Chapter 96

Extra Case File 96 Lose Much, Win Little

Cutting the cake, playing games, chatting about all sorts of surprising secrets, Hanazora with her smile had the ability to spread her joy to others’ faces.

Except for Ash.

He did not find them noisy; he just could not get used to it and was still entangled in another issue.

“Problem.”

Gently shaking the wine glass in his hand, Ash could see his serious expression reflected in the champagne inside.

Being alone and brooding heavily, he quietly leaned against the wall without joining their happy moments.

“Even after defeating that monster, there is still a more severe problem.”

Or, maybe there were multiple problems.

The more he thought about it, the more he pondered, unconsciously entering a mode of thought like “researching a library” in his memory.

Back then, when his inner self finally aligned with Hana’s, it triggered a miracle that turned the entire Vrexrobo into a golden “clear calm” before sending the world’s darkness into oblivion… It looked impressive, but the problem was exactly here.

The current issue was resolved by “Love Infinite”, but what about the future? Simply blasting everything dark away with one “I love you!” punch was not the end of it, because the angry energy still existed.

“Tch, if only things really could be solved so simply,” he muttered.

Based on Hana’s observations and the descriptions of an old man named Traum, Ash finally understood the nature of this world’s “angry energy.”

Opposite the “prospects of the future” represented by Hana’s use of the “tomorrow energy,” was the symbolic “stagnation despair” embodied by the “angry energy.” But this “angry energy” wasn’t the existence of any particular person or object; it can’t be dealt with simply by attacking it once.

Where there is light, there is also darkness; this is an unchanging truth.

In this world, the truth is even more so— one side grows strong, and the other secretly accumulates power, forever in a cycle where neither side can annihilate the other completely. This is the rule of balance between light and dark in this world.

“Compared to the dark energy, this thing is more like a natural disaster such as a severe storm… ah.”

Didn’t I say something like this before?

In the strange logic of this world, negative emotions produced when people hesitate accumulate “angry energy”… yes, currently I might be secretly aiding such accumulation.

“Tsk, indeed!” Ash’s lips curled into a sinister grin. “At that time, I should have studied that guy more thoroughly to find the ‘weakness’ of angry energy!”

Thinking of Aratai, who claimed himself to be Hana’s future “husband” and seemed controlled by the angry energy, Ash erupted with anger at the thought.

At the time, saving Hana was the top priority for him, and there wasn’t even a fleeting moment to consider him.

“You keep saying you came to save Hana… Then why the hell don’t you actually do something?”

Other than being a riddle to oneself and suffering silently, the only answer he could draw was reversing the effect of the angry energy, making this empathetic creature stop, thereby halting the whole world?

Your way of saving her is to destroy her protected world? Even a priest wouldn’t approve of such an unreasonable method!

Just look at yourself! What you’re doing isn’t real saving at all!

“If I search for him now… damn, it seems he has run back to the future.”

Angry silently, Ash held a wine glass and moved stealthily like a ninja, avoiding detection while deeply contemplative, though he was one of the main characters at the party, he sat in a corner almost unnoticed on a plastic stool.

“The absence of Final Monster recently is not a sign of a happy ending after everything is over, but rather proof that it’s secretly gaining strength in the darkness!”

When the right moment comes, this enemy will plunge Hana back into battle; if this continues, only the two of us will eventually… No, was I even by her side at that moment?

Thus, the problem is not how to solve it.

The problem is how I can make Hana live better.

“Ash?”

Despite it being a time for happiness, Ash couldn’t enjoy it because thinking too much made him feel increasingly uneasy. Even as Hana approached and called his name from beside him, she couldn’t break his meditation.

“My question…”

As far as we know, even if darkness does not affect my body after that day, the shadows from the past will catch up with me and take me away sooner or later. Even I don’t know if I’ll get another chance to see Hana.

“Hana’s problem…”

For her, it’s like running and bleeding at the same time, a marathon. If she wants to protect the world, she must fight, enduring endless battles without rest, alone. Going on like this, she’ll collapse along this path of justice without even needing an eternity.

“It’s the worst.”

There is no magical snail to provide a solution right now because darkness’s power that brings these troubles cannot be escaped. It is all darkness…

Darkness…

“Yes—!”

Hana, observing Ash’s frown, was startled by his suddenly widened, alarmed eyes.

“Symbols of human stagnation and negative emotions…”

Entities chosen by the angry energy to control and act as “spokespersons”…

Just like me, carrying all defeated enemies’ grudges as the “dark echoes”…

There is a connection between these existences!

“Blooms of brain cells!”

These paths instantly appeared before Ash, like roads that barely qualify as paths.

Bubbles rising from the bottom of his cup exploded in the reflection, distorting another version of himself who seemed self-asking.

“So, what are your plans?”

“There’s no ‘happy ending’ option available; we can only choose between ‘bad’ and ‘worse.’”

“So, what is your choice?”

That’s right.

Sometimes choosing on life’s path is not about finding the right answer in the choices, but deciding how much you lose.

“My goal.”

Has always been just that one.

“What goal?”

Wild Flower’s face close to the reflection of the bubbles rising from the champagne in the golden liquid beside Ash.