Chapter 622

Even so, as Magical Girls, they already possessed the will to protect everything.

Whether it's Kazama Reiko, who hastily becomes Magical Girls, or Shiori, who decides to stay with Reiko, or Kanon and Ayaka.

Although everyone has different reasons for becoming Magical Girls and their own beliefs are different, they all share the same belief in protecting everything.

Magical Girls are born to protect.

As long as she can steadfastly uphold her beliefs and will, then regardless of her strength, she is a qualified Magical Girls.

From this perspective, the Magical Girls of the Eastern Ocean District have long been qualified.

Volume 6 <Magic Autumn> Season 4: Chapter 665 Something More Terrifying Than Death

The Magical Girls finished their discussion and dispersed.

Before the Magical Girls from the Eastern Ocean District left, Xiao Chun specifically called Ayaka back.

She asked Ayaka:

"Xiao Xue... how are you now?"

"..." Ayaka glanced at Xiao Chun.

Although Xiao Chun's attitude towards Tsukinomiya Yuki wasn't very good at first, which made Ayaka dislike Xiao Chun, Ayaka's impression of Xiao Chun gradually changed after what happened in the past few days.

At least it won't be as hostile as it was at the beginning.

When Xiao Chun asked about her younger brother, Ayaka replied:

He said he had some things to do and hasn't come back yet. Is there anything you want to say to him?

"No... no, I just... wanted to see him, that's all."

Xiao Chun stammered.

Several days have passed since the invasion of the Pillar-Tier Demon, but during this time, Xiao Qiu and the others still cannot confirm whether Tsukinomiya Yuki has regained her memories.

Logically speaking, the fact that Tsukinomiya Yuki unleashed such powerful magical energy at the end, regaining near -Pillar Rank magic power, should be proof that she had recovered her memories.

But if Tsukinomiya Yuki really regained his memories, why didn't he reunite with everyone during this period?

Xiao Chun didn't think Fang Ming would abandon them or refuse to acknowledge them. She just felt that Tsukinomiya Yuki might not have recovered many memories.

And the more this is the case, the more they should spend time with Tsukinomiya Yuki.

But...

A few days ago Tsukinomiya Yuki told Ayaka that she was going out for a while, and apart from occasional phone calls, she hasn't returned yet. Nobody knows what she's been up to.

Xiao Chun was very worried about this.

Ayaka was also worried, but because she could often video chat with Tsukinomiya Yuki, Ayaka's level of worry was not as high as Xiao Chun's.

Seeing Xiao Chun's worried expression, Ayaka thought for a moment and then advised her:

"When Xiao Xue comes back, I'll let him meet with you, but..."

"Don't worry, I know he's Fang Ming, so I would never do anything to hurt him!"

Xiao Chun guessed what Ayaka was going to say and quickly made a promise.

But Ayaka's expression turned even worse. She stared at Xiao Chun and said, "He's not your Fang Ming brother yet. And if Xiao Xue isn't Fang Ming, but just looks like the person you remember, does that give you the right to insult him so easily?"

"I... I didn't mean that..."

"I know, but that's what you mean." Ayaka pursed her lips and said softly, "I don't care who Xiao Xue was before, or what his relationship with you is, but now... to me, he is my younger brother, and I am his older sister."

"I will not allow anyone to hurt him, not even you."

"..."

"I'll talk to Xiao Xue about your matter. Right now, you should think about how to improve our strength, Senior Murong."

After saying these words, Ayaka turned and left.

Xiao Chun watched Ayaka's retreating figure, hesitant to speak, before finally sighing dejectedly and joining the Magical Girls of the Central Continent District to discuss training matters.

(Ah, I was just about to praise the Magical Girls of the Eastern Ocean District... Ayaka's attitude towards Xiao Chun was a bit harsh, wasn't it?)

(From Ayaka's perspective, she didn't do anything wrong, after all, Xiao Chun once mistook Xiao Xue for Demons...)

(That makes sense; of course Ayaka would be angry if her favorite younger brother was mistaken for Demons.)

(But why didn't my cousin acknowledge the Magical Girls?)

(It seems so. By the way, has he actually regained his memories?)

(He's definitely recovered; you can tell from his conversation with Magic White that he's definitely regained his memories!)

(Then why not acknowledge Xiao Qiu and the others as family?)

(I don't know, who knows what my cousin is thinking...)

Fang Ming, who was inside the Sky Screen, did not acknowledge Yu Muqiu and the others.

There are two reasons why he did this.

One reason is that he doesn't want to leave Tsukinomiya Yuki for the time being. After all, once he regains his memories, he will be the adult Fang Ming, no longer 'Tsukinomiya Yuki', and his relationship with Tsukinomiya Ayaka will definitely become distant.

Secondly, there's no benefit in acknowledging each other now.

Anyway, everyone knows that he is Fang Ming, that he has only lost his memory, and that he is still alive. That is enough.

On the contrary, if they found out that Fang Ming had regained his memories, that would be much more troublesome.

Leaving aside distant examples, Fang Ming didn't know how to handle the relationship between Aurora, Xiao Chun, and Stella.

Furthermore, he has concealed Xiao Bai's identity for so long. Once everyone finds out that he has regained his memories, they might start settling old scores.

Therefore, Fang Ming inside the Sky Screen hasn't told everyone about this yet.

... except for one person.

"... they even prepared a tombstone for me."

In the cemetery, under a gloomy sky, a silver-haired boy stood with an umbrella in front of Fang Ming's grave, smiling helplessly.

Beside her, Stella, who had just come over from Xiao Qiu and was also carrying a black umbrella, explained:

"It was Xiao Qiu's suggestion. She said... although you don't have a body and can't be buried, you still need a memorial tablet so... everyone can pay their respects to you in the future."

"Thank you for your hard work, Xiao Qiu. It's just... looking at my own grave feels a little strange."

The silver-haired boy said helplessly.

His gaze fell on the tombstone in front of him, lingering on the black lettering, and finally on the photo pasted at the top of the tombstone.

That's a photo of Fang Ming. He's smiling in the photo and looks very gentle.

Fang Ming remembered that he had never taken similar photos before, and he didn't know how the Magical Girls created them.

Fang Ming stared blankly at his grave. Stella hesitated for a long time before asking Fang Ming:

"You... don't you plan to acknowledge Xiao Qiu and the others as family?"

"There's no need for that," Fang Ming said softly. "They've grown up; they don't need me to lead the way. In fact, if we really acknowledged each other, there are some things... they definitely wouldn't allow me to do."

"As expected, you still intend to—"

Stella suddenly became agitated and stepped forward, wanting to say something to Fang Ming.

But Fang Ming interrupted her, saying, "We have no choice, Stella."

"..."

"We paid a heavy price to defeat the Pillar-Tier Demon this time. Lien sacrificed herself, and we fought until the very end, but our magic power was completely depleted."

"These are only four Pillar Rank, and even so, one of them escaped."

"As for the Demons, they still have six pillars, four commanders, and one Demon King left."

"And if nothing unexpected happens, they should arrive in this world soon. At that time... how will they, who have not yet grown up, face the remaining Demons?"

Fang Ming turned around, gently raised the black umbrella, looked up at Stella, and continued:

"So someone has to step up and take responsibility for everything, and that person, besides me, is someone else who can do it."

"... You are capable of absorbing Pillar Rank magic power, which does indeed give you the possibility of absorbing the power of all Demons and eventually sealing them away... But... putting aside the power of the Demon King, if you actually do this and succeed, wouldn't the final outcome be even more terrifying than death...!"

Stella told Fang Ming what he was going to do, then threw away her umbrella, hugged the silver-haired boy in front of her, and said in a sorrowful tone:

"I don't want that. I don't want you to leave. It's not just me, Xiao Chun, Aurora... everyone doesn't want you to leave! So..."

"I've lived for a very long time," Fang Ming suddenly said. "Being able to Resurrection... to live a second life, I'm already very satisfied. Isn't it appropriate to let someone who has already died do a task that is destined to end?"

"But--"

"Stella, I've told Xiao Qiu and the others this before, and now I want to tell you too... War is not child's play, and there will always be sacrifices in war."

"Everyone successfully defeats all the enemies, and everyone is left behind, happily celebrating a happy ending... This kind of thing only exists in movies."

"And since there will always be sacrifices, why can't that person be me?"

Fang Ming asked softly in return.

Stella's expression remained unchanged, showing no sign of relief; she was still filled with grief.

She actually wanted to ask Fang Ming.

Why does it have to be him?

Is it because he's special? Because he can become Magical Girls? Because he can absorb the power of Demons without any cost?

This isn't fair...

Stella thought this was unfair.

Fang Ming... he's already sacrificed so much for this world, must he really disappear from this world completely before this damned fate is satisfied?

Stella hugged Fang Ming and cried.

Fang Ming remained silent, gently patting Stella's back, and looked up at the gloomy sky where raindrops were falling.

(What's going on? Did I miss something?)

(What is my cousin trying to do??)

(It sounds like I'm going to sacrifice myself...)

(No wonder he didn't want to acknowledge Xiao Qiu and the others.)

(If something is lost and then found, only to be lost again, Magical Girls would definitely not be able to accept it.)

(Cousin! No!!!)

"Xiao Xue... do you know what you're going to do behind the Sky Screen?"

Seeing this, Tsukinomiya Ayaka asked the silver-haired boy beside her with equal concern.

The silver-haired boy explained softly, "Among those within the Sky Screen, aren't I able to absorb the Demons's source power?"

"Um."

"Whether it's Pillar-Tier Demon or any other kind of Demons, I can absorb their power for my own use... and the Demons power I absorb will not be Resurrection."

"He won't Resurrection?... Ah...!"

Ayaka suddenly cried out in surprise.

"It seems Ayaka has thought of something." The silver-haired boy smiled at Ayaka and said, "Since the Demons power I absorbed won't be Resurrection, then as long as I can fuse all the Demons power into my own body and seal myself in the end..."

"Then... there will be no more Demons in this world..."

Ayaka muttered to herself.

But at the same time, there was a hint of sorrow in his gaze as he looked at the silver-haired boy.

It must be said that the silver-haired boy's method was indeed good, but the price to pay... was that he himself would be sealed away until the end of the world...

So Stella was right after all.

This is indeed something 'more terrifying than death'.

Volume 6, Magic Autumn 4: Chapter 666 Mechanisms and Plague

That's what Tsukinomiya Yuki in the Sky Screen thought, and that's what she planned to do.

Fang Ming, who had already achieved complete harmony with Tsukinomiya Yuki at that time, was able to deeply understand this fact.