girl out of here!"
"I know!"
"Chtholly, we're going back. I'll definitely save you!"
"Kaito-sama, hurry!"
After speaking, Willem shifted Chtholly onto his back and followed Grick toward the exit.
However, Kaito didn't move.
Instead, he quietly stood before Elq.
At that moment, neither Willem nor Grick noticed that Kaito wasn't following them.
"Rumble..."
The cavern began collapsing.
Moments later, Kaito's figure disappeared beneath an avalanche of enormous boulders.
Hearing the thunderous noise behind them, Willem and Grick instinctively looked back.
"Whew... Good thing we got out in time. Otherwise..."
"Kaito-sama, don't you think we're incredibly lucky too?"
"With luck like this, we'll definitely be able to cure Chtholly."
Relief appeared on Willem's face.
Yet no response came.
"Kaito-sama?"
"Kaito?"
"Kaito!!!"
After calling out twice without receiving an answer, Willem hurriedly looked around.
There was no sign of Kaito.
Only Grick remained ahead of him.
"Grick! Have you seen Kaito?"
Willem shouted anxiously.
"Isn't Kaito-sama right behind you?"
Grick quickly turned around as well.
"No... Could it be...?"
"Impossible!!!"