Vera was still alive!

Wayne gaped at the big man. He had thought that since the Veronica of the inner world was dead, then Vera and Kristen would be, too. But it turned out that Vera was still alive and had become the Sun Knight of the inner world.

How? Did the squire’s family have priority for the mantle?

“You do know him,” Auston said slowly.

“This can’t be right. This isn’t how the story of the inner world should go. Veronica and Vera’s graduation mission was to crack down on one of the Church of Death’s bases. They invited Senior Kristen for support. After being cursed by the Observer, they should’ve headed to my detective agency. Then...”

Then they would die finding the Death Knight of the inner world.

Wayne turned to Auston, hoping to learn more about what happened to the trio of magical girls.

Auston said slowly, “The three of them did get cursed, but negativity compelled them to blame each other, and Veronica and Kristen ended up looking for a way to lift the curse on their own, kicking Vera—now William—out of their team.”

(눈_눈)

If they blame each other, why was Vera the only one kicked out?

Veronica, you perverted girl, still lusting after your white moonlight in the inner world.

Wayne was both amused and irritated. Remembering that Veronica was gone in this world, he said with a sigh, “Then they tracked the evidence all the way to Klofron, didn’t they?”

“You know about that.”

“Yeah. I wasn’t the Death Knight in the surface world, so I was there to save the three of them. They’re all leading a happy life, and they’ve become even closer.”

Wayne shook his head. Veronica was probably the happiest, so much so that her bust grew a size.

Auston felt dejected. If possible, he wished that he were in the surface world. He would even willingly endure Wayne’s constant presence.

When Auston didn’t say anything, Wayne hesitantly asked, “So, Kristen died in Klofron as well, didn’t she?”

“Yes, based on what I found out later.” Auston closed his eyes, but then he suddenly remembered something: “That written permission—”

“Yes, I managed to win over all three of them because I rescued them. We’re all living together.”

Clack!

Wayne scratched his ear. He seemed to have heard the sound of teeth cracking. He turned to Auston and was met with an impassive poker face. He guessed that Auston had crushed his teeth from envy.

Be patient. After my machinations, you’ll get to embrace multiple women, too.

Wayne knew too much about the Lando family, many of them secret. Auston stopped doubting that he was the Lando heir. Him being Auston’s illegitimate son, however, was absolutely impossible, even though they did share a striking resemblance in looks, and Wayne was good at fooling women just like Auston had been when he was young.

“Since you know this one, help him move on. He’s lost his will to fight after being defeated by the Nature Knight. He’s been doing nothing but eating and sleeping all day.”

Don’t you speak ill of Vera!

Wayne rolled his eyes. Vera might have fallen into a slump, but so had Auston. Both had lost people who were important to them. While Vera slept through her days, Auston couldn’t move on from his loss and kept giving Megan harsh looks. At least Vera hadn’t been spreading negativity to others!

Wayne shot back, “What do you mean he’s been doing nothing but eating and sleeping? Doesn’t he take dumps?”

“...”

Auston left with Megan, scowling. He didn’t understand how his other self tolerated Wayne, but he couldn’t do it. He felt like a year was shaved from his lifespan every time Wayne opened his mouth.

Wayne crouched down beside William, smiling at the familiar face. He felt a hit of nostalgia. He still remembered that Vera had already set her eyes on him while she was a man, and she purposefully kept her true identity a secret to scare him.

I should retaliate. I’ll show you the terror of a confirmed bachelor!

“Rise and shine, Vera!”

Wayne nudged William’s shoulder. He grumbled, his eyelids twitching, but then turned away and went back to sleep.

Was it because of the total party kill at the Church of Sun? Was he traumatized by witnessing the death of the church members who were like family to him?

Senna, you’ve greatly sinned!

Wayne patted his own face, warning himself that the surface world and the inner world were separate, that he shouldn’t project his feelings in the surface world to the inhabitants of this world. But he couldn’t stop himself. These familiar faces came with too much baggage. Aside from ‘himself’, he could not hate any of them.

He placed a hand on William’s shoulder, injecting William with the energy of Sun stored in one of the mana stones in his chest.

It was the power of the Sun Knight in the surface world. With surprise, William’s dim thoughts awoke from slumber. He jerked up from his sleep.

Baby, can you kiss me?

What a handsome man. Is this love?

William stared at the face in surprise, his crimson eyes widening like saucers. He felt his heart speed up like he had met his true love.

But no, this face belonged to the Death knight!

William pulled away and drew Dawn Doctrine from the Void. The golden greatspear radiated blinding light. Flames washed over him, the intense heat of which melted the metal at his feet into liquid.

William felt ashamed for developing romantic feelings for the enemy when the Death Knight had killed Veronica’s mother. He had wronged Veronica. He was a bastard.

“Vera, I’m surprised that you’ve become the Sun Knight,” said Wayne.

“Death Knight, why are you here? Where’s the Darkness Knight? Why do you have the power of the Sun?” William’s brows furrowed. Taking a closer look, this face seemed different from the Death Knight’s face he had seen before. He couldn’t say how they were different, but this man was handsome and attractive to him, totally his type.

Oh, no. I’m allowing looks to influence how I judge people and thinking nonsense again!

Tensing up, William pointed his spear at Wayne and said in a booming voice, “Answer me. Where did your power come from?”

“Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Wayne Lando from the surface world. This is my partner, White Night Creed.” Wayne took out the longbow and transformed into the Moonlight Knight before William.

William’s jaw dropped. The Death Knight moonlighting as the Moonlight Knight? He had never heard of anything that absurd. It was ridiculous!

“Did you hear the important part I just said? Wayne Lando from the surface world. I’m not the same person as the Death Knight of this world,” Wayne emphasized.

After a moment of surprise, William recovered from his shock and speculated, “Did your power of the Sun Knight come from the surface world, too?”

“Yes, I acquired the power from the Sun Knight in my world. And...” Wayne glanced at William. “We’re lovers. Do you understand?”

“Lo-lo-lovers??” William stammered and slurred. Wasn’t it too quick for them to confirm their relationship as soon as they met? He hadn’t prepared himself mentally. At least Wayne should confess and give him a chance to say no. He wasn’t an easy girl. He was difficult to win over!

As expected of you, you’re just like your other self and easily give yourself away.

Wayne took in William’s conflicted, shy reaction, feeling both pleased and disgusted.

Good news, his face was lethal to Vera, and she couldn’t help but throw herself at him as soon as she saw him.

Bad news, pretending to be gay was too difficult. He was trying to repulse William, but ended up repulsing himself.

Damn you, why are you blushing?

Because it was Vera, Wayne felt nauseous, but not severely so. He was fine, save for the slight twist in his stomach.

Worried that he would be infected with the tradition of Londan, he said stiffly, “Vera, should I break the curse of Death’s subordinate god for you? This is difficult on my eyes.”

“It’s fine. I can lift the curse myself.”

William shook his head. His form suddenly wobbled, and a ray of golden light radiated from him. Sacred light filled the room, typical of a magical girl transformation.

Wayne vaguely saw the radiant figure decreasing in height with the stocky limbs slimming down. After the light faded, a pretty blonde with curves in all the right places appeared before him.

The bandages on her fell, and her soft peaks peeked out. Wayne couldn’t help but stare.

“Ah!”

After the sex change, Vera was visibly more bashful. She blushed and told Wayne to look away, hurriedly conjuring a robe with Sun’s energy to cover herself up.

Wayne stared at her unblinkingly, only looking away after she had covered herself up. He said with a smile, “Why hide your body? I’ve seen every part of you. You may not know about the mole in your buttcrack. It’s only visible from a close distance.”

Damn it, why were you looking that closely?!

Vera ground her teeth together, holding Dawn Doctrine before her. “Are we that close in the surface world? How did you woo me?”

She believed him. She believed him fully because of what her heart was saying.

“Actually, you wooed me. I was pursuing Veronica and Kristen then.”

“Huh?!” Vera’s head tilted. The twist came so suddenly that she almost got whiplash.

“In the surface world, you, Veronica, and Kristen were cursed, but because of your pride, you refused to seek help from the adults. You looked into the Church of Darkness alone. When you went past my detective agency, you fell for me at first glance and urged Veronica to start your investigation with me. It was in Londan, March 1938. The mist that night was thick...”

Wayne reminisced about how his sweet dream began. Half an hour passed like that.

Vera learned that Wayne had become Veronica’s fiancé and that Kristen had moved into Wayne’s residence, making her approval necessary for Vera to move in. She said in frustration, “What gave them the right? I came first!”

Her expression dimmed then. Neither Veronica nor Kristen was around. So she had called dibs. So what? She felt no joy in defeating strong rivals. She would be willing to lose to Veronica and Kristen if they could come back.

Wayne went up to pat Vera’s head. Then he started stroking her chin.

Vera squinted, purring in enjoyment. Wayne clearly knew her body well, which meant he must have spent quite a lot of time exploring her.

But wasn’t it too greedy of him to ride three horses at the same time? Couldn’t he show a little loyalty?

Wayne conjured two rubber bands with his thoughts and put Vera’s hair into the twin tails he was most familiar with. He said with a smile, “I heard from Auston that you’ve been depressed and sleeping all day to escape reality after being defeated by the Nature Knight.”

Vera touched her twin tails and lowered her head. “Everyone’s dead. Dick and everyone else are gone. I’ve failed to protect anyone. I’m a useless knight.”

Clear drops of tears fell to the ground, evaporating into steam from the high heat. Wayne felt an ache in his chest. He pulled her into his arms, which triggered Vera’s outburst of emotions. She bawled with no reservation.

Wayne once again told himself that this Vera wasn’t his Vera. He opened his mouth, but didn’t know what to say. In the end, he simply patted her on the back and said, “It’s okay. Just let it all out, and you’ll be okay.”

Vera cried for more than ten minutes. Gradually, her wails quieted, and in Wayne’s warm embrace, she felt a rising jealousy for herself, Veronica, and Kristen in the surface world.

It was the kind of jealousy that made her want to replace them.

Gripping Dawn Doctrine, she found her new drive to get stronger. She didn’t want to disappear along with the inner world. She wanted to claim what she had lost in the surface world.

With a complicated expression, Wayne sighed and held her tightly.