"..."

In the silence, Huai Shi hesitated for a long time before reaching out and touching her hair. "I believe that in his heart, you're more important than anything else."

"Who knows?"

Lily shook her head. "Everyone's heart is hidden inside their chest, and they won't let anyone see what's inside until they're dead. Hohenheim told me to learn to protect myself, but I don't even know what I should be wary of. How can I know what others have hidden in their hearts?"

"Indeed."

Huai Shi responded dryly. He felt an almost boiling murderous intent in his chest that made him want to vomit. He felt nauseated by his own hypocrisy.

"Um, speaking of which..." he awkwardly changed the topic. "How old are you? I mean, in years."

"Um, let me think."

Lily seemed as if she hadn't paid this any mind before. She lowered her head and began to scribble rapidly in her notebook. Huai Shi leaned over to take a look, then his vision blurred.

There were various lengthy numerical calculations interspersed with simple diagrams of planetary movements. It was as if she were recalculating the calendar all over again. Was calculating one's age really this complex?

Soon, Lily finished her calculations. "Four and a half years old."

"Huh?"

Huai Shi was dumbfounded.

Four and a half years old? Are you joking, Big Sister? Even if we're different species, you should at least be an adult, right?

Huai Shi stared at her mature appearance in astonishment.

"Ah, my physique isn't quite the same as a normal person's." Lily seemed to realize something and awkwardly skirted the issue. "You, what about you?"

"I'm seventeen," Huai Shi answered.

Lily's expression immediately turned to disdain. "That's a lie! Your bone age is already thirty-eight years old!"

"...I can only say it's due to various reasons."

Huai Shi sighed, feeling as if he had sighed more times today than he had in the entire previous year.

He had no idea how to introduce himself to Lily.

After all, he was Van Essen now. Abraham Van Helsing. He was The Church's Executioner, the Vampire Hunter, the murderer who had come to kill Lily...

While he was lost in thought, he heard Lily's cheerful voice, "Look, I've finished drawing too!"

"Drawn what?"

Huai Shi looked down, then practically spat out his water.

Beneath the title page of his dictionary, there was now an incredibly lifelike drawing of a panda's head, but the facial features were missing...

"I didn't know what expression would be good to draw," Lily said, scratching her head in frustration. "It feels like no matter what I draw, it can't surpass yours."

"..."

That's because this is the crystallized wisdom from the blood and sweat of countless people! How could you possibly compare on your own? Having a sticker battle in 1620... It was a novel experience I'd never imagined.

In the midst of his muddled thoughts, he heard Lily's voice.

"Huai Shi."

Before he knew it, the girl had moved in front of him, her eyes blinking with eager anticipation. "I just had a thought: why don't we travel together after we reach the New World? After all, I have nowhere I need to go, and you don't have a place to go either, right? And I can create plasma for you, so you won't have to worry about finding food anymore."

Huai Shi stared at her blankly. I didn't know how to answer.

"Is that not okay?" Lily asked.

"No, it's fine."

Huai Shi shook his head stiffly and asked in a dry voice, "Is there anywhere you want to go?"

"Yellowstone, how about that?"

After thinking for a moment, Lily suggested, "I've always wanted to go to Yellowstone to see it. I've heard there are lots of geothermal springs, as well as lions and elephants. What about you?"

"...I don't know."

Huai Shi lowered his eyes, his voice somewhat hoarse. "I haven't made up my mind, so let's talk about it next time. I need to sleep for a while."

Lily paused, then nodded. She returned to her workbench to continue monitoring the potion's progress. But after a long time, she couldn't help but look back at Huai Shi, who was leaning against the headboard. "Did I annoy you?"

"...No."

She breathed a sigh of relief and asked somewhat nervously, "We're friends, right?"

"Yes," Huai Shi lowered his eyes, "we are friends."

"That's really great."

Lily smiled happily, like a little child. She ran over and gently hugged him. Huai Shi didn't even have time to react.

"Then get some sleep. I won't bother you anymore." Realizing her gaffe, she stepped back and picked up her dictionary. "Ahem, we'll chat when you have time."

Huai Shi looked at her blankly for a moment before closing his eyes.

"Damn it..."

The teenage girl stood with her back to him, completely defenseless. Huai Shi's hand reached into his coat, gripping the dagger's cold handle. He silently drew it out, staring at the pair of crimson eyes reflected on its blade.

Then, he tossed the damn thing aside.

To hell with The Church! To hell with Van Essen! To hell with everything! I! QUIT!

Enduring the agonizing pain of the fury in his chest, Huai Shi tilted his head back, took a long, refreshing breath, and smiled. "Lily, how about I teach you to draw a crying cat face?"

"Oh, yes, please!"

As evening approached, a commotion could be heard outside the door. After a while, someone gently knocked and asked if anyone was inside.

When they cautiously opened the door, the people outside smiled, bringing good news.

America was nearly in sight.

Thanks to the turmoil that had left so many dead, the ship's speed was unbelievably fast. Not long ago, a witch on board skilled in astrology had calculated their distance from America.

If they maintained this speed, they could reach the New World by tomorrow morning.

Everyone would be able to obtain freedom and relief.

Therefore, someone suggested having a banquet to celebrate.

At this moment, the gloomy and depressing atmosphere on the ship had been swept away. Everyone looked joyful, wearing warm smiles. Their speech was sophisticated and their manners elegant.

It was as if they had been reborn.

For some reason, a heaviness crept into Huai Shi's heart.

Yesterday's chaos and disaster seemed to have left no trace on the ship. The story continued as if nothing had happened, moving toward its predestined end.

He lowered his head and saw the end of a chapter slowly materializing on the Book of Fate: a line of bolded text.

[to be continued]

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