The Strange Adventures of Hearn the Believer

"The believer studied under Bai Ze for seven years, but as she grew up, she did not have any trace of Bai Ze's gentle and refined personality. I had been puzzled by this for a long time, until recently when I overheard your conversation and suddenly realized the truth."

"What did I realize? I don't think my meager life experience at seventeen and my less than seven days of recovery from high school can compare to the seven years of teaching and guidance from a fantasy creature like Bai Ze."

“It’s different. Bai Ze only dares to teach him how to conduct himself in society, but you can teach him how to survive. In such a desperate situation, it’s clear which is more important.”

"..."

"What? You don't want to admit it? Or are you like the believer, only able to use long-winded speeches to cover up your embarrassment?"

"...Okay! I admit you have a point, but I still can't drink this glass of wine."

"why?"

"Because I can't take you drinking, I'm afraid the believer will kill me when she wakes up."

Aoko shrugged and frankly explained the reason.

"You're actually afraid of him?"

It was as if Shiki had come to know Aozaki Aoko in a completely new light.

"He's my boss, of course I'm not afraid of him, who am I afraid of?"

"But I saw that you didn't hold back at all when you were dealing with him."

"He's my student, who else would I bully if not him?"

"How twisted is your relationship."

He commented with genuine feeling.

"How could you... never mind, you're closest to him, so you're the most affected. It's to be expected."

Upon hearing this, Qingzi wanted to correct something, but halfway through her sentence, she chose to let things take their course.

"We've said enough, are you going to drink this glass of wine or not?"

Having said that, Shi pointed to the wine glass in front of him and asked again.

"I won't drink it, I'm afraid of dying."

When it comes to matters of principle, Qingzi always adheres to the bottom line.

“Aozaki, by all accounts, I’ve died three times already, and I’m still sitting here. Entering the Abyss is just a change of form, it’s no different from being alive. I usually only have Yui for company, but she’s gone on a trip recently, so I’m quite bored. If you want to come, I’ll save you a seat in advance.”

"No need, some things should be done by the living, besides..."

"Besides?"

"Besides, others may not know, but don't I know? You're the boss over there, and if I come here, I can only be your assistant. I might as well stay here; the seat is still empty."

Aoko replied meaningfully, her expression already returning to its usual mischievous smile.

Incidentally, the adjective "with ill intentions" was used by the believer.

"The fact that you can say something like that shows you're not afraid of me at all."

To Aoko's surprise, Shiki, after receiving such a reply, also showed a similar expression to her.

Aoko's surprise lasted only a moment. She recalled what Nobunaga had said earlier and understood.

Having weathered storms together for many years, how could it be just the little hedgehog who has made progress?

"Shi, the reason I'm sitting this far away is simply because—whether it's a teacher and student's family member, or a high-level employee and the boss's wife, no matter what kind of relationship we have, it's inappropriate for me to drink with you in the middle of the night. But if we disregard these two identities, we can't even be considered friends. So why should I be afraid of you?"

“This suits me perfectly. Let’s put aside these two irrelevant identities and sit down to talk. You don’t need to use the excuse that he will cause trouble for you afterward to fob me off. I know very well that as the last living old friend and mentor, I value your life even more than your own.”

"Alright, since you've put it this way, it would be petty of me not to join in, and it would make me, as a senior, seem very uncouth. However, since you insist on drinking, there has to be a reason, right?"

Aoko slid back to her original seat, calmly picked up the already filled glass of wine, and made a spur-of-the-moment decision.

"Well, that's settled then. I suppose I'm one of the victims back then, as are you, me, and him. How could you two forget me, who was in the same boat back then, when you were celebrating that comedic woman turning into a fragment of a divine being?"

Seeing that Aoko had finally sheathed her fangs, Shiki, having achieved his wish, picked up the wine glass in front of him and casually made a suggestion.

"A victim? Hmph, if that ritual hadn't been performed, you would probably have been the only beneficiary. What did the believer say back then? Let me think... Oh, I remember now, 'If four out of four people are losing at a mahjong game, is the table winning?' Of course, that's just a material conclusion. Spiritually, you are indeed a victim—if that's your true thought, I apologize for my previous neglect and hostility. Also, Ryougi... no, Miss Hern, you've really changed."

Seemingly having reservations about the term "victim," she suddenly understood after some thought. In any case, after confirming the girl's feelings and stance once again, Aoko finally let go of her prejudices and offered what she considered the most appropriate blessing at the end of her words.

"Then let us pay our respects to Miss Table, and may she, as a fragment of a divine being, find peace."

She accepted the blessings with equanimity, raising her glass with a completely unwavering attitude, her words revealing a remarkably carefree spirit.

Aoko was in a great mood tonight and immediately clinked glasses with Shiki.

"Offer a toast to the table."

Chapter 127, Section 4: A Nighttime Talk at Shihai (Part 2)

Fortunately, the renewed drinking session did not escalate to the point of drinking until they were completely drunk, just like before.

Shiki, who has no drinking habit, insisted on inviting Aozaki Aoko simply because he felt it was necessary to have a drink with her.

It's necessary, but only one cup.

After a light clinking of glasses, the two finished their drinks and called it a day.

Put down the empty wine glasses and redefine your respective seats/territories.

From Shi's perspective, the atmosphere at the drinking party just now was filled with ambiguity. After the two lunatics got drunk at the celebration party for the demise of some bad woman, they were clearly suspected of pretending to be stupid while drunk, so she woke up, and woke up at just the right time.

"We've had our drinks. What would you like to talk about? Go ahead and say it. Don't tell me you just couldn't stand the loneliness and came here to drink. If that's the case, you shouldn't be looking for me."

Since graduating from her second year of high school, Aoko has become quite adept at pretending to be oblivious when she knows the truth. Right now, she ignores the slightly scrutinizing gaze directed at her and continues to groom her nails.

"Yes, I came here to hear Aozaki tell some stories that I don't know yet."

Shi smiled slightly, indicating her purpose, and pretended to listen attentively.

"what?"

Upon hearing this, Qingzi paused for a moment, then understood.

"I understand, you want to hear stories from his childhood."

"...In 92, when I first met that child, he was only this tall."

Aoko retrieved memories of the distant past from her mind, and at the same time raised her right hand to indicate a rough height.

"He wasn't tall for a boy his age, but his features were delicate like a little girl's, especially his eyes, which were very endearing, like the distant sea with ice floating on it."

Shiki pondered for a moment, trying to recreate the image Aoko had described in her mind, but no matter how she tried to recreate it, all that remained was a familiar figure.

Finally, she shook her head, a hint of regret in her eyes.

"It's a real shame that I couldn't take any photos from that time."

"Then please spare me. You know, I set off from 88 to 92. Back then, cell phones weren't common, and I couldn't possibly carry a camera with me. Or are you regretting not that I didn't take a picture of Shinonome when she was little, but that I wasn't taken away by the police?"

"...Did he really turn on the anti-wolf alarm?"

"real."

"puff……"

"That's a bit much, Shiki," Aoko rolled her eyes at her.

“…Ahem, it’s nothing, Aozaki. What happened next?” Shiki deliberately cleared her throat, indicating to Aoko that she didn’t need to worry about her.

"Later, in order to tame this little hedgehog who was not to be approached by strangers, I showed him two of my special skills. Although magic is a mysterious thing that cannot be told to outsiders, showing it to a fantasy creature like him is not considered a violation of the rules. To be honest, at that time I originally planned to take the nobunaga home. After all, a little while earlier, I had been badly beaten by the fantasy creature that my older sister had contracted. Although I managed to beat my older sister in the end, I still didn't want to lose to her in magic, such as in the area of ​​familiars."

"If you had actually taken the believer home back then, things would probably have been very different. Why did you give up on her later?"

"Because I learned during a casual chat that he actually had a family, and I couldn't be the kind of villain who breaks up someone else's family."

Faced with Shiki's question, Aoko gave an answer so frank that it was completely unlike what one would expect from a witch.

"Yes, I understand your considerations. So you simply accompanied him to see the sea for six days back then?"

"Ha... Rather than looking at the sea, it's more like showing off to a child what I've accomplished in less than two years since I entered the demonic path. I'm a very competitive person, arrogant and greedy, good for nothing but destruction, like a big bad wolf. I barely escaped the fate of being easily killed by Little Red Riding Hood, and the witch beside me is a taciturn iceberg. Since I don't want to be aloof, it's only natural that I've ended up showing off to a child."

Recalling the humorous yet arduous days when she first entered the demonic path, Aoko's expression became slightly sentimental, but this sentimentality was mixed with a sense of peace and self-assurance.

Just as she had said to the believer, once you've overcome mountains of knives and seas of fire, you'll naturally be able to face things calmly.

As for not having tried?

Then there's no need to think about those questions anymore; just die with a clear conscience.

“Aozaki, Nobunaga later mentioned to me that when he met you, his mother had already disappeared. That’s why he always carried an alarm with him. He survived in human society for less than half a year before he couldn’t escape the fate of being disappeared. So it seems that you met during those six months.”

"...Why didn't he tell me back then?"

"Because there is no trust between people without a reason, just as there is no hatred without a reason."

"...Is that so?"

"Don't be discouraged, Aozaki. Let's talk about something else... During the years we lived under the same roof, when I was conscious, even though we were close friends who fought side by side and risked our lives, we never slept in the same room together overnight. We only drank together once. The closest I ever had to him was when I slapped him hard in the nameless grave. I can't remember anything else. After all, until the very end, I subtly hinted to him not to pretend to be that carefree persona after returning to Kanbuko, otherwise it would offend my father... He was never a blockhead, so he naturally understood what I said. Then he gave me a gift: a deep coma and a trip home, which he paid for with his own life. When I vaguely came to my senses, I found myself standing on the platform of Kanbuko Station. If it weren't for the subsequent ascension ceremony, I would probably be searching for you all over the world right now."

To dispel the faint melancholy in Aoko's words, Shiki decided to share some things with Aoko that she would also be interested in. However, as he spoke, his tone became increasingly resentful, and even somewhat aggrieved.

"That idiot... wait, why are you looking for me?"

This topic also failed to achieve any positive results with the audience. Aoko closed her eyes in frustration, and then noticed the abnormality in Shiki's emotions.

"Because among all the people I know, only you have the ability to send me back to that place."

Shi's answer sounded very soft, just like her voice.

“I understand,” Qingzi nodded in understanding. “You need to go back and collect his body.”

"Correct."

"In short, we need to find a way to cure his bad habit of bearing everything alone."

"That's right, we need to find a way to cure his bad habit of bearing everything alone."

"Aozaki, do you have any ideas?"

"No, I only have a little personal experience, but it's not applicable to him right now."

"Oh, why don't you tell me about it?"

"..."

Staring intently at Shiki, Aoko blushed inexplicably, not because of Shiki's gaze, but because that experience had once made her feel ashamed.

She cleared her throat and murmured, staring at the ceiling.

"Actually, I used to have this bad habit too. In order to be true to myself and follow my own path to the very end, I would abandon friends I considered innocent or incompetent, and with a do-or-die attitude, face powerful enemies alone..."

Before she could finish speaking, Aoko felt the curious gaze on her face instantly slip into a dangerous abyss. Her gaze shifted downwards, and she saw that Shiki, who had just been seeking inspiration, had silently forged a gleaming blue dagger and was holding it in his hand. His dazzling, ever-changing rainbow-colored demonic eyes were staring intently at her...

"Wait, wait a minute! Shiki, I really didn't expect that Shinju would become the same as I was when I was sixteen or seventeen. It's my fault, it's all my fault, okay? I shouldn't have given him a bunch of nonsense about recovering from high school syndrome while we were watching the sea. Anyway, put the knife down first!"

Sensing that if she didn't speak up soon, the Grim Reaper would strike without warning, even a seasoned veteran like Aoko dared not be careless. Facing this Grim Reaper at such close range, she decided to admit her mistakes and take all the blame before considering anything else.

"Now I finally understand where the eccentric personality of the woman came from."

"It's all my fault. It's my bad intentions that led the children astray. Can you put the knife down now?"

However, Shi didn't put down the knife in the end. Instead, she took out a few fruits from the subspace, picked up one of them and began to slowly peel it. Her movements were not very skilled, so her progress was slow.

"Aozaki, what exactly did you instill in him?"

"Hmm... In the first six days, besides looking at the sea, I also showed off my victory over my stingy older sister in front of him, and we also talked about some of my experiences when I graduated from my second year of high school."

"Other than that?"

"Besides that, I also used the Fifth Method on him once."

"Aozaki, you are truly a wonderful teacher who shares all your knowledge. Should I praise your generosity and willingness to invest so much?"

“I never expected the believer to learn something that even I didn’t understand at the time. Besides, the Fifth Law can’t be learned through words and deeds. He only understood the basics. The path he took in the future was a mystery he mastered through his own understanding.”

Aoko's words had a hidden meaning, and Shiki understood it perfectly.

"Indeed, you certainly never imagined that your momentary impulsiveness would become the cornerstone of the believer's rule over the Sea of ​​Time."

"Yeah, who would have thought that such a cute child would grow up to be such a terrifying monster? Speaking of which, should I go back and charge him tuition? I feel like I've lost out big time."

"Let's put that topic aside for now. What happened on the seventh day?"

"The seventh day..."

"Yes, the seventh day. Didn't you stay for a week?"

"On the seventh day... I left without saying goodbye."