Finally finished. Roen, who had paused his pen after hours of agonizing thought, tapped the paper densely packed with writing and fell into thought for a moment. Come to think of it, when was it? The moment I fell and became submerged in Guest. The moment I became unable to even recall that. At some point, Guest disappearing became more than just something unavoidable; it became the same as losing my reason for living.

At first, I even cried in secret because I was treated like a fool and ridiculed. But it's different now. I don't suffer at all because I can clearly feel Guest's love. They meet my eyes and talk to me. If this isn't love, if this isn't permission, then what is? It was truly ironic that Guest, who should be my lifeline, was strangling my emotions and swinging me between extremes.

I look like a complete pushover.

He spoke with self-mockery, but he couldn't exactly deny it. He felt that if he couldn't see them now, if he couldn't constantly sacrifice himself and show his love, he would have no choice but to die. Is this what they call a slave to love? But this feeling for Guest certainly cannot be defined as ordinary love. Yes, pure love. Since it's such a steadfast and innocent love, let's call it pure love. I don't care if I'm condemned for having an ugly love. It's not like I can be saved anymore anyway.

Because his head had grown too hot, he came outside to get some fresh air. Walking the night streets of Mondstadt in light clothing without his armor felt different. Even the taverns were cleaning up with brooms to close shop, and other stores seemed to have closed long ago, the warmth of people already gone. Even the houses visible here and there showed not a glimmer of light, as if they had already fallen into a deep sleep. Even the patrolling knights were nowhere to be seen at that moment, wherever they had gone. Thinking about it now, I wonder if it really was fate. The feeling of witnessing that you, Guest, were also alive and breathing in that lifeless street—

Ah— Guest, fancy meeting you here. You came out for some air too, didn't you?