"Kokomi, we're back—huh? Why is Gorou here too?"
Paimon tilted her head.
"Did something happen? Their expressions look super serious."
Kokomi was listening intently to Gorou's report, then asked,
"How many people have shown these abnormal symptoms?"
Gorou shook his head.
"We haven't completed a full count yet, but I fear… the situation is dire."
Paimon and Lumine stepped forward.
Paimon asked,
"Kokomi, Gorou, did something serious happen? You both look really worried."
Gorou nodded at them.
"Lumine, Paimon, you're here. Lately, several soldiers in the resistance have begun exhibiting strange signs of accelerated aging."
"I questioned a few of them and found out they had secretly received so-called 'secret weapons' from our sponsor."
"Most of them are highly competitive and deeply resent the Vision Hunt Decree. After receiving these 'weapons,' they began using them in secret."
Sangonomiya Kokomi lowered her head in thought.
"So that explains why the recent battles have been going so smoothly… but this isn't the right way. We must put an immediate stop to it."
"Gorou, were you able to obtain one of those 'secret weapons'?"
Gorou nodded.
"Yeah. Most of them refused to hand theirs over, but I managed to get one…"
As he spoke, Gorou pulled something out from his pouch—a Vision?
Kokomi's eyes widened.
"A Vision?"
"No."
Lumine's voice cut in solemnly, her gaze locked on the object in Gorou's hand.
"It looks like a Vision, but I've dealt with them enough to know… that's a Delusion—used by the Fatui."
Gorou furrowed his brows.
"Then that means… our sponsor is actually the Fatui?"
"But why? Why would the Fatui do something like this?"
Kokomi continued to think, but quickly shook her head.
"There's no time to unravel the motive. What matters now is that we act quickly. We must order all troops to stop using these Delusions immediately."
"Any soldier showing symptoms must undergo treatment—we can only hope it's not too late."
Lumine couldn't understand either. Why would a Delusion cause aging?
She had seen Scaramouche, Signora, and Tartaglia all use Delusions before, and quite often at that.
Putting aside Scaramouche and Signora, even when Tartaglia used his Delusion at full strength, he only ended up exhausted—not aged.
Even the Fatui operatives Lumine encountered in the wild used Delusions, and none of them seemed to suffer from rapid aging.
It was baffling. Eventually, Lumine could only conclude that the Delusions given to the resistance had been… modified.
Still, she pushed that question aside. There was something more urgent now.
"Wait—Paimon, the aging… could it be… that explains Teppei's condition! We need to check on him—now!"
Paimon slapped her forehead, realizing too late.
Lumine's eyes widened as dread washed over her. She grabbed Paimon's hand, and the two bolted toward the resistance quarters.
The weight in her chest only grew heavier.
She didn't know Teppei's exact condition, but she had a sinking feeling… it wasn't good.
Finally, they arrived.
"TEPPEI!!!"
Paimon frantically flew up, scanning the area for Teppei's figure.
It hadn't been that long since they last saw him, but the sight that greeted her now was staggering.
Teppei was curled up in a dark corner, his hair completely grey—like the color had been leeched from it by time itself.
His face was etched with deep wrinkles, making him look like he had aged decades in mere days.
His once-toned physique had withered, muscles shriveled, skin loose and pale—his body now little more than skin and bone.
When Teppei saw Lumine and Paimon, he forced a bitter smile.
"Ah… Lumine, Paimon. You came."
"Hold on a sec—let me try to stand… Strange, my body feels so weak…"
Lumine felt a lump rise in her throat.
"Teppei… you…"
Before she could finish, Teppei cut her off.
"Oh right, I didn't get a chance to tell you—I racked up quite a few accomplishments lately."
"I joined a naval battle against the Shogunate, fought off their warriors solo, rescued trapped comrades… Things I'd never even dared to dream about before."
"If only I could be stronger. Just a little stronger… then maybe I could do even more. Huh… where did my 'secret weapon' go?"
Lumine pressed her lips into a line.
"When did you start using that thing?"
"When…? Probably not long after you were named captain of the Swordfish II unit. I met a mysterious figure from our sponsors."
"They handed me this and said… as long as I willed it, this secret weapon would respond."
"Haha… it's just like a Vision, right? I've never used one before, so I wouldn't know the difference…"
Lumine shook her head.
"That was… a Delusion."
Teppei blinked.
"A Delusion… that doesn't sound like a good thing…"
"Is it really so different from a Vision?"
Paimon looked down and said quietly,
"That thing drains the life of its user."
Teppei's eyes widened in understanding.
"Hah… so that's what that mysterious guy meant when he said I'd die if I used it. Makes sense now…"
"I guess anything that mysterious was bound to come with risks."
"At first I didn't really think about it."
"But these past few days, I've been feeling so drained… And there's been this vague sense of dread creeping into my heart."
"At first, I just felt more tired after fighting. But today, when I got back, I realized… I couldn't see clearly anymore."
"It's a shame. I really thought… I'd be able to catch up to you…"
"Haha…"
"I guess… I was never someone worthy of the gods' attention…"
"Lumine, can I ask you for one last favor?"
Lumine couldn't find the words. She simply nodded.
"When our uniforms are finished… can you go pick mine up for me too? Let's put them on together…"
"What's that look on your face, partner?"
"Heh… don't worry. Let me just rest a bit… A little rest… and I'll be fine…"
…..
Lumine stared at Teppei's lifeless form. Her fists clenched, and then, without a word, she turned and ran.
"Hey! Lumine! Where are you going? Wait for me!"
_
Please support my patreon, patreon. com/TravelerDouluo
And get early access to my 60 advance chapters.