...
Of course, part of the reason was that she secretly treated this incident as a kind of special training—a personal challenge she was determined to overcome.
"Since you, Mr. Masked Fool, are the spokesperson for the Fire Pickers, you must know them quite well, correct?"
Beside Zane, someone raised a hand slightly as they spoke, curiosity gleaming in their eyes.
"Naturally."
Zane nodded, his gaze landing on the questioner. Despite Rina, Ellen, and Hoshimi Miyabi's mediation throughout the talks, his relationship with these people was merely cordial—not exactly friendly.
After a glance, Zane could tell that the questioner's tone held genuine curiosity rather than any hidden intent.
"Then, Mr. Masked Fool, could you perhaps tell us a bit more about that person? After all, you must understand that while this is a meeting about cooperation, most of us only know the Fire Pickers in vague terms."
The man's voice carried a touch of helplessness, his expression calm and open. As his words fell, more and more people turned their attention toward Zane.
People are always drawn to the unknown—and this was no exception. Especially when the subject in question was the focus of today's discussions.
Seeing this, Zane didn't remain silent. Meeting everyone's gaze, he began to speak.
"To go into full detail would be quite difficult," he said lightly. "But a brief introduction—I can do that."
Hoshimi Miyabi, standing nearby, watched him intently, a trace of curiosity flickering in her eyes. How would Zane describe himself to these people? Surely, he wouldn't reveal anything critical...
Meanwhile, Ellen shot him a sidelong look, already guessing where this was going based on his personality.
Sure enough, moments later, Zane's words confirmed her suspicions—his tone full of extravagant praise and self-flattery.
Beside her, Rina maintained her usual calm smile, though the corners of her lips twitched ever so slightly.
Ellen sighed quietly and pressed a hand to her forehead.
This guy... does he really not feel the slightest bit embarrassed praising himself like that?
"Humanity's one and only savior," "the dream lover of billions of girls"...
She couldn't help but cringe for him.
Yet looking at Zane, he seemed perfectly in his element—his words flowing effortlessly, his tone smooth and confident, as if this kind of self-promotion came as naturally as breathing.
As if he truly believed every word he said.
At that thought, Ellen sighed again, more out of resignation than disbelief.
Hoshimi Miyabi's reaction, however, was entirely different.
At first, she listened seriously. She wanted to hear how Zane viewed himself—to understand what kind of person he thought he was. Maybe she could even learn something from it.
But as she continued listening, her expression gradually shifted. Something about his words didn't sit right.
And then, all at once, she realized what it was—and froze.
Her composure cracked.
Lowering her head, she frowned slightly, forcing herself to overlap the image of Zane in her memories with the man before her now.
In truth, it was because of Zane's current demeanor that she had only recently confirmed his identity, using the demonic blade to help her see the truth.
Hoshimi Miyabi's thoughts drifted back to their first meeting—the time she'd chased after Nineveh.
"Sharp-tongued." That had been the label she'd given him back then.
But over time, through countless subtle moments, her perception of him had changed. Then, after encountering Jane, she came to understand something deeper.
Lifting her head again, she gazed at Zane. No matter what, he was still undeniably the same person she remembered.
But the regret was there too—because now, under these circumstances, it was clear that those old feelings could never be recaptured.
Too much time had passed. Even with full understanding, neither she nor Zane could return to what they once were.
Facing the Zane of today while still clinging to the image from her memories—it was, she realized, the wrong way to approach him.
With that realization, her thoughts began to settle. The confusion and uncertainty that had clouded her feelings toward Zane slowly began to clear.
That faint trace of attachment buried deep within her heart since childhood quietly dissolved—fading away like smoke on the wind.
Hoshimi Miyabi blinked, a small smile curving her lips.
As she watched Zane still speaking so eloquently, something inside her shifted. A mix of calm acceptance and the faint thrill of something new.
Yes, she thought. The Zane standing before her now was not the same as the one from her memories.
"Zane, you really are..."
Hoshimi Miyabi spoke softly, cutting him off mid-sentence. Zane blinked in confusion and turned to look at her.
"The meeting's about to start. Come on—you should sit with me. It'll be better that way."
Reaching out, Hoshimi Miyabi took Zane by the wrist and gently pulled him toward the nearby seats.