Chapter 423
Takanashi's gaze became much more serious.
After this topic was brought up, the discussion at the small round table temporarily ended. Takanashi, looking rather bored, stirred his coffee with a small spoon, watching the thick steam rise.
The aroma of coffee was battling against drowsiness.
The clock was ticking away.
However, as Takanashi aimlessly muttered to herself about the various things she needed to do during this time and the conversation that had just taken place, she suddenly blinked her eyes slightly, as if she had suddenly thought of something.
While Cangyue Yuri was still looking confused, Takanashi's eyes flickered slightly.
She stopped swirling her coffee for several minutes and tentatively asked in a low voice—
"Wait a minute... You said that even among Moon-Type Magic girls, very few can manipulate time, right?"
She finally remembered.
Before Cangyue Yuri could react, Takanashi asked another question:
"Then, who exactly are those Moon-Type Magic girls who can use Time Magic? Are there any Moon-Type Magic girls who are not at the Crown Rank?"
At first, Cangyue Yuri didn't understand why she was being asked such a question, but she quickly realized what was going on.
She possesses Time Magic, and is not Crown Rank Moon-Type Magic Girl.
There is only one Magic girl who meets these criteria.
It's clearly documented in history, and the moment I thought of that person, everything seemed to connect...
"You mean, the true form of that Serpent System Black Death Cult... might be?"
After realizing that Takanashi had come to this conclusion, Cangyue Yuri seemed to find it very credible at first glance.
It seems that one of their worries has at least begun to be resolved.
However, before that, Takanashi needs to go see Ms. Roland again to ask her about some things she doesn't understand.
And we must find a way to defeat that guy.
After the Magic girls rescued Sakaki Chika in the "World Apart," this once empty world has now taken on a completely different appearance.
In the heart of the city, the enormous demonic tree that almost reached the sky, which had originally been twisted and ominous, was now covered with abundant flowers, a riot of colors that could be described as vibrant and exuding a lively life force.
Under the moonlight, countless bubbles floated above the city, as unbelievable as a fairy tale.
Those enormous bubbles carry countless dreams.
That was people's beautiful Phantasmal Dream and past.
This originally twisted and evil world was rebuilt at some point, and the ruins were restored into a normal city, seemingly waiting for someone to come and live in peace and prosperity.
In a corner of the city, on the rooftop of a tall building, a strange dragon-shaped Monster cradled a long-handled sword embroidered with black flames, gazing down upon the city with icy eyes.
"Don't you think this world is beautiful? Imagine that everyone would live happily in this world, just like their wishes are depicted in the bubble."
Behind the Torch Dragon Black Death Cult, a sweet female voice emerged.
It turned its neck and saw Tachibana.
The enigmatic woman smiled as she looked down at the city, her rose-red pupils revealing neither laughter nor utter indifference.
[Boring.]
Few Monster would dare to speak to the Demon King in such a tone.
But Tachibana wasn't annoyed by this.
However, after a while, Torch Dragon gazed with slight confusion at the world that Tachibana had praised—
[After becoming Monster, I can no longer distinguish any colors or light and dark. What is it that you find beautiful?]
Even among Monster, the Flower Demon King is a strange individual.
She was not in a hurry to observe people's suffering.
Instead, they are fascinated by human happiness.
If you put it that way, you might think she's a slightly peculiar, or perhaps not so bad, Monster.
But that's completely wrong.
It evokes the image of a mother and a woman amidst blooming flowers, arms outstretched as if embracing the world, her pupils often slightly narrowed, yet as if trying to take everything in.
"Because seeing this world makes my heart ache, I think it must be incredibly beautiful."
Why are there so many things I can't understand?
Puzzled, she raised her hand and fingertips, pointing towards the bubbles in the sky that symbolized people's desires and happiness.
There are many different wishes among them.
The most prevalent theme is "family affection," or more precisely, the theme of a mother's love.
Caring is love, hugging is love.
Incomprehension is love, anger is love, and inflicting pain is also love.
The more one observes, the more perplexed one becomes by this Monster body, leading to a profound sense of emptiness.
"If I had everything"
"If I put everyone in this city... no, if I put everyone in the world into these bubbles and slowly appreciate them, would I be able to understand this kind of love?"
Tachibana expressed her enormous desires without reservation.
Because she had waited too long.
From the moment of birth, through the long millennia, from the first longing for someone's love to the moment of being abandoned by someone.
The more she exists, the less she can feel her own existence.
Because they are born as beings filled with flaws and emptiness.
At this moment, she finally felt that she was becoming whole, getting closer and closer.
Her shattered and empty heart is about to be whole again.
The Key of Omnipotence, originating from the Witch and symbolizing desire, also awaits a response to her wish.
And the wishes of everyone in this city.
However, even so, the Torch Dragon Black Death Cult seemed completely unresponsive; it was unmoved by Tachibana's words and could not understand them at all.
"It's a real shame. You were once human, capable of experiencing all that is beautiful. Why did you choose to abandon those feelings?"
"Tell me, compared to Monster, how does it feel to be human?"
"A Magic girl who was defeated in the war to defeat the Overlord and can no longer transform?"
Tachibana looked at the Torch Dragon Black Death Cult with a teasing expression.
No ripples appeared on the pale, indifferent female mask of the dragon-like Black Death Cult.
After a while, it seemed that the word "Overlord" finally resonated with it.
It emitted a detached and slightly dazed voice--
[I can't remember anything...]
[A void deeper than death leaves only the desires of birth behind.]
From the moment they were born, they were destined to be such pathetic and ugly beings.
Torch Dragon Black Death Cult gently raised his arm.
Those hideous, dark claws had nothing like those of a young girl; a single, gentle slash could tear flesh and pierce bone.
It stared at its own hand---
[However, thanks to this transformation, I will never lose again. Even that Magic girl who resembles the Overlord will be defeated by me once more.]
Under the silent night sky, a strange world filled with desire and empty fantasies is about to become the stage for the next battle.
Fragile comfort is never sustainable.
Or perhaps, this is the last time?
Chapter 182 Peace
When Haihara Lily Chou comes into contact with the Crystal, she hears a mysterious "sound".
It's incredible, but Haihara seems to know exactly where those voices are coming from.
The human heart.
Through the Crystal, she could always hear the cries in other people's hearts, whether she wanted to or not, as if everyone wanted to confide in her.
Just like the Crystal of Cangyue Yuri.
Cangyue Yuri's crying was suppressed and silent, like a lonely stray dog curled up in a corner licking its wounds.
Knowing full well that crying to others would not elicit pity, she remained strong and indifferent, without any expectation of receiving care from others.
Sakaki Chika cry like a child who had done something wrong.
To Haihara, even if Sakaki Chika did nothing but stand in front of him, it would look like she was crying.
But why?
When Haihara touched Kazama Kiriori's Crystal, she did not hear any crying.
There was nothing there.
It was very peaceful.
Haihara didn't recall anything about her Kazama Kiriori either.
This left Haihara somewhat resentful.
Yes, Haihara is a little curious... or rather, quite concerned about Kazama Kiriori.
The feeling of spending time with Kazama Kiriori during this period was quite different from that with other people.
Despite having almost no prior contact with her, she felt very familiar and close. Although there were some awkward moments, the unease she had felt before slowly dissipated around Kazama Kiriori.
Haihara didn't dwell on this for long.
Whether it was psychological or not, ever since Kazama Kiriori gave her that Crystal as a talisman, she felt like she hadn't thought about her previous troubles for a long time, and felt very relaxed.
It felt as light as if I had forgotten something.
"Speaking of which... do you really have to eat rats? Can't you eat something like sausage?"
Haihara isn't quite used to feeding snakes yet.
She didn't want to touch the dead rat.
The Little White didn't seem to find Haihara's presence unfamiliar at all, and naturally used Haihara's hand as a branch, slowly crawling around.
Haihara, bored out of her mind, stretched out her finger and poked the little snake's head.
Snakes' eyes always seem dull.
It listlessly flicked its tongue.
This cold, lifeless animal, like the snow outside, painted a picture of gray desolation.
Haihara's black pupils also gleamed with the same icy temperature.
Haihara woke up very early today.
Even though it wasn't time for her to wake up, she wasn't sleepy anymore.
So she sat alone on the sofa in the living room with the snake, covered with a thin blanket, waiting for Kazama Kiriori to get up.
Although she prefers snakes a bit more, snakes aren't suitable for hugging.
She missed the warmth of holding the puppy that Cangyue Yuri had transformed into.
And so, Haihara remained in a daze until after seven o'clock.
When she came to her senses and looked up at the clock, she realized that it was much later than Kazama Kiriori's usual wake-up time, and she still hadn't seen Kazama Kiriori's room door open.
Perhaps she wanted to sleep a little longer today? After all, juggling studying and living alone lately has been quite tiring.