Author's Note: Sorry for the late update, I got my second jab for my vaccination today, and I feel like crap. I heard the second day is much worst, and I'm not looking forward to it at all T.T.

Cecil could still see it, as clear as day.

She could still replay that memory in her mind. Xue absorbed Isleif, and the next moment, he was on the ground coughing out blood.

For her sake.

If it was for her sake, she was truly worth everything.

However, for Cecil, there was no way she could bear seeing the person she liked very deeply, going through agonising pain just for her sake.

Once was more than enough.

She couldn't see it twice.

Is it for my sake this time around too?

Cecil stared up at Xue in the air, noticing his gaze fixated upon her, never once straying. She frowned, and she inexplicably knew.

She knew that this man was rushing to absorb Jehan for her sake as well.

"Did you hear me, Xue?" Cecil took a step forward, increasing the volume of her voice. "You can't do this again!"

Jehan was still weakened from the attack from Hana's arrow coated in light magic, and when he heard Cecil ordering Xue to stop his actions, he felt gratified.

Is she doing it...for me?

Jehan thought in an arrogant manner.

Xue finally looked away from Cecil, turning to K'xug blocking his way.

"Bring her and Hana away," Xue demanded, narrowing his eyes. "And you as well, leave and don't interfere."

K'xug raised his eyebrows.

Are you kidding? Why would I do that?

Cecil is genuinely concerned about you and wants to stop your idiocy.

I agree wholeheartedly with her.

K'xug did not move an inch, still blocking Xue's way to Jehan.

"K'xug."

The copper brown-haired man smiled at his friend, as if provoking him.

You say she is the stubborn one that won't budge once she abides to her decision.

Yet, you are exactly the same.

"Move away."

K'xug shrugged.

Xue felt irked.

"You can't absorb him!" Cecil continued screaming. "Didn't we agree about it?! You know what would happen if you absorbed Jehan!"

Xue hesitated.

I'm only doing this for you, Cecil.

I don't care what happens to me.

He gazed down at her figure that seemed so small yet so resolute. She was looking at Xue with an angry glare, and that glare somehow made his heart melt.

He knew why Cecil wanted to stop him.

"So you are stopping me again?" Xue questioned, his tone affectionate.

"You know exactly why I am stopping you!"

Hana glanced between Xue and Cecil, frowning to herself and she decided to speak up as well. "I don't know why you guys are fighting again, but Xue...just listen to Cecil!"

Unbeknownst to them, Jehan had completely misinterpreted Cecil's words with his conceited mind. He pulled his collar away from K'xug's grip as he glanced at Xue.

"Seems like Cecil hates the idea of me being absorbed," Jehan smirked through the throbbing pain on his hand. "Not only is she pretty, she can be really cute too--"

"Shut up," Xue growled out, sending an icicle to Jehan's injured hand which he barely dodged. "Don't you dare say her name or say anything about her with that damned mouth of yours."

K'xug rolled his eyes.

Meanwhile, on the deck of the ship, Cecil was constantly praying for Xue to not continue on with his silly act.

He...he still doesn't want to give up.

Why?

Cecil bit on her lower lip, becoming upset.

There's no need to go so far for me.

There's no need to...

There's really no need to!

Thus, when she noticed the tiny scuffle between Xue and Jehan, Xue still intended to fight against him...

Cecil exploded.

"Why are you such a stubborn idiot?! If you still insist on doing it, I'll..." she gritted her teeth, bursting out. "I'll hate you forever, Xue! I won't forgive you, for as long as I live!"

Hana covered her mouth in shock, looking pitifully in Xue's direction. "Poor Xue, that is the only thing he is scared of..."

Xue stiffened, his expression growing pale.

K'xug realised Xue was completely distracted, taking this opportunity to shove Xue.

"...!"

The man slipped from his spear, and his wide eyes looked back at K'xug.

His friend simply gave an apologetic smile and shrugged, destroying the ice that trapped Jehan with a strong hit as he pulled Jehan out. Without any delay, he dragged Jehan down from the air, heading towards the deck of the ship where Cecil and Hana were at.

"What the--" Jehan hissed out before he found himself restricted by K'xug.

When K'xug neared the two ladies, he tossed Jehan carelessly onto the ship. Despite being thrown recklessly, Jehan still managed to flip in the air and landed gracefully on the ship, however, he had to exert force onto his injured hand.

"Hey, you asshole! Can't you just..." Jehan yelled out, his voice trailing off when he found himself standing before Cecil. "Throw me...nicely..."

She was still dressed in her kimono and there were stray tears still clinging to her eyelashes, a woeful look on her face. Her mesmerising limpid eyes were focused on Jehan as she took a step forward, and Jehan caught a faint scent of herbs and flowers from her.

Jehan was rooted to the spot, his navy blue eyes wide in astonishment.

What I said about her being pretty was a lie.

She is beautiful.

He had been this close to Cecil once, but he hadn't noticed just how enthralling her onyx eyes were.

The memories of his original soul, Xue.

Jehan had them, but not completely.

For him, despite having memories of Hana and K'xug, he did not have any attachment to them. It was only when he noticed Cecil from afar when spying on them, he was struck by a sense of familiarity.

"What's this? Why am I feeling like that towards an unknown woman?"

"It's...itchy."

The itchy feeling intensified when he jumped into the fighting arena, coming close to Cecil. Nevertheless, he did not dislike that feeling, instead, he welcomed it.

He hadn't felt this way with anyone else before, and an unexplainable urge to keep Cecil by his side surfaced without warning. Whether it was by force or willingly, or whether she got hurt in the process, he did not care.

Someday, somehow, Cecil just needed to be on his side.

She can't be on Xue's side.

Acting on his feelings was something he never hesitated on.

He did not want to be his original host, who only started to hesitate in his actions the older he became.

That was how he was taught. Whatever he saw as his, whatever he wanted, he just had to take it away by any means.

He was confident he was strong enough to do so.

"Jehan."

She called out softly.

Ah.

The itchy feeling is back.

Jehan clutched at his chest.

He was still in deformed appearance since he had demon blood within him, but Cecil remained indifferent about it.

"Don't you know you'll be in pain as well? It isn't only Xue..." Cecil sighed out, squeezing her eyes close as a stray tear slipped out. "Ah, why do I keep tearing up..."

Jehan watched, captivated, as Cecil wiped the tear away with her palm. Her tears glistened on her palm and Jehan kept his eyes on her palm, the itchy feeling within him going to his mouth.

Without thinking, he reached his hand out and snatched her palm towards him. Cecil gasped, trying to snatch her wrist back when he tightened his grip, until the point where it hurt.

Cecil winced in pain just as Jehan leaned down, sticking his tongue out and licking at her palm where her tears stained.

Hana stumbled back in horror.

K'xug, who landed not too long ago, immediately took out his twin swords and pointed them at Jehan, looking at Cecil.

The questioning look on his face was asking what Cecil wanted him to do from now on.

Meanwhile, Cecil only felt goosebumps crawling up her arms, her eyes growing wide in disbelief.

What the hell is he doing?!

"It's salty." Jehan mumbled out, staring at Cecil with an inscrutable look.

"...of course it is."

"I thought it would be sweet."

"..."

Her goosebumps became worse.

Why would someone's tears taste sweet?!

Cecil looked at K'xug, shaking her head and gesturing for Hana to step away as well.

The two of them withdrew without any qualms.

If there was a chance she could convince Jehan to willingly cooperate and give up his powers filled with dark magic, no one had to get hurt.

She remembered Jehan's background from the novel.

Jehan was considered an evil soul fragment, but he wasn't necessarily evil.

His beliefs of wrong and right were completely twisted.

"Please let go of my hand," she stated in a lukewarm manner, trying to keep her expression neutral. "You are hurting me."

Jehan looked at her wrist, loosening his grip but he did not release her wrist.

"I don't want to let go."

Cecil did not know what expression to show, sighing again. "Alright, don't let go. Instead, Jehan, can I request something from you?"

"Okay," Jehan smirked. "After you grant my request."

"What request?"

"Can you cry again?" Jehan tilted his head, not ashamed by his unsettling request.

"...?!"

"I want to see your tears again."

"..."

"..."

"..."

The three of them were rendered speechless by his perturbing request for a moment.

"I can't do that." Cecil answered, her voice trembling slightly.

Jehan became unhappy, tightening his grip once again.

Cecil winced visibly.

"Why not?"

This crazy bastard.

K'xug withdrew his twin swords once again, dangling it dangerously at Jehan's neck. A shadow covering his face.

He must be a hidden dangerous side of Xue I have never seen before.

Hana summoned out her bow again, a rare angry look on her face. "How can you ask Cecil to cry again?! You bad man! Let her go!"

Cecil wanted to diffuse the tense situation. Alas, at that moment, AI500 decided to make a grand entrance with the most ridiculous revelation.

[ Secret Mission #9: The Arrogant and Overconfident Fighter

Objective: Help protagonist "Xue" assimilate with Jehan ]

[ You have met all the requirements for this mission! ]

[ Requirement #1: Fuel his competitive spirit to challenge Xue

Requirement #2: Touch his heart ]

"..."

"I just stood here and spoke to him. How could I have touched his heart?"

[ By crying prettily. ]

"...wha..."

[ According to his mind. ]

"Is he the sadistic side to Xue or something?!"

[ Would you like me to say yes or no? ]

"I'm not asking! And stop with the missions! How many times have I told you?"

[ ... ]

AI500 pretended to disappear once again.

Jehan, who had calmed down from the fight earlier, started to become hostile once again. He pulled Cecil close to him, his claw replacing his hand and it lingered dangerously around her neck.

"I won't let go," Jehan broke into a confident grin. "Since I decided she's mine from now on."

"..." Cecil wore a blank look on her face.

She was held hostage again.

Whereas, Xue plunged deep into the cold waters of the sea. He emerged from the water, his expression as dark as the night sky, before freezing the surface of the water in front of him, climbing onto it. He slowly started making his way to the ship, the words from Cecil repeating in his mind over and over again.

He leapt up onto the ship, seeing the same exact scene where Cecil was held hostage and his expression grew murderous.

This was the reason why.

The reason why he wanted to absorb Jehan as quickly as possible.

Just then, Xue, K'xug and Hana witnessed the shocking scene of Cecil stomping her foot onto Jehan's foot, causing Jehan to lose his grip over her. She proceeded to throw him over her shoulder, making K'xug and Hana jump back in shock as Jehan landed on the ground harshly.

"Sorry Jehan, I can't cry again," Cecil stated, her expression becoming haughty as she flipped her hair. "I promised someone I would get hurt less and treat myself better. If he saw me crying, I would be breaking that promise."

Xue had rushed over, hearing this exact sentence.

He couldn't help but break out into a smile.

Just like that, his dampened mood from earlier was gone.

"Cecil is so cool!" Hana clapped.

K'xug relaxed his stance, a small smile on his lips.

"So that request, I can't fulfill it," Cecil continued, frowning. "My request is simple, will you give up your dark magic powers willingly? You won't feel any pain this way when Xue absorbs you."

At the same time, Jehan, who laid on the ground with wide eyes, began to grin wildly. "No, I won't. Those powers are mine, why should I do that? Even all the souls are mine. And I won't be absorbed."

Cecil was troubled.

They wouldn't be able to see eye to eye.

"Cecil Lan," Jehan smirked, a hint of possessiveness in his tone. "I like you, I will have you by my side."

Since he was freed from the ice, he could reach into his clothes and procured some smoke bombs. He tossed them onto the ground and the smoke exploded, spreading rapidly.

"Watch out!"

Cecil and Hana coughed violently, covering their nose and mouths.

K'xug held his breath and shut his eyes, staying within the smoke and watching out for any sudden movements.

Jehan only took the opportunity to escape, not wanting to linger any longer since he was at a clear disadvantage.

"He's...escaping!" Cecil struggled out, her voice slightly hoarse. "I should have thrown him harder."

"Don't let that bad man go!" Hana exclaimed, still coughing. "If he escapes, he's going to hurt Cecil and Xue again!"

K'xug sliced through the smoke, using his explosive force to make it disperse quicker. He wanted to give chase, but was held back by Xue.

"Don't bother, let him go." Xue stated.

Xue did not want to chase after Jehan.

He did not feel safe leaving Cecil and the others alone on the ship. Jehan might have more tricks up his sleeve, and he might even turn back while Xue chased after him, since the man only fought to win, no matter the means.

Moreover, something else bothered him.

He grabbed Cecil's wrist gently, observing the red fingers marks on her fair skin. His eyes darkened, lifting his head up and looking at her.

Unexpectedly, Cecil was glaring back at him.

Xue flinched back in surprise.

"I really wasn't lying about what I said previously, if you had really assimilated with him." Cecil pursed her lips, her tone unhappy.

Xue felt as if something had stabbed right into his chest, his mood took a dive once again and he released his grip on Cecil's wrist.

K'xug looked at his friend, amused.

Hana was in amazement at how Xue could switch between so many moods within a short span of time.

From angry, to happy, to sad.

The power of Cecil!

Hana nodded to herself.

It was only her who could affect Xue this way.

Xue failed to control his aggrieved expression, lowering his head.

"I got it, I won't do it again," Xue said, his voice growing softer. "...I was only doing it for you..."

Hana laughed nervously, giving Xue a consoling pat on the back. "That's right, Cecil! To Xue, you are the most important in whatever he does!"

Cecil hesitated.

Xue nodded in agreement, his expression somewhat pitiful.

K'xug sighed, shaking his head. It was as if he couldn't believe that his once almighty friend was trying to act like a whiny puppy.

Meanwhile, Cecil was speechless at how Xue could make such an expression now.

"Don't be so angry at him, Cecil!" Hana beamed. "The person Xue will only like is you!"

Xue nodded without a pause.

Cecil became flustered.

That's cheating!

"Ho-how can I not be? You think I would be happy about that?" Cecil said with a hint of anger, before she softened her expression. "Nevermind that, we still need to find a way to help you assimilate with your souls that are connected with dark magic."

K'xug stood beside Xue, crossing his arms as he gestured to himself.

"Ah, K'xug is saying he has a way."

Xue and Cecil looked at K'xug in surprise.

K'xug gave an affirmative nod.

"What the...what's all the noise about?" Haru appeared out of nowhere, letting out a yawn. "Why are you guys out here?"

All of them jumped, not realising Haru had woken up.

Haru glanced around, shrugging.

"You guys must have taken care of it, huh...then I'm going back to sleep," he rubbed his eyes sleepily, trudging off. "Do any of you ever catch a break? Jeez."

***

"So, according to the owner of the auction house, that next ship that'll pass by this area is carrying the next batch of slaves to the main island ahead," Yun summarised, adjusting his glasses. "So all we need to do..."

"Is to get on that ship." Ryo finished Yun's sentence, grinning. "We'll be going back to our old disguise again, captain!"

"Get ready, you peasants!" Haru guffawed with a smirk. "Looks like we'll be stealing another ship."

Yun did not say a word, his expression appearing exhausted yet helpless as he heard Haru and Ryo motivating each other.

"Hey Kiyae, do you think Haru still remembers..." Cecil lowered her voice, tilting her head. "That this is actually an infiltration mission?"

Kiyae sighed. "Nope."

"Eh?!" Hana recoiled back in disbelief, panicking slightly. "Haru Haru forgot?!"

"Don't worry, leave it to Yun Yun," Kiyae grinned, winking. "He's more like a captain sometimes."

Xue looked at Yun, who was still wearing an exhausted yet helpless expression.

"You know, he reminds me of you, K'xug."

K'xug frowned in confusion.

"When me and that devil bastard always caused trouble," Xue mused out, gesturing at Yun. "You always looked like that."

K'xug gave Xue a deadpan.

I'm glad you know that.

Xue looked at K'xug's expression, chuckling. "Yeah, and you'll show that expression to us next."

I'm glad to know that you found it fun.

Xue started to snicker, his smile growing wider. "It's nostalgic."

It was apparent he found K'xug's misery a joy to remember.

"They'll arrive anytime now, so prepare yourselves." Yun warned.

The entire crew stood in a line, their postures ranging from relaxed, poised and nonchalant. However, all of them comprehended Yun's words well.

Moreover for Haru, Yun, Kiyae and Ryo, it was their last battle.

The day they have trained and waited for years...

It was finally here.

***

Pt. 1

《 start 》

She said she would hate me.

She said she would hate me forever.

She said she would never forgive me.

Forever.

No...

If it's something like that...

How can I go on?

《 stop 》

***

Pt. 2

《 start 》

She is not pretty.

I take it back.

She is beautiful.

Even her tears are beautiful.

I want to see them more.

《 stop 》