Parallel Memory

Chapter 735: An Invitation

The massive doors of the assembly hall slowly opened.

One after another, nobles, guild masters, retired heroes, priests, and commanders poured into the evening streets of the capital. The heated discussions that had echoed throughout the chamber for the entire day had finally come to an end, and for the first time in weeks, there was a sense of relief in the air.

The deadlock had finally broken.

The proposal to invite the successor of the Devil King had been accepted.

Of course, the decision itself solved nothing. The arguments between the Church and the Authority remained, and countless problems still waited ahead, but at the very least, humanity had finally taken a step forward.

Outside the hall, the orange glow of the setting sun bathed the white stone streets.

Zero quietly adjusted his coat and descended the marble stairs, hoping to disappear into the crowd before anyone noticed him.

Unfortunately, fate seemed to have other plans.

"Zero."

He stopped immediately.

There was only one person who could call his name with such calmness and still make him instinctively freeze.

Turning around, he found Mia standing a few steps behind him.

Her silver hair reflected the evening sunlight, while the medal hanging from her chest reminded everyone passing by that she was one of humanity’s heroes.

Naturally, several people nearby immediately recognized her.

"Look! It’s Lady Mia Frostine!"

"The hero of the Devil War!"

"She really came to today’s meeting!"

Mia ignored the whispers and walked toward Zero.

Zero smiled helplessly.

"I was almost free."

Mia crossed her arms.

"Were you planning to run away again?"

"I prefer the word ’leave quietly.’"

"Same thing."

Zero laughed softly.

The crowd around the meeting hall slowly dispersed as the two stood near the stairs.

For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.

It had been weeks since they had properly talked.

Ever since the war ended, ceremonies, politics, and responsibilities had kept them apart.

Mia was the first to break the silence.

"You surprised everyone in there today."

Zero shrugged.

"I was tired of watching people argue."

Mia smiled faintly.

"Still, if you hadn’t spoken up, today’s meeting would have ended exactly like all the others."

Zero looked toward the setting sun.

"Maybe."

Mia shook her head.

"Don’t act humble now."

"I’m always humble."

"That’s the funniest thing you’ve said all day."

Zero chuckled.

For a few moments, they simply walked away from the meeting hall together.

The city was gradually becoming quieter as merchants began closing their shops and workers returned home.

Eventually, Mia glanced sideways at him.

"How have you been?"

"Alive."

"You’re impossible."

"People keep telling me that."

Mia smiled despite herself.

As they walked through the streets, they briefly caught up on everything that had happened after the war.

Mia spoke about her duties in the War Council, the endless meetings, and how she had practically moved into the assembly hall over the past month.

Zero talked about recovering at Tech Genesis, his surprise at discovering that Aiden had somehow transformed his small company into one of the most powerful organizations in Edolas, and how strange it felt returning to ordinary life after everything that had happened.

Eventually, the conversation shifted toward the battle against Aamon.

Mia asked him how he had ended up fighting the Devil King directly.

Zero gave a simple explanation, leaving out most of the details.

He spoke about being separated during the battle, finding himself in the collapsing palace, and somehow surviving the impossible.

Naturally, he avoided mentioning many things.

Mia, surprisingly, didn’t push him for answers.

Some memories didn’t need to be reopened.

After all, both of them had lost too much in that war.

As they reached the central plaza, Mia suddenly stopped walking.

Zero turned toward her.

"What happened?"

Mia hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"Are you free tonight?"

Zero blinked.

"That’s a dangerous question."

Mia rolled her eyes.

"I’m asking because we’ve barely spoken since the war ended."

"And?"

Mia looked away for a moment.

"Dinner."

Zero stared at her.

"Dinner?"

"Yes."

"You mean the two of us?"

Mia nodded.

For some reason, Zero suddenly smiled mischievously.

"Wait."

He stepped back dramatically.

"Are you asking me out on a date?"

For the first time in the conversation, Mia froze.

Inside, her heart skipped a beat.

Meanwhile, Zero immediately regretted saying it.

The silence between them lasted only a few seconds, but to both of them, it felt much longer.

Mia crossed her arms and calmly looked into his eyes.

"If that’s what you want it to be."

Zero stopped smiling.

Mia stopped breathing.

Outwardly, neither of them showed the slightest reaction.

Internally, however, both of them were desperately trying to act normal.

Zero quickly looked away.

"I... was joking."

Mia nodded calmly.

"So was I."

Both of them knew they were lying.

Neither of them planned to admit it.

After a few awkward seconds, Zero coughed.

"Then... dinner it is."

Mia nodded.

"Good."

And just like that, the two heroes who had faced death countless times found themselves completely defeated by a simple conversation.

They continued walking through the city in silence.

Unfortunately, peace was impossible.

Barely five minutes later—

"Lady Mia!"

A group of children rushed toward them.

"It’s really her!"

"Can we get your autograph?"

"My brother wants to become a mage because of you!"

Zero immediately stepped aside.

Mia sighed.

"Of course."

Ten minutes later, after signing pieces of paper, greeting merchants, and listening to countless stories from strangers, the two finally escaped into another street.

Zero laughed.

"You really can’t walk anywhere anymore."

Mia rubbed her forehead.

"It’s exhausting."

"You’re humanity’s hero."

"I know."

"People love you."

"I know."

"Sounds terrible."

"It is."

Zero couldn’t stop laughing.

Mia glared at him.

"This is your fault."

"My fault?"

"Half the things people praise me for should be directed at you."

Zero shrugged.

"I never asked for the attention."

"Neither did I."

Before Zero could answer, another voice echoed from behind them.

"Lady Mia!"

The two froze.

A merchant ran toward them.

"Thank you for saving humanity!"

More people began turning around.

Within seconds, several citizens had already gathered around them.

Zero looked at Mia.

Mia looked at Zero.

"We need to leave."

"Agreed."

For the next fifteen minutes, they wandered through the city, trying different restaurants and cafés.

Every single time, someone recognized Mia.

At one restaurant, the owner insisted that her meal should be free.

At another, customers surrounded their table before they could even sit down.

By the time they escaped the fourth place, Mia’s expression had become completely lifeless.

"I just wanted dinner."

Zero laughed.

"You’re too famous."

Mia sighed deeply.

"Do you know somewhere people won’t bother us?"

Zero thought for a moment.

Then he smiled.

"I do."

Mia looked suspicious.

"Where?"

Zero pointed toward the distant skyline.

Toward the enormous black building that towered over the surrounding streets.

Mia raised an eyebrow.

"Tech Genesis?"

"Private entrance."

"Private dining room?"

"Private everything."

Mia stared at him.

"Having your own company really is unfair."

Zero shrugged.

"I only found out how rich I am a few weeks ago."

"That’s somehow even more unfair."

The two continued walking toward the massive building in the distance.

The streets gradually became quieter as the sun disappeared beneath the horizon, and for the first time that evening, Mia found herself smiling.

Not because of politics.

Not because of the peace treaty.

Not because of the title of hero.

But simply because, after everything that had happened, she was finally walking beside someone who understood exactly what she had been through.

Neither of them spoke about it.

Neither of them needed to.

Above them, the lights of the capital slowly illuminated the night sky as they made their way toward Tech Genesis, completely unaware that this simple dinner would soon become far more complicated than either of them had expected.