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Watching the three of you protect one another in layers, the Red Kite Immortal's lips parted slightly—but in the end, she no longer had any interest in speaking.

She only cast you a final deep glance, then turned and walked away, her steps light, untouched by dust.

Only after the Red Kite Immortal had completely vanished from sight did Otto finally lower his outstretched arms. He let out a long sigh of relief.

His legs, limp and powerless as if their bones had vanished, gave way beneath him—he stumbled backward.

But instead of falling, he collapsed into a warm embrace.

"Scared like that?" your teasing voice came from behind.

"No," Otto blushed, his heart pounding, but he shook his head. "Not scared at all."

Hearing his words, you couldn't help but laugh softly. "That's really great."

"Great?" Otto blinked in confusion.

"I mean… in that moment, you blocked my path and said 'not afraid.' Isn't that great?" you explained.

Otto seemed to understand then. He laughed as well. "You're right. From now on, it's my turn to protect you."

Kallen, who had been sitting quietly on the grass beside you, scratched her head in confusion but smiled anyway, joining the two of you in laughter.

Though Platinum Righteousness had achieved much, its defeat at the hands of the Red Kite Immortal brought the so-called "Eastward Expedition" to an end.

You, Kallen, and Otto led the scapegoated commander and a handful of surviving troops on the long march back to Europe.

On the journey, Kallen spoke with you about the campaign.

After her crushing defeat against the Red Kite Immortal, doubt began to grow in her heart.

She questioned the will of Schicksal.

She questioned the value of fighting across the vast Chincha Grassland.

She questioned the righteousness of this entire war.

You only smiled. You patted her head gently and spoke the truth:

"Yes, Kallen. The invasion was born from Schicksal's greed. It was evil."

"But what we did—what *you* did—fighting with the Platinum Righteous Army to bring hope to others… that was righteous beyond question."

"If there was a mistake, it was only this: we didn't win."

That was the honest truth.

Had you won—or had the Red Kite Immortal not appeared—Kallen and her forces could have marched further into Ming territory. Perhaps liberation would have continued.

You didn't believe your path would lead to total success, but you believed it would open new possibilities.

Maybe then, Shenzhou wouldn't fall so far behind in future centuries. Maybe then it wouldn't be trampled so cruelly.

But to you, that wasn't the point.

You didn't create Platinum Righteousness for some grand ideology.

You only did it… to cleanse the stains from Kallen's hands.

To reshape her heart.

And maybe, this outcome was for the best.

[...]

In the complexity of human emotion, things left unfinished often leave the deepest marks.

Future generations would wonder endlessly:

—What if Platinum Righteousness had actually crossed into Ming territory?

What if there had been no Red Kite Immortal?

But no one would ever know.

[...]

Returning to Europe, the scapegoated commander of Platinum Righteousness was executed in fury by Bishop Nicholas and the Schicksal high council.

The shift in the war's purpose and the disastrous defeat on the Chincha Grassland had become a stain that even Schicksal could not whitewash.

To cover their losses, the organization turned once more to the sale of indulgences—using "faith" to justify their plunder.

As Western Europe grew poorer, its people struggled more.

And as they suffered, Schicksal continued to preach peace with one hand and silence dissent with the other.

Kallen saw all of it.

She tried to change what she could.

But some things… she could never change.

Her doubts about Schicksal only grew deeper.

And then one day, she stumbled upon a certain "performance."

A masked girl with red hair stood on a street platform, sword in hand.

She proclaimed justice and cursed Schicksal's sins, even as soldiers surrounded her.

Unafraid.

Kallen watched, and in that moment, she *knew*—

This girl was a pillar of hope.

She rushed in and rescued her without hesitation.

In the scuffle, Kallen unexpectedly ended up with the red-haired maiden's mask.

And something inside her changed.

A seed took root.

A seed called *resistance*.

—

Midday. A sunny dessert shop.

After finishing a slice of strawberry cake, Kallen stood in the warm light. She tilted her head playfully, half-hiding her charming face behind the mask.

"How do I look? Cool, right?"

You sat across from her. Otto sat beside you.

You exchanged a glance with Otto, then grinned.

"Yeah yeah, super cool," you said with a chuckle.

Otto nodded as well. "It suits you."

Kallen pouted, unimpressed with your tame praise—but a moment later, she giggled again, as if a bright idea had suddenly hit her.

"Those old Schicksal bastards are always up to no good," she declared. "So how about this—let's go steal their gold! Bandit Kallen! Let's show them justice still exists!"

You blinked.

Otto fell silent. You did too.

He was waiting for your reaction.

You… were just thinking.

You had imagined that Kallen's thoughts would become "loftier" after all this. That maybe she'd plan a military uprising, seize power, aim for the bishop's throne…

You hadn't expected her to start planning heists.

...Well, whatever.

Those who never leave the nest rarely grow up.

Heaven was kind—it hadn't wasted your time.

True growth doesn't come from lofty ideals.

It comes from *living.*

And Kallen?

If she had a dream—even if it was to be a righteous bandit—then you'd help her make it real.

You hadn't seen her smile like this in a long time.

To brave the vast sea of suffering, just to protect one smile… that was worth it.

[But still...]

You could only hope her future growth wouldn't come at too steep a cost.

You gently shook your head, casting off those tangled thoughts.

You walked behind Kallen and placed your hands gently on her shoulders, guiding her as if molding a new memory.

"Not bad for a thief," you said. "But every great thief needs a signature outfit. Want me to design one for you?"

The moment your words fell, Kallen, who had just been fiddling with her mask and blushing slightly, suddenly perked up.

Her blue eyes sparkled like stars.

"Yay! So we're doing it?! Are we leaving right now?!"

"Sure, go ahead and scout first…"

Otto watched you both laughing and planning mischief.

His golden eyes flickered.

He looked down at the teacup in front of him.

The dark tea inside was still and flawless, like a perfect mirror.

He gazed into it.

Gazed at his own reflection.

Then—

A small plate of cake slid silently into view, pushed toward him.

It was strawberry shortcake.

He raised his head.

You were already gone, walking away with Kallen.

But you had left this for him.

Otto stared at the cake in silence.

Then smiled.

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