“What? You mean the Death Demon found you?”
The chair made a sharp screeching sound as Qu Le stood up abruptly, staring at Lu Xiu who sat across from him.
I curled up in the chair next to them, staring blankly at my feet.
After Lu Xiu woke up, he hadn’t hesitated to bring me back to the Response Division.
How many times… had I been to the Response Division today?
‘I don’t remember.’
I felt listless, not even wanting to eat.
“Yeah… to be precise… it found Sui.”
Following Lu Xiu’s words, Qu Le looked at me.
“The Sky-mending Stone did its job, but this is only the beginning…”
Lu Xiu took the string of fused, multicolored beads from his pocket and placed them on the mahogany table.
“My countdown has started.
“The previous trick of the Golden Cicada Shedding Shell is unlikely to work again. The Demon of Sacrifice can no longer blind the eyes of Death for me… It’s all thanks to Sui that I survived this tribulation.”
A hand gently landed on my head, ruffling my hair. I looked up to see Lu Xiu watching me.
“But like I said, I want to protect her… So, I have to solve this mess. I can’t let her keep getting hurt because of me.”
Qu Le frowned. “So… you’re going to that Landing Field?”
“Yeah. Back then, A Jie traded his life to the Demon of Sacrifice for my survival. Now, fate wants me to face the path I once fled from again… I don’t think I can hide anymore. It’ll only hurt the people around me.”
As Lu Xiu spoke, his head lowered slightly. A forced smile played on his lips, though it looked more like a bitter one.
“What about Sui?”
Qu Le sat back down, throwing out a practical question.
‘Me? Am I not staying with Lu Xiu?’
“That’s why I came to see you. While I’m away, look after Sui for me… Don’t let anyone bully her. If you do, when I get back, I’ll spread the word that you spend all day watching Magic Girls.”
“You bastard… why are you such a hassle…” Qu Le shook his head.
“No.”
The two of them paused simultaneously.
“I don’t want to… I don’t want to leave Lu Xiu…”
I was the one who spoke.
I understood.
Lu Xiu was going to fight a demon alone.
And I was supposed to stay here.
“Qu Le is much richer than me. Three cups of milk tea a day might not just be a dream.”
“No.”
“You’ll die if you follow me, just like before.”
“No.”
“Tsk… You don’t know that place. You’ll just be a nuisance if you go. I can handle it myself.”
“No, no, no — “
I kept shaking my head. The hair tie at the back of my head slipped off, and my long hair fell loose, draping over me in a mess.
I was scared. I was terrified.
I didn’t want to leave Lu Xiu.
He scratched his head, wanting to say something but not knowing what. Finally, he could only sigh.
We fell into silence again.
“If you’re going to the Landing Field… it will take about six days. You know that place has already fallen into the Reality Border. It’s only one step away from descending into Hell. The approval process and tickets alone will take a lot of time.”
It was Qu Le who broke the silence. He didn’t mention where I belonged, instead moving the topic elsewhere.
“My next tribulation won’t happen for eight days. There’s enough time.”
“Then what else do you need? After all, you should gear up before fighting a boss.”
“Forget the containment items. Anything below Level 3 is useless. I’d rather just draw a few more Spirit Talismans.” Lu Xiu politely declined.
“Fine, fine, have it your way. Since you still have six days, get some good rest.”
Having said that, Qu Le pulled a key out of his drawer.
“What’s this?”
“An apartment I have in East City.”
“?” Lu Xiu’s hand paused. “Did you take a bribe?”
“Get out of here. I bought it with ten years of savings. I haven’t even lived in it yet. I was planning to buy a few computers, set up some Wululu figures, and enjoy myself after I retire.”
“Don’t stay at your place for now. Only I know about this apartment. It’s safe.”
“…Thanks.”
Lu Xiu took the key with a complicated tone.
“Hey, don’t mention it. We’re brothers.”
Qu Le waved his hand, then thought for a moment and added, “Just remember to knock before coming in next time.”
Lu Xiu stood up, and I immediately jumped off the chair, grabbing the edge of his clothes.
He paused, looking down at me.
I didn’t say anything, only gripped tighter.
“Don’t go tearing my clothes.”
Then, he took my hand directly.
“Let’s go.”
“Wait.”
A small white bottle arched through the air. Lu Xiu caught it and looked at Qu Le with confusion.
“Soul-nourishing Pills. Consider it a personal sponsorship.”
Qu Le smiled.
“…What am I supposed to do with this?”
Despite saying that, Lu Xiu still stuffed the bottle into his pocket.
“You might need it later.”
Qu Le shrugged, watching Lu Xiu walk toward the door.
*Click — *
The door opened, revealing the corridor outside.
“Lu Xiu.”
Qu Le’s voice came right on time.
“Come back alive.”
*Click — *
Lu Xiu held my hand as we walked down the corridor outside the office.
I didn’t speak.
Partly because my throat hurt, and partly because… I didn’t know why.
I just didn’t want to talk.
I felt a bit uncomfortable.
“Sui.”
He suddenly spoke. I looked up.
“Want to eat something?”
“…Apples.”
I thought for a long time before finally saying those words.
Kuyan Fire Village was delicious, but I always felt empty after drinking it.
Only apples… After eating them, I didn’t feel empty.
Because they reminded me of the good parts of my memories.
It was satisfying.
“Alright, let’s go buy some apples.”
Qu Le’s apartment was a bit larger than Lu Xiu’s. The moment we walked in, we were greeted by a massive anime poster featuring three Magic Girls in different colors.
I recognized the pink one in the middle as Magic Girl Wululu.
Lu Xiu, on the other hand, looked at the giant poster, his lip twitching. He seemed speechless.
The place was very clean. Just as Qu Le had said, it was an apartment that no one had lived in yet.
However, boxes of figures lined the walls. Even though the furniture looked terribly cheap, he clearly hadn’t been stingy when it came to his love for Magic Girls.
Magic Girls were everywhere. There were Magic Girls on the ceiling, the lights were colorful, and even the light switch played a Magic Girl’s voice when pressed.
Lu Xiu placed the fruit basket on the living room table and looked around, shaking his head.
“Tsk tsk tsk… He’s a lost cause.”
I sat on the sofa, took an apple from the basket, and nibbled on it slowly.
I thought Qu Le’s love for Magic Girl Wululu was just like my love for apples and Kuyan Fire Village.
But apples and Kuyan Fire Village could be eaten.
‘Can you eat Magic Girls?’
‘If you can’t eat them, why like them?’
I didn’t know. I just kept nibbling on my apple.
“By the way, Sui.”
I turned my head toward Lu Xiu.
“I’ll spend this time with you in the Old Urban Area. Let’s find that place you mentioned first.”
I nodded.
And continued nibbling on my apple.