Qiji was so eager to refuse that she didn't even have time...
Looking at the mountain of supplements on the table, he couldn't help but worry about his medical bills.
As if guessing what he was thinking, Liuli took the initiative to promise:
"Don't worry, Qiji. You got so badly injured saving me. I'll take full responsibility for it, no matter what."
"Responsible for? Responsible for what?"
Of the group, the most perceptive among them, Shi Setsuna, seemed to detect a subtle undertone in the girl's words.
Then Liuli recalled the look in Qiji's eyes when Qiji was unconscious, and she couldn't help but feel a little uneasy.
"Covering up medical expenses, what else could it be? Are you suggesting we cover Qiji's future?"
Liuli said jokingly, glancing at Qiji.
She thought that as long as the latter picked up on her line, she would naturally respond with a half-joking, half-serious tone, "Sure."
However, the evil Bai Lili interrupted Liuli's combo.
"Medical fees? What medical fees? This is my local hospital, there are no medical fees!"
How can one describe the sense of redemption that Qiji felt upon hearing those words?
At that moment, Qiji felt as if Bai Lili was radiating holy light.
Angels!
An angel has descended!
"Really, Bai Lili? That's wonderful! You're my savior!"
"Eh?! Speaking of saviors... it's the other way around! I'm the one whose life was saved by Qiji!"
Bai Lili of something, and then said,
"Besides, wasn't Qiji- kun injured while saving Liuli?"
But seriously, Qiji, why didn't you tell us you were going to rescue Liuli?
"I should at least have told Teacher Kijika."
Upon hearing this, Huomu realized what was happening and looked at Qiji with admiration.
"Qiji- kun, did you notice the unusual thing at White Harbor Beach a while ago?"
Mentioning White Harbor Beach Setsuna made me feel inferior.
After all, it was she who suggested going there.
So he could only lower his head and weakly apologize to everyone. "I'm sorry, it's all my fault. If it weren't for me..."
Halfway through his apology, the door to the hospital room was suddenly pushed open again.
The person who came in was Kijika.
He strode in, still clutching the documents he had just retrieved from the Echo Association.
Congratulations, Qiji!
Your selfless act of saving many people from the clutches of a fourth-tier Echoer was captured on a recording device!
After verification, the association has decided to award you the title of 'Hero'!
As Kijika spoke, he even played the footage recorded by the dashcam in front of everyone in the ward.
It was this very action that triggered even greater guilt in Liuli.
The girl only realized it later, after being reminded in Setsuna.
The scene reveals a secret that Qiji has been keeping from her all along!
Chapter 100: What Qiji is hiding? (3-in-1)
The projector is started.
In the picture—
A woman with a ferocious face, wielding a huge scythe, lunges at a group of people whose minds have been manipulated and whose faces are blank.
In that instant, even though I knew that Qiji, who never disappoints, was there, I was certain that we would get through this crisis safely.
But in the ward, the three little ones besides Liuli couldn't help but be moved, their hearts leaping into their throats.
Then, just Setsuna that enormous scythe was about to reap lives—
A figure wearing a white mask appeared before everyone.
The hero has arrived!
Just like he always has!
This time, however, the enemy is unlike anything before; it is far more powerful than imagined, stronger than ever before!
The Sword of No Thought was knocked away, Armament was hit so hard it was about to fall apart...
Even so, the boy did not back down an inch.
And then, he did it; he protected everything once again!
They forcefully stopped the giant scythe.
However, the price was that his Armament shattered, he was severely injured, smashed into a wall, and bleeding profusely...
"Qiji- san?!"
"No!"
"Don't die..."
The children were so engrossed in watching that they even shouted things like "Don't die!"
Qiji looked at Bai Lili, who had shouted those words, and was speechless for a moment:
"Come on, I'm perfectly fine right now, aren't I?"
"Eh? Eh... it seems... it seems so!" Bai Lili scratched her cheek a little embarrassedly.
"I was just... too worried about Qiji- kun."
The screening has now ended.
Kijika showed everyone the beginning, and then quickly put the player away.
This maneuver with the groove immediately put Qiji in a panic.
So you're just going to show me getting beaten up, huh?
What about my cool comeback later?
Are you fucking not going to broadcast it?
What are your intentions?!
It was only after Huomu and the others insisted on watching the rest that Kijika reluctantly clicked to start watching again.
What followed caused the three little ones in the ward to gasp in surprise, unable to stop!
All I saw was...
The entire alleyway was plunged into darkness in an instant.
This scene is so eerily familiar!
"Qiji- kun, this... isn't this the Echo that Teacher Tsukimi used that day?"
"Right, right! I remember now! It's the one who defeated Teacher Kijika in one move!"
"..."
Upon hearing this, Kijika's lips twitched, and his face immediately darkened.
Upon seeing this, the viewers in the live chat suddenly realized what was going on:
"Now I understand why they wouldn't release the deer halfway through the cage!"
"Hilarious! I wouldn't want to release it either! Look, the crickets have already eaten it, hahaha!"
The screening continues.
The next second, we see Qiji undergo a magnificent transformation, her black hair turning white inch by inch.
Unfortunately, the camera didn't capture Qiji's face after he took off his mask, and the group was filled with regret and frustration.
Amidst the commotion, Setsuna remained remarkably quiet, her lips pressed tightly together.
She clenched her fists, as if she was trying her best to endure something.
Finally, I couldn't take it anymore!
The girl looked at Qiji and asked seriously:
"Qiji- kun, after you used that move, your hair turned completely white... Could it be... that you burned, burned your life?"
Setsuna was born into the Wuma family.
Her mother was the brilliant professor known as the "Echo Library".
From a young age, she was instilled with all sorts of knowledge about Echo by her mother, including a secret method of burning one's life force.
Its characteristics during use are exactly the same as what Qiji just showed in the scene—
His hair turned completely white in an instant.
This is clearly overdrawing on one's life force!!!
The words fell silent in an Setsuna.
"Burning... burning one's life?"
"Are you... joking?"
Everyone stared at Qiji in disbelief.
Even Kijika, the teacher, looked astonished.
Without Setsuna word, Kijika hadn't even considered that possibility!
But as soon as this thought arose, Kijika Lu immediately remembered the silvery-white crystal beneath Qiji's mask...
My heart sank suddenly; I was almost certain!
Qiji is suffering from Echo Erosion Syndrome...
This brat probably knew he wouldn't live much longer, right?
That's why they even recklessly learned this life-burning secret technique!
Kijika glanced at Qiji, then at Liuli, whom Qiji had saved.
At this moment, the latter's face showed an expression that the girl had never shown in front of others.
It was only because of those words that Liuli Setsuna realized—
What exactly did Qiji- kun sacrifice to save her...?
Suddenly, large tears started falling.
Undoubtedly, this is yet another "one percent" for Liuli.
Liuli, you idiot!
I thought that Qiji's unconsciousness and vomiting blood were just due to overexertion of his Heart Essence, Qiji that he would get better after resting for a while...
You're really despicable!
To put my mind at ease, I convinced myself of this!
But...
How could defeat an invincible enemy like Kamishiro Chiho possibly come without paying a price?