Journey · Magic City Arc (VIII): Pillow Slumber Hunter (End)

Inside the villa.

After a chaotic battle, Aemeath and the others finally arrived at the villa.

"You've arrived?" Xiao Ling, who had been waiting for a long time, greeted the exhausted women.

"Yeah..." Aemeath said weakly, "So tired, so tired~ I need A-Yu to hug me to feel better~"

Ignoring whether Xiao Ling and the other girls agreed, Aemeath coiled around his neck like a beautiful snake and began to frantically absorb Xiao Ling's energy.

"Holy crap..." Dania immediately started recording the wonderful moment without saying a word.

In stark contrast...

"Hey! Little Ai!" Iuno pouted in dissatisfaction, "What's with showing off your love in front of so many people?!"

"Oh dear?" Aemeath said with a playful smile, "Is Sister Iuno perhaps jealous that I can throw myself into A-Yu without any restraint?"

"You...!"

"Ha..." Xiao Ling sighed helplessly, and slapped Aemeath's shapely buttocks as punishment.

The latter immediately launched herself away from Xiao Ling's embrace, covering her buttocks with her hands and blushing.

"A-Yu, you're so mean~ I worked so hard to win~"

"Your insults aren't offensive," Xiao Ling teased. "They just make me want to bully you even more."

"You'd better be serious." The Rover silently raised his iron fist. "Shouldn't you have more important things to do right now?"

"Ah~ Sister Piao is right." Xiao Ling tactfully admitted defeat, "So, which two of you survived?"

Upon hearing this, Yangyang and the Shorekeeper each took a step forward.

Upon seeing that these two were the last survivors, Xiao Ling immediately revealed a look that said, "This is going to be interesting."

The beginning of wandering vs. the end of wandering, that's quite an interesting topic.

But before that...

"By the way, Yangyang, why are your lips chapped?"

"Ah... it's nothing, just a small wound," Yangyang said softly. "Xiao Yu, don't worry about me."

"Let me see."

Xiao Ling leaned closer and carefully examined Yangyang's cracked lips, a gesture so intimate that it naturally made the latter blush.

"Sister Kan, are you back to your old tricks of science and technology again?" Xiao Ling pinpointed the culprit without a second thought.

Based on his deduction, Yangyang bit her lip herself, and biting one's lip is usually done to use pain to keep one's mind clear. Therefore, the suspect who caused this situation is very clear.

"I did use some less-than-honorable methods," Cantarella readily admitted, "So in the end, I didn't win the game, which is kind of my punishment."

"Don't play like that next time, we're all family."

"If this is your will."

"Then please take a short rest before the final battle," Xiao Ling said with a smile to Yangyang and the Shorekeeper. "This game should come to a close now."

After a short rest, Yangyang and the Shorekeeper walked towards the final arena, ready to determine the ultimate winner.

There were no passionate commentary, no pre-match boasts, only the silent maneuvering between the two players on the field and the whispers from the audience.

"Who do you think will win in the end?" Dania asked.

"That's hard to say. Yangyang's skills are indeed impressive, but unfortunately, she's facing the Shorekeeper Sister," Aemeath replied after taking a sip of her soda. "The Shorekeeper can completely compensate for her lack of combat experience with her computing power. In other words, it's a contest between them to see who reveals their weakness first."

Human thinking ability has its limits, but AI does not. It can be said that as long as the Shorekeeper wants to win, it will be extremely difficult for Yangyang to take victory from her.

Just then, after a period of maneuvering, the two suddenly launched their first confrontation.

With a light touch of her toes, Yangyang leaped gracefully into the air, then swooped down towards the Shorekeeper at incredible speed.

The Shorekeeper watched with great interest as the enemy attacked, defusing the attack with a mere slight turn of his body.

But that wasn't all. Yangyang changed her attack, forcefully throwing the pillow in her hand to her side, trying to catch the Shorekeeper off guard.

The Shorekeeper strolled leisurely, easily dodging the attack by simply sliding back two steps, displaying utmost elegance.

"Wow, that's amazing..." Sigrika was somewhat shocked by the Shorekeeper's composure.

"That's why I said, unless the Shorekeeper sister voluntarily gives up the fight, Yangyang will have a very difficult chance of winning." Aemeath shrugged.

If you didn't know they were having a duel, you might think the Shorekeeper was leading his restless dance partner in a waltz.

But life is full of surprises, and so are games. As for who will win or lose in the end, it's hard to say.

The Shorekeeper is pondering.

She wondered why using Xiao Ling as a reward would make everyone present, including herself, give it their all.

To be honest, when she first heard the proposal, what came to mind was that afternoon when she and Xiao Ling were learning to ride bicycles together.

The air after the rain was still slightly damp. Beside her was his strong arm. She had fallen due to carelessness and leaned comfortably against Xiao Ling's chest, feeling a sense of peace and affection she had never felt before.

She thought, if only those times could come again.

Therefore, when the Shorekeeper heard about the final game reward, she was undoubtedly tempted.

Because that way I could legitimately spend that time with him again, that comforting and cherished time, even if it was just for one day.

But when that time comes, how should I make that request that he can't refuse?

The Shorekeeper, lost in his own thoughts, predictably revealed a brief opening.

As a seasoned veteran of the Midnight Rangers Vanguard, Yangyang naturally wouldn't let this opportunity slip by.

Then, the light pillow pulled her back to reality, and what greeted her was Yangyang's relieved smile.

"It seems I have the upper hand, Miss Shorekeeper," she chuckled.

"Yes, I lost." The Shorekeeper looked at the pillow that had hit him, understanding that the battle was over, and nodded slightly.

It's a bit of a shame... it seems the plan to legitimately invite A-Ling is going to fall through...

"OK~ You two have worked hard, come and have some water and rest for a bit~" Xiao Ling handed each of them a clean handkerchief to wipe their sweat. "Even if you didn't win, it's okay, it's just a game, having fun is the most important thing. I'm always ready to welcome you."

"Of course, I will also keep the promised reward. Yangyang, just think it over and tell me when you're ready."

When the Shorekeeper heard his playful explanation, the slight disappointment he had felt for not winning the game suddenly vanished.

Yes, that's more like him. He's always willing to make time for them whenever they want.

"Thank you." The Shorekeeper was about to take the handkerchief when...

"Bang!"

The Shorekeeper was somewhat bewildered by the sudden blow to his head with a pillow.

"Oh dear, I've been itching to get my hands on it ever since, and now I finally have the chance." Xiao Ling's voice was filled with the smug satisfaction of her plan succeeding.

At the same time, the audience also began to stir.

"I'll attack!" Aemeath launched the first attack on Lynae.

"Hey! Little Ai, you're attacking!" Lynae grabbed a pillow and started to fight back, accidentally injuring Dania, who was drinking her sugary soda next to her.

Dania, seeing her soda spilled all over herself, was so angry that she immediately grabbed a pillow and joined the fray.

One small thing can have far-reaching consequences, and everyone is caught up in this new round of pillow fights. There are no rules, no eliminations, only pure party-like revelry. Even Yangyang, who just won, and Xiao Ling, the planner of this Pillow Slumber Hunter, inevitably joined in the farce, and even Encore was having a blast.

Shorekeeper watched the extended family members playfully wrestling with pillows, a gentle smile instantly crept onto his lips.

As she saw it, love and happiness were the foundation of this family, and she didn't need to worry that her feelings might create an irreparable rift in the family.

That's good, that's good.

So, at the end of the chapter, she picked up the pillow again and enthusiastically joined the farce with her trusted family members.