Chapter 431

--pure white.

--Pure white.

This is the group name they officially announced a week ago, taken from the Miracle High Wall that spanned the globe 17 years ago.

Within the Countermeasures Bureau, it has always been referred to as "Pure White." As Magical Girl, they use this as the name of their team, as if they are the spokespeople for the high walls. In nature, they are like a choir under the banner of a certain god, which in a sense does fit their duties and spirit.

After all, both are fighting disasters and protecting the world.

In addition, the World Government has already made this history public, and the origin of the name is quite easy to guess. Looking at the whole world, it's like naming the Red Army in Great Xia, so fans naturally have a high acceptance rate.

In this situation, their debut song, while not grand and majestic, is not suitable for praising petty love affairs. It would be best if it were a passionate, positive, and hopeful song.

Tang Liuli looked at the several layers of sheet music stacked on her lap and sighed:

"You're right, so all the sheet music we printed meets these requirements. Or should we just pick one randomly?"

Chu Wangshu retorted earnestly:

"How can we be so casual? Liuli needs to pull herself together. I think everyone should practice singing all these songs once before making a decision."

Kiriwake Yayoi lost in thought:

"That's definitely a good idea. Anyway, practicing in advance won't go to waste, and it should be useful during the tour. It will also be more efficient for recording CDs in the studio later."

Xie Qingxuan had no objection and seconded the motion.

The Green Eyed Cat pouted, instinctively wanting to cry and throw a tantrum, but after glancing at Little Sakura, Little Cotton-padded Jacket, and the Golden Retriever, it was shocked to find that there was no one it could confide in. Suddenly, it felt sad and empty inside, and even the annoyance of its heavy workload evaporated instantly.

This feeling was strange and awkward; a sense of unease lingered in her heart, and an indescribable melancholy pervaded her, unconsciously making her yearn for the warmth of her mother deep in her memory.

Even recalling the feeling of being in her mother's arms, this complex emotion did not subside; in fact, it became even more intense, like a subtle and unconscious despair slowly enveloping her.

Tang Liuli didn't want to wallow in these emotions. She patted her cheeks, listlessly agreed to Chu Wangshu's suggestion, and tried hard to remember the lyrics, hoping to put these strange feelings behind her through work.

The next day was in the season between late summer and early autumn.

Niigata Prefecture, Yuzawa Town, Onsen Ryokan (hot spring inn).

At dawn, the nearby mountains rise and fall, some lush and bright, others covered in frost and snow, gradually taking on an autumnal hue, all shrouded in a hazy mist, making it difficult to distinguish the season.

Although it's described as Snow Country in the book, aside from the ski resorts and some snow-capped mountain landscapes, the four seasons here are exceptionally distinct. This unusual scenery is likely related to the rising concentration of global atmospheric pollutants, changes in airflow temperature, and the overall environment.

Chu Yuanqing stood in front of the balcony railing, gazing at the distant mountains and sky. Closer at hand were trees as tall as telephone poles, signal towers, and ancient-looking buildings. The layers of mountains and foothills were somewhat mysterious in the mist, which was slowly being cleared by the growing sunlight.

This scene, like a rebirth, is truly beautiful.

"Click."

The Witch captured the person's profile as they gazed into the distance. She put down the camera she had somehow acquired, gave Qing Bao a radiant smile as she turned to look at her, and said:

"Isn't it beautiful?"

"But it's a bit of a shame, I wanted to see what this place looks like in summer."

Chu Yuanqing paused, swallowing the comforting words, "Once everything is over, the seasons will return to normal." She smiled and simply said:

"It looks good this way too, doesn't it?"

"And if it weren't for that, I wouldn't have been able to see the scenery of the Snow Country."

The Witch nodded upon hearing this. With a charming smile, she proudly picked up the sake she'd bought from the supermarket and tilted her head, saying:

"I bought this yesterday, want to drink it together?"

"Going to the hot springs?"

Of course!

Chu Yuanqing thought for a moment, then went back to his room and opened the guitar case.

Like the guitar, it was a constant spell she created when she first revived. The guitar is nothing special; it can be played normally and can also transform into other musical instruments. The box, on the other hand, is a miniature space on the conceptual side.

The Pure White Witch pulled out a change of clothes and asked:

"Are you drunk?"

The Witch squatted beside Qing Bao, watching her actions, and commented:

"I'm a being of longing, not a stupid ghost. Besides, ghosts don't get drunk, right?"

Chu Yuanqing's answer was reasonable and well-founded:

"But you can eat, drink, run, and jump, and if you want, you can even let people see you. It's normal for you to get drunk."

The Witch stubbornly retorted:

"Our thought-body is like this."

After saying that, her gaze softened as she looked down at me, and she said with a bright smile:

"Moreover, perhaps it's because Xiao Qing subconsciously desires to see such a vibrant Witch, isn't it?"

Chu Yuanqing was somewhat speechless. The Witch was right; perhaps... even the other's existence arose from her wish?

After all, the original purpose of the Paper Crane Can was to fulfill her wish.

But doing so always gives me a feeling that I'm being cunning.

The Witch saw through Chu Yuanqing's awkward state of mind. Without thinking, she reached out and pinched his cheek, sending a warm yet ethereal sensation through her fingertips.

"Maybe in a few days, I'll be able to be Xiao Qing's body pillow and sleep with you."

"At that time, Xiao Qing might still be wondering if this counts as letting down the real Yayoi, right? I'm really looking forward to it."

Chu Yuanqing felt that the Witch was somewhat malicious. She remained silent, changed into her hotel pajamas, packed the sake and clothes into a bag, and walked downstairs with the ghost who didn't have to pay and could stay at the hotel and soak in the hot springs for free.

The receptionist at the hot spring hotel was an elderly woman with gray hair and a kind smile. Whenever she saw Chu Yuanqing, she would greet him gently in Japanese. Whether it was due to his appearance or his charm, she was always very amiable.

Walking along the wooden corridor, we arrived at the semi-open-air hot spring. It wasn't fully light yet, and a few rays of morning light shone on the steaming water, creating a shimmering, striking composition of light and shadow, like a scene from a movie.

Although late summer isn't exactly off-season, and the music festival related to Flashdance attracted many tourists, the hotel was empty, perhaps because it was in a remote location or because there weren't many people soaking in the hot springs in the early morning.

This relieved Chu Yuanqing from worrying that anyone would be frightened by her body, and she also didn't need to concern herself with how bizarre the scene of drinking with an "air friend" would be.

Of course, she can also erase her own existence using [nothingness].

But this happening so often makes her more alienated from the world and loses the meaning of travel.

"The stone is a bit hot."

The Witch floated into the hot spring. She touched the stones, as if testing the temperature, but unfortunately, her completely dry appearance made her look no different from a ghost cosplaying as a living person.

Chu Yuanqing found it somewhat amusing. Wrapped in a bath towel, she also went into the water, sat down next to the Witch, pushed the wooden tub containing sake, and said:

Would you like a drink?

The Witch's ethereal form solidified slightly in the thin mist, her light clothing instantly soaked through. Ignoring the exposed skin, she peeled off her clothes as easily as peeling an eggshell, then, clutching the wooden tub, her eyes bright, she said in a clear, crisp voice:

"I want to drink!"

Volume 1: 406. The Alert Disaster Group, Qing Bao Being Stalked.

The Witch lowered her eyes to look at the wooden barrel, which was filled with ice. Two bottles of sake and a pre-chilled cup were placed on top, and the cold air and steam rose up. She poured a cup for herself and Qing Bao.

Chu Yuanqing took the porcelain cup. The clear, transparent wine swayed in the ripples, releasing a faint aroma of rice. She took a sip; it wasn't spicy, but rather a pure, mellow sweetness. It was cool and refreshing, with a wonderful taste—more like a beverage than wine.

Well, the alcohol content isn't high. Among the people I know, only that Green Eyed Cat could probably get drunk on this.

The Witch sipped the sake slowly and carefully, like a small animal licking salt grains; she hadn't drunk sake much before.

Despite her noble status Saio, in the eyes of those who worship [Amaterasu] and attribute their own blessings to her, she is nothing more than a prop, like the sake used to worship the gods.

In her past life, after being taken to the shrine, she never saw Yuki or her Dad again until the young Savior led her out of the evil-hearted and demon-infested East Flow Island, where she learned the truth.

Beyond the shrine, the land is deserted.

After the initial resistance, fighting, and defeat, the Emperor, politicians, and other important figures in the capital betrayed the rest of the nation in order to buy time. They voluntarily sacrificed the entire area outside Tokyo to the Disaster God, and in return, they were rewarded with the freedom from the black snow and the rampage of demons.

Hokkaido, her hometown, was the first area to be buried by black snow.

After that, those decision-makers built many shrines within the territory and brought in one blessed person after another, making them servants of the gods, falsely claiming that they were to be sacrificed to eight million gods.

Initially, the sacrifices were a pretext woven to allow these eastward-flowing sparks of fire to slowly grow.

However, apart from Saio at Ise Shrine, the rest of the embers were eventually devoured by gods and demons through repeated compromises.

When the boy arrived at Dongliu, the highest decision-makers, led by the Emperor, had already figured out Kiriwake Yayoi's blessed nature and set out the plan to [kill the god], deciding to forge this Witch herself into a Mythical Weapon.

Ironically, the later Witch, as they grew up, created Ama-no-Habakiri, Futsu-no-Mitama, Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, and even the final Laevateinn, all of which were conceived, originated from this malice woven by countless people.

But...

Chu Yuanqing helped her escape her predetermined fate.

Even though they faced countless hardships, chases, trials, and life-or-death crises along the way, he never hesitated, never gave up, and never wavered. He led her to that Sky City, giving her a new life and transforming her from a clueless, hateless tool into a living, breathing person.

Therefore, it was only natural for the Witch to fall in love with that boy.

In this respect, she and that Demon King are very similar. They were both birds with broken wings, bound by fate, but he broke their shackles, allowing them to return to the free world and soar freely.

The Witch sipped her sake, gazing at Qing Bao's profile, her mind drifting with reverie.

Perhaps that's why she couldn't help but feel inferior in front of Charlotte. After she forged three Mythical Weapons with her own body and became almost inhuman, this feeling of inferiority became even stronger.

The Doomsday Diva is too overpowered as a love rival. Even though the childhood friend status often leads to a losing streak, it seems completely unsolvable against her.

As a result, when she later became acquainted with Charlotte and was explicitly invited to join the "family," the self-conscious Witch would always hastily change the subject and never give a direct answer to the invitation.

Looking back now, that was for the best. For me, agreeing wouldn't have changed anything. Dying in that sea of fire and forging that Laevateinn was the best ending.

The Witch forged the finest weapon for her beloved and successfully avenged her family. In that era, she couldn't imagine a better way to die.

"Are you drunk? Why are you spacing out after just one drink?"

The Pure White Witch raised her face, touching the strands of hair by her ear. She leaned closer, and as the water splashed and rippled, the bath towel could no longer completely contain her full curves. The fragrance of roses and her fair skin entered her senses together.

As the gaze moves downwards, the loose bath towel, soaked in hot water, has clung slightly to the waist and hips, creating more pronounced undulating lines than when the clothes are on, and the shape of the navel on the lower abdomen can be vaguely seen.

Chu Yuanqing tilted his head to observe the Witch, then reached out and poked the spirit that shouldn't be drunk. Just as he poked her cheek, the other grabbed his wrist, causing a splashing sound.

The Witch curled her lips into a smile, leaned closer with a playful grin, and lightly kissed Qing Bao's lips with the sake. Then, she snatched the porcelain cup from Qingbao's hand, turned her back to the swaying wooden tub, quickly poured two cups, and said:

"Delicious! I'll have another one."

Chu Yuanqing didn't realize she was being taken advantage of. She only felt that the Witch seemed to have become more lively. She took the sake, clinked glasses with her, and together they sipped the sweet sake slowly, like cats drinking water, enjoying the sensation of soaking in the hot spring, feeling relaxed and comfortable.

Although the curse has not faded, the more [nothingness] invades, the less the pain born from the Sea of Truth becomes.

In the past, given her sense of taste and the repeated torment she endured, she probably wouldn't have been able to even taste the sweetness of sake.

This was proof of approaching death and gradual disappearance, yet it allowed her to rediscover a sliver of the simplest joy of being an ordinary person on her final journey.

Listening to the birdsong and insect chirps of early morning, along with the murmurs of the person beside her, Chu Yuanqing relaxed slightly, feeling the warm water seeping through the towel and gradually warming her skin. Looking up at the clear, cloudless sky, she suddenly felt a little dazed.

So... everyone is usually this happy.

So many years have passed that she has forgotten what it feels like to be an ordinary person, untouched by Lingering Fire, unconsumed by power, and uncorrupted by curses.

The Pure White Witch snapped out of her daze, downed the last of her sake in one gulp, and said with a nonsensical laugh:

"I think I'll be even happier afterwards."

The Witch embraced Qing Bao's soft waist, nuzzled against her neck, and said with a smile:

"If Xiao Qing is happy, I will also feel happy, so that's double the joy. Let's enjoy the present moment, shall we?"

But not long after she finished speaking, in order to take advantage of Qing Bao, soak in the hot spring, and "digest" the sake, the Witch, who had been in a physical form for a long time, turned back into a pure ghost. She could no longer hold Chu Yuanqing and fell into the hot spring.

After reappearing, its previously wet and alluring appearance instantly returned to a dry state.

The Witch said with a hint of regret:

"You can't use any more force, I still need to take pictures of you while we're skiing later."

Chu Yuanqing also felt a little regretful; she hadn't even had a chance to pinch the Witch's cheeks properly before the girl flew away like an electronic butterfly.

Fortunately, after a short while, the Witch who had flown outside saw several tourists coming down to soak in the hot springs.

She immediately flew back and told Qing Bao that she would uphold her virtues as a woman and protect the property of Liuli, Charlotte, Little Sakura, and Xuan Bao, and not let other women take advantage of them.

Chu Yuanqing found the Witch's explanation strange, but considering her previous gender, it was indeed unethical to soak in a hot spring with other women. So she immediately wrapped herself in a towel, went to the changing room, changed her clothes and dried her hair, thus ending her hot spring trip.

Breakfast is included in the hotel's tour price.