The Strange Adventures of Hearn the Believer

His right hand was gripped very tightly and heavily, so tightly that it caused him some pain, and so heavily that it made it hard for him to breathe.

It was as if if he let go, he would disappear like the wind—the owner of that hand held on tightly with that same awareness.

"I'm a little curious."

"What are you curious about?"

What did you encounter in the Emerald Dream?

"I stayed there for less than a second, after all, silicon-based life doesn't dream."

“I see. That’s a real shame, Chloe.”

"Yes, what a pity, [Nobume]."

……

Chapter 168 The Three Musketeers (Part 2)

Why is this so?

For the first time, I had a lover with whom I could confirm my feelings for each other.

For the first time, I was certain that I had successfully saved someone's life.

Two joys overlapped.

The double joy brought even more joy.

They should have already enjoyed a dreamlike and happy time.

However, why did it turn out this way...?

Aoko's gaze passed over the bean sprout wall made up of a group of gray bean sprouts and looked at the black swallowtail butterfly dancing in a corner of the underground palace hall. She felt that there must be something wrong with it.

It's okay, no problem, I was just a little too outwardly unrestrained...

It's normal for a boy raised in an environment full of girls to be a little more outgoing. Rather, it would be unreasonable for a boy raised in an environment surrounded by thousands of female fantasy creatures to remain as obedient and loyal as a dog.

Deep down, he must still be a kind, simple, and pure-hearted person, a serious person...

Serious my foot!

Would a decent man wander around with huge, slender shoulders when he gets old?

Would a respectable man wear such provocative earrings that make the wind chimes jingle all the way?

Where exactly did things go wrong?!

What kind of vixen stole the pure white cabbage I planted on the beach and secretly watered it with wicked water, causing it to grow so crooked?!

What exactly happened between our last parting at the train station and our recent reunion?!

……

Oh, what a headache.

"Let me state in advance that the current nature of the believer may differ somewhat from the impression left in your mind in the past."

The words Miss Shi had spoken when she left gracefully in the Emerald Dream seemed to echo in my ears.

At the time, Miss Tian Lanlan felt it was harmless.

At this moment, Miss Tian Lanlan felt that there was a big problem...

This is not just a slight discrepancy in "some" or "something," it's practically...

"If you find yourself troubled at that time, look for inspiration here."

Before Miss Shiki returned to the sea, she left behind not only a few words, but also a small booklet that was temporarily manifested.

Aoko took the booklet from a distance, glanced at the title page, and immediately recognized it as a fairy tale.

Le Petit Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, 1942)

"..."

Miss Shiki, you used to be just a little bit chuunibyou and single-minded, how did you become such a riddle person who only says half of what you mean?

……

Back to the present, Miss Tian Lanlan looked back at the various details in that booklet, feeling a headache coming on.

No!

In short, we need to find a way to put a collar on this dog and keep a firm grip on the leash!

The booklet contained little information, and the innocent little prince in it was less like him and more like the little version of him in The Emerald Dream.

Fairy tales are just fairy tales after all; similarity does not mean the sameness.

Whether he's revealing his true colors or just having intermittent bouts of erratic behavior, this momentum must be stopped and completely eradicated!

Compared to the major events concerning the future structure of the Hern family, these seemingly fanatical and devout gray bean sprouts, who actually had ulterior motives, were no longer important.

After escaping the narrow confines of life, Aoko's true nature is that of someone who deliberately acts carefree in order to live a simple and casual life. It's not that she's not good at thinking, but rather that she's too lazy to consider things in such a complicated way.

In the past, her absolute power allowed her to simplify most mundane matters at will, and no matter how cunning the scheme, it was nothing more than the residue left in the furnace in the face of firepower of different dimensions.

And now... wasn't this bastard shouting to her with great emotion and hoarseness in the Emerald Dream, "Don't be afraid, let me handle it"?

Although it is by no means Miss Tian Lanlan's nature to shirk responsibility and obligation, as a young girl who has just tasted the fruits of love, it is not too much to throw a little tantrum and slack off, just to give the other party a chance to keep his word.

In short, aside from identifying harmful substances, leave all the trivial matters concerning this seemingly pleasurable predicament to him.

Aoko's gaze lingered on Shinjo's face, passing through the gaps in the gray bean sprouts. He was confident that the unspoken understanding between them would allow him to easily bring this farce to a close...

Ugh?

Our eyes met unexpectedly; so that's how it is. This kind of unspoken understanding is what makes us feel safe and happy...

"..."

After making eye contact with her, the bastard on the other side cast a piercing glance at her from afar, his familiar and sunny demeanor making Aoko speechless with anger.

I take back what I said before...

This bastard needs a collar!

immediately!

After resolving this farce involving gray bean sprouts!

When Qingzi first found out about all the gossip and rumors about him, she relied on her preconceived notions from the past and maintained an objective attitude of scrutiny, criticism, and skepticism.

After all, paparazzi are annoying creatures that never miss a chance to cause trouble, no matter where they are.

But why, at this moment, does she have the illusion that the paparazzi in hell are reporting in a slightly conservative manner?

There's a misconception that this bastard has even more dirt on him that hasn't been dug up yet, or that the paparazzi who have dug it up have already been captured by the dark forces of hell and used to fill the sea!

There's a misconception that paparazzi, no, journalists, are the ones worthy of respect, the brave warriors who dare to charge into the darkness!

Tsk, you're thinking too far ahead.

Aoko unconsciously twitched the corner of her mouth.

For now, let's focus on reality and carry out our work in a down-to-earth manner.

The believer has reverted to her former super energy-saving mode.

Ms. Shiki also briefly mentioned during the conversation that if the believer continued to maintain the appearance of the second half of the Emerald Dream, it would make her work on that side a bit more difficult.

Aoko knew Shiki's character very well—a strong yet stubborn girl who was usually as calm as still water, but when she went crazy, she knew nothing of danger and could easily make all the brave men lose their jobs.

When she uttered the words "a little tough," the situation had undoubtedly reached a point where it was "extremely tough" and could not be easily dismissed.

After learning the reason from Miss Shiki, Aoko naturally understood why the former nobunaga was the way she was.

Honestly, thinking about it this way, what was I doing in the first half of the time?

There's a kind of guilt where you're completely oblivious to the atmosphere and acting recklessly, while the others are just silently enduring it with a bitter smile.

Although the parties involved didn't pursue the matter much, the fact still left Aoko feeling melancholy.

It's all that bastard's fault for not explaining it clearly...

Wait a minute, if he specifically explains it, wouldn't that mean all our efforts were wasted from the very beginning?

The very nature of Miss Shiki's existence means that her appearance would render all previous efforts futile.

In other words, in the end, it was still because he couldn't understand the atmosphere...

How high a level of observational skills would one need to understand that kind of eerie atmosphere without any formal instruction?

A, the party involved, cannot tell the truth; B, the party involved, cannot appear to explain; and the only remaining party involved is C, who says, "Although we can't say anything or give any hints, I'm sure you would understand if it were you."

What kind of hellish difficulty atmosphere-capturing game is this?!

Moreover, possessing such keen insight and being able to put it into words and actions without uttering a word, if such a miraculously meticulous woman truly existed, then Aoko felt it would be very difficult to get along with such a wicked woman.

Well, the idea of ​​a "bad woman" is a prejudice, but generally speaking, a woman who is this cunning is far more likely to be a "bad woman" than an innocent young girl.

Aoko, who is naturally straightforward and pursues a simple life, and someone whose nature... no, it can't be entirely attributed to nature; the influence of nurture is often greater. But in any case, Aoko believes that it would be difficult for her to get along with someone whose mind is as deep and complex as a cocoon.

Aoko really likes the straightforward type like Ms. Shiki, who has a sharp tongue but a soft heart. They've always gotten along well, and she expects it will continue to be so...

【Miss Aoko, Mr. Hern has something to investigate, so he plans to leave for a moment. He should have given you a key to the [door] earlier, so we will return immediately should anything change. Please don't worry.】

Suddenly, a calm and soothing voice sounded in her ear, and Aoko instinctively realized that this was the secret channel she had previously set up for her puppy.

The so-called little dog is none other than Pandora Reinhardt, who is standing beside the believer at this moment, seemingly as insignificant as a background character.

If the believer is a rebellious black cat, then this child is undoubtedly a reassuring Golden Retriever.

This Scottish breed is known for its kind and friendly nature, and unwavering loyalty to its owner. It is affectionate, cheerful, and enjoys playing with children. Due to its genetic makeup, it is very active and has a considerable appetite. It is highly intelligent and possesses a great sense of humor. Under normal circumstances, it is quiet and does not bark at or discriminate against other dogs or people.

In short, he's a trustworthy and reliable good kid.

Although she knew it was very rude to compare the people around her to dogs, for Aoko, dogs, or rather loyal dogs, were indeed a compliment, so she decided to keep this beautiful impression in her heart.

【Hmm, no problem. Don't underestimate me, okay? These scheming little sprouts are 4.6 billion years too early to cause me any trouble! Also, keep a close eye on that immoral bastard for me. If necessary, give him a good beating, understand? GoldenRetriever.】

【…】

……

There will be another update in the evening.

Chapter 169 Revenge (Part 1)

Somewhere underground, a rift opened in the void, and the believer stepped out, followed by Chloe.

www.53dushu.com

This is a fairly open underground world, completely different from the damp, cold, low and narrow cave ecosystems of the conventional impression. The underground river, which comes from afar and goes away into the distance, leaves behind a continuous sound of flowing water in the dark. Fungi, which replace the green plants commonly found on the surface, have become the new riverside scenery.

The believer looked up at the high dome, where giant glowing plants and magical minerals intertwined to create a faint blue glow, resembling the starry night sky from afar.

"Ok?"

After taking a few steps forward, the believer suddenly felt that the atmosphere was too gloomy and lacked human warmth. He couldn't help but turn around and cast his gaze at Chloe, who was traveling with him.

Chloe walked silently very close to him, so close yet without hindering his movements, her sense of proportion perfect. She was like a gentle breeze in early spring, carrying the fragrance of flowers, making one feel happy without knowing why.

So inconspicuous, so unnoticed, that's how it should be.

Chloe, walking along, crossed her arms and appeared deep in thought, her delicate brows slightly furrowed.

This sense of disharmony added a touch of lingering chill to the breeze, which was filled with the fragrance of early spring flowers. It brushed past my ears, lingered on my cheeks, dispelled my sleepiness, and brought me back to my senses.

This is probably why the believer turned back.

That subtle sense of disharmony.

"Anything on your mind?"

The believer asked a brief question.

“GoldenRetriever”.

"?"

“Miss Aoko used a strange word in our previous conversation, and this word was used at the end of a sentence, which seems to be a substitute for me.”

Chloe pointed to herself.

"Golden Retriever... no, in older terms, should I say Golden Retriever? That woman who becomes an idiot once she lets her guard down with her own people, she accidentally blurted out her true feelings, I guess."