Harvest and Farewell

Time became blurred during this period.

Higashino Makoto wasn't sure how many days had passed, because he faced the same question every time he woke up.

White Agate lay beside him, her long pink hair scattered on the pillow, her crimson eyes closed, her breathing so faint it was almost inaudible.

She was curled up at the foot of the bed under the Akari, her long black hair covering half her face, her skin as white as paper.

Peach lay on the carpet, one hand still resting on the edge of the bed, her fingers dangling limply.

The trio has become lifeless again.

It's not a metaphor; it really is like a dead fish, the Unassailable, barely clinging to life.

Higashino Makoto sat up, sighed, and raised his hand.

A pale golden light emanated from their palms, enveloping the three of them.

The time-reversal Authority within the Akari was activated through the Conduit Link, and their time was rewound to before last night.

Her skin regained its color, her breathing became steady, and her eyelashes began to flutter.

White Agate was the first to open her eyes. When she saw Higashino Makoto, she smiled and reached out to hug his waist.

The second one to wake up was in the Akari. He rubbed his eyes and yawned.

Peach was the last to get up, kneeling on the carpet with her head bowed.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Higashino. I lost control of my emotions again."

Higashino Makoto looked at Peach's face, which was still flushed.

He'd lost count of how many times this had happened.

Every time I play, my emotions change, my power goes out of control, and then the game starts to deteriorate.

Their body temperature dropped, their consciousness became blurred, and they fell into an endless state of weakness.

White Agate and Akari aren't much better; they just last a little longer than Peach.

It took Higashino Makoto some time to realize that this was not his intention, but rather the Authority of the Pride Demon at work.

He named this Authority the Degradation Aura; hostile targets entering its range would rapidly deteriorate, their physical functions would decline, and their conceptual power would collapse.

Enemies below level 70 are not even qualified to stand in his presence.

Neutral units will be slower, but will still be affected.

Friendly units are not exempt either, especially when emotions are running high.

A rapid heartbeat and a surge in adrenaline can exponentially increase the rate of deterioration.

White Agate didn't care; she said she would be willing to turn into stone as long as she could stay by Higashino's side.

Even if the Akari doesn't care, since Higashino- kun can turn back time anyway.

Peach always says she'll be more careful next time, but she never actually does.

Higashino Makoto eventually stopped talking about it; anyway, the first thing he did every morning was to turn back time, which had become a daily routine.

Having had enough fun, he started packing his things.

White Agate sat on the edge of the bed, watching him stuff things into his backpack, her crimson eyes unblinking.

Akari stood by the window, looking at the sky outside.

Peach squatted down and helped him fold his clothes.

I'm leaving.

The White Agate finger paused for a moment.

Where is Higashino- kun going?

"Go to another world, to find something."

She turned her head in the Akari, her pale purple eyes looking at him.

Will Higashino- kun come back?

"I'll be back, after all, you're still here. If I didn't succeed, so be it; but what I did get, I won't let go of."

White Agate stood up, walked up to him, reached out, and grabbed the hem of his clothes.

She didn't speak, she just gripped it tightly, her fingers clenched.

Higashino Makoto looked down at the hand; the knuckles were white, and the nails were neatly trimmed.

"You stay here. After all, your abilities only work in this world; they won't be usable outside."

The White Agate lips parted slightly, then closed again.

She wanted to say that she could do without her abilities, but she knew that Higashino Makoto wouldn't agree.

Higashino Makoto reached out and ruffled her hair.

The long, pink hair slipped through his fingers, soft and smooth.

"Be a good girl and wait for me to come back."

The corners of White Agate's mouth turned up slightly, and she released her grip.

"Okay, I'll wait for you. I'll keep waiting."

Higashino Makoto looked into the Akari.

The black-haired girl stood still, neither rushing forward nor crying, but simply looking at him, her pale purple pupils reflecting his face.

"Don't abuse your time-reversal ability, Akari. It's fine if I use it, but if you activate it yourself, it'll be troublesome. Your memories are already messed up enough; if you rewind a few more times, I'm afraid you'll even forget who you are."

"I'll be careful."

Higashino Makoto then looked at Peach.

The pink-haired girl knelt on the ground, holding one of his shirts in her hands. Her green eyes were red, but she wasn't crying.

"Peach, take good care of them."

"Yes, Master Higashino, I certainly will."

Higashino Makoto took three silver badges out of his backpack and handed them to them.

The badge is engraved with a Black Cross symbol, a black cross burning with flames, and a pair of pure white wings extending from behind the cross to encircle the main body.

If you encounter a problem you can't solve, contact me using this method.

Peach took the badge, holding it in both hands as if it were a sacred object.

"Higashino. You're such a kind person."

Higashino Makoto's lips twitched slightly.

Another friend-zoned rejection; this is the tenth or so time now.

He turned around and walked towards the door.

He took a few steps, then stopped without looking back.

Before leaving, he remembered something.

"Oh, right. Before you leave, do one more thing."

He closed his eyes.

A miniature world surged from his body, like an invisible giant hand grasping the entire world in its palm.

The sun disappeared, and a silvery moon appeared in the sky.

The Scales of Justice appeared before the silver moon, the codex was opened, and a heart beat.

He raised his hand, his fingertips tracing lines in the air. The pages of the codex automatically turned to blank pages, where he wrote two more lines.

Kill the time traveler, summon the time traveler.

The three were then sent to a small world to hide.

The silver moon turned into a blood moon.

A crimson light descended from the sky, like a torrential downpour, like a waterfall.

Those who had killed the Lost One, those who had participated in summoning the Lost One, fell one after another.

There was no time to rewind this time, because the Akari did not have the ability to activate.

White Agate stood behind him, her crimson eyes gazing at the blood-red sky, a faint smile playing on her lips.

The Judgment lasted for less than ten seconds.

Then the blood moon faded, the silver moon disappeared, and the sun reappeared in the sky.

Apart from those that were destroyed, everything seemed unchanged.

Higashino Makoto withdrew from his small world, turned around, and looked at the three women.

"Okay, I'm leaving."

He pushed open the door and stepped out of the room.

The corridor was long, and sunlight streamed in through the windows, casting his shadow on the floor.

He didn't turn around. The voice of White Agate came from behind him, very soft, so soft that it was almost inaudible.

"Higashino- kun, you must come back."

He raised his hand and waved it lightly in the air.

The sun was shining brightly as I stepped out of the hotel.

He raised his head, looked at the sky cleansed by the Judgment, and took a deep breath.

Although the Pure Concept of time and white cannot be used in other worlds.

However, by analogy, at least the power of degradation has been acquired. Although it's still a bit clumsy to use, it's definitely usable.

Next, it's time to look for the next target.