Bailu looked down at the golden liquid shimmering in her palms. She knew her time was almost up.
The number of Ethereals surrounding them had already grown beyond what Nekomiya and the Cunning Hares could handle.
Yet, she couldn't bring herself to let go.
This golden potion—the Golden Aqua—was the medicine meant to save Helen. Designed specifically to treat Ether corruption, it would quickly lose its potency without proper preservation.
Since the Hollow disaster at Lumina Square, every hospital bed had been filled. Many of those injured had Ether energy eroding their bodies from within, leaving doctors with only two grim options:
The first: amputation.
The second: long-term Ether suppression.
Suppression could sometimes preserve a limb's function, though often it was little better than amputation. Still, the key difference was hope—those who could afford to suppress Ether damage could wait for the day medicine advanced enough to heal them completely.
When Jiang Ge learned that Helen had chosen the second option, he made a decision.
He used one of his optional roles to summon Bailu, hoping she could find a cure.
But Bailu couldn't do it alone. She needed experimental data and field research inside the Hollows. So, she sought out Phaethon, who had already worked with Jiang Ge several times.
Hearing her request, Belle and Wise didn't hesitate to help. If Bailu's research succeeded, it could save countless lives in New Eridu.
And time was of the essence—every day more victims chose amputation.
Together, the three entered the Hollows to conduct their research.
After months of effort, Bailu finally created the Golden Aqua. Under the protection of Belle and Wise, she invited a pharmaceutical researcher—someone who had previously worked with Jiang Ge—to test it.
Within half a day, the researcher excitedly reported success: the Golden Aqua had completely cured one patient.
Bailu was ecstatic. Belle and Wise were overjoyed. But two days later, they received a recorded message from the researcher.
"If you're watching this," his trembling voice said, "then I'm already dead."
The Golden Aqua had attracted too much attention. A corporate spy had leaked its existence. Competing companies wanted it. Jealous colleagues plotted against him. To prevent it from falling into the wrong hands, he had destroyed the samples.
But before he died, he warned them—his death wouldn't be the end. Other corporations were already sending agents to hunt down the developer of the Golden Aqua.
That was the incident Wise once mentioned to Lycaon—the one they could never speak of again. The story about Bailu "staying over for five days" was merely a cover-up.
Later, Jiang Ge tried to deliver the Golden Aqua to Helen, only to find she had been transferred to another hospital with no trace left behind. When he contacted her, her only reply was, "I'm fine."
He thought he had wasted one of his precious opportunities, risking his own life—and Phaethon's—for nothing. For a long while, he felt crushed by that failure.
But now, everyone finally knew the truth: their efforts hadn't been in vain after all.
And then there was young Niya—so desperate to see her sister smile again that she'd been tricked into entering danger. Foolish perhaps, but all she wanted was to bring a bit of happiness to her sister.
---
[Self-selection: Dan Heng • Imbibitor Lunae!]
The Imbibitor Lunae stepped into the present world, the Golden Aqua glowing in his hand.
"I have reasonable grounds to suspect that Bailu is Dan Heng."
"Boss, why do you say that?"
"Because Bailu disappeared—and Dan Heng appeared."
"Nicole, couldn't she have called him here? Besides, their genders are completely different! But still… where did Bailu go?"
"Dan Heng said not to worry, that she's safe."
At the entrance of the Hollow, the group who had escaped sat on the ground, gazing up at the sky as Dan Heng and Niya disappeared into the clouds.
Nicole kept theorizing that Bailu and Dan Heng were one and the same, but Belle argued otherwise.
For now, though, they were just grateful to be alive.
Except—there was still one unresolved matter.
"Who are you?"
Everyone turned toward Nekomiya Mana, who was trying to sneak away. The catgirl froze, tail twitching, and turned back with a forced smile.
"M-me? I'm just a cute kitty, meow~"
"Who would believe that?! Don't run!"
Whatever awaited her next, perhaps it wouldn't be so bad after all.
---
"Thank you, Manager Wise."
By the riverside at Lumina Square, Lycaon ended his call and approached Helen, who sat quietly in her wheelchair, staring at the rippling water.
"Miss Helen," he said gently, "I'm pleased to inform you that Miss Niya has been rescued. She's on her way back."
"Is that so? That's… wonderful news." Relief washed over Helen's face. "How long until she arrives?"
"I'm not sure. The shop owner told us to wait here—he said a surprise was coming."
"Surprise?"
Before Lycaon could elaborate, something flashed across the water. A shape—massive and gleaming—sped toward them.
A dragon of water soared over the river, shimmering in the sunlight.
In moments, it landed before them and dissolved into mist, revealing two familiar figures.
"Miss Niya and… Dan Heng?"
"Sis!"
"Niya!"
Dan Heng set Niya down, and the girl immediately rushed forward—only to be caught by Helen, who firmly pinched her cheek.
"You little rascal! How could you run off somewhere so dangerous?"
"S-sorry… I just wanted to make you smile again…"
While the sisters reunited, Lycaon bowed deeply to Dan Heng.
"Thank you for saving Miss Niya, Mr. Dan Heng."
"No need," Dan Heng replied coolly, walking over to Helen.
Seeing him approach, Helen quickly lowered her head. "Thank you for saving my sister, Mr. Dan Heng."
Dan Heng raised his hand. The Golden Aqua floated into his palm. With a simple gesture, it streamed toward Helen's legs, merging into her skin.
"Wh-what is this?" Helen gasped as warmth surged through her numb limbs.
"This is Bailu's gift," Dan Heng said. "Try standing."
No one dared breathe.
Helen braced herself, pushed off the chair—and stood.
"Miss Helen!" Lycaon caught her as she wobbled. After a moment, she steadied herself and took a single, trembling step.
"I can walk… I can walk again!" Tears welled in her eyes. "Thank you, Mr. Dan Heng!"
Dan Heng only shook his head.
By then, a crowd had gathered. People gasped and pointed. "It's Dan Heng!" Phones came out to take pictures—among them, Elle and her friend.
Dan Heng noticed her, sighed softly, and beckoned.
Elle hesitated, then approached.
"The novel you had someone pass to me last time," Dan Heng said, "I didn't care for it. My relationship with him isn't… good."
Without another word, he rose into the air and began to leave.
"Dan Heng, wait—!"
Miyabi leapt from the crowd, drawing her sword. Dan Heng flicked his hand, sending a wave that knocked her aside without effort.
"Dan Heng, don't go! I… I want to—" Zhu Yuan's voice broke as she ran forward, but he was already gone.
Qingyi, arriving moments later, sighed and placed a hand on Zhu Yuan's shoulder.
The next day, magazines featuring Dan Heng sold out across the city.
---
That night, in the quiet bookstore, Jiang Ge sat on the sofa across from Helen.
"Thank you," Helen said suddenly.
"What are you thanking me for?"
"I know it was you. I don't know what your connection is with those two, but… it's because of you that I can walk again."
"Don't overthink it," Jiang Ge said with a small smile. "I'm just a bookstore owner. Let's call it a lucky day."
"Is that so?" Helen chuckled softly. "Then I'll leave it at that. By the way, didn't you once tell me you used to move bricks at a construction site?"
"I did… yeah, I remember."
After that, they dropped the subject.
They simply talked about small, pleasant things—mundane moments of peace.
Jiang Ge had no intention of taking credit. The medicine was Bailu's creation, the rescue was Dan Heng's doing. He knew his place.
When all was said and done, he was just someone who liked to stir up a little excitement in the world. Nothing more.
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A/n: While I am a new translator, I have a Patreon! While it may be a bit empty right now both this and the other book on my page has advanced chapters posted on patreon.
patreon.com/deadlygoober