Oh no, I have become a character in the card pool?

Chapter 10 Late at night, thoughts from another side
"Hey! Saito, once you've dealt with your side, come over here and help. Are you suffering from Alzheimer's? What are you still standing there for?"

Before the old man could finish blowing out smoke rings, he looked at the demons falling down again with the sound of gunfire and recalled the glorious past years in his heart.

An angry old lady's roar came from across the street.

Saito Riku's face suddenly frowned deeply.

He muttered, "Alas, we are all in our seventies and eighties, not seventeen or eighteen years old. Can't we give us some time to rest?"

Let’s talk about it.

But he still straightened his back and limped towards the direction of the sound.

The town has no name.

Originally, the E-026 area was located at the junction of three broken zones and had been frequently invaded and harassed in the past, so there were not many people living there.

What's more, after the government designated this place as a high-risk area a few years ago, it has been almost deserted.

The remaining elderly people who were unwilling to leave the area for various reasons decided to move together after discussing it.

It can be considered as a way of taking care of each other.

Over time, this nameless town became a settlement.

"Don't just stand there, the next wave will soon gather here."

The old lady, who also had white hair but with a hint of gray-blond hair, said this and threw a glass bottle of medicine over without even turning her head.

Said: "Here, drink this stuff, this is a skill I learned by chance in the past."

"Although it's not as effective as those made by the Contract Spirit Masters, and it has some side effects, but in this situation, we can't care so much, right?"

"Your tone sounds worrying, Carolina." Saito Lu chuckled, but drank the potion without hesitation.

"Oh, you're still able to talk nonsense. It seems that I've been worrying for nothing."

Carolina turned around.

The old lady, who was nearly seventy years old, raised her head and squinted at the sky.

It was a wonderful sight.

In the sky, a dilapidated city hangs upside down, ignoring the existence of gravity and rationality.

From the outside, it was a city very similar to the "modern society" of the past, with flashing neon lights and abandoned vehicles at intersections on the streets.

The whole world seemed to be divided into two with the sky as the boundary.

But the only difference is.

The upside-down city was a completely deserted ghost town.

Like a spider web woven in the sky, the winding streets extending in all directions all lead to the very center of the city.

There, stood a "Shrine".

Bright red torii gates, wandering ghostly shadows, and wriggling pieces of flesh whose true form is unknown.

——It was as if the entire city had become an ovary, just to provide nutrients for that shrine.

This is called "erosion collapse".

When the world fell, it overlapped with another time and space, thus forming a large-scale distortion.

"No matter how many times I see it, I always think that the monsters in your [Demon Netherworld] are really fucking weird."

The old lady spat without caring about her image.

He complained: "It's a tumor and an evil spirit. It seriously lowers the aesthetic standards of mankind. It's worse than the giant whale that destroyed my hometown."

"There are mountains and trees on the back of that whale, and it swims through the sky as if it were the sea."

"The tail fin does not stir up huge waves, but rather overwhelming hurricanes and violent storms. Steel bars and concrete will break into pieces if touched."

the old lady cursed with nostalgia.

"Although that thing is also hateful, but at least it looks good, right?"

"That sounds nice." The old man handling the gun barrel replied coldly, "Then how did you get here from the [Devil's Abyss Realm]?"

"I dreamed of going there, but you came straight to this gloomy place."

He exhaled a puff of smoke, "Now it's all right, we're going to die together in this damn place, are you satisfied?"

Unlike Saito Riku who was only good at shooting, the old lady who was unwilling to reveal her past seemed to have been a military pharmacist.

More than a hundred years have passed since the war era.

Over a long period of time, the connection between the heroic souls from other worlds and the human civilization of this world has become increasingly close.

Many skills that originally had technical barriers still have many flaws.

But it has gradually integrated into folk life.

For example, modern firearms that can be enhanced with etheric magic are one of them.

And it is obvious that the old lady named Carolina's herbal medicine skills are the same.

"Humph"

The old lady hummed softly and did not respond.

"Don't worry, I don't plan to die here." She said:
"I'm also planning to look at Shimi's future boyfriend and screen him carefully for her!"

The two chatted in a random manner, but both of them looked calm as if they were ready to die.

E-026 area.

This is a complex area.

Because of its location, all kinds of passers-by have gathered here.

For this era, it is a dangerous area to be on the unnecessary front line
But in the past, wasn't this also an important headquarters where orders could be issued quickly in the fight against the broken time and space?

A research institute that houses the most primitive prototype of a summoning warehouse, a residential town that was once connected, and a frontline where the alliance once swore to never retreat.

It is said.

——Even the first soul-contracting envoy was born in this area.

Saito Riku raised his head and looked at the now dilapidated city wall surrounding the outermost part of the town.

Who can think of it.

Nearly a hundred years ago, wasn't the alliance headquarters located not far from here?

"Yes, I also have some precious spear skills waiting to be passed on to little Shimi. You know, we can't just fall down here."

Oh, if it was when I was young.
Just as Saito Riku stood up again with a sigh.

He forced himself to put on his dislocated shoulder, preparing to return to the outskirts of the town where he was stationed.

The sound of an engine roaring was heard.

"Ok?"

Saito Riku and Carolina both showed surprised expressions at the same time, and heard that the noise was approaching quickly.

The names of the other residents of the town flashed through their minds.

But no matter who it is, it is impossible to leave your post at this time.

And this time.

There were faint sounds of conversation, accompanied by the gradually fading sound of engines.

"I say, are you sure that the people living in this small town are all old men in their seventies or eighties who are weak and helpless?"

"Judging from the corpses scattered all over the ground and the city defense cannon that has not stopped firing until now, it can only be activated with professional knowledge."

Lin Xuan stopped the motorcycle and looked helplessly at the person sitting in the back seat.

A white-haired girl wearing a hooded cloak.

I said sincerely: "I think we really need to have a good talk about issues related to trust and cognition."

Just when he was about to emphasize again how important accurate intelligence is.

Suddenly, he felt two cold gazes behind him, as if examining him, constantly looking back and forth between him and the white-haired girl's backs.

For some reason, Lin Xuan shivered inexplicably.

Wait, he should be here to rescue people, right?

Why does it seem like the attitude of the local residents is not very friendly?
=====
In conclusion.

The situation was much better than Lin Xuan had expected.

Earlier, from Xia Shimi, he finally knew why the other party, who clearly claimed to be a spirit envoy, was not in the most important "garrison base" in the game.

In the mobile game, the garrison base is equivalent to the happy hometown of the spirit envoy.

It can contain complete defense facilities, sufficient energy systems, and an endless supply of recovery milk.

It can be said that even if Xia Shimi claims to be a spirit contract user without talent.

But as long as they relied on the spring water, they would never run out of ammunition and food like before.

"As a spiritual master, you must protect the people under your rule. Wouldn't you like to live alone?"

Lin Xuan whispered softly.

Recalling the expression on the girl's face when she said these words earlier.

Even though she was worried that he would reject her, or even that the brief trust between them would be broken by disobeying his orders.

But she remained resolute, expressing her determination to go alone even if it was just her.

Actually.

The reason why Xia Shimi was severely injured before was that she had to take refuge in the ruins.

It was because she was blocked by a large group of White Walkers on her way to the town, who were also rushing towards the town because of the smell of a large number of living people.

The result of trying to lure the other party away.

"If this were in a game, I would probably do the same thing."

Lin Xuan was standing on a high building on one side of the town, which was said to be the former defensive wall, and he spoke lightly facing the howling wind.

This is a location that overlooks most of the town.

He found an opportunity to leave alone on the grounds that he needed to understand the terrain before making subsequent deployments.

But in fact.

Even without observing the terrain, I could understand the current situation just from what those two old men said.

Lin Xuan could already make this assertion with certainty.

It was impossible to protect this small town and bring all 32 residents to the garrison base.

Indeed, Xia Shimi’s combat power was unexpected.

To the extent that this town was full of retired veterans, and they all had some special skills to a certain extent, this was something Lin Xuan had not expected.

But
That's all.

Lin Xuan looked up at the sky. In the upside-down city, the blood-red shrine seemed to be gradually changing from hazy to clear.

He said calmly: "The sky is falling."

"When the illusory city fits into the ground, this place will temporarily become an environment of broken time and space."

"If all the entities that appear are not eliminated within three months, this area will completely fall and become part of the [Demon Netherworld]."

By the time.

Not to mention Xia Shimi who has no talent for spirit contract, coupled with him who has no actual combat ability, it is such a flawed combination.

Even if the official alliance forces came, it would probably be difficult to launch a counterattack.

All Lin Xuan’s previous decisions.

The goal is to retreat, defend, and prioritize the safety of lives.

Helping to garrison this nameless town was not part of his original plan.

Because this is pure suicide.

"But I can't just refuse."

Standing on the tall building, the deep night reflects the coldness hidden in the boy's eyes.

“Even though I knew this might be a world in a mobile game, watching a group of my compatriots die was really challenging my bottom line.”

"Besides, the identity I have traveled through now is a 'contract spirit' that needs a summoning contract as a connection to maintain its independent manifestation."

"That's all."

"——This girl, 'Natsu Shimi', is necessary to me."

Something seems to have gone wrong with the summoning ritual.

For example, he did not acquire the necessary knowledge, and his physical fitness remained unchanged.

However, it is an indisputable fact that he appeared in this world because of the "Spirit Contract Summoning".

So Lin Xuan didn't dare to gamble.

For other summoned spirits, lifting the summons is nothing more than returning to their afterimages.

You can continue to float in the card pool, waiting for the next destined person to summon you, and you can even choose the host according to your preferences.

——But he can't.

Lin Xuan couldn't be sure what would happen if he lost Xia Shimi, the spirit envoy.

In that case, will he be like an ordinary contracted spirit and have a chance to be summoned next time, or will he die and disappear into thin air?

As has been mentioned many times before.
This is reality, not a game.

Therefore, Lin Xuan did not dare to gamble his life on the possibility of this unknown probability.

"In that case."

Under the cover of night, the black-haired boy stood on a tall building, overlooking the town with a complicated gaze.

From the trampled crops in the vegetable gardens to the streets carefully decorated by the elderly themselves.

And this ancient defensive wall.

Now it has been repaired so well that even in the wave of attacks from the broken entities, it can still perform its defensive function as it did nearly a hundred years ago.

From these details.

Lin Xuan could clearly feel the lively atmosphere of fireworks.

"If I want to take Xia Shimi away from here safely without damaging her favorability," the young man murmured in a low voice.

The only option left was to pretend a command error and allow part of the defense line to collapse.

In the end, with only some of the surviving elderly people, could we reasonably propose a tactical retreat?

Lin Xuan's dark pupils were deep and gloomy.

The thick night turned into a shadow, covering his profile and hiding the emotions in his eyes, making it difficult to see clearly.

That's when.

There was a slight sound of footsteps.

Lin Xuan turned his head and looked at the white-haired girl walking up the tower with some surprise.

"I have already explained to Grandpa Saito and the others that you, Lin Xuan, are a spirit contract. Their previous attitude was not hostile."

Xia Shimi recalled the two old men who had repeatedly questioned Lin Xuan's identity with an attitude of "When did the flowers I raised get picked by others?"

She felt a little embarrassed and deeply apologetic.

It's already this time, why do you care about this kind of problem?
And why did they look at me with pity when I clearly denied it?

This was somewhat incomprehensible to the young girl.

After finishing speaking.

Xia Shimi lowered her head: "And. I want to say, thank you."

Most of the contracted spirits actually have a strong right to choose independently. Even if they are willing to fight, not many of them agree to participate in a battle that will lead to their death.

Summoned as a spirit.

To some extent, it can be said to be a second life of rebirth.

Who can accept wasting this precious second life for no reason?

So Lin Xuan agreed to her request without hesitation and came to this nameless town together to save the elders who had taken good care of her.

This made Xia Shimi very grateful.

"."

Hearing the girl's words, Lin Xuan couldn't help but reveal a somewhat complicated expression.

"I" he was about to say something.

Suddenly, an alarm sounded from Xia Shimi's cloak pocket!
This is a notification message from the Alliance branch.

The white-haired girl was slightly startled, then she quickly took it out from her pocket to confirm the information on the message.

After a while.

She looked up at Lin Xuan in disbelief.

The childish voice said hesitantly, "The Linye City branch said they would send a legendary spirit to rescue me."

"And the other party is already on the way."

(End of this chapter)