Type-Moon, I'm a magician, is that true?

What happened next was unremarkable. The two of them sipped tea quietly and silently, while doing their own things to pass the time.

Youzhu opened an ancient little book and read an interesting story; Aiwen closed his eyes and immersed himself in the music, while trying his best to ignore the pain that was coming more and more frequently.

However, although the atmosphere is dull, it is not boring. They can see each other's figures at any time by raising their eyes. Just the presence is enough to make them feel calm and at ease.

A long time passed, the sky outside began to darken, and the pendulum clock in the entrance hall began to make a "ding ding" sound.

Youzhu closed the book in her hand with a snap. She looked at Aiwen, who had taken off his headphones, and spoke softly.

"Qingzi should be awake now. I'll take you there."

Aiwen stood up consciously and followed the pace of the owner of the mansion.

They returned to the entrance, walked up the wooden stairs to the second floor, and went to the deepest part of the second floor of the East Building, where was Aozaki Aoko's bedroom.

Of course, it is now also her recovery room.

Chapter 38: The Enemy Identified

Pushing open the door and entering the bedroom, everything in front of Aiwen gave her the impression that it was incompatible with the Western-style house.

Trendy posters, electric guitars full of technology, industrial carpets and low-legged glass tables that conflict with the impression of a classic Western-style building.

Everything shows that the owner of the room is a human being who is constantly updating with the development of the times.

"It's the opposite of Yuju who stubbornly stays in the past."

Such thoughts flashed through Aiwen's mind.

However, no matter how you look at the room, it is just a cozy bedroom for a normal high school girl, and has nothing to do with a patient room.

Except for the bandaged man lying on the white bed.

Compared to when Aiwen saw her yesterday, Aozaki Aoko now looks like a human being. Although her face is still as pale as paper, her steady breathing and bright eyes show that her owner is in good condition.

Youzhu controlled the time of Qingzi's awakening just right. At the same moment they pushed the door open, Qingzi's consciousness also woke up from deep sleep.

"Ah, Aiwen, you're here. I'm glad you saw me in such a state of disarray."

The beautiful blue eyes blinked and tilted slightly to look at the silver-haired figure by the window.

"Aoko."

Youzhu muttered in a low voice, she was dissatisfied with Qingzi for ignoring her.

"Ah, I just forgot, Yuzu. I can't handle your little revenge right now."

"Sly guy." Youzhu frowned and muttered, but didn't say much. He just turned around and sat on the only chair, while temporarily suppressing an idea.

"Aoko seems to be very familiar with Aiwen."

Aiwen glanced around and couldn't find a chair, so he naturally half-sat on the edge of Qingzi's bed. This action made the other two girls exclaim in surprise at the same time.

"what."

"you……"

But seeing Aiwen's strange look, the two of them said nothing in the end.

In fact, according to their common sense, Aiwen should sit upright on the thick carpet, and Qingzi usually sits like that.

But it was just a small matter after all. Qingzi felt that she owed Aiwen a big favor. Let alone letting him sit by her bed, even letting herself be a pillow could not make up for this kindness.

"Ahem, anyway, let's get down to business. Yuzu, can you stop staring at me?"

Helplessly avoiding her roommate who had a gloomy face and no one knew what he was thinking, Qingzi looked at the three people present seriously.

"First of all, let me say thank you for this treatment." Qingzi said with rare gentleness: "I have heard Youzhu's account of the whole thing. This time, I am relying on you."

"I may never have the chance to repay this kindness, but I will never forget it. I will gamble my pride and repay you with a reward equal to my life."

After saying these words that didn't sound like a joke at all, Qingzi suddenly relaxed and looked like a pancake lying on the bed.

"Ah, now that I've said it, I feel a lot more relaxed. Obviously, I hate owing favors to others the most."

"Well, this is fate, there's nothing we can do about it."

"Aoko."

Youzhu lowered her voice again and reminded her not to go off topic.

"Ah, I get it. Youzhu, don't look at me like that. Anyway, let's get back to business. I asked Youzhu to call Aiwen here, not just to say thank you."

Aoko complained, then her expression darkened and turned serious.

"I was attacked when I was walking home that night, but I was still conscious until I was cut, so I noticed a lot of details."

One sentence, just one sentence, made the good atmosphere become extremely heavy. Youzhu subconsciously straightened his back and stared at Qingzi's face.

"I really admire you, Qingzi. How can you maintain your sanity in such torture?"

"It's just the pain and fear of death. How many times do you think I've encountered it?"

Aoko replied nonchalantly.

She wasn't exaggerating. Ever since she inherited her grandfather's magic seal, she had been haunted by a strange red shadow.

That shadow would appear from time to time, bringing Qingzi predictions of her death, a feeling she could relate to, so it's fair to say she had been on the verge of death enough times.

"In short, there are three things I noticed."

Aoko tried to raise three fingers to signal, but gave up after trying for a while.

"First, the enemy that attacked me was a puppet, crafted with incredible technology and high-end materials. Second, its internal structure felt very familiar to me. Third, when it dismantled me, it deliberately avoided my right arm."

Aoko's voice became heavier and heavier as she spoke these three reasons, each one filled with unparalleled anger and determination.

"Youzhu, I'm afraid my sister is back."

"..."

Youzhu remained silent. She understood what this sentence meant. The burden on Qingzi's heart at this moment was probably ten times greater than it seemed.

"Tell me the reason first." Qingzi closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"The reason I lost so quickly was because I was tricked. The puppet rushed over and blew itself up, and I didn't have time to react at all."

"After all, it's a rare and exquisite puppet. Who would shoot gold out of a slingshot like a projectile? No, it's like lighting a fire with money to keep warm!"

"But it was precisely because of this self-explosion that the puppet's flesh and blood flew everywhere, revealing its basic structural skeleton. The construction method looked familiar, very similar to the textbooks my sister studied since she was a child."

"I was wondering why Misaki's detection barrier didn't react when the enemy invaded."

Speaking of this, Qingzi couldn't help but sneer a few times.

"It seems natural now. My sister is Aozaki's bloodline, so how could the barrier react?"

"Of course, this alone isn't enough to draw any conclusions, but it's very strange that the puppet avoided my right arm when torturing me."

"It's extremely strange that only the right hand was uninjured, but when combined with another fact, the answer becomes obvious."

She spoke each word clearly, as if squeezing it out from between clenched teeth.

"The magic seal passed down by the Aozaki family is on my right hand. My sister probably didn't want the seal to be destroyed by dismemberment. Although I don't understand why she didn't just take it away."

"Before, Yuzue thought the people who invaded Misaki Town were vampires, but now it seems that was also the work of my sister."

"really?"

Aiwen, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke, his eyes filled with a harsh coldness.

Aoko nodded. "That should be right. I broke the arm of the puppet that attacked me, but it quickly recovered as if it had gone back in time. I'm afraid vampire flesh and blood were added when the puppet was made."

"The time-reversal recovery method... is indeed a curse characteristic unique to the Dead Apostles."

It was only now that deep hostility appeared in Aiwen's eyes.

"Well, that's why I called you here."

Qingzi coughed twice, stared at Aiwen's face seriously, and said with deep concern: "I'm afraid you are also the target of my sister's attack now."

"Because you helped me heal my wounds, my sister will definitely think you are on my side. You have to be extra careful."

Chapter 39: People Like Cyan

Aoko's words were filled with obvious and heavy guilt, as well as self-blame. Her eyebrows were drooped, and her thick eyelashes cast a shadow on her bright eyes.

Because of her own weakness, she implicated innocent people, which is undoubtedly the greatest punishment for Aozaki Aoko.

The source of her pain is her own unquestionable self-esteem and strong sense of responsibility.

Aozaki Aoko is not an arrogant person who insists on doing everything by herself, but she believes that when living in this world, there are always some things that cannot be delegated to others.

The path of life, the will to decide, and the responsibility of being born.

The reason why she is who she is now is precisely because of these seemingly vague and intangible, but actually existing and carrying out the principles of her life so far.

"If you don't want to be treated as an enemy by your sister for no reason, then you should stay away from Misaki Town now. It doesn't need to be far, and it doesn't need to be for a long time."

Qingzi turned around and looked into Aiwen's eyes seriously, deliberately making her voice objective, so as not to reveal any trace of dependence or pleading.

She disdains to exploit the tragic experience, nor does she want to drag Aiwen, who has nothing to do with the internal strife of the Aozaki family, into the quagmire.

"Let's go to Tokyo, or Hokkaido, for a week-long trip. In short, as long as you stay away from here and away from Misaki, she won't pay attention to you."

"Although it's strange for a victim like me to say this, my sister is very particular about rationality and never does anything meaningless."

"Her goal is just revenge against me. As long as you act like it has nothing to do with me, she will never make things difficult for you."

"I don't want you to be involved."

After saying everything she wanted to say, Qingzi let out a long sigh and relaxed her body on the thick pillow.

Aiwen didn't make a decision immediately, but instead looked into Qingzi's eyes and asked a question.

"Aozaki, have you decided to face it alone, even if the odds of winning are very low?"

His voice was weak and cold, which reminded Youzhu of a winter stream, with its unique clarity and transparency.

"Well, this is the fate I have been carrying since I was fifteen."

Aoko raised her head, there was no hesitation or fear in her voice, and her eyes were firmer and clearer than ever.

"Since this is the path I have chosen, I cannot escape it no matter what. For Aozaki Aoko, she has only one choice: to move forward."

“No regrets, no admitting defeat, no slacking off.”

"..."

Aiwen didn't say anything else. He just closed his eyes silently, with a slight admiration and sigh on his face.

He had to admit that he fell in love with a being named Aozaki Aoko.

It was not lust, but a harmony of ideas. In Qingzi, Aiwen saw the deep responsibility and awareness that he recognized.

This will shines brightly, and what it contains is not the heaviness of self-sacrifice, but the free choice as windy as the wind.

Like a precious gem that has been rare for thousands of years, it makes people yearn for it.

In this case, Aiwen understood that there was only one answer for him.

Perhaps out of friendly acquaintance, he should ignore the advice and continue to provide all possible help.

But he would not do that after all. The girl's will was so beautiful that out of respect for this will, he could only give in.

"I understand. I will ask for leave from school for about a week. This period of time should be enough for Aozaki and your sister to break up."

Opening his eyes, Aiwen looked at Qingzi, and what he said made Youzhu beside him cover her mouth in surprise.

The witch felt like she had seen a new side of the person in front of her.

But after being stunned for a moment, Qingzi smiled, saying "You understand a lot." She felt the excitement and joy of being understood.

So she made her promise to the beautiful figure before her, her voice bright and cheerful.