High School of Demon Hunting-Chapter 1505 - 249: Benevolent Lies

"So are you saying we’ve met before?"

"Of course... Do you remember a world full of mirrors? There was a giant labyrinth made of mirrors, and you showed me the way, telling me how to get out of that labyrinth."

"Eh? Am I that amazing? But... I hate mirrors the most."

"Don’t you have a small mirror in your hand?"

"This is a gift! It doesn’t count as a mirror!" Zhu Si angrily stashed away her small mirror, paused for a moment, and then continued, "Since you’ve already left, why did you come back?"

"Because you treated me to a big feast, and I want to treat you back."

"The big feast I treated you to?" The little witch showed a hint of interest on her face: "What was there?"

"There were chicken heads, greens, and rice... just like the big feast in the album you’re holding."

"So the album was actually about food! No wonder it smells so nice..."

"...You didn’t know what was in the album?"

"It has been empty for a long time."

"Then why are you still holding it?"

"I forgot... Maybe it’s out of habit."

The young cost student sat shoulder to shoulder with the little witch against the trunk of an old oak tree, sitting on the ground.

Zheng Qing looked up at the patchwork of night sky filtering through the tree leaves above their heads. The little witch, on the other hand, was looking down, playing with a small mouse in a wizard robe within her palms.

A large burlap cloth was spread out in front of them, with purple and red checkered stripes, but under the dim night, the patterns appeared blurred and heavy, like scrutinizing eyeballs.

The cloth was filled with various knick-knacks.

Double Tang Note’s sugar figurines and sugar cats frolicked inside exquisite glass boxes; Mew Mew Sweets’ latest fruit puff pastries emitted a sweet aroma, attracting rustling chest-thumping sounds from deep within the woods from time to time; Shepherdess’s classic hairpins and headbands, even after decades and across another world, still managed to win the little witch’s favor; and Pandora’s magic boxes from the Apple Tower neatly arranged in a row, with even Zheng Qing, the buyer, clueless about what strange things could emerge before opening.

Just now, for instance, the little witch opened a magic box and out came a small mouse dressed in a wizard robe, its head adorned with an old-fashioned pointed wizard hat, and in its paws, it wielded a magic wand the length of a matchstick. The mouse scampered around on the purple burlap cloth, occasionally waving its wand, causing a strand of golden sparks to burst from the tip.

The little witch was having the time of her life playing with it.

Accordingly, she let her guard down around Zheng Qing quite a bit and became willing to have many conversations with him.

Their lengthy casual conversation made Zheng Qing realize that as long as he didn’t mention how Zhu Si arrived in this world and didn’t inquire about certain fundamental topics, the little witch would still be the little witch.

Clever, intelligent, naïve yet sophisticated.

The most devastating blow to the heart isn’t fear or sorrow, but the sense of helplessness that leaves one nothing to rely on. As long as there’s something to rely on, even in the Abyss, one wouldn’t despair.

Moreover, the two were not in the Abyss at the moment, but just in a quiet oak forest.

Thinking of the oak forest, Zheng Qing recalled the landing spot he had first fallen into in this world—he had ample reason to suspect that the two of them were now deep within the Enchanted Forest—this suspicion turned to certainty when he saw the sneaky brown figures peeking from behind several old oaks and the faint slapping sounds that came with them.

Zheng Qing had once seen Nikita’s ’army’ in the ’Real Vision’ provided by Elder Atar, which included terrifying Giants, fierce Big Birds, and a large group of slick-furred, small-statured creatures resembling Mice.

"We can’t stay here too long," the young scholarship student struggled to stand up as he glanced at the deep forest: "It’s too dangerous here."

The aftereffects of using the Blood Symbol Bullet had not yet completely subsided, and the Warlock felt like his head was being pricked by needles after expending a bit more of his Magic Power. Clutching his head, he groaned and sat back down under the oak.

"Don’t be afraid, the Zu Ge may look fierce, but they’re actually very timid," Zhu Si was much calmer in comparison, placing a small mouse on her shoulder, reaching out to pat Zheng Qing’s arm reassuringly: "They never dare to attack anyone bigger than them. And they are most afraid of cats..."

As she spoke, she stole a glance at the black cat Tail behind Zheng Qing and nodded in satisfaction: "...We have both advantages."

Zheng Qing wanted to argue that he was not a cat.

But after his Tail listlessly swayed a couple of times, he eventually gave up on contending.

"It’s not the Zu Ge," the young scholarship student waved his hand, indicating he wasn’t afraid of those brown Mice: "But rather some more dangerous entities. They can appear in this forest at any time...These Zu Ge are definitely their spies."

"But," the Little Witch bit her lip, her fingers unconsciously twisted together: "I need to find my father and mother here...They must be waiting for me somewhere."

Zheng Qing opened his mouth, intending to tell her that this was just a world caught between fantasy and reality, and her parents couldn’t possibly be here, as they would be nothing but illusions if they were.

But he couldn’t say it.

Not just because the Little Witch might fall back into a state of chaos after hearing it, but also because this pure and persistent belief might be the only reason she was still lucid.

Saying it would kill her.

"Your parents are outside, not in this forest," after hesitating for a long time, Zheng Qing chose to deceive, looking into Zhu Si’s eyes and said earnestly: "This forest only has oaks, mushrooms, and Zu Ge, no Wizards...You are a Wizard, your parents are Wizards, I am a Wizard too."

Convinced by the persuasiveness of the shared identity, the beautifully crafted sugar figurines, the sweet puffs, and the mouse doll that was frolicking with a Magic Wand, Zhu Si eventually changed her mind.

"You said you know where they are," she looked at the boy with her bright, sparkling eyes: "I trust you. I will follow you. But if you can’t find them, I will come back."

Zheng Qing nodded firmly.

"Shall we set off now?"

"...Let’s rest a bit longer, I need to take some Magic Potion."

"Why do you need to take medicine?"

"Because I used too much Magic Power earlier."

"Oh, I know, overusing Magic Power feels terrible...I’ve had that before, it felt like I was completely drained. Later, a Big Sister with Red Eyes gave me a delicious drink made by the Zu Ge, and that brought me back to life."

"...Next time you see that Big Sister with Red Eyes, make sure to stay far away from her. She is not a good person."

Zhu Si nodded her head but then shook it: "Red Eyes are indeed no good, I remember to avoid those...But that Big Sister is very nice, she told me, as long as I can survive and find my parents, it doesn’t matter what color my eyes are."