Toyokawa Shoko doesn't want to become a witch

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【MeowDream】: Of course, it's currently "hunting witches," just like Timoris.

She looked up at the end of get out of class; there were still five minutes left.

There are only five minutes left before school ends. She herself can leave early without any problem, but the problem is that she's not the only one leaving school now.

The address Miaomeng gave me was conveniently on my way, so at least I could deliver the light home.

Xiangzi lowered his head, his fingers continuing to dance across the screen.

[Xiangzi]: I'm leaving in five minutes. It will take some time to get there, so keep an eye on it.

[Xiangzi]: Also, call Hailing and Chuhua over as well.

【MeowDream】: Okay.

Not long after everything was arranged, the bell rang to signal the end of get out of class.

The classroom suddenly became very noisy. Usually, I would pack my things and wait for the light to come out at the door of Class A before taking her home after school.

She didn't have time to wait today, so she walked directly into Class A's classroom under the strange looks of her classmates and stood in front of the lamp.

=======

Huff, huff, huff—

The tram rolled over the gap between the tracks, and Xiangzi, gripping the handrail, steadied herself in the swaying carriage. She looked back at the platform receding into the distance; the lights were still there, watching her leave.

This image stirred up some memories for her.

Memories of two friends in my mind...

At what point did they become memories?

Xiangzi lowered his eyes and took out his Soul Gem.

The soul gem, resembling a flower, is covered with snowflake-like cracks, densely covering its surface. When you place your finger on it, you can feel a prickly texture, like a cheap ornament that wasn't of very good quality and had been dropped on the ground.

It wasn't always like this.

I wasn't always like this.

Xiangzi gripped the Soul Gem, gently biting his lower lip.

When exactly did they stop responding to him? Even Xiangzi himself didn't have the answer to that question.

You can walk into quicksand and mud without even realizing it, and by the time you realize it, it's too late.

She was like someone trapped in quicksand and quagmire, sinking deeper and deeper in each cycle.

"lamp......"

Xiangzi gripped the Soul Gem tightly, pressing it against his heart, feeling a constant unease in his heartbeat.

Why am I so uneasy?

She was just away from the light for a short while; she can walk home by herself. It's only a short distance, so why worry so much?

Xiangzi shook his head, suppressing the uneasy thought.

Doodle.

My phone vibrated again in my pocket.

Xiangzi took out his phone.

【Meow Dream】: Chu Zi and Hai Zi have arrived.

[Xiangzi]: How's the situation over there?

【Meow Dream】: (Image)

Miaomeng sent me a picture. Clicking on it led to a photo taken from the rooftop looking down. In the photo, you could vaguely see a red figure, like a melting candle.

Miaomeng kept following from a distance and did not actively provoke any trouble.

【Meow Dream】: It just killed a witch and took the witch's Lament Seed.

[Xiangzi]: It should be quite common for witches to kill each other and then devour each other's seeds of lamentation.

【MeowDream】: No, no, no, it just glanced at that thing and threw it away. That's what I really wanted to say.

[Xiangzi]: You took one look and then threw it away?

【MeowDream】: Yes, Timoris did the same thing, muttering "not this one." Didn't I suspect they were looking for something before?

Looking for something...

Is the thing related to the Seed of Lamentation the Soul Gem?

Xiangzi seemed to have a feeling that he wanted to grab onto something.

Suddenly, Su Shi's image flashed through my mind.

Xiangzi's eyes widened suddenly.

【Meow Dream】: Are you thinking about the same question, about the Seed of Lamentation and the Soul Gem?

【MeowDream】: Considering the disappearance of Nagasaki Motoyo, although this is the only logical explanation, I wonder if what they are looking for is related to flowers?

flower.......

The Bremen Orchestra's goal is flowers.

Xiangzi's heart skipped a beat.

If the Bremen Orchestra's goal is the flowers, then when they go looking for trouble with Amoris, who is in the most danger?

Ding dong.

The train will stop at the next station.

A blue figure slipped out from between the doors, weaving through the crowds of people leaving get off work and school, creating a gust of wind. No one passing by could clearly see what it was; it was gone in an instant.

Why would Amoris appear so brazenly? Is it really as brainless as Timoris?

No, Timoris isn't brainless; it just doesn't care. All it cares about is fighting. Will Amoris be like Timoris? Based on Xiangzi's understanding of Hailin, Hailin is indeed that kind of person at heart, but Meowme isn't. Even if you give Meowme a million years, it won't become a battle maniac like Timoris.

The appearance of Amoris is quite intriguing.

Right.

It's gotten to this point already.

There's no need to consider the rest further.

Now, in the entire reed plain, besides myself, who else possesses a flower? Even those ordinary people who haven't yet blossomed but have the potential to do so...

Xiangzi only knew one person who met this criterion.

And this person was someone I had just seen off at the station.

It's about three bus stops away. If nothing comes up, the lamp should arrive home in no time. If something does come up...

Xiangzi gritted his teeth, and the Soul Gem, covered with snowflake-like cracks, shone brightly.

A racetrack motorcycle appeared beside me, starting up.

Xiangzi flipped himself onto the motorcycle and twisted the throttle to the maximum.

The deafening roar of the metallic beast echoed through the night.

The roar tore through the false night sky, transcended time, and crossed the boundaries of the barrier. The person riding the beast brandished the blade of his gun and pulled the trigger.

boom--!

With a glint of silver light, Xiangzi landed between "Chuhua" and the lamp.

"Sorry, I'm late."

The Tale of Reincarnation: Bonds - Chapter 690 You're a Scoundrel, Xiangzi

Xiangzi stood in front of the lamp like a mother hen, protecting it behind her and preventing the weasel—Chu—Doloris—from getting any closer.

When Doloris saw Xiangzi appear before him, his face instantly turned as black as if ink had been splashed on it, incredibly black.

She clutched the spot where her arm had been severed, and metallic, tree-like structures were growing out from the broken surface, gradually restoring her arm to its original state.

"You—why are you here?!" Her eyes widened as she stared at Xiangzi in disbelief. "Shouldn't you be—"

"Xiao Xiang, is something urgent?" Deng also peeked out from behind Xiangzi and asked curiously.

“Nothing is more urgent than you. You are the most important thing,” Xiangzi said calmly. “I didn’t realize this problem at first, but luckily it’s not too late.”

Her gaze then shifted to Dolores, who was sitting opposite her.

Dolores was momentarily stunned when he saw those eyes burning with anger.

In that brief moment of distraction, Xiangzi appeared in front of Dolores, raised his gun blade, and slashed down at Dolores.

when!

The gun blade collided with the hardened arm.

Doloris's remaining arm had now turned into a marble-like material, and the collision of the gun blade with the marble caused a considerable explosion.

The explosion wasn't purely caused by Xiangzi's strength; it was more of a self-defense tactic by Dolores. The shattered rocks flew towards Xiangzi like Claymore landmines, preventing him from going any further.

The two distanced themselves again, and Dolores's severed hand regenerated at this moment. She moved her newly grown wrist and glared fiercely at Xiangzi.

Xiangzi didn't know if that could be considered regeneration—unlike Miaomeng's ability to regenerate passively and spontaneously, Chuhua and Doloris used a method of regeneration that involved simulating new limbs with a hundred forms, which was active and required considerable energy.

Doloris started circling around Xiangzi, who protected the lamp and slowly confronted her.

“You shouldn’t be here,” Dolores grinned.

"The fact that you'd rather use Amoris as bait to lure me away shows how important the light is to you, doesn't it, Dolores?"

"Tsk."

"Flowers, is that right?" Xiangzi tilted his head and gave the answer directly, "You wanted flowers, so you put up the lamps and Su Shi."

Doloris clicked his tongue, took a few steps back, creating some distance between himself and Xiangzi, and revealed an expression of extreme disgust.

Xiangzi breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Doloris's aggression was much less than expected, almost nonexistent. She seemed to be either planning a retreat or waiting for reinforcements.

But...aren't I the same?

If we just keep going like this, it will ultimately benefit us.

The lights are safe now.

"What do you want to do with the flowers?" Xiangzi continued, "And why have you never appeared in previous reincarnations?"

“You actually expect me to tell you?” Dolores’ eyes widened. “Are you crazy?”

"Then let me guess," Xiangzi said slowly.

She has sorted out a lot of things, from the emergence of the Bremen Symphony Orchestra to their purpose.

“I knew long ago that your goals were not aligned with Nirvana’s, so… collecting flowers is an attempt to defy Nirvana, isn’t it?” Xiangzi said. “You want to kill it and gain your freedom.”

“…” Dolores fell silent.

At this point, silence is tantamount to acquiescence.

I guessed correctly, or at least part of it.

“You have also experienced reincarnation, and Nirvana must have gone through reincarnation as well. Since I can maintain my memories in reincarnation, there is no reason why you cannot.”

Xiangzi frowned.

"Then why did you only come out now? What about all those previous cycles?" Xiangzi paused, then answered his own question, stating his guess: "It's because this time is different. I don't know how it's different, but for you, this cycle is an opportunity, a chance to break the deadlock."

The same applies to Xiangzi.

The return of the Bremen Symphony Orchestra represents her chance to break the deadlock.

“Sometimes I really think you’re annoyingly smart,” Dolores sighed, without denying it.

"Thank you for the compliment." Xiangzi nodded slightly in acknowledgment. "I was thinking, since we share the same goal, is it possible...?"

She suddenly had a bold idea.

"No way." Dolores retorted without hesitation, her face contorted with utter disgust. "I just laid a hand on Takamatsu Akari, and Nagasaki Motoyo has already been captured. And you're still thinking about cooperating... Witch, monster, scum, degenerate."