Zenless Zone Zero: I'am a Dullahan!

Behind the door, No. 6, who had jumped up to open it, got slammed against the wall in an instant. Panta and Eous, following Belle in, quickly pulled him aside.

As the door shut behind them, a muffled voice echoed from inside.

"Brother! Brother!"

"Who told you to lie on the couch!"

"I bust my butt out there making money, and this is what I come home to?!"

"Who told you to sit on the couch!"

"Who told you to lean on the couch!"

"Who told you to just stand there!"

Wise, who had barely sat down to rest after a long day, was completely blindsided—caught in a storm of chaos before he even had time to react...

In the video store, a slender hand reached out to Zane, offering him an iced drink.

"Here—just bought this. It was buy one, get one free. I can't finish both anyway."

Zane accepted the drink, but his eyes remained locked on the door No. 6 was guarding, listening closely to Belle's voice that occasionally slipped through.

Beside him, Sjal—still in her work uniform—held her own drink, looking just as curious, her gaze following Zane's.

"Huh... I used to help out around here, but I never knew the manager had rules like no lying, no sitting, no leaning on the couch…"

She took a sip, her bright eyes full of curiosity.

"Mm... maybe it's just an excuse," Zane replied.

"Ohh... makes sense."

"By the way, Zane!"

"Are you really still not considering joining the Fire Pickers Society?"

"Uh... how many times is this now?"

Sjal changed the topic so suddenly that Zane was caught off guard. When he realized what she was getting at, he looked a bit exasperated.

"Oh come on, you know what they say—persistence pays off! How about fulfilling this tiny wish of mine?"

"Join the Fire Pickers, and you'll get all the data, merch, and even the latest Fire Pickers photo collection about to launch on the Hollows forum..."

As Sjal excitedly promoted the Fire Pickers Society, Zane's face darkened.

"Okay, stop right there. Where are those photos from?"

"Eh-heh, obviously from some famous illustrators! I've even seen one of the draft picks, and let me tell you, those lineworks…"

Zane quickly cut her off as the topic veered off course.

"Look, your pitch isn't bad."

"But... I'm gonna pass!"

"What? Why not?!"

...

Some time later, near the old Brant Street construction site.

"Ready to head out?"

Zane stretched his arms, two small black spheres faintly flickering at his sides. He was all set to collect the third Hollow.

"Alright! Let's move!"

Anton was the first to respond—he was itching to bring his comrade back home.

Nearby, Koleda glanced at the fired-up Anton, then at the calm and composed Zane. She quietly stepped up beside him and whispered,

"Hey... Zane, are you sure it's a good idea for you to come with us into the Dead End Hollows?"

"I've heard it's gotten pretty dangerous lately. You don't really have to..."

Koleda studied Zane with clear concern. She hadn't spent much time with him, but her first impression had been solid.

She didn't want anything to happen to someone like that.

Technically, the Proxy's role was just to act as bait—to locate the intelligent machines and guide the return trip. That alone should've been enough.

The rest, Belobog Heavy Industries could handle themselves.

"Me?"

Zane glanced down at Koleda, realizing she was talking to him. He pointed at himself, one brow raised.

"Little one, maybe worry about yourself first instead of me. Anyway, let's not waste time—let's go."

He waved her off with a light smile, scooped up Eous from beside him, and walked toward the Hollow.

"Miss Proxy, it's time to lead the way."

As his voice faded, Belle immediately got to work, and Anton and Ben followed Zane into the Hollow.

"This guy's... kind of full of himself, huh…"

Koleda shook her head with a helpless sigh, about to say something else—when her mind suddenly registered what Zane had just called her.

Wait. Did he just call her little one?

Did she really look that small?!

She was the president of Belobog Heavy Industries, thank you very much!

"Hmm? Are you worried about him?"

Grace appeared beside Koleda with a grin, tablet in one hand.

"I think he's got some hidden depth. Don't stress over it."

"Tch, who's worried about him? That rude guy? Who'd care about someone like him!"

Koleda crossed her arms with a pout and grumbled, then followed the others with Grace beside her.

At the rear of the group, Grace watched Koleda chatting with Ben, raised her eyebrows slightly, and smiled.

"Hmm... she's got a kind heart, though."

...

Inside the Dead End Hollows, the group had already made their way in. Anton and Ben were explaining the situation with the grabber unit.

"That grabber was in charge of hauling waste from the site before it disappeared. It had a steady daily route—start to finish—and we've been seriously short-handed without it."

Right after he finished, Ben suggested that maybe the grabber had run off into the depths because it couldn't stand the monotony of the job.

Anton immediately shot that down.

"Someone with real ambition wouldn't look down on work like this. It's only through that kind of grind—day in, day out—that muscles grow!"

With everyone watching, Anton was clearly in his element. He thumped his chest and declared,

"And it's only in the most mundane places that the soul can evolve—until it's tougher than diamond!"

"You can't just give up at the first sign of hardship!"

"After all, strong muscles and an unbreakable spirit don't come from cowards!"

Perched on Zane's shoulder, Eous tilted her head slightly. Belle's voice echoed through her.

"Zane, do you ever get that feeling where it's both awkward... and you still want to clap?"

She had originally planned to go alone, but considering the risks in the Dead End Hollows—and despite her annoyance with Wise—she was genuinely concerned for Eous.

Letting Eous stay with Zane was definitely the safest choice.

"You don't get it. That was gold right there..."

Zane waved his hand, brushing it off.

Belle went quiet. Maybe… maybe she really didn't get why guys said the things they did sometimes?

Beside them, Koleda overheard their exchange and explained with a sigh,

"Sigh... that's just Anton for you. Every time we start a new job, he fires everyone up with speeches like that..."