Lin Luo sighed inwardly. Although Reimu had concealed it well, the instant she turned away, Lin Luo still caught a fleeting glimpse of despair and sorrow in her eyes.

It wasn't that Lin Luo hadn't seen such a look before; in fact, he'd seen it many times. It was the same look Misaka Mikoto wore when she desperately wanted to save the Sisters but found herself powerless. It was the look Touhsaka Rin showed when recalling her deceased parents. It was the look Artoria held when facing Lily's Knights of the Round Table. It was the same expression Nakamura Yuri wore when recounting the murder of her three younger siblings by bandits.

He understood the meaning behind that gaze better than anyone, and he knew more clearly than anyone the silent screams and suppressed agony hidden beneath it.

Thus, in an instant, Lin Luo understood the sorrowful soul concealed beneath Reimu's carefree facade, and how deeply she missed that person beneath her outwardly aloof demeanor—even knowing it was an impossible wish, she surely longed for one more chance to see her... the previous shrine maiden!

Sitting cross-legged in the hallway, Lin Luo slowly closed his eyes. He could almost see the happiness of a shrine maiden walking and laughing while holding a little girl's hand within this small shrine. And then, in this very same shrine, he envisioned the little girl sitting alone on the veranda, staring at the stone steps opposite, weeping as she waited for the shrine maiden who was never coming back—the sheer desolation and loneliness of it.

Opening his eyes, Lin Luo’s face was etched with a bitter smile, yet beneath the bitterness was a hint of solace. "The burden on my shoulders has grown heavier. But... I have one more reason to follow through with my decision."

Reimu, having entered the kitchen, did not return but left the shrine, gradually moving farther away. Lin Luo didn't know where she was going, nor did he stop or chase after her, because he understood. Words held no meaning for Reimu; comfort was absolutely not among the things she needed!

"Father." The girl's clear voice reached his ears. While Lin Luo was lost in thought, Meimu had, at some unknown point, pulled open the sliding door of her room and was peeking out toward him.

Lin Luo turned his head, offering a faint smile, and beckoned her over. "Come here."

Meimu giggled and immediately scampered over. When she reached his side, Lin Luo scooped her up, setting her on his lap, and held her close as he asked, "Where were you just now?"

"Playing inside," Meimu replied with a grin.

"Have you eaten lunch?"

"Not hungry." Meimu shook her head, then looked up and asked, "Where is Father?"

"Hmm. I'm not hungry either." Lin Luo stroked her head, his face full of warmth. He was truly troubled. Regarding the choice between the Great Barrier and the shrine maiden, although he had decided on his course of action, he knew that this decision wasn't an end, but a beginning—a beginning that could very likely plunge everyone into absolute peril. Therefore, even though he had decided, he still couldn't fully let go and act without restraint.

He felt as if he were standing on the very crest of a storm. A single misstep, and he would shatter into pieces, taking everyone connected to him down with him.

He knew this state of mind was unhealthy, but he couldn't control it; he truly couldn't manage to calm himself completely. Only in this moment, holding the little one in his arms, did he finally feel a fleeting sense of warmth and peace... because when he was with Meimu, he didn't need to overthink things.

"Na, don't call me Father anymore; call me Dad," Lin Luo said.

"Why?" Meimu asked curiously.

"...I don't really know. Maybe I just want to be myself again."

"Be yourself again?" Meimu tilted her head, her face a picture of confusion. "Isn't the Father now already Father?"

"Of course, that's not what I meant..." Lin Luo found it slightly amusing but didn't know how to explain, so he simply said, "When you call your mother, do you call her Mother?"

"No, I just call her Mom."

"Then that's fine. Call me Dad from now on."

"Oh." Meimu seemed to understand somewhat and nodded obediently.

"Dad, Mom ran out by herself just now. Where did she go?" A moment later, Meimu asked again; children always have more topics.

"Probably for a walk."

"Aren't we going?"

"No, we're staying here."

"Why? I felt like Mom wasn't feeling very well. If we went too, maybe Mom would be happier."

"Hmm... How should I put this? Everyone has their own secrets, and aspects they don't want anyone to see, even those closest to them. So, we just need to wait here."

"Why?" Meimu tilted her head, thinking for a moment, still not quite grasping it.

Lin Luo was quite patient with Meimu's sudden barrage of questions, smiling as he stroked her head. "You might not understand these things now, but you will gradually realize them when you grow up."

"Oh." Meimu nodded, looking as if she had understood, yet her bright eyes revealed she hadn't grasped anything at all.

Meimu was a very bright child; what she learned through observation and hearing was knowledge beyond the comprehension of many adults. However, she was, after all, just a two-year-old child. The human heart, the most complex thing, cannot be fully grasped even by the wisest person in the world, let alone her.

Since Meimu didn't understand, she naturally didn't dwell on it. After a brief silence, she quickly found another topic and said to Lin Luo, "Dad, thank you."

"Hmm?" This time, it was Lin Luo who looked bewildered. "Thank me for what?"

"Because Dad kept his promise and let Mom wake up again. You're a real hero," Meimu said innocently, looking up at him, then planted a loud kiss on Lin Luo's cheek.

"Eh!"

Lin Luo was momentarily stunned, not by Meimu's sudden affection, but by the word hero.

When Reimu had suddenly died, to comfort Meimu and encourage himself, he had indeed told her that he was a hero and could certainly save Reimu. But... he knew he wasn't a hero. ~~Shushuwang Back in the A Certain Magical Index world, after defeating Accelerator to save the Sisters, he became a hero in their eyes. But only he knew he had no choice; he had to fight because if he hadn't intervened, Mikoto would have been in danger, and if Mikoto was harmed, he wouldn't survive long either... In essence, everything he did was ultimately for himself, even though he did save many people.

Then came the Type-Moon world, the Weapon Race world, the Magician world... He saved many in each, becoming a hero in many eyes, but he knew he didn't qualify. Because... rescuing some people carried no risk and was done casually, while rescuing others was tied directly to his own safety; if he didn't save them, he himself would be in danger.

Saving from a safe distance was charity; saving from a dangerous distance was self-preservation... How could such actions be called heroism?

No matter how much he deceived himself, he couldn't conceal the display of superiority and underlying motives.

Of course, during the Fourth Holy War, he sacrificed his life to save everyone, and at that moment, he truly became everyone's hero. But... sacrificing one group to save another—that wasn't salvation at all, even if the sacrifice was himself!

He only achieved his own release, leaving sorrow for those who lived. Such a selfish act...

Hero—I am still far from deserving that title... Lin Luo mocked himself inwardly.

But Meimu had called him a true hero.

Perhaps in Meimu’s heart, the meaning of "hero" was very simple: someone who achieved what she wished for but couldn't accomplish herself. Yet, these innocent words represented her deepest hope.

"Meimu," Lin Luo began.

"Yes?"

"What kind of person do you think a hero is?" Lin Luo asked.

"Someone who makes everyone happy," Meimu replied without hesitation, looking at Lin Luo with the gaze reserved for heroes, full of respect and adoration.

"Everyone happy... But what if this hero's actions put everyone in danger?"

"It doesn't matter, because if it's Dad, you can definitely succeed," Meimu's innocent tone was filled with absolute seriousness.

"Heh heh." Lin Luo laughed, a sound laced with helplessness, yet also a touch of ease. Meimu had equated him with a hero, placing such a massive mantle upon him that he truly had no retreat left.

If he continued to hesitate, he would betray Meimu's expectation; if he failed to become a hero, he would betray Meimu's trust... This was unforgivable.

"I give up on you!" Lin Luo burst into a loud laugh, lifting Meimu and setting her beside him, while he himself stood up from the veranda. (Nuoqiu)

"Dad?" Meimu tilted her head, unable to comprehend Lin Luo's sudden movement.

"Wait here for Mom to return. I need to leave for a moment," Lin Luo instructed her, then strode forward.

"Where is Dad going?" Meimu stood still, calling out loudly.

Lin Luo kept walking forward, without looking back, without hesitation, his face wearing a confident yet composed smile. He slowly raised his right hand, pointing toward the sky, and declared with unwavering certainty:

"To... become a hero!"