Chapter 76

"Seriously! How can you be like this even Lingmeng!?"

So all that was left was Ko-tama, who remained standing there with a blank expression, yelling.

----------------This is the dividing line for the relocation

"Hey! Tohka! Get back here right now!"

Running through the heavy rain, Lingmeng squinted and called out to Tohka in the distance.

To be honest, Lingmeng could theoretically have caught up with Tohka.

However, because there were so many people in the Shelter, hundreds of classmates acted like a human fence, preventing her from sprinting at full speed.

That's why she's so far behind Tohka.

But no matter how Lingmeng called out to Tohka, she didn't respond. She just kept running forward.

(Ugh, why am I even following a girl around like a puppy in the rain? Why?!)

Seeing that her attempts to persuade him to surrender had failed, Lingmeng cried out in her heart.

----------------This is a dividing line for shifting perspectives

Outside the Department Store where the elves had appeared, several AST team members were flying around the building.

It's like trying to completely surround this building.

But that's normal. After all, the world- Destruction calamity—the elf—is currently inside this building.

Even the slightest relaxation could lead to irreversible consequences.

"How's it going? Any movement?"

Origami, hovering in the air, glanced coldly at Ryoko Kusakabe behind her.

Ryouko sighed helplessly.

"Unfortunately, the target remains inside the building without making a move. That's quite strange; normally she should be flying around everywhere."

Could it be that she has figured out how to spend the time before disappearing by hiding indoors?

Because this newly appeared spirit had been inside the building for over an hour, Ryouko shared her guess.

"..."

Although Origami frowned slightly, this was not the situation she wanted to see.

Although Origami desperately wanted to rush in and attack the spirits right now, she had to give up because the CR-UNIT wasn't an indoor weapon.

The scene fell silent for a moment.

Perhaps to pass the time, Ryouko spoke with a surprised tone.

"But it really surprises me. Not only Princess, but even that dangerous Element Maker Make has transferred to your school as a student."

Moreover, there are no records of them, neither Household Registration nor anything else, and even the instruments cannot detect any Spirit Power within them. It's really strange. Could it be that they just look alike?

After hearing Ryouko's words, Origami had been expressionless, seemed to react.

"No, I can guarantee that they are both elves, definitely not just ordinary people who look alike."

Origami spoke in an unyielding tone.

Ryouko could only manage a wry smile in response.

Although she thought so too, if they couldn't confirm their elf identities, they could only treat them as ordinary people.

That's right, Lingmeng and Tohka are now among the Japan citizens that AST should protect.

Then, as Origami lowered her gaze, she seemed to see something extraordinary.

However, this was to be expected, because she seemed to see a girl— Tohka Yatogami— running hard forward directly below her.

"Tohka Yatogami? Why is she here?"

It was definitely hallucinations caused by overexertion from battling the spirits for so long, Origami shook her head vigorously. Then she looked down again.

"..."

As a result, Tohka's figure disappeared, and in her place appeared a blonde girl— Qian Lingmeng.

However, in the blink of an eye, Element Maker — Lingmeng's figure also disappeared.

Origami shook her head silently. It seemed she was becoming a bit neurotic, having these hallucinations one after another.

"Zhongsheng: 'Damn it, writing fanfiction is getting harder... What should I do? (oo)'"

Chapter 22: Caught in the Act

"Hey! Tohka, didn't I tell you to stay in the Shelter and not come out? You didn't listen!"

At this moment, Lingmeng and Tohka had arrived inside the Department Store. Looking at Tohka's figure, who had finally stopped, Lingmeng spoke breathlessly.

To this, Tohka simply puffed out her cheeks slightly.

"Because I'm really worried about Shido... Besides, I can sense that Shido is nearby. If I just go back now, wouldn't that be a wasted trip..."

How can you be so sure that Shido is here?

Lingmeng tilted her head, her face full of confusion.

After all, Shido wasn't carrying anything that could locate him, and Tohka didn't have any instruments that looked like they could detect things.

Therefore, Lingmeng was very puzzled by this.

It couldn't possibly be based on smell, could it?

Lingmeng thought to herself.

Then--

"I can smell Shido's scent! So I'm sure he's here!"

Tohka spoke with great conviction, while Lingmeng slipped and nearly fell to the ground.

Are you a dog!?

Lingmeng was internally ranting.

Seemingly oblivious to Lingmeng's expression, Tohka began looking around.

"Ugh... The scent is so close, but where is Shido?"

Just as Tohka was still searching for Shido, a sound came from her right—

"Chatting with people is such a fun thing! Those people are so clueless about romance."

The shrill sound coming from beside them vibrated Lingmeng and Tohka's eardrums.

"Huh? What's that sound?"

Tohka said in surprise. Lingmeng's reaction was similar to Tohka's.

However, compared to Tohka, Lingmeng's expressions are more varied.

She didn't know why, but Lingmeng felt like she had heard that voice somewhere before.

"Oh, since we're already here, why don't we go take a look?"

Lingmeng said this to Tohka, who was standing beside her.

Tohka nodded gently and said "Mmm," Tohka she and Lingmeng walked towards the direction from which the sound came.

Lingmeng and Tohka peeked their heads out from behind the wall and discovered a little girl in a rabbit-patterned coat standing in the corner of the toy store, with a funny rabbit doll in her left hand.

Standing in front of the little girl was a blue-haired high school student named Shido Itsuka, who was awkwardly laughing out loud.

(Is that the new Pokémon? It looks so small--)

Wait! Isn't that the child we met at the Shrine yesterday? Why is she here?

Lingmeng was completely shocked as she looked at the appearance of the elf opposite Shido.

Because the elf's appearance was exactly the same as the little girl he had met at the Shrine yesterday.

If that's the case, then there's probably only one explanation: that little girl is—an elf!

Just as Lingmeng was marveling at how powerful Shido's Protagonist aura was, as he could encounter a wild spirit just by walking down the street, Tohka suddenly spoke up.

"Who is that girl?! She's chatting so happily with Shido..."

Seeing Shido chatting and laughing with the girl, Tohka suddenly felt a pang of jealousy.

Then he gripped the edge of the wall tightly, as if he might pounce on it at any moment.

"Ah..."

Seemingly noticing Tohka's current expression, Lingmeng let out a soft groan.

Although she was still in a state of surprise, she couldn't let Tohka go over and ruin the atmosphere.

"Tohka, don't get agitated. Now that we've confirmed Shido is alright, let's hurry back."

"But..."

Tohka lowered her head, as if she wanted to say something.

But the next second, a sound like something falling over suddenly interrupted her attention.

"Snap--"

The sound came from Shido's direction.

"What happened?"

Lingmeng muttered something to herself and shifted her gaze toward Shido.

Then, as if imitating Lingmeng's movements, Tohka also looked over.

And what they saw the next second was--

The little girl pounced on Shido and climbed onto Shido. Her cherry blossom-colored lips pressed perfectly against Shido's lips.

Holy crap! How did they kiss so quickly!?

Rubbing her eyes in disbelief, Lingmeng's jaw nearly dropped.

Although she knew the seal required a kiss, wasn't this progressing a little too fast?

Not only Lingmeng, but Tohka, who was standing nearby, was also incredibly shocked when she saw Shido kissing the little girl.

"..."

Tohka remained silent for a moment.

But she soon came to her senses, clenched her fists, and ran towards Shido with an expression as if "her husband is having an affair behind her back."

"Hey, Tohka, don't go over there."

"I'm sorry, Lingmeng, I really can't pretend I didn't see this situation..."

Lingmeng reached out to stop Tohka, but Tohka replied with a hint of anger.

----------------This is a dividing line for shifting perspectives

"..."

At this moment, Shido's mind was completely blank.

What came into view was a beautiful girl with blue hair and regular features.

Feeling the slight pain in his front teeth and the strange softness of his lips, he was completely stunned.

All of this happened because of an accident.

A few minutes ago, this girl who called herself "Yoshino" suddenly climbed onto the climbing frame, saying she wanted to perform for Shido.

However, perhaps because the movement was too large, the girl fell straight down and ended up kissing Shido.

"Wow. Well done, Shido."

Kotori's exclamation brought Shido back to reality.

"!!!"