Zenless Zone Zero: The Almighty Incubus of Sixth Street

”We lost...? No... How could it be? Don’t the judges and the audience understand the charm of the drill?”

Anton was confused, while Grace, standing beside him, said, ”Aaah, I should’ve used a more powerful engine and increased the rotation speed!”

”...It’s okay, Sis, Anton. It’s just a failed attempt. It doesn’t mean anything! We’ll come back next year!”

’It’s Koleda, the youngest, who’s comforting the other two?’

Astra thought to herself.

”This little girl... Her presence is insane...” she added.

”She’s the president, you know.”

Wise introduced her, but Astra couldn’t help being surprised.

”Huh? Really? I thought there were laws about age in New Eridu...”

”...”

Koleda remained silent.

”You misunderstood. Koleda is just... well, a bit cute-looking for her height.”

Wise tried to phrase it without directly mentioning her height, but Koleda was still very sensitive about the subject.

”Enough! You’ve only won once. Don’t get too cocky!”

Koleda glared at Wise unhappily, and he immediately stopped talking.

”Pfft... She seemed so mature just a second ago. Your friends are such interesting characters.”

Astra whispered to Wise, while Koleda emphasized that since they had beaten her, they absolutely couldn’t afford to lose to anyone else.

”You’re absolutely right, President! Alright, let’s prepare for the next round. The theme is... Hey, has the next theme been announced yet?” Astra asked.

As if hearing Astra’s question, Paige suddenly popped out from some unknown corner.

”I’m here! The next theme is... ’Elegant Freedom.’ I don’t really get it... Is it implying that freedom is a form of elegance? Or does it mean that Bangboo have the freedom to become elegant too?”

”Perhaps it’s intentionally ambiguous.”

Wise felt that both possibilities she mentioned were plausible.

”That makes sense. As the competition progresses, the themes should give contestants more room to express their individuality. After all, it’s already the semifinals! Alright, you have your theme! I look forward to Contestant Eous’s performance tomorrow!”

Just as she had arrived, Paige smoothly slipped away into a corner of the crowd.

”Elegant Freedom...” Astra softly murmured the phrase.

She pondered it for a moment before continuing.

”It feels like something familiar yet very distant to me... Others always compliment me on looking elegant and seeming very free-spirited. But... Whether it means freedom as a form of elegance or the freedom to be elegant, it seems like we need to relax to come up with something.”

That said, Astra couldn’t help but sigh.

”But relaxation is something very unfamiliar to me.”

”You work too much,” Wise said sympathetically.

”Yes, that’s exactly why! I really want to go on vacation and relax under the sun, with a cool breeze wafting by. Somewhere I don’t have to do anything...”

Astra nodded in agreement with Wise’s words, clasping her hands in front of her as if imagining that scene. But the feeling only lasted for a moment.

”But in a city like New Eridu, being idle for too long means you’ll be left behind in no time.”

Wise understood her point. With so many girls in his life, he couldn’t afford to slack off when it came to maintaining his relationships with them.

Just yesterday, Miyabi had wanted a child, and he hadn’t given her one. Even after he explained why, she was still angry.

”It’s because you think this way that you can’t relax. But no matter what, I will never leave you behind,” he declared, thumping his chest.

”Hmm, you don’t have to keep saying things like that. Although I’d be very happy... There are just things that can be done and things that can’t.”

Astra seemed a little shy, and Wise, seeing this, continued.

”It’s okay to relax once in a while, right?”

”If you put it that way... I do recall a place. Why don’t we go there to think about the theme? It’s a place with bright sunshine and fresh air~”

Wise also guessed where Astra was referring to. The two hit it off, and as expected, they soon arrived at Port Elpis.

”Phew! A stroll is just what I needed! Now that I’m here, the theme and all that stuff about freedom don’t seem so hard to figure out!”

Astra said this while skillfully hooking her arm through Wise’s. The softness pressed against him, and it felt like it would be very pleasant to touch.

”To be able to come to a favorite place with my cru... with my ’close’ friend, I also have a little freedom~”

Astra almost misspoke, her expression turning slightly shy before she quickly hid it.

”Also... Although we said we’d come here to think about the theme... Before that, would you walk around with me?” she suggested.

The two of them, accompanied by Eous, walked along the coast, gazing out at the sea. Astra seemed a little lost in thought as she leaned against Wise’s shoulder.

”Standing here and looking at the sea, there’s a moment when you suddenly forget you’re still standing on the shore. Have you ever tried it? I look at the swaying seawater... Gradually, it’s as if I feel closer and closer to the sea, closer and closer...”

”Any closer and you’ll be in the Hollow,” Wise joked.

”Pfft... Oh, right! How scary, how scary. If the Hollow over there suddenly expanded, the Torchlit Lighthouse would be swallowed up too, wouldn’t it?”

Astra didn’t get upset by Wise’s mood-killing joke.

Instead, she laughed aloud and said, ”Don’t worry. With H.A.N.D., it won’t happen,” Wise said, recalling his fox ’fiancée.’

”More importantly... If I accidentally slip into the Hollow, you and Eous will come save me, right, Wise~” she teased, poking his chest.

”Of course I would, but I won’t let you fall into the Hollow.”

”Heh heh~”

Astra was very happy with his answer and tightened her grip around his arm.

”Even without the Hollow, the sea is already terrifying. That being said, humans feel so free when gazing at the sea... So fearless, huh?” Astra said thoughtfully, leaving Wise a little puzzled.

She smiled and began to explain.

”Arbitrarily attaching ideas of good and bad to things in the world... Isn’t that lawless? Let’s go~ I want to see other places~”

The two arrived at another spot where the pier extended farther into the sea, bringing them closer to the water. The waves were larger here.

”The sea breeze is so strong... My hair is blowing into my face... Ah, ah, don’t stare at me now!”

Astra raised a hand to block Wise’s view while trying to tidy her messy hair, but she quickly gave up.

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Zenless Zone Zero: The Almighty Incubus of Sixth Street

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