Aeri and Euyn move through a dense crowd in Tamneki toward the enormous King’s Arena, both on edge as Euyn keeps scanning for threats. Aeri notices how exhausted and watchful Euyn looks, and the paranoia makes her feel exposed and vulnerable without Royo beside her.

They enter through the northern servant entrance without being stopped, carried along by the chaos of the arena’s mass attendance. Inside, Mikail waits where planned, armed despite the arena’s rules, and his subdued expression signals the day’s tension.

Mikail asks Aeri if she is ready, and Aeri forces herself to commit outwardly even as she wants to flee and call off the plot. She reminds herself that she agreed to this job to stop stealing and to help her father, believing her bond to the team will vanish after today.

Mikail gives Aeri a bag containing a valet uniform for her part in the operation. Before she leaves, Mikail warns her that if anything goes wrong, Aeri should run and forget them.

The warning echoes Royo’s earlier words and triggers Aeri’s realization that the others have repeatedly protected and cared for her. Overwhelmed by the feeling of having something like a real family for the first time, Aeri nearly collapses from nerves and nausea, privately admitting that her loyalties have shifted even though she says nothing and walks away to do her task.