Return to Changkong City

(Bai Ziye)

"Eeya!"

Ceruno let out a cute squeal and crouched down.

I accidentally tore open the sample dress she was wearing.

The school uniform jacket and shirt were so fragile, revealing pink patterned underwear underneath...

"Miluno! This, this is the only sample garment! We'll use this one to customize the production process!"

That's true. It would be terrible if the whole school couldn't put on their uniforms on time because of me.

"Ceruno, didn't you want to replenish my mana too?"

"Huh?"

Before Ceruno could react, I kissed her lips.

Magic was thus infused into the body.

Ceruno understood my intention, held her breath, and began to channel her precious magic into me...

The Achernar Witch is like a clear stream, capable of nourishing the heart;

The magic of Extinction is like old, tarnished wood, possessing a decaying allure.

Ceruno's magic, on the other hand, is much simpler, like soft cotton candy. It flows into the body like pure sugar, sweet and intoxicating. I feel like a wild bee flitting among the flowers, unable to resist wanting to take a few more sips...

Chirp--

But Ceruno shyly pushed me away, her exposed skin flushed.

"Miluno ..."

She reminded him in a low voice.

"... Time is running out."

Oh right, we almost got it backwards.

I turned the hourglass that appeared at my waist and watched as her tattered school uniform sample gradually returned to its original state.

"It's ready."

"... Um."

She was still adorably coy.

"We're going back to Skyreach City this afternoon, so let's go to... your house."

"Uh-huh?"

She looked up in confusion.

"Am I meeting the parents soon? My mother is indeed home... but... I still need to discuss this with Yezi..."

She stammered, seemingly feeling guilty about her "two-timing" behavior, unaware that she was actually on a catamaran.

"Let me lie down for a while, you can go and return the clothes."

"Okay, you should get some rest."

"With the magic's nourishment, I recovered very quickly."

Ceruno patted her cheeks to restore her composure before walking out with a sense of relief.

The body needs magic to heal, and the wounds caused by those few shotgun shells can heal at a speed visible to the naked eye if magic is available.

"It seems necessary to have Barbara prepare a potion to replenish her magic power."

Xiaoling's cooking skills are quite advanced, far surpassing Ceruno's. She takes care of her sister... well, it's probably true that she took care of her brother for two years of repeating his studies.

Although she's only in the second year of junior high, she can already cook four dishes and a soup on her own. Although her taste is a bit strong, the dishes are all quite good. She's an economical girl with the skin of a domineering chuunibyou (middle school syndrome) girl.

"Oh, I really underestimated you."

Even Ceruno, biting her chopsticks, said, "I originally thought you were just being stubborn by saying you wanted to cook..."

"How could that be? I'm a very frugal demon king!"

He is indeed a good child.

It would be even better if you could rest your head on your neck while eating.

After lunch, Ceruno and I didn't plan to meet at the school building.

She used teleportation magic to bring herself to the entrance hall of the City School.

"Miss Metal!"

I don't know if she's the chief engineer or the school gatekeeper, but I always manage to find her in this lobby or the Ring Corridor.

"Where are you two going today, the first day of school?"

"Back to Skyreach City."

Ceruno answered like that, but Metal grinned at me.

"Hey, aren't you going to open the door yourself this time?"

"It's lost its magic."

If I had magic, I think I could probably do it...

The reason I went to "the Other Side" was because I was trying to go to the African savanna, which I was unfamiliar with and had never been to before.

But Skyreach City is where I've lived since I was a child; I can't possibly be sent to "the Other Side" again, can I?

Buzz--

"It connects to the gate of the Sky Branch. Since Past, you two can go see Director SpiCa first."

"She's looking for us?"

"No, as members of a special forces unit, you two should be more self-aware. There are things you need to know and understand, and you should at least ask around to find out."

"What's up?"

"The condition of Anjie whom you rescued, the research on the Simulacrum Factor, the impact of Dark Energy on the environment, and so many other secrets about the Other Side that haven't been solved yet. Don't you two have any curiosity at all? Are you only thinking about holding hands and going back on your date?"

In terms of thirst for knowledge, we certainly cannot compare to Metal.

"Understood, we'll go check it out at the research department."

But I am indeed curious about the points she raised, especially Anjie's situation.

What exactly happened to her that caused such a drastic change in her personality?

We passed smoothly through the wormhole, protected by Ceruno's protective membrane. The researcher, whose face I recognized but whose name I couldn't quite recall, was waiting for us there.

"Good afternoon, Miss Ceruno, Miss Miluno. It seems this time travel went smoothly as well."

The instruments behind her flashed various data; every passage we made was a valuable experiment for them.

"We would like to meet with Director SpiCa."

A glint flashed in the researcher's eyes as he replied, "Director SpiCa has gone to the Association's headquarters. If it's urgent, we can take you directly there, but you'll need to bring some laboratory animals..."

"No need, let's go check the Research Level. Is Ms. Yin Wei... Miss Luer at the branch?"

Yin Wei is no longer a liaison officer; she was captured by Sirius to serve as their secretary-general, the same position Anjie held for Ceruno's father.

This is a promotion, but it also carries the risk of sudden death on the job.

"Luer? I don't know either."

My question was rather absurd; researchers couldn't possibly know the liaison officer's whereabouts.

"It's alright, I'll go ask myself. We'll be going now."

Ceruno helped me leave the Wormhole Laboratory and contacted Yin Lu.

After waiting for a while in the newly renovated Research Level, which showed no signs of damage, a short, squinty-eyed liaison officer with a warm smile appeared at the entrance.

"Ceruno ~ It's been a long time!"

"Sister Luer, please don't do this..."

She immediately hugged Ceruno, who was about her height, and showered her with affection. Sereno's animalistic reaction only fueled others' aggression... So everyone prefers to hug Ceruno rather than me, right?

Luer replenished Ceruno with some kind of energy, making her radiant and her skin as smooth as an egg.

"Isn't today the first day of school for you? What are you doing here at this time?"

"I have something more important than going to school, and I also wanted to ask about Anjie... How is she?"

"Secretary Anjie has been taken to headquarters by SpiCa, but there are still people who can answer your questions..."

Sirius and Metal are both at the City School, who else is on the branch side?

Yin Lu pressed her walkie-talkie and shouted:

"Ryu-chan! Miluno and Ceruno are here at the research department! Come out and greet them!"