Facing Rick's questioning, Moya hesitated, but finally nodded resolutely. "Yes, I'm sure. This is my final decision."
His decisive words struck like a bolt from the blue, shattering Rick's cherished vision like glass. He closed his eyes in pain, asking weakly, "How will you resolve your wanted status?"
"Th-That..." Moya faltered—he hadn't considered that.
"Rick." Lav suddenly stood, joining him. "Can we talk alone?"
"Lav, you... Alright." Rick, already braced for the worst, walked out pale-faced. Lav followed, lips tightly pressed.
At the village's edge, they stopped wordlessly. Rick sat on a ruined railing, gazing at the desert stars. "You're leaving too?"
Lav's face flashed surprise, then she sighed, sitting beside him. "You guessed?"
"Yeah... I'd prepared myself, since... we belong to different worlds. But I never thought... I can't stay calm now that it's happening." Rick laughed bitterly, the first time as an insect hunter that the future felt utterly bleak.
Lav rested her head on his shoulder, clutching his arm. "I know I shouldn't leave now, but I don't want to be a burden."
"No! You're not a burden!" Rick turned eagerly, her words rekindling hope.
"You don't need to comfort me. I see how naive I was." Lav smiled, snuggling closer. "I'll go with Rant and Moya to Terry County. With my help, Grandfather will leniently handle Moya's case. They can pursue their dreams unhindered, and I..."
"You'll leave me forever..." Rick finished, despairing.
"No, I won't!" Lav pressed a finger to his lips, looking up earnestly. "Trust me. I'm not leaving. Just give me time to adapt—to not hold you back."
Rick fell silent at her words.
"Moya feels the same. Don't see his departure as betrayal. We'll all return to you anew, I promise—you'll see." Tears shimmered in Lav's eyes as she pleaded.
After a long silence under the stars, Rick finally spoke.
"Alright, I believe you... Just promise this farewell won't last long."
Hearing Rick's reply, Lav broke into a smile through her tears, cupping his face. "Trust me, it won't be long! Wait for me in Ison City—I'll come find you soon."
But Rick only gave a bitter smile in return.
The future... He really needed to think about the future now...
The next day, the once-tight team split clearly into two camps outside the desolate village.
Rant had fully tamed the ant king, which now crouched obediently beside him, laden with baggage. Moya and Lav—whom Shust viewed as traitors—stood on either side of Rant.
On the other side, Anna accompanied Rick to say farewell, while Shust stood alone in the shadows, silent as he watched the group prepare to part ways.
Though still resentful of Moya and Lav's abrupt decision, a night's time had calmed Rick. Facing Moya now, he no longer felt betrayed.
"Take care of Lav for me. If a hair on her head is harmed, I promise you'll regret it!" Rick forced a smile, punching Moya hard.
Ordinarily, Moya would have bantered back, but today no one was in the mood for jokes.
Overnight reflections had filled Moya with guilt. Every time Rick looked at him, he flinched, fearing his conscience would make him abandon his lifelong dream.
"Rick, do you really not resent me?" Finally, as Rant signaled it was time to leave, Moya grabbed Rick's shoulders nervously.
"To say no would be a lie." Rick sighed, shaking his head. "But everyone has the right to chase their dreams. As your brother, I can't be a stumbling block on your path."
Rick's words eased Moya's tension. Gratefully, he hugged Rick tightly. "Thank you for understanding, my brother... I hope you'll still see me as a friend."
"Always... always a friend... my brother..." Rick's voice trembled as he fought to contain his emotions.
"Your words set my mind at ease. Thank you." Moya wiped away unbidden tears, took one last look at Rick, then turned to join Rant.
On the ant king's back, Lav—helped up by Rant—pulled Anna close, urging her repeatedly: "Take care of Rick while I'm gone, and no sneaking snacks!"
"Pfft, since when do you know how to take care of people? Don't lecture me! Besides, with you gone, I can finally make my move—he'll be mine by the time you return!" Anna retorted, leaving Lav speechless.
Perhaps realizing that Anna was indeed better at taking care of Rick than she was, Lav stopped picking on Anna and instead shouted to Rick, "Remember our promise!"
Rick forced a smile and made an OK gesture. Too afraid to watch them leave, he clenched his teeth, grabbed Anna's hand, and marched straight into the cottage where they had stayed the night before without looking back. Seeing his demeanor, Shust followed closely behind.
Outside, Lav—glancing back repeatedly—gradually faded into the distance with Rant and Moya, until they vanished completely beyond the horizon.
"Been holding it in hard, huh?"
Inside the cottage, Shust approached Rick, sighing wearily as he watched him stare out the window. He pulled a flask from his pocket and held it out.
"Thanks."
Rick didn't refuse. He took the flask and gulped down a swig. The pungent liquor burned down his throat, making him close his eyes in pain. After a long moment, he exhaled deeply.
"How's it feel?"
"Better." Rick returned the flask, massaged his temples, then turned to Balzac, who had been lingering in the room. "What's your plan now?"
"The Wolf Pack is gone. I have nowhere else to go, so I'm sticking with you." Balzac shot a cold smile at Shust. "Besides, someone and I still have unfinished business."
"Anytime." Shust twirled a dagger, entirely unfazed by Balzac's provocation.
Watching the two, Rick could only force a wry smile.
Three comrades had left, but an enemy remained—a outcome Rick could never have predicted, no matter how hard he'd thought. But sometimes, reality has a way of shocking you.
"Let's go. To Ison City."
Rick hoisted the pack containing the insect eggs and stepped outside first. Anna, Shust, and Balzac filed out after him.