Chapter 235

Chapter 235 — Different Paths

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Mountain Rabbits were not easily stirred. Not because they lacked hope, but because they had been weighed down for far too long.

Shortly ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍after Marik and the others had departed, they restricted their activities to the eastern reaches of Astria. It was because Volga believed Calix would return. But the rest, aside from him, kept their distance while pretending to respect that belief.

There ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍he goes again.You have to let go of people who've left.

In ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the meantime, their reputation had been reduced to nothing but a hollow shell.

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍name "Mountain Rabbits" still carried weight in eastern Astria, but in every other region, it had slowly lost its luster. Growing their numbers back to the hundreds, as they once had, was something they didn't dare dream of.

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍caliber of new recruits fell below expectations, and food and funds were scarce. It was not outside pressure but internal conflicts—large and small—that eroded their cohesion.

All of it had unfolded after Calix disappeared.

Then one day, word came that Marik had settled somewhere. Naturally, among the veteran mercenaries, voices rose to head north. As long as they reached Elvra, making a living would be no trouble.

The Mountain Rabbits were exhausted.

The words Calix will return had been spoken too many times, too often. They had crumbled just as many times as they had heard it. Some had screamed that a corpse couldn't come back. Others had declared it finished, since they'd already held a funeral.

That was why.

When Calix appeared before their eyes, not everyone could cheer.

It was unmistakably Calix. The smooth features, the solid build, that distinctive air about him.

And yet, at the same time, something was off.

He didn't smile easily. When his name was called, his response was slow. Even while mingling among the Mountain Rabbits, he always stood one step apart. It was the same after battles were over, and the same when they were cleaning up afterward.

"……He's definitely Calix, but." "He's a little different from before, isn't he?"

Murmured whispers passed back and forth.

Volga pretended not to notice those glances. No—he noticed them, but simply didn't let them bother him. For him, the fact that Calix had come back was more than enough. It didn't matter whether his memories were whole or not. That he was alive. That he answered when spoken to, and was standing here with them right now. That was all.

"Don't doubt him. You'll know in time anyway."

Volga said it plainly.

"That guy was always like this. He proved himself through results, not through the process."

The Mountain Rabbits didn't argue. They had already witnessed the impossible become real.

And after a few days, the awkwardness gradually faded.

The group naturally became one. Whether riding on horseback or navigating by starlight, Calix adapted with ease, without anyone having to show him.

"Didn't he say he had no memories?" "Seems like his body remembers."

Volga didn't stop the newcomers from whispering. He simply watched Calix from a distance. He sat beside the campfire wrapped in his robe. Every time the flames lit his face, a familiar shadow seemed to overlap with it.

It was still only half a reunion.

But Volga knew.

He just needs time.

And when that time came to an end, Calix would come to understand who he was.

"Captain? Where do we head now?" "North. We're going to Niboria."

Even if his friend's memories never returned, it didn't matter. Before memory ever could, the road itself would carry him there.

The road heading north was nothing like drawing a line across a map.

Borders had collapsed, and the boundaries of kingdoms existed in name only. It wasn't one nation but the entire continent that was seething. Nobles had turned on each other, and brigands had burrowed into the cracks between them. The problem was that there was no way to tell which side were the brigands.

The Mountain Rabbits cut across that land.

Outright confrontations were rare. Volga drew a clear line between when to fight and when to retreat. He rerouted their path several times a day, and never retraced the spot where they had camped the night before. Supplies were sourced locally, but never taken beyond what was needed.

"We pass through here as is."

Judgments were brief, and decisions came even faster. The responsibility always fell to Volga.

"……What do you think, Calix?" "……." "I learned all of this from you, you know."

Even amid all that, he would ask his friend's opinion. Not so much because he was genuinely curious, but in hopes it might help Calix's memories resurface.

Once, they were ambushed on a narrow mountain path. A group numbering in the dozens blocked the road ahead and tightened a net from behind. A few of the newcomers went rigid and held their breath, but Volga didn't let a single moment of hesitation show.

"The front is a decoy. We break through the rear."

The moment the order fell, Zahira and Kotchap moved. Romance took up his shield and planted himself at the center of the mounted formation, while Volga went in last—but deeper than anyone.

The battle didn't last long.

He took the point where the enemy had committed their strength and broke through it in reverse with a small mounted unit. The brigands felt the gap in power at first contact and turned their backs, and their leader had his throat cut in a single stroke.

The Mountain Rabbits did not give chase. They stopped at disarming them, breaking knees, and extinguishing any will to fight. Those who fled would never return. Like survivors of something they'd barely escaped, they would spread exaggerated tales.

It's not worth it to pick a fight with the Mountain Rabbits.

That one rumor was enough.

Calix had watched the whole thing unfold.

Volga didn't draw his sword rashly. Even in moments that looked like crises, he stepped back and read the situation first. Where was the center of the battlefield, and when would the balance tip. The one making those calls was always him.

And those calls had never once been wrong.

"Mountain Rabbits……"

Calix finished the thought in his mind.

The Mountain Rabbits as they were now were Volga's mercenary band.

They were not a group gathered beneath the shadow of a hero as they once had been. They did not fight by borrowing someone else's name. Volga made decisions from the front, and he was prepared to bear the weight of failure.

That was why even the newcomers didn't waver.

Calix held the hazy fragments of a past he barely remembered up against the figure before him. He may not have shone among heroes, but this man was, without question, one of the rare few with true strength.

Perhaps he had only now found where he truly belonged.

"He really is a hero, I'll give him that. The way he handles that greatsword is something else. And everyone follows orders without a word of complaint."

Gajit seemed to share the same thought. But for some reason, the color drained from Calix's face.

After that, they passed through yet another city. There were guards atop the walls, but their eyes looked no different from a brigand's. Of three checkpoints, they fought their way through one and bribed their way through two. Volga avoided unnecessary confrontations, and the Mountain Rabbits followed in silence.

Around then, Calix quietly opened his mouth.

"Volga." "Yeah?" "You've already……found your path."

He wasn't unaware of what his friend's heart held—

But it was undeniably a path that had no need for Calix.

A border city between Astria and Niboria.

The fortress walls positioned near the mountain range were lower than expected. From a distance they held a certain dignity, but up close, crumbling sections were visible everywhere.

The Mountain Rabbits entered the walls before sundown. The scene inside wasn't much different from outside. Shops had their shutters down, and armed forces roamed the streets. Guards and mercenaries alike sized each other up with sharpened eyes.

After Volga had arranged their camp, he called Calix aside.

"About what you said earlier."

It was well away from the firelight. There was no sign of anyone else nearby.

"That I'd found my path." "……Yes." "What did you mean by that?"

Volga didn't press him. He simply wanted a straight answer. So he didn't avert his eyes or choose his words carefully.

Calix looked toward the interior of the fortress walls for a moment. From within the darkness came sounds of shouting and laughter tangled together. The rolling of a shattered bottle, a scream—loud but brief. A familiar scene.

"A memory resurfaced."

Calix said.

"Reclaiming the glory of the past……would mean being drenched in blood."

Volga's eyes narrowed.

"Who said anything about reclaiming past glory? I'm just——" "Volga, we have brought order to the chaos of the world before. To do that, someone has to dirty their hands with blood. A great deal of it."

Volga said nothing. He understood the meaning behind the words. He had simply looked away from what that choice would bring.

"Don't come looking for answers in me."

Calix added quietly.

"The Mountain Rabbits now—they follow you."

At those words, a bitter smile nearly formed at the corner of Volga's mouth. But the corners of his lips never rose.

"And what about you?" "I……"

Even under his friend's desperate gaze, the young man slowly—shook his head.

"I don't feel the need to walk the same road."

It was a resolute statement. Rather than a refusal or drawing of a line, it was closer to a plain declaration that he was already looking somewhere else entirely.

"I've already seen where that road ends." "……" "I have no desire to walk it again."

Volga was silent for a long while. The laughter drifting over from the campfire felt unusually distant.

"So it's each to their own path." "Yes. Most likely."

Calix watched his friend's face flush.

Was he angry that all that waiting had amounted to this?

But it had to be said. Out of respect for him, he refused to cover it with a lie. He had spoken the uncomfortable truth and made his intentions clear.

Then, Volga let out a short exhale.

"Let's talk about it again later. Whatever the case, you coming back means a great deal to me."

Calix didn't answer. They stood side by side for a time, then drifted off in opposite directions. It was too soon to call it a farewell, since they hadn't actually parted yet. But to call it companionship felt wrong too, when they were both looking somewhere different.

Perhaps their paths had been diverging long before either of them had realized.

Calix walked alone into the alleyways of the city.

The streets were narrow, and the ground was a mix of refuse and filth. But his heart was more tangled than any of it. His memories were faint, yet emotions crashed over him like waves and threw his mind into disarray.

Affection and lingering attachment toward those bonds were all running together in a single current.

Even so, nothing changes.

It was precisely then.

A man burst out of an alley clutching a loaf of bread. He was an old man dressed in rags. He stumbled along on a bad leg and collapsed before he had even taken a few steps.

"You thief!!"

The shopkeeper who had chased after him raised a club. The old man cried out and curled into himself. The bread had fallen to the ground, but his eyes held no interest in the food.

"If you were going to steal, you should've been ready to pay the price when caught!"

The club rose again.

At that moment, Calix stepped in between them. A single gesture, and the club froze in midair. The shopkeeper flinched and glared, but the instant their eyes met, his mouth snapped shut. He couldn't explain why he took a step back. It was an instinctive aversion.

"You've recovered your bread. Go back inside."

At those words, the shopkeeper cursed under his breath and retreated. The old man sat on the ground for a while, gasping for breath. Calix reached into his pack and placed dried fruit beside him. Only then did the other man raise his head.

Unfocused eyes, tangled hair. His face was mottled with bruises. He looked at Calix's face, and his lips began to tremble all of a sudden.

"You……"

The old man's eyes went wide.

"You are——!"

He thrashed trying to rise, only to sink back down. Yet his voice rang out loudly all the same.

"It's me! It's me! Nilo! The one who attached the early-model Neural Accelerator to the back of your neck——!" "……" "I'm the one who made you!"

Indeed.

Calix's biological father——it was Nilo.