Chapter 188: Innocense

Ishiki scratched the back of his head awkwardly, searching for anything he might have done to offend her.

Their last conversation had been warm, hadn’t it? He had promised they would defeat the dragon and return home. He’d patted her head and she smiled

So what—

’Ah.’

Understanding dawned slowly.

She’d probably been looking for him and maybe wanted to spend time together or needed reassurance about something. And instead of being where she could find him, he had been standing here alone, staring at cathedral ruins and planning dangerous explorations.

She felt left out.

The realization was simultaneously touching and painful. Touching because it meant she genuinely cared about him, wanted to be part of his life in whatever capacity he would allow. Painful because it reminded him of how young she really was—still capable of getting upset over perceived slights, still needing attention and validation.

He remembered that back in the clearing she used to volunteer as a bait for hunting and it never pleased him letting her take that role. But she wanted to help them all in what she could… after all she didn’t have a skill that could be used to fight.

’She’s still capable of having normal human reactions,’ Ishiki corrected himself. ’Unlike me, who’s becoming more numb with each passing day.’

He took a slow breath, then raised his hand.

Nina’s puffed cheeks deflated slightly. Her eyes tracked the movement warily, as if expecting… what? A reprimand? Dismissal?

Instead, Ishiki reached out and gently patted her head.

His palm settled on her dark hair with careful pressure—not too heavy, not too light. Just enough to convey warmth and affection without being condescending. He ruffled the long strands slightly, feeling their softness against his fingers.

Nina’s sagging expression immediately brightened. The anger melted from her features like snow under sunlight. She looked up at him with wide eyes that reflected the Silver Moon’s pale glow.

’She’s just a kid,’ Ishiki thought, something tightening in his chest. ’A kid who’s been through hell and somehow still has enough innocence left to get upset about being ignored.’

“What are you doing here?” Nina asked quietly, her voice losing its earlier edge.

Ishiki’s hand stilled on her head, then dropped back to his side. He turned to look at the cathedral ruins, considering how much to tell her.

“I’m going to explore this cathedral,” he said finally, opting for honesty. Then, before she could protest or ask questions, he continued. “Actually… I was going to look for you anyway, because I need you to help me translate some things.”

Nina’s eyes widened further. “Really?”

“Really.” Ishiki nodded slowly. “The place is likely full of documents written in the old language. The same script you helped interpret before. Without you, I’d be staring at meaningless symbols for hours.”

He paused, meeting her gaze directly.

“It’s a little risky,” he admitted, not sugar-coating the danger. “I don’t know what’s down there. Could be nothing. Still there is a chance of all this falling and then we would be buried in the rubble. So it’s up to you.”

He expected hesitation. Expected her to ask for time to think, or to request more information about the specific dangers. Maybe she would make some excuse about needing to return the vegetables first.

Instead, Nina smiled.

It was a bright, genuine expression that transformed her entire face—chasing away the shadows and fear that had become her default expression over the past days.

“I’m glad that I can be of some help,” she said with quiet conviction. Then, as if sensing his lingering doubts, she added, “And I’m not afraid because I know you’re strong.”

The words hit hard in his chest.

Ishiki’s smile faltered for just a fraction of a second as inside his chest, something twisted painfully.

’If I had been strong, ’ the treacherous voice in his mind whispered,’ I wouldn’t have watched Kaori die in front of me.

’

If he’d been faster and strong enough—

’Stop.’

Ishiki forced the thoughts down. This wasn’t the time or the place. Nina was standing in front of him with trust shining in her eyes, and he refused to let his grief poison that.

He managed to keep the smile on his face, though it felt more like a mask now.

“Good,” he said, and his voice came out steadier than he’d expected. “Then let’s go.”

Nina nodded enthusiastically, then glanced down at her basket of vegetables. “I should… probably put these somewhere safe first?”

Ishiki looked at it and looked around him to find some place to keep them. Then he found a small empty shop at some distance thought [Ghost Blade]

“There’s an empty shop two streets over,” Ishiki said. “No one is going anywhere near it… Put them in the kitchen there. We’ll come back for them after.”

’If we come back, ’a darker voice added. ’If whatever’s down there doesn’t kill us both.’

Nina hurried off to stash the vegetables, her footsteps light against the golden cobblestones. Ishiki watched her go, then turned back to face the cathedral ruins.

Now that the decision was made, now that they were actually going to do this, the dread settled over him like a physical weight.

He swallowed hard, mouth suddenly dry.

He couldn’t help but ask. ’What kind of secrets does a place like this hide?’

The question would be answered soon enough, and the longer he stared at those ruins, the more certain he became that going down there was a terrible idea.

And yet.

And yet they had no choice.

The dragon possessed one Orb and was consolidating power daily. Without understanding Aethelburg’s history, without learning the truth about the Emperor and the divine conflict that had destroyed this place, they had no hope of finding weaknesses to exploit.

No hope of ever going home.

So down they would go, into whatever darkness waited beneath the Angel’s stone feet.

Nina’s footsteps announced her return. She appeared at his side, slightly breathless from her quick trip.

“Ready,” she announced.

Ishiki looked down at her, this child who trusted him despite all evidence that such trust was misplaced. Who believed he was strong when he felt anything but. Who smiled and called him Big Brother and made him want to be worthy of that faith.

“Stay close to me,” he said quietly. “Don’t touch anything unless I say it’s safe. And if I tell you to run…” He paused, making sure she understood the weight of what he was about to say. “You run. Just run and don’t stop until you find Filch or Yuki. Understood?”

Nina’s smile dimmed slightly, but she nodded with seriousness that aged her beyond her age.

“Understood, Big Brother Ishiki.”

“Good.”

Without allowing himself time to reconsider, Ishiki turned toward the cathedral ruins and began walking up the steps. His boots crunched on broken stone and shattered tiles. Dust rose in pale clouds with each step, catching the moonlight and creating ghostly trails in their wake.

Nina followed close behind, her lighter frame making less noise but disturbing the same ancient debris.

They reached to the end of the stairs and stood in front of the broken door.

Ishiki paused at the threshold, one hand resting against cold stone.

“Last chance to change your mind,” Ishiki said without looking back.

“I’m not changing my mind,” Nina replied immediately.

’Tsk… this kid.’

But he didn’t voice the bitter thought. Instead, he summoned Aether Blade into existence.

“Stay behind me,” he repeated. “And don’t make any noise unless absolutely necessary.”

Nina nodded silently.

Ishiki took one last look at the Silver Moon. Then he stepped through the gap and into absolute darkness.

Behind him, Nina followed.

Above them, the Angel statue stood frozen in its eternal pose—arms raised toward a heaven that had either abandoned this place or had never existed at all.

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