Time passed quietly, with countless days and nights slipping by like fleeting shadows.
The Garganta gradually sealed shut.
Finally, Masatsuki Aozaki stepped out of the dark, damp cell.
Bambietta had paid a heavy price for her arrogance, learning her lesson through blood and pain.
Meanwhile, Masatsuki Aozaki reveled in the pleasure of acquiring a new toy. At this moment, a strange sensation welled up within him—an awareness as if "the world and I coexist, and all things are one with me."
This feeling granted him a deeper understanding of the world, making him sense an advancement in his own evolution.
As for Bambietta, her mind had gone completely blank.
Just as Roka had said, she had no resistance against Masatsuki Aozaki.
Under his relentless torment, she barely lasted half an hour before her psychological defenses collapsed. Her rationality was completely discarded, and she even became unnaturally exhilarated on her own.
Under Roka's guidance, Masatsuki Aozaki obtained the information he sought.
Most of it aligned with what he already knew from his past life, but there were still some unexpected discoveries… including certain contingency measures the Wandenreich had left behind.
Masatsuki Aozaki carried Bambietta through the cold, dimly lit dungeon, his steps unhurried.
Eventually, he stopped in front of a tightly shut cell door.
He pushed it open and, without hesitation, tossed Bambietta inside. Her eyes rolled back as she hit the ground.
With a dull thud, the door slammed shut, and the sound jolted Bambietta awake.
She groggily ran a hand through her hair, struggling to push herself up from the icy floor.
Her vision, initially blurry, gradually cleared.
The first thing she saw was a woman with long green hair.
Before her was a table laden with an extravagant feast, and she wore a smile of pure contentment—one that had no place in a place like this.
"Candice, why the hell are you just sitting here, perfectly fine, living so damn comfortably?!" Bambietta demanded angrily.
Candice, sitting cross-legged on the bed and enjoying her meal, paused mid-bite.
She scratched her head awkwardly, hesitated for a moment, and muttered, "Well…"
Her mind raced.
How was she supposed to explain this?
Should she tell Bambietta that she hadn't even lasted half an hour before spilling everything?
That she had avoided torture simply by giving in?
And that, because of her "cooperation," she had even been rewarded by the enemy?
Candice's face grew hot at the thought. Her heart pounded in her chest.
Like hell she was going to admit that!
Was she, Candice, supposed to just throw away her dignity?
Especially in front of Bambietta, the woman she had never gotten along with?
No way. She couldn't afford to lose face now.
She cleared her throat and forced a calm tone.
"Oh? Judging by your appearance, it looks like things haven't been going too well for you lately. Been through a lot, haven't you?"
Candice wore a smug expression, showing no guilt whatsoever for her betrayal.
Bambietta's face twitched slightly, a faint, unnatural blush creeping across her cheeks. She glanced cautiously at the tall man behind her, hesitated for a moment, and stammered,
"I… I'm actually quite happy… No, I mean… I'm doing just fine."
As soon as she finished speaking, she instinctively lowered her head, avoiding Candice's skeptical gaze.
Candice eyed her suspiciously, full of doubts.
Bambietta's clothes were in tatters, barely covering her at all.
How could she possibly call this "fine"?
Was she just putting on a tough front, refusing to admit defeat? That would make sense.
But then… what was with that genuine smile on her face?
There was a strange, heartfelt sense of happiness behind it.
Candice couldn't understand it at all.
Just as she was lost in thought, a large hand suddenly landed on her head, gently stroking her soft, flowing hair.
"The hell?! Which bastard dares to touch my—"
Candice whipped around in fury, ready to teach the offender a lesson.
But the moment she saw that familiar face, her outburst was cut off instantly.
"What was that? You were about to say something?"
Masatsuki Aozaki smiled, his hand still moving lazily through her hair.
"N-Nothing…"
Candice deflated like a popped balloon, bowing her head and muttering softly.
"Not just the same color… Even the texture is similar to Nel's."
Masatsuki Aozaki continued to absentmindedly run his fingers through her hair, as if savoring the sensation.
Candice's eye twitched violently.
You're touching my hair, but thinking about another woman?!
Damn it, you absolute scumbag!
She felt an intense internal struggle—should she fight back?
Every Quincy in the Wandenreich knew how much she valued her hair.
But when she looked up and met his eyes, brimming with amusement, she felt a wave of helplessness.
…Fine. Forget it.
She abandoned the idea entirely.
"You really are fierce."
Masatsuki Aozaki chuckled, seemingly unfazed by her reaction.
"Alright, enough standing around. Get ready—we're leaving soon," he said casually.
"Leaving?"
"…Wait, are we free? We can go back to the Wandenreich?"
Candice's eyes widened in disbelief.
Could it be… this guy was actually a decent person?
A surprised smile spread across her face. The despair she had been feeling was suddenly replaced by hope.
She never expected there to be a way out of this!
"Freedom?"
Masatsuki Aozaki let out a short laugh, as if he had just heard the most ridiculous joke.
"Why would I let you go? I'm just moving you somewhere else."
After all, the underground training ground was nothing more than an amusement hall—not exactly a proper place for keeping prisoners.
Leaving them here had only been a temporary measure.
Of course. He was still the same damn bastard!
Candice's hopeful smile froze, her mood crashing back down to rock bottom.
Masatsuki Aozaki watched her expression shift and couldn't help but find it amusing.
She really was terrible at hiding her thoughts.
Everything she was thinking was written all over her face.
No wonder she had only lasted half an hour against Roka…
His lips curled into a smirk as he teased,
"If I let you go now, do you even dare to go back?"
Without thinking, Candice shot back,
"Why wouldn't I dare?"
But the moment the words left her mouth, her expression darkened.
She realized—too late—how incredibly foolish her answer had been.
Bambietta, ever the opportunist, turned to her with a deadpan stare that practically screamed:
"…Are you stupid?"
Leaking Wandenreich intelligence was an unforgivable betrayal.
But even if that wasn't the issue, even mere defeat in battle was a crime punishable by death.
They had lost to Masatsuki Aozaki. If they returned, they would undoubtedly be executed.
And if the Wandenreich discovered that they had spilled classified information?
It would be far worse.
Even death wouldn't bring them peace.
They had never seen His Majesty, the Emperor, awake before.
But judging from the Wandenreich's ruthless laws, they could easily imagine what kind of ruler he was—merciless and tyrannical.
Failure meant death.
Defeat meant death.
Even standing in the Emperor's way, even by accident…
Meant death.
For traitors like them, execution would only be the beginning.
But at the same time… what was the point of hiding here, just to live a few more years?
Once the Emperor awakened… if he used Auswählen on them…
Even though they were newcomers to the Wandenreich and had never personally witnessed its power, they knew enough about its effects.
The more they thought about their inevitable fate, the heavier the weight of dread became.
Candice and Bambietta exchanged glances, their hearts sinking.