"Hey, Mia! Help me wipe the sweat from her forehead."
"Coming. Coming."
Mia hurried over to where Joanna was, clutching a couple of wet towels in her hands. Joanna stepped aside, revealing Ariel’s figure.
She sat cross-legged, her brows tightly furrowed as sweat trickled down the side of her face, strands of her white hair sticking to her damp cheeks.
"Quick!"
"Yes! Yes!"
Mia rushed ahead and tapped her face lightly with the towel.
Joanna watched in silence, her lips pursed as she looked down through the window of the research facility. Her gaze eventually settled on the numerous people below, moving as though they were puppets, carrying equipment from place to place while guiding others inside.
’I can’t believe she’s capable of controlling this many people.’
The more Joanna got to know Ariel, the more shocked she became.
Although she had been aware from the start that she was strong, she didn’t know she was this strong.
’It’s been several days since she started to control the other teams, and she still doesn’t seem to have hit her limit. The fact that she can control them for so long is also incredibly impressive.’
Of course, Ariel still took some rest here and there.
Joanna’s gaze drifted toward a particular group below. Her eyes settled on the woman with soft blonde hair and green eyes, standing beside a girl with shoulder-length hair as the two of them carefully observed each group.
At some point, their group was able to find the other group belonging to their Guild. After explaining the situation to them, they quickly decided to help, alleviating the burden on Ariel’s node by simply knocking out several teams at once so that Ariel could rest.
’I can already imagine the backlash that we’re receiving above for what we’ve done, but does it really matter? No rule says we can’t do this.’
"Joanna."
Bringing her out of her attention, Joanna turned around.
Sarah appeared beside her without Joanna even noticing. Somewhat used to it by now, Joanna’s eyes fluttered briefly as she responded.
"Yes?"
"There’s another group that we’ve spotted in the distance. What should we do?"
"....."
Joanna didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, she looked toward Ariel. Seeing how pale her face had become and the sweat gathered along the side of it, she slowly shook her head.
"I think it’s best if we leave—"
"No."
Ariel’s voice suddenly cut through the room as she opened her eyes, revealing a pair of bloodshot irises. Yet beneath them was a twisted smile as she stared straight ahead.
"I can take more. Don’t worry about it."
"It’s dangerous. If you continue like this, then your node might..."
"I know my limits."
"But it’s not about your limits. It’s about limiting the danger that you’re in. We’re already at a massive advantage with what we have. Why do you have to push yourself further? If we—"
"Because it’s fun."
Ariel laughed softly, never once looking at Joanna, her eyes fixed on something far in the distance.
Towards her next prey.
Cackling, her body hunched slightly as she spoke.
"It’s just fun. I like this... It’s been so long since I’ve been allowed to run loose. Don’t you enjoy it? Seeing all these people the world calls the best, reduced to nothing but our servants? Don’t you find joy in standing above them?"
"You’re crazy."
"I know."
Ariel’s lips twisted upwards as she finally looked at Joanna.
"But you know I’m right. I can see it from your face."
"....."
Joanna stood silently, touching her face.
Eventually—
"Well, alright."
She nudged in Sarah’s direction.
"I guess it is pretty fun."
Sarah nodded, fading from the spot as something in the air shifted.
Joanna turned to look in Mia’s direction, locking eyes with her, Min, Nora, and Niel as she commanded, "Keep her safe. I’ll go with Sarah to check on the situation."
Joanna rushed forward a moment later, leaving the building and fading into the mist as she traced Sarah’s presence through the connection she shared with Ariel. It didn’t take long for her to catch up with Sarah, but the moment she did, she had no choice but to pause as she looked at the distant group.
’Wait, isn’t that...?’
Stepping out from where she had been hiding, Joanna moved toward the group, revealing herself at once. The group stopped immediately.
"Who!?"
But their expressions changed when they took note of Joanna.
"...It’s... you?"
Joanna didn’t reply and instead just looked at them.
Their current state was, quite frankly, pitiful. Their faces were haggard, their hair disheveled, and dark circles hung heavily beneath their eyes. Staring at them, Joanna found herself heavily frowning.
How was this possible?
She knew the group very well.
Especially the figure standing at the front, Rowan. He was one of the more talented members of the Guild. More importantly, he belonged to the same group as Kyle, a team widely regarded as the most powerful within the Guild.
But as she looked, she couldn’t find Kyle at all.
What sort of...?
"H-have... you... have you perhaps seen Kyle?"
Rowan’s whisper pulled Joanna out of her thoughts.
When she looked back at him, she saw the clear worry in his eyes as he stared at her, his voice unsteady as he muttered, "I–in one moment he was right beside us, and the next... he was gone. I can’t... find him at all. None of us can. Have you seen him?"
***
Something about the air felt different the moment I stepped outside.
The heaviness was gone, and in its place drifted a familiar mist as I looked around me. Tree branches spiked through the fog like sharp spikes, cutting through the pale veil as the gray sky above cast a dim, lifeless glow over the silent surroundings.
I took in the air, looking around before eventually spotting two figures standing not far from me.
The moment I locked eyes with them, they seemed to flinch for a moment.
I alternated my gaze between the two before looking down at the camera on my body.
’Is it working?’
I couldn’t quite tell.
Regardless—
"It seems like you two made it out with no issues."
I felt rather grateful to them. Although everything was a blur to me, I could still recall what had happened. None of this would’ve worked without them. Of course, they would’ve also have died without me.
"So, ehm..."
Surprisingly, the first one to speak was Drake.
He scratched the back of his head, his eyes wandering everywhere except where I stood.
’He can’t even look me in the eye.’
In a way, it was funny. But also pitiful.
"I get it."
I also could tell what he wanted to say as I waved my hand dismissively.
"Save your thanks for later."
I took out my phone and checked the date. Now that it had adjusted back to the flow of time outside, I knew there was still one day remaining before this trial of the Congress ended.
In that case—
"I’m going to reunite with my squad. If you wish, you may come with me, or we can part ways."
I started walking.
As I did, I heard the sound of footsteps approaching from behind. In that moment, I knew the decision they had made. I continued walking ahead, my mind drifting back to the words I had heard from Paimon.
It’s all a game...
One that I was a big part of.
I closed my eyes, the corners of my lips curling.
’That’s a rather big hint.’
If I didn’t understand this much, I’d be stupid.