Chapter 24 Listen to the Wind 24

On the other end of the phone, the old man's voice was still gentle and elegant: "Okay, Mr. Zhongyuan, then I won't send anyone extra to deliver it."

"Um."

"I hope Mr. Wendy will like my craftsmanship too."

"……must."

The call was disconnected.

Nakahara Chuuya pressed his nose bridge tiredly.

Today's events happened so suddenly that he almost forgot that the hat he promised to re-customize for Wendy had not yet been delivered to him.

But there is no need to send it now.

When the store owner called, Nakahara Chuuya's first reaction was to refuse, but after a moment's pause, he finally decided to pick it up in person.

Nakahara Chuuya put away his phone and continued walking towards the chief's office. He pushed open the door and saw Alice painting something with oil pastels. Nakahara Chuuya only saw a green color. Mori Ogai was sitting behind the long table and looking at him. His purple-red eyes seemed to see through everything.

"I already know the general situation there," Mori Ogai said, "Chuya-kun, I'm very sorry."

Nakahara Chuuya was silent for a moment.

"The Port Mafia will not stop for just anyone."

"Understood, Chief. I will keep my emotions to myself."

Mori Ogai looked into his subordinate's blue eyes and said, "Chuye-kun, did you find anything new this time?"

Nakahara Chuuya recounts the news he received from Dazai Osamu, including Wendy's non-human identity and what he is looking for.

"I'm not sure if it's a tangible object or an invisible force," Nakahara Chuuya concluded, "but it can definitely affect the mind and cause some changes to the supernatural power."

Sen Ou seemed to be thinking about something.

After the report was completed, Nakahara Chuuya left the office.

According to the schedule, he could have left work directly, but Nakahara Nakaya did not leave the Port Mafia Building. Instead, he stopped at a corner, then turned and came to a confinement room where few people went.

There was a guard on each side of the pitch-black iron gate. They were tall, dressed in black, and had guns on their waists.

Because the person imprisoned inside is Yumeno Hisasaku, who has extremely dangerous superpowers and is difficult to control.

Ever since Wendy left the Port Mafia last time, Hisasaku Yumeno, who had been treated in the infirmary, was taken back to the confinement room, and Chuuya Nakahara never looked for him specifically after that.

He did not push the door open and walk in directly - without the leader's order, no one could enter the confinement room, and he did not need to enter the confinement room. Therefore, Nakahara Nakaya just stood outside the door.

"Q."

A quick reply came from inside: "What's the matter?"

Yumeno Hisasaku recognized the visitor, but he had no interest in Nakahara Chuuya.

"What mission do you have for me, Chief?"

"no."

"Then why did you come to me...ah, is there someone else with you?" Yumeno Hisasaku's tone suddenly rose slightly.

"Wendy's not here."

"You're the only one here, but I don't want to play with you—"

"Wendy is dead."

Yumeno Hisasaku's voice disappeared in an instant.

"……I see."

After saying this, Yumeno Hisasaku fell silent.

Nakahara Chuuya didn't expect any response from him, so after he finished speaking, he turned around and left.

The footsteps gradually faded away. In a confined room separated by a wall, Yumeno Hisasaku was sitting on the bed, holding his doll in his arms.

Wendy is dead. These words echoed in my ears.

Dolls will eventually break down, Yumeno Hisasaku thought, which showed that the bard was no different from the dolls he had broken.

The warm liquid slid down my cheeks.

It’s just that…it’s just that from now on…no one will ask him if it hurts anymore.

After leaving the Port Mafia, Nakahara Chuuya rushed to the familiar hat shop ten minutes before the owner closed the shop.

He took the hat back from the owner and examined it carefully in the dim white light of the street lamp.

The shape is similar to a beret, and except for the rare color, there seems to be nothing special about it. But Wendy's reaction that day was really intense, perhaps it had a special meaning to him.

Just like the hat on his head.

After the man named Lan Tang died, Zhongyuan Chuuya put on his hat and erected a tombstone for him, which he would visit occasionally.

Although Wendy left nothing behind, if there is a hat, it can be considered a cenotaph, right?

Should we do this? Nakahara Chuuya stroked the edge of the hat with his fingertips, but finally gave up the idea.

These are all meaningful things to humans, but Wendy, as an elf born from the wind, probably doesn't need them.

The wind is free.

Finally, Nakahara Chuuya put the hat in his home.

He opened the window. Neon lights were flickering outside and the gentle evening breeze caressed his cheeks.

The wind is everywhere.

*

Special Forces Division.

After listening to Sakaguchi Ango's report, Chief Taneda touched his smooth head and sighed.

“It’s a pity.”

A pity in every sense.

From the government's perspective, Wendy's ability is enough to replace Shibuzawa Ryuhiko. If Shibuzawa fails to get "that thing", the next step for the Special Powers Division is to consider whether Wendy can be brought into the team.

On a personal level, he regretted the loss of a life.

"Ango, even after you've gotten over your sadness, don't forget what we should do."

"...I understand, sir. I will try my best to find out what happened."

*

Hoshino Nozomi has been staring at the incandescent light on the ceiling for some time.

The glaring light made him uncomfortable, but Hoshino Nozomi did not avoid it. The last scene between him and Shibuzawa Ryuhiko played in his mind.

"Hey, are you okay?"

A hand waved in front of his eyes. Xingye tilted his head and looked over: "Lord Fengshen."

"Oh, no need to call me the God of Wind, it's too formal, just call me Wendy."

"Mister Wendy."

"…So, there is no need to call me an adult."

Hoshino Mochi changed his words smoothly.

He looked at the boy in front of him who was chewing an apple, and his sight was involuntarily attracted by the two swaying braids. Xingye Wang recalled what had just happened and still felt a little unbelievable.

"I'm not dead?"

System: [Why does the host feel that he is dead? ]

"You said so yourself."

The system was choked by him and began to recall when it had said this. In the end, it was sure that it had not said it.

...Could it be that the words "Only you need to bear the consequences of failure" made the host mistakenly believe that if the projection disappeared, he would also have to bear the consequences and die?

"Yes, you are not dead," Wendy said with a smile, "Not only are you not dead, you are alive and well, without any injuries. Are you disappointed?"

“No.” Hoshino Wang shook his head.

If he wanted to die, he would have found an opportunity to do it long ago. He just didn't care and accepted every consequence calmly.

At the moment the countdown ended, Hoshino Moto felt a little regretful that he had not yet found the answer that the system had given him.

"By the way, the guy you were facing also disappeared in the end."

"I know."

"He's actually already dead."

Hoshino looked at Wendy in confusion.

"He doesn't really have a breath or a heartbeat. You're probably facing his... um, yes, it should be called his supernatural power itself."

"You came all the way here just to tell me this?"

"Isn't this what you're concerned about?"

"..." Xingye Wang was silent for a moment, "Really?"

Wendy gave him a look, as if letting him figure it out for himself.

Xingye Wang set his eyes on his hat. It seemed that what happened here really had no effect on the God of Wind at all.

"I'm free and my hero just happened to have completed a journey. As your guardian god, isn't it normal for me to come and take a look?" Wendy finished eating the apple while speaking.

He raised his green eyes and smiled: "The wind will bless you."

Xingye Wang was stunned.

"Okay! The brave can continue their journey after taking a rest for a while, and I," Wendy puffed out her chest proudly, "will go to have a drink with an old friend!"

Xing Yewang: “…”

He thought that the God of Wind was going to say something encouraging like "I will watch you silently."

The system is a qualified atmosphere group: [Yeah! Great! ]

"I also think this is a good decision. Liyue is going to hold a festival soon - ah, that is another kingdom of the demon god, you will probably meet that person in the future. I plan to go there to find a certain old man to reminisce, chat, drink or something."

Wendy touched Xingye Wang's white head and walked away gracefully.

…How should I put it? He really came and went like the wind.

After Wendy left, the system prompts: [Does the host choose to pray? ]

Hoshino Nozomi pressed [Yes].