Beauty Leads Astray

His body became transparent in the light, like a painting being soaked in water.

She didn't let go, but his hand slipped through her fingers like water leaking through the gaps between them.

He disappeared.

The light faded, leaving her alone on the bed.

She sat there, her long white hair scattered on the pillow, her pale blue eyes gazing at the now empty bed.

He lowered his head and looked at the silver ring on the ring finger of his left hand.

The ring gleamed softly in the light, and the Black Cross emblem shimmered with golden light in the sunlight.

Higashino Makoto.

She uttered the name, a slight smile playing on her lips.

The next day, after the temperature around her had completely disappeared, she stood up, and her spiritual armor reformed on her body.

She walked to the window, opened it, and sunlight streamed in, illuminating her profile.

In the distance, the streets of Tengu City began to fill with pedestrians; a new day had begun.

She closed her eyes and let her consciousness sink into her body.

The Spirit Crystal slowly rotated within her body, emitting a pale golden light.

That was her power, her essence, the thing she used to change the world.

She remembered what Higashino Makoto had said, those words about the Elf Kingdom.

Tohka Yatogami, Yoshino, Kurumi, Kurumi, Kotori Itsuka, Nia, Mukuro Hoshimiya, Natsumi Kyouno, the Yamai Sisters, Origami Miku Izayoi.

They are all beautiful, they are all lovely, they are all good children.

She opened her eyes, a slight smile playing on her lips.

Since he likes it, then let him have it all.

She stretched out her hand, and a pale golden Spirit Crystal appeared in her palm.

The Spirit Crystal slowly rotated in her palm, like a miniature sun.

She closed her eyes and divided the Spirit Crystal into many portions. Each portion was a tiny seed, and each seed would grow into an Elf Kingdom.

She scattered these seeds into the sky, watching them transform into countless specks of light, scattering across the world.

Then she smiled.

That smile was gentle and content.

Like a bride looking at her groom at her wedding.

Of course, if Higashino Makoto saw this scene, he would think it was a yandere smile.

"Dad, no, dear Ping. Thirty years from now, I'll give them all to you."

When Higashino Makoto fell out of the time rift, he stumbled and almost hit his face.

He steadied himself and raised his head.

The sunlight was blinding.

The buildings on both sides of the street were much taller than when he left, the road surface had been renovated, and even the roadside trees had been replaced.

Several students in school uniforms rode past on bicycles in the distance, their laughter echoing in the air.

There were no spacequake alarms, no shelters, and no ruins left from the battle of the Elf Kingdom.

Everything was like an ordinary, Peace city, devoid of any supernatural elements.

Higashino Makoto stood there, stunned for several seconds.

He stood on the street, watching the passersby, a complex emotion welling up inside him that he couldn't quite put his finger on.

They arrived at a library, consulted history books, and drew their own conclusions.

The world has indeed been changed.

Although Mio Takamiya was summoned, the Eurasia Great Disaster did not occur, and 150 million people survived.

The Elf Kingdom didn't cause any disaster, the spacequake didn't occur, and those familiar faces, those girls who initially had an unusually high level of affection for him, probably wouldn't have turned into the Elf Kingdom.

Origami is probably an ordinary high school student, Nia is probably a manga artist, Kurumi might be...

His expression froze.

Kurumi.

Tokisaki Kurumi, who offered herself as payment for saving the world.

Thirty years have passed.

She must be in her forties now.

Higashino Makoto's expression turned grim.

That old lady from Nia is one of them.

Even pseudo-loli Yoshino, nowadays...

He dared not think any further.

"Muninn."

"Exist."

"It's 2013 now, right?"

"That's right. According to this world's calendar, thirty years and two months have passed since you left Mio Takamiya."

Higashino Makoto's lips twitched slightly.

Thirty years indeed.

He took a deep breath, then another.

"Have I forgotten something important?"

"According to you, you forgot to add an 'immortality package' for Tokisaki Kurumi, Nia Honjo, Yoshino, and the others."

Higashino Makoto was silent for a moment, then slapped himself in the face.

Is it too late to travel back in time?

"Theoretically possible, but you'll need to use the power of the Sixth Bullet again."

Higashino Makoto remained silent for a moment, then began to make excuses for himself.

"It's all Mio Takamiya."

"You're right."

Beauty can be a trap!

"You're right."

"I have become so addicted to wine and women that I have grown so haggard! From this day forward, I will abstain from alcohol."

"You're right."

Higashino Makoto glanced at the raven on his shoulder.

Can't you say something else?

"You're absolutely right."

Higashino Makoto sighed, too lazy to argue with a bird.

There's no use being upset now; let's find Mio Takamiya first.

Ultimately, if she hadn't dressed like that to come see him that night, how could he have forgotten his business?

She absolutely must make him compensate her properly.

"Muninn, find Mio Takamiya."

"I'm already looking. However, her spiritual energy fluctuations are very special, corresponding to your power. Actually, you could find it much faster than I could."

Higashino Makoto nodded, indicating he knew this.

But Muninn is just too useful; he 'The Unassailable he can, and be lazy whenever possible—that's his life motto.

Muninn closed her eyes, then opened them a few seconds later.

"Found it. About three kilometers to the northwest."

Higashino Makoto strode towards the northwest.

He walked three kilometers in ten minutes.

It wasn't that he didn't want to walk faster; it was that he needed time to process his emotions.

Thirty years is nothing to him, who possesses eternal life, but for ordinary people, it is a long time, enough to change everything.

He decided that he would not look for Kurumi and the others for the time being. After finding Mio Takamiya, he would travel back in time.

After all, if he were to see them transformed into middle-aged women, his resolve might be shattered.

He stopped at the entrance of a narrow alley and looked at the detached courtyard house deep inside the alley.

The courtyard walls were covered with vines, and the gate was made of wood with some peeling paint.

A cherry blossom tree grows in the courtyard, and the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. The petals fall in the breeze and are scattered on the stone path.

Muninn said, "Mio Takamiya is right here."

Higashino Makoto took a deep breath and stepped into the alley.

Just as I reached the courtyard gate, it was pushed open from the inside.

A figure rushed out.

Her long white hair shimmered softly in the sunlight, her pale blue eyes were filled with tears, and her silver-white spirit dress dissipated into specks of light as she ran, replaced by a white dress.

She wasn't wearing shoes; her bare feet trod on the stone path, her toes turning white from the effort.

She threw herself into his arms, wrapped her arms around his waist, buried her face in his chest, and pressed her whole body against him, as if she wanted to embed herself into his body.

"You're finally back."

Her voice was muffled, coming from his chest, tinged with sobs, trembling, and carrying the weight of thirty years of waiting.

"I've waited for you for thirty years. Every day, every hour, every minute."

Higashino Makoto's hand hung in mid-air, unsure of where to put it.

"Mio."

"The day you left, I counted the time, second by second. I counted until dawn, until dusk, until the second day, until the thirtieth day, the three hundredth day, the third year. I counted for thirty years."

Her voice grew softer, but her embrace tightened.

"I've finally waited for you."

Higashino Makoto's hand finally fell and rested on her back.

Her body was cold and she was shivering slightly.

"I'm back."

She didn't say anything, she just held him tightly, as if afraid he would disappear at any moment.

There was a pedestrian crossing at the alley entrance; seeing this scene, I quickened my pace and walked away.

Someone glanced back, then was pulled away by their companion.