Chapter 249

Charlotte took a sip of wine, smiled, and asked in return:

"Xiao Shu, how many of those monsters did you encounter on Carinthon Street?"

Chu Wangshu didn't know how the topic had veered to this point, but she honestly expressed her thoughts:

"There shouldn't be many, right?"

"I've only encountered them twice in all these years, and both times they happened within these two months. If there were really many of those monsters, there's no reason why they wouldn't be known to the public."

At this point, the girl asked curiously:

"Sister Charlotte, are those monsters like in the anime, randomly appearing in some place and then being secretly taken care of by Magical Girl each time?"

The Doomsday Diva shook her head, a gentle smile appearing on her face, and whispered:

"There are many of them. Those monsters are as numerous as the stars in the sky, so numerous that they can form tides that could engulf an entire continent. They are a terrifying crisis that, if they appear all at once, could destroy the world."

Charlotte picked up a French fry and fed it to her Little Cotton-padded Jacket. After watching her eat it obediently, she held up a finger with satisfaction and continued:

"Here's a little hint: those monsters were created 17 years ago, while Magical Girl have only been around for the last ten years. All the monsters that Magical Girl have wiped out, if you add them all up, probably don't even account for one hundred millionth of the total."

Chu Wangshu was even more bewildered. Less than one in a billion? It felt like digging into her own father's past had unearthed a crisis that could be described as the end of the world.

Honestly, even if this news is true, is it really appropriate to tell the truth in a place like this? And shouldn't I even be in no position to listen to it?

Xie Qingxuan recalled the Disaster Tide from her memory and remained silent.

That Sky City has faced countless calamities like this.

Tang Liuli stopped drinking, afraid that if she took a few sips, she would miss such explosive information, and at the same time, she began to doubt the origin of those memories.

Kiriwake Yayoi was already prepared. As she drew those Calamity Beasts with pen and paper, she gradually realized that these monsters were definitely not the frivolous things in children's Magical Girl, and she had a certain expectation of reality.

Charlotte didn't keep them in suspense. She completely ignored the rules of the Countermeasures Bureau, the prohibitions mentioned by Dreamweave, and the Under-the-table Rules of Magical Girl, and continued:

"Simply put, those monsters descended all at once 17 years ago. Our world experienced a crisis that was enough to overturn civilization, but it was resolved and suppressed in one fell swoop, which led to the current situation."

The Doomsday Diva, having said this, changed the subject and said with a smile:

"Xiao Shu, do you recognize that wall? That miraculous structure that spans the globe. It's considered some kind of astronomical phenomenon. When it first appeared, it shocked the world, making many people think the end of the world was coming."

"Pre-civilizations, aliens, mirages, advanced black technology, wondrous natural phenomena... all sorts of arguments emerged one after another, but eventually the discussion gradually subsided and they were gradually accepted as part of everyday life."

"The truth is, it was it that suppressed the calamity, saved the world, and allowed peace to continue for another 17 years, until the birth of Magical Girl, which then created a situation where they came to fill in the gaps and eliminate the calamity."

"Magical Girl are indeed peacemakers, but without this wall, Magical Girl would never have the chance to be born."

Chu Wangshu vaguely understood what Charlotte was going to say, but subconsciously she dared not believe the answer. She looked at this girl she had just met, who felt as close as family, her lips moving, unsure of what to say.

Charlotte's smile rose to the strains of the orchestra. She was like a fairy from an adventure story, or a bard in a tavern; her clear eyes held emotions profound enough to transcend time. She spoke softly:

"Xiao Shu, come and see the distant past."

In a daze, wondrous magic engulfed the Twelve Apostles Cellar, and the glowing blue firelight shone brightly in the Little Idol's soul, blurring the image from the previous Worldline.

Beneath a sky strewn with black snow, an endless, Disaster Tide, deeper than the ocean, devours the barren land and invades the crumbling capital. Storms rage across the chaotic world, heralding the end of humanity.

But what can overcome all despair is the rising fire.

Chu Wangshu was somewhat dazed. She had never seen such a magnificent and bright fire, so intense that it seemed to destroy everything, yet so gentle... that it brought hope.

The fire of Laevateinn engulfed the Disaster Tide, swallowed the storm, drove away the enemies, and also devoured the sword-wielding hero.

The camera cleared away the flames and obstacles, zooming in until the true form was finally revealed.

The boy's handsome, cold face and his battered body were covered in indelible scars from the flames. He stepped over the flames and corpses, cut his wrist with his sword, and let out a lot of blood. He sighed and looked at the fire that was slowly dying out in the distance. The deep red in his eyes, like magma, was even more vivid than the blood for a moment.

Chu Wangshu was stunned, unable to come to her senses. She recognized that face; it looked exactly like her Dad when he was young, only more naive, more indifferent, more lonely, and more... sad.

This is Chu Yuanqing, a younger version of his Dad.

In the scene, the young Savior walks the earth, sacrificing his own flesh to feed the eagle, habitually using his own blood to extinguish Laevateinn and prevent this power from spiraling out of control and affecting the main city.

Chu Wangshu remained silent. As she watched a fragment of her father's unknown past, she couldn't help but purse her lips, her heart aching.

Why stand there and face an enemy that inspires despair at first glance?

Why would someone wield a dangerous, double-edged sword-like power that could be burned by flames to face an endless array of enemies? Even his hand gripping the weapon was burned; the bones and hilt seemed fused together. How excruciating that must have been!

The girl's heart was in turmoil. Why didn't she shed a tear despite the pain? Was it because there was something more sorrowful and painful than this?

Chu Wangshu once heard a saying.

The human heart is a container; once it's filled to its limit, it will break. But until it's pieced back together, even the most painful things won't feel painful anymore.

Is this how Dad is? And what about his heart...? Will someone help him piece it back together?

The Little Cotton-padded Jacket couldn't help but let her mind wander. She had no time to question whether it was real, and could only immerse herself in the memories constructed by magic. By the time everything came to an end, her eyes were already red, and tears filled her eyes, falling like pearls from a broken string.

Charlotte gently wiped away her daughter's tears, then tenderly embraced her, whispering a story in her ear as if telling a tale from a storybook, recounting the epic tale buried in the past:

"We call that wall [pure white]."

"And 17 years ago, the person who created [Pure White], suppressed countless calamities, and silently saved the world was none other than your father— Chu Yuanqing."

Volume 1: 237. The Little Cotton-padded Jacket's Round, You Are Already the Moon in the Sky. (5K)

In the Twelve Apostles Cellar, melodious music flowed into the slightly astringent wine, undulating with the shimmering light.

Chu Yuanqing silently sipped his wine, the gilded light in his eyes like sand paintings transformed after a sea of fire had died down, heavy as if telling the story of the past.

The curse of the Sea of Truth and [Pure White] anchored in the spiritual realm, passively exempting her from all interference targeting consciousness, soul, and spirit except for the curse, and preventing her from being pulled into memories by Charlotte's magic.

What did Xiao Shu see?

If she could, she would prefer Charlotte to show her daughters the scene of them stepping into forbidden lands, venturing into divine realms, accidentally entering a crevice, and witnessing the gentle glow of the remaining embers of other civilizations.

It contains the Myriad Phenomena City and the Temple of the Underworld, which are said to contain all history and magic; the Karon Empire, which is rumored to have witnessed several miracles; a holy land where Full Bloom all over the world; and the White Tower that awakens heroes.

Although they were all reflections of past glories, before reaching the end and glimpsing the desolation and ruins, they did see travelers singing poems, heroes embarking on their journeys amidst the cheers of the whole city, and even elves, dwarves, and adventurers gathered together, drinking happily and dreaming about the future in taverns.

Those Disaster God are like a library. Their divine realms are tainted by the curse of civilization. They bear the marks of a planet, a world, and the obsessions of countless beings, forming multiple crevice spaces.

Chu Yuanqing once carried the last glory and expectations of these civilizations in the ruins, obtaining many blessings and information to fight against disasters, and even the inheritance of some power systems. All her beautiful memories of the old era, except for that Sky City, are in these.

Unlike the endless battles of the outside world, the vastly different time flow in the Gap World allows her to find some peace and tranquility, to explore the peaceful landscapes of various civilizations, and to learn and grow step by step during their most glorious moments, gradually ascending to the realm of gods.

Although it was still brief, and each time she saw it in ruins and despair, sinking into the desolation after the Disaster Tide, it was precisely because she had witnessed the beauty of that peace that she and her comrades longed for their world to return to what it was like before the Disaster Tide struck.

Xie Qingxuan snapped out of her daze, somewhat bewildered. The scene and the dream intertwined, creating a bizarre answer in reality: Xiao Shu's Dad was the one who killed her in the dream?!

Chu Yuanqing.

Chu Yuanqing.

Xie Qingxuan murmured the two names. She looked up at the familiar yet unfamiliar person in front of her. The subtle yet conflicting sense of déjà vu in her heart grew stronger. That strange sense of contradiction almost jumped out of her consciousness.

Kiriwake Yayoi also looked confused.

The boy's appearance was strikingly similar to the one who grabbed the arm in the black snow and freed the Witch from the sea of suffering bound by bonds. It was precisely because of this that she in the future was willing to dance the Kagura Dance, for him in a sea of fire.

It's strange. She saw Chu Yuanqing's shadow in the other person more than once, but she also saw the same appearance in Xiao Shu's Dad.

If I am the Witch, then who are Xiao Shu's Dad and Xiao Qing?

Little Sakura's attention was completely focused on this, and she didn't react to Charlotte's explosive revelation for a moment. She tried hard to think about the problem, mechanically sipping her drink, and getting closer and closer to the truth in her chaotic thoughts.

Tang Liuli's small hands trembled, utterly shocked. She was clearly just a pitiful, innocent, and useless idol trainee, so why was she able to hear such terrifying information that was obviously a state secret!

The Green Eyed Cat bristled with fear. She felt that tomorrow she would be cornered at the alley entrance by a menacing man in black, who would then leave her with the words, "You know too much," before promptly shooting her dead.

Damn it, don't you Magical Girl have any confidentiality rules?

No, Xiao Qing was clearly very well-behaved; she hardly said anything.

Only Charlotte, ugh! That wicked woman! She dares to say anything as soon as she arrives, she's completely unrestrained and does whatever she wants.

The Doomsday Diva was unaware that she was being glared at by the Green Eyed Cat. Her beautiful face was filled with panic as she looked at the Little Cotton-padded Jacket in her arms, awkwardly stroking her daughter's thin back. In her heart, she couldn't help but cry for help.

Waaaaah, what should I do?

Before she used her memory magic, she had no idea that her Little Cotton-padded Jacket would cry so bitterly!

Charlotte also wanted to cry. When selecting memories, she had already filtered out all the scenes of activating [immortality] and those that were too tragic, just so her Little Cotton-padded Jacket could see how handsome her Dad used to be.

The Doomsday Diva was quite satisfied when she unleashed her magic, burning the Disaster Tide to ashes in one go with Laevateinn, and then extinguishing the Lingering Fire with her blood. Wasn't that incredibly cool? It would be a highlight moment in any anime!

Unfortunately, this dealt Chu Wangshu an unexpected and devastating blow.

The Little Cotton-padded Jacket sniffled, burying her face in Charlotte's warm embrace. She smelled a scent that was both unfamiliar and warm, like something out of a dream—the scent of her mother. She could have held back her tears, but after being held so lovingly, she couldn't hold them back at all.

Chu Wangshu was a smart child. She could remember things when she was very young. Because she had no mother or grandparents to dote on her, she spent most of her childhood in a nursery.

Back then, the girl's biggest expectation every week was waiting for her Dad to pick her up on Sunday.

Back then, Dad still looked like a young man, exactly like the one in the memory magic, only more weathered, as if burdened by the vicissitudes of life, appearing lonely and melancholic.

Chu Wangshu remembered clearly that her Dad was initially quiet and even expressionless, only showing a gentle expression when he picked her up. But when she was three or four years old, her Dad gradually learned how to smile and became more talkative.

When I was in elementary school, my Dad's cooking became much better. He wasn't as clumsy as he had been a few years ago. He could even do his own hair, although he only knew a few styles each time, and they were a bit old-fashioned, but he was very gentle.

It wasn't until junior high school that my Dad gradually reverted to the state he had when he first came to Sea Capital: he became taciturn, without a smile, devoid of warmth, and always had endless work to do.

Compared to his classmates, he is a failed Dad; he is late, breaks promises, forgets things, and might even lose his job.

Chu Wangshu couldn't help but think that it would be better if her Dad wasn't so ordinary.

That way, she can take the car to school, eat those unhealthy but tempting fast foods, buy milk tea when she goes shopping with friends, and have a room and home that truly belongs to her, instead of worrying about being evicted one day because she can't pay the rent.

But now, her Dad has transformed into a hero who saved the world, more powerful and successful than anyone else. Her sensible Little Cotton-padded Jacket, however, doesn't feel happy at all.

Chu Wangshu even began to hate anything unusual.

If Chu Yuanqing were a useless and ordinary father, she could strive to become outstanding, earn a lot of money, buy him a car and a house, so he wouldn't have to work so hard, and make him feel that his daughter is amazing, the moon in his heart!

Despite his glorious past, Chu Yuanqing, like a dying Lingering Fire, willingly became an ordinary, even somewhat useless, Dad.

The only reason that seemed to sustain him, despite his broken spirit, in continuing to live in the city was that... baby who, 17 years ago, could only cry in swaddling clothes.

So, did she actually make her Dad more ordinary?

It turns out that she was the one who made her Dad willing to hide his talents and become ordinary, drowning in the vast sea of people, troubled by the mundane details of daily life.

It turned out that she was the one who transformed the young Savior, who burned the heavens and earth with raging fire, scorching all suffering, into a weathered and numb middle-aged man whose face had lost its smile.

Chu Wangshu grew increasingly distressed. She was saddened that she might be Burdens to her Dad, and that she couldn't redeem her Dad who had endured so much suffering. Tears streamed down her face, and no amount of comforting from Charlotte could help.

Charlotte looked at the Little Cotton-padded Jacket in her arms who was still crying. She felt like a bad mother who had made her daughter cry on their first meeting. She was filled with regret and disappointment, and anxiously looked to the Pure White Witch next to her for help.

Chu Yuanqing squeezed Charlotte's hand reassuringly, then walked to his daughter's side.

The Pure White Witch took over the role of mother, her eyes filled with smiles. She patiently and gently wiped away the tears still falling from her Little Cotton-padded Jacket's eyes with her fingertips, then cupped her adorable face and softly asked:

"Xiao Shu, why do you feel sad? Are you feeling wronged for your Dad?"

Chu Wangshu's tears streamed down her face. She felt so ashamed and sad. She didn't want to cry, but both Sister Charlotte and Xiao Qing were so gentle that she couldn't help but act coquettishly.

The girl sobbed and answered with a nasal sound before burying her face in the other person's chest again, clearly not wanting anyone else to see her crying.

Chu Yuanqing found it amusing. She gently stroked her daughter's hair and whispered:

"But Dad isn't upset at all, because Xiao Shu is here."

Chu Wangshu instinctively raised her head, looking at that smiling face. In a daze, she seemed to see her Dad, and couldn't help but whisper:

"Really?"

Chu Yuanqing smiled indulgently and said matter-of-factly:

"Of course, Savior doesn't necessarily have to have special privileges. He told me that he didn't feel he was treated unfairly and that he enjoyed raising Xiao Shu through his own efforts over the years."

He also said that Xiao Shu is very lively and cute on stage, the best and most obedient daughter in the world, and the reason he continues to live.

Hearing the easing of sobs from the woman in his arms, Chu Yuanqing continued:

"When I first met Xiao Shu, didn't I say that he gave you your name, that you are Wang Shu, and that you are the moon in his life?"

"So don't cry. It will break your Dad's heart if he sees you crying. He'll wonder if he hasn't taken good care of you and that's why you're sad."

Chu Wangshu sniffled, obediently taking the tissue Charlotte handed her, wiping away her tears, trying to calm herself down and stop crying.

The Doomsday Diva sat obediently to the side, not daring to say a word, clearly afraid of making her Little Cotton-padded Jacket cry again.

Chu Yuanqing pinched her daughter's cheek, started serving her food, and offered a few words of comfort. Seeing her adorable expression of embarrassment, she felt relieved and began talking to the Little Idol, changing the subject from the previous one.

Charlotte has said enough today; this information is enough for everyone to digest for a while.

Besides, there are other matters that cannot be discussed at the moment.