Mister Zero, Her Story: Chapter 43 – Remnants of a Bygone Era
Dawn had nine Misters.
Of the nine, only one remained.
This was common knowledge.
But few knew that these nine Misters were all “Demonically Infected,” possessing incredibly powerful demonic abilities.
And these demonic abilities brought not only power, but also… an unknown terror.
A terror more horrifying than death…
None of the eight deceased Misters had died of natural causes.
Some fell under the demon’s control, becoming Devil’s Apostles and being slain by humanity at great cost. Others, unable to bear the torment of their demonic powers, chose to end their own lives. Still others, losing control completely, were exiled to the Endless Wasteland…
The few Misters whose bodies remained were sealed in “Ice Coffins,” preserved in Dawn’s only mega-city, “Dawn City.”
But then, “Dawn City” was struck by an unimaginable cataclysm.
Thanks to Nine’s foresight, most of Dawn’s members evacuated before the disaster, but several “Ice Coffins” were lost.
Among them were the remains of the most respected, the “Eldest Mister.”
Some of the lost “Ice Coffins” found their way to various mega-cities, falling into the hands of the Free Federation, who then developed the “Ice Coffin Weapon.”
—This was why Dawn hated the “Ice Coffin Weapons” so much.
Because among the bodies used as weapons by the Free Federation were their brothers and sisters, their parents and ancestors.
For years, Dawn had been searching for the lost “Ice Coffins,” especially the Eldest Mister’s remains, but to no avail.
Of course, Dawn kept this matter secret, known only to a few high-ranking Cadres.
Alyxsia and Grifres hadn’t expected to find the Eldest Mister’s “Ice Coffin” in Yan City…
“Mister, why didn’t you tell us about this?” Alyxsia asked gravely.
Grifres also looked at Mister questioningly.
“Why…?”
Mister murmured, his mind drifting back to a few days ago.
Unable to suppress his longing, he had risked visiting the “Wall of Resentment,” to see his sister one last time.
—The risk wasn’t being discovered by Yan City, but by his children.
He hadn’t visited the Wall since arriving in Yan City, afraid that Grifres and Alyxsia would discover the Eldest Mister’s remains.
He wanted his sister to rest in Yan City, her unfulfilled wish, the hometown she had never returned to.
If Grifres and Alyxsia knew, they would try to retrieve her remains and bring them back to Dawn, going against his wishes.
But they had found out anyway.
“If Alyxsia hadn’t planted a tracking device in your clothes, we wouldn’t have known…” Grifres said gravely.
“We approached Yan City’s ‘Wall of Resentment’ and detected the Eldest Mister’s ‘Ice Coffin’ signal.”
Alyxsia held out an ice crystal ring, a key to the “Ice Coffin,” also capable of sensing its aura.
Of course, it wasn’t the original, but a replica created by Dawn to search for the Eldest Mister’s remains.
“The ‘Ice Coffin Weapon’ Yan City used during the ‘Ghost Town’ incident… was the Eldest Mister, wasn’t it?” Grifres continued, his voice filled with barely suppressed anger. “The Eldest Mister, who should be resting peacefully… used as a weapon!”
Frick had recognized her using “Noah’s” database.
But within Dawn, due to Mister’s deliberate secrecy, the Cadres didn’t know much about their Eldest Mister’s abilities.
Mister remained silent, but his silence was also an answer.
He knew his sister wouldn’t mind.
And neither did he.
If, after his death, he could still save others, what did it matter if he was used as a weapon?
Weren’t the Free Federation’s “Slumberers” also weapons?
Humanity’s survival in the New Era, the continuation of their flickering flame, was due to these sacrifices…
Of course, the “Ice Coffin Weapon” wouldn’t be used outside of disaster events; this was the agreement between Mister and the Twelve Saints.
Or rather, a compromise.
But Mister couldn’t say this.
Because the children wouldn’t understand.
The current generation of Dawn and the Free Federation hadn’t experienced the horrors of the transition between the Old and New Eras.
They saw the world differently.
“Now, this old man… seems out of place…”
…Dawn was becoming less and less like a family, and humanity seemed to have lost its unity.
Mister knew he couldn’t change the children’s minds; he could no longer guide them.
This world was becoming increasingly unfamiliar, everything changing.
In this rapidly changing New Era, only he, this “Mister,” remained stuck in the past.
He was a remnant of a bygone era, unable to board the ship of the new age.
“Do what you must,” Mister whispered, his head bowed slightly.
“Mister…”
Alyxsia wanted to say something, but Grifres stopped her.
“Grifres?”
Alyxsia frowned. She wanted to ask more about the Eldest Mister’s remains.
But Grifres knew Mister wouldn’t answer.
He now understood why Mister had chosen to spend his final days in this obscure, newly established mega-city.
But he couldn’t understand why.
“We will retrieve the Eldest Mister’s remains,” Grifres said gravely, each word deliberate. “This is the shared wish of all Dawn’s brothers and sisters.”
…But not Sister’s wish, not our wish.
Mister didn’t speak further. He stood up shakily.
Under the watchful gazes of Grifres and Alyxsia, he walked unsteadily to the window and looked out at the bustling city, lost in thought.
How long had it been since he had seen such a prosperous scene?
He couldn’t remember…
For some reason, he recalled the silver-haired girl he had met a few days ago.
Her image kept appearing in his mind, her face obscured.
He had never clearly seen Luo Yan’s face.
He had been drawn to the “aura of Envy” in Spring Breeze Pavilion, and when he slowly opened the door to the VIP room…
He had seen a serene, silver-haired figure sitting quietly on the sofa.
Pure, clean, untainted.
…As if she didn’t belong to this world.
Like… the figure he had been searching for for a thousand years, yet could never reach.
That’s why he had told the silver-haired girl that she reminded him of an old friend.
Unfortunately, she wasn’t.
Mister’s senses were never wrong; she wasn’t the one he was looking for.
However, perhaps because they were both “Demonically Infected,” she had left a strangely deep impression on him.
“Perhaps it’s fate… I’ll go see her one last time before I go.”
Seeing that Mister was no longer paying attention to them, Grifres and Alyxsia exchanged glances and quietly left the room.
Now that they had informed Mister, it was time to act.
And it wasn’t just Grifres and Alyxsia who were planning to act. More Dawn Cadres, upon receiving the news, were converging on Yan City.
To retrieve the Eldest Mister’s remains… even if it meant open war with Yan City, or even the Free Federation, Dawn would spare no cost.
…
Yan City was in turmoil, hidden currents swirling beneath the surface.
A storm was brewing, about to erupt.
But this seemed to have little to do with Luo Yan.
Or rather, it was related, both directly and indirectly, but for now, she was out of the game.
After suppressing the stirrings of “Death,” Luo Yan wheeled herself out of the fitting room.
Anna was waiting expectantly in the main room, while Hua Qiling frowned, lost in thought.
“Lady Luo Yan, let me help you!”
Seeing Luo Yan emerge, Anna rushed over and took the handles of the wheelchair.
“Thank you,” Luo Yan whispered, then noticed Hua Qiling’s unusual demeanor. “Hua Qiling, what’s wrong?”
Hua Qiling snapped back to reality and shook her head.
“Nothing, I just felt… unwell for a moment… a familiar feeling, but I don’t know why.”
“Eh, I also felt something strange just now,” Anna said. “Like a sudden chill.”
It seemed they had been slightly affected by the stirrings of “Death.”
But even Anna seemed fine, so it shouldn’t be a big deal.
Luo Yan nodded thoughtfully, but a hint of worry appeared on her face.
Although the effect was minor, it was a bad omen.
If this continued, losing control was only a matter of time.
“Don’t worry, it’s nothing,” Anna said confidently. “With you two here, and the other powerful people from the Disaster Response Department, what could possibly go wrong?”
The one who could cause problems is right here…
But Anna’s words weren’t entirely unreasonable. In her mind, the strongest people in Yan City were all here.
Even a terrifying Devil’s minion could be defeated.
But Luo Yan knew that an even greater threat loomed.
Even the “Witch of Envy’s” will fragment, which she had defeated several times, still cast a shadow over Yan City.
And there were other, more troublesome matters…
Luo Yan knew this was far from over.
“Lady Luo Yan needs to relax today, no more frowning!” Anna said, puffing out her cheeks at Luo Yan’s serious expression.
“Smile, be happy, Lady Luo Yan! Girls look more beautiful when they smile!”
“Smile…” A shadow of sadness flickered across Luo Yan’s face, then she smiled faintly. “Yes, I know how to smile.”
The rare smile captivated Anna.
“Hee hee, Lady Luo Yan looks best when she smiles…”
Anna wiped a bit of drool from her lip and pushed Luo Yan’s wheelchair.
“Let’s go! You’re finally taking a break, Lady Luo Yan can’t be unhappy!”
She excitedly wheeled Luo Yan out of the shop, locked the door, and was about to leave.
But then, Anna felt like she had forgotten something.
But what could she possibly have forgotten, besides the shop?
And no matter how important it was, it had to wait. Today was all about spending time with Lady Luo Yan!
Anna’s request for “A Day with Lady Luo Yan” wasn’t entirely selfish.
Luo Yan had been visiting the shop occasionally, and Anna often saw her.
But every time, Lady Luo Yan’s expression was serious, and when alone, she would look heartbroken.
And then, Lady Luo Yan had been seriously injured during the Flower Street incident.
While unconscious, she had constantly frowned, her lost and sorrowful expression heartbreaking to see.
So, Anna had decided to make Lady Luo Yan truly happy, even if only for a single day.
With this thought, Anna excitedly pushed Luo Yan’s wheelchair and left the shop.
…However, what Anna had forgotten wasn’t a thing.
It was a person.
Hua Qiling stared resentfully at the empty shop and the locked door.
She had only been dazed for a moment, and Anna had already wheeled Luo Yan out, locked the door, and left.
“Completely forgotten…”
Hua Qiling chuckled wryly, but she didn’t chase after them. She hadn’t planned on joining them today anyway.
Even Anna, who only saw her occasionally, could tell that something was wrong with Luo Yan. How could Hua Qiling not know?
But neither she, nor her position, could help Luo Yan.
And there was another reason why she hadn’t planned on joining them.
Hua Qiling looked down at her communicator, her expression turning serious.
“The repercussions of the ‘Ghost Town’ and ‘Flower Street’ incidents… are far greater than we imagined…”
A report from Li Ping was displayed on the communicator.
Since the “Ghost Town” incident, there had been over a dozen demon-related disaster events, both large and small.
And not just Red Butterfly’s doing.
There were now many Devil’s minions in Yan City, drawn by the aura of the “Witch of Envy,” just like Red Butterfly.
“This is troublesome…”
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