Chapter 120

What is Aruji?

Fuyuki placed her right hand on her chest, feeling her heart pounding. At the same time, the bright moon overhead seemed to burst forth from the horizon of dusk.

At night, the moon hangs high in the sky, and the woman with long hair reaching her waist and an incomparably beautiful face is the moon.

Meanwhile, the swords became a burden; their sharpness was completely stripped away, and he became soft and broken, unable to continue fighting...

We need to act quickly.

"Little Winter Tree".

Before she knew it, Edogawa Ranpo appeared behind her. The confident detective held his glasses in his hand, but hesitated to put them on.

"...Edogawa-kun?" The movement he was about to make stopped at the call. Fuyuki looked at him questioningly. "Is it alright if you're not over there?"

Behind the green-eyed boy, his companions performed their duties, their three swords and weapons relentlessly fighting on the battlefield. Countless Time Travelers surged towards them from an unseen distance, overwhelming everything, until she could no longer see the sky.

"My value doesn't lie in fighting on the front lines. The current deployment is already reasonable, isn't it?"

Edogawa Ranpo approached, his narrowed eyes seemingly carrying a smile.

There are clues in everyone.

Moreover, the other two forces, which are indispensable to the Yokohama region, have never shown themselves from the beginning.

Dongshu nodded: "I know."

The appearance of the Time Travel Army is merely evidence that those data fluids have once again controlled the enemy, causing them to attack this world.

"But we need to hurry. I need to catch the one controlling them this time," Fuyuki said, stating his request.

"If it's Edogawa-kun, he'll surely be able to find it quickly, right?"

This being, who can see through the truth of things at a glance and find the most effective solution... the World Consciousness, yes, it also favors it in the same way. However, those who are favored by the World Consciousness seem to have bad luck.

"Hmm, letting Xiao Dongshu face the battlefield alone is not a good idea."

He pulled out a pen from somewhere, then grabbed a familiar notebook, and stuffed them all into Dongshu's arms.

“The mastermind is hiding here, watching us with smug satisfaction,” Edogawa Ranpo suddenly pulled his hat down to cover his eyes. “However, their hiding is so obvious, and they make no attempt to conceal their location. It’s outrageous.”

Dongshu glanced at the notebook and pen in her hand, then looked at the boy in front of her who seemed to have calmed down.

"So now...?"

It's time to take action, to launch a proactive attack, and Fuyuki really likes that.

She glanced worriedly at Mikazuki Munechika, whose hair seemed to be growing longer, took a deep breath, and forced a smile to calm her pounding heart: "Looks like we'll have some time alone together from now on."

“Interesting.” Edogawa Ranpo blinked childishly, then darted behind Fuyuki. He bent down and whispered in her ear, “Look over there, keep walking, keep walking. The arrogant one who no longer hides has already decided that this is his victory.”

The outspoken detective somehow learned this method of speaking in a veiled way.

Dongshu understands.

Having traveled through various worlds, she has encountered countless enigmatic figures, the most prominent of whom is the main target of her mission when she last came to this world.

Osamu Dazai.

Crazy yet mundane, seeking life yet yearning for death.

This person is contradictory yet straightforward.

Are you going?

“I’m not going.” Edogawa Ranpo refused. He straightened up and looked at his companions who were looking this way. “I have my own place and mission, just like Fuyuki. It’s something I have to do that I can’t change.”

Following his gaze, Dongshu remained silent for a moment before nodding.

"Then leave it to me."

She finished speaking, put away her notebook and pen, and turned to leave.

As he took a step, a familiar fuzzy texture brushed against his ankle, tickling his bare skin. Fuyuki paused, looked down, but saw nothing.

Fuyuki left.

He walked alone into the distance.

Don't be afraid, I saw it too.

The little stray dog ​​suddenly landed skillfully on her head.

"Don't worry about getting lost. Don't look at your feet, look ahead. I'll show you the way." He exclaimed, "Little Ranbu is indeed a very cute child."

He's so intelligent he seems to belong to another world. Perhaps elsewhere he would be a legitimate genius, but here, being a "superhuman" is the most fitting identity for him right now.

Those with superpowers are beings that humans can accept.

Strength is a given, not something the child possessed on his own...

The little stray dog ​​pondered, and vivid scenes from the worldlines it had previously traversed flashed through its vast memory.

That's so interesting!

He really—

The little paper doll pressed itself against Fuyuki's cheek, sensing the downwind air as they ran at breakneck speed.

I really like myself.

Fuyuki: [I like it too.]

Despite the constant troubles, this world is still quite interesting.

Good and bad people are not obvious; everyone is both a bad person and a good person.

Fuyuki likes this kind of world.

It is impossible to deny anyone from an absolute standpoint.

Their existence is simply a matter of existence, not about protecting or destroying anything.

There are no natural friends, no natural rivals.

That's all. We've just been together... and that's how our relationship has become so complicated that it's impossible to figure it out.

Following the wild dog's directions, Fuyuki changed direction. After a long silence, the wild dog suddenly spoke: "Little Fuyuki, do you like tigers?"

Thinking of the little tiger cubs who loved to cuddle with him, Dongshu didn't hesitate: "I like them."

Soft yet fierce when facing enemies, like the Five Tigers, they too became a kind of "warrior".

Their claws are their swords; they swing them forcefully, straight ahead, and from the moment they identify their enemy, they need not hesitate.

"Oh, I like that too." The little stray dog ​​shook its thin head. "I have a very cute child, a tiger. He hasn't come to me yet, but when we meet, you'll definitely become friends."

He was very confident.

"Huh?" Fuyuki asked curiously, "A tiger? A non-human or...?"

[Special Ability~]

That's not bad. It's safest to pet your own tiger... no, tigers aren't meant to be petted.

The little Saniwa, who was being pampered by his own little tigers, silently shifted his gaze.

"More than that, he's a very good kid! It's just that he hasn't fully entered the most exciting timeline yet, so we can't meet him easily." The little stray dog ​​sighed.

Fuyuki asked curiously, "[He's not nonexistent. Even if he's a very hidden and important person, I should be able to see him.]"

Select, locate, and send.

These are not affected by being hidden away.

You hid him?

Unless the world hides people away, there is no such thing as being hard to see.

【No. 】

Why would I hide someone? What a strange thought.

The little stray dog ​​shifted its position, burrowed into Dongshu's collar, smoothed out its wrinkled body, and continued speaking:

This child is special; I think he will be my favorite in the future. Little Winter Tree will definitely like him too; he's such a cute yet pitiful child.

"Pitiful? Everyone in your world is..." Fuyuki hesitated for a moment, then continued, "Quite pitiful, without exception."

"How could that be?! Everyone will be very happy. I've been watching over them, and I won't allow the world to end so openly." He awkwardly reached to scratch his head, only to realize his arms weren't long enough, and embarrassedly lowered them. "Although I need Little Winter's help now, I can do it myself later. And Little Winter can come and travel as much as she wants."

Turn work into travel?

Fuyuki didn't think the political situation would give her that opportunity.

She didn't think the world would give her that opportunity.

Of the four worlds in the original body, only the one belonging to the mother has been completely stabilized; the others all show signs of fragmentation and have gaps.

The previous phase is now complete, and we are in a period of stable development.

However, the situation here with the little wild dog is anything but peaceful.

The three lines are being pursued simultaneously, and apart from the main body, the other Fuyuki are unaware of each other's situations.

As Fuyuki was deep in thought, a small stray dog ​​suddenly grabbed the back of his neck: "Stop, Fuyuki."

At the same time, a familiar blade came rushing towards him. The young Saniwa didn't have time to grab it and watched helplessly as the short sword pierced his face.

Her eyes widened in surprise, her dark pupils shrinking rapidly. Her lips moved for a long time before she finally uttered a single word: "...Retreat?"

The timidity that usually graced Wu Hutui's face had completely vanished. He was expressionless, his golden pupils were dim, and his sharp blades gleamed coldly as if he were looking at the Time Retrograde Army.

The winter tree froze.

She froze on the spot, unable to move, watching as the short knife kept attacking her, grazing her body time and time again.

"I've been controlled! Damn it, I forgot to check the situation first." The little stray dog ​​clung to the top of Fuyuki's head in frustration.

【fine. 】

"Tuitui," she called his name again.

The dagger did not react, but continued its fruitless attack.

Fuyuki stood silently in place, watching the lifeless child who kept attacking its master.

Her fingers were trembling.

Why... is the contract not responding?

Despite this unusual situation, the contract between the Saniwa and the Tsukumogami granted by the government had no effect.

That's so strange.

[He's so persistent, kid, he didn't even touch you.] Amidst the flashing blades, the little stray dog ​​also discovered this fact.

[Yes, my consciousness still exists, or rather, even if I'm being controlled, my body won't harm me.] Having summarized two possibilities, Fuyuki couldn't come up with a solution for both at the same time.

The child who wanted a pat on the head as a reward lacked that tenderness; his own emotions had been stifled.

The grip on the main body held by Goko remained firm, and the movement of the short sword continued unabated. The full moon was overhead, night had fallen, but the golden eyes remained dim.

It has blended into the environment.

Fuyuki stared blankly at the vanished dagger, surrounded by coldness, with only the small piece of paper at the back of her neck still retaining a trace of warmth.

Where?

Where did they go this time?

What are you going to do with her knife again?

Fuyuki pursed her lips: "..."

Her spiritual energy surged, and the power that had been restless ever since she saw the Five Tigers Retreat was about to erupt uncontrollably.

She was a little... no, very angry.

Dongshu's fingers were curled up, and her eyes were hidden under her hair.

Where is that thing?

"It's about five steps to your left, watching you," the stray dog ​​replied quickly.

Dongshu raised his head, his gloomy eyes filled with anger.

The Saniwa, who had always been protected, had never so wanted to kill the enemy with her own hands.

If we could use the original body that has retreated... that would be even better.

She pondered this.

The previously blank air began to distort, and a blue fluid of data suddenly appeared in a place where nothing could be seen before.

It has no physical form, no specific shape, and no sensitive thought.

It simply possesses the ability to control others.

Then, in order to seize everything in this world, it used this power to control all the fighting forces it could reach.

Dongshu clearly captured the data fluid hidden in the distorted space, spiritual energy flowing in his eyes, gradually becoming tinged with emotion.

Arrest it; the government must really enjoy studying the enemy to help their colleagues with their tasks.

The fixed foot slowly lifts up, and then, little by little, steps forward.

“Aruki…” Fuyuki turned around in disbelief, but when he heard the second half of the sentence, his body froze instantly.

"What is it...?"

[Author's Note]

Stop being so busy, my perfect attendance record is gone! [Crack]

Code words code words code words code words code words code words code words code words code words code words code words…~

A chapter with excessive levels of tiger oil [winking emoji]