Chapter-341
What troubled the two even more was that the degree to which Zenin Kiyoshi's body was materialized seemed to be related to the distance between him and Riko.
When the distance is within one to two meters, Zen-in-Chih is almost indistinguishable from an ordinary person.
When the distance increases to within two to five meters, Zenjiro's body will show some abnormalities. He will become unable to perform some fine operations, such as typing or pouring water, because at some point, one of his fingers will become ethereal.
When the distance increases to within five to ten meters, Zenji Kiyoshi's body will appear partially blurred, and there may even be scenes of his backpack falling off his body and his pants falling down.
When the distance is more than ten meters away, Zenji Kiyoshi becomes almost invisible to ordinary people, becoming a near-transparent figure.
After discovering this pattern, both Riko and Zenin Kiyoshi felt somewhat embarrassed.
This means that even when Riko is doing something private, such as using the toilet, taking a shower, or sleeping, Zenin Kiyoshi has to wait for her at a short distance away.
According to Zenjiro Kiyoshi's original intention, he wanted to limit the distance, but Riko objected almost obsessively when Zenjiro Kiyoshi first brought this up.
She simply looked at Chan Yuanqing and, without the slightest hesitation, uttered a single sentence:
"If we don't manage to stay within the maximum distance, then you might disappear from my life completely again, and that's something I simply cannot allow!"
The sound of showering is just water running over my body, no different from rain. As for using the toilet, I'll turn on my phone's music so you can't hear it! When I sleep, you'll sleep next to me... on the floor!
I'll make sure you have your bedding ready! I won't let you catch a cold! So, no matter what, you must never leave my side by more than five meters! Do you understand?!
Faced with Riko's almost commanding request, Zenin Kiyoshi had no choice but to comply. As a result, Riko and he spent a somewhat awkward period together in the days that followed.
But such a period gradually faded away with the passage of time.
What was initially a bit awkward and embarrassing gradually melted away into everyday trivialities through repeated interactions.
At first, Riko was a little embarrassed to come out with wet hair, but now she is very natural, drying her hair with a towel and sitting in a chair, handing the hair dryer to Zenin Kiyoshi and waiting for him to dry it for her.
Zenin Kiyoshi showed no embarrassment or awkwardness. He even asked Riko to find a video on her phone to pass the time while he picked up the hairdryer. The two chatted and watched TV while drying their hair.
At first, Riko would blush a little when she went to the bathroom in the morning, but later she had no more concerns. She would walk straight into the bathroom with her messy hair, turn on her phone for a quick video call, and cover up the sound.
After all, back then, Zenji Seiki would be making breakfast in the kitchen, and the sounds of pots and pans were much louder than the sounds of her going to the toilet.
The couple also had a cat named Hoshi, a Ragdoll cat that Riko had rescued.
As for how the two of them will manage their daily expenses and living expenses?
Given Zenin Sei's condition, he certainly couldn't go to work, since he couldn't exist if he was even slightly away from Riko.
Therefore, Riko chose to open a restaurant with Zenin Kiyoshi, and they were basically inseparable every day.
However, the restaurant didn't do very well at first, and the two of them often had to take on private sorcerer jobs to supplement their income.
The days passed slowly like flowing water. Actually, when the two of them took exorcism jobs, they earned money much more easily and quickly than when they ran a restaurant, but Riko didn't like that kind of life.
For her, all she wanted was to continue living this kind of life with Zenjiro Sei, forever and ever.
Kariko is not an idiot, nor is she a selfish person who would abandon the whole world just for herself.
About six months later, Riko took the initiative to ask Zenji Seito:
"Xiaoqing, I can roughly guess that your return this time wasn't just to spend time with me, right? There must be some other things you need to do, right?"
Riko's voice trembled slightly as she asked these questions.
She was afraid, afraid that Zenji Qing would give her a bad answer.
She was afraid that Zenjiro would leave her directly, but she couldn't bring herself to keep Zenjiro by her side.
She loved the tranquility of the Zen temple, and this love even surpassed her love for herself.
If Zenjiro is forcibly kept by her side by her love, then this is not the ending she wants.
Zenin Kiyoshi didn't seem to expect Riko to ask this question. Originally, according to Zenin Kiyoshi's prediction, he planned to observe the dynamics of the balancing mechanism before deciding whether to take immediate action.
However, he quickly understood Riko's thoughts and intentions. While he was pleased with Riko's courage and decisiveness, he also felt an indescribable guilt and pity for her being too sensible.
He patted Riko's head and, instead of hiding anything, told her about the balancing mechanism and his speculations about Riko's identity.
After hearing Zenin Kiyoshi's answer, Riko felt a huge weight lifted off her shoulders. She didn't doubt whether Zenin Kiyoshi was lying to her. Perhaps in Riko's mind, the words Zenin Kiyoshi and deceiving her were completely unrelated.
Her eyes were filled with tears, but a smile played on her lips. Almost without hesitation, she smiled gently at the Zen temple and said:
"If that's the case, does that mean this world is fake, and in the real world, Xiaoqing, you're still alive, we're still in that village, and our time is still stuck there?"
The monk nodded and said softly:
"Yes, you are still a teenager now."
Upon hearing this, Riko suddenly burst into tears. She rushed forward and hugged Zenin Sei tightly, her voice trembling with sobs:
"That's wonderful, that's wonderful... Xiao Qing, you're not dead! That's truly wonderful! I can spend another five years with you, I can earn more time to be with you here, that's just so wonderful..."
Hearing Riko's words, Zenin Kiyoshi felt a slight pang in his heart. He looked at Riko and said softly:
"Riko, don't you resent me because I'm the one who dragged you into this and made you endure those miserable five years?"
"Those five years are nothing compared to the salvation you gave me."
Chapter-342
To be honest, Riko's answer far exceeded Zenin Kiyoshi's expectations; he was even somewhat taken aback by it.
From Zenji Sei's perspective, if someone dragged him into such an event and made him endure such a painful five years, even if he knew it wasn't that person's fault, he would inevitably feel resentment.
This resentment is a conditioned reflex to one's own suffering and a reasonable expression of self-love.
However, this kind of self-expression in the Zen temple's subconscious appeared extremely filthy in Riko's response.
Simply put, Riko's love for him far surpasses her love for herself.
This love was so profound that Zenjiro realized for the first time that his own thoughts and feelings seemed so insignificant in the face of these characters, whom he had long considered mere NPCs.
This is not a simple character from a comic or a story, but a living, breathing person with self-awareness, thoughts, and a vibrant, radiant life.
Riko's answer was like the gentlest spell, or rather, a curse.
She instantly calmed the surging waves of guilt in Chan Yuanqing's heart, but stirred up deeper and heavier ripples and constraints on the lake of his heart.
He felt his heart completely enveloped by a bittersweet emotion, almost unable to breathe, and pierced and entangled by a most profound curse called love.
Just like the curse of friendship that Xia Youjie cast on Gojo Satoru before his death under the afterglow of the setting sun, he not only killed Gojo Satoru, but also completely buried Gojo Satoru in that summer.
After that day, Gojo Satoru seemed to still be alive, but he was nothing more than a projection of that bitter summer.
Zenjiro instinctively tightened his arms, embracing the girl in his arms—a girl with a delicate and petite body, yet possessing astonishing resilience and pure love—even more deeply, as if he wanted to melt her into his embrace.
His chin rested gently on the top of her head, inhaling the scent of rose-scented shampoo emanating from her hair—the same rose scent he smelled himself in. They had bought a whole case of shampoo during a big sale to save money.
It also reflects the traces of their six months of living together, ordinary yet incredibly real.
"Your answer really leaves me speechless for a moment."
Zen-in Kiyoshi's voice was hoarse, with a barely perceptible tremor and a hint of bitterness:
"How can you make such a comparison... Pain is pain, and it shouldn't be overshadowed by any subsequent happiness. You really did experience that pain over the past five years."
"Yes, it is painful."
Riko mumbled an admission in his arms, but her arms tightened around Zenin Seiji even more:
"But it was that pain that made me realize my own feelings. Before that, I didn't know how important you were to me, but after that, I understood that without you, I would... I would..."
She still didn't have the courage to finish her sentence. Sometimes it's like that; even if you have the courage to risk your life, you don't have the guts to reveal your inner thoughts.
Riko didn't force herself to continue. She simply looked up at Zenji Sei, her eyes shining with an astonishing intensity, like the high beams of a headlight at the end of a country road.
"Those five years were indeed very painful, like being locked in a damp room without any light or hope."
But Xiaoqing, do you know? It was because I experienced so much coldness and darkness during those five years that I was able to further explore my inner self. So no matter what happens afterward, at least I know that everything I did was meaningful.
Riko tiptoed slightly, and with a smile, she reached out and gently smoothed the slight frown on Zenin Sei's brow, her gesture filled with boundless affection and tenderness.
"Xiaoqing, I know what you're thinking right now, but I just want to tell you not to feel guilty or blame yourself."
It was your appearance that made me realize what it feels like to be awakened by the aroma of breakfast being prepared before dawn.
What's it like to have someone accompany you to pick up a package at night and enjoy a late-night snack together?
Even... the fact that you monitor and eavesdrop on my bathroom breaks makes me feel so at ease.
As she spoke, she couldn't help but burst into laughter through her tears, her voice slightly nasal, making her look somewhat comical, yet incredibly sincere.
As Zenjiro listened to Riko's next words, the seriousness and self-reproach in his heart dissipated considerably. He shook his head helplessly and then said:
"What a messed up experience! Don't ruin the atmosphere like this!"
Riko smiled but didn't say anything. After about two or three minutes, she gently pushed Zenin Kiyoshi away and then said:
"It's a bit hot, go turn on the air conditioner. By the way, since we've come to what you said, Xiaoqing, shouldn't we start taking action? That guy Xiayou seems to have gone astray. Ah~ I really didn't expect that. I originally thought that guy Wujiao Wu would go astray."
After all, that guy has such a terrible temper, and he's a jerk who doesn't like to use honorifics. Oh! Sorry, I forgot you don't like to use honorifics either!
Seeing the slightly smug smile on Riko's face, Zenin Kiyoshi knew that she hadn't forgotten and said it by accident; she had clearly said it on purpose.
However, Zenji Kiyoshi just smiled slightly and didn't say anything. On the contrary, he felt a little comforted by Riko's little complaint. At least it was good that Riko could make a little sarcastic remark about him in this way.
Otherwise, his guilt would be too overwhelming...
"As for Satoru, he has actually experienced an illusion once before. Remember when Satoru and I suddenly ended up in the hospital in Okinawa? That was actually a brief coma caused by our first time entering an illusion."
Hearing this, Riko was somewhat surprised, and she subconsciously asked Zenji Sei:
"Huh?! The first person to enter the illusion was actually that guy Gojo?! What was his illusion like? Was it similar to ours?! Or was it completely different?"
Hmm! Don't say anything yet, let me guess. Judging from that guy's personality, in the illusion he's in, he might end up becoming a world-destroying demon king, right?! And then, Xiao Qing, you and we'll join forces to defeat your former best friend and companion?!
"Wow, it's a really old-fashioned thing, but if you think about it for a second... well, never mind, with that guy's fighting strength, I'd probably just get used as cannon fodder."
Seeing Riko's renewed energy, Zenin Kiyoshi patiently explained to her the contents of the illusion where Gojo Satoru was.
After listening, Riko suddenly fell silent for a moment.
Chapter-343
Zenin Kiyoshi was curious about Riko's sudden silence, and he asked her:
Why did you suddenly stop talking? Did you think of something?
Hearing Zenin Kiyoshi's question, Riko hesitated for a moment, then looked up in Zenin Kiyoshi's direction and said softly:
"Xiaoqing, I always feel that Wutiao's experiences are too similar to the development of our world?"
Hearing this, Zenji Seishin already understood, but he still asked Riko:
"Similarity is normal. After all, no matter who it is, their illusions are always created based on the blueprint of our original world. Given the similar foundation, it would be difficult to make them different in the future, right?"
Riko nodded upon hearing this, but still hesitated before adding to Zenin Kiyoshi:
"Xiaoqing, what you said is also correct, but haven't you noticed? Although our world and the world that Gojo is in are creations based on the same blueprint, they are very different in many ways."
These differences, whether large or small, range from the different heads of government to the absence of a case that should have occurred on a certain day.
But have you noticed that these changes, which seem enormous to ordinary people, are not actually the only ones occurring in the changes between our two worlds?
Upon hearing this, Zenji Kiyoshi looked at Riko with slight surprise, already guessing what Riko was about to say.
Riko glanced at Zenin Kiyoshi and noticed a slight change in his expression. She roughly guessed what he was thinking, then took a deep breath and said:
"Yes, that's right. That's what I wanted to tell you. It seems that Xia You killed an entire village and then betrayed the college. This kind of thing happens in almost every world."
Xiaoqing, I'm thinking, from the perspective of the "balancing mechanism," could Xiayou's sudden betrayal be the starting point and trigger for the world to fall apart?
Or, from the perspective of the balancing mechanism, is Xia Youjie's betrayal an inevitable event that would occur in any future?
Zenin Kiyoshi was somewhat taken aback by Riko's insightful analysis that led to this conclusion. Although Zenin Kiyoshi knew the answer to the question, the key point was that he had already observed the course of the world from a god-like perspective.
If Riko was able to deduce this much from just these few things, then there's no doubt that as more people are drawn into the "balancing mechanism," the future will likely develop in a certain predetermined direction.
It's like some kind of unobservable entity; the more people who understand it, the more powerful it becomes.
Thinking of this, Zenji Kiyoshi felt a slight tingling sensation on his scalp; it was like a multiple-choice question with no right answer.
Regardless of which path the balancing mechanism takes, it will eventually lead to a predetermined global trajectory once the population reaches a certain level.
However... Zenin Seiya doesn't intend to do the questions.
No one stipulates that the balancing mechanism must solve the problem on your side. Since the more people who know the solution, the more likely you are to find a corresponding solution on your side as well...
Upon seeing Zenji Seihan fall silent, Riko comforted him, saying:
"Xiaoqing, this is just my own guess. You don't need to take it seriously. And even if it is true, we will definitely have a way to solve this problem."
Seeing the somewhat worried look on Riko's face, Zenin Kiyoshi smiled and said softly:
"It's nothing, I was just thinking about more possibilities. By the way, we might need to continue making changes around Xia You's side, which will likely draw us back into the heart of the sorcery world, which is dangerous. If you..."
Before Zenjiro could finish speaking, Riko interrupted him very seriously.
She looked at Zen Temple Qing, her voice filled with seriousness and determination:
"Xiao Qing, don't say things like that again. To me, the world of magic is indeed terrifying, but it's only terrifying while you're alive. I'm afraid that one day something will appear in the world of magic that can harm you, or even kill you."
That's why I'm afraid of the world of magic, but when I'm able to face the dangers of that world with you, I find my heart filled with peace.
What I fear has never been the world of magic; it's simply that you'll get hurt!
As she spoke, large tears rolled down Riko's face once again. Whenever she thought about the possibility of separating from Zenin Kiyoshi, the pain she had felt a few years ago would return, and even just the lingering warmth was enough to make her feel breathless.
Feeling Riko's heavy yet pure emotions, Zenin Kiyoshi felt a tightness in his throat for a moment, and he was unable to utter a single word.
At that moment, Zenji Kiyoshi realized that all his previous concerns, such as "danger," "involvement," and "burden," seemed so pale and... self-righteous in the face of Riko's declaration.
He thought he was protecting her, but he overlooked the fact that in Riko's heart, being separated from him was the greatest hurt.
After a long while, Zenji Qingcai took a deep breath, as if trying to deeply engrave the warmth in his chest.
"I see."
Zen-in Kiyoshi's voice was deep and solemn, carrying an unprecedented weight of commitment:
"These words will never come out of my mouth again."
Riko nodded, and then, seemingly to express her dissatisfaction, she gently pinched the soft flesh of Zenin Kiyoshi's waist.
"So..."
Zenjiro felt the pinching of glass, and although he was somewhat helpless, his mood improved considerably.
When he spoke of the plan, his eyes regained their usual calmness and sharpness, but a warm undertone had emerged beneath.
"Our next step is to take a more proactive approach to Xia Youjie's timeline. We can't just passively wait for the 'repulsion' to weaken; we need to find an opportunity to intervene."
Riko immediately stopped smiling, and her expression became serious:
"What do you need me to do? Although my techniques may not be of great help, I can always be within five meters of you when you need to stay in a 'physical' state, whether it's gathering information, analyzing situations, or...
She even cracked a small joke in an attempt to ease the suddenly serious atmosphere.
Zenji Kiyoya smiled and looked out the window, as if he could see through the barriers of space to his dear friend who was wandering on the wrong path.
"We need a 'coordinate', an 'anchor point' that allows us to more stably observe and even intervene in the world line where Xia Youjie is located."
Based on Wu's experience in that world, and your earlier speculation... this 'anchor point' is very likely related to the key event in Xia Youjie's betrayal—'the death of Haibara Yu,' or even earlier, the aftermath of the 'Astrop Incident.'
Chapter-344
When the words "astromatter" were mentioned, Riko's expression clearly fluctuated, but after patting Zenin Kiyoshi's shoulder again, she calmed herself down and didn't say anything more.
Zen-in-shiki nodded silently, then continued:
"But it's too late to change either Haibara's death or what happened with the Star Magma. Xia You has already embarked on the wrong path. So what we need to do next is to let him know in advance that his path is wrong!"
How to achieve this is actually the same as what the [Balance Mechanism] does for us. Since it can give us hints from this perspective, it means that Xia Youjie's will plays a crucial role in the development of this world.
So, correspondingly, if we make Jay despair of the world and deny its existence before he has any impact on it, wouldn't that be enough?
While this might seem extreme and would cause Jay a lot of pain, honestly, like Riko mentioned before, I've also had my own suspicions that Jay might actually do something like that in the real world.
Riko did not refute Zenin Kiyoshi's words, nor did she choose to continue the conversation.
Riko had received a great deal of help from Natsumi Yuki and Gojo Satoru, so she couldn't bring herself to criticize Natsumi Yuki.
She could sense that Xia Youjie's inner world was actually more sensitive and fragile than what others perceived.
"So what are your plans for the future?"
In response to Riko's question, Zen-in Seishin pondered for a moment before answering:
"We've made some progress. Riko, do you know what this 'Prison Gate' thing is?"
"Prison Gate? Isn't that something used to seal people in a special space? Why are you suddenly bringing it up?"
"What I care about is not the sealing effect of the Prison Gate, but the conditions for activating the sealing effect of the Prison Gate."
As far as I know, the activation condition for the Prison Gate is that one must be sealed inside the Prison Gate for one minute before it can be activated.
Upon hearing this, Riko instinctively retorted:
"Does it really take that long? Without specific binding spells to assist, even an ordinary person could escape from here without any trouble, right?"
Zenji Sei shook his head at Riko, then explained softly:
"The activation time of Prison Gate is actually one minute in the mind. As long as you enter the range of Prison Gate's technique and the time you spend thinking in your mind exceeds one minute, it will be activated instantly."
To give a simple example, if you enter the prison gates and even a tiny bit of time flashes through your mind—from eating breakfast to paying for it—you'll be considered successfully bound.
Hearing Zenji Sei's explanation, Riko said with some surprise:
"One minute in your mind?! Isn't that an outrageous requirement?!"
Zenji nodded, but instead of continuing Riko's words, he continued:
"Yes, but what we need to focus on is actually learning from the conditions under which the Prison Gate is activated. I want to know exactly how the Prison Gate extracts thought information from the human brain."
If we can master this ability, it will give us a significant advantage over Jay's side later on.
Upon hearing this, Riko bit her lip and then looked at Zenji Seido:
"I remember that Lord Tianyuan had a back door to the Prison Gate, but ever since what happened to you, Lord Tianyuan's evolution has gone astray. However, because I lost my qualification as a Star Essence Body, I don't know what the current situation is with Lord Tianyuan..."
Zen Monk Qing said softly:
"It's alright, I'll figure something out. In a couple of days, you and I will go to the vocational school together. Before I met you, I already met with Shoko and Satoru, of course, those born in this world."
Riko nodded upon hearing this, but still glanced at Zenin Sei with some suspicion before saying:
"You went to see Shoko and Gojo first, didn't they let you materialize?"
Zen Temple Master Qing shook his head and said with a smile:
"No, only you did it. Perhaps it's because you're a special case?"
Riko pouted and said in a slightly sarcastic tone:
"Tsk, who knows? What if you're lying? And if you went to see Shoko in that same state as before... wait, did you secretly see something you shouldn't have?"
Zenji Sei gave Riko a flick on the forehead, then said:
"What kind of nonsense are you thinking about?!"
Riko rubbed her forehead, which had been flicked, and muttered, "It hurts!" But a secret joy flickered in her eyes.
Only she can bring the Zen temple to life!
This realization was like a sweet candy, quietly melting in my heart, diluting the subtle bitterness caused by mentioning the college and the deceased.
"Okay, okay, I know you didn't peek."
She waved her hand dismissively, then said seriously:
"What do I need to prepare if I go to a vocational college? Given your current condition..."
Riko looked Zenjiin Sei up and down, then stroked her smooth chin and said:
"Although they look no different from real people up close, the high school has a barrier, and there's also Teacher Nightmoth's cursed remains. Won't they notice something amiss?"
Zenjiro looked at her approvingly. Riko was indeed becoming more and more thoughtful in her considerations. After all, she was practically dead now. If everyone at the college suddenly knew that she was alive, there would probably be some other troubles. Therefore, Zenjiro did not plan to swagger into the college for the time being.
"The barrier isn't a big problem. I can stay close to you and use the fluctuations of your magical power to disguise myself, like a drop of water disappearing into the ocean. As for the cursed corpses and perception-type sorcerers..."
He pondered for a moment, then smiled and said:
"We need to avoid direct contact as much as possible. Our target is the Hongxing Palace where Lord Tianyuan is located, or perhaps we can find the place where the records about the Prison Gate are kept. As for Wu and Xiaozi, I will contact them using the same methods as before, and try to avoid direct meetings that might cause unnecessary trouble."
At this point, Zenji Seigan paused, then looked at Riko:
"The most important thing is you, Riko. Going back to the vocational high school might mean running into people you know, or it might bring back bad memories. If you feel uncomfortable, we can think of other solutions."
Riko shook her head, her eyes resolute:
"It's okay. As long as you're by my side, I can go anywhere."
She took a deep breath, as if to encourage herself:
"Besides, this is nothing compared to correcting Xia You's wrong path. I'm just... a little worried about you."
"This doesn't sound like something someone who doesn't even do housework would say!"
After a period of playful banter, Zenin Kiyoya and Riko finalized their itinerary and plans for going to the vocational high school.
Chapter-345
The plan was set for two days later, with Riko Nen using the excuse of wanting to go to the vocational high school to attend Mingming's birthday, so that her whereabouts wouldn't seem so strange.
Moreover, although Riko has never attended a birthday party in recent years because she doesn't want to be reminded of those memories, she has never lacked gifts.
After so many years, it's not surprising that Riko has let go of the shadow of "death" at Zen-in Sei.
However, when Riko recounted Mingming's recent situation, her expression was somewhat complicated. Under Zenin Sei's persistent questioning, Riko hesitated before finally saying:
"After you died, Miss Mingming was actually more self-destructive than I was. Although she was still the same as before on the surface, working, making money, and saving money, I could tell that Miss Mingming was just using a lot of work to relieve and numb herself."
She has never truly recovered from your departure. She once told me that sometimes even she doesn't know why she's been saving money all this time.
I asked her, "Haven't saving money always been one of your hobbies?"
But do you know how Mingming answered me?
Zen-in-shiki shook his head; he couldn't guess Mingming's answer.
Riko took a deep breath, her expression slightly complicated. She stared at Zenin Kiyoshi, then subconsciously reached out and grabbed the hem of his clothes tightly, as if afraid that he would suddenly no longer belong to her.
"Miss Mingming told me that the reason she used to make money was actually to prove that she was no worse than anyone else. She wanted to escape her life and the profession of sorcerer by earning a lot of money."
But she wants to become an extremely skilled sorcerer and earn enough money to leave the sorcerer's profession.
Well, it's a very contradictory idea, but when you think about it carefully, there's nothing contradictory about it.
Becoming a skilled sorcerer and earning enough money is a way to prove that you are no less capable than anyone else.
Using the money earned to shed the identity of a sorcerer is to live the life one truly desires—this is self-actualization.
But... everything changed after you appeared in Miss Mingming's life.
Miss Mingming told me that after getting to know you, for some reason, her focus on money started to gradually decrease. Sometimes, she even felt more satisfied when spending money on you than when she saved money.
I don't know how to describe this feeling, but I know that Miss Mingming must care about you a lot.
After you left, Mingming once told me that she no longer knew why she had saved so much money. It was like a robot programmed with fixed instructions; she was just following an old program to keep going.
But now, every time she saves money, every time she receives a reward, she feels no joy whatsoever.
The songstress told me that Miss Mingming hasn't smiled in a very, very long time.
After listening to Riko finish speaking, Zenji Seiwei sighed slightly. Riko's words reminded him of the mysterious reaction he had experienced in Gojo Satoru's illusion earlier.
Although Mingming at that time was not a real person in the real world, even in the illusion, Mingming's appearance still made people feel a little sad.
Sometimes even Zen-in-Chih himself didn't know whether this so-called "Succubus System" was good or bad.
Seeing the Zen temple's quiet silence, Riko bit her lip, broke the silence, and then said:
"Pack your things. Let's finalize the tickets now. You can't leave my side, or everything will... everything will be for nothing!"
Riko paused slightly at this point, as if thinking of something else, then gave Zenin Sei a sullen look and continued somewhat irritably:
"Remember to clean the toilet; you're losing so much more hair than before! You're clogging the drain every time!"
After saying that, Riko shook her head and walked directly into the room. But then she remembered that Zenjiro couldn't stray too far from her, so she came out of the room again and urged Zenjiro to clean the room quickly with a dark face.
Seeing this, Zenji Kiyoshi roughly understood why Riko was angry. He chuckled twice, then opened the bathroom door and obediently began cleaning.
Time flies, and when Riko stepped onto the land of the vocational college again, she felt as if she had been in another world.
Even if you know from Zen Temple Qing that this place is an illusion, can these experiences that are so real as to be unbelievable really be covered up by an "illusion"?
Riko doesn't think so. She feels that the world here is no different from the outside world, and she is experiencing another version of her life.
She also wanted to take this opportunity to see how many competitors she would face in the future!
Thinking of this, Riko felt a burning rage. She turned her head and glanced at Zenin Kiyoshi, who had completely disappeared, and stomped her foot in frustration.
She knew that Zenjiro hadn't left; he had simply infiltrated her shadow through some kind of magic. Riko could feel the warmth and security of knowing that he was right beside her.
She took a deep breath and continued walking towards the college.
They hadn't gone far when a somewhat surprised voice came from not far in front of them.
"Riko?! What brings you here all of a sudden?! Long time no see!"
The voice was full of energy and vitality. Riko subconsciously looked up and saw the songstress dressed as a shrine maiden standing not far in front of her, staring at her with a smile and surprise on her face.
The next moment, before Riko could say anything, the figure opposite her had already rushed in front of her, then grabbed her shoulder and said with a grin:
"That's wonderful! I haven't seen you in so many years. If it weren't for the fact that you send us gifts every year on our birthdays, I would have thought you were already..."
At this point, the songstress suddenly stopped. She seemed to realize that she had said something she shouldn't have, so she immediately stopped talking and awkwardly patted Riko's back again.
Seeing the songstress in front of her still acting the same clumsy and impulsive person she had a few years ago, Riko's mood seemed to return to the time when everyone was still together a few years ago, and she became cheerful and lively. She smiled and patted the songstress on the back.
But at that moment, the songstress suddenly sighed and continued:
"It's a pity, if only Xiao Qing were still alive."
Chapter-346
The songstress's unintentional remark was like a fine needle, gently pricking the softest spot in Riko's heart. Of course, this was her reaction earlier, when she was unaware of Zenin Kiyoshi's specific situation.
Upon hearing the songstress's words, she subconsciously sensed the unusual movement within her own shadow and shifted her body somewhat uncomfortably.
She then tried her best to keep her smile from becoming stiff, unconsciously clenching the hem of her clothes. She wasn't good at lying, as evidenced by her earlier statement that she didn't want to become Lord Tengen's tool.
"Ah... um, if only he were still alive."
Given this situation, Riko could only give a vague response to the songstress's sentiments, quickly lowering her head to conceal the unnatural emotions surging in her eyes.
She could neither tell the songstress the truth nor properly respond to her grief; instead, she could only awkwardly change the subject.
"Sister Diva, is Miss Mingming here? I...I've come to give her a birthday present."
The songstress seemed oblivious to Riko's unusual behavior, or perhaps she was aware, but she took Riko's reactions as normal. After all, it was understandable that she didn't want to mention Zenin Kiyoshi at this moment. She smiled and put her arm around Riko's shoulder, then said:
"Yes! Yes! She's in the lounge over there right now! But..."
As she said this, the songstress subconsciously lowered her voice, a hint of awkwardness in her voice:
"Mingming hasn't been in a good mood lately. If you don't get a friendly reception when you go there, don't be too upset."
I don't know what's wrong. Mingming has recently taken on several big orders and made a lot of money, but her face has become increasingly sour. But I can understand it. In the past, every time Mingming's birthday was coming up, that jerk Xiaoqing would always give her a lot of different gifts.
So, in previous years, before Xiaoqing died, Mingming always looked forward to her birthday. Now, even after five or six years, she probably still hasn't gotten over that feeling.
Hearing the songstress's words, Riko's heart tightened, and she subconsciously glanced at her feet.
Zenji Sei was hiding in his own shadow at that moment.
Riko knew, of course, why Mingming was in a bad mood. It was precisely because she knew that she felt even more guilty and... a kind of indescribable sour feeling, like the taste of lemon juice and vinegar mixed together.
"I...I understand. Thank you, Songstress! I'll definitely be careful with my words later!"
Riko forced a smile and practically fled towards Mingming's office.
Seeing Riko's expression, the kaji sighed from behind and shook her head, saying:
"Don't be so scared, Mingming is just in a bad mood, she won't eat anyone! And you haven't been here for so long, nothing will happen to you~"
Despite the songstress's comforting words, Riko felt no sense of reassurance.
She felt that every step was exceptionally heavy, and the warmth that once lingered in her shadow now seemed to carry a scorching heat.
That damned bastard Zenin Kiyoshi! Thinking of this, Riko couldn't help but grit her teeth in hatred.
Arriving outside Mingming's office, Riko took several deep breaths before mustering the courage to knock on the door.
"Enter."
A cold yet familiar female voice came from inside the rest room.
Riko pushed open the door and entered. The lounge was still impeccably clean, with a faint aroma of coffee and paper filling the air.
Calling it a lounge is a bit of an exaggeration; it's more like Mingming's private office, since he paid for almost everything in the renovation.
Mingming sat behind a large desk, looking down at a document. Her silver hair was neatly tied back, revealing her beautiful neck and slightly pale profile. Unlike in the original work, her hairstyle did not cover most of her face.
As Zen-in-Chiyo had said before, Miss Ming-ming looks better with her hair tied up.
Although this might cause some trouble at times due to sharing the crow's vision, it contains some of the few memories that Zenin Kiyo and she have left, so Mingming doesn't want to lose them.
Even as Riko pushed the door open and came in, Mimi didn't even look up to see who it was.
"Miss Mingming."
Looking at Mingming, who was still engrossed in his own work, Riko hesitated for a moment before speaking cautiously in a soft voice.
Upon hearing Riko's voice, Mingming's fingers, which were flipping through the documents, paused slightly, and he finally looked up.
Her eyes were sharper and colder than before, but deep within them lay a weariness and silence unlike anything she had ever felt before, like a frozen lake, both dazzling and indifferent.
When she saw Riko, a faint look of surprise flashed in her lake-like eyes, but she quickly regained her composure.
"Riko?"
Mingming put down the documents, leaned back slightly, and a slightly forced smile appeared on her previously expressionless face. She calmly looked at her and said in a slightly joking and friendly tone:
"This is quite a rare guest. Is there something you need my help with that you've come all this way?"
Although her tone was teasing, Riko could clearly sense the deep weariness and indescribable loneliness beneath her surface.
Mingming's behavior contrasted sharply with the songstress's enthusiasm, and Riko suddenly felt a sense of pressure. She presented the prepared gift with both hands:
"Um, Miss Mingming, happy birthday. This is... a gift."
Mingming's gaze lingered on the beautifully packaged gift box for a moment before she stood up and accepted the gift with both hands.
She then smiled and looked at Riko, her eyes seemingly able to see right through her:
"Riko, thank you so much for the gift. I've received many gifts from you over the years, but I've always replied with thank you on paper or in text messages. It's really rare to have the opportunity to say thank you for the gift in person like this."
Although her thanks sounded with a smile, there was still no relaxed and joyful atmosphere.
Riko looked at the gift in Mingming's hand and said softly:
"Miss Mingming, you can take a look at what the gifts are inside first."
Mingming was somewhat surprised upon hearing this, then smiled and said:
"Should you open it right in front of the host? Wouldn't that be too impolite? Or is it because the gift you prepared is exceptionally good, and you're so confident about it?"
Riko's heart skipped a beat at Mingming's words. She glanced at her own shadow instinctively, then said in a muffled voice:
"It's a gift that will really surprise you, Miss Mingming. You'll be extremely happy when you see it."
Chapter-347
Riko's voice was muffled, as if she were speaking through a blanket.
Mingming noticed the oddness in Riko's voice almost instantly. She was giving someone a gift, so why was she acting this way and with this attitude?
She began to wonder what Riko's gift was.
Mingming raised her head, a faint smile on her face, and then smiled as she continued Riko's words:
"If that's the case, then it seems I have no choice but to open it now. After all, as you know, I'm not a very patient person and prefer to get an answer immediately."
"But as long as it's a gift you picked out for me, Riko, even though I haven't opened it yet, my heart is still full of joy."
It seemed that Mingming realized that her previous attitude had indeed been a bit cold, so when she got to this point, she said a few words to make amends in order to soothe Riko's emotions.
As she spoke, she slowly and methodically unwrapped the gift box that Riko had carefully prepared.
Mingming unpacked the gift boxes very slowly, her movements were almost extremely gentle. Even the colorful ropes binding the gift boxes were untied slowly after finding the right direction, instead of tearing them open like Gojo Satoru did when unpacking gifts.
Riko stood beside Mingming, watching him unwrap the gift and sensing the strange movement in the shadow beside her. She felt her emotions were becoming increasingly unpleasant.
When Mingming completely opened the gift box, what came into view was a pure white raven with a somewhat peculiar appearance.
Looking at the crow, a look of surprise appeared on Mingming's face.
Because these pure white cursed crows are almost impossible to be born naturally unless they are specially bred by someone.
After observing the aura within the white raven for a moment, he realized that it was not a living creature at all, but a cursed corpse composed of a puppet and a small part of a soul.
However, in her memory, even the most powerful puppeteer in the world of sorcerers, the Night Moth Path, did not have the ability to create cursed corpses with such precision.
Not to mention Riko, who has no natural talent for sorcery, and the cursed remains of a pure white raven...
She only mentioned this to one person!
The Zen temple is peaceful!
Thinking of this, Mingming couldn't help but pick up the crow and examine it closely.
Her heart was racing. She could sense a faint and extremely hidden aura of cursed power within the cursed remains. It was... Zenji Qing's cursed power!
The hands that were holding the pure white raven's remains in Mingming's hands trembled almost imperceptibly.
That subtle, almost imperceptible remnant of cursed power, at this moment, was like a pebble thrown into stagnant water, stirring up a monstrous wave in the long-dormant lake of her heart.
Is she insane, or is she hallucinating?!
Or perhaps... this damned world has finally revealed, beyond its cruelty, that tiny sliver of mercy?
She suddenly looked up, her eyes, which were usually calm, calculating, and greedy for money, now surging with barely concealed emotions as she stared intently at Riko.
Even Mingming's voice, now unusually hoarse and low due to extreme repression, carried an almost dangerous urgency as she asked Riko:
"Riko...where did you get this?"
Her gaze was sharp as a knife, as if she wanted to peel Riko apart and dig out the answer from the depths of her soul.
That powerful aura instantly enveloped the entire office, and the air seemed to thicken at that moment.
Riko was startled by her reaction and instinctively took a half step back, her heel almost touching her own shadow.
She could sense that Zenin Kiyoshi in the shadows was also tense. Riko opened her mouth, then, as if she had understood something, she exhaled deeply, looked intently at Mingming, and slowly said:
"Miss Mingming, you must have already noticed by asking this question, right? There is Xiaoqing's aura inside this cursed remains."
Mingming's body trembled slightly when she heard the name Zenjiro. She lowered her head and bit her lip tightly. The figure that had troubled her for five or six years stirred her emotions once again.
Or perhaps... ever since he appeared, my inner emotions have never been left untouched.
Unconsciously, her fingertips caressed the relatively smooth beak of the cursed skeleton, the cold touch contrasting sharply with the burning urgency in her heart.
Five years have passed since Xiaoqing's death, a full five years...
Even in the darkest of times, one might believe that Zen Temple's presence and traces had long been completely erased from this world.
Over the years, she thought she had long since accepted it, long since become numb, and had long since buried all her surging emotions, along with that name, under the endless work and the accumulated numbers.
But at this moment, this faint aura of curse power, so weak it was almost negligible, was like a giant axe, cleaving through the icy shell she had built for herself, revealing the still bloody wounds beneath that had never healed.
Expectation, fear, ecstasy, doubt, sorrow... countless emotions collided fiercely in her eyes, making Mingming's breathing rapid at this moment.
Looking at the darkness, Riko felt a mix of emotions.
How should I put it? Riko felt a bittersweet sense of shared experience with Mingming, a feeling of being "fallen people," along with a touch of unease and a hint of... a subtle possessiveness and selfishness that even she herself was unwilling to delve into.
At this moment, Mingming also took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing her emotions, and said to Riko in front of her:
"Did you find Xiaoqing's belongings? But the remnants of cursed power usually don't last more than half a month. He died five years ago, yet I can clearly sense his remnants of cursed power here..."
Moreover, this pure white raven cursed remains are something I mentioned to Xiaoqing a long time ago. I... I really don't know how to formulate my words, and I don't know how to ask you. I'm so confused right now..."
A look of exhaustion and confusion appeared on Mingming's face. She looked at Riko and understood for the first time what it meant to be indescribable.
She had so many questions to ask and so many things to say, but her thoughts were a jumbled mess, and she couldn't sort them out at all.
Riko noticed this too. She gently reached out and grasped Mingming's somewhat cold hand, then softly comforted her:
"Miss Mingming, everything is going in the direction you most hope for. There's no mistake, he's still alive, and he's right here."
Mingming's hand tightened instantly, her eyes filled with tears, and she looked at Riko with an irresistible hope in her eyes.
Chapter-348
Right here.
These four words resounded like thunder in my ears.
Because of the subconscious exertion of her body, her fingernails, which were gripping Riko's hand, almost dug into the back of Riko's hand.
A faint trickle of blood dripped from the corner of her tightly clenched mouth, and the emotions surging in her azure eyes reached their peak in an instant, then seemed to freeze instantly, turning into an almost solidified silence.
At that moment, upon hearing Riko's words, Mingming even forgot to breathe, staring intently at Riko as if trying to find any hint of a joke on her face.
"You're saying he's still alive? And right here?!"
When people are particularly shocked or surprised, they cannot speak in a complete and continuous manner. Even their voices may become peculiar due to excessive shock. Some people unconsciously raise their pitch, while others become extremely hoarse.
At this moment, Mingming was the latter; her voice became extremely low and dry, and every word seemed to be squeezed out from the depths of her throat.
At this moment, Mingming did not doubt that Riko was lying, because the residual curse power on the cursed corpse was too obvious.
Moreover, only Zenjiro and she knew about the form of that pure white raven. Apart from Zenjiro, she had never told anyone else in the world!
Moreover, in her heart, she has always found it difficult to accept the fact that Zen-in-no-Ki has died, and even after five years, she still cannot accept it!
Therefore, when she heard the news that Zenji Qing was still alive, Mingming immediately chose to believe it.
She believes...
Zen Monk Qing is still alive!
He must still be alive!
This realization was like a ray of light, instantly piercing through all the isolation walls and cold heart she had built up over the past five years.
Riko could feel the coldness and trembling of Mingming's palm, and she could also feel the pain of her hand being pierced by Mingming's fingernails.
She felt her heart pounding incredibly fast. Riko took a deep breath and instead of answering Mingming's question directly, she gently released her grip on Mingming's hand and took a small step back toward the door of the lounge.
Immediately afterwards, Riko's gaze fell meaningfully on the shadow at her feet.
Subconsciously, she followed Riko's gaze downwards and saw a figure that she could never forget suddenly appear deep within the shadows that should have remained undisturbed.
The lounge was meticulously designed and decorated. It was well-lit, and Riko's shadow cast a clear silhouette at her feet.
At first, it seemed empty, no different from any other shadow.
One second, two seconds, three seconds passed.
Mingming is not a patient person, especially when it comes to things like this.
Just when she was almost convinced that it was a delusion caused by her excessive anticipation, the shadow distorted very subtly and unnaturally just before the fourth second was about to be read.
Just as an invisible pebble breaks the surface of calm water, a faint yet powerful force, identical to the residual energy within the cursed artifact in her hand, emerges.
Moreover, he could vaguely sense that the power there was much more "vibrant" than the remnants of the curse in his hand.
Zen Temple is quiet...
When the man's figure slowly emerged from the depths of the shadows, when his smile and presence reappeared in her life, when his gentle voice rang out once more, she was stunned.
"Hmm..."
Even Mingming herself didn't know that before her consciousness could react, her throat, or rather her body, had already produced a meaningless sound.
After quickly realizing the situation, she took a deep breath to calm herself, but choked on it because it was too rapid, letting out a short gasp.
She instinctively covered her mouth with her hand, just like a girl who doesn't want to show her ugly side in front of someone she likes.
Her other hand was tightly gripping the pure white raven's remains, so tightly that her fingertips were turning white.
When I cry, my shoulders tremble involuntarily.
After Zen Master Qing appeared, Mingming felt that her pretense of strength and numbness over the past five years had crumbled at this moment.
Her eyes quickly reddened, and tears welled up uncontrollably, blurring her vision in just a few moments.
She didn't cry out loud, but bit her lower lip tightly, letting the tears silently slide down her pale cheeks and drip onto her expensive handmade suit jacket, leaving dark stains.
Zenji Seiji watched this scene, his voice tinged with an emotion he himself couldn't quite describe:
"Underworld…"
The next moment, Mingming went straight up and hugged Zenin Kiyoshi, but unlike Riko who cried in his arms before, Mingming only hugged him very lightly and then immediately let go.
Once she confirmed that the man before her was a real person, she immediately stopped crying. Looking at Zenjiro, she gently shook her head and said in an almost weary voice:
"Although I was mentally prepared that you were not dead, how should I put it? If you have a similar plan to fake your death next time, please tell me in advance, or take me with you. Otherwise, I really don't know if I can hold on until I see you again next time I face this situation."
Mingming's voice was very soft, but the sorrow and pain in her words made Zenji Qingyue feel even more distressed.
He opened his mouth as if to explain something, but Mingming suddenly stepped forward, her slender fingers touching Zenjiro's lips. She leaned forward, her full body almost completely pressed against Zenjiro's.
"Shh~"
She leaned close to Zenjiro's ear, her tears still wet and her voice trembling slightly.
"You don't need to explain anything to me now. The fact that you entered the college in this way means that you must have many secrets that you can't tell me now. Finish what you're doing first, and then you can talk to me about other things."
I can wait for you here, and I will always trust you unconditionally. When you've sorted everything out, come see me, talk to me, that's enough.
After saying that, Mingming took two steps back and gently nudged Zenjiro. Riko, watching this scene, suddenly realized the difference between herself and Miss Mingming.
Just as Mingming had said, before Zenjiro could even speak, he was once again pressed into the shadows by an inexplicable force.
This is the balancing mechanism resisting the Zen Temple's purity, resisting the Zen Temple's purity in modifying the illusion time and time again!
Chapter-349
On the path leading to the vocational high school, Riko looked at Zenin Kiyoshi with a somewhat sullen expression, her voice low and heavy:
"Why didn't you say more to Miss Mingming before coming back? Don't you want to chat more when you meet again?"
Hearing Riko's clearly jealous words, Zenin Kiyoshi gave a slightly awkward smile, but he quickly adjusted his tone and explained softly to Riko:
"The balance mechanism of this world is very strong. When I wanted to explain the illusion to Miss Mingming, I was forcibly repelled into the shadows by a force."
We've probably already been targeted by the balancing mechanism, and our subsequent actions will likely face significant obstacles, especially regarding Lord Tianyuan's situation. I think the balancing mechanism's repulsive force will reach its peak when we're with Lord Tianyuan.
"The situation might be a bit dangerous then, Riko, so please don't come in with me. Just keep a distance of about ten meters from me, as far as you can."
Hearing Zenjiro's words, Riko's bitterness vanished. Compared to Zenjiro's safety, those romantic issues between men and women were simply unimportant.
Her face instantly turned pale, her hands clenched tightly, and she looked at Zen Monk Qing with a worried expression:
"No, if you're about ten meters away, your body is basically in a state where it could dissipate at any moment. In that situation, you can't even mobilize your spell power, let alone resist the danger. Since you said it's an illusion, then I'm unlikely to die."
Therefore! I must keep a distance of at least three meters from you!
As she finished speaking, Riko's face revealed an unwavering determination.
"Xiaoqing, you don't need to try to persuade me. Compared to those of you who are capable of facing danger and fear, I am already very weak and a burden. Ever since the asteroid incident five years ago, I have always been the one who is a burden."
I know what you want to say, and I know I couldn't help much before, but now, how much of your strength, as the strongest fighter you have so far, can unleash is inextricably linked to me.
In this situation, tell me, what reasons or excuses do you have left for me to continue hiding in the background and watching you face death and suffering?
Xiaoqing, I'm begging you, please don't leave me behind!
If it weren't for my lack of innate talent, I would absolutely, positively never have let you fight alone on the front lines. I've never been a mindless pretty face; I just want to be with you!
Looking at Riko before him and listening to her words, Zenji Seiji remained silent for a moment. Then, he reached out and gently stroked Riko's slightly ruffled head, saying softly:
"It's okay... Riko, you don't need to ask me for help. It was my fault before. Sometimes I was too self-centered and ignored your feelings and thoughts. But I can't guarantee that if danger really comes, I will still disregard your feelings and exclude you."
Hearing Zenjiro's words, Riko smiled slightly and nodded. She gave a soft hum and slowly said:
"I knew you'd say that, making it sound like I'm some kind of rebellious high school girl! You old-fashioned patriarch!"
After saying that, Riko didn't wait for Zenin Sei's reply, but ran ahead on her own. Her steps were light, and she seemed to be in a very good mood.
"Should we go directly to Lady Tianyuan now? But Lady Tianyuan's condition... even I don't know if she's dead or alive. If we don't go to Lady Tianyuan, should we visit some other people instead?"
Riko suddenly stopped and turned to ask Zenji Seijin where he had gone.
In response, Zen Temple Seisei replied:
"Let's go to Gojo and Shoko first. They've seen me before, though I hadn't returned to physical form then. Now I want to test whether I can communicate with them normally once I'm in physical form."
However, there are also risks involved. If the balancing mechanism senses all of this and feels that our behavior is a threat to its development, then some unexpected situations may occur.
Is it possible I'll simply disappear, or that time will accelerate only for me? Or perhaps you'll all suddenly forget I exist...?
In short, there are many possibilities, but this is an inevitable path. If we continue to let the balancing mechanism develop unchecked, I, in the real world, will also be affected by the reason I was forgotten in Xia You and your illusion.
Riko bit her lip, knowing that Zenin Sei wasn't joking, so she took a deep breath and slowly said:
"If that's the case, is there any way to guarantee that I won't forget your current memories?"
Zen Master Qing shook his head and sighed, saying:
"I don't have any clue myself, but this may not necessarily happen, so you don't need to feel too much pressure. Maybe after seeing the five points, the balance mechanism will not fluctuate."
After calming Riko down a bit, Zenin Kiyoshi took her to the vicinity of Shoko's dissection room.
Near the dissection room of the glass, there is a barrier spell specially set up by Zenin Kiyoshi. Although Zenin Kiyoshi in this world is dead, the things that have already happened in the past cannot be changed at will, even by the balancing mechanism.
Therefore, this barrier was essentially useless to Zen Monastery Qing.
Under Zenjiro's command, Riko quickly broke through the barrier and entered the rest room next to the dissection room.
As for why she didn't knock and just came in, it's because if she did, the high school might set up a listening device to monitor Riko's arrival.
After all, Shoko possessed a large amount of information about the deaths of people in the High School, as well as some secretive information. In addition, Shoko was the only one who could use the Reversal Technique on other people. It can be said that Shoko's status in the High School was extremely high.
Previously, the head of the Spells Department was kept in check by Zenin Kiyoshi, but now that Zenin Kiyoshi is dead, who knows what that guy Lu Su might do? Therefore, Zenin Kiyoshi did not want to add any potential risks to his operation.
The moment Riko pushed open the door, Shoko glanced at her in surprise, but within seconds she reacted. She put down her half-eaten lunchbox, rushed to Riko, hugged her, and said with a smile:
"That guy, Xiaoqing, should be here right now, right? After all, he helped you get in, Riko, am I right?"
Chapter-350
After Shoko finished speaking, she released Riko and took a half step back. She still had that lazy yet shrewd smile on her face, but she wiped her palm on her white clothes.
I hugged Riko because I was too excited, but I had recently dissected a corpse. Although I didn't have any strange smell, I guess Riko wouldn't like that unique smell of disinfectant.
Moreover, most people think this kind of work is unlucky, so Shoko felt that her subconscious action just now was somewhat offensive.
Riko noticed Shoko's subtle hand movement, smiled, stepped forward, gently took Shoko's hand, and whispered:
"Shoko, I brought that bastard Kiyoshi with me! That guy's right here in my shadow, but..."
At this point, Riko was a little unsure how to explain those things to Shoko. Should she tell her that she was just a hallucination from a virtual world?
Isn't this a bit too much...?
Upon hearing Riko's words, Shoko's gaze froze instantly. She subconsciously looked in the direction of Riko's shadow, her eyes seemingly able to pierce through the void, still holding the clear outline of the shadow within them.
"What? Riko has already told you where you're hiding, why are you still unwilling to come out? Do you need me to take out a scalpel and 'dissect' you out of Riko's shadow, Kiyoshi?"
As she spoke, Shoko lit a slender cigarette, took a drag, and slowly exhaled the smoke, her tone carrying a confident assurance:
"When you came to see me in that state last time, I already felt that something was wrong."
Previously, your body could be described as a pure soul state, or a form that was difficult to understand. At that time, you were unable to clearly convey your words and emotions.
Not to mention... being able to help people break through the barriers you set up without them even realizing it. That alone is enough to confirm that you now have the ability to manipulate magical power and influence the real world.
Has your body recovered physically? What method was used to recover? Don't give me any other excuses.
At this point, Riko pointed to the door of the lounge and explained slowly:
"No one can easily break into this barrier except for yourself or someone who possesses your specific magical power imprint. Even if someone knows the internal structure of the barrier, they would still need to use their magical power to open it."
But the barrier was just opened from the inside, which means you must be here. Even though Riko has made some progress in her spellcasting over the years, she hasn't reached this level yet.
"so..."
Nitrog flicked off the cigarette ash, his sharp gaze fixed on the direction of the shadow:
"Is the reason you're still unwilling to come out because something bad might happen if you appeared in front of me now?"
"Alright, you don't need to answer anymore. Riko just gasped for breath, which already tells me the answer. Wait a moment, I'll call Gojo over. He might have some ideas to help you. As for me, don't expect a support staff member like me to do anything useful."
As she said this, Riko wore a faint, self-deprecating smile. Looking at that smile, a bitter feeling of shared misery spread through Riko's heart.
To put it bluntly, she and Shoko are not much different. They are both the kind of people who are unwilling to stay in the background, but due to their own abilities and talents, they can only stay in the background unwillingly.
Thirty-five minutes later, when the flustered Gojo Satoru appeared in the dissection room, Riko and Shoko were eating. Shoko had specially ordered food to be delivered.
Gojo Satoru was still working when he received the call, so he was a little late getting back.
Furthermore, Shoko specifically instructed Gojo Satoru not to do anything different from usual, so as to avoid arousing suspicion.
Although he was anxious, Gojo Satoru followed Shoko's request and, as usual, was slowly led back to the high school by the assistant supervisor.
However, it was clear to anyone with eyes that when Gojo Satoru cleared away the cursed spirits in front of him this time, his actions and methods were obviously much more brutal than before.
However, the people in charge at the scene just assumed that Gojo Satoru was in a bad mood, since Gojo Satoru did not do anything outrageous afterward.
"Shoko! What did you mean when you said that Kiyoshi was right here?!"
Although he had known for a long time that Xiaoqing was still alive, and had even spoken with her, the phrase "right here" that Shoko said this time clearly had a different meaning than before. As Gojo Satoru pondered that meaning, he couldn't help but feel a little itchy inside.
Given Shoko's personality, what she said most likely meant that Zenin Sei had "come back alive"!
Seeing Gojo Satoru's anxious expression, his face filled with an urgent desire for an answer, Shoko helplessly tossed him a lunchbox, then patted the chair next to her and slowly said:
"Didn't you see Riko is still here? Idiot, remember to say hello to Riko, then come over for dinner. There's plenty of time, we can chat slowly."
Reminded by Shoko, Gojo Satoru seemed to only then notice Riko sitting beside him. He raised an eyebrow behind his sunglasses, casually pushed them up to reveal his pale blue eyes, and greeted Riko with a grin:
"Oh, Riko's here too! I'm so sorry! I didn't see you earlier. I'll treat you to dinner later!"
He greeted us hastily, and while he was polite in his words, his attitude still seemed somewhat perfunctory.
But Gojo Satoru was indeed anxious and flustered, and he couldn't care less about politeness for the time being.
He immediately turned to Shoko, practically leaping onto the chair opposite her, stretching out his long legs, leaning forward, and said in a somewhat agitated tone:
"As for food, you can eat it anytime! Shoko, stop being so mysterious and just tell me!"
Did Xiao Qing come back with a physical body?! And not in that invisible soul form like before?!
He deliberately emphasized the word "physical body," his eyes fixed intently on Shoko, his azure eyes seemingly brimming with a flame of excitement.
"You idiot, I already said to eat first! Also, go and greet Riko properly. This time, Riko brought Xiaoqing along. I'll tell you while we eat; things are a bit complicated."
"By the way, Xiaoqing is in Riko's shadow, but he can't come out for the time being. Think of something, I'll explain the situation to you."