Sky Striker Princess, but the swan song of Valkyrie.

"Indeed, I'm still very worried about her. If she fails again this time... I'm afraid it's really true."

Hibiki Tachibana is not as energetic as she used to be, and Mirai Kohinata's mindset is also different from her usual stability.

"Phew... But even so, you have to relax your mind and body. Like a spring, if you're always taut, you'll break sooner or later."

Maria understood Kazanari Genjuro's intentions and agreed with his point of view.

"In short, we're disbanding now. I hope... you all have a pleasant holiday."

Kazanari Genjuro looked at the performers with a calm expression, nodded to them, and then turned around to continue directing SONG's work.

Seeing this, the musicians had no choice but to follow his advice and leave SONG's temporary headquarters.

"Genjuro-kun, what's wrong? Although their recovery ability has been enhanced due to fusion with the relic, it would be better if they rested for a while longer."

"Why discharge them at this time? This is not in line with your usual practice, Genjuro-kun."

After the musician left, Finnie, who was in the can, raised a question, not understanding why the other person would do something that seemed illogical to her.

"Hmm, I find that strange too, and I don't quite understand why the commander issued that strange order this morning."

Finney's question was also Ogawa's question, and on top of that, Ogawa Shinji had even greater doubts about the strange order that Kazanari Genjuro suddenly issued this morning.

"I'm sorry, you two, she didn't tell me why she had to do this, but I believe she must have made a great decision. So, I'm sorry, I can't give you the specific reasons either."

When asked about their questions, Kazanari Genjuro simply shook his head, indicating that he had nothing to say and had only followed the advice of another person.

"...Is that so? Since it's your judgment, Genjuro-kun, I won't ask any further questions."

"oh, I understand now."

Genjuro Kazanari's words made the two people present realize that this was something they shouldn't know, so they didn't ask any more questions.

"Then, let's continue to guard this complete relic. If Zero is really still alive, she will definitely come to reclaim this precious complete relic."

After the two had no objections, the attention of Kazanari Genjuro and everyone present returned to the black and red blade located in the center of the headquarters, which was under strict guard of heretical technology.

After discussion, SONG believed that instead of searching for Zero, whose whereabouts were unknown, it would be better to rely on its important weapon and wait for it to come to them.

......

In the afternoon, under the dim sunlight, the air seemed somewhat murky, and the reason for this murky atmosphere was the thick smoke and dust that kept spreading from both sides of the street, carrying an enticing aroma.

Food stalls, amusement park stands, cold drink stands, and various other stalls and shops are clustered on the streets, showcasing a vibrant and lively atmosphere.

"Hey—it's so lively, why is it like this all of a sudden?"

Stepping out of SONG's headquarters, the first thing that caught everyone's eye was the street that had inexplicably become bustling, prompting Tachibana Hibiki to exclaim in amazement.

"Hmm... Let me see, it seems there's a festival going on around the clock, and these are all the stalls for the festival."

Kohinata Mirai then took a tour guide brochure from one of the people distributing flyers nearby and explained the reason for the scene before her.

"A festival, a summer festival? But I remember that one isn't going to be held for a while, is it Death?"

Xiaoqiege asked the question subconsciously.

She, who loves to play, had been looking forward to the summer festival for a long time and knew exactly when it would start.

"Let me see... Hmm, it seems that the summer festival, which was originally scheduled for a few days ago, has been moved up due to the event schedule and some reasons that I don't understand."

Kohinata Mirai carefully flipped through the introductory brochure and saw the reason for holding the event at this time.

"So, do you want to go have some fun? It's rare that Uncle gave us a day off."

With a completely unenthusiastic tone, Chris quietly made this suggestion to everyone present.

P.S. Good afternoon.

Chapter Fifty-Two: Gradually Collapsing

Shells exploded, creating a deafening roar, and the once intact buildings were reduced to half-collapsed ruins before our eyes.

I fell to the ground, a white light flashed before my eyes, and red powder scattered in front of me.

My body felt weak, and a loud bang was followed by the appearance of a dark gun muzzle as bullets hurtled towards me.

We don't know where the malice will come from, or from whom it will emanate, or when it will strike.

I hate this kind of thing.

I don't understand, ....

Why can people so easily treat life as worthless? Why can they take innocent lives with such easy reasons?

What do you guys think life is?

Ha, ha ha ha, if ordinary methods cannot protect everything, then it is better to destroy everything than to protect everything.

Ah, it has to be done this way, it's the only way!

Pain, rising slightly from the depths of the soul, and cracks, emerging from the once whole mind.

Then, everything shattered; the things I valued scattered in a crash. There was no pain, because my heart was already in so much pain that I could no longer feel it.

Finally, once a broken heart is mended, can it be restored to its original state? And what would happen if the mended gem were shattered again?

The answer to this question is this pitch-black flame.

This flame will never be extinguished; it will continue to spread and proliferate until it destroys and burns everything without cause.

Lonely eyes opened from the darkness, and nothing could be seen except darkness.

Subconsciously, she raised her finger and gently wiped her left eye, drying the salty water stains. The girl calmed down a little before waking up from the nightmare.

【f引衤三柒IXli u: Umbrella Japanese Yueyi Nightmare, have you woken up yet?】

After regaining consciousness, Yueyi and Eryi, along with Liushan, propped themselves up and reached out their hands, following the direction of their memories.

The button was pressed, and the light immediately illuminated the basement. The glare was so intense that it made my eyes feel uncomfortable.

I lifted the blanket, got up, and felt a sticky sensation coming from where the bedding met my skin. The once clean bed was now wet after the first use.

As a result, I ended up not getting enough rest.

Enduring the sticky discomfort, Lingyi glanced at the date and time displayed on the clock in the basement, then realized the current time, and a wave of unease washed over her.

Although Lingyi wanted to replenish her physical strength and energy as quickly as possible, she couldn't do so even after trying for a whole day.

Without her Flashblade and weapons by her side, and relying solely on the hidden safe house thanks to her heretical technology, she simply couldn't relax and feel at ease.

Just before her consciousness enters the threshold of deep sleep, the locked black stone will slide down the slope into the lake of her consciousness, stirring up waves representing unforgettable nightmares, making it difficult for her to fall asleep.

As a result, she lay in bed for a full day and a half, tossing and turning, and her mental state still hadn't fully recovered.

[If I continue to rest like this, I won't be able to recover to my best condition.]

Sensing her own physical and mental state, Lingyi understood this.

Her mental state was already dangerous, and being left idle in a dangerous place would only exacerbate her mental state due to her instinctive sense of crisis, causing her to suffer a severe mental breakdown.

It's time to leave.

Thinking this, I pressed my temples a little to allow my mind to relax briefly.

Then, Lingyi got up, opened the wardrobe, took out the disguise clothes, and casually put them on.

It didn't take long. After a simple makeover, so that her appearance was unrecognizable at first glance, Lingyi opened the door to the safe house and emerged from a hidden door in the alley, dressed in black.

Next, as long as she follows the plan, she can easily disappear from everyone's sight in SONG. It's that simple.

【Um?

However, after she came out, doubts began to grow in her heart.

Because she noticed that the outside world at this time was not as deserted as she had expected, but rather bustling with traffic, unlike usual.

【Festival? 】

Looking around, Lingyi received information from the street that some kind of festival was being held tonight.

The aroma of food stalls filled the air as they enthusiastically called out to passersby. The scents of takoyaki and sashimi mingled together and filled the air. At the goldfish scooping and balloon popping stalls, sounds of surprise and disappointment could be heard from time to time. Men, women, and children dressed in yukatas came and went.

The whole city entered a lively festive atmosphere, leaving all worries behind and immersing oneself in the joy of being with family, friends, and lovers.

[…

Silence fell, and for a moment, Lingyi didn't know what to do.

With just a little thought, she could understand who was behind this and why this festival, which was originally scheduled to be held much later, was brought forward to this time.

[A trap, an undeniable trap...]

Therefore, it is only natural that Lingyi would not step into such an obvious trap, which is nothing more than a way to lure someone into a trap. Such things can simply be ignored.

Just ignore it. As long as you ignore it, then taking advantage of the chaos of the festival, Zero will be able to escape SONG's control more easily.

Once she reaches the coastline, it will be like a fish swimming into the sea; no one will be able to find her.

[That's good. I can no longer live that carefree, relaxed life. Hurry up and get back to the base in the deep sea.]

Thinking this, Lingyi raised her head, discerned the direction and route, and took her first step.

"Ugh... Ugh—it feels awful. What is this? Is it leaves or wood chips? It smells like smoke."

"What? Oh, this? It's just bonito flakes, made with dried carp. Rei, have you never had takoyaki before?"

"No, I've always heard of it, but I've never tried it... Ugh, this smoky smell is so unpleasant. Chris-chan, please, help me get rid of it."

"No way, I have to finish what I chose."

"Ah, but this taste is really... well... chew... um... ugh—"

[…

It was as if I had seen it, as if I had heard it. At some point, in some place, it seemed as if something like this had happened, as if I had been there myself.

Just before Zero was about to take a step, a platinum-blonde girl wearing a yukata and holding takoyaki appeared before her, along with the phantom of a white-haired girl, and the following conversation took place.

That was her first time attending a festival, and because she wasn't used to the smoky smell of bonito flakes, her first attempt at takoyaki was a rather unpleasant experience.

Chris, instead of helping her when she was in pain, actually used her phone to record her insistence on eating bonito flakes because she didn't want to waste food.

Why think about this kind of thing at a time like this? This is clearly not the most important task right now!

She stepped forward, using her body to dispel the illusory shadow, and covered her head, trying to banish these meaningless thoughts from her mind.

"Ha...haha...hoo."

After readjusting her breathing and reorienting herself, Lingyi suppressed the inexplicable replay in her mind and realized that her mental problems were probably more serious than she had imagined.

She had already started hallucinating just from seeing some similar scenes, and she couldn't imagine how her mind would break down if more hallucinations occurred.

[Hurry, before we're discovered, before we suffer excessive mental stress, we need to get through their blockade and back to a completely safe place to recuperate.]

Lingyi, forcibly adjusting her thinking to a rational state, started walking quickly.

...?帬〩?迩〉疑山呜祁揪轳鏾erm?........

"Summer festival, ah, as expected, the best thing to eat at a summer festival is delicious food, such delicious takoyaki."

Holding a large stack of takoyaki (octopus balls), Hibiki Tachibana temporarily regained her former energy thanks to the food.

Realizing that the summer festival was about to begin, the musicians quickly prepared to participate, donned yukatas, and began to enjoy this precious annual festival of rest in pairs.

As for how to enjoy it, Hibiki Tachibana's answer is to taste all the food at the festival stalls.

"Xiang, if you eat too much, you won't have enough room for other snacks later."

Seeing her carefree best friend, Kohinata Mirai also forgot about her worries for a moment.

"It's okay, it's okay. I store each kind of food in a different stomach, so I definitely won't miss it."

"Hibiki is still human, right? Humans only have one stomach... huh?"

During the relaxed conversation, Kohinata Mirai glanced at him and paused.

Her gaze swept across the crowd and landed on a figure staggering forward. The familiar posture made her involuntarily stop the casual conversation she was about to begin.

"What's wrong, Mirai?" Tachibana Hibiki asked, puzzled by Kohinata Mirai's pause.

"Rei, Hibiki, I think I just saw Rei!" Kohinata Mirai's expression turned anxious as she tried to catch up.

But in a flash, the figure disappeared into the crowd as if it were an illusion.

"It's gone... Am I mistaken? Is it just my imagination?"

Before she could catch up, she could no longer see him. Kohinata Mirai felt a little disappointed and wondered if she was hallucinating because she missed him too much.