Chloe

People at the rescue unit base camp murmured as they looked at her. The number of civilians Heidemarie had rescued had already far exceeded double digits. Some asked who she was, some compared her achievements to the Protos's, and others said she was the hope of this operation. But none of it meant anything to Heidemarie. It couldn't. Her achievements were numbers built on the sacrifices of Khalia, Evie, and Mev.

...No. No. It wasn't sacrifice. It couldn't be. She tried to think that way. "...Please help me." Handing over three children, Heidemarie spoke to the agents at the base camp. "My companions are missing. I... saved a lot of people... If there's any manpower left, even a little... please help me find my team..." "Heidemarie. You and the agents are at your limit. The Chaos Contamination level is rising. The Protos will be returning here soon. If we keep this rescue operation going, it'll just lead to more meaningless losses. Let's stop." The agent's words didn't reach Heidemarie. Khalia's desperate cries, and Evie and Mev's final pleas, filled her ears and drowned everything else out. "...Please... please...!" One of the agents, who had been watching, knelt in front of her. "Alright. I'll take you to the Protos. But after that... you need to rest." "...To the Protos?"

Only then did Heidemarie remember that Chloe was with the Protos. With the two of them, they could surely save the missing team. "the Protos is currently commanding field agents in the deepest part of Area B. The route might be dangerous... are you sure you're okay with that?" Heidemarie nodded without hesitation. "...Yes."

The SS Edenity agents guided Heidemarie deep into Area B of the Second Pioneer Base, where the Protos was commanding the agents. the Protos directing operations across a radius covering four areas at once proved their capability—but it also meant Heidemarie and the agents had to push deeper into Chaos, which was far from reassuring. Even as she moved toward Chloe, Heidemarie didn't stop rescuing people. Breathing heavily, bleeding, she never broke her promise. The promise to always prioritize rescuing civilians. Even in a desperate situation, there was only one reason she clung to that vow. Because Chloe had made a promise in return. That she wouldn't die. At least, not in front of her. As long as Heidemarie kept her promise, Chloe wouldn't break hers either.

"Heidemarie, over there! It's the Protos!" Heidemarie snapped back to her senses and looked ahead. Just as the agent guiding her had said, she saw the Protos. And beside them, Chloe, guarding the Protos. "What the... damn it..." Instead of relief, a curse slipped from the agent's mouth. No explanation was needed. Countless monsters were swarming toward the Protos. They already looked pushed to their limits. Only a few agents remained, and all of them were in poor condition. The defensive line was collapsing under the onslaught.

The moment she saw it, Heidemarie didn't hesitate. Before anyone could stop her, she threw herself into the flames.

"Chloe!!" After clearing the surrounding monsters, Heidemarie rushed to Chloe. "Chloe, are you okay? Are you hurt—" "Why did you come, Heidemarie!!" The unexpected shout left her speechless. But it didn't take long to understand why. A man lay collapsed at the edge of her vision. His body was covered in wounds. Blood poured from the hole in his pierced chest.

It was the Protos. "B-But the Protos should have had a Life Core... how—" "I told them to initiate emergency recall, but they refused. Said if they left, everyone would die. They held out for us until the e... *sob*" Clenching her lips, Chloe grabbed the communicator and relayed the news. "Code Black...! Protos Yuric confirmed dead. Repeat, Code Black! Remaining agents are holding position! Requesting the Protos support at the Area B comms station! This area is high risk! All approaching units, prepare for combat—" Heidemarie's mind went blank. If the Protos is dead... then the others...? The ones I left behind to keep my promise to Chloe...? Can they hold out until another the Protos arrives?

"Heidemarie." At Chloe's call, she came back to herself as a monster's roar split the space between them. Chloe spoke. "...We deal with that first."

Chloe

Ellinad Second Pioneer Base, Area B

The surroundings grew increasingly chaotic.

Before long, it became impossible to even tell which direction led to escape.

Monsters were closing in, but Heidemarie felt a strange sense of relief.

Her companions were by her side.

Chloe cut off Heidemarie and picked something up from the ground.

It was a Life Core.

Chloe said as she brushed back Heidemarie's hair.

Looking around, the Agents whose eyes met hers nodded.

Those words weighed heavily on Heidemarie's chest.

Heidemarie mustered her last bit of courage and told Chloe about their companions' situation.

Chloe's expression hardened for a moment.

After a moment of silence, Chloe pressed the Life Core into Heidemarie's hands.

Chloe's promise that she would never die in front of her.

Heidemarie nodded.

Chloe contacted the Protos mother ship. The Life Core began to respond.

In her fading vision, Heidemarie's eyes fell upon Chloe.

Chloe smiled.

Ellinad Second Pioneer Base Indoors

The report was filled with details of the personnel Heidemarie had rescued.

A record showing the rescue of over a hundred civilians trapped inside the Chaos, and the elimination of dozens of monsters including high-risk entities in the process.

It was an overwhelming achievement for a student agent to accomplish.

However, Heidemarie's eyes were fixed on one spot.

At the bottom of the document, written in small letters.

[Deceased - Agents] [...... Mev/Khalia/Evie/Chloe - Bodies unrecoverable]

Water droplets fell onto the report.

Heidemarie clutched the report and began to cry out loud.

Heidemarie placed her hand on Chloe's grave.

The Day of Reunion

Before the graves of her companions

Heidemarie spoke as she pulled out weeds growing around Khalia's tombstone.

Heidemarie brushed off the pollen that had accumulated on Evie's tombstone.

Heidemarie smiled as she looked at Mev's tombstone.

Heidemarie pressed her forehead against the grave and whispered.

She looked at her companions.

Before she knew it, tears were streaming down Heidemarie's cheeks.

Waiting for a forgiveness that would never come, Heidemarie remained before her companions' graves for a long while.