Chapter 223
The two remained silent for a while.
Then Luo Mio reached out and handed the two items to Claudia.
Claudia lowered her eyes and saw two items in her hands: a set of ordinary keys and a golden circular ornament with a golden rhombus crystal inside.
"This is..."
Luo Mio smiled gently at Claudia.
"The key is the key to the room in the Astersik house that leads to the Hyperion."
"Because no one in the world can open that room except for me, Sora, the teacher, and Bella, and Sora has also set up Void Fissures mechanism around the room."
"This key is the only one that can open the room."
"That..."
Upon hearing Luo Mio's words, Claudia's gaze turned to something else.
"This one..."
Luo Mio explained softly to Claudia.
"This is the seal of authority of the supreme ruler of 'The Finality,' and possessing it is equivalent to being the supreme ruler of 'The Finality.'"
"Huh?!"
Claudia looked at Luo Mio with a puzzled expression.
"So important..."
Luo Mio shook her head, reached out and gently stroked Claudia's smooth golden hair, and said softly.
"In this world, nothing is more important than your safety."
"After you announced your wish following your victory at the Griffin Star Martial Festival, the Galaxy will absolutely not let you off the hook."
"So this thing can become your strength and ensure your safety."
Claudia glanced at Luo Mio, then looked down at the key and the Seal of the Finality in her hand.
"Um."
She raised her lake-blue eyes, looked at Luo Mio, and said softly.
"I will keep it safe until you come back, Mio."
Upon hearing Claudia's words, Luo Mio smiled gently.
"Don't worry, even if we're gone, Xiao Ai is still in 'The Finality'."
"Yes, please rest assured and leave it to me, boss!"
Ai-chan's voice came from a speaker on the ceiling above Claudia and Luo Mio's heads.
Hehe... The boss, the big boss, and the super big boss won't be back for another year... Does that mean I can slack off for a whole year?!
Hehe... Eh hehe...
Xiao Ai clearly didn't notice.
The words that were in my heart were unconsciously spoken aloud.
Hearing Xiao Ai's words, Luo Mio shook her head helplessly, while Claudia on the other side covered her mouth and chuckled softly.
"Let's go over there."
"Holding Claudia's hand, Luo Mio said."
Upon hearing Luo Mio's words, Claudia paused slightly, then nodded gently.
Looking at Luo Mio's back and the hand she was holding, Claudia suddenly wished that time could slow down a little.
After walking over, Fu Hua looked at Luo Mio with gentle eyes.
"Mio."
"Um."
Luo Mio nodded.
Turning around, Luo Mio gently released her grip on Claudia's hand.
When she let go, Claudia's hand, which had been held, twitched slightly a few times, as if trying to grasp Luo Mio's hand, before stopping.
Meanwhile, Sora slowly released her arms from holding Kato Kirin, and with a reluctant expression, she stepped back to Bella's side.
Luo Mio waved and smiled at Claudia and Kato Kirin.
"Then we're leaving."
Claudia waved and said with a smile, "Have a safe trip."
"Goodbye, Xiao Kong, Senior Luo Mio, Senior Fu Hua, Miss Bella, and Xiao Cang Xuan."
Kato Kirin to the side, also spoke to everyone with a reluctant expression.
Fan Xinglu didn't speak, but nodded slightly at them.
Looking at them, Luo Mio's lips curled into a smile.
See you in a year.
Claudia nodded slightly.
"Um."
The words fell.
"——"
A burst of blue light instantly enveloped Luo Mio and the others.
Then--
The blue light appeared suddenly and disappeared just as suddenly.
Just a few seconds later...
The spot where Luo Mio and the others were standing just now is now empty.
Claudia and Kato Kirin also fell silent as they looked at the empty spot.
Fan Xinglu, who was standing next to her, glanced at it and then turned around and left Hyperion.
"They've left..."
Kato Kirin said in a low voice, her tone slightly trembling.
"Um."
Claudia replied softly.
Upon hearing Claudia's reply, Kato Kirin also bit her lip lightly, lowered her face, and her expression was not visible.
Claudia, standing to the side, watched the spot where Luo Mio had left with her lake-blue eyes.
A glistening tear rolled down her cheek.
"See you in a year... Mio."
Letters and Messages
"For the third match, Thousand Stars White Night Toudo Touka still failed to arrive at the venue, and once again there was no signal to start the match."
"According to the rules of the 'Seven Stars Sword Dance Festival,' participants are not required to arrive at the venue two days in advance. If a participant is late, their match will be postponed."
"However, according to the 'Thousand Stars White Night' competition Toudo Touka has been late for two matches."
"Therefore, according to the competition rules and the official judgment and decision of the organizing committee, 'Thousand Stars White Night' contestant Toudo Touka, will be declared the loser of this match!"
Upon hearing the announcer's words, boos, sighs, and... insults erupted throughout the venue.
But without exception, every voice expressed disappointment.
Only Luo Mio's opponent looked relieved.
After all, Luo Mio is one of only two A-Rank Knights in the entire Far East, and also the number one in the world's magic power rankings. Fighting against such a powerful opponent would inevitably result in defeat.
——
In the exclusive seats of the Akatsuki Academy.
With a woman-like appearance and a petite figure, Shinomiya Amane watched the situation in the arena and listened to the announcer's announcement.
"Could it be that my ability has been activated?"
Shinomiya Amane muttered softly.
Only--
That's impossible.
No sooner had she spoken than she heard a dissenting voice in Shinomiya Amane's ear.
Upon hearing the Shinomiya Amane looked over and saw Kurogane Ouma, dressed in a loose kimono, also looking at the arena, raising his voice in opposition to Shinomiya Amane.
Same...
"Indeed..." Hiraga Reisen, whose attire was bizarre and who resembled a clown, also said, "Your abilities are not enough to influence Toudo Touka."
Hearing the two people's objections, Shinomiya Amane pouted in dissatisfaction, like a little child.
——
Back at the contestants' hotel.
The group sat in the contestant rooms of Ikki and Luo Mio.
"What on earth is that guy doing?!"
Shizuku leaned against the wardrobe, muttering curses under her breath.
Arisugawa, standing beside her, shook his head and gently tugged at her sleeve.
"Um?"
Arisugawa slightly raised his eyes and gestured in another direction towards Shizuku.
Following the direction indicated by Arisugawa, Shizuku looked over with her emerald green eyes and saw a beautiful chestnut-haired girl with a graceful figure sitting on the sofa. The girl's gentle and pretty face had a dull and lifeless look in her chestnut-gold eyes.
Upon seeing Touka's expression, Shizuku stopped speaking and quietly lowered her eyes.
On the sofa next to Touka, Ikki, with black hair and black eyes, also looked dejected, his hands tightly clasped together, and his lips biting down hard.
Sitting next to Ikki Stella looked at her lover and reached out to gently place her hand on Ikki's, giving him a warm and reassuring smile.
Kanata, standing beside Touka, also looked at her with a worried expression.
"Touka..."
Touka ignored her best friend's whispers and instead looked at the letter on the coffee table with her chestnut-gold eyes.
The letter was discovered the night after Luo Mio's eleventh consecutive victory in the selection battle, when everyone was celebrating at Qin Yulan's shop.
At the same time, Luo Mio's figure also disappeared.
The first person to discover the letter was Ikki, who was in the same room.
And the contents written in the envelope.
——
"Ikki, you'll definitely notice this letter when you wake up, right? Well... I put it in such a conspicuous place."
"Ah, well... although it's a bit sudden, I've decided to travel the world."
"I might travel abroad for a while before coming back."
"When will I be back...? Maybe... I'll be back when the 'Seven Stars Sword Dance Festival' starts, though it's only a possibility..."
"But don't worry, you don't need to worry about my safety."
"Also, tell my older sister to forgive me for leaving without saying goodbye."
"That's all, goodbye!"