I loaded the dream game

Hey, this...

Mio hesitated, but before she could answer, the boy took her hand and led her to the vending machine.

It was not until he got closer that Xia Zhi realized that this was a vending machine selling blind boxes.

Who would buy blind boxes from a vending machine?

He complained in his mind, took out a 500 yen coin and stuffed it in, then randomly selected a box.

Not long after, the corresponding box fell down. Xia Zhi took it out and opened it, and found a keychain inside.

Although the workmanship looks good, its value is definitely not worth 500 yen... and I hardly ever use the keychain.

…It’s okay, it’s just a demonstration.

Xia Zhi comforted himself in his heart and handed another 500 yen coin to the silver-haired girl beside him.

Mio took the coin handed to her by the boy, and imitating Xia Zhi's actions just now, put the coin into the coin slot, and then chose the box next to the item Xia Zhi had just selected.

With the sound of something operating, the box chosen by the girl fell to the exit.

With a hint of anticipation, Mio opened the box.

Inside was a light blue headband.

Mio blinked, as if unsure, and looked up at the boy.

Xia Zhi hesitated: "Well...it's not a loss."

And

His eyes fell on the waist-length silver hair that was scattered behind the girl.

It can be used, right?

"Let's go."

Xia Zhi thought about it and said

"Let's find a place to sit."

……

In a roadside coffee shop, after ordering two cups of coffee, Xia Zhi pulled the girl to a seat next to a floor-to-ceiling window and sat down.

"What kind of hairstyle do you want?"

Xia Zhi took out a comb and gently combed the girl's soft silver hair while asking her.

"It's up to Xiazhi to decide." Feeling the gentle movements of the young man behind her and the feel of the comb gently combing her hair, Mio squinted her eyes comfortably and replied.

If you decide for yourself...

Xiazhi thought about it

If it were in the past, he might have been a little unskilled, but now he has enough experience in this area.

Although he is better at tying twin tails because of his sister, he can handle other hairstyles.

Xia Zhi thought to himself as he combed the girl's hair gently, following the steps in his memory. He braided the girl's long silver hair into three braids bit by bit, and finally tied it with a light blue hairband.

"That's all!"

Looking at the cute "sixteen-year-old" girl in front of him with her long silver hair braided into three soft braids and wearing a pure white dress, Xia Zhi nodded with satisfaction.

"How is it? Do you like it?" He took out the mirror, showed it to the girl and asked.

like……

Looking at herself in the mirror, Mio repeated his words in her mind.

Xiazhi has mentioned this word more than once.

"... a feeling of affection... a strong interest in a particular person..."

Muttering to herself and whispering the dictionary translation, the girl lowered her head and gently stroked the light blue hairband tied at the end of her braid.

Well, yes, that's it.

This is what I like

"Thank you, I like it very much..."

No, that's not right. It's more than that.

After thinking for a while, Mio looked at the boy and said with a smile:

"I'm very happy... Thank you, I like you."

Ah, this...

Looking at the girl's smiling face, Xia Zhi knew that, just like "dating", she probably didn't understand the full meaning of liking in human society.

"Isn't that right?" Seeing that he didn't answer, Mio tilted her head and asked in confusion.

"……No."

Xia Zhi shook his head and reached out to touch her head.

"I like you, too."

Mio smiled happily again.

Xia Zhi breathed a sigh of relief and turned around to look at the busy scene outside the window.

Although it was just a short stroll, he could already notice something strange.

Although this world looks very prosperous, Xia Zhi feels that it exudes a lifeless atmosphere, as if the world has reached its end and is about to be beyond salvation.

This feeling has never been felt even in the world of Eluk... After all, regardless of the method, although that world is facing the same doomsday crisis, they have never given up trying to save themselves.

and……

Xia Zhi's gaze moved slightly upwards, looking at the clear blue sky with a few white clouds floating quietly above his head.

...The sky here is also fake.

Just as Xia Zhi was thinking this, he suddenly felt something strange.

The sounds around became extremely quiet in an instant.

He turned his gaze from the sky to the window, and found that the scenery outside was as if the pause button had been pressed, and it suddenly stopped at this moment...

.......

Chapter 870: A Call from the Sea of ​​Trees

Pedestrians walking on the roadside, vehicles driving on the road, or customers chatting and laughing in the store... everything stopped where it was.

The sounds around disappeared, the falling leaves hovered in the air, the air seemed to solidify, and the whole world seemed to be still at this moment.

Xia Zhi was not unfamiliar with the scene before him. After all, he had experienced similar situations more than once.

However, this phenomenon was not caused by anyone he knew.

Xia Zhi turned around and looked at Mio who was standing opposite him. The girl was not affected by the stillness of time. After looking at the strange and inconsistent scene around her in surprise, she turned around and looked at him.

"Is this normal?"

The girl's eyes seemed to reveal such doubts.

Xia Zhi shook his head and was about to speak when he felt the ground beneath his feet begin to shake.

As the ground shook, the sky seemed to be torn apart, and a sea of ​​petals swept in from afar. The glazed light and the flying petals engulfed the still world.

The scenery I saw changed rapidly. The land, houses, vehicles, pedestrians, everything was covered by the roots and vines of a huge plant that stretched from the distant horizon.

After the petals and the light faded away, everything disappeared, and what appeared before the two was an abnormal space like a fairy tale with only trees and vines left.

——Transformed into a sea of ​​trees.

Xia Zhi thought when he saw this scene.

He probably knew what kind of world he had come to.

"Xiazhi, where is this...?"

Looking at the scene where everything around her was replaced by a sea of ​​trees, Mio couldn't help but move closer to the boy as she turned her gaze away from the towering tree in the distance that seemed to be the center of countless roots and shining with holy light.

However, judging by the expression on her face and the position where she was standing, facing this sudden unknown scene, she was obviously not afraid, but rather seemed to want to protect the boy.

Xia Zhi touched her head to express his gratitude.

Although the girl was somewhat happy, she still shook her head, indicating that now was not the time to do this.

"It's probably some kind of defensive barrier used to protect the outside world." Xia Zhi withdrew his hand and replied.

It is similar to the effect of sealing.

"boom--!"

Just as he was thinking this, a huge roar suddenly came from the distance.

Xia Zhi turned around and looked in the direction of the sound, only to see a huge white alien creature in the distance. It seemed to have been hit by a huge force. Its huge body slowly fell from mid-air and fell to the ground with a bang, causing a strong vibration.

Has the battle already begun?

he thought to himself.

Since it was a defensive barrier, there must be an enemy attacking. Obviously, the huge alien creature in the distance was the enemy.

Moreover, there is more than one...

Taking his eyes away from the several huge white creatures that were slowly floating towards him from the distance, Xia Zhi breathed a sigh of relief.

A hero?... It feels like I haven't come across this term in a long time.

The figures of two girls in another world appeared in his mind, and he couldn't help but shook his head.

No matter what, let's solve the trouble here first...the coffee he ordered hasn't arrived yet.

"Wait for me here for a moment." Xia Zhi and Mio instructed.

However, just as he took the sword out of his personal universe and held it in his hand...

"Jingle Bell--!"

In this world where only trees remain, the sound of a telephone ringing suddenly comes.

Xia Zhi was stunned for a moment and looked in the direction where the sound came from.

The ringing sound came from a telephone booth in the distance, which was not covered by the sea of ​​trees. The man-made facilities looked very out of place in this fairy-tale-like sea of ​​trees.

"Jingle Bell--!"

The phone continued to ring with no sign of stopping.

Xia Zhi looked around and found that there was no one else except them. The battle in the distance was still going on, so no one should have the energy to answer the call.

Obviously, this call should be made to them.

Under Mio's curious gaze, Xia Zhi thought for a moment, then took her forward and answered the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hello, Mr. Unknown... Sorry, I can only call you Mr. Unknown. Thank you for answering the call. I am sorry to contact you in this way."

·· ···Request flowers· ·······

Coming from the phone was a soft and gentle girl's voice, with a hint of childishness, and sounded about the same age as Xia Zhi.

Are today's operators recruiting child laborers?

Xia Zhi complained.

"Why did you come to me in this way? What's the matter?"

"I'm sorry. I was planning to contact you in a more formal way, but I didn't expect this unexpected situation to happen."

The other party apologized again, paused for a moment, and then got to the point:

"If possible, could you please... no, could you two please not get involved in the battle over there?"

.... ...... .......

"Leave the enemies over there to the heroes."