— “Orion, what do you think about going to see Asuna?”

Orion raised an eyebrow.

— “Asuna? Oh, right… you want me to get to know her before we head to Japan, don’t you?”

Chloe smiled and nodded.

— “Exactly. Besides, it would be good for you to meet her properly since we’ll be traveling together.”

Orion paused for a moment, then asked:

— “Wait… Japan, is it far?”

Chloe laughed, her soft laughter echoing through the room.

— “More than a day by plane, yes.”

Orion grimaced.

— “Then I’d better meet her now!”

They left the apartment, heading toward an abandoned government bunker. Its entrance was sealed with a glowing magical sigil. Chloe looked at Orion and shrugged with a confident smile.

— “I’m the best seal-user in Europe. Did you really think I’d leave her here without proper protection?”

Orion couldn’t help but be impressed.

— “That’s… impressive.”

Inside, the bunker’s atmosphere was dense, though unguarded. And then, at the far end, Orion saw her.

When Asuna appeared, he froze. His golden eyes widened, and a thought echoed in his mind:

“Is this really the same girl I rescued from the church’s grasp? She looks like an entirely different person… she’s… beautiful.”

Asuna stood tall, her long black hair cascading down her back. Her blue eye gleamed like a clear sky, her presence radiating a serene beauty unlike anything Orion had ever seen.

Chloe stepped forward, introducing them.

— “This is Orion. He’s the one who saved you from the church. He’ll be helping you return home.”

Asuna, with a sincere smile, approached and bowed her head slightly.

— “I… I don’t know how to thank you. You saved me.”

Without hesitation, she moved closer and wrapped him in a hug. Orion, surprised, stood still at first—but then slowly returned the embrace, an unfamiliar sense of comfort washing over him.

Taking in her gentle fragrance, Orion arched a brow.

— “Why do you smell so good? And… why is there so much food here?”

Chloe laughed, folding her arms.

— “Did you think I’d leave a woman here without the basics? I brought clothes, food, and everything else she needed.”

After the heartfelt meeting, the group left the bunker and returned to Chloe’s apartment. The atmosphere felt calmer—until Chloe turned to Orion, her expression suddenly grave.

— “Orion, there’s something serious I need to tell you.”

His golden eyes sharpened.

— “What happened?”

Chloe drew a deep breath.

— “Every organization in the world is after you. When you removed the ring inside the church, even for a brief moment, you triggered a cataclysm unlike anything seen before. Even satellites were damaged. It won’t be long before they track you down.”

Orion, seemingly unfazed, flashed a wide grin.

— “That’ll only make things more fun. I like facing powerful opponents.”

From the corner of the room, Vlad chuckled softly, though Chloe didn’t share his amusement. She looked at Orion with genuine concern.

— “I know you’re strong, Orion. But you can’t ignore the fact that you’ll be hunted from every direction. I really think it would be best if you stayed out of sight for a while.”

Still grinning, Orion shook his head.

— “I’ll settle my business first. After that, I can hide for a bit. But until then, I’ll enjoy the chaos.”

Chloe sighed heavily.

— “I just want you safe, Orion. It’s not only about what you can do. It’s about what people will do to try and stop you.”

Orion’s smile softened, his gaze distant.

— “I’ll be careful, Chloe. When things calm down, I’ll disappear for a while. But for now… I’ll do what needs to be done.”

The concern on Chloe’s face was clear, but she knew she couldn’t change his decision. Orion always had his own way of handling things. And as much as it worried her, she also knew he never acted without purpose.

Orion’s journey was only just beginning—and though the dangers grew with every step, retreat was never an option for him.