Before dawn broke, Assashin finally reached home after carrying Soma all the way from the guild to the city.

  As soon as they arrived, he gently laid her on her bed, then collapsed to the floor, dripping with sweat. The exhaustion from the previous night had completely drained him, and before he knew it, he’d fallen asleep sitting on the cold floor beside her bed.

  When Theo woke up early that morning, the first thing he saw was Assashin sleeping on the floor next to his sister.

  His eyes widened in disbelief — then his face turned red with rage.

  Without thinking twice, he leapt onto Assashin like an angry cat, yanking his hair with all his tiny strength and yelling,

  > “What the hell are you doing here, huh?! Your room’s upstairs! Why are you in my sister’s room, haaah?!”

  He smacked Assashin on the head for good measure, but then froze.

  His face suddenly went pale, his expression twisting from fury to shock.

  He turned toward his sister’s bed, whispering with trembling lips,

  > “Soma… Soma! Are you okay? Didn't my shouting wake you up?!”

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  Then he looked back at Assashin, panic rising in his voice.

  > “What happened to her… what happened last night on the mission? Tell me, Assashin!”

  Assashin glanced at the poor boy’s worried face, sighed, and told him everything — every detail of the night before.

  Theo listened in silence, then ran to his sister’s side, holding her rough hand tightly as tears filled his eyes.

  > “It’s okay, sis… I’m here now. You’re not alone.”

  Assashin stood quietly at the doorway, deciding to give the siblings a moment alone.

  But soon, Theo rushed out of the room again, returning with wet towels. He placed them carefully on Soma’s forehead — her body had grown hot, signs of shock beginning to show.

  After making sure she was settled, Theo closed the door gently behind him, turned to Assashin, and said seriously,

  > “Assashin… I know you’ve got something on your mind. Now’s the perfect time to say it. Soma won’t wake up for at least two days, maybe more. So—speak.”

  Assashin blinked, a little impressed.

  > “For a kid who’s barely five, you’re… pretty sharp, you know that? Anyway—wait, two days? Isn’t that a bit long?”

  Theo shook his head.

  > “Not really. Old man Spearhead told me she was unconscious for a whole week the first time it happened.”

  Assashin frowned.

  > “So her shock’s that severe, huh… Poor girl. Alright then, back to the point.”

  “After thinking about it carefully, I realized something—Soma having a dangerous enemy isn’t just possible, it’s very likely. None of what’s happened to us could be coincidence. It’s like there’s some unseen hand pulling the strings… luring us in. Or rather, luring her in. That’s what worries me.”

  Theo nodded gravely.

  > “Honestly, I’ve had my doubts too. But since I don’t know what happens on the battlefield, I had no proof. So tell me, Assashin—what do you plan to do next?”