This was a fairy tale from another world, another time —
yet its supposed happy ending clearly didn't belong to the infected children listening to it now.
Felix stood quietly by the doorway, listening for a while. Soon, the lesson ended, and the children burst through the door, laughing and stepping eagerly into the snow outside.
"Slow down! Don't slip!"
Alina called after them from the doorway, but the only reply she received was the fading sound of their playful giggles.
She sighed softly. "Honestly… I wonder what kind of adults they'll grow up to be."
Turning back, she noticed Felix and Platinum standing nearby. A warm smile appeared on her face.
"Mr. Pioneer, Miss Platinum — it's quite late. You haven't rested yet?"
"I just wanted to see where the children study," Felix replied with a gentle smile.
"If that's the case, please come in. It's cold out here," she said, brushing her coat lightly before gesturing for them to enter. "This is also where I live."
Her room was larger than Yelena's, though still humble. The children had just left, and the small living room remained cluttered with tiny desks and chairs yet to be tidied away. A recently extinguished furnace sat nearby — Alina had lit it during class and doused it after the children left. Even in summer, the night air here carried a faint chill.
She was a simple, gentle country girl — pure-hearted and sincere.
Felix quietly began helping her clean up the scattered furniture, which made Alina flustered.
"Ah, please, I can handle it," she said quickly, joining in to tidy up. Afterward, she fetched a few cups from the cabinet, poured hot water, and placed them before her guests.
"Thank you, Alina," Felix and Platinum said in unison, nodding appreciatively. Alina blushed faintly, embarrassed by their gratitude.
"Alina," Felix said after a pause, "you're placing your hopes in the next generation of the infected, aren't you?"
Alina nodded softly. "Yes. I hope the children of the next generation can forget the pain and hatred of being infected — that they can live on without burdens, without fear."
"You remind me of a friend of mine," Felix said, gazing through the frosted window. Beyond it, in his mind's eye, he saw a woman with pink hair, wearing a white dress, dancing gracefully in the snow.
"She also wanted to entrust her hopes to the next generation."
"Really? She thought the same way?"
Alina's eyes lit up, her expression bright with curiosity and admiration. To think there was someone else who shared her ideals — she wanted to sit down and talk with her, heart to heart.
Felix shook his head slightly.
No… Alina wasn't like Theresa. Theresa had lived for centuries; she'd seen the rise and fall of nations and learned to weather despair. When Felix told her that neither she nor her brother could save the Sarkaz people, she hadn't broken down — she'd merely listened quietly and sought his answer instead.
Felix had, in effect, denied Theresa's dream to her face. Yet she'd remained calm — because she was Theresa.
But this gentle, innocent country girl before him… if he were to tell her that her ideals were destined to drown in despair, that her faith was futile —
Felix knew she would cry. Big, glistening tears like pearls.
---
Talulah had just finished her daily meeting. The operation was set to begin the day after tomorrow. Until then, her forces would focus on preparing weapons and rations. As the leader, she intended to fight on the front lines as always. Just earlier, she had visited the logistics division to inspect the weapon maintenance progress — and found it… less than ideal.
Still, at least the food situation wasn't as worrying.
"I'll ask FrostNova about her plans tomorrow," Talulah thought as she walked. She respected Patriot and the shieldguards under his command — and she also held deep respect for FrostNova, who led the Yeti Squad. She had never viewed her merely as Patriot's daughter, but as a capable ally in her own right.
The leadership within Reunion was, for now, in good harmony.
At the beginning, when they all came together, it had felt as though they shared the same heart — conversation came easily, and trust seemed natural. Talulah's relationship with FrostNova was particularly close, and through her, Talulah had learned about the "Pioneer."
Hearing about FrostNova's friendship and cooperation with this mysterious man stirred something faint within Talulah — a quiet, wistful envy.
If only she had met such a person earlier…
perhaps the couple who once sheltered her and Alina — might still be alive.
It had been years since Talulah first heard FrostNova mention the Pioneer. Yet now, standing before her, the real person was nothing like the one described in her friend's words. FrostNova had spoken of someone gentle and warm like sunlight — but the man before her radiated thorns. Toward her, the leader of Reunion, his gaze held more skepticism than respect.
Was it the actions of her subordinates that had given him such a poor impression of Reunion? Talulah didn't know how to explain it — because words alone felt hollow. Instead, she could only continue striving to ensure that when others heard the name "Reunion," they would no longer feel disgust… but admiration.
As she passed by Alina's quarters, Talulah noticed light still glowing from within. That was unusual — Alina usually retired early. Though part of Reunion, Alina was a non-combatant; she handled logistics and also served as a teacher for the infected children in the camp. The infected trusted her deeply — she was gentle, kind, and the children adored her.
"Strange… she still hasn't gone to bed?" Talulah murmured. "She has lessons to prepare for tomorrow."
Curiosity stirred. She rose quietly onto her toes and peered through a crack in the wall.
Inside, Alina sat on her bed, a steaming cup of water cupped in her hands, her cheeks faintly flushed with an almost shy smile. Seated before her was a Sankta man — and to Talulah's horror, he seemed to be… touching her arm.
Talulah froze. Then panic flared.
Her dear friend — being deceived by this kind of man?!
"Y–You! What do you think you're doing?!"
She threw open the door with a shout. All three in the room turned to stare at her blankly — making Talulah suddenly feel as though she was the one who'd ruined the moment.
Felix glanced at her sidelong. "Close the door. It's cold out."
"O–Oh…"
Flustered but obedient, Talulah shut the door and hurried closer to the two. Only then did she see what was actually happening — Felix was holding Alina's forearm, his hands moving rhythmically over it.
"What are you doing?" Talulah demanded, her confusion genuine. Physical contact like this… wasn't part of the education she'd received.
"Massage," Felix said calmly while pressing along Alina's slender arm. "You know what that is, right? Alina's arm has been sore lately from carrying supplies. If she keeps straining it, she might get cramps. I'm just helping her loosen up."
"M–Massage?"
Felix nodded. "I've had plenty of teachers. Mostima, Loughshinny, and even Lemuen taught me a few techniques."
Talulah frowned slightly. She couldn't shake the feeling that her friend was somehow being taken away by this man. Massage or not, it didn't sit right with her — especially when the one touching Alina was the same Pioneer who had always shown her so little kindness. Beneath the irritation, a faint, unexpected pang of jealousy stirred.
After about ten minutes, the massage ended. Alina, looking relaxed and drowsy, waved weakly at Talulah and smiled softly at Felix before closing her eyes.
Not wanting to disturb her rest further, Felix stepped outside, with Platinum and Talulah following close behind.
Once they were outside beneath the cold night sky, Talulah crossed her arms.
"What is your real purpose here?"
"Just to observe Reunion as it is now," Felix replied evenly.
"And after observing?"
He looked at her. "You already know what I'd say. Why should I play the villain by saying it aloud?"
Talulah clenched her teeth. "So you think the infected have no future?"
"The infected may have a future," Felix said quietly. "But the infected of Reunion… likely do not."
"You know why better than I do."
His eyes drifted toward the campfires flickering in the distance. "They see every non-infected as an enemy. People like that don't deserve a future."
"…"
The words hit hard — sharp and unrelenting. It was a direct challenge to everything Talulah stood for. Yet instead of lashing out, she fell silent, the weight of his statement pressing down on her.
After a long pause, she finally spoke.
"I want to hear about Tomorrow's Development."
"Oh?" Felix tilted his head. "Thinking of learning from us?"
Talulah met his gaze squarely and nodded. "Yes. That's exactly what I mean."
"Then what are you willing to offer?" he asked calmly. "I owe you nothing. And after what Reunion has done, I feel no reason to teach for free. If you want knowledge, fine — but you'll need to pay a price."
"What do you want?"
Talulah pressed her lips together. She couldn't imagine what value Reunion still held — their resources were strained, their reputation shattered. Even if she sold her entire army, she doubted it would amount to much. What could he possibly want?
"I want you to join Tomorrow's Development."
"W–What…?"
Talulah stared in disbelief. Of all things — he didn't want wealth or resources. He wanted her.
"Strange request?" Felix asked mildly. "We don't discriminate by birth. Maybe we'll look at education, but for combat roles, that's irrelevant. You're skilled — a bit idealistic, perhaps, but capable. I happen to need someone like you. A forward commander… someone to carve the path ahead."
Talulah's hands clenched into fists. "I am the leader of Reunion. I will not betray my people to serve another power."
"How far do you think you can go?"
Felix's tone was calm, his expression unreadable. Then he smiled faintly.
"Don't mistake me — I'm not doubting your strength. I'm questioning Reunion's place in this world. How far can an organization that everyone calls a future terrorist group really go?"
"…"
Talulah drew in a steady breath, regaining her composure. "I won't let that happen again."
"Maybe not now," Felix said softly, "but what happens when your numbers grow? You must know it as well as I do — people are complicated creatures. Even the infected have their desires and impulses."
"…Enough."
Talulah's voice tightened. She inhaled deeply, then looked him in the eye.
"You want me to join Tomorrow's Development, don't you?"
"Not now," Felix replied. "I'll wait until you've beaten yourself bloody against the walls of your ideals. You're the kind of person who won't give up until reality breaks you."
Talulah felt a small wave of relief wash over her. She had no intention of joining Tomorrow's Development. Reunion was still rising — a newborn star in the frozen sky. She had poured all her faith, her love, her very soul into it. To her, this organization was the path for the infected — a chance to shape a future that belonged to them. How could she abandon it now?
And besides, who could say what the future would bring?
Felix, noticing her calm nod, didn't press further. In time, when Reunion was at its peak — standing in the storm's eye — Tomorrow's Development could simply reach out and take what it wanted.
Platinum watched her employer with an amused expression. She had long since grown used to his headhunting habits. Wherever he went, he never failed to recruit new people — and now, apparently, he'd set his sights on an entire faction leader.
Was there anyone left that he wouldn't try to poach?
Felix had said everything that needed saying. But what he spoke of was far easier in words than in practice. Reunion's recent missions had already shown troubling patterns — incidents of looting from non-infected households. Though these were isolated cases, Talulah had enforced harsh punishments afterward.
Still, the question remained: why did these infected follow Talulah? Why join Reunion at all?
The answer was simple — revenge.
They wanted to make the nobles pay, to strike back at those who mocked and oppressed them. Such motives were rare at first, but as Talulah saved more people, that thirst for vengeance spread like wildfire. One day, she knew, someone among them would ask her:
"What gives you the right to lead us?"
You cannot guide a people forward with hatred alone. But hatred was all that Reunion had left.
Talulah left quietly, deep in thought. Felix, his throat dry from talking, looked up at the dimming sky. It was getting late. He and Platinum turned back toward their quarters, their footsteps muffled in the snow.
He had said all that could be said. The rest depended on Talulah — on the choices she would make from here on. Whether the next time they met they would stand as allies… or as enemies, would be up to her.
---
Holy Knight Federation Garrison — 11:38 p.m.
In the real world, evening had only just fallen. Players who'd finished dinner were logging in, returning to their posts for another night's work. The sentries stood guard with sleek, high-tech crossbows, aided by drones scanning the snowy darkness.
Even though the heavy snow drained the drones' durability quickly, in a faction filled entirely with engineering players, maintenance was hardly an issue.
Then, one of the drone operators suddenly cursed.
"What the hell is that?"
"Huh?" another asked. "Say that again — what's going on?"
The guards leaned forward, peering at the display. On the screen, several faint shadows crept along the outskirts — figures lurking in the snow, peering toward the town through binoculars.
"Can you identify them? Which faction are they from?"
"Identify? My ass," the operator muttered. "The liaison for War God's Bloodline lives right here. There's no way it's them. Has to be those damned Troll again."
"…"
The guards exchanged uneasy glances. One of them turned and hurried off.
"I'll go inform Mr. Han."