Chapter 423
Astrid thought for a moment, glanced at her own silver hair, and like a character in a dress-up game who could easily change her stats, silently changed the color of her eyes to gold, and asked without batting an eye:
"Is that so?"
After speaking, the Little Idol looked at the white-haired, golden-eyed Primal Witch, revealing subtle expressions, and commented in unison:
"You're no good x4!"
Astrid seemed thoughtful; she wasn't discouraged, but rather made a rational judgment:
"It seems that even if you've forgotten, feelings still linger in your subconscious, causing a synesthetic effect on things related to the other person. This proves that your previous relationship was likely extremely close."
In short, white hair and golden eyes are not their preference; rather, these Little Idol like that person so much that they extend that preference to this feature. Therefore, even if a beautiful girl with white hair and golden eyes were to appear, she wouldn't immediately win their favor.
Tang Liuli changed the subject and said:
"So, what do we do now? How do we find someone who's been forgotten?"
Kiriwake Yayoi frowned and said:
"If she really is still in human society, as long as she doesn't deliberately hide, with the Dream Weaver Rabbit's authority, it should be easy to find her, right?"
Xie Qingxuan paused for a moment, then stated the worst-case scenario:
"Since even traces of her have been directly erased, we can't really assume this teammate is still alive. In the worst-case scenario, she may have perished along with her very existence."
After he finished speaking, the atmosphere became heavy.
Xie Qingxuan's tone was indifferent and her attitude was calm, but no one was dissatisfied because of it.
Because that's the truth.
Secondly, whether they are enlightened beings, Witch, or Little Cotton-padded Jacket who have heard stories of the Demon King, they all know the other's ending in the first playthrough.
Xie Qingxuan's death in the previous Worldline was due to overdrawing his own existential weight, at the cost of having his traces in the world erased, reversing his identity with the Disaster God, distorting their cause and effect, and releasing the [Solar Era] from its bond with the planet.
If the Demon King hadn't passed on the [Titan's Authority] to Charlotte before his death, thus exempting her from some of its influence, perhaps no one would have known of the Demon King's existence even in the second playthrough.
How similar is the current situation to what happened back then?
Xie Qingxuan knew better than anyone what this feeling was like, and she understood better than anyone the despair of falling into such a state. She shattered the hazy expectations and hopes in everyone's hearts, simply because she didn't want them to suffer greater setbacks and sorrows.
The smile on Chu Wangshu's face faded, and she pursed her lips, feeling a deep and overwhelming sense of fear.
This anxiety stems from the fear of possibly losing someone important, and also from... the momentary lapse in concentration felt upon hearing this possibility.
Even if it was just for a moment, after that moment she put herself in the shoes of someone who had lost someone important, and began to feel sad and depressed, it still meant that the traces left by that person were gradually being peeled away from her heart.
Chu Wangshu realized the seriousness of the situation.
There are only a few hours left until the Public Performance ends?
If it were a day later, a week later, or even a month later, would her heart still be stirred? Would by then, with the flourishing of all things, new life would fill the void in her heart, causing the forgotten words to vanish from her mind?
Chu Wangshu took a deep breath and said seriously:
We must find her.
Kiriwake Yayoi expresses her stance:
"I want to see him alive or dead."
Tang Liuli nodded in agreement:
Let's put aside the discussion about the Center position and debuting for now.
Astrid, observing the crowd's reactions, said:
"I just compared all the recordings of the <Flash Dance> contestants from the Sea Capital region during the competition, and I can confirm that the missing person was Tang Liuli, Xie Qingxuan, and Liang Xiaoxiao's roommate."
"Now that the terrorist attack on Sea Capital has occurred, the public's attention is still focused on that, and it hasn't caused a major upheaval yet. However, if she is an outstanding idol no less than any of you, her potential fan base will undoubtedly be enormous."
"Therefore, there is also a possibility that someone like Liuli might leave behind clues and evidence, which could then cause a stir online. Given some more time, we might be able to find out her name and more information."
A voice kept calling out from the depths of Chu Wangshu's heart, urging her to act quickly, constantly stirring up anxiety that pierced her heart. She shook her head in refusal:
"We don't have time to wait. Although we don't know the intensity of [forgetting] or what rules it will follow, we are certain that as time goes by, more things will be erased."
Astrid countered:
"So what do you plan to do?"
Chu Wangshu stated frankly:
"A call for submissions across the entire internet."
"I think we should take advantage of the fact that not much time has passed to announce the truth of this matter to the entire internet, solicit relevant clues from all <FlashDance> viewers, and decipher the mystery as quickly as possible to find a solution."
Xie Qingxuan commented:
"Simple and crude, with numerous side effects, but it is indeed effective."
Kiriwake Yayoi sighed:
"This is a do-or-die approach. If it cannot be resolved perfectly, the resulting panic could even surpass that of the recent attack on Sea Capital."
The Green Eyed Cat didn't speak, but just stared at Astrid beside her. Her will and decisions couldn't represent humanity. If they wanted to carry out such a reckless plan, the only one with authority here was this Super AI, the former Primal Witch.
Astrid shook her head, about to refuse outright. She had forgotten about Chu Yuanqing; bound by the alliance, without sufficient information to prove that the benefits outweighed the risks, it was impossible to carry out such a reckless plan.
Even if the proposal were moved to the Supreme Council, it would not be approved.
Ultimately, aside from characters like [Lighthouse] and [Pure White] who are involved in the survival of humanity, it's not worth risking the future of <Flashdance> by simply being a Magical Girl and a trainee who hasn't even debuted yet.
But the next second, stars shone brightly from the cold data, awakening a glimmer of humanity and transmitting a dense mass of information to the think tank.
[Pure white].
[Lighthouse].
That brave man who created so many miracles and successfully defeated the disaster horde.
The Savior who reversed all despair, sorrow, tragedy, and death, bringing peace to the present moment.
The Pure White Witch who had just saved the world once again not long ago chose to entrust everything and decide to go into slumber.
Astrid's pupils trembled as a flood of information swept through her consciousness, then slowly vanished like quicksand, cleared from her knowledge base. Without a moment's hesitation, the logic of the underlying code and the magical constraints of the covenant both gave way.
In an instant, pop-up windows appeared on electronic devices all over the world, and countless nanoparticles wove themselves into the skies above cities and continents, like beacon fires, announcing the most urgent situation to all mankind.
"Humanity's [lighthouse] has been forgotten."
"Her name is ■■■. We earnestly request everyone who still remembers this name to do everything in their power to recall her, to search for her at any cost, and to awaken her spirit at all costs..."
Ten seconds.
In those ten seconds, the name forgotten by the whole world resounded once again in the streets and alleys, echoing in the ears of every still conscious human being, forcibly gathering specks of willpower in the most brutal, conspicuous, cost-nothing, and incomprehensible way.
The still incredibly weak will of the stars, which was meant to nurture the Magical Girl system, shone between heaven and earth, devouring countless wishes and opening up layers of dimensions in the universe, trying to weave one lamp after another into a thread that transcends time and space, and deliver it to that person's hands to forge a new anchor point.
But silently, from God's perspective, the dark swamp swallowed the halo, just as the shadow that enveloped the entire planet swallowed and contained the brilliance of the stars, like phosphorescent particles falling from the sky, cleansing heaven and earth.
In a mere blink of an eye, time seemed to reverse, the flames that ignited the world were extinguished, the brilliance of the stars returned to its dimness, and the hazy mist flowed along the threads, reaching all those who had voluntarily offered their wishes.
Astrid's pupils returned to their lifeless state, and she vanished from the spot as if she had never existed.
The café was still playing melodious jazz music. An elderly man with silver hair was baking desserts behind the bar. Tang Liuli, Kiriwake Yayoi, Xie Qingxuan, and Chu Wangshu at the table seemed to snap out of a daze and continued eating the sukiyaki they had barely touched.
The Little Idol gradually "shaken off" their gloomy mood and started playing a series of childish games, such as rock-paper-scissors, voting, and pointing at a rooster, to determine their respective team roles in a relaxed and joyful atmosphere.
The group discussed the group's name, chatted about everyday matters, and occasionally bursts of joyful laughter could be heard.
That strange emotion, that lingering sense of unease, that line in the notebook, and all the other traces, melted away like ice and snow with the provocation of [nothingness], leaving not a trace of brilliance.
Meanwhile, in Austria, Vienna.
The Doomsday Diva stood on the stage, dressed in an exquisite stage outfit. Her bright blue eyes were full of emotion and passion. Her pink lips curled up, and she looked at the audience with a smile. As the last note of the song faded, she finished her dance and announced the perfect end of the stage.
Charlotte smiled and waved goodbye to the enthusiastic fans below the stage. She returned to the Waiting Room, where she greeted the contestants and answered their questions with ease, before returning to her private dressing room with a relaxed gait.
As soon as the door opened, a fluffy, round, fat dog chirped and flapped its wings, happily rushing into its owner's arms and rolling around in their embrace.
Charlotte pinched her own Lantern Fairy and said in a serious tone:
"Forget-me-not 'Forget-Me-Not' anymore. That wretched sunflower calls me that too."
The little bird blinked its innocent eyes in confusion. It tilted its head, its brain, smaller than a walnut, clearly not yet understanding why the sunflower, which imitated it, had punished it.
Charlotte's eyes crinkled into a smile as she gently smoothed the bird's feathers with her fingertips, whispering:
"Okay, just don't call her that in front of Xiao Shu."
"Forget-me-not, I'm going to rest for a bit. You stay here and watch TV, and I'll reward you with a bag of tomato-flavored potato chips."
Charlotte took out the "pay" for the Lantern Fairy —potato chips—from her private space, opened it, and placed it on the table. She sat on the soft velvet sofa, and the smile on her lips slowly faded.
Deep within consciousness, the Soul Flower, protected by [embellishment], shines as always, its Flower Language blessings, belonging to the Forget-me-not, silently entwining and lingering, whispering softly.
Sea Capital, Zhelong Town.
Underground base, A1 area, villa dormitory.
Xie Qingxuan walked into the marble bathroom. She tugged at the fabric in front of her chest, feeling a bit stuffy. Her fingertips flowed like water as she skillfully removed her clothes.
The girl's thick, curled eyelashes fluttered as she glanced back at herself in the mirror. Her full, voluptuous breasts, slender waist, and legs tightly encased in white lace stockings, outlining a perfect silhouette and creating a sensual scene that perfectly defined her private area, embodying a devilish figure that combines voluptuousness and slenderness.
But...
Why would I wear such provocative lingerie?
Xie Qingxuan's dark eyes welled up with chaotic emotions. She felt no confusion, no bewilderment, no thought; she simply stared at her reflection in the mirror with a stubborn, instinctive, and indifferent gaze, and revealed the answer:
"Because I have someone I like."
Why don't you remember?
The girl asked and answered herself:
"Because I forgot."
What should we do?
The Demon King said calmly and softly:
"Find her/him."
Volume 1: Chapter 398. <Flash Dance> Issue 9, sequel.
Time flies like an arrow; it passes in the blink of an eye.
A week later, the events surrounding the attack on Sea Capital are still widely known throughout Great Xia and even the world.
But for ordinary people unaware of the inside story, these photos and videos of the scene that the authorities allowed to circulate were like a prelude to a dramatic turn of events.
The horrific scene and horror of that day can be seen on various online platforms. The Earth Giant Serpent, captured by satellite, is actually the size of an entire Sea Capital, making it a truly mythical creature. Its mere fall from the atmosphere was enough to overturn a city and unleash a natural disaster.
Not to mention the giant shadow god symbolizing hell, Takemikazuchi who changed the weather and caused thunderstorms as soon as he appeared, the seraphim from the Old Testament, and many other terrifying beings that made people tremble with fear, as if they could destroy the world at any moment.
Before the public could even panic, news of the victory spread like wildfire, announcing a strategic victory in the battle to conquer Sea Capital.
Fairy Tale Witch, Sound String Witch, Dragon Witch, and the greatest contributor— the Doomsday Diva, the Illusion Witch, and Charlotte, the [Lighthouse] Saintess who succeeded as General Captain.
These Captain-Class Witch, fighting alongside other Magical Girl, were filmed and uploaded to the internet.
Aside from the excessively bloody, almost manic, and somewhat image-damaging self-eating scene during Xiaoyu's duel with Beelzebub, the rest of the battle scenes were almost entirely unedited, conveying the intense atmosphere of the battle without reservation.
The final scene features the Doomsday Diva singing her heart out, her Heart Tide engulfing the entire Sea Capital and radiating across half of the Great Xia, unleashing a dazzling, Shine Magic. Interspersed throughout are scenes of countless citizens of the Sea Capital listening to the music, being successfully saved, and offering a ray of brilliance in return.
This ending, filled with concerted efforts, turning the tide, and brimming with hope and passion, is so classic that it's as if Ultraman Tiga suddenly appeared out of the Magical Girl anime, directly asking the whole world for his light.
The official public relations management was exceptionally effective, not only greatly promoting the significance of Flash Dance and Magical Girl, but also significantly dispelling the shadow of fear and boosting public morale.
Meanwhile, international news from the Great Xia, the Donghuang Federation, and the Holy United States also announced the number of casualties in this incident, which sparked a wave of public opinion.
As a top-tier metropolis, Sea Capital covers a vast area and houses nearly 100 million people. However, after being attacked by an army capable of wiping out a country, the number of casualties was only in the four figures, with the actual death toll being as low as 389.
According to conservative estimates, Charlotte's song saved at least ten million lives.
Even when weakened, the Supreme Calamity Beast and its apostles could inflict casualties of this scale within half a minute.
Of course, this was not made public.
All the public knows is that even in the face of such a desperate terrorist attack, the Magical Girl fought desperately to protect the city, ultimately achieving victory and miraculously minimizing casualties.
Through manipulation of public opinion, this incident not only avoided social unrest and panic, but also significantly increased the government's credibility and the public's acceptance of Magical Girl.