The room was less stuffy than it used to be. The air was fresh now, drifting in calmly and quietly as though they were lounging on a beach.

However, Halo only had one major question for Jihriel. Whether more would follow depended solely on Jihriel's response.

"Tell me, what is NeverLight really fighting for? Power, freedom… or greed?"

Jihriel nodded in silence.

"That's a curious question. You're the third individual to have asked me this."

He exhaled.

"NeverLight is neither a villain's nor a hero's cohort. It consists of strong and capable individuals who come together to protect themselves, safeguard the weak, and help each other grow.

"In this world, it's every person for themselves. Even as we fight and guard the weak and naive, the core principles of this world remain unchanged. That's why in NeverLight we fight for ourselves."

Halo blinked in confusion for a moment. That didn't sound heroic at all, but rather like a self-centered person trying to twist their own motives to appear differently. But even so, he knew those words were the noblest anyone in this world could say. Jihriel still had the hero in him.

But even so, he had one more question.

"What are our plans? Remain indoors forever?"

Jihriel's expression softened.

"Not entirely. I can't reveal everything, but I can explain why we seem inactive. Aside from that, you must trust me to make decisions capable of helping us all."

Halo nodded in understanding.

"Currently, we have only two Knights in our midst. Leto and Brave became Assassins just a week ago. For our mission to proceed, one of the two remaining Knights must become an Assassin. Isaak will remain the sole Knight, as his mission lies elsewhere."

Right, Isaak was the watcher of three lands in Voiceless. Keeping tabs on those lands was his Purpose, which meant he wasn't going to become an Assassin anytime soon. Wherever their journey was going to take them, Isaak couldn't be fully included.

"Is that all that you wanted to ask?"

Halo nodded positively.

Jihriel's eyes narrowed. The calm expression from seconds ago was gone, replaced by something deadly.

"Dark Saint is around, correct? I need to speak with her."

Halo frowned.

This was bad.

Saint didn't like Jihriel. Not at all. He was the reason she'd even turned into a shadow. Now he wanted to see her?

Halo gulped.

However, before Halo could say anything, Saint took form and dropped into a seat.

Jihriel smiled.

"You look as beautiful as ever, even as a clone."

Dark Saint didn't even spare Jihriel a glance.

"Can you get this over with?"

Saint said aggressively.

"Right…

"Clearly, you aim to build an empire. In all of Voiceless, only three have ever managed such a feat. And to make matters worse, the area you've chosen is both chaotic and perilous.

"You know Halo is part of NeverLight now, and he won't take part in your path of conquest. So what's your angle? And now that your master is under my watch, I need reassurance, enough to let me sleep at night. You must prove that innocent lives won't be dragged into your bloody schemes."

Saint began snapping her fingers. It was as though Jihriel's words made her blood boil.

"Halo isn't my puppet, and he has no interest in conquest. And I don't act on anyone's will but my own. I decide who lives and who dies."

Jihriel frowned.

"Go too far, and NeverLight will stand in your way. You'll be made to face your master. Choose wisely."

"Tch," Saint said and rose to her feet before finally vanishing.

"I'm sorry about that. She can be quite the trouble sometimes."

Jihriel smiled.

"Oh, I know what she can be sometimes… poor Saint."

He turned to Halo.

"Your clones had brains?"

Shadow do Death agreed.

"I don't understand it, but I think so."

Moreover, he decided to speak on behalf of Dark Saint. He'd given her the freedom she wanted, and whether she killed the entire world to make herself happy, Halo didn't care all that much. Even so, he knew he had to accept the consequences.

"My clones act of their own will. Though they are dead, they still walk among us, and that grants them the freedom to choose. Even so, they remain a part of me."

Halo bowed his head slightly.

"If any of my clones do anything that brings shame to the NeverLight name, I'll take full responsibility."

Jihriel's expression remained deadpan. He leaned forward in his seat, his hand rising to his chin.

"You create clones of the dead, only of those you have a strong affinity with, yet you can't control them?"

Halo motioned negatively.

"I wouldn't say 'can't control them' is the right phrasing. I've never tried issuing commands like that, so I can't say. It's not my style. They're still living in their own way, and they have their own rights."

Jihriel nodded in understanding.

"That doesn't make it any less interesting."

He outstretched his hand for a handshake.

Halo frowned, confused.

"Are you sure about this, Jihriel?"

Hazard asked, perplexed. Only the heavens knew how he could see with that heavy blindfold on.

Jihriel's grin widened.

Halo didn't know what was happening, but he knew it was an opportunity to get closer to Jihriel.

Without a moment's hesitation, Halo placed his hand in Jihriel's.

"I hope we can be great friends. Your True Ability is fascinating, and I'd like to learn more about it."

Before Halo could speak, Jihriel added:

"I've heard your taste is terrible. As a token of our friendship, I'll prepare something you won't be able not to love, someday. Very soon, of course."

Halo smiled awkwardly. That overconfident attitude. Chefs had died trying to change that, and yet he spoke as though he'd already prepared something Halo would like.

"Bet. I'll be waiting for that day. But just so you know, the curse on me is pretty powerful."

Jihriel laughed venomously.

"When I'm around, even the greatest curses bow."

The two of them laughed for a moment.

"Okay, this meeting is over. See you around, Halo."

Halo gave him a gentle nod and left the room.

Right behind the door, he exhaled heavily.

"That was exhausting."

Jihriel's goal was different from the hero's goal in the game. The hero had a fixed goal from the start. Humanity needed his help, and he believed himself to be the only person strong enough to make their suffering stop.

But still, Halo knew dwelling on this was futile. He'd seen too many contradictions to expect the story to progress the same way as in the game. Jihriel wasn't looking forward to killing the gods now, and it was his job to make sure that never happened.

"Well, I need some rest."

He stretched. He needed to have a conversation with Dark Saint too.

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