Chapter 200

Who knows?

"As expected, the Kaslana family are all idiots," Hi-Fyūmaru finally gave his assessment, saying, "How many times do I have to say it?"

"I've already said, it's not about control! It's a transaction, a fair transaction."

"You're talking nonsense." Kallen didn't believe what Hi-Fyūmaru said, "That's not true at all."

"It must have been you who controlled Yae Sakura!"

"Yae Sakura is the guardian of Yae Village."

"How could someone do such a thing?"

Why not?

Li Pu wanted to chime in, but decided against it. Kallen's experiences and understanding differed from Yae Sakura's, and also from his own. There was no point in trying to persuade her on this matter.

Li Pu could understand the hatred in Yae Sakura's heart.

But Kallen might not be able to.

So I'd better not interrupt.

"What a stubborn head," Hi-Fyūmaru remarked. "Forget it, I'm not going to argue with you about this. Anyway, this is a transaction, not something I can control at will."

"Of course, I have another deal to make."

"You bastard, even if I, Kallen, die! Die in this Far East, die in Yae Village!" Kallen declared righteously, "I will absolutely not make any deal with you."

"This is Yae Sakura wants to talk to you about," Hi-Fyūmaru said, suppressing his volatile temper.

This kind of stubborn guy is really hard to talk to.

"Huh? Yae Sakura?" But when Yae Sakura's name was mentioned, Kallen actually felt a little bit like agreeing.

"No! You're the one trying to control Yae Sakura to deceive me, aren't you?"

Kallen said distrustfully, "Do you think I'm that easy to fool?"

"No, that's not it." Hi-Fyūmaru said disdainfully, "Do you think I need to control Yae Sakura to talk to you? I could just talk to you directly."

"What's the point of having an extra middleman? Just to let the middleman profit from the difference?"

"Oh... that seems so." Kallen nodded and said, "Then let's talk."

Perhaps this is a good opportunity to persuade Yae Sakura.

Kallen agreed, and the huge fox pushed back, lying on its back like a dog. Ge Ningning, Ge Ningning, was writhing there like a maggot.

Yae Sakura, who now possesses a soul, walked over.

"Yae Sakura?" Kallen looked at the familiar person; she hadn't changed much.

Except for having an extra pair of... donkeys... no, okay, Li Pu is right.

These donkey ears... no, these fox ears look more like donkey ears.

"Yes," Yae Sakura replied, "It's me."

"Yae Sakura." Kallen felt slightly relieved; it seemed this fox with donkey ears was at least honest. At least on this point, it wasn't wrong.

She did not control Yae Sakura's negotiation with herself.

"Yae Sakura!" Kallen's heart sank even further, and she seemed to be crying out, "You..."

"Kallen." Yae Sakura interrupted Kallen, saying calmly, "The Yae Sakura who protected Yae Village is dead! That was the Sacrifice Ritual from back then."

"After Rin died, the Miko who protected Yae Village, Yae Sakura, died along with her sister."

"The current Yae Sakura is not the guardian of Yae Village."

"Yae Sakura is an avenger!"

Kallen was speechless; she wanted to say something but couldn't utter a word. Whatever words she wanted to say turned into a sigh.

If this really is Yae Sakura, then this really is Yae Sakura.

The fox with long donkey ears was telling the truth.

Yae Sakura wasn't passively corrupted or controlled.

She did it willingly; she deliberately chose to open the box and unleash the Demon in the Box. She is an avenger! Seeking revenge against the villagers she once protected.

"Is there really not even a tiny bit..." Kallen hesitated for a long time before saying, "Is there even a tiny bit possible?"

"Look at Li Pu," Kallen suddenly said, pointing at Li Pu. "Look at him, he also suffered unfair treatment from the villagers."

"But he still decided to protect this place."

"Because there are still people here who are worth protecting."

"Not everyone is guilty."

"If this is the revenge you want," Kallen said, "Isn't that enough?! Look at what Yae Village has become!"

"Haven't you punished them enough?"

"Can't you just stop, Yae Sakura?"

Yae Sakura didn't answer, but her eyes had already given Kallen an answer.

Impossible!

Kallen understood Yae Sakura's gaze, and her heart ached even more as she said, "Is this your decision, Yae Sakura? Then you should negotiate."

"Please step aside," Yae Sakura said. "I don't want to hurt you, Kallen."

"The affairs of Yae Village are none of your business, but there is no problem between you and me."

"There could have been a better ending. I don't want to fight you."

"Sigh..." Kallen sighed and said, "Perhaps, perhaps there really is a better ending for us."

"But..."

Kallen suddenly became incredibly determined and said, "I! Kallen Kaslana will absolutely not step aside! I will not stand by and watch you slaughter the villagers of Yae Village at will."

"I am Kallen Kaslana! Kaslana is the shield of the people!"

"Kaslana will never back down."

Negotiations broke down.

Yae Sakura probably already understood this, and she looked at Li Pu again. This man from the future, Kallen's reincarnation. He was indeed different from Kallen.

Like Kallen, he never changes his mind once he's made up his mind.

"If this is all you've got," Yae Sakura said expressionlessly, "Then here, you can't protect anything! You can't save anyone!"

At this moment, Hi-Fyūmaru began to act.

As the 12th Herrscher of the previous era, she revealed her true fighting power to the Valkyrie of this era for the first time.

The fox looked huge and clumsy.

But in reality, they acted quite quickly.

Almost instantly, it had already overtaken Kallen, opened its gaping maw, and pounced on Rin, who had no chance to react.

Bell is a sacrifice, the reincarnation of Kallen, and one of the people Li Pu saved and decided to protect.

This is an excellent target.

Let those two idiots understand that they can't protect anything and can't save anyone! Let them watch as the person they decided to protect is torn to shreds right before their eyes.

However, at that very moment, another figure was one step ahead of it.

He stood in front of Ling!

He held the Colorless Serenade in his hand; he was Li Pu! Tiny specks of starlight appeared on him. It was a feeling that belonged to Kallen, yet it didn't quite feel like Kallen's.

It's someone else's feeling.

Is this a challenge to fight me?

It seems I underestimated you; you actually managed to keep up with my speed.

That's fine, let's see how many secrets you have as the reincarnation of Kallen.

Hi-Fyūmaru prepared himself for the onslaught of bullets.

However.

Li Pu didn't make a move. Instead, he spread his arms and dropped the gun in front of Hi-Fyūmaru.

'This guy...' Hi-Fyūmaru was completely baffled. How could he drop his weapon in front of his enemy?! Was this guy insane? Or was he just being underestimated?

Do you think you don't need weapons to deal with yourself?

"Don't underestimate me, you bastard!" Hi-Fyūmaru roared. "Do you think I'm a kitten?"

Is there some backup plan in mind?

Who knows!

Hi-Fyūmaru opened his blood-red maw and took a bite.

Then...

Then there was no resistance as expected, and no follow-up attack. The anticipated battle never happened; all that remained was the feeling of fangs easily piercing flesh.

'What... what's going on?!'

Hi-Fyūmaru felt a little panicked!

To say that killing Li Pu would be no obstacle for Hi-Fyūmaru at all. But that's only from Hi-Fyūmaru's perspective.

But now we have to count not only ourselves, but also our collaborator Yae Sakura!

He had promised Yae Sakura he wouldn't kill Li Pu.

Oh no! Oh no!

Now things are really not good.

What should I say? Should I tell Yae Sakura, "This wasn't my fault, and I didn't want to kill him either?"

He bumped into my teeth himself.

Even if it were true, who would believe it if I said it out loud?!

Hi-Fyūmaru felt a little flustered, but at that moment it also felt a hand gently protecting it! It wasn't a struggle, nor was it a death-defying resistance.

It's a very light, comfortable, and gentle feeling.

This feeling made Hi-Fyūmaru feel as if she had been electrocuted.

It stared wide-eyed at the person whose body was half-buried in its mouth. What was he thinking? What was he going to do? Even in this state, what else did he want to do?

It looked at Li Pu, at the starlight on him.

The shadows of some people are becoming more and more obvious in him.

One of them, in particular, seemed more familiar to it.

"I'm sorry..." Li Pu said weakly, "Hi-Fyūmaru."

'Sorry? Sorry for what?' Hi-Fyūmaru was even more confused. You're about to die. And you still want to apologize? And to the person who killed you.

Shouldn't one be afraid, terrified, and not want to die at this moment?

What's there to apologize for?!

Wait... no! That familiar feeling... isn't Kallen!

Yes!

"If I had cared more about you back then, none of this would have happened." Li Pu gently stroked Hi-Fyūmaru, his voice filled with regret and obvious apology as he said, "I'm sorry, Rin."

It's her!

As if suddenly turning on Hi-Fyūmaru to unleash her memories, it was her! The strongest researcher of the previous era.

MEI!