“What a coincidence,” Zenos said nonchalantly. “So was I.”

Dalitz’s regenerative ability was gradually weakening—perhaps the implanted cells hadn’t been perfect. The regeneration would stop eventually.

“I won’t let anyone oppress me ever again!” Dalitz shouted. “I’ll be the oppressor!”

“That’s too bad, Dalitz,” Zenos retorted, the corners of his eyebrows sagging slightly. “You of all people should’ve sympathized with the oppressed.”

The former director’s arms, having grown and been severed multiple times, looked feeble as withered branches. Now he was nothing but a frail, pale-faced man. Zenos stopped casting and, heaving, stepped toward Dalitz.

“S-Stay away from me,” the former director said, extending his right hand and stepping back. “I-I know! I’ll hire you! Y-You’ll be treated fairly! I am your king—”

“No, thanks,” the healer said simply, his right fist connecting with the center of Dalitz’s chest.

“Guh!”

“That was for using Liz.”

“Wait—” The next blow stopped Dalitz midsentence, making him choke miserably.

“And that was for me. Payback for all the beatings, punishments, and false accusations.”

Staggering, Dalitz clasped his hands together as if pleading. “I-I understand! I’m sorry! This is enough— Gah!”

“That was for Marcus.”

“Huh? W-Wait, wait, how many more are there?!”

“You don’t know?”

“W-Wait, wait a sec—”

“This is for Emil. And Lombard. Ashley. Kuja. Velitra. And—” A pale light enveloped his raised fist. “Enhance Arm. This is for all the kids, you tyrant!”

“Guhhhhh!” The full-force punch sent Dalitz’s body flying, and he crashed back-first into the burned-down debris of the orphanage. “Y-You... How...dare...”

“Your dream’s already over, Dalitz.”

The orphanage was a blackened shell. He’d lost Liz’s cooperation. His body enhancements were decaying. There was nothing left for Dalitz.

“Don’t...be...ridiculous,” he rasped as he lay flat on his back. His mouth opened and closed, forming only gasps, his words dissolving into the dry air.

Zenos looked down at the fallen man. “But be glad, former director. Your orphanage’s kids have left the nest...” He trailed off momentarily, shifting his gaze toward the slums at the mountain’s foot and the ruined city beyond, “...and they’re doing great now.”

Leaving the astonished, wide-eyed Dalitz behind, Zenos took Liz’s hand and began the climb down the mountain.

***

Left lying there in shock, Dalitz stared vacantly up at the sky.

He couldn’t move; all of his joints were alight with agonizing pain. Yet, perhaps due to the continuous exposure to healing magic, there was a strange warmth deep within him.

Zenos’s words during their clash echoed in Dalitz’s ears. “I’m a healer, remember? I see a wound, I heal it.”

The sky above was a pure, empty blue. A gentle breeze blew through the mountains. Sunlight shone down upon him, a little harshly.

And suddenly, a shadow fell upon the former orphanage director. “That’s too bad. Looks like Zenos wins this one too.”

Gazing up, Dalitz saw a figure completely covered in a gray robe, peering down at him. “You...? The Conductor...”

This was the one who’d performed surgery to implant regenerative cells into Dalitz, under the top executive’s orders. Rumor had it that the Conductor had disappeared after the golem incident in the slums.

“Why are...you here...?”

“I came to collect samples,” the Conductor explained. “And to deal with the aftermath. Orders from the top.”

“What...?”

“Useless as you are, you’re still an executive of the Black Guild. Failure isn’t an option. They have no more use for you.”

“Wait... Please, wait!”

The Conductor looked around the ruins of the orphanage with disinterest. “The top executive was right. This place is miserable.”

“Why would...the top...”

“Oh? You didn’t know? They came from here too.”

“Wh...at?” Dalitz asked, shock plain on his features.

“Well, not that it matters,” the Conductor said with a hint of amusement. “Time’s up for you. Sorry you have to go in a miserable place like this, though.”

“Sh-Shut your mouth,” Dalitz hissed. “This place is not...miserable.” This is my castle, he wanted to say, but his voice could no longer form words.

For the briefest, faintest of moments, he was back to the time when the orphanage had first been established, before his sadistic and domineering desires had darkened his heart. He could’ve sworn he was standing there, basking in the bright sunlight illuminating the courtyard, as the laughter of children echoed in his ears one final time.

***

After the battle at the ruined orphanage, Liz hesitantly spoke up as she and Zenos descended the mountain.

“So, Zenos, why did you come here?”

“Well, that big guy, Gaion, right? He told me the whole story.”

“He did?”

“I said I wasn’t your enemy, just a childhood friend wanting to repay a debt of gratitude. And then he told me everything.”

Since Gaion was a member of the Black Guild, and knowing Dalitz would’ve likely been watching the slums from afar, Zenos had considered the possibility that the hostage exchange was a trap. Just to be safe, he’d kept an eye on things and cast a protective spell on Zophia and the others, but ultimately, nothing had happened. This indicated Liz had likely defied Dalitz’s orders, Zenos explained.