I, the Lord of the Fifth Throne, am the source of all things!

Moreover, at such a young age, she had the courage to shield others from bullets. In Sakurai Kai's eyes, Duanmu Lian was actually a proud and tsundere character who was tough on the outside but soft on the inside.

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Chapter Fifty-Seven: Stripping the Demon's Spirit Armor

Suwahara is still under intense war conditions.

So Sakurai Kai and Beatrice took some time to thank Duanmu Lian in person.

They then joined Valyria, the current acting commander of the Black Round Table, in preparing for the battle.

Lisa stayed at the church to take care of the three children.

As Duanmu Lian felt her current physical condition, she was about to get out of bed and move around when Lisa stopped her.

"Fujii-kun, the muscles in your arms and legs are severely strained. It's best not to move around for now."

Without a word, Lisa gently pressed Duanmu Lian, who was trying to get up, back down. Her expression was serious and stern, but her tone was full of reproach and concern.

She heard about the situation from Ling'ai and Beatrice.

When danger came, it was always Duanmu Lian who stood in front of the two little girls.

The first time I encountered a strange girl with superpowers, I was attacked by her superpowers.

The second time they encountered armed personnel from the Eastern Orthodox Church, Ling Ai was shot again while shielding her from a bullet.

Moreover, how could a small child use a broken bamboo knife to stab an adult in the eye?

This was revealed when Lisa and Valyria treated Duanmu Lian's injuries.

The extreme surge of adrenaline leads to extensive muscle damage, and exceeding the body's limits also brings considerable aftereffects.

"I feel so nauseous, could you please give me some anesthesia?"

The aftereffects of Duanmu Lian's previous adrenaline control and breathing techniques caused him to grimace in pain.

"What, you don't want to keep pretending to be tough in front of girls anymore?"

Lisa glanced at Sakurai Hotaru and Himuro Reia by the bedside, then looked at Duanmu Lian, who was grinning, and said in a playful tone.

She also had medical knowledge; the damage Duanmu Lian suffered must have been very painful.

But since waking up, he hasn't uttered a single sound.

In addition, there were two little girls in the room, so Lisa thought that Duanmu Lian was just trying to save face in front of the girls.

"I'm not interested in crybabies or eccentric girls, unless they have a figure as amazing as yours, Sister."

Duanmu Lian glanced at Sakurai Hotaru and Himuro Reia by the bedside, then looked at the voluptuous and alluring Lisa and said very directly.

The two little devils beside him, nicknamed "Little Crybaby" and "Electronic Girl," immediately became unhappy.

"abnormal!"

"Sex devil!"

Sakurai Hotaru looked like she wanted to pounce on Duanmu Lian and bite her, while Himuro Rei, expressionless, stretched out her index finger and started poking Duanmu Lian's arm.

The severe muscle strain in her arm was aggravated by this stimulation, causing Duanmu Lian to fly into a rage, but she still refused to back down, saying:

"Hiss... Just you wait, you two will definitely never have a nun's figure in the future, you'll definitely... hiss... you'll definitely be flat-chested, plate-like, basin-like... Let go, let go, you two stop poking me!!!"

Duanmu Lian went further and further as he spoke, until finally, Sakurai Hotaru and Himuro Reia, unable to contain their anger, started poking him repeatedly with their fingers.

Duanmu Lian is now like Goku whose bones have been crushed by Vegeta, the Great Ape, and she is in pain all over her body.

Even the slightest touch from those two brats hurt him.

However, given his willpower, he could endure this pain; it was all just an act to pretend to be a child.

Seeing Duanmu Lian being tortured to the point of near death on the bed, Lisa covered her mouth and chuckled as she pulled Sakurai Hotaru and Himuro Reia away, scolding them for not being rude to their benefactor.

"Aren't you curious why something like this happened today, Fujii-kun?"

Seeing Duanmu Lian quiet down, Himuro Reia, who was lying by the bed, asked this question under Lisa's frowning gaze.

She wanted to stop Himuro Reia, since some things shouldn't be told to others casually.

"I'm not curious. But if you have any secret identities, please don't tell me."

Upon hearing this, Duanmu Lian didn't even glance at Himuro Rei beside her, and said calmly and coldly, "After something like this happened, my family will definitely make me move out of Suwahara. I only helped you and I got shot. If I continue to get involved with you, who knows if the bullet will hit my parents?"

Duanmu Lian's words of drawing a clear line were not spoken lightly.

His actions were all carried out according to a pre-set plan.

Now he has officially come into the sight of Valyria, Sakurai Kai, Lisa, Beatrice, and others.

Red Spider definitely won't let him stay in Suwahara any longer.

And that's what he did on purpose.

Based on his memories from countless previous reincarnations, Red Spider will transfer him away from Suwahara to do something else.

Later, when Fujii Ren reached the age to go to high school, he moved into Suwahara with Yusa Shirou and Ayase Kasumi.

Meanwhile, after today, both Beatrice and Sakurai Kai will die.

At that time, Sakurai Hotaru, who is currently standing next to Duanmu Lian, will join the Thirteen Knights of the Holy Lance as Beatrice's substitute for the Black Round Table seat.

"Fujii-kun......"

Hearing Duanmu Lian's words drawing a clear line, Himuro Reia's eyes dimmed.

Hotaru Sakurai, standing to the side, also pursed her lips, unsure of what to say.

As for Lisa, she sighed. It's not easy for Ling'ai to have a friend, especially one who would risk their life to save her.

But as Duanmu Lian said, continuing to drag this on is not good for anyone.

"I don't mean to hate you, but everything comes to an end. I hope that after I'm gone, new friends will give you gifts on this day."

Rei Himuro didn't respond to these words, but instead jogged away from the room.

Children know a lot, but they also know just as little.

Putting aside other matters, Himuro Reia knew that it was because of herself and the people around her that Duanmu Lian had become like this.

After Sakurai Hotaru left, only Lisa and Duanmu Lian remained in the room.

"...Fujii-kun, thank you so much for what Reia did."

"You're welcome. It would be too cruel for a girl to die on such a happy day as Christmas or her birthday."

"......"

Upon hearing Duanmu Lian's words, Lisa was speechless, her heart filled with complex emotions.

It would be too cruel for a girl to die on her birthday or Christmas.

These words left Lisa feeling quite uncomfortable.

After all, Himuro Reia was a descendant of the Sun Prince, and her grandfather, Yzak, was someone she personally sacrificed to the Golden Beast.

Now that Himuro Reia is the Princess of the Sun, her future destiny is already predetermined.

Similarly, Ling'ai's fate is inextricably linked to Lisa's past actions and current inaction.

"Isn't Fujii-kun afraid of that kind of situation?"

Lisa looked at the little boy on the bed, wondering where his courage came from.

Duanmu Lian wore a conflicted expression, then said something that made Lisa even more silent:

“I was afraid, but she was more afraid than I was, so I couldn’t be afraid.”

"Ling'ai? Why...?"

"The way she looked at me showed fear of danger, fear of me abandoning her, and the sense of security she felt when I protected her. Sister, you are a woman, so it's hard for you to understand. As a man, when I was stared at with such an unfair gaze, I didn't even have the face to run away."

"Pfft—Hehehe, hahahaha... As a man... little brother, you're still a long way off, hehehehe..."

Upon hearing Duanmu Lian's words, Lisa was momentarily stunned, but after realizing what she had said, she couldn't help but laugh.

The other person used vivid words to describe it, making her understand what a perfect example of being obsessed with saving face and suffering for it is.

Just because he saw the way the girl looked at him, he lost his nerve and ran away in fear?

Although it sounds a bit funny, Lisa, as a woman, thought about it for a moment.

If I stare at a man with that look, will he run away out of fear, or will he face the danger out of pride?

Having met many people, Lisa is certain that the former group is definitely more numerous than the latter.

Even if the latter was driven by a desire to save face, it still counts as a kind of courage.

"Laugh, laugh."

Like a sulking child, Duanmu Lian simply raised her hand and lifted the blanket to cover her head.

"Well, I'm not making fun of you, Fujii-kun. As a woman, I can't bring myself to dislike a man like that."

Lisa looked at the little boy who had burrowed into the blankets and wouldn't come out, her delicate and pretty face still bearing a gentle smile.

In her opinion, Himuro Reia was lucky to have met such a friend.

Although Himuro Reia was destined to die as the Princess of the Sun, Lisa's conflicted and complex feelings for her prevented her from experiencing any accidents before that day arrived.

How hypocritical, isn't it?

Lisa also thinks she is hypocritical.

She has complex feelings for Himuro Rei, including love, care, indifference, and inner conflict.

Of the twins she gave birth to, she chose to let John live and to offer Yzak as a sacrifice to the Golden Beast.

Therefore, she did not want to regret it now, which is why she was so resolute towards Himuro Reia, the descendant of Yzak.