"Qiji- kun, you... you clearly said you were just taking a short nap..."
Seeing that Qiji had finally woken up from her coma, Liuli felt completely exhausted.
Just now, in the girl's pessimistic fantasy, she had already lived a life as a "widow" who lived only for her "deceased husband".
Remember when Liuli faced Kamishiro Chiho, she thought she was doomed and made a very selfish wish—
She hoped that Qiji would feel saddened by her death and shed tears.
Ideally, her death should be a wound that can never be erased, forever etched in one's heart.
Only now does Liuli realize just how heavy this wish truly is.
Just now, in her own imagination, she had already experienced the future after Qiji's death...
That kind of future is truly too hopeless and suffocating!
So, when she dies next time, she'll have a different wish.
She would wish that Qiji would forget her and not be saddened by her death.
Seeing Liuli's tearful expression, Qiji felt a little awkward.
He swore to God:
He originally only intended to "take a nap," but who knew that all sorts of things would happen later...
In short—
I'm sorry to have worried you.
I had actually woken up once before, but I logged into the Sea of Consciousness again afterwards, so...
Ahem! I should have told you beforehand, I'm sorry, it was my oversight.
As Qiji spoke, he suddenly realized something.
When facing Liuli, Qiji always thought of her as a "bad woman".
However, the "bad woman" Liuli from the original story may no longer exist.
That woman who always wore a fake smile, that woman who always hid her true feelings, that woman who only shed tears when she was being malicious, that woman who secretly manipulated the main characters...
Because of Qiji's intervention, that woman had changed without anyone noticing.
She broke free from the control of the Kamishiro Family earlier, gradually integrated into the main characters, and slowly reconciled with her true self...
The moment he realized this, Qiji suddenly felt happy for Liuli, and also happy for himself.
When he first transmigrated to this world, Qiji actually experienced a long period of confusion.
Because, unlike other time-travel novels, he wasn't an emotionally stable adult before he traveled through time.
On the contrary, he was just a middle school student with a bit of a chuunibyou (middle school syndrome).
When he first transmigrated, he felt out of place in this world, and nothing he did seemed to have any meaning.
Until the system awakens.
Until I learned about "Echo".
Until the truth is known.
Then, he finally found his direction in life!
He understood; he had traveled to this world to do something only he could do!
That sounds arrogant; if others knew, they'd probably just laugh at him.
But he wanted to do what only he could do.
From the day he bought the synopsis of "Echo," Qiji discovered that it contained far too many tragedies.
Although saying this now might be seen as hypocritical, childish, or pretentious.
But besides wanting to gain popularity, there's something else that Qiji wants to achieve!
Rather than following the original storyline and producing a tear-jerking, heart-wrenching, and depressing anime, Qiji hopes that everyone in the anime can genuinely laugh.
To viewers watching from outside the screen, it's just an anime series, nothing more.
But for Xiao Xi, for Liuli, for Suyo, for Huomu, for Bai Lili, for Setsuna, for everyone in the drama...
This is their real life.
A unique life!
It is precisely because of this belief that Qiji has never complained of being tired and has worked hard until now.
Now, his efforts have finally paid off.
That's really great.
"The Sea of Consciousness?!"
As soon as Qiji finished speaking, Huomu keenly grasped the key point.
He immediately exclaimed in surprise,
"Qiji- kun, you went to the Sea of Consciousness? So, did you see the Myth Fragment that everyone's been talking about?"
"Hmm... I guess you could say I met him."
Wow! How was it? Tell me quickly!
Huomu's eyes lit up upon hearing this!
Qiji patted his younger sister, who was still in his arms, to show that he was really alright. Then he picked out some of the more novel and interesting things from his Sea of Consciousness and told them to everyone.
None of the people present had ever truly entered the Sea of Consciousness, Qiji described it so vividly that they were all quickly captivated.
I patiently chatted with everyone for a while longer.
During the Qiji period, he couldn't resist sneaking peeks at the system interface several times.
Gazing at the two radiant fragments, one red and one gold, Qiji could no longer contain himself:
"Ahem! Well, I was lucky enough to obtain an Echo Fragment in the Sea of Consciousness, so I might need to refine it for a while."
"Fragments?!"
"Qiji- san has already started inlaying the fragments!"
Everyone was initially surprised, but then realized it was only natural.
After all, the person in front of him was none other than Qiji, who was known as the "City of Kindling's Number One Genius."
It would be even stranger if one went to the Sea of Consciousness and gained nothing.
"Ugh, I haven't even awakened my Echo yet..."
Huomu clutched his head, momentarily feeling dejected.
Of the entire Class 8, it seems he's the only one left who hasn't awakened yet.
This is so embarrassing...
Qiji said he wanted to refine the fragments, the others wisely stopped bothering him.
They all left the bedroom and carefully closed the door behind them.
In the blink of an eye, only Qiji was left in the spacious, pure white room.
Finally, after holding back for so long, Qiji can finally unleash his full potential and begin inlaying the fragments!
He immediately opened the system interface—
[Vector Lineage Fragment - Instantaneous Launch (Myth)]
[After use: Vector Lineage- Echo, casting speed increased by 45%! Other spellcasting systems, casting speed increased by 30%!]
[Note: Myth Fragment, compatible with all genealogies.]
[Gained three "Root Engraving".]
[Moonlight Lineage Fragment - Cost Reduction (Legendary)]
[After use: Moonlight Lineage Echo, Heart Essence Consumption -30%!]
[Gained one point of "Root Engraving"].
Qiji took a deep breath, suppressing his excitement.
Strengthen!
After a rather anxious wait, the system notification finally popped up—
[Enhancement complete!]
[Slotted: 3/3 (Perfect)]
Qiji couldn't wait any longer and immediately looked inward at his own Echo Core.
All I saw was...
The once blurry outline is now completely different!
All three star-ring-like slots lit up, slowly rotating around the still-unawakened core in the center.
In the first slot, Dream Fragment flowed with a hazy golden glow, as if in a dream.
In the second slot, the Moonlight Fragment were calm as water, their cold light restrained, like a sealed full moon.
On the third slot, the Vector Fragment glowed with a crimson light like flames, dazzling and blinding.
Three beams of light intertwined and swirled around the core of the Qiji Echo Core.
At the same time, fine lines extend from the edge of each slot.
Those patterns climbed and gradually converged along the still-dormant core surface.
Finally, in the very center, five [Origin Mark] that had not yet been activated solidified.
Its fluctuating fortunes already conceal an unapproachable majesty.
This Echo represents a completely new lineage, unlike anything seen before.
It is an absolute Miracle that brought something from nothing.
Now everything is ready—
We're just waiting for that day that everyone's Attention.
wake.
Chapter 107 Breaking Through Defenses, Annulling the Engagement, Revealing the Truth (3-in-1)
Kalentia.
Star Elm Mountain, a mountainside residence.
Yeji knocked anxiously on Dorothy's bedroom door:
"Miss? You have an event to attend at 3 PM today."
Yeji waited for a while, but there was no response from inside the house.
She knocked twice more, this time even softer:
"Miss, are you still sleeping? I'm coming in."
The moment the door was pushed open, a strong smell of alcohol hit us.
Empty wine bottles were scattered haphazardly on the ground, making it almost impossible to step on them.
In the room, Dorothy was wearing a chiffon nightgown. One of her shoulder straps slipped down, revealing half of her fair shoulder, but she seemed oblivious to it.
The girl, clutching a wine bottle, slumped to the ground. Her face, which was always radiant in front of the camera, now showed only utter despair.