"I couldn't evacuate until I had taken all of my equipment with me. B-but by the time I was ready, everyone else was gone.."

Ana told me the funny story of how she had been left behind by her coworkers—many of whom were most likely her subordinates.

In a huge factory like this, there were bound to be many ground workers, and then there were the superiors who handled the more complex matters. The fact that she had her own workshop, as well as projects that she had deemed worth saving.. That meant she was someone pretty high up.

'She'll be useful.' I smiled to myself.

"I-I'll do anything! Please just spare me. I.. I have a dream I must attain at all costs.."

People would say anything to escape harm—especially something as grave as death. Ana could easily tell me anything to prevent me from killing her.

Still.. I wanted to hear what this dream was.

"Tell me your dream."

"W-wha.. uwaaa.. I can't.." She covered her face, blushing even harder than ever before.

Why was she blushing when she was in danger? Was she really feeling embarrassed in such a tense moment? It had been a while since I had seen my world's Ana get flustered like this around me.

She seemed all grown up now.

'Well, except when she's with Kuzon. Those two act like children all the time.' I nearly sighed.

This whole thing just reminded me of how much I missed my old world, and how concerned I was about the ones I got separated from.

"Speak." I deepened my voice in order to pressure Ana to reveal her dreams.

I didn't have all day and neither did she.

"W-well.. I.." Her expression slowly started to fall. The cute and flustered Ana slowly vanished, and her bright blue eyes darkened very fast.

"I.. want to have revenge. My parents and eleven siblings were all killed thanks to Jared Leonard. He took everything from the Fredericks, just because we never sided with his cause. He made my family an example to everyone else who thought of rebelling." Her tone was sullen, and I could feel my heart twisting just from hearing that.

"I wasn't home when it happened. I had to change my identity and my name. You called me Anabelle, but my new name is Liliana. Anabelle is the name I discarded, just so I could blend in and stop this monster." She clenched her fist, and I could see the frustration on her face.

Using Magic, I could also see that she was telling the truth. It was both sad and relieving, to hear her story. It turned out Ana wasn't a bad person here.

Still, something bothered me about the entire narrative.

"Didn't you look up to Lewis Griffith's exploits?" I asked, rubbing my chin.

"H-how do you know that?" Her cute eyes widened in response to my words. "I.. never told anyone."

"I just do." That was my response.

As someone with a higher position of power, I didn't have to answer her question. Besides, if she ended up being an ally, she would eventually find out the truth about me.

"I indeed admired Lewis Griffith. It wasn't for his malevolent acts, though. I admired his Magic Genius, and so I began applying myself ever since I was young. Using everything, from knowledge to the practical use of Magic.. I strived to reach his level."

So, in this world, Ana actually started using Magic at a young age. That was a relief to hear.

"But, after his return.. when Jared Leonard's army killed my family and he proclaimed himself the reincarnation of Lewis Griffith.. I was appalled."

It seemed Ana didn't know too much about the atrocities that Lewis Griffith committed in his past life. She probably didn't know about the Demon extermination incident and the fact that this world's Lewis intentionally caused the extermination of two entire races.

It took the death of her entire family to despise him.

"What of the Helmsworths? The Netherlores? The Crimsons? What happened to the other Noble Households?"

If perhaps they had rebelled or joined his side, I could find a way to sift through the people I knew, and the people that would mean trouble.

"Jared Leonard collapsed the entire nobility. The Netherlores fiercely stood against his rise to power, especially after he took over Ainzlark, but they were met with destruction. The other three major Noble Households joined forces and went up against Jared, but they all suffered the same fate."

As it turned out, this world's version of me was so brutal that he even killed his new parents with his own hands.

'What in the world..?'

I was already beyond stupified. However, I couldn't show Ana how flustered I was.

"Well, I believe you. I choose to believe you, Ana." I moved closer to her, patting her head. "Don't worry, I won't kill you."

A smile formed on my face as I watched her blush and nod gently. She really was incurably cute.

"In any case, we should get out of here." Drawing her little frame to myself, I carried her in my arms.

'She's lighter than I expected. Has she been eating well?' I asked myself.

My world's Anabelle was definitely heavier. Or.. perhaps, was she just eating too much? Ah, this whole thing confused me every single time.

"W-where are we going?" Ana shrieked, asking me with a flustered face. Honestly, just watching her act this way was well worth it.

eaglesnov?1,сoМ "To the Outgroup. Surely, you've heard of them."

"Y-yes. An elite, mysterious force that fights against injustice and for the sake of the people. B-but no one knows where.. no.. don't tell me.. you're one of them?!"

Well, I wouldn't exactly call myself an Outer. However, Ana was blushing so hard already, and I could see glimmers of stars in her eyes.

How could I let her down now?

"That's right. I am an Outer." I smiled wryly.

"Whoah!!! That's so cooooo—"

Before she could say any more, I accelerated my body with Light Magic, coating the both of us in Aether.

>WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHH!!!<historical

In no time, we were out of there.

*

*

*

[A/N]

Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, occasional giveaways, and many more.

Here's the link.

https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh