"Why?" he asked simply.
Aya swallowed, her voice trembling, but her gaze was steady. "My father and little sister... they’re still out there. I don’t know where, but I can’t sit still. I have to try and find them."
She bowed deeply. "Please let me join your group."
Her words were quiet, almost shy, but filled with sincerity.
Julian looked at her in silence, thinking. Then, after a moment, he spoke.
"Alright. But there’s a condition. One rule before I let you in."
Aya lifted her head quickly. "I’ll do anything!" she said nervously.
Julian’s tone was calm. "You’ll have to sleep with me."
"Heeeeeeh!?!" Aya’s face exploded in red.
But before she could scream further, Clarissa raised a finger and gently used her telekinesis to clamp Aya’s mouth shut. "Shhh," she said with a soft smile. "Don’t be so loud."
Emma smacked Julian lightly on the arm. "You could at least ease into it, you know. No wonder she nearly passed out."
Julian shrugged. "She said anything. I’m just being honest."
Aya’s eyes darted around wildly, her face still crimson, then, against all expectations, she gave a shaky nod.
"I-I... I’m ready..."
Julian raised a hand. "Not now. Wait until I recover."
"Y-Yes!" she replied, bowing so quickly that she nearly lost her balance. She stumbled out the door, tripping over her own feet as she left, her flustered mumbling echoing behind her.
As the door clicked shut, Emma chuckled. "Your group’s going to get noisy."
Julian sighed, leaning back again, when Clarissa suddenly spoke.
"There’s something you should know."
He glanced at her.
Clarissa’s expression darkened slightly. "During our mission... we fought Gary."
Julian’s face tensed instantly.
"...What?"
"He and Veronica ambushed us outside Erwin’s base. But in the end..." Clarissa lowered her eyes. "He saved us."
Julian’s eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"
"Veronica lost control. She tried to use a suicide skill to take all of us with her. Gary stopped her... but the cost was his life."
The room went silent.
Julian looked down, shadows flickering faintly around his fingers.
"...That bastard..."
Clarissa and Emma looked at him.
"...He went and died... before I could get revenge."
Julian’s voice was low, almost bitter.
But behind the anger, there was something else.
Relief.
Because in truth, Julian never wanted to kill Gary. Not with his own hands. Even if he deserved it. Even if their paths had crossed in blood.
He still remembered the days when they were just friends.
Julian exhaled.
"Rest easy, Gary. That’s one weight... I don’t have to carry anymore."
-------×-------
The sunlight filtered through thin, dust-filled air as Julian walked steadily across the courtyard, fully recovered.
On either side, Clarissa and Emma followed in silence.
Ahead of them stood a reinforced chamber.
Inside, the group that had once betrayed Julian cowered together.
As the door opened, and they saw him, terror filled their eyes.
"Julian...!"
"We’re sorry! Please, we didn’t want to—!"
"It was Erwin! He forced us, we had no choice!"
Julian’s eyes were sharp, cold.
"Every time," he said quietly. "You all say the same thing. ’It was Erwin.’"
His voice tightened.
"But when you agreed to use me as bait, Erwin didn’t hold a blade to your throats."
Silence.
Only heavy breathing and trembling lips.
Julian took a step forward. "I don’t want your excuses. I don’t care about your reasons. I promised I’d repay the betrayal... and I always keep my word."
The captives flinched.
Then, without expression, Julian turned to the guard. "Open the door."
The lock clicked.
The group inside blinked in confusion.
"...You’re letting us go?"
Julian’s gaze was unreadable. "Walk. Head straight for the field."
Still confused but hopeful, they obeyed, hesitant at first, then quickening their steps as they sensed freedom.
Clarissa glanced at Julian. "You’re not actually—"
"No," he replied coolly. "I’m not letting them go."
Once they reached the center of the large training field, Julian raised a hand.
His Domination skill flared.
From the edges of the old courtyard, dozens of undead began to crawl forward, silent, hunched, and hungry.
The circle closed slowly around the confused ex-traitors.
Julian’s voice carried from a distance.
"If you make it out alive, I’ll spare you."
"What?!"
"That’s insane!"
"You’re killing us!"
Julian only stared.
"You said you wanted another chance," he murmured. "So prove you deserve one."
The screams began as the zombies advanced.
Panic. Chaos.
A desperate scramble for survival.
Julian didn’t flinch.
He watched, not just for revenge, but for something more.
Trigger...
Skills awaken under intense desire, right? Then maybe... maybe one of them—
But as he observed, nothing happened.
No sudden glow. No burst of power.
Just screaming.
Just failure.
Clarissa turned her head, unable to watch. Emma glanced at the carnage once, then followed her lead.
Julian exhaled slowly, disappointed.
"...So my theory was wrong."
He stared as the last scream faded into silence.
"No one awakened anything. They were just scared. Not strong."
But even so, he didn’t regret it.
Now, only one name remained on his list.
Julian turned his back to the field.
He looked to Clarissa and Emma, his voice calm again.
"Let’s go."
"...Where to?" Clarissa asked quietly.
Julian’s eyes darkened.
"To finish the last of it," he replied. "Veronica."
Julian stood before the heavy door, silent, still.
Clarissa and Emma watched him from behind.
"I’ll go in alone," he said flatly. "Wait here."
Neither questioned it.
Julian stepped inside and shut the door behind him.
The room was cold, dim, and empty save for one figure curled in the far corner, her once-glossy hair tangled, her proud posture now broken.
Veronica.
She didn’t even look up.
Julian stared for a moment, then took a slow breath.
"...It’s been a while."
No reply.
"I came for what I promised," he said. "To finish my revenge."
Veronica finally lifted her gaze, not with hatred, not with pride.
Just emptiness.
"...Then do it."
Her voice was dull. Dead.
"Kill me."
Julian frowned. There was no fear, no defiance.
No fight.
Just a husk.
Pathetic.
He felt nothing stir inside him.
No satisfaction.
No thrill.
"...Is that all?" he muttered. "That’s it?"
Silence.
He turned away. "You’re not even worth it."
He headed for the door.
"I’ll just hand you over to the men’s camp. Let them figure out what to do with you."
Veronica’s shoulders flinched.
She spoke, a tremble in her voice. "...Don’t treat me like an object."
Julian stopped.
Then slowly turned back to her.
His voice was cold. "That’s rich. Coming from someone who treated people like toys."
Veronica looked up at him, eyes red, but burning.
"Then just kill me already," she hissed. "Don’t humiliate me again. I’ve had enough."
"You wanted revenge, right?" she continued, voice cracking. "Then kill me. That’s what you came for."
Julian stared at her long and hard.
And then...
"No."
His voice was quiet. Unmoving.
"I’ve changed my mind."
Veronica’s breath caught.
"I want you to suffer."
Her fists clenched, trembling.
"I am suffering!" she screamed. "My skill is gone. My pride is gone! I’m nothing now!"
Julian’s eyes narrowed. "Not my problem."
Tears spilled down her cheeks. "What do you want from me?!"
"I’ve already lost everything! I don’t want to wake up anymore, I’m tired! Just... let me rest."
She broke down, curling into herself, sobbing quietly in the dark.
Julian stood in silence.