"Did you get them?"
The clock had just struck midnight.
Inside Oenone's room, Yinbing and Oenone stared at the monitor before them, making their final checks.
"Got them."
"How many?"
"Three."
"Everything else ready?"
"All set."
Oenone pointed toward two large crates stacked in the corner.
Through the half-open lids, they appeared to be completely empty.
"How long will it last?"
"Three days. That's the limit."
"That's enough. Have you decided on the horse yet?"
"Not yet. We're still closing the net over the next few days."
"That works. I have a recommended prey."
"You're really going to betray him?"
"He won't mind."
"Xiaobing, you're so cruel."
"It's a necessary sacrifice."
The two of them continued plotting in secret.
Meanwhile, the "prey" they were discussing had no idea disaster was quietly approaching.
Another field operation had come to an end, and the Third Squad was on its way back in triumph.
Summer had arrived.
It had been two months since they resumed regular extermination missions, and the squad's teamwork had grown increasingly seamless.
During their latest battle against a Concept: Sink demon, they had managed to kill it at the very last moment, preventing it from carrying out a suicidal attack that would have taken everyone with it.
The Third Squad no longer resembled the overcrowded unit it had been at the beginning.
Over the past two months, retirements and battlefield casualties had reduced its organization to three platoons.
Although smaller in number, the squad as a whole had become far more resilient.
It finally felt like a proper military unit.
Their recent record reflected that growth.
Across their last three extermination missions, they had suffered zero casualties.
For everyone involved, that was a victory worth celebrating.
"So what's it actually like... having a Concept?"
The question came from a young girl with bright red hair.
She was much younger than Ethel—still below the age when Concepts were known to awaken.
Anrique looked at the Concept Users around her with sparkling eyes.
"It doesn't really feel like anything."
"I never have to worry about getting thirsty."
"It's like having another comrade fighting beside you."
"It lets me kick my enemies really, really hard."
Listening to four completely different answers only made Anrique more excited.
"That's so cool! I want a Concept too!"
"When you become a Complete One, don't forget about us!"
"Who knows? Maybe you'll be the next squad captain!"
The others laughed as they encouraged her.
Among all the Force Users present, Anrique was considered the most likely to awaken a Concept.
Although Concepts generally manifested after the age of seventeen, there were also people who discovered theirs years later.
On the other hand, those who continued training relentlessly and survived countless life-and-death battles without awakening one gradually began abandoning hope.
The conditions for awakening a Concept remained unknown.
So far, however, two common patterns had been identified.
The first was through extensive training.
After mastering the use of Force, a person's Concept would naturally awaken.
Both Tia and Yinbing belonged to this category.
The second occurred during moments of mortal danger.
This was far rarer among Concept Users.
Those who awakened a Concept in the middle of battle seldom mastered it immediately.
When confronted by a powerful demon, even if they awakened on the spot, they were still highly likely to die.
Against the weaker demons found within the city, however, their chances of survival increased dramatically.
Many Concept Users in other cities had been discovered under exactly those circumstances.
That was why, after every operation against an urban demon, squad leaders always observed everyone nearby for signs that someone had begun using a Concept.
That was how Ethel had been found.
Though, strictly speaking, he hadn't awakened his Concept at that moment.
After returning to Central Headquarters, the Third Squad was dismissed.
Those not scheduled for duty the following day finally welcomed a brief holiday.
Just as Ethel was about to leave, Oenone hooked an arm around his neck.
Her other arm had already trapped Abby and Lyle in the same fashion.
"I just remembered!"
"We've all been so busy lately that we never held a get-together!"
During Tia's mandatory leave after regaining consciousness, nearly all extermination missions had fallen upon the Second and Third Squads.
Since most members of the Third Squad were inexperienced recruits, the majority of their time had been spent on intensive training while preparing the safest possible strategies for everyone's first real battle.
Buried beneath mountains of paperwork, Oenone simply hadn't had the energy to organize any gatherings.
Now, with Tia officially back in action and the Third Squad finally operating smoothly—
she could once again indulge in her favorite pastime.
"Six o'clock."
"Meet at the entrance of Central Headquarters."
There was no room for negotiation.
Having made her announcement, Oenone released the three of them.
About two hours later, the four gathered at the meeting place.
They waited for the very person who had insisted on meeting at six—
and who was now over twenty minutes late without even a glimpse of her in sight.
"Hey, Ethel."
"Do you usually listen to music?"
"No. Why do you ask?"
"Oh?"
"Oh?"
The answer instantly caught the attention of two people.
Lyle, who had been chatting with Abby moments earlier, immediately pulled out his phone.
With astonishing precision, he slipped an earbud directly into Ethel's ear.
"I recommend this one."
"It's my favorite band's song."
"It's called Rip the Demon."
An explosion of electric guitars poured into Ethel's ears, accompanied by a male vocalist who was practically screaming the lyrics.
As the song played, Lyle enthusiastically launched into an endless explanation.
He covered everything—
the band's founding philosophy...
their musical influences...
even the latest gossip surrounding each member.
By the end of it, Ethel could only turn down the recommendation as politely as possible.
"Sorry."
"I don't think this style of music is really for me."
"Fair enough."
"If you ever get interested, come find me."
Seeing Ethel's lack of enthusiasm, Lyle had no intention of forcing his own tastes onto him.
"Then what about this?"
While Lyle had monopolized Ethel's ear, Yinbing had been left standing nearby with her own earbuds in hand.
He had simply been too fast.
The moment she reached for her headphones, Lyle had already occupied Ethel's ears first.
Fortunately, it hadn't lasted long.
Soon it was finally her turn.
The moment Ethel put on the earbuds, a gentle violin and piano introduction filled his ears.
Then a woman's voice began to sing.
A legend pure as snow,26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSNEFhaUks
From ages long gone by.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFIMLCezZz
Crimson bells still ring,26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmlF3JirbD
Guarding the future that awaits us.
The melody flowed through him like a warm current.
Before he realized it...
the entire song had already come to an end.
"Well?"
"It's... pretty good."
"I knew you'd like it!"
"She's the hottest singer around right now."
"I'll send you more of her songs later."
"You're not going to refuse, are you?"
"Of course not."
"I really liked it."
"What's her name?"
"Kotoha."
"Kotoha?"
The name sounded strangely familiar.
Ethel was certain he had heard it somewhere before—
he just couldn't remember where.
Before he had time to think any further—
Oenone finally appeared.
"Sorry! Sorry!"
"I'm late!"
"Let's get going!"
Looking genuinely apologetic, Oenone hurried over and led the four of them toward tonight's destination.
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