Oh No, This Is a Hellish Start

Of course, it's also possible that he forgot after waking up, but there's no way to verify that.

Meanwhile, Xia Ling was still being entangled by Hi-maru with all sorts of strange missions. During this time, Xia Ling did try some strange paths, such as going on a killing spree, but every time she was about to seek a breakthrough, Hi-maru would simply rewind the game and start over.

However, this frustrating period did not last long.

On the fourth day after Xia Ling began to enter her dreams, Vill-V sent a message.

"Ta-da! The Dream Device 2.0 is here!"

In the Elysian Realm, Vill-V showed Xia Ling the Dream Entering Device 2.0, which was almost identical to version 1.0.

"Great!" Xia Ling clapped in agreement.

"So, Vill-V, what is the purpose of this 2.0 version of the dream-entering device?"

"Well... it's simple." Vill-V revealed a sinister smile, "The answer is, explode it!"

"It... exploded?"

"That's right. Compared to your previous one, this device can easily force its way into Theresa's dream, instead of being eroded and blocked."

"Of course, you know, since I said it was forced, the erosion will definitely be able to feel the dream being invaded."

"So... what's my mission? To go in and find Hi-maru and beat her up?"

"Uh..." Vill-V's expression became somewhat subtle. "Unfortunately, although I can forcibly send you into Theresa's dream, I cannot change the fact that this dream has been corrupted and affected."

"So in the dream, your situation is actually similar to Theresa's. Both of you will be 'assigned' an identity by Hi-maru. The only difference is that you are able to maintain your own identity, while she can't even maintain her own identity."

"?"

Xia Ling's expression became somewhat complicated. "If I enter a dream... won't I still be unable to do anything?"

"It's not that pessimistic... First of all, although you will be manipulated by the Herrscher of Corruption to some extent in your dream, it is, after all, Theresa's dream. It cannot read your surface consciousness as recklessly as before."

"Secondly, even if you die in a dream, you will not be harmed. Like Theresa, you will only feel a little listless the next day."

"Finally... we can no longer continue at the pace of erosion."

"Although I don't know why it controls Theresa's dreams so much, I think you need to make things difficult for Erosion and prevent her plans from going so smoothly."

"The Dream Device 2.0 can ensure that your thoughts cannot be read to the greatest extent. At the same time, if you can make Theresa wake up, then you can have Theresa forcibly end the dream with the help of the Dream Device."

"It can bring up dreams?" Xia Ling exclaimed. "Doesn't that mean that part of the problem has already been solved?"

"It's not that easy... After all, disrupting a dream once has a negligible impact on the erosion, and you probably won't achieve anything anyway..." Vill-V gave an apologetic look. "To truly resolve the incident, I still need to find a way to invade the Stigmata Space."

Looking at Xia Ling's spirited face, Vill-V felt a rare pang of guilt.

After all, Theresa's dream was deeply corrupted, and Xia Ling's actions had virtually no chance of success. Her role was merely to act as a positive "filler" to attract the corruption's attention.

However, the bigger the commotion she makes, the more effort the erosion needs to put in, which means... the lower the chance of being noticed on the other side.

After seeing Xia Ling off, Vill-V went to another place.

She needed to go see Elysia, partly to give her a task, and partly to tell Elysia the whole plan.

After all, the next phase might be a bit risky, and if Elysia disagrees, she still has the opportunity to revise the plan.

As night fell, under the shy or teasing gazes of Mei and Duck Duck, Xia Ling once again entered Theresa's room.

These past few days, she's been going in and out of Theresa's room so frequently that even Kiana, who's usually very observant, has noticed something strange about her.

After Xia Ling ended her enjoyable three-player match early once again, Kiana finally whispered to Bronya with a strange expression.

"Hey, Bronya, don't you think... Sister Xia Ling has been getting a little too close to her period lately?"

Bronya actually wanted to say no, but considering that even Kiana had noticed something was wrong, Sister Xia Ling probably didn't intend to hide it any longer. So, Duck Duck decisively chose to indulge her desire to gossip.

"Idiot Kiana, have you finally realized something's wrong?"

"Eh? So you guys already knew?"

"Of course, we noticed something was wrong when the headmaster started airing out the bed sheets every morning."

"Hiss..." Kiana gasped, "This, this is so exciting?"

"Ahem, Kiana, have you forgotten? Sister Xia Ling told us about her past before. In her previous world, she had a very close relationship with a senior academy head's counterpart."

"Huh? Then isn't my period a meal replacement?" Kiana's pupils dilated in shock.

"Idiot, meal replacements are still meals, and they can fill you up!" Bronya's pent-up gossip urges exploded instantly. "Besides, don't you think the headmaster's age is about to..."

In conversations unbeknownst to Xia Ling and Theresa, the rumors about them seemed to be getting increasingly outrageous.

Meanwhile, in Theresa's room.

Habits are a terrible thing. A few days ago, Theresa was very uncomfortable being used as a body pillow, but a few days later, she was already calmly used to Xia Ling wandering around the room and occasionally hugging her.

"You mean, you've found a way to directly enter my dream?"

After Xia Ling explained the Dream Device 2.0 to Theresa was overjoyed.

"Don't be too happy yet. Actually, I'm going with you to get killed." Xia Ling said speechlessly, "Besides, you won't remember me by then, and the first step of the plan might get stuck."

"How... how could this be..." Theresa turned her head away guiltily.

"There's no need to be so insecure..." Xia Ling gently took Theresa's hand. "You have to believe in the Bonds between us!"

"Pfft, this isn't some kind of action anime..." Theresa couldn't help but laugh.

"Hmm... even if memories can lie, your habits won't," Xia Ling said confidently. "So..."

At Theresa's gasp, Xia Ling grabbed Theresa's legs and carried her to the bed in a princess carry.

At the same time, a hand skillfully touched the Stigmata on her back.

"Maybe when I hug you, you'll remember me?"

Chapter Ten is ruined, this is the start of hell!

"Ah, an unfamiliar ceiling..."

Xia Ling opened her eyes and then sat up abruptly.

"Oh, wait, it doesn't seem so unfamiliar after all..."

"Isn't this still the Yae Shrine!"

Having already explored Yae Village and Yae Shrine in her previous dream, Xia Ling immediately recognized her location.

"Judging from the sun's position, it should be early morning... Besides the Yae sisters, there seems to be no one else at the shrine. The only one who could be here at this time is Yae Rin, whose spot has already been taken by Theresa..."

"So I'm still a crybaby!"

The convenience of the identity was somewhat unexpected for Xia Ling. After all, in her original guess, Hi-maru would most likely give her an identity that had nothing to do with Theresa, such as a gatekeeper at the village entrance or a farmer in the village. In that case, if she wanted to contact Theresa, she would probably be stopped by Yae Sakura.

"Now that I am Yae Sakura, things will be much easier..."

Xia Ling sat up in bed, intending to first go and find out where Theresa was.

However, the weakness she felt when she got up made it difficult for her to adjust, and she ended up sitting back down.

"?"

No, saying she feels weak is not quite accurate, because Xia Ling is in good physical condition now. Thanks to long-term exercise, her physical fitness is far superior to that of her peers.

The problem is that this is relative to other 14-year-olds.

Feeling her strength, which was only slightly greater than that of her peers, Xia Ling's eyes widened.

"Wait, so in the dream, I can only exert the power of this identity?"

This also answers one of Xia Ling's doubts. After all, if the weapons of Yae Village 500 years ago could have killed Theresa, then there might have been a few more legendary swordsmiths in Japan.

After getting used to her current body, Xia Ling searched around the room and finally found a bronze mirror.

"The image in the mirror is not of Yae Sakura, but of my true self... only I look a little younger."

"Then Theresa's appearance should not have changed either. In fact, since her physical age is twelve years old, she may not even need to be as childlike as I am."

"Phew, no wonder Hi-maru is so kind as to give me a 14-year-old body. I'd rather be a farmer than a farmer, at least I'd have the chance to just snatch someone and run away."

"Never mind, let's go check on Theresa first."

After much effort, Xia Ling finally managed to put on the off-shoulder shrine maiden outfit, along with a plaid skirt, white stockings, and wooden clogs. Once she got used to the shrine maiden's attire, Xia Ling slid out in her clogs.

Since Xia Ling hadn't paid special attention to where Yae Rin's room was in her previous dream, she needed to search through all the rooms in the shrine one by one.

Upon opening the first room, Xia Ling noticed that it appeared to be a storage room. After a quick glance, she saw that it contained a considerable number of sacrificial items.

Despite the variety of options, Xia Ling quickly closed the door and prepared to check out the next room.

However, at that moment, a serious voice rang out from behind her.

"Sakura, why didn't you go to practice your sword today?"

Xia Ling was startled, and instantly recalled something she had "overlooked" before.

When Yae Rin died, Yae Sakura's father, who is now the head priest of the Yae Shrine, was still alive.

Oh no, how could I forget something like this? In the original work, Rin was even killed by him by severing her Achilles tendons and holding Yae Sakura's hand!

No, now is not the time to dwell on that... we need to get past him first.

"Good morning, Father." Xia Ling turned around and respectfully bowed to the Yae Shrine Lord who was walking towards her. "I'm sorry, I forgot where I put the bamboo sword yesterday, so I was looking for a spare one."

"As a priestess, how can you not even remember where you put your own sword!" The priestess's voice became sterner. "Never mind... Go and deliver medicine to Rin first, then come with me. We're going to Shiomi River to exorcise demons today. I'll take you to see it."

"Yes, Father, I shall take my leave now."

Xia Ling bowed again. She had just glanced in the direction the deity had come from, which was most likely where the kitchen was located.

I hurried to the kitchen and sure enough, I saw the prepared medicinal soup on the stove.

Looking outside, Xia Ling saw that the Yae Shrine Lord had already left, and she couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

"Tsk, this makes things even more difficult... With this guy around, he can suppress any problems with force beforehand, leaving us with very little room to maneuver..."

"Furthermore, judging from his direct attack on Rin, this guy is definitely ruthless. If my situation is discovered..."

"Wait, something's not right."

Xia Ling suddenly realized something.

"My situation doesn't seem so dangerous after all... if I do this..."

"Although I feel a little bad for Theresa, this seems to be the only way left."

"Then let's take a gamble, let's gamble... on whether the villagers here are superstitious enough..."

Having quickly determined her next plan, Xia Ling picked up the medicinal soup, tampered with it, and then headed towards the kitchen.

Then, they found Rin's room next to their own.

"Rin? I'm coming in."

After knocking on the door, Xia Ling carried the medicinal soup into the room.

Inside the room, upon hearing the door open, a weak-looking Theresa turned around and greeted Xia Ling in a soft, sweet voice.

"Good morning, sister~"

"Ugh..." Xia Ling felt like she had been hit hard by Theresa. How come she hadn't noticed before that Theresa could be so cute?

It's safe to say there's a reason why Magical Girl Teriri has attracted so many fans.

"Good morning, Rin, it's time to get up and take your medicine."

"Sister, but the medicine is very bitter."

"I secretly added sugar to it for you." Xia Ling blinked. "Don't tell Father."

"Of course not, my sister is the best, hehe."

Theresa struggled to sit up and quickly finished the medicine.

"It's really not bitter at all, and it tastes much better than usual!"

"But, sister, I still... have no strength."

"Don't worry, I'll take you to get treatment." Xia Ling patted Theresa's head. "I will definitely... protect you."

"By the way, can we make a promise with my sister?"