Chapter 5 : Three People

Even the terrorists looked confused after hearing my response.

The leader slowly frowned.

"...What?"

I stared directly at the detonator in his hand.

"You heard me."

My voice remained calm.

"Pull it."

Aoi immediately glanced toward me sharply.

"...PS."

But I ignored her.

The terrorist leader laughed nervously.

"You're bluffing."

"...Am I?"

I slowly took another step forward.

"You think threatening innocent people gives you control over me?"

The atmosphere inside the room became heavier instantly.

Meanwhile, Maria's voice quietly echoed inside our shared connection.

"...He's provoking him intentionally."

Aoi understood immediately.

Of course I was.

Because men like this always had one weakness.

Ego.

The terrorist leader suddenly pointed the detonator toward me angrily.

"I can kill everyone in this building right now!"

"And?"

My answer came instantly.

"If your goal was truly revenge..."

I tilted my head slightly.

"...you would've already pressed it."

The man's expression changed slightly.

There it was.

A hit.

I continued calmly.

"You don't actually want immediate death."

"You want fear."

"You want satisfaction."

"You want me to panic."

The room became completely silent.

Meanwhile, the three terrorists beside him started looking uncertain now.

Because deep down—

They realized I was right too.

The leader clicked his tongue angrily.

"...You're insane."

"No."

I slowly raised my rifle.

"I'm just tired."

At the same time—

Aoi quietly shifted position slightly.

Just enough.

One inch.

One perfect inch.

Maria immediately whispered through the channel:

"...Three-point synchronization possible."

I answered internally without moving my expression.

"...On my mark."

The terrorist leader suddenly shouted again.

"DO YOU THINK THIS IS A JOKE?!"

The detonator tightened inside his hand.

"You ruined my father's life!"

"No."

This time—

My voice became colder than before.

"Your father ruined countless lives long before I ever met him."

For the first time—

The young man's expression twisted emotionally.

Anger.

Hatred.

Pain.

"...You people called him a monster."

"He was."

"You don't even know him!"

"I know exactly what he was."

My eyes darkened slightly.

"I saw what remained after his operations."

Children.

Bodies.

Burned buildings.

Mass graves.

And silence.

Too much silence.

Meanwhile, the terrorist leader's breathing became unstable.

"...He was trying to change the world."

"He was trying to justify murder."

The leader suddenly screamed and raised the detonator higher.

At that exact moment—

"...Now."

Everything happened instantly.

PHSHH!

Aoi fired first.

One terrorist dropped immediately.

At the same time, I fired toward the second gunman before he could react.

BANG!

The bullet tore through his shoulder and sent him crashing backward.

The third terrorist instantly tried firing—

But Maria activated the emergency light system directly above him.

FLASH!

The sudden burst of light blinded him for half a second.

More than enough.

Aoi's second shot pierced straight through his chest.

Meanwhile—

The leader finally realized what was happening and desperately tried pressing the detonator.

Too late.

I moved first.

The rifle dropped from my hand as I lunged forward directly toward him.

The detonator clicked once—

But before activation completed—

I slammed my hand directly into his wrist.

CRACK.

The bone snapped violently.

The detonator fell from his hand instantly.

Aoi immediately kicked it across the room.

The leader screamed in pain while trying to pull a hidden knife from his coat.

I caught his arm before the blade fully emerged.

Then—

Without hesitation—

I smashed his face directly into the surveillance monitor beside him.

Glass shattered everywhere.

The terrorists already on the floor stopped moving completely.

Only the leader remained conscious now.

Barely.

Blood ran down his face while he laughed weakly.

"...You really are a monster."

I grabbed him by the collar slowly.

"...Maybe."

Then—

The security screens behind us suddenly changed.

Emergency feed activated.

The civilians hiding inside the maintenance section appeared on-screen.

Still alive.

Still safe.

Meanwhile, Maria's voice echoed softly inside the connection.

"...Mechanical bomb disabled."

Aoi slowly lowered her pistol.

"...It's over."

For several seconds—

Nobody moved.

Then finally—

Outside the mall—

The first sounds of military forces storming the building echoed through the distance.

The security room had already fallen silent.

Broken monitors sparked weakly.

Blood covered the floor.

Outside, distant military footsteps echoed deeper into the mall as the operation finally neared its end.

But inside that room—

Only one thing still remained unfinished.

The terrorist leader coughed violently while trying to hold himself up against the shattered control panel.

Blood ran down his face.

Yet despite everything—

He still laughed weakly.

"...Monster."

I slowly looked down at him.

Then quietly spoke.

"...You asked earlier, right?"

My voice remained calm.

"Who's the real monster?"

I crouched slightly in front of him.

"Your father?"

"...Or me?"

The terrorist stared at me silently now.

And honestly—

For the first time since entering this mall—

I stopped pretending to be human.

"...Yeah."

I slowly picked up the fallen combat knife from the floor beside him.

"I am a monster."

The blade reflected the broken emergency lights quietly.

"Far worse than you think."

Aoi immediately looked toward me sharply after hearing my tone change.

Meanwhile, the terrorist leader laughed painfully again.

"So you admit it..."

"I never denied it."

I grabbed the front of his collar and forced him to look directly at me.

"I wouldn't have killed you just because you're his son."

My eyes darkened slightly.

"But what you did today?"

"...That goes beyond law."

The terrorist trembled slightly.

Meanwhile, I continued speaking quietly.

"And unlike governments..."

"...I don't worship laws."

Disgust naturally entered my voice.

"They locked your father in prison."

"Fed him with tax money."

"Protected him under legal systems."

I slowly tightened my grip.

"I'm not that kind."

The terrorist's breathing became unstable now.

Meanwhile, Aoi stayed silent behind me.

Watching.

Listening.

Probably seeing the real me for the first time.

Then finally—

I raised the knife slightly.

"And yes."

A faint emotionless smile appeared on my face.

"I really am the terrifying monster people whisper about."

The terrorist stared at me with fear growing inside his eyes now.

"...PS."

Not the fake public version.

Not the retired version.

Not the calm civilian pretending to live normally.

The real one.

Meanwhile, I looked down at him quietly.

"...You're scared of dying, right?"

The terrorist immediately tried pulling backward.

Too late.

The blade moved instantly.

A scream exploded across the room.

I ignored it completely.

Blood spread rapidly across the floor while the terrorist collapsed sideways in agony.

Meanwhile, I calmly spoke over his screaming.

"...This pain."

"This fear."

"This helplessness."

I looked directly into his eyes again.

"...That's what your father gave other people."

The terrorist desperately tried crawling backward while shaking violently.

"You terrorists always talk about justice."

"God."

"Heaven."

"Revenge."

Disgust filled my voice.

"But when death finally stands in front of you..."

"...you all become the same."

The terrorist screamed again.

Meanwhile, outside the security room—

Even some approaching soldiers stopped moving after hearing the horrifying sounds echoing from inside.

Aoi slowly closed her eyes for a brief second.

Not stopping me.

Not approving either.

Just silently watching.

Meanwhile, I continued quietly.

"When you die..."

"...go ask your angels whether innocent children deserved what your father did."

Another scream echoed.

Then silence.

Breathing.

Weak.

Breaking.

The terrorist leader stared at me with tears and hatred mixed together now.

And even then—

I felt nothing.

Only exhaustion.

"...Did you really think I was going to hand you over to the police?"

I slowly stood back up.

"No."

My voice became colder than before.

"I decided from the beginning."

"...None of you were leaving this place alive."

The terrorist's eyes widened slightly.

Why?

Because terror works best when consequences become unforgettable.

I looked down at him one final time.

"...Next time someone tries this again..."

"...I want them remembering tonight."

Then finally—

The knife moved one last time.

And the room became silent.

The operation was finally over.

One by one—

Military forces stormed fully inside the mall.

Police officers secured civilians.

Medical teams rushed toward the injured.

The sounds of crying, relief, and shouting filled the entire building now that survival finally felt real again.

Meanwhile—

Me and Aoi simply walked out of the security section quietly like we were nobodies.

Which honestly...

Was exactly what both of us preferred.

Outside the mall, the entire area had become chaos.

News reporters shouted questions.

Camera flashes exploded endlessly.

Survivors cried while reuniting with family members.

Some civilians who had escaped earlier pointed toward us from the crowd.

"They were inside!"

"Those two saved people!"

But both me and Aoi acted like we heard absolutely nothing.

Just two exhausted people walking through disaster.

Nothing more.

Meanwhile, I glanced sideways toward her while adjusting my torn sleeve.

"...You know."

"Hm?"

"I'd really appreciate it if our date happens in JP Federation of here."

Aoi raised one eyebrow slightly.

"...Why?"

I looked toward the screaming reporters nearby.

"Because these people are idiots."

A faint laugh escaped her mouth.

Small.

Quiet.

But real.

Honestly...

It suited her.

At the same time, several armed officers quickly approached us.

One female ISIA officer stopped directly in front of me before saluting nervously.

"Sir."

"The ISIA chief requested both of you to come with us."

"I decline."

The answer came instantly.

The officer blinked.

"...Sir?"

"I don't take commands from ISIA ."

I calmly pointed toward Aoi beside me.

"She's my commanding officer."

The female officer looked confused immediately.

"...What?"

I sighed quietly.

"Her authority level surpasses even your agency heads."

The officer looked toward Aoi again carefully.

"But... who exactly is she?"

I looked completely serious while answering.

"The Commander of JP Federation Defense Intelligence Unit."

Silence.

The officer froze.

Meanwhile, Aoi looked mildly annoyed already.

"PS."

"What?"

"You enjoy causing problems too much."

"I enjoy watching arrogant people panic."

The female officer immediately straightened herself again awkwardly.

"...I-I apologize, Commander!"

Then instantly saluted Aoi properly.

Honestly—

Watching highly trained officers panic after realizing who she was...

Was surprisingly entertaining.

I looked toward Aoi with a faint grin.

"...See?"

"Told you."

Aoi sighed tiredly.

"You're mentally twelve years old."

Before I could answer—

Another voice entered behind us.

"That's enough."

The ISIA chief himself approached while surrounded by security personnel.

Unlike the others—

He immediately saluted Aoi respectfully first.

"Commander."

Aoi gave a small nod back.

Then the ISIA chief looked toward me.

"...You too."

I stared at him blankly.

"No."

The ISIA chief sighed deeply.

"You really enjoy making my life difficult."

"You involved me in this."

"Fair point."

The man rubbed his forehead before speaking again.

"JP Federation officially granted temporary permission for post-operation discussion."

"So we'd appreciate if both of you came with us briefly."

I immediately looked toward Aoi.

"...Please say no."

The ISIA chief instantly frowned.

"That's rude."

Aoi crossed her arms quietly while thinking.

Meanwhile, I continued speaking calmly.

"I want one peaceful date."

"WITHOUT governments."

"WITHOUT military reports."

"WITHOUT someone trying to recruit, interrogate, or psychologically analyze us."

The ISIA chief looked genuinely offended.

"We are not that bad."

Both me and Aoi looked at him silently.

"..."

"...Okay fair enough."

Aoi finally sighed quietly.

"...Short meeting only."

The ISIA chief immediately relaxed slightly.

"Understood."

Then Aoi looked toward me calmly.

"And after that..."

A faint small smile appeared on her face again.

"...you owe me a proper date."

For the first time since this entire nightmare started—

I genuinely smiled back without forcing it.

"...Yeah."

And somewhere deep inside my mind—

Maria immediately screamed excitedly loud enough to almost rupture my brain.

"IT'S FINALLY HAPPENING."

The ISIA convoy moved through the blocked city roads quietly while military escorts cleared the path ahead.

Inside the armored vehicle—

Silence dominated most of the ride.

Aoi sat beside the window calmly while reading operation reports displayed through her combat lens.

Meanwhile, I leaned back against the seat with my eyes closed.

Honestly...

The exhaustion was finally starting to hit.

Not physically.

Mentally.

The moment adrenaline disappeared, everything suddenly felt heavier.

The screams.

The blood.

The bodies.

The silence afterward.

Then—

Maria's voice suddenly echoed dramatically inside my head again.

"...So."

I already knew that tone.

"...No."

"You didn't even let me finish."

"You were about to say something stupid."

"I was about to congratulate you on successfully obtaining a girlfriend."

I slowly rubbed my forehead.

"That's not what happened."

Aoi glanced sideways toward me slightly.

"...Maria again?"

"Unfortunately."

Maria instantly sounded offended.

"EXCUSE ME."

"I literally saved this operation."

"You also emotionally blackmailed me for thirty minutes."

"That is called emotional support."

Aoi quietly laughed under her breath again.

Meanwhile, Maria suddenly became suspicious.

"...Wait."

"Commander."

Aoi blinked once.

"What?"

"...Did you laugh?"

"...No."

"You did."

"I didn't."

Maria gasped dramatically.

"Oh my god."

"She's becoming human."

Aoi immediately looked away toward the window again.

"...Disconnect yourself."

"No."

Meanwhile, I quietly watched the interaction.

And honestly...

For the first time in years—

The atmosphere around me didn't feel empty anymore.

Strange.

Dangerous too.

Because people like us weren't supposed to get attached.

Not after everything.

Not after becoming weapons.

The convoy eventually stopped outside a heavily secured government compound.

Multiple officers immediately approached the vehicle.

But unlike before—

None of them looked at us casually anymore.

Not after learning who Aoi truly was.

Not after seeing what happened inside the mall.

Respect.

Fear.

Confusion.

All mixed together.

The vehicle door opened slowly.

And immediately—

The ISIA chief himself stood outside waiting for us.

"...This way."

I stepped out first before stretching my neck slightly.

Then immediately frowned.

"...You brought us to a bunker?"

"It's safer."

"That sentence alone is concerning."

The ISIA chief ignored me completely.

Meanwhile, Aoi stepped out beside me calmly.

Every nearby officer instantly saluted her again.

Honestly—

Watching them panic around her was still entertaining.

Aoi noticed me smirking slightly.

"...Stop enjoying this."

"I physically can't."

"You are unbelievable."

We were eventually guided deep underground through multiple secured checkpoints.

Retina scans.

Voice verification.

Biometric security.

The deeper we went—

The more serious the atmosphere became.

Finally, the large reinforced meeting room doors opened.

And the moment we entered—

The entire room stood up instantly.

Republic of Ind intelligence officials

Military commanders.

JP Federation representatives connected through holographic communication.

Everyone.

For a few seconds—

Complete silence filled the room.

Then suddenly—

Every JP Federation official immediately bowed respectfully toward Aoi.

"Commander."

Meanwhile, the Republic officers looked nervous enough to sweat.

Because now they fully understood something terrifying:

The woman standing in front of them...

Technically held authority beyond most of them combined.

Meanwhile—

I casually pulled a chair backward and sat down first.

"...Can we make this quick?"

Several officers looked horrified by my attitude instantly.

One Republic of Ind military officer frowned

"Do you understand where you are sitting right now?"

I looked at him blankly.

"...On a chair?"

The room became awkwardly silent.

The ISIA chief immediately covered his face tiredly.

Aoi sighed quietly beside me.

"...I warned you all he behaves like this."

Meanwhile, Maria whispered proudly inside my head.

"He's doing great."

The underground conference room remained tense.

Documents covered the table.

Military officers stayed silent.

And honestly—

Most of them looked unsure whether they should treat me like an ally...

Or a walking disaster.

Then finally, one senior Republic of Ind military officer leaned forward slightly.

"You really don't care, do you?"

I looked at him blankly.

"...About what exactly?"

"Official authority."

"National pride."

"Your homeland."

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"You were born here."

"And yet you serve another nation now."

The atmosphere instantly became heavier.

Meanwhile, I simply leaned back in the chair casually.

"...Should I care?"

Several officers frowned immediately.

I continued calmly.

"You people keep talking about loyalty to a nation."

A faint emotionless smile appeared on my face.

"But honestly?"

"I don't remember this nation giving me much."

Silence filled the room.

Until finally—

The officer spoke coldly.

"In our language..."

"...that is called treachery."

The entire room became deadly quiet.

Meanwhile—

I slowly raised my eyes toward him.

And for the first time since entering the room—

The air around me changed.

Completely.

"...Old man."

My voice remained calm.

But heavy enough that several officers instinctively stopped breathing.

"I don't give a damn about your position."

The military officer immediately frowned angrily.

But I continued before he could interrupt.

"You call me a traitor?"

I lightly tapped the table once.

"As long as you don't know even one percent of the operations I've done for this country..."

"...you don't earn the right to judge me."

The room stayed silent.

Meanwhile, the officer clenched his jaw tightly.

I continued calmly.

"And another thing."

"Retirement doesn't erase rank."

"If a force never officially strips authority..."

"...then the respect attached to that position still remains."

My eyes slowly narrowed.

"And when I was active?"

"...My operational authority was probably above yours."

That sentence alone instantly changed several expressions in the room.

Some officers looked shocked.

Others looked uncomfortable.

Because deep down—

They knew I wasn't bluffing.

Then finally—

I leaned slightly forward.

"And if you really think I'm some traitor..."

"...then why did your government call me for help tonight?"

Nobody answered.

Not one person.

I continued calmly.

"Why didn't your military solve it alone?"

Still silence.

The older officer tried speaking again.

"You—"

"Or should I reveal the deals your politicians made with terrorists instead?"

The room froze instantly.

Several people stood halfway from their chairs.

Meanwhile, my voice remained completely emotionless.

"I can expose every call."

"Every message."

"Every negotiation attempt."

"I know exactly who wanted that terrorist leader arrested quietly instead of executed."

The ISIA chief immediately spoke.

"Enough."

But I ignored him too.

"You call me treacherous?"

I looked directly toward the older officer.

"Then call your politicians traitors first."

The man's face darkened immediately.

Meanwhile, another senior officer quickly intervened.

"Calm down."

"This wasn't the purpose of this meeting."

I slowly leaned back again.

"...Then why exactly am I here?"

Before anyone could answer—

The massive conference room doors suddenly opened again.

And instantly—

Every JP Federation officer inside the holographic screens stood up.

A tall man wearing a black formal military coat entered calmly.

Silver strands mixed into his dark hair.

Sharp eyes.

Heavy presence.

The moment I saw him—

"...Commander Arty?"

Several Republic officers  immediately looked confused.

Meanwhile, the man sighed dramatically after seeing me.

"...Do you have any idea how much trouble you cause?"

I almost laughed slightly.

You came all the way to the Republic of Ind personally?

"What did you expect me to do?"

Commander Arty crossed his arms while staring directly at me.

"My best operative was trapped inside a terrorist-controlled mall."

"Of course I came."

Meanwhile, Aoi quietly remained seated beside me while watching the situation silently.

Commander Arty eventually looked toward her.

"And you."

"...What."

"You enabled him again."

Aoi calmly crossed her legs.

"And?"

The commander sighed deeply.

"...You're both impossible."

At the same time—

Several Republic officers looked completely lost now.

Because the way Commander Arty spoke to us...

Wasn't how normal superiors spoke to subordinates.

It felt closer to exhausted family dealing with troublesome children.

Meanwhile, Commander Arty suddenly looked toward nearby officers.

"By the way."

"Make sure he eats properly."

I blinked once.

"...Excuse me?"

The commander pointed directly at me.

"If left alone, he'll survive on coffee and spite."

Aoi quietly nodded.

"...Accurate."

"And give him actual food twice a day."

I stared at both of them blankly.

"...Am I a stray cat to you people?"

Maria instantly whispered inside my head.

"...Technically yes."

I ignored her.

Meanwhile—

One Republic of Ind military officer slowly stood up while staring toward Commander Arty.

"...Sir."

"What?"

"He never saluted any of us."

The room became quiet again.

Meanwhile, the officer continued carefully.

"...But when you entered..."

"...he stood up immediately."

Silence.

Everyone slowly looked toward me.

And only then did most of them realize something.

Without even consciously thinking—

The moment Commander Arty entered the room...

I had instinctively stood up out of respect.

I stared at Commander Arty for several seconds.

Then finally—

"...Why does this sound less like military discussion and more like adopting a problematic animal?"

Several officers inside the room immediately looked shocked that I actually said that aloud.

Meanwhile, Commander Arty looked completely serious.

"Because someone has to manage you."

"...Rude."

Aoi quietly looked away, clearly trying not to laugh.

Then finally, I frowned slightly.

"Wait."

I looked between both of them carefully.

"What exactly are you two talking about?"

Commander Arty crossed his arms calmly.

"Your transfer."

"...My what?"

"From now onward, you officially operate under Commander Aoi's division."

The room instantly fell silent again.

Meanwhile—

I blinked once.

"...Excuse me?"

Commander Arty looked completely unbothered.

"You'll work under her command permanently."

I slowly pointed toward Aoi.

"...Her?"

"Yes."

Aoi finally sighed softly.

"I told him this discussion should happen later."

"No."

Commander Arty answered immediately.

"If we delay it, he'll disappear again."

"...Fair point."

I stared at both of them blankly.

"...You people discussed my future without me?"

Commander Arty ignored the complaint entirely and looked toward Aoi again.

"And remember what I told you."

Aoi already looked tired hearing that tone.

"...Yes, Commander."

"Make sure he eats properly."

Several officers looked confused again.

Commander Arty continued seriously.

"Twice a day minimum."

"Give him actual water instead of caffeine."

"And make sure he sleeps."

I rubbed my forehead.

"...Why are we discussing me like I'm dying?"

"Because your lifestyle suggests you're trying to."

"...That's unfairly accurate."

Meanwhile, Commander Arty kept going.

"Proper nutrients."

"Hydration."

"Rest."

"And if possible—"

He looked directly at Aoi now.

"...force him to take complete off-days occasionally."

Aoi immediately answered:

"Impossible."

"HEY."

Commander Arty sighed heavily.

"I know."

Then he added one final sentence calmly.

"As long as he's alive, that's enough."

The room suddenly became quieter afterward.

Because despite the joking tone—

Everyone there understood what that sentence actually meant.

People in our world...

Didn't usually live long.

Not naturally.

Not peacefully.

Meanwhile, I slowly looked away for a second.

And honestly...

I didn't really know how to answer that.

Then suddenly—

Maria's voice echoed dramatically inside my head again.

"...Wow

I looked back and forth between Commander Arty and Aoi before letting out a long sigh.

"...Is that even possible?"

Commander Arty raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

"Transferring me into her division."

I pointed toward Aoi.

"I thought departments like ours didn't simply exchange operatives."

Before Commander Arty could answer, I folded my arms and looked at both of them suspiciously.

"...And while we're at it..."

"Why are both of you treating me like a stray cat?"

Aoi looked at me with a completely expressionless face.

"Because you are."

"...Excuse me?"

"You're a stray cat who never takes care of himself."

I immediately protested.

"I am not."

She didn't even blink.

"You skip meals."

"I get busy."

"You barely sleep."

"I sleep."

"When?"

"...Eventually."

"You drink more coffee than water."

"...That's not important."

"It is."

Several officers nearby quietly looked away, trying not to laugh.

Commander Arty sighed and rubbed his forehead.

"See?"

"This is exactly why we're having this conversation."

I looked at him helplessly.

"Commander..."

"You too?"

He nodded without the slightest hesitation.

"Me too."

Then he became serious again.

"Yes, the transfer is possible."

"The Commander and I hold equivalent authority within different divisions."

"So administratively, the reassignment can be approved."

I frowned slightly.

"...Just like that?"

"It's already been approved."

I blinked.

"...What?"

Commander Arty smiled faintly.

"The Prime Minister of JP Federation signed the authorization this morning."

"And the Defense Council approved it shortly afterward."

I stared at him in disbelief.

"So..."

"You all decided my future before asking me?"

"We knew you'd refuse if we asked first."

"...That's unfair."

"It's also true."

Even I couldn't argue with that.

Commander Arty walked over and placed a hand on my shoulder.

His voice became calmer.

"Our department specializes in strategic intelligence."

"We gather information."

"We analyze threats."

"We coordinate operations."

He looked toward Aoi.

"Her division is different."

"They operate on the front line."

"Defense intelligence."

"Field operations."

"Rapid response."

He smiled slightly.

"You've spent years hiding your wings."

I sighed.

"...Why are you suddenly becoming dramatic?"

"Because it's true."

He gave my shoulder a light pat.

"It's time you started using them."

"For too long you've worked alone."

He glanced toward Aoi.

"Now you'll have a commander who can keep up with you."

Aoi folded her arms.

"And someone who can make sure you actually eat lunch."

I looked at both of them in disbelief.

"...So this whole transfer is secretly about making sure I have breakfast?"

Commander Arty answered without missing a beat.

"That's one of the objectives."

Aoi nodded once.

"A very important objective."

Maria's cheerful voice immediately echoed through my mind.

"I support this decision one hundred percent."

I groaned dramatically.

"...Great."

"Now three people are managing my life."

Commander Arty chuckled quietly.

"No."

He looked at me with a warm smile that reminded me more of a mentor than a commander.

"...Three people are making sure you stay alive."

For a few seconds, I didn't say anything.

I just looked at him.

Then I looked at Aoi.

She was standing beside me, looking at me with that small smile that only I can notice.

She quietly stepped closer.

Then she looked directly into my eyes.

"So..."

A short pause.

"...Are you ready to go on a date with me now?"

I froze.

"..."

What?

What did she just say?

I looked at her again, completely unable to process it.

Aoi simply smiled.

And for some reason...

I couldn't help but smile too.

****FIN THE MAIN STORE****

**** AUTHOR'S NOTE****

At least for the main story. 😅

And yes, Prince finally managed to go on a date with Aoi.

First of all, thank you so much to everyone who made it this far and read this entire one-shot web novel. I genuinely appreciate it.

To be honest, this is my first time writing something focused on action, thriller, and sci-fi. Normally, I write fantasy, as you probably already know, so this was something completely different for me.

And honestly?

I really enjoyed writing it.

I wanted to try mixing darker themes with action, emotions, a little mystery, and some lighter moments here and there. I'm not sure how well I managed to convey all of that, but I really hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

The story itself was actually quite simple when I started.

I just kept thinking:

"What would happen if this happened?"

And then one idea led to another...

And somehow, we ended up here. 😂

I know that probably sounds confusing, but sometimes that's just how stories work.

I'm still very much at the beginning of my journey as a writer. I know I have a lot to learn, and there are many things I can improve—whether it's descriptions, pacing, sentence flow, character writing, or simply becoming better at telling the stories I imagine.

I still have a long way to go.

But I'll keep trying.

And as long as you guys continue supporting me, that's more than enough motivation for me to keep writing.

So, if you're reading this right now, that means you've officially completed Beyond Ascension Protocol.

Thank you.

Seriously.

Thank you for walking alongside me through this little journey.

And now, I'd love to hear from you.

If you enjoyed the story, disliked something, found something confusing, or simply have an opinion about any part of it, please tell me.

If you're another writer, I'd especially appreciate any feedback about the writing itself.

And if you're simply a reader, I'd love to know what you thought after finishing the story.

Your feedback helps me improve.

That's all from me for now.

Let's meet again in another story, another novel, or maybe another time.

Until then...

Thank you so much for your support.

And thank you so much for reading.

Oh, and one last thing—

If you'd like to follow me and keep up with my upcoming novels, projects, or other things we're working on in the anime industry, you can follow me on Instagram as well.

@prince_sanatan_kumar

Until next time.

Thanks for reading. ❤️

— Yuu Rei Arclight