CHAPTER 76: AFTER THE STORM

Cassel — POV

The moment the tiny zombie child crumbled into ash—its small, brittle body breaking apart like burnt paper caught in a sudden gust—every single person under its influence dropped to the ground as if their strings had been violently cut.

One after another, their limbs slackened, their eyes rolled back, and their bodies hit the cold floor with hollow, echoing thuds. For a breathless heartbeat, the entire room was nothing but a weightless fall and collapsing exhaustion.

A pulse of silence followed.

Heavy.

Thick.

It pressed on the air like settling dust.

Robin was the first to speak, his voice a low, awed whisper that trembled with a mix of admiration and fear.

"Wow... boss is terrifying as always."

His words floated in the air like a confession.

Behind him, the two other men flushed with discomfort. They exchanged awkward glances—shame twisting their expressions.

It was painfully obvious they regretted doubting me, regretted hesitating, regretted not following my instructions the first time. Regret made their shoulders stiffen and their eyes dart away, unable to meet mine.

Once I lifted my ability—allowing their frozen bodies to regain movement—they rushed toward their fallen teammates, desperation guiding their steps as they hurried to check pulses and breathing.

Robin, however, didn’t spare Frederick—still lying lifelessly on the floor—so much as a fleeting look.

Instead, he bounced up with childlike energy, dusted off the seat of his pants, and jogged straight toward one of the nearby shelves.

"Ah, there are some toys and kid-friendly things here," he exclaimed, his eyes shining with excitement. "I’m totally taking some for my daughter. She’ll go crazy when she sees these."

Even after witnessing horror, Robin was still Robin.

Henry was the opposite.

Quiet.

Composed.

Weighed down by thought.

He didn’t say a word—not even to acknowledge Robin’s noisy rambling. Instead, he gently adjusted Liz’s limp body, lifting her carefully and setting her back against the cracked wall behind her.

He made sure her head wouldn’t tilt forward and that her breathing stayed steady.

Then he stood up.

And walked straight toward Rosalia.

My jaw tightened.

That bastard.

I forced my expression into the most neutral mask I could manage as I stepped forward, guiding my gaze toward her instead.

She sat weakly against a shelf, her delicate shoulders trembling from a mix of exhaustion and lingering fear.

I ignored Henry completely.

"Rosalia, are you alright?"

Henry spoke before I could. His voice was soft—far too soft—his tone dripping with concern that made something inside me twist with irritation.

Worry, my ass.

Who permitted him to worry about my girl?

Rosalia gave him a small, faint smile, but almost immediately her expression shifted, her delicate brows creasing.

"Henry, I’m fine. Go be with Liz—she needs you more."

Her voice carried quiet sincerity. But to Henry, it might as well have been a death sentence.

He froze. Like lightning had struck him straight through the spine. His whole posture screamed: I don’t want to.

Rosalia, unaware of the storm brewing inside him, opened her mouth to say more—but Henry stepped closer, speaking in a rush, as if terrified she might misunderstand him again.

"Rosalia, did Liz say anything to you? I mean... she and I don’t have that kind of relationship. We’re just friends."

Rosalia blinked. Confusion flickered across her face before settling into mild annoyance.

"Henry, what are you talking about? Liz is... she... anyway, you can’t just ignore other people’s feelings so thoughtlessly."

Her voice carried a soft rebuke. Her eyes held a trace of disappointment.

Of course, she would think that way.

She was always someone who valued the feelings of others, even if she carried her own burdens quietly.

She couldn’t possibly know what the rest of us knew—what had happened long before she joined us.

Liz’s feelings for Henry hadn’t been a secret. Not to anyone.

In fact, it was practically an open secret, whispered casually in the hallways, floating through conversations, impossible to ignore.

Even someone like me—who never cared for gossip—had heard of Liz’s confession.

I’d heard how Henry had turned her down with a gentle smile. Gentle, but firm.

Henry was no fool. He knew exactly how deeply Liz cared for him. And he knew she hadn’t moved on, no matter how many times she pretended otherwise.

Yet that fox... he always acted the same with everyone—calm, equal, polite to a fault.

Never allowed feelings to cross boundaries that he did not approve of. Never allowing anyone to glimpse the real thoughts under that smooth façade.

That was why, earlier, when he and I spoke alone, he hadn’t hidden anything.

He had said it plainly—almost too plainly—that from this day forward, he would pursue Rosalia.

He had said it with eyes far too steady for my liking.

He had said it because she was the first and only person to stir his heart from the moment he laid eyes on her.

I should have scoffed at him. I should have mocked him. I should have lectured him on how dramatic and disgusting that confession sounded.

But I couldn’t.

Because I had felt the same thing.

The first time Rosalia looked at me—really looked at me—something inside me had shifted, too.

Something irreversible.

So yes, I hated Henry’s boldness. But I couldn’t deny the truth he spoke.

Still, if there was one comforting thing... it was that Henry wasn’t a blind, oblivious idiot.

He’d already admitted that his chances with her were almost nonexistent. He’d admitted he could see how she looked at me. How she reacted to me.

That one admission alone had eased the burning pressure inside my chest.

"Rosalia, let’s go. We need to return to the base so you can receive treatment."

I couldn’t bear the sight of them standing together for another instant.

I stepped forward, scooped her up into a gentle princess carry, and held her close—close enough that her arms instinctively wrapped around my neck.

Turning to Henry, I hardened my voice just enough.

"Carry Liz to the vehicle. Even if you have no feelings for her, she’s still your teammate."

Rosalia nodded approvingly.