Suji’s eyes widened as she looked up, and the chef, with his neat hair pulled back in a net, smiled gently.

“Do you usually explain the dishes yourself, Chef?”

“I rarely take the initiative unless the customer requests it… but for you, Lady Daphne, of course I should do at least this much.”

“There’s no need to go to such trouble… Didn’t you originally have other reservations?”

“No, absolutely not.”

The chef seemed a bit calmer than before, but still showed signs of nervousness.

Suji smiled slightly and glanced over the recommended menu.

Sturgeon roe, crab meat ravioli, mushroom espuma, ostrich egg, grilled lobster, arugula salad with steak or sherbet…

Each menu item had a detailed description, but being someone who believed that as long as it went in her mouth it was fine, she only gave it a cursory read. Anything would be better than dried meat.

“Is this okay with everyone as is?”

No one seemed to have any particular complaints, as they all nodded their heads, eyes shining brightly.

“Thank you for arranging the menu in advance. I’m not very knowledgeable about this kind of thing. Please make it delicious.”

As the chef nodded resolutely and withdrew, the surroundings finally came into view.

A beautifully decorated garden could be seen through one of the windows.

“I regret not being able to travel around much so far, but they’re treating us so well that it’s a bit burdensome too.”

As Suji said that with a small laugh, Peace shook his head, sinking into his chair.

“Our team leader gets surprisingly shy. Even though she’s cold as ice in front of monsters.”

“Aren’t you like that too, Peace?”

“Well, I didn’t climb the tower just to be treated well. But it still feels good to be recognized and complimented on my looks.”

Before Suji could answer, Saint, who had been taking off his bunny ears, retorted with a pout.

“There he goes again with that. You must have been really impressed, huh? Men think they’re the real deal if they’re just handsome.”

“I’m objectively handsome though!”

“There’s no objectivity in appearance preferences. I’m amazed you have the guts to say that while sitting next to Ilain.”

Peace, flaring up, scooted his chair right up next to Ilain’s.

Ilain annoyedly pushed his chair away with her foot, but Peace clung on tenaciously and asked,

“Let’s do an ideal type World Cup.”

“Back off, you’re suffocating me.”

“I’ll cleanly admit it if I lose. Let’s just try it once?”

“Go away.”

Peace’s face was squished and distorted on one side from Ilain pushing it, eyes bulging.

His competitive spirit seemed to be manifesting in a strange place.

“…No, do we really need to go that far?”

“Don’t make a scene in the restaurant.”

Saint and Suji chided them in turn, but Peace said, finger-combing his hair up,

“I’ll just ask three people, and if they all say no, I’ll admit defeat.”

“Should I answer first?”

Saint asked, looking at him like he was pathetic.

“Not you, Saint!”

“No, why not me? I could pick Peace too, you know!”

“You wouldn’t pick me! You’d just make fun of me even on your deathbed!”

As the two bickered, there was a knock at the door, and a waiter entered pushing a cart.

“For the amuse-bouche, we have pork and potato gratin and carrot puree.”

The other waiters who followed set each dish on the table soundlessly with gentle steps, and as they moved to withdraw together,

Peace suddenly winked at the waiter who was the last to leave the room.

“Ugh, what is he doing.”

Saint jeered, and Ilain pushed Peace away forcefully again, as if too embarrassed to be with him. Peace spoke, unfazed.

“Hello, excuse me, but may I ask you just one thing if it’s not too much trouble?”

His voice was gentle in a way that was unthinkable for the usual Peace.

The short-haired waiter, looking startled, nodded.

“Yes, of course. Is there anything else you need?”

“It’s not that, I was just wondering, between the two of us, who’s more your type?”

“…Pardon?”

“Between me and this pale, sickly-looking man here, who would be more your type?”

Flustered by the sudden question, the waiter pointed to Ilain without hesitation, smiled brightly, and left the room.

As soon as the door closed with a click, Saint burst out laughing.

Peace sat back in his chair with a discouraged expression, running his palm over his short hair.

“Is it because of my hairstyle? Should I grow it out a bit too?”

“Pfft, I don’t think hair length is the issue, hahaha.”

“Stop laughing.”

“Th-there’s no need to ask three people. Hahaha, this is hilarious. Did you see that person’s face just now? Answered without any hesitation. Haha. My stomach hurts.”

Saint clutched his belly button, laughing. Watching him, Suji hurriedly picked up her fork to hide the smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

Anyway.

Were those two on good terms or bad terms? They quarreled at the drop of a hat and put their all into making fun of each other.

The moment Suji pushed her fork into the gratin, Peace asked again.

“What about you, Team Leader?”

“Yes?”

“Do you pick me, or Ilain who’s like a parasitic brother?”

“Uh… um…”

Saint’s laughter abruptly ceased.

With everyone’s attention suddenly focused on her, Suji looked back and forth between the two men with an awkward expression.

“Why does that matter? You’re both precious teammates to me.”

“No, but please just pick one. Between me, who’s like an aged wine, and Ilain, who still reeks of his mother’s milk, who’s more your type?”

It was funny how he brought up aging and wine when he was only in his early thirties at most.

Suji put the gratin in her mouth and chewed it over. The soft flavor was exquisite.

“For me, of course-”

“Of course?”

The answer was glaringly obvious.

But for some reason, it wasn’t easy to go along with this trivial joke.

Saying those words out loud felt like attributing some plausible meaning to Ilain.

She also didn’t like how Ilain, who normally would have stepped in first to stop this situation, was staying silent.

Suji slowly sipped her water and then suddenly spoke in a serious tone.

“Ahem, ahem! Come to think of it, didn’t we say we’d have a meeting over the meal? About whether or not to recruit a new team member. Let’s decide that first.”

Peace sat back against the chair with a deflated face.

“Ah, just pick one. Are you going to let Saint laugh at me like that?”

“Why are you being so childish and nitpicky? I don’t have an ideal type or anything like that.”

“Why don’t you have one?”

“What’s the point of asking me and Saint? Ask other people.”

Saying that, Suji found herself looking at Ilain without realizing it.

He, who had seemed completely disinterested when Peace was waxing poetic, was now lost in thought without even picking up his fork.

What could he be thinking so deeply about?

He was often like that these days.

He was looking at Suji, but what was reflected in his eyes wasn’t her.

Like someone immersed in memories only he knew.

Before averting her gaze, she saw a smile spread across Ilain’s face.

Even though it was just an ordinary smile, it was so warm and gentle that it felt like being loved by him.

Suji turned her eyes away as if she had seen something she shouldn’t have, feeling like running away.

He, who readily spoke of his ‘beloved’, was unfamiliar to her. It was unpleasant. She didn’t need to know every side of her teammate. But it felt like seeing a friend who had suddenly grown up.

“First, since we came here to eat, let’s have our meal.”

As Suji suggested they all eat in a calm voice, Peace picked up his spoon weakly.

“Wow, this is delicious.”

“It really is tasty. So refreshing.”

Stealing another glance at Ilain, he had returned to his usual expression.

Suji felt somehow sulky, but determined to act mature, she asked him,

“Do you like it too, Ilain?”

“I thought Daphne had changed a lot, but some things are still the same.”

“…Pardon?”

“It suits Daphne’s tastes too. Hurry and eat.”

Suji let out a small sigh and picked up her spoon.

The sweet and sour puree was indeed perfect for her palate. The fact that he knew her well and was considerate was no longer simply pleasing.

Only after cleanly emptying the amuse-bouche in front of her did she clasp her hands and open her mouth to address the group.

“The remaining time is tight. It’ll probably be even tighter if a Wave hits.”

That fact was already known to everyone.

Seeing the team members nodding gravely, Suji continued,

“First, the option of the 82nd floor itself will be visible to others, and everyone will know that we opened it.”

“Right?”

Saint nodded and began searching for reactions on his terminal.

Suji turned to Ilain.

“Ilain, you said it could be dangerous if outside personnel come in, but I think it’s best to gather as many people as possible and break through all at once. Ilain, are you against all outside personnel no matter what?”

Ilain smiled wryly as if he already knew the intent behind the question.

“Not everyone is on our side.”

It was a meaningful remark that was not easily understood.

“Our side? Do we have sides?”

Before hearing his answer, Suji understood what Ilain meant to say as she asked the question herself.

The Messiah.

Right. There were those people.

Those who sought only personal immortality, not the survival of humanity.

If by any chance they mixed into a party aiming for the top of the tower, there would be no greater headache.