That Day, Airi Still Didn't Know She Was Someone Else's Flawless Paradise

Chang Yuan was quite fitting for the role of a captain at this moment.

He just didn't know whether Airi would give him a hard kick after learning the story.

"Huh? Teacher Himeko will return? Was she faking her death?"

"Hehehe, you'll find out when the time comes."

Chang Yuan gave a sly laugh and chose to keep her in suspense.

It made Airi pout angrily.

"You're so mean! Big Brother Chang Yuan, you're absolutely awful."

He had stirred up her curiosity on his own, then decided to keep her in suspense on his own. He was simply too mean.

She had decided she would ignore him for at least three hours. Uh, one hour then. Forget it, forget it—one minute.

In the end, Airi decided to ignore him for one minute.

The two continued through the forest together, heading toward somewhere inhabited.

The two little ones held each other's hands. Anyone who saw them would think they were siblings.

Chang Yuan was also greatly enjoying this moment, because the future was uncertain.

The current Airi had no concept of romantic feelings between men and women.

So they could hold hands without restraint.

But once the future came, once they understood what they should understand, that would be the end of this innocent friendship.

A few hours later...

"Yay, we can finally see a big city! Uncle Tok pointed us in the right direction."

Looking at the bustling skyscrapers, Airi happily skipped along.

"Come on, come on, Big Brother Chang Yuan, let's hurry."

Pulling Chang Yuan by the hand, Airi ran forward impatiently.

Once they entered the bustling city, everything made her curious.

She browsed the roadside stalls and visited the jewelry shops, but Airi did not waste money on any of those things.

"Hehe, this world really is beautiful. My decision was definitely right. I have to travel across this world and find the legendary Flawless Paradise, the Eternal Elysium."

As she wandered along the street, Airi spoke while looking at Chang Yuan.

"Big Brother Chang Yuan, do you think we can find it?"

"We can. After all, I've already found mine."

"Huh! When did you find it, Big Brother Chang Yuan? How come I didn't know?"

Hearing that Chang Yuan had actually achieved his goal, Airi was immediately quite surprised.

"Yes, I found it."

Looking at innocent and pure Airi, the gentle smile on Chang Yuan's face did not fade.

Perhaps Airi did not know that the Flawless Paradise and Eternal Elysium Chang Yuan spoke of was her.

For Lumine, wherever her brother was, that was home.

But for tens of thousands of captains, wasn't anywhere with a Valkyrie the same?

"Then can you take me there to see it?"

"You can't. Every person's Flawless Paradise and Eternal Elysium is different.

Some people believe that having their parents by their side is the happiest place, and they hope it can last forever.

Some people believe that being alone is the happiest place, and they hope things can remain that way."

"Mm, all right. But let's agree on this first, Big Brother Chang Yuan—you have to travel with me. Until we find it, you can't leave."

Seeing Airi suddenly make an agreement with him, Chang Yuan was puzzled at first, then smiled faintly. "All right. It's a promise. Until we find it, neither of us is allowed to leave."

"Bleh~, I won't leave. Big Brother Chang Yuan, you're the one most likely to leave."

Letting go of Chang Yuan's hand, Airi jogged a short distance ahead of him, turned around, stuck out her tongue mischievously, and laughed.

Time passed, and the sky soon darkened.

"Mm, we still haven't found somewhere to stay tonight. We can't spend Uncle Tok's money recklessly either. Mm, where can we sleep for the night?"

"How about there?"

Chang Yuan spotted a subway station. There were seats inside, so it would be just right for spending the night.

"Emm, that could work. Let's go, let's go. We'll sleep there tonight, then continue traveling tomorrow."

With her right index finger lightly touching her lips, Airi tilted her head and pondered for a moment before agreeing to Chang Yuan's suggestion.

The two then went down to the subway waiting area. Since it was nighttime, nearly all the seats there were empty.

Finding a seat near the side, Airi lay down directly on it, with her feet hanging off the edge.

"Mm, it's a little hard. I'm not used to it."

Lying on the seat, Airi wore a troubled expression.

Chang Yuan smiled helplessly at the sight.

He then went to where Airi's head rested, gently lifted it, sat down, and placed her head on his lap.

"Is it still hard now?"

"Hehe, not anymore. But then how will Big Brother Chang Yuan sleep tonight?"

With her head resting on Chang Yuan's legs, Airi looked up into his downcast eyes and asked.

She was comfortable sleeping like this, but what about Chang Yuan? No matter how she thought about it, he could not possibly be comfortable.

"It's fine. I'm used to sleeping while sitting up. Don't worry about me."

"Mm, maybe we shouldn't, Big Brother Chang Yuan. I'll just find something to cushion my head, and it'll be fine."

"No need. After all, I promised Uncle Tok that I'd take good care of you. If I can't even let you sleep properly, he'll definitely beat me up."

Suppressing Airi's urge to get up, Chang Yuan came up with a clumsy excuse.

Airi could naturally see through such a clumsy excuse, but she did not say so.

Because she had more or less figured out that this was a boy's pride.

"Um, you two... can I trade some oranges for a little bread?"

At that moment, a little girl wearing a tattered cloak appeared.

However, she did not produce the item she claimed she wanted to trade.

Yet upon hearing the request, Airi did not doubt her at all.

She immediately sat up and took a small loaf of bread from her little shoulder bag.

Then, without the slightest hesitation, she gave it to the sneaky little figure.

The instant she got the bread, the little figure immediately turned and fled.

Chang Yuan and Airi both froze for a moment at the sight.

Then Airi came to her senses, turned to Chang Yuan, and asked, "Big Brother Chang Yuan, did we get tricked?"

"...Yes, we got tricked. Hurry, chase her."

Once they realized what had happened, the two immediately chased after the figure.

The figure also noticed that they were chasing her, so she immediately opened the bread and ran while eating.

Until she could no longer outrun Chang Yuan and was caught.

The little figure still had a piece of bread stuffed in her mouth.

After being caught, the little figure immediately chewed quickly and swallowed the last piece of bread.

"What do you want? Even if you've caught me, I don't have anything to give you."