It was not as though Gio had strayed from the path solely to satisfy his own desires.
“…….”
No, that was part of it.
‘Even I would feel a pang of conscience claiming innocence after creating this mess.’
Gio made a deliberate effort to ignore the scenery around him, strewn with Monster remains.
Perhaps because he had not yet fully Synchronized with ‘Argio,’ there were times when the self he possessed as Argio felt separate, unlike Giovanni. Wearing an ambiguous expression, Gio wiped the blood from his face.
“…Hmm. Yes….”
“…….”
“Should I say it has been a long time?”
Looking at the merfolk before him, Giovanni gave an awkward smile.
“I did not expect you to come and find me like this.”
“Nor did I expect you to come all the way to this outlying area.”
“I followed my curiosity and ultimately found myself here.”
“Is that truly the only reason?”
“How could I alone retreat when people remain here?”
Gio tilted his head.
“You planned this, did you not?”
It was difficult to call it a coincidence that civilians who should have been evacuated long ago and fragile rear-line Hunters had become isolated in this outlying area. The dazzling Monsters that had stolen Argio’s attention were probably the merfolk’s work as well.
“Why did you summon me here?”
“I understand you refused my elder sister’s invitation last time.”
“She openly asked me to let myself be kidnapped. How could I accept?”
“You certainly never make a sacrifice…