The Author's POV

'I kind of understand why those in power always like to have a window behind their office.'

I felt my shoulders drop and my body loosen up as I stood at the window and looked down at Ashton City.

Staring at the city that was once again filled with people, I found myself relaxing. The view… It wasn't so different from the world I just came from.

"Haa..."

I inevitably let out a sigh. Even though the view was beautiful, I couldn't help but feel a rush of a variety of different emotions whenever I thought about the one responsible for making this whole thing possible.

'Are you really finding that everyone is forgetting about you, Kevin?'

It rubbed me the wrong way a little bit that everyone was going about their day, celebrating the peace, and yet they had no idea who it was that made it this way. What irritated me the most was the fact that I was getting all of the credits that were supposed to belong to Kevin.

Things weren't supposed to go this way...

I unknowingly found myself clenching my fist tightly. If… If there was a way to make everyone remember… I'd do it.

Ding―!

[Here's the information you've asked me to look for. I don't think I've missed anything out. If that's not enough, give me a message and I'll see what I can do.]

"As expected, Ryan's the best."

The message was attached to a small file, and when I opened it, I discovered that it contained a great deal of information along with a number of pictures. They were incredibly detailed and contained all the information I could possibly want.

He was indeed someone whom I personally recruited.

'...If only Smallsnake was still here.'

I felt my mood plummet thinking about him. If there was anyone else who was good at getting information, it'd be him.

To Tok―!

It was then that someone knocked on the door.

"Come in."

I sat myself back down in my chair.

"Did you call for me?"

A lethargic figure walked in. After entering the office, he took a quick survey of his surroundings before finding a seat in one of the chairs that were directly across from mine.

"Liam, It's nice to see that you were able to get here without a problem."

"Huh?"

He cocked his head to the side, confused.

"Was there supposed to be a problem?"

"…You say this when you can't even remember where the mercenary headquarters are."

a couple of times

a mercenary

"…"

my forehead. As

"Anyways…"

a closer look

long I was looking for or

something wrong? Why are you looking at

didn't answer and continued to observe him. The longer I looked at him, the more certain I became of

expected… It really was the

"Ren?"

"Hm?"

in front of me, waving his hand in front of my face, that I snapped out of

"What are you doing?"

something wrong

fine. Sit

back on my chair. After he had taken a seat, I rubbed the underside of my chin and lightly tapped my finger against the surface of

about it,

"Liam."

called out

He cocked his head.

"Yes?"

found

my words, Liam's eyes widened quite a bit, and before he could respond, I extended my hand in front of

realized it long

see the extent of the

***

Swoosh―!

that was otherwise empty, Emma practiced her swordplay with two short swords. Whenever she swung her blade, strands of her hair would fly into the air and land on her face, where they would become affixed to her skin due

sure for how long she'd been at it, but it was only when she was completely gassed out that

"Haaa…haaa…"

chest burned with

'I feel empty.'

inexplicable reason, Emma felt empty. She had no idea why she was unable to shake this feeling, but it had been plaguing her for the past few days, and she couldn't figure out how to get rid of

wrong with

about that emptiness, the more she felt it turn into something

Pain?

She wasn't sure.

else. She just couldn't figure out

"Fuck. I hate this."

she stood up and resumed practice. It was the only thing that helped her ease her mind

Swoosh―! Swoosh―!

the training

was fast, extremely so. Leaving behind afterimages of herself as she stabbed, slashed, and pierced through the air. Holding her breath, she increased the pace

the pain was what helped her relieve that

for five minutes,

Clank―!

both her weapons to the floor, Emma grabbed her