Chapter 441

"It's best to struggle less. In your current state, becoming Magic girl seems exceptionally difficult, but it seems you haven't realized it yet?"

After giving a brief response, Tachibana smiled, a mixture of unease and happiness.

"Besides, it's as if I stole it from you."

"But you see, it was her own will that brought her to my side."

As she spoke, the woman lowered her head, her long, thick eyelashes unable to conceal the light in her pupils. With a mother's tenderness on her face, she bent down slightly, lowered her head, and affectionately rested her chin on the girl's fragrant hair.

She greedily inhaled the girl's scent, her lips touching the girl's hair, and before she knew it, she couldn't suppress the urge to smile.

But in the end, as if horrified that she had desecrated something sacred, a hint of panic appeared in her eyes. Reluctantly, she restrained her desires, and her smile gradually faded.

Tachibana raised her head again and looked at Phantom Wind.

The girl was still struggling relentlessly, her reason consumed by anger.

"What did you do? Why did Mom become like this!"

The current Ai Haihara seems to have almost no memory of this period.

Moreover, he had just Tachibana for his "mother".

It's as if they really did have that kind of relationship.

But neither of them could have had that kind of past.

It's as if Haihara's memories have been fabricated, and like those affected citizens, she's Tachibana for someone else.

"Just like how Haihara- san made a wish because of her willfulness and loneliness."

"I made a wish."

She freed her hands again, clasped them gently as if in prayer, and smiled.

Tachibana spoke with such conviction that her expression was exceptionally devout, as if she were truly a nun praying fervently to God.

"Ms. Haihara misses her parents deep in her heart."

"And I hope to be like a mother to Haihara."

"So, our wishes were fulfilled together."

That's how it is.

She spoke these words casually in Haihara's ear, completely unafraid that Haihara would overhear.

As for Haihara, he seemed only slightly puzzled, unable to understand a single word, and remained by Tachibana's side, just as Tachibana had said, treating her as his mother.

Of course, though.

As things stand, Tachibana's wish hasn't been fulfilled yet; she's simply managed to successfully bring Haihara to her side.

Next, we need to go back and proceed with the next steps of the plan.

"But... before that."

Tachibana looked at Phantom Wind again.

But... it seems the troublesome Miss Phantom Wind is about to break free of her restraints and fight him to the death.

She certainly wasn't entirely confident that she could snatch Haihara away from Phantom Wind.

Otherwise, I wouldn't have tried to trade with Kazama Kiriori before.

If Phantom Wind really wants to run away with Haihara, Tachibana has no way to stop her. Even now, she can't hold Phantom Wind for long, and she will be caught up by this troublesome child soon after she leaves.

However, things are completely different now that I've managed to bring Haihara into my possession.

She stroked Haihara's head:

"Lily, please."

Tachibana said with a smile.

Little Haihara seemed to understand what "mother" meant.

She couldn't make a decision for a moment, glancing at Tachibana and then at Phantom Wind, who was struggling in pain.

However, at that moment, Phantom Wind finally broke free of his restraints.

Without hesitation, she transformed her Magic Armament into a spiral spear, ready to pierce the demon Demon King spouted nothing but lies.

Tachibana appeared completely unprepared, smiling as she welcomed the attack that was faster than the sound itself.

And then, at that very moment...

With a hint of hesitation, Ai Haihara raised her hand.

The next moment, a kind of Magic Power that was no different from the Demon King's but belonged to the Lunar created shadows with gaping maws and a gravitational force that made the ground tremble on the ground around Phantom Wind.

The sudden pressure halted Phantom Wind's charge, causing her to collapse to the ground, her spear falling heavily and crushing the earth.

This familiar power, Phantom Wind had seen it before.

It comes from... that being who is suspected to be the Moon Devil King.

What... is going on?

Phantom Wind's mind went blank. In this chaotic state, he could only assume that Tachibana had done something again, and he had no time to think.

She even mistook the obstruction from Haihara just now for a hallucination she saw during her mental confusion.

There was simply no time for her to think about these things.

The resurrected vines all turned into thorns, binding Phantom Wind and piercing her skin, making it impossible for her to break free easily.

In an instant, the distance between him and Haihara seemed to grow ever wider.

Should we ask Tachibana about what just happened?

It's not funny.

She wasn't that keen to understand.

Genpuku stopped engaging in any more pointless conversations with Tachibana.

She just stared at Haihara, who was being held by Tachibana, and shouted loudly---

"Mother!"

Like the unease and whine one feels when hurt after a fall.

She knew perfectly well that Haihara, and would only find it strange.

But she still called out to him.

At this moment, Haihara, who had been keeping her face buried next to Tachibana, finally raised her head and looked at Phantom Wind.

The little girl's jet-black eyes now gleamed with a distorted light.

Even witnessing this scene beyond her comprehension, she seemed to be in a hallucination, unaware of how strange it was.

Little Haihara looked at her, puzzled:

"... Mother?"

"Please come with me, don't be fooled by her! She's deceiving you! Please believe me! Come back, come back, come back!"

She spoke incoherently, frantically tearing at the thorns binding her as she uttered feeble words.

If it's Haihara...

Even if I don't remember anything, I will still believe her.

Deep down, that was her wish.

Because, perhaps... they are destined and special to each other.

Otherwise, it will be like what Tachibana said.

Aside from exceptional coincidence, they may have no connection whatsoever.

I don't know if it's because Phantom Wind looks rather miserable right now.

Or perhaps they truly sensed something.

Haihara wanted to step forward and help Phantom Wind remove the thorns from his body.

But when Tachibana gently tugged at her from behind, she stopped in her tracks.

Then, she gazed at Phantom Wind, her eyes dimming.

"But... I don't know why."

Seeing you made me inexplicably feel... very sad.

The child lowered his head, seemingly not quite understanding himself, and said in bewilderment.

Suddenly, Phantom Wind relaxed its struggle.

In that instant, she lost enough strength to fight against the thorns constructed from the Demon King's Magic Power.

In an instant, the water collapsed and the rocks crumbled. More and more dark demonic vines engulfed her like a rising tide. Her voice, which started as a hoarse shout, gradually faded into a weak and feeble murmur before finally going out completely.

Seeing this scene, Haihara Lily Chou, still in a dream, couldn't understand what it meant.

But still, she seemed to be able to sense the girl's pain.

She wanted to ask her mother.

But Tachibana's face froze for a moment, her gentle expression turning dark, her gaze becoming icy and revealing an unspeakable hatred as she stared at the Phantom Wind engulfed in darkness.

That expression was definitely not pleasant.

So, Haihara gently took Tachibana's hand:

"Mom, let's go home."

At this moment, Tachibana realized what was happening and her expression returned to normal.

She gently patted the little girl's back.

Haihara, who was still running a high fever, also felt sleepy. She was held in a warm embrace and surrounded by the fragrance of flowers. Her consciousness gradually blurred, and as she grew tired and exhausted, her eyelids became heavier and heavier.

Just like the lullaby your mother sang when you were a child.

Soon, the little girl will fall asleep peacefully.

The little girl listened to the woman's soft, gentle, yet lonely words.

"Hmm... Soon, nothing will be able to separate us, not even yourself, Lilith..."

Chapter 196 Next Step

The blizzard gradually subsided, but even larger dark clouds loomed over Maple Plain City.

At this moment, the chaos has largely subsided in every corner of the city.

The portals throughout the city were either closed by Magic girls or were beyond repair, and many citizens had already been transported away under the guidance of Prison Flower.

Today, besides being unusually quiet, the sound of many children crying can also be heard.

Before Phantom Wind could break free from the thorns and pressure, Tachibana had already led Haihara far away.

Tachibana wasn't Demon King was particularly keen on seeing human suffering.

They don't get excited by a child's crying.

But more importantly, she was now holding that woman in her arms.

She lowered her head and looked at the little girl's cute and fragile sleeping face.

They are truly endearing.

"Soon... we'll be together forever."

Tachibana reached out and gently stroked Haihara's delicate, rosy cheeks with her fingers.

Next, she should take Lily back to the "World Apart".

However, before that, she also curiously checked out something she had always cared about.

As she pierced her fingertip with her nail, her blood dripped down like melting Magic Power itself.

Meanwhile, a "Crystal" appeared inside the sleeping Haihara.