Welt and the others didn't stay here long.
Right up until the end, Cocolia never invited them to visit the orphanage. At this point in time, she guarded that place closely. Staying at the outpost was good enough for her.
And beneath Kiana's seemingly obedient exterior, her eyes were exceptionally lively. Who knew what went through that little head of hers all day.
"So, where are you headed next? North America, or the Far East?"
Before departure, Welt sought out Siegfried and got straight to the point.
North America would be more stable. The Far East... Kiana's life might be happier there. After all, not only Shiraha but also Mei was there, both a boy and a girl. Perfect for a child to make friends.
North America simply didn't have those conditions.
To be precise, when it came to the next generation of Anti-Entropy, aside from Ryoma Raiden's side, only Cocolia was putting any real effort into raising them.
And even Ryoma Raiden's idea of "raising" was just hoping Mei would be happy. Originally, he hadn't planned on letting her touch this side of the world at all.
Siegfried mused for a moment, then shifted his gaze. It landed on Shiraha in the distance.
That stinky brat was crouched by the doorway, holding a twig he'd picked up from who-knows-where, drawing messy, incomprehensible patterns in the snow. Siegfried narrowed his eyes, and the corner of his mouth twisted into a malicious grin.
"Brat. Where do you hope I'll go?"
Shiraha met Siegfried's malicious gaze, then looked at Kiana. His voice was serious.
"The Far East."
Then, seeing Siegfried open his mouth, Shiraha quickly added, "Because I believe, first and foremost, you're a father—"
"Then it's North America—"
The two spoke almost simultaneously, and cut off just as simultaneously.
Siegfried's malicious grin froze on his face.
The atmosphere grew somewhat awkward. But Siegfried had a good daughter. Kiana didn't hesitate. The little one lifted her face. "Dad, I'll go with you to North America."
She paused, as if feeling those words weren't weighty enough, and added, "Even if we keep wandering, that's okay."
Shiraha didn't try to dissuade her.
Siegfried found it very hard to describe the expression on this brat's face. Displeasure. Disappointment.
These were exactly the expressions he'd been hoping to see. But... he felt as if he were undergoing a silent, wordless mockery.
"Then..." Tesla deliberately paused. "North America?"
Siegfried didn't nod. He looked at Kiana's young, tender face, and the corner of his mouth twisted. "Then let's go to the Far East."
After saying it, all the strength seemed to drain out of him.
Truly an innately evil little brat!
Was this a case of natural disposition conquering cunning? Why couldn't a grown man like him deal with this tiny runt?
Kiana's eyes grew even livelier. Siegfried ruffled her hair. "We'll stay there for a while first. Later, I still need to make a trip to North America."
Sigh. If the real Kiana were still alive... she'd probably be this well-behaved too.
Welt spoke up to console him. "Actually, I was going to advise you to go to the Far East as well."
Siegfried looked at him with a deadpan expression. Then why didn't you say so earlier?
When I was stuck in that awkward silence just now why didn't you open your mouth? You just had to wait until after I'd already made the decision?
As if he hadn't read the resentment in Siegfried's eyes at all, Welt continued, "You know, Sirin's situation is quite special. But she really seems to like Shiraha."
Siegfried: ....
"She even kidnapped him without harming a single hair on his head."
Siegfried nodded.
Understood.
He asked directly, "Brat—Shiraha. Any interest in going to North America?"
The Far East? The Far East was nice too, but it wasn't Anti-Entropy's main base after all. Schicksal's claws could reach there at any time.
Shiraha hurriedly shook his head.
There was truly nothing in North America. In another year, a certain Theresa would be arriving in the Far East. But North America? Truly nothing. Oh there was that one dog-headed strategist. But she was an abandoned orphan, and the timeline was far too distant.
Siegfried sighed.
And so, two widowed, but not alone, middle-aged men had thoroughly thrown in their lots together.
When it was time to leave, Cocolia gave each of the two children a parting gift. Her fondness for children was genuine but everything else about her was genuine too.
On the plane back to the Far East, there weren't many people. After all, Welt and the others weren't continuing on. They were heading back to North America. A professor's vacation days were limited, after all.
After seeing Welt and Tesla off, the corner of Siegfried's mouth curved upward.
Finally, they're gone.
"Brat. Do you know who's the strongest person in the world right now?"
He looked at Shiraha with an unfriendly expression.
Shiraha... ignored him. He was playing cat's cradle with little Kiana.
"Hey! Brat!"
Shiraha let out an audible tsk and reluctantly lifted his head to look at Siegfried.
"My Nee-chan, of course."
Elysia took over Shiraha's task, squeezing into the same seat with the little girl, and continued playing cat's cradle.
Kiana stared blankly as the string shifted and changed in midair. Her sky-blue eyes held a trace of unease.
"You—" Siegfried was just about to start mocking, but this wasn't very convenient. Shiraha's "Nee-chan" really was a little too formidable.
Sigh. Forget it. Time to sleep. He pulled on his eye mask.
He added one last thing. "Brat. If Kiana gets bullied at school, I'll be coming after you."
Shiraha's expression didn't change. He kept watching Nee-chan and Kiana play cat's cradle. "I think a guy whose family gets bullied, but who's too scared to do anything himself and can only count on others, is pretty useless."
Siegfried's fingertip lifted the edge of his eye mask slightly. This brat really doesn't take anything lying down.
He really ought to give Ryoma Raiden a few tips on child-rearing.
...
At this moment, Mei was still diligently listening in class.
The Far East.
Ryoma Raiden had pushed back his work to the afternoon and was waiting patiently at the airport.
The flight was fast. Cocolia wouldn't let anything happen to this plane, it had departed from her territory, after all.
Shiraha was holding Kiana's hand. Kiana obediently listened as Shiraha kept telling her all sorts of things about the Far East, her eyes lively. Who knew what was going through her head.
"Long time no—"
"Uncle Ryoma! I'm back!"
Shiraha waved enthusiastically, very noisy, Siegfried's brow furrowed.
He found this brat utterly insufferable right now.
Shiraha looked at Kiana. Kiana hesitated for a moment, then waved just as enthusiastically. The gesture didn't seem to embarrass her much.
"Mei's been talking about you nonstop lately."
Ryoma Raiden responded to Shiraha first, then ruffled Kiana's hair, and only then looked at Siegfried.
Siegfried's current appearance was far better than the haggard state he'd been in before, but he still lacked the swagger and confidence of their first meeting.
"You... sigh." Ryoma Raiden sighed. "Let's head back first. Get yourself cleaned up. At the very least, leave a good impression in front of the kids."
Siegfried nodded. "I'll be troubling you during this stretch."
"That doesn't sound like the person you used to be."
The corner of Siegfried's mouth twisted. Was I really that rude before?
Still, he really had changed a lot. If this were before the Second Eruption, and he'd met a stinky brat like Shiraha, he'd have kicked the kid's butt without a second thought.
Not like now, rendered completely speechless by the brat, and then forced to stew in his own frustration.
Recalling this, Siegfried quickly added, "Right. When you get back, keep a closer eye on that brat. Best if you can teach him a good lesson. He's far too reckless out there."
Hearing this, Ryoma Raiden looked at him expressionlessly.
"Shiraha. Let's go home."
"Mm!"
Shiraha nodded obediently.
Ryoma Raiden glanced at Siegfried once more, and said absolutely nothing.
"Dad, let's go."
Kiana, from behind, extended her hand too.