"Don't worry, I'm just saying a proper goodbye. You're cute, sure, but don't take for that kind of person."
Wise's words didn't earn Piper's agreent, but she still gave a small nod.
"That's good. Even so, at a ti like this, I can't help but feel a little reluctant to see you leave. Thank you for taking care of us all this ti."
"Mhm. I'll make ti to co back and visit. And if you ever want to co find , you'll always be welco. I'd be more than happy to 'take care' of you a little longer," Wise said, reaching out to gently pat Piper's head.
She shivered slightly at his words, but didn't say anything in refusal.
"Alright… As expected of young people, always full of energy. I'll co visit when I get the chance."
After saying goodbye to Piper, Wise went to see Lucy and Burnice. Along the way, he also ran into Lighter and greeted him warmly.
Once all the farewells were done, the siblings got into the car and left Blazewood. Caesar and her group followed behind as escorts, their motorcycles trailing at a distance.
Through the window, the scenery stretched on like an endless scroll painting. As the car swayed along the road, the vast landscapes of the Outer Ring gradually faded, replaced by the shifting colors of New Eridu.
"We can't see Caesar and the others anymore. Does that an we're almost out of the Outer Ring?" Belle asked, glancing at the empty road behind them before turning to Wise, who was driving.
He nodded and said, "That's right. Cinder Lake is safe now, and Caesar has beco the new Overlord. With guidance from the previous generation, she'll grow quickly… Looks like our adventure in the Outer Ring has finally co to a proper end."
As he spoke, he took out his phone and began sending ssages, informing a few people that he was on his way back to the city.
With Fairy assisting with the driving, it wasn't dangerous. Strangely enough, she was unusually well-behaved today, likely because Belle was present, so she didn't make any unnecessary moves.
In truth, this was simply how she understood her own position. In nature, the strong take priority, and right now, in Fairy's eyes, Belle was the stronger one.
Belle had more real "combat" experience, and she was also more favored by Wise. Still, Fairy had no intention of quietly accepting that gap.
Even if surpassing her wasn't possible, as long as she kept improving her technical abilities, reaching her level was still sothing she could aim for.
"Brother, are you ssaging Anby and the others?"
Belle looked at Wise, noticing that his hands were no longer on the steering wheel. Even now, the sight still felt a little surreal to her.
Having an artificial intelligence like this really was convenient.
"Yeah."
Wise paid no mind to his sister's wandering thoughts. He simply nodded, his fingers continuing to move across the screen.
After all, he wasn't sending a single group ssage, but individual ones tailored to each person. It took more effort, but it was unavoidable.
"Brother, you really do work hard..."
Watching him, Belle muttered softly, at a loss for words. Wise didn't respond, because to him, the effort was worth it.
Looking back on everything that had happened, he felt that he had truly experienced a great deal. It wasn't just about eting those girls, but also about the steady growth of his own strength.
It could be said that if he had still been as weak as before during the Outer Ring crisis, the outco might have turned out very differently...
The thought stirred a quiet wave of emotion in his chest.
"Now, even if I face sothing like that again, I won't be powerless," Wise said, drawing his sister's attention.
"Brother…" Belle's voice ca out soft and low.
Having grown up by his side, she naturally understood what he ant by "that ti." Silence lingered between them for a mont, until Wise let out a faint chuckle and broke it.
"Heh… monts like this really make it clear we're family. We're thinking about the sa thing, aren't we?" He smiled lightly. "We're already at the edge of the city. Eous and Fairy are here too… so, it's ti."
As he spoke, he tapped the steering wheel lightly, then turned it, guiding the car away from the main road and onto a quieter path.
[|Master, you have deviated from the route. This is not the way ho.|]
After handing control back to him, Fairy dutifully issued her reminder. Wise simply smiled and reassured her.
"Don't worry, Fairy. The route isn't wrong. The road we're taking now… is ho too," he said, glancing at Belle beside him.
To him, wherever the people he cared about were, that was ho.
The car traveled along the outskirts of the city, moving deeper into quieter areas.
Road signs gradually beca scarce until only a single destination remained: the Old Capital Ruins, at the edge of the Chasm.
"We're here. Let's get out."
Wise stepped out first, followed by Belle, Eous, and Fairy.
The three of them, along with a Bangboo, slowly approached a long, continuous iron fence. Beyond it stretched a vast Hollow, endless and silent.
"It feels like it's been a long ti since we've been back here, Brother."
Taking in the familiar scene, Belle couldn't help but speak. Wise nodded, then turned his gaze to Fairy.
"Fairy, do you know where this is?"
[|"Search complete. This location is the New Eridu side of the Chasm. The Chasm is a byproduct of New Eridu's predecessor, ford during the Eridu Major Hollow Outbreak, commonly referred to as the Old Capital Fall event."|]
Fairy quickly retrieved the information. Wise nodded after hearing her explanation.
"That's right. There's nothing within the Chasm that can be corrupted. Hollow Zero can't extract or convert additional Etheric energy here to expand, so its spread was eventually contained."
"And because of that, New Eridu had the chance to be built…" Belle added softly. "But if this place didn't exist, going further ahead would've led straight into the northern part of Eridu."
As their voices faded, mories of the past quietly surfaced.
Wise, who had once been fooled by counterfeit antiques…
Belle, who always insisted on buying snacks…
And their teacher…
Along with their old ho, Helios Academy.
Even now, it still remained, on the other side of the Chasm, buried deep within Hollow Zero beneath the ruins of the Old Capital.
"Teacher, we're back again… It's been a while. A lot has happened since then. You might not believe it, but my brother and I have grown even closer. It's just… he's not satisfied with just anymore. He's gone and found quite a few other girls."
"Hey, was that really just my fault? You agreed back then too, didn't you?" Wise complained with a helpless smile, reaching out to flick her forehead lightly.
Belle let out a small laugh, rubbing her forehead as she finally fell silent.
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