Bad Born Blood-Chapter 131

Chapter 131

"This is a virtual simulation program at Depth Level 2 by current standards. Rather than a virtual simulation, it’s closer to an immersive video experience. Internal manipulation is not possible."

Barbara spoke rapidly. Her pupils and fingers moved nonstop.

On the screen, scattered letters and symbols tangled together before aligning in a structured format. Broken segments of the data were manually reconstructed by Barbara, who matched the codes based on context and verified their execution.

Even with my basic knowledge, I could tell that Barbara’s skills were top-notch.

"A word of advice— you should have brought me the original sooner. When someone with poor skills tries to recover data, a lot of it gets lost. Thanks to that, I’m putting in unnecessary work. They used a pretty crude method to restore this. It wasn’t done by a professional programmer, was it?"

Barbara deduced the process just from the remnants of the restored data. I didn’t deny it and simply watched.

"I should be able to finish this within today...."

"It’s already done. I got sick of doing this kind of work by the time I was seven."

If it had been anyone other than Barbara, I might have felt inclined to compliment her efficiency.

We took out the virtual simulation device— a simple ring-shaped apparatus that wrapped around the forehead. Since the program’s depth level was low, this was sufficient.

Bzzzt.

As I put on the simulation device, a pair of goggles popped forward. The screen spun like it was inducing hypnosis, colors bleeding into each other like spilled paint. The vibration from the metallic contact points against my temples resonated through my brain with a low hum.

Barbara was also entering the virtual simulation.

"I’ll leave part of my perception outside to monitor, but if Barbara tries anything suspicious, shoot her immediately."

I instructed Giselle before closing my eyes.

Bzzzzzt.

The vibration in my ears was unpleasant. The sensation and noise, carried through my central nervous system, spread throughout my body.

Screeeech, skreeeek.

The entry process into the simulation wasn’t smooth. The old data made it feel like breathing in dusty sand— coarse and dry.

My senses and cognition rejected the clumsy simulation. I lowered my sensory sensitivity, as if I were about to drift off to sleep.

I sank deeper into my consciousness. Like a state of light sleep, my awareness distanced itself from reality. It felt like staring out from beneath the surface of a swimming pool. But there was no need to sink all the way to the bottom— this level was just right.

-Noel.

"Noel."

Focus. The simulation still feels fake.

"Noel?"

Yeah, I’m in now.

I closed my eyes, then opened them again.

The first thing I saw was Giselle. No, not Giselle— a woman who looked like her. But I immediately recognized who she was.

’Agatha Custoria.’

Agatha was looking at me. Or rather, she was looking at "Noel," whose perspective I was experiencing.

"Get a grip, you idiot."

Agatha snapped at me out of nowhere.

Pii—shung!

A gunshot rang out.

’A simulation reconstructed from Noel’s extracted memories.’

I grasped the situation. The memory started in the middle of a battlefield.

* * *

The virtual simulation wasn’t highly refined. With just a little focus, I could probably break away from it. The data was incomplete, causing the edges of objects and the background to flicker with multicolored fluorescent hues. Still, it was immersive enough.

I surrendered my consciousness to the flow of the simulation. The sensory signals it transmitted seeped into me as if they were real. I could smell dirt and gunpowder.

’This is a battlefield.’

I—Noel—was a soldier. By current standards, the gun in my hands was practically an antique. I leaned my back against cover.

’Who’s the enemy?’

I couldn’t tell if they were Bellato or Coritans. The only thing I knew was that they were people—people firing at us.

There were soldiers around me who had fallen into panic. Whatever was happening, it was clear that we were at a disadvantage.

"Noel, what’s the plan?"

Agatha, clad in combat gear, asked me. It felt strange seeing someone who looked so much like Giselle.

But on closer inspection, she was entirely different. Her presence was rough, wild. The scars on her body told the story of the battlefield. Her limbs were prosthetic, but her torso remained flesh.

’Agatha is a warrior and a soldier.’

Noel—no, I. Damn, this being a simulation was starting to confuse me.

I might as well just accept that I was Noel. Thinking that way was probably bad for my mental stability, but... immersion came first. The deeper I embraced the signal data that reconstructed these memories, the more vividly I could sense Noel’s thoughts and emotions.

I observed the battlefield and muttered to myself. Then, having reached a conclusion, I gave orders to Agatha and the surrounding soldiers.

"Agatha, take the 3rd squad and set up an ambush on the left. The 4th squad will follow me and move to the right. Reinforcements will be here soon—once they arrive, we push forward."

It was hard to believe we were in a losing situation—I was too calm for that.

"Reinforcements? Communications are down. How would the higher-ups even know what’s happening here?"

Agatha questioned my judgment.

"The current commander of the rear unit is Katrin Mullizcane. She’ll have a full grasp of the situation."

"Katrin Mullizcane? You know her?"

"No, I don’t. I’ve only read her command records and history."

Agatha’s expression twisted in disbelief before she shouted at me.

"Then we should retreat! If we stay here, we’ll be surrounded! We’re all going to die!"

It seemed that, unlike in her later years, she was much more prone to emotional outbursts back then. Her temper was clearly showing.

"Even in the worst-case scenario, you and I can make it out. Agatha, with your combat ability, you can carve out an escape route."

Put another way—if things went south, everyone except Agatha and me would die.

It didn’t seem like I considered the other soldiers as comrades. Looking around, there was no sign of camaraderie among them either. They looked like conscripts, dragged here against their will.

Vrrrrrrr!

A deafening roar filled the sky. The battlefield was cast in shadow as a transport ship loomed overhead. The bottom of the ship opened, and about fifty soldiers dropped down like falling stones.

Reinforcements had arrived.

Boom! Thud!

The soldiers hit the ground hard, embedding themselves into the battlefield. They rose, seemingly unfazed by the harsh descent. Judging by their resilience, they likely had a high percentage of prosthetics. Some looked to be full-body cybernetics.

Swish!

I extended my hand forward, signaling the charge. Since we were already prepared, we moved in sync with the reinforcement unit, sweeping across the enemy from both sides.

The reinforcements crushed the enemy in the center. Meanwhile, we flanked them, closing in from both sides and cutting off their escape. The enemy barely had time to regroup before they were struck with near-total annihilation.

’Agatha stands out. She really is the progenitor of the Custoria name.’

By modern standards, Agatha wasn’t an extraordinary warrior.

But two centuries ago, she was overwhelming. Compared to the other soldiers, her prowess was undeniable. Even with outdated prosthetics and an unenhanced nervous system, she fought with near-acrobatic precision.

Agatha led the left flank, tearing through the enemy. Her shots found their mark with eerie accuracy, even when she fired without looking. In close combat, she moved like a fish in water, weaving through the chaos. Every time her dagger flashed, another enemy dropped.

The battle was over.

Victory was ours.

I focused and accelerated the passage of time within the simulation. Once the post-battle cleanup was complete, Agatha and I were summoned by the higher-ups.

We made our way to the command tent, where a noble officer awaited us. Her name was Katrin Mullizcane.

‘So that’s how it was.’

This was how Noel first became entangled with the Mullizcane family.

Katrin, with her silver hair, was glaring at me with visible displeasure. The edges of her pupils gleamed faintly.

"You acted like you knew I was coming. As if you had coordinated the operation in advance."

"I simply took a gamble, and it paid off. I was lucky."

I replied while resting a hand on my stiffened waist. Katrin didn’t seem pleased with my answer.

"Speak clearly, Private First Class Noel. You should know I don’t have the best temperament."

"I’ve reviewed your command records, Captain. I assumed you would head this way. Rather than prioritizing noble units, you always secure strategic positions first. I believe that’s the reason your promotions have been slower despite your achievements."

That was an incredibly arrogant remark. No mere soldier should be speaking to an officer like that.

Katrin frowned, tilting her head slightly in irritation. Crossing her arms, she stood before Agatha and me.

"I just told you, didn’t I? I don’t have a pleasant personality."

The one fidgeting beside me was Agatha. Even in this era, noble authority seemed absolute.

"I wouldn’t say my personality is pleasant either."

I said it. I, or rather, Noel—this bastard was completely insane. I was so shocked that it nearly shattered my sense of identity.

Crack!

Katrin’s fist drove straight into my stomach. My body folded forward as I collapsed, coughing up a mouthful of metallic-tasting blood.

It was a severe injury—likely enough to damage internal organs. How did I know? Because the simulation’s pain signals transmitted the agony directly into me, even if only indirectly.

"N-Noel? You...!"

Agatha, caught off guard, quickly shifted to fury, glaring at Katrin like she was ready to lunge at her.

"I’m... fine, Agatha."

Gripping Agatha’s uniform, I forced myself upright. This was sheer grit. There had been no pain tolerance training back then—just raw willpower holding me back from dying of shock.

Katrin looked down at me and smirked faintly.

"Noel. Agatha. Welcome to Mullizcane Jaeger. From this moment on, you are my soldiers."

At this point in history, noble families had their own dedicated military units incorporated into the official army structure. Mullizcane Jaeger was one such unit. Essentially, private armies of noble families were being treated as part of the state’s regular forces and supplied accordingly. This was because many noble houses had effectively become regional warlords.

I accelerated the simulation. Even though this was Noel’s memory, it wasn’t his entire life. By speeding up time, months and even years passed in an instant.

’Katrin Mullizcane, designated as the next head of the family.’

Katrin was an exceptional woman. Within her family, she was recognized for her abilities, leading their personal military unit across battlefields at a young age. However, her stubborn nature made her unpopular in the military’s personnel evaluations.

Time slowed down again. By this point, Agatha and I had served in Mullizcane Jaeger for about five years.

Both of us had distinguished ourselves, earning commendations through notable achievements. Agatha rapidly rose through the ranks to become a senior platoon leader, while I advanced to the role of Katrin’s adjutant, serving as her strategic officer.

Having become key figures within Mullizcane Jaeger, we naturally underwent full-body prosthetic augmentation as well.

After completing rehabilitation, I reported back to Katrin.

"You adapted to full-body prosthetics in just a month?"

Katrin narrowed her eyes at me, finding it hard to believe.

"The attending physician said there were no issues."

"......Follow me, Noel."

Katrin removed her coat and descended into the training hall. Without hesitation, she tested me—throwing punches and swinging kicks.

My reactions weren’t slow. Even with the stiffness of my new prosthetics, I deftly evaded her attacks and countered in return.

Swish. Screech.

Then, I went further—pinning Katrin’s back down with my knee and twisting her arm. A perfect takedown.

"I thought you weren’t much of a fighter, but I guess I was wrong. Have you been hiding the fact that you’re stronger than Agatha?"

"I never hid anything. I’ve just realized a few things lately, so I wanted to test them out."

My talent for combat strategy was starting to blossom.

"There’s a research project the higher-ups are running. They claim to have found a new way to enhance the nervous system. I was originally planning to send Agatha alone... but you’re going too, Noel."

I didn’t like the sound of it. Nor did I like the idea of sending Agatha.

"Hmm... drug experiments? If that’s the case, they’ll just end up as vegetables. It’s obvious."

"If it were that, they wouldn’t be sending you two. Apparently, this time, it’s different. Other noble families are sending their best soldiers as well. By the way, how long do you plan on keeping me pinned down?"

"Ah, my bad."

I got up first and helped Katrin to her feet.

Three months had passed. Having completed her adaptation to full-body prosthetics, Agatha also returned to active duty. To celebrate her return, we decided to stop by a bar. It was a momentous occasion, marking both our promotions and successes, so we chose a place more expensive than usual.

As we stepped inside, Agatha nudged my shoulder with her elbow.

"Noel, look over there. Isn’t that the Captain? If we play this right, we might get a free drink."

She spoke excitedly. I followed her gaze.

Sitting alone at the bar was Katrin. She was drinking while staring out the floor-to-ceiling window. Beyond it, the cityscape spread out, with spires jutting into the sky.

Past the edge of the spired city, an expanse of gray-white wasteland stretched out. It was unmistakably different from Akbaran’s terrain.

‘This is Planet Ark.’

I felt a strange sense of displacement. As the simulation’s consistency weakened, the scenery flickered, appearing layered and distorted for a brief moment.

Now it made sense. This was the era before we had settled on Planet Novus. A thunderstorm raged on the distant horizon.

"Mind if we join you, Captain?"

Agatha approached Katrin and asked.

Katrin, who had been drinking in solitude, glanced at us before snapping her fingers. The bartender came over.

"Do whatever you want. Put it on my tab. Consider it a welcome-back gift, Agatha."

"See? Our Captain is the best."

Agatha grinned and shamelessly slid into the seat next to Katrin.

Clack.

The drinks arrived. I stared at my glass, feeling conflicted—one drink alone cost my entire daily wage. Meanwhile, Agatha, entirely unfazed, tossed back her drinks one after another. She was drinking so recklessly that I felt the urge to smack her upside the head.

Katrin watched us in silence before letting out a quiet chuckle. Her smile was a rare sight.

"When are you two getting married?"

At her remark, Agatha and I immediately denied it in unison.

"No way, Captain! Noel and I aren’t like that. We’ve known each other since we were kids. Maybe as siblings, sure, but as lovers? No chance."

"Well, if my type were men, I suppose Agatha might have had a shot."

"Hey, you wanna die!?"

Katrin shrugged at our antics.

"Alright, I get it."

We spent the whole night drinking at the bar, indulging until our minds blurred. I had a vague memory of pointing my finger at Katrin and speaking informally to her.

* * *

Noel’s memories were vast. It made sense why they had been stored on such an expensive chip.

Once again, I focused on the simulation. I wanted to finish experiencing it before Barbara did.

Agatha and I underwent the new enhancement procedure. The hospital ward was lined with people in similar conditions. Some were screaming and self-harming.

The medical staff observed me. The doctor at the front glanced at a medical chart before speaking.

"You may experience mild mania at first, along with symptoms like hallucinations and psychosis. Report any abnormal reactions."

We had undergone a spinal fluid replacement procedure. I rubbed the back of my neck, where I had been connected to a tube just moments ago. The sensation of the semi-transparent liquid seeping into my body had been deeply unsettling.

Describing the effects of the procedure in a single word was impossible. It felt as if the world had become sharper, pulling in every bit of information around me like an obsession. By the time I regained focus, I realized I had been subconsciously counting every tile on the floor.

I couldn’t even ignore unnecessary details, making it impossible to sleep for days. My heightened senses left me unbearably sensitive to even the smallest noises, causing extreme stress.

We were given time off for rehabilitation. Once I had recovered somewhat, I went to see Agatha.

"Fuck, I really feel like I’m gonna die. Noel, how the hell are you walking around? I can’t even tell the ceiling from the floor. It’s driving me insane. It’s like having a never-ending hangover that won’t leave me alone."

Agatha leaned her shoulder against the doorframe, pushing it open. She ran a hand through her messy hair before stepping inside.

"And why the hell are you naked? If you’ve got a boyfriend over, I’ll get out of your way. He doesn’t seem to like me much anyway."

I spoke in a bored tone.

Agatha wasn’t wearing a single scrap of clothing. Because of that, her bare, unsteady figure was completely exposed to me. Her full-body prosthetics were sleek and agile.

"I dumped that clingy idiot ages ago. Next time, I should just date a woman instead. Ugh. And why am I naked? Do you seriously have to ask? My senses are so hypersensitive right now that I can’t even stand wearing clothes! Anything touching my skin feels like bugs crawling all over me!"

She snapped in frustration. Given that her combat senses were sharper than mine, it seemed like she was suffering more severe side effects.

I stepped inside and glanced at her bed. The sheets were torn to shreds. It wasn’t just the bed—Agatha’s entire apartment looked like it had been ravaged by a wild animal.

"Agatha, you need to break out of the hyperarousal state. Control your breathing and redirect your senses and thoughts elsewhere. It’ll help."

"You do it, then. I can’t. Fuck, my head is killing me. And these so-called elite scientists? Bunch of fucking quacks, all of them."

Agatha grumbled, but at least there didn’t seem to be any major issues.

"Well, you seem fine. I’ll be going now."

I spoke while drinking some water—not that she had given it to me. I had rummaged through her fridge and taken it myself.

"You’re leaving already? Did you really come just to check on me? I’ve thought this before, but you’re secretly pretty softhearted. Always acting like you’re so cold and detached."

"If you die, I lose a competent and reliable comrade. That’s a loss for me too."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Just admit you came because you were worried about a friend."

Agatha squinted at me with a teasing grin.

After confirming her condition, I returned home. For the next month, I mostly stayed holed up. My own state wasn’t great either—I needed time to assess my enhanced sensory and cognitive abilities.

Whoosh!

I threw a punch into the empty air. Then, with a motion like swinging a scythe, I executed a spinning kick. My heel sliced sharply through the air.

Inside my mind, thoughts branched out endlessly, intertwining in complex patterns. With so many choices, the possibilities felt infinite.

‘What’s the optimal decision?’

I moved, envisioning an imaginary opponent. My mind felt unshackled, like a bird escaping its cage.

Humanity had surpassed its biological limits through technological advancements. Because of that, traditional combat methods were becoming obsolete. The old ways weren’t useless, but they were no longer the most efficient.

War and conflict had always defined human history, but we had reached a turning point. The body was no longer bound by flesh and blood. Consciousness moved at the speed of light.

‘A new approach.’

At first, it would be less efficient than existing techniques. But by laying a broader foundation, we could eventually build something far greater. The peak of this new method would surpass anything before it.

‘There’s no need to rush. Right now, it’s about laying the groundwork.’

And without action, theory was nothing more than armchair philosophy.

Once I got my body under control, I started heading into the alleyways at night. Planet Ark was plagued by extreme wealth disparity, and the underbelly of the city was horrifying. Agatha and I had joined the military just to escape this place.

A thug blocked my path. He didn’t even bother threatening me—he just raised his gun immediately.

Bang!

A gunshot rang out. But I had already twisted my head, dodging it.

The bullet barely grazed my cheek. The thug, still gripping the trigger, stared at me with wide eyes.

"You... you dodged it?"

Success.

I had proven my theory in reality. By constantly tracking the gun’s aim and predicting the precise moment the trigger would be pulled, I had managed to evade the shot.

There were records of veteran soldiers on the battlefield, enhanced with combat stimulants, who had occasionally perceived and dodged bullets.

At first, people dismissed it as a misunderstanding or mere rumor. But as more data accumulated, the phenomenon was acknowledged as a rare but possible feat for an elite few.

‘Eventually, with learning and training, it’ll become a reproducible skill.’

Humanity was advancing. But progress wasn’t always inherently good.

No one knew whether this progress was leading in a positive or negative direction. In the past, humanity had lived more peacefully. There had been people who lived and died without ever experiencing war, murder, or violence. It was hard to believe, but it was true.

Technology had advanced enough to allow interstellar travel. Humanity had left Earth, seizing control of planets as it expanded. Yet, the total amount of despair had never diminished.

If anything, the suffering of the impoverished had only deepened.

Crack!

I grabbed the thug by the neck and snapped it. Twisting flesh and bone with my metal arm was effortless. A life was snuffed out in an instant.

‘You don’t deserve to live.’

Letting him continue breathing would have only birthed more misery.

‘A better world.’

I—Noel—looked up from the depths of the city, gazing toward the heights above with a wavering stare.

Chzzzt.

The simulation’s coherence fractured, and the cityscape trembled as if it were breaking apart. I understood now what he had dreamed of.

* * *

Time passed.

Agatha and I had mostly recovered from the aftereffects of our enhancement procedures. From what I had heard, many hadn’t been so fortunate. The scientists had boasted about its safety, yet the fact that nobles hadn’t undergone the procedure first made it clear why.

On this particular day, Katrin and I visited a factory for an inspection.

Whirr, whirr.

I found myself staring at something shaped like an armored suit. Katrin examined the prototype with intrigue.

"An exoskeleton layered over prosthetics?" I asked.

Katrin smirked.

"It’s called Full-Armor Prosthetics. A combat prosthetic stripped of everything unnecessary—true battle-grade augmentation. The Mullizcane family is considering ordering at least one unit."

I checked the specs displayed on my retinal interface. The Full-Armor Prosthetic was a machine, stripped of all biological necessities.

It couldn’t eat. It couldn’t laugh. Even sensory signals had been cut off to eliminate the inefficiency of unnecessary neural processing and the combat performance loss caused by pain. Any sluggishness caused by the sensory blackout was compensated for with auxiliary computation systems and reinforced armor.

‘In that war machine, the only human element left is its ability to make adaptive decisions.’

A user of Full-Armor Prosthetics couldn’t even feel another person’s warmth. They could only see body temperature as a number, processed through sensors. If the prosthetic sustained damage, it wouldn’t register as pain—only as graphs and numerical data indicating fractures and impact points.

"That’s quite inhuman. Very few people could endure using that."

"It’s only meant for combat. It’s not designed for constant use, so don’t worry."

"Even so, it would take immense mental fortitude."

"You and Agatha could handle it."

I glanced at Katrin’s profile. She was always so self-assured, carrying herself as if no one in the world stood above her.

"...If you’re only ordering one unit, make it mine."

I would adapt better than Agatha. No—regardless of that, I would have volunteered anyway.

"Sometimes, you’re almost cute in how selfless you are, Noel."

Katrin smirked, narrowing her eyes like a fox, chuckling to herself.

She probably found me amusing. I had said something that made me seem soft—offering to take the risk for Agatha’s sake.

"Lately, I keep hearing that I’m too nice to women. Guess I’m doomed to be unpopular."

I shrugged, grumbling. Katrin laughed out loud.

"Because of that whole bad boys are more attractive myth?"

"Chad mentioned it the other day—he said a guy’s done for if he comes across as too nice."

"That’s just because Chad only dates awful women. His girlfriends change every month."

"Still, if they keep changing, that means he is popular with women."

As the Full-Armor Prosthetics demonstration ended, the lights dimmed, leaving the room dark. We turned toward the exit.

"I don’t think nice guys are bad. They listen well, so they’re convenient to have around."

In the dark corridor, green indicator lights flickered, guiding us toward the exit.

"...That sounds like something a superior would say about their subordinate."

"Same thing to me. Whether it’s a man or a soldier, I don’t like losing to either."

"I wouldn’t mind losing to a superior, but I would hate losing to a woman."

Katrin let out a scoffing laugh, then suddenly grabbed my wrist and tugged. I let myself stumble forward on purpose.

The moment I went along too easily, her grip slackened. That was my chance.

Screech!

I planted my feet, stopping my momentum, and yanked Katrin toward me instead.

Swish! Thud!

Caught off guard, Katrin was pulled straight into my grip and pushed back against the wall. I pinned both her wrists, pressing them upward.

In the darkness, Katrin’s eyes gleamed. A low chuckle escaped her lips.

"You’re being awfully rude to your superior, Noel."

I tilted my head to the side, bringing my face closer to hers. Our breaths mingled.

"Well, right now, you’re not my superior—you’re a woman."

Without waiting for her response, I kissed her.

Katrin didn’t resist. Naturally, I released her wrists. Her freed hands slipped down and wrapped around my waist.

...The accelerated time within the simulation all but evaporated. Not all of Noel’s memories remained—only the significant moments, loosely strung together.

Katrin and I continued this relationship, going as far as sharing a bed. Whether we were truly together was ambiguous. There was no burning passion between us, no affectionate words exchanged even in moments of intimacy.

Noel—I—remained detached toward Katrin, even considering this was a simulation.

Months passed. I spent three or four nights out of every ten at Katrin’s residence.

Swish.

Katrin woke up first. She sat in the dim light of dawn, clad in only a translucent robe, drinking.

"Did I wake you?"

Seated on the sofa, she pulled one knee up to her chin.

"No, not really."

I rubbed my neck and got up. But in truth, she had woken me.

"You’re sweet. Though in bed, you’re nothing but a ruthless bastard trying to win. Not that I mind."

"I thought you liked obedient, well-mannered men?"

"Seems my preferences have changed because of you. This isn’t so bad either."

Katrin rested her cheek against her knee, gazing out the window. The darkened city sprawled beneath us.

Even as we sat here in quiet luxury, somewhere below, misery festered like mold.

A vague sense of urgency stirred inside me.

"...We should go somewhere nice for dinner tomorrow. It wouldn’t hurt to meet somewhere other than your place for once."

Katrin suddenly laughed. There was nothing funny about what I said.

"No need to force it, Noel. You don’t like me."

Her words struck deep, sharp and precise.

"That’s not true."

"At the very least, you don’t like me as a woman. I have no interest in playing word games with you about this. If you want to treat the woman you share a bed with like an idiot, then go ahead—keep talking."

I had nothing to say. I shut my mouth.

Katrin smiled softly and continued speaking.

"Even if our bodies are machines, the emotions we share aren’t fake. If your feelings aren’t real, you’ll be found out eventually, Noel. And you— you’ve never been with another woman before, have you? That made it all the more obvious."

"Hmm. I tried my best to make up for the lack of experience. Even asked Chad for some tips."

"The model student’s efforts were cute, so I let you win until now."

I scratched my jaw and let out a sigh.

"So, are we done? From the way you’re talking, it sounds like you’ve grown tired of me."

"No, that’s not why I brought this up. First, tell me your real reason for approaching me. I’ll decide what happens to our relationship afterward."

The words felt rough as they left my throat.

"...I want to rise. In my position, there aren’t many ways to climb higher. So, I approached you, Captain."

"I expected as much. I’m not disappointed in you, so don’t worry. But what do you want after you rise? You’re too complicated to have ambition for the sake of ambition."

Under Katrin’s gaze, I walked toward the glass wall. The city stretched out beneath me.

"You get a great view of the city from here. But you can’t see all the way down to where I was born. Down there, it’s so dark it may as well not exist. What I want is light."

"You want to change the world?"

"No. I have no illusions of dragging the sun down to the depths. I just want to remind people that there are still lives down there. A small light to outline their existence would be enough."

Katrin went still, like a machine that had temporarily shut down. She was deep in thought. Then, at last, her glass-like gaze blinked, and her lips moved.

"You’re an interesting man, Noel... Mullizcane."

I turned around and gave Katrin a slight nod.

"Thank you."

Katrin and I agreed to marry.