Alfia said nothing more. She simply looked at Genichi, a complicated look in her eyes.
"You had better fulfill what you promised me soon. Otherwise, next time, I won't fight for you again."
Her tone was calm, but Genichi could hear the seriousness behind it.
Genichi nodded to show that he understood.
"I will."
Alfia gave him one last, searching look and said nothing more.
Genichi raised his hand and released the summoning.
Alfia's figure began to turn transparent, gradually fading into the air.
Her final gaze turned toward the distance.
Toward Orario.
Toward the place where she had once lived.
Only after her figure had completely vanished did Genichi turn around.
"Then let's head back to camp."
He raised his hand and summoned a portal.
Dark-blue light unfolded in the air, and a passage leading back to the surface appeared before everyone.
Genichi walked through first, and the others followed closely behind.
Before long, the group appeared in the plaza in front of Babel.
It was already late at night. The plaza was empty, with only moonlight falling silently over the stone.
From the distant streets came the occasional sound of patrols passing by, while all of Orario lay steeped in silence.
"Then everyone can go home."
After saying that, Genichi cast Apparition, and his figure vanished from the spot in an instant.
The others exchanged looks, then dispersed as well.
Ottar led the members of the Freya Familia back to their base, while Finn led the Loki Familia toward their own headquarters.
Everyone was exhausted and needed proper rest.
But in every heart, a seed had been planted.
That boy, Genichi.
He had changed the course of the battle and saved their lives.
No matter what opinion they had held of him before, at this moment, they were deeply grateful to him.
Meanwhile, elsewhere-
Genichi's figure appeared in front of the safe house where Demeter was staying.
It was an inconspicuous little house. Crude, but hidden well enough, and safe enough.
The moment Genichi pushed the door open, a figure threw herself at him.
Demeter hugged him tightly, wrapping both arms around his waist and burying her face against his chest.
Her body trembled faintly, as if she were desperately trying to suppress something.
Genichi froze for a moment, then reached out and gently patted her back.
"I'm fine."
He said softly, "I'm back."
Demeter said nothing. She only held him tighter.
Genichi could feel dampness on her clothes.
Tears.
He stayed silent and let her hold him, only gently patting her back, giving her wordless comfort.
After a long while, Demeter finally loosened her arms and looked up at him.
Her eyes were slightly red, and tear tracks still marked her face, but there was a trace of relief in her gaze.
"Welcome back."
She said softly.
Genichi smiled faintly and reached out, wiping the tear marks from her face.
"I'm back."
The two of them entered the house and sat down in the simple living room.
Demeter brewed tea and handed Genichi a cup.
Genichi took it, sipped lightly, and felt the warmth of the tea spread through his body.
"Is everything settled?" Demeter asked.
Genichi nodded. "The corrupted spirits have been dealt with for now. But only for now."
"For now?"
"The corrupted spirit's true body is still deeper inside the Dungeon. What we destroyed were only avatars. And..."
Genichi paused, then looked at Demeter.
"I'm planning to leave Orario for a while."
Demeter's hand paused slightly, and the teacup nearly slipped from her fingers.
But she quickly regained her calm. She simply looked at Genichi in silence, waiting for him to continue.
"Alfia's wish is to see the outside world."
He paused again and looked at Demeter.
"Would you like to travel with me?"
It should have been a lighthearted question, an invitation filled with expectation.
But Demeter did not look happy the way he had imagined.
Instead, she looked at Genichi, pressing her lips tightly together, her eyes filled with complicated emotion.
There was reluctance in that gaze. Worry. Understanding. And also something Genichi could not quite read.
"What's wrong?"
Genichi was a little confused. "If you don't want to go, then you don't have to. I can go alone."
Demeter shook her head.
She did not answer his question. Instead, she asked him one of her own.
"You're going to leave this world, aren't you?"
That question left Genichi stunned.
He looked at Demeter. His figure was reflected in those divine eyes.
Her gaze was too direct, too honest, leaving him with nowhere to hide.
Silence.
A long silence.
Genichi wanted to say something. He wanted to deny it, to comfort her.
But when the words reached his lips, he found that he could not say them.
Because she was right.
He was going to leave.
Not leave Orario.
Leave this world.
The Colosseum's summons could arrive at any time, and the other versions of him from other worlds were still waiting.
He could not remain here forever. He could not stay at Demeter's side forever.
He had come to this world only as a passerby.
Even if he had formed bonds here, even if he now had people he wanted to protect, even if he had feelings he did not want to let go of.
A passerby was still a passerby in the end.
Genichi stayed silent, then finally nodded.
The movement was very slight, so slight it was almost imperceptible.
But Demeter saw it.
Her eyes reddened again, but this time, she did not cry.
She only looked at Genichi in silence, her gaze filled with complicated emotion.
"When?"
"After I go with you to see Alfia's nephew."
Genichi answered honestly, "The Colosseum's summons could come at any moment. When it does, I'll be forcibly transported to that space and made to fight the other versions of myself from other worlds."
Demeter was silent for a moment, then asked, "Will you come back?"
Genichi looked at her and nodded seriously.
"I will. As long as I'm still alive, I will definitely come back."
Demeter smiled.
That smile carried tears, reluctance, understanding, and a faint sorrow.
"That's enough."
She said softly, "As long as you'll come back, that's enough."
Genichi looked at her, and a complicated emotion welled up in his heart.
He wanted to say something. He wanted to tell her how he felt. He wanted to promise that he would definitely return.
But when the words reached his lips, he found that he did not know where to begin.
In the end, he only reached out and gently held Demeter's hand.
Her hand was warm, carrying a faint heat.
"I'll come back."
He said seriously, "I promise."
Demeter nodded and leaned against his shoulder.
The two of them sat there quietly, feeling each other's warmth.
(End of Chapter)
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