Toyokawa Shoko doesn't want to become a witch

"In this way, Su Shi will no longer need to take the lives of innocent people for the sake of magic."

The light dispelled the darkness.

Delete jumped out of the lamp's hood and walked on the platform that was gradually revealing its true form.

“Logically speaking, the causality of the lamp is far from sufficient to support such a huge, exaggerated, and crazy wish, but I was right after all. You have super-causality, so huge that it can create a new world, so—” It raised its head and shouted loudly, “Takamatsu Lamp, your wish has been fulfilled!”

The lamp was clad in bright silver armor, with a shield in front of it. Its pure white cloak fluttered in the wind, and materialized magic spread out along the cloak like wings, enveloping all its companions behind it.

"How—how is this possible?! You actually—! Used up your wish!!!!"

And so, at this very moment.

The newly born soul gems transformed into blooming flowers.

An invisible ripple swept across every corner of the fairytale town world.

In every corner of this world on the verge of destruction, those who stubbornly struggled to survive discovered that the seemingly endless tide of monsters had stopped at that moment.

Something seems to have changed.

This thought popped into everyone's mind.

The barrier attached to the server disappeared from the reed plains and reappeared in some unknown void. The fairy tale town, which was once just a bunch of virtual data maintained by magic, now had a real entity.

Its existence is independent of the real world, and it possesses true laws.

The Eternal Goddess lost control of the barrier, the process of self-destruction was halted, the world's structure was rewritten by the laws of nature, the blood of living beings naturally turned bright red, the flat land showed the curvature of the horizon, and distant outer space appeared in the sky.

For ordinary people in this world, all these changes are unknowable and gradual; the idea that "some things have changed" is just a baseless thought. What is truly worth celebrating is the disappearance of the disaster. However, for Lin Hai, the "transmigrator," a complete upheaval occurred in that very instant.

The "system" was gone, and the spells she had always relied on no longer needed its assistance, transforming into memories that flowed into her mind.

She truly became "a resident of this world".

Amidst the cheers of everyone who had survived the ordeal, Lin Hai wiped away the tears that had inexplicably streamed down his face.

"What... what happened?"

......

A series of crackling sounds came from the Eternal Goddess. The overburdened machine finally collapsed, and Su Shi had to land on the platform. She staggered a couple of times and fell to the ground.

"Are you crazy?!" Su Shi knelt on the ground, looking at them in disbelief. "Why would you leave your wish for someone like me?!"

She maintained a stubborn expression, looking at the lamp with incomprehension.

“Because that was my original plan.” Deng stepped forward, gently embraced Su Shi, and whispered, “When I made this decision, Su Shi had already begun an irreversible transformation. I only have one chance to make a wish, so the only way to fulfill my two wishes—to save you and to save the video of Fairy Tale Town—is to awaken you.”

The hug became stronger and tighter.

“I succeeded, Su Shi,” said the lamp.

Su Shi struggled symbolically for a couple of moments, but found that she couldn't break free no matter what she did. If she were to force her way out... perhaps she was no longer in the mood for it.

In reality, Su Shi, who kept saying no, was awakened by Deng's heartfelt shouts and could no longer bring herself to say cold words.

"Why are you still trying to save me now that things have come to this!"

She had no idea that her face was already covered in tear stains, which were stuck to the lamp's clothes and hair.

"I've done so many bad things, are you still willing to forgive me...?"

"Everyone has seen Su Shi's efforts." Deng wiped away Su Shi's tears and said with a smile, "They are living, breathing people who yearn to live and leave their memories in this world. They are real people, not just people in Su Shi's imagination. The world you created is not a world where only suffering exists. Everyone is trying to live, just like people in the real world!"

She released her embrace, took a step back, and exposed everyone's faces to Su Shi's view.

Lenai pursed her lips into a W shape and wagged her tail with a smile.

"It's good that you're still willing to come back." Li Xi turned her head away and muttered softly.

Then there's Aine.

She quietly walked up to Su Shi and tidied her messy flaxen hair.

"Little Master has to save the world, so the matter of saving you," the pink-haired girl raised her hand, clenched her fist, and pounded her chest, "is up to us!"

"You..." Su Shi bit her lip, trying desperately to hold back the tears welling up in her eyes, "You..."

"Anyway, welcome back~" Ai Yin grinned, revealing her sharp little tiger teeth.

"Mm." Li Xi nodded, pretending not to care, but her red eyes betrayed her emotions.

"Hey." Lena gave a peace sign; this cat was the most carefree person around here.

At last.

"Welcome back, Su Shi."

Deng held Su Shi's hand and said with a smile.

“Wow—!”

That day, Su Shi cried especially loudly.

The Lost Tale: The Lost Child - Chapter 439 The Golden Dawn's Journey

The lyrics featured in this chapter are from the final song of FF14 7.0, "Smile".

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Deng held Su Shi, who was crying uncontrollably, and gently stroked Su Shi's back until Su Shi's crying gradually subsided and turned into sobs.

The virtual space created by the central terminal began to collapse and shrink continuously, like a box being folded and compressed, getting smaller and smaller, until finally even the place where they stood was squeezed.

When their eyes could see images again, the lamps discovered that they had returned to a desolate, ashen divine realm.

The White Queen leaned against the wall, a faint smile on her face.

"Welcome back."

Su Shi gently pushed open the lamp's embrace and looked back at the divine kingdom she had created.

All terminals, including the central terminal, were shut down, and all the Eternals merged into the silent darkness. The simulated memories of the golden age had faded, and the former divine kingdom revealed its true form—grayish-black, lifeless stone.

The sanctuary I had painstakingly created, the eternal paradise, the world without suffering, vanished just like that.

"Memories of the past will eventually be left behind by time." Su Shi looked down at the bleak and dilapidated scene before her.

Just then, a ray of light appeared out of the corner of her eye. Su Shi raised her head and looked in the direction from which the light appeared.

The divine kingdom itself is located in a corner of the fairy tale town world. The moment the virtual world becomes real, it also becomes real.

At the edge of the city, the first rays of dawn appeared, heralding a new day.

Golden rays of light illuminated the earth, shining upon amusement parks, billboards, streets, and skyscrapers... The morning light bathed this once glorious city, as if telling those who saw them: We once existed.

Deng took out his notebook and handed it to Su Shi.

"What is this?" Su Shi asked, taking the notebook with a puzzled look.

“The past will be left behind by time, but it will not disappear,” the lamp said softly. “These are the memories they left behind.”

Su Shi curiously opened the lamp's notebook, and what came into view were lines of lyrics.

Standing blankly at the crossroads, no stars guide me tonight. Alone on this dark and uncertain road, the pain in my heart knows neither its origin nor its end.

After the lightning and thunder, only ashes remain, but after the storm, life blossoms anew.

Lin Hai sat wearily on the battlements of the city wall, watching the cheering crowd from afar.

Her face was frighteningly pale. If she weren't still breathing, passersby might have mistaken her for a dead person. In fact, this was the first time Lin Hai had used offerings to this extent. The amount of blood in her body was indeed dangerously low.

Just as she was feeling dizzy from lack of blood, a gentle fragrance wafted into her nostrils.

"My lord," Ningning said, placing the healing seed she had borrowed from someone else beside Lin Hai, "Are you feeling better?"

"You don't need to call me that in private," Lin Hai said, pushing up his glasses and smiling at Ningning.

Ningning sat beside her, watching the cheering crowd with her.

The overwhelming tide of monsters has receded.

The world has revealed its true nature.

However, those monsters did not disappear; instead, they returned to nature and exist in every corner of the world. From now on, those who survive will live even more arduous lives.

“Sometimes I do think about it,” Ningning murmured, hugging her knees. “Is living really a good thing? Maybe dying would be the end of it all. I wouldn’t have to chase after the pace of time and push myself forward, and I wouldn’t have to think about so many troublesome things. Maybe dying would be easier. That’s what my two comrades who were sacrificed thought before they died.”

“You know what, Ningning?” Lin Hai leaned against the wall and breathed a sigh of relief. “Grandma, the previous generation Gross, said something like this to me on her last day.”

"Ok?"

"People will have hope for the future. As the saying goes, there are gains and losses. The disappointment when hope is shattered is the price of having hope," Lin Hai said. "Only those who can endure disappointment but continue to hold onto hope can move forward. Such hope is not achieved overnight, but is pushed forward by different people, generation after generation."

"Although I don't know what the future holds either," Lin Hai turned his head and looked into Ning Ning's eyes, "as long as we hold onto hope, we can move forward even in confusion, right?"

Ningning hugged her knees, only her eyes showing, gazing at those who held onto hope.

The future may still be uncertain, but they have the opportunity to continue.

Yes.

As long as we hold onto hope and continue to pass it on.

From now on, it will be their own story.

Our songs resound above the flames.

Let us keep singing, for our spirit will endure forever.

Snapped.

Su Shi closed the notebook.

The lamp had many things written on it: lyrics, essays, comments on certain things, and a few Polaroid photos tucked inside.

Those are all proof that humans once existed.

"Actually, I..."

Su Shi lowered her head, looked at the cover of the notebook, and said softly.

The sound was so quiet that the lamp almost didn't hear it.

"I've never really been able to accept you, or to put it bluntly, I just don't like you."

"Huh? Me?" Deng pointed to himself in surprise.

"Well, how should I put it?" Su Shi smiled helplessly, shook her head, and handed the notebook back. "It feels like you always say whatever comes to mind without considering other people's feelings. It's like you're peeling away layers between yourself and others."

"Would that be...?" Deng asked shyly, fidgeting with her fingers.

“Yes, you always manage to express your feelings to others through shouts,” Su Shi said. “It took me a long time to realize that I didn’t actually hate you, but rather I was jealous of you.”

Su Shi turned around, opened her arms, and bathed in the morning light.

"I always think about escaping and swallowing my true feelings, so I envy and am jealous of you who can express all your innermost thoughts through lyrics."

"Feel sorry......"

"No, that's not your fault. From beginning to end, the only one with a problem is me."

Su Shi turned her head to look back at her companions, a warm smile appearing on her lips in the sunlight.

"I will probably never forget Crychic for the rest of my life."

she says.

"But people always have to move forward, right?"

So let that memory remain in the deepest part of your heart, forever.

So smile!

Consider it a smile for the rainbow.

Live.

Live on and embrace all life.

We have embarked on a journey that will never end.

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Part Two: Tales of the Lost - "The Lost Child"