Volume Three: The Academy's Full-Scale Rampage - Edge of Collapse (2)

Is it truly a case of complete ignorance?

Or are they aware of it but choosing not to see it?

I don't know, nobody knows.

If you close your eyes, don't look, don't listen, and don't think, everything will be the same.

It's like knowing that exams are looming, yet still using comics and snacks to numb the students' minds.

This is self-deception.

Or is it just self-consolation?

No, if I had to put it that way, it would be closer to self-protection.

As long as you don't look at it or think about it, everything will pass peacefully.

Otherwise--

Compared to the harrowing events of the past few months, life is now remarkably peaceful.

It was so calm it became boring.

Dull and empty.

Yet even the mundane routine, propelled by an invisible force, slowly turns with a creaking sound.

Dinner was the same as always, and the four of us were together as usual.

Although, now I can only see Xiao Wu and Givinia at the dinner table.

They are often not home all day, and sometimes they come very late at night.

Whenever I ask them what they are doing--

"Hey, Xiao Wu, you've got so many missions lately..."

"Ah... that's right. Wu Cangsheng is going on a rampage against Black Crow, causing such a huge commotion. The Enforcement Team is short-handed, so a lot of work has been handed over to us Scavengers. There's just no other way..."

"Givinia, and you?"

"Of course, I'll assist Miss Xiao Wu. Think about it, how can I, without a student status and with an unknown background, gain a foothold in the Central United Academy? Of course, I'll do things for the higher-ups. Anyway, the tasks assigned are all infiltration and investigation, which are a piece of cake for me."

Yes, that's right...

That's how it will happen.

A flawless answer is precisely what makes it unsettling, because it has no flaws whatsoever.

Subtle feelings of unease gradually build up.

It will eventually become a behemoth.

And I am still numbing myself.

At the dinner table, everyone ate in silence, without saying a word.

"...(chewing)"

It was still the same delicious meal that Xiao Wu had painstakingly prepared, but I found it increasingly difficult to swallow. I just mechanically put the neatly shredded vegetables into my mouth, chewed, swallowed, and then continued eating.

"Hey, Xiao Ye, why do you look so blank? It looks delicious."

Haoyue suddenly spoke up, which surprised me a bit.

"I didn't expect you to occasionally praise Xiao Wu's cooking skills..."

"Although she's an incorrigible delinquent, she does have this one and only redeeming quality."

"You're really bold, Qipao Woman. I'm embarrassed to be praised by someone as clumsy as you who could easily blow up the kitchen." Xiao Wu pouted and glared coldly at Haoyue.

"How could that be? 'Dark cuisine is a cute attribute' -- that's what Xiao Ye said."

"I didn't realize you were not only a lesbian but also a masochist..." Xiao Wu looked at me like I was a pervert. Hey, hey, don't look at me like that! I just happen to like girls like Mizuki, pink hair, big breasts, and the whole "darkening" thing is just so awesome! Wait, I guess I am one too?

"Ignore that delinquent girl, Xiao Ye! Let's enjoy our time together and add some color to this dinner that's been ruined by that delinquent girl and Givinia (Givinia: 'Givinia what the heck is Givnia?!')! Of course, it'll be something pink!"

As she spoke, Haoyue scooped up a large spoonful of potato salad and held it to my mouth.

Come on, ah~~~~~~❤

Couples usually feed each other with small spoons when they're playfully teasing each other... Oh well, as long as you're having fun.

So I obediently closed my eyes and raised my head--

Ahh...

I even let out a shameful "Ah~~~" sound; I was so dedicated.

Just as the spoon entered my mouth--

Clang!

The potato salad didn't end up in my mouth.

I opened my eyes and saw a spoon lying on the table and bits of salad spilled on the tablecloth.

The spoon fell?

"Ah! I'm so sorry, Xiao Ye, I didn't hold it properly..."

Haoyue reached out to pick up the spoon, but--

Clang. It fell again.

Her fingers were as if frozen, bending very awkwardly, and she dropped the spoon as soon as she picked it up.

"Eh... Eh? Really, look at me, so clumsy."

Hey! This isn't just clumsy anymore!

"Hao, Haoyue! Are you feeling unwell—"

"Qipao Woman! What's going on?!" Xiao Wu interrupted me, staring intently at Haoyue with a terrifying expression.

"Ah, I..."

"Well, you must have burned your hand while helping to serve the food. Honestly, Miss Haoyue, you're already burned but you still have to show off your love."

Givinia gently took Haoyue's hand and held it up to her eyes to examine it carefully. I also wanted to get closer to look, but my view was blocked by Givinia's hand, so I couldn't see clearly.

But I clearly saw Haoyue's face.

Her face was still beautiful, but she looked a little... haggard?

There were shadows under his eyes, his cheeks were slightly sunken, and his lips were a little pale, making him look like a patient recovering from a long illness.

Why didn't I notice this before?

Or is it that you were aware of it but pretended not to see it?

"Wow, as expected of Givinia, you're so heartless. I went to great lengths to hide it from Xiao Ye, who gets emotionally distraught at the sight of me losing a single hair, and you, you just saw right through it."

"Anyway, it's such a shame that such fair and lovely fingers got burned. I remember there's a first-aid kit upstairs, right, Xiao Wu?"

"Huh? Uh... um! But..."

"Could you help me come up and look for it? It'll only be a little while, it's okay."

"Well... okay, A Ye, you eat first, we'll be right down."

Xiao Wu gave me one last quick glance before hurrying up to the second floor.

In the blink of an eye, all three were gone.

I was left alone at the table after a sumptuous dinner.

"... Finger, burned?"

I care about it a lot.

But what mattered wasn't the extent of Haoyue's injuries, but rather—was she really burned?

My greatest skill is sensing the Blood Energy of others, and the "taste" of blood is different when it flows through a burn site versus a normal place.

I did not feel any signs of burns.

"What are they doing...?"

The truth is like a flame.

Beautiful, sparkling, and scalding hot, its heat is so intense that it draws attention even when one closes their eyes and turns away.

Because it's beautiful, I want to touch it, but the moment I touch it, I get burned by its heat.

Even if you try to cover it up, it will burn through those coverings.

The fog will eventually end.

Fools will eventually wake up.

But even now, I'm still dreaming.

On the dark and desolate highway, a cold wind brushed against my hair.

The starlight was dim above, and the ground beneath my feet was cold asphalt.

Looking out, one can vaguely see the lush wild grass on the wasteland.

In the distance, wisps of smoke rose faintly.

A faint light can be seen.

Even though there was no church, one could faintly hear the sound of sermon bells echoing in the sky.

It's like the scene depicted in Hotel California.

Have you heard of Hotel California?

How could I not have heard the Eagles' legendary song?

"The effect of those two guitars had a profound influence on later generations."

But to be honest, Stairway

Heaven suits my taste better.

"Zeppelin's masterpiece? It is indeed fantastic, and you never tire of listening to it."

I thought you only liked listening to traditional Chinese cultural elements.

"How could that be? From Qinqiang opera to traditional opera, from Robert Johnson to Teresa Teng, from Verdi to Guns N' Roses, humanity has never lacked musical art."

You have such wide-ranging interests; you listen to everything.

"Just accept and appreciate it with a calm mind."

Keep a calm mind...

"I'll ask you one more time: how are you doing in the new world?"

... Not very good.

"How exactly?"

I... feel fear, but I don't know how to describe this fear, it's like...

"It's like a young child standing in front of a dark cave, like an explorer sinking into the dark depths of the Deep Sea in a gondola, like walking blindfolded on a path full of thorns."

That's right.

"This is one of humanity's most primal, instinctive fears—the fear of the unknown."

Unknown, is it?

But what should I do?

Why not check it with your own eyes?

How exactly should I do it?

"You should know in your heart that all you need to do is 'open your eyes'..."

Open your eyes...

"Ah, Xiao Ye, good evening."

"... As expected, it's the same today."

"If it's Xiao Ye, I'm willing to accept anything from you..."

"However... if this continues, I'm afraid my body won't be able to hold on..."

"It's getting harder and harder for me to stand up, sometimes I can't see anything, and my limbs suddenly stop responding to my commands."

"I really wish I had a body like Xiao Wu's..."

"But it's okay, as long as Xiao Ye is safe."

"As long as you're safe, I don't care what happens to me..."

"I'm sorry, it's all because of my incompetence, our incompetence..."

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."

"So, come on, it's okay..."

"Waaaaa!!!"

I suddenly sprang from my deep sleep.

The pale light of dawn filtered through the curtains.

"Haa... haa... haa..."

His breathing was heavy, as if he had just run a kilometer, and large drops of cold sweat dripped from his forehead. He tried to smooth his disheveled hair with his hand, but found that his hand was trembling uncontrollably.

"Ugh... tsk..."

My head hurts so much.

It's throbbing and pulsating, it really hurts.

"Hmm... Ee!!"

It was like a lightning bolt flashed through my mind; my vision shifted between black and white. I curled up, clutching my head, the blurry images constantly flashing before my eyes—

"Ugh... what... what..."

A dilapidated street at dusk

An old park on a summer night--

Highway in the dark wilderness

"Eee... Ah... Ahh..."

Someone, someone, someone—someone who likes traditional snacks, folk art, literature, and music from different eras and styles—something that seems to be human is talking to me.

"How's life in the new world?" "But that's the nature of humans, so ambiguous." "I'll go buy a jianbing (Chinese crepe)." "Even if you ask the same person the same question, you'll get different answers at different times and in different places." "There's a barrier between any two individuals; you can't see into someone's heart." "This is one of humanity's most primal, instinctive fears—the fear of the unknown."

"Why... why..."

Echoes, echoes, echoes... Words I'd always forgotten upon waking, vanished in the light, dissolved in water, all surged forth in my mind, echoing endlessly. Who? Who? Who is it? Who is it really?

Remember, remember, try again, that person, really...

It seems to be a male--

Very thin -- Tall and thin --

Gray hair, neither long nor short.

The T-shirt looks old.

Faded jeans --

And, his eyes, his eyes--

"Ugh! Uh..."

Another sharp pain shot through my brain, and a sudden wave of nausea rose within me. I covered my mouth tightly to prevent myself from vomiting.

No, no! That person—or rather, that thing that seems to be human—what it is, what it looks like—it doesn't matter!!!

Why not check it with your own eyes?

"You should know in your heart that all you need to do is 'open your eyes'..."

Open your eyes, open your eyes, he told me to open my eyes.

When I opened my eyes, what did I see?

"If it's Xiao Ye, I'm willing to accept anything from you..."

"Waaaaah!!!"

I tumbled out of bed in a fluster, stumbling through the stairs and down the hallway, not knowing where I was going or who I was looking for. I just wanted to move, just wanted to avoid being caught by something chasing after me.

Hurry up, hurry up, past the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, storage room, laundry room--

Wait, the laundry room?

The laundry room and bathroom are connected.

Standing at the door of the laundry room, I could hear the sound of water coming from the bathroom.

Is anyone taking a shower?

As if possessed, I trembled and looked into the laundry room.

"Ah, ahhh... ahhhh..."

An incomprehensible groan escaped my lips.

So red.

The red liquid stained the floor.

The source was a large laundry basket.

The bamboo laundry basket was stained bright red.

Inside, there is,

Bedding and sheets soaked in blood.

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Bonus chapter complete~

Is it really because it's been put on sale? The comment section has been a bit quiet lately, though both old and new readers are actively sharing their thoughts. A book review would be even more welcome!