Toyokawa Shoko doesn't want to become a witch

Hua Hua Hua——

As the pile of books moved, the books on top slid down like an avalanche, and a head with messy hair popped out from the pile of books that had experienced the avalanche.

Her dark blue hair was messier than the books around her, and her hazy eyes were full of curiosity about the world.

The girl, wearing a white lab coat, slowly crawled out from the pile of books.

She squinted and searched around for something under everyone's gaze.

"Wait... I can't find my glasses..."

“Your Majesty, you are often in a high position, so perhaps you are unaware of this,” Xiangzi bent down and whispered in Xiaosushi’s ear, “People will do anything to pass inspections, and if necessary, they can even surpass their own ego.”

"..."

Xiao Su Shi looked on with an air of worldly experience as she watched the dark blue-clad girl crawl on the ground like a lizard in the shadows.

After a while, the lizard—no, the girl—finally found her frameless glasses and breathed a sigh of relief.

"I thought it was crushed..." She put on her glasses and looked at Xiao Su Shi, "...It's fine now. If you need anything, come to our research institute—ah! Your Majesty!"

Her face turned as white as paper in an instant.

“I know you.” Xiao Su Shi put her hands on her hips and leaned closer to her face. “You are… the assistant director who just took office a while ago. You led the last experiment. I think your name was something like… Tsukimura Tobacco? What a strange name.”

Xiao Su Shi glanced at the group of people beside her, as if to say, "This name is just as strange as yours."

It’s over.

At this moment, the girl named Tsukimura Tobacco's eyes were filled with overflowing despair.

What do you do when your boss catches you red-handed during a surprise inspection, and she even remembers your name?!

Is the next step to execute him immediately and exterminate his entire family?!

I want to chat with Ling in the group/flirt, I'm dying, I'm dying, I'm dying!!!

"I- ...

"—Stop for a second." Xiaosushi reached out her hand, interrupting Yanhu's excuses. "I'm not interested in how this place is usually."

The surroundings looked like this all the time; perhaps the last time she came to assist with the experiment was an exception.

"Then why did His Majesty suddenly visit today—"

"I just happened to need to pass by here today." Xiao Su Shi paused, racking her brains for a way to explain the situation.

However, after thinking about it for a while, she decided to give up.

Anyway, she is the Red Queen, the Red Queen who is above all others on the surface, and even if it's just on the surface, she is still the symbol of the empire. No one would dare to disrespect her.

"Never mind, it's good that there are few people here. Don't tell anyone that I've been here."

Xiao Su Shi spoke in a mature and sophisticated tone, like a little adult.

She paused for a moment, a slight smile playing on her lips.

"If you don't tell me, I can pretend I didn't see anything, understand?"

"—Understood!!!!" Tobacco hurriedly bowed to Xiaosu Shi.

"That's settled then, let's go." Xiao Su Shi waved, signaling the others behind her to follow.

She stepped on the papers on the ground and walked outside as if nothing had happened.

"By the way, isn't His Majesty still on a nationwide tour? Why is he here?" came a puzzled voice from behind.

Xiao Su Shi stopped in her tracks.

The tobacco seemed to be talking to itself.

Perhaps because she was used to life in the laboratory, she didn't realize that her voice was loud enough for everyone around her to hear.

“And…” Tobacco squinted, “Why was His Majesty wearing a trench coat in the city… and that direction just now, not the entrance, but the direction of the Rainbow Bridge gate…”

"What should we do?" Xiangzi bent down and whispered in Xiaosu's ear.

At the same time, he made a swiping gesture on his neck.

As Tobacco's mind cleared, she realized that something was wrong with the people around Xiaosu Shi earlier.

Not only His Majesty, but the maids accompanying him were also wearing trench coats, and sand still fell from their clothes as they walked, making them look as if they had just come out of the desert... Rainbow Bridge Gate... Desert...

Most, most, most importantly, the maid who was closest to His Majesty...

Just now, when she bent down, I think I saw her hand.

That hand... had feathers on it.

That's a sign of a spellcaster overusing magic, and spellcasters aren't allowed in the empire, especially since this is the capital, and that maid is right next to His Majesty!

Tobacco's brain was working at its limit, its eyes widening.

"Your Majesty—Your Majesty, could it be—!"

Boom!

Tobacco suddenly went black and lost consciousness.

The Tale of the Lost: Chapter 364 Good Evening

[World of Desire - Empire - Capital]

The capital was a port city, with an outer city wall that circled the harbor, encompassing all the surrounding land. When Xiangzi first arrived, the "castle" that he saw faintly on the horizon was actually the outer wall of the capital.

It's much bigger than I imagined. The castle is located in the center of the upper town. To the west is the port, where you can see a stunning sunset. To the east is the grassland where Xiangzi first landed.

Overall, the country is very prosperous.

As the sun sets, the streets remain bustling with people. The streetlights are lit one by one by lamplighters, marking the end of the day. Night gently descends, and the lights of countless homes illuminate the night. A group of weary travelers wander through the bustling streets.

In this vibrant city, no one noticed these few unremarkable travelers.

"Just keep walking along the main street, and you'll be out of the city." Little Su Shi hurried ahead, energetically moving her short legs as she spoke.

"Remember to pull your hood down; wearing a hood will only make you more suspicious," Xiangzi reminded him.

“But…” Xiao Su Shi gripped the edge of the trench coat’s hood, “…what if we get recognized?”

She had finally managed to get Xiangzi and the others out of the castle, but if they were recognized when they left the pass, wouldn't all her efforts be in vain?

"Don't worry, how many people have actually seen your face?"

"The whole nation?" Xiao Su Shi blinked. "I'm someone who's always in the public eye."

"Hey, you mean standing at the highest point, looking down at the sardine-like crowd?" Xiangzi smiled dismissively. "Can you even see their faces, not even a single one of them?"

Xiao Su Shi shook her head.

"The same applies to the other side; they can't see your face clearly either."

"Really?"

“It’s absolutely true, but if you’re really worried…” Xiangzi took out a pair of frameless glasses from his pocket, put them on Xiaosushi’s face, helped her take off her hood, and touched her soft flaxen hair, “…is this alright?”

"What about her, little master?" Ai Yin shrugged.

She was carrying a large bag.

"Uh-huh-!"

The large package behind Ai Yin twitched twice, and a faint sound came from inside.

"Don't worry, leave everything to me." Xiangzi held the Soul Gem between his index and middle fingers and waved it at them. "Although I don't have much magic power, I can still handle this little thing."

hum-

Xiangzi put away the Soul Gem and said to the guards at the door:

“I am the daughter of a caravan merchant. These are my business partners and goods. We are leaving the city to do business in other cities. You have already checked the goods for me, and there are no problems. Is that correct?”

The guard was momentarily distracted and shook his head.

It seems... that's how it is?

He stepped aside and said, "Okay, miss, have a pleasant journey."

"Thank you~" Xiangzi took Xiaosushi's hand and led her out of the city gate.

Even after leaving the city gate, the lights showed no sign of diminishing.

There were even more people outside the city, with small houses radiating outwards from the city walls. Unlike inside the city, the roads outside were not paved with flagstones, but rather simple dirt roads.

"Wow, you're amazing. You got here so quickly. What did you do to them? Were they offerings with bewitching powers?" Xiao Su Shi asked in a low voice, following beside Xiang Zi.

"Well, that's my own secret." Xiangzi mysteriously raised his index finger to his lips and winked at Xiaosushi.

“You have too many secrets, I don’t care.” Xiao Su Shi pushed up her glasses, feeling a little dizzy. “But, can I take these glasses off?”

After all, the prescription is so much higher than my eyesight, so it's normal to feel dizzy.

"Hmm, that's fine too," Xiangzi said.

She reluctantly helped Xiao Su Shi take off her glasses and put them in her pocket.

"Ah...what a pity."

"What's the pity? You clearly have the ability to make the guards forget everything, so why did you make me wear glasses?" Xiao Su Shi squinted, looking at Xiang Zi with suspicion.

"Cough cough..."

Xiangzi turned his head to the side, cleared his throat, and changed the subject.

"How about we find a hotel to rest for the night? We still have a long journey ahead of us tomorrow."

Where do you plan to take me?

"The place where it all began, do you know it?"

"I know, it's not a big place, but it's quite historically significant... Are you here for the Rainbow Bridge?"

"You guessed that? That's amazing."

"Don't try to fool me."

I'm genuinely complimenting you.

“I can’t tell.”

"Well......"

Xiangzi suddenly stopped and looked towards a quiet little hotel in the dimly lit area.

“Let’s do it there,” she said.

“I’m OK, I’ll go wherever my little master says,” Ai Yin said with a smile.

“I have no objection,” Li Xi said.

Hailing nodded, indicating that if Lixi had no objection, neither did she. |Yinling put things on the ground and started to spread rumors.

"I'm fine with anything," Chu Hua said with a smile, her arms crossed.

For some reason, her laughter these past few days has been chilling.

Xiangzi's gaze almost skipped over the others, finally landing on Mu.

"Mu, what do you say...?"

Mu seemed to be lost in thought, her eyes fixed on the market not far away.

The lights outside the city mostly came from the market, and the number of people was no less than inside the city. There were parents with children and couples walking together, crowding around in the noisy market.

Spring nights are fleeting, so seize the day and enjoy life.

This practice is prevalent in prosperous cities.

The lamplight reflected in Mu's eyes, making it impossible to tell what she was thinking.

"Mu?"

Xiangzi asked again.

Her pupils, which had been dilating, contracted sharply in an instant, and a flicker of panic crossed Mu's eyes. She nodded hastily and whispered:

"can."