I loaded the dream game

Ah, the rejection here refers to what happened in the second half of the night.

Xia Zhi shook his head and pulled his thoughts back.

Just like what Kuang San said before, although she didn't agree to it, she could see that this time was much easier than when Miku came last time... at least the initial level of cooperation was not on the same level.

"I mean this time it will be much simpler, but not only because of this, there is another reason."

However, Tokisaki Kurumi said this

"Based on Tohka's previous situation, you should have also obtained the ability of the music elf, right?"

Xia Zhi lowered his head and looked at the tree-shaped engraving on the back of his hand, which had two nodes lit up.

Indeed, just as Kurumi said, after obtaining the spirit crystals of Tohka and Miku, she can also use their abilities.

Unlike Tohka's ability to cut through everything, Miku's ability...

"That power of seduction can easily make them open their hearts to you if you are willing to use it." Tokisaki Kurumi said in a bewitching tone.

"Yeah." Xia Zhi nodded and responded perfunctorily.

From his attitude, Tokisaki Kurumi sensed something.

"... Even so, Mr. Xia Zhi is not planning to use this ability?"

"If I want to control other people's minds, I don't need the power of elves at all." Xia Zhi replied indifferently.

It can be said that for him, the abilities of the elves, except for Mio's special power, are dispensable. It would be much more convenient if he had them, but he could easily do it without them with the help of settings.

So from the very beginning, Xia Zhi did not intend to save them for these forces.

On the other side, after hearing the boy's answer, Tokisaki Kurumi fell into a brief silence.

In other words, the boy originally possessed a similar power that could manipulate people's hearts.

However, even when faced with such a difficult situation last time, he still did not choose to use it.

"You have such a convenient power, why not use it?" There was a hint of confusion and doubt in her voice.

Because you think the feelings gained in that way are fake? Because you think it is a blasphemy to the true heart and soul of girls?

Do you feel that your power is too strong and needs to be restrained? Are you afraid that if you let yourself overuse it, you will lose yourself in the power?

"the reason is simple."

Xia Zhi gave an answer that was beyond the girl's expectations:

"I do not like."

Tokisaki Kurumi was stunned for a moment, "That's it?"

"What else?" Xia Zhi asked back.

Isn't it normal and reasonable not to do something you don't like?

The reason why he doesn't like it is not complicated or grand, it is just very simple and basic. He thinks it is something that everyone should be able to do... no double standards.

"I don't like people who wantonly manipulate other people's memories and minds. I also don't like people who are high and mighty, who regard themselves as the absolute center, and who arbitrarily play with the fate of others just for their own pleasure."

"I don't like people who, after they have power, act recklessly and indulge their inner desires. I also don't like to see stories where evildoers don't receive the punishment they deserve."

It should be said that there is basically no one in the world who likes that kind of guy, right?

and so……

"I don't like that kind of person, so I won't let myself become that kind of person, that's all."

Xia Zhi said this.

"..."

Don't like it, so don't do it... To a certain extent, it is indeed another kind of willfulness.

Tokisaki Kurumi thought.

Although she understood and more or less agreed with the boy's words, after thinking about it, she continued to ask:

"But the strong do whatever they want, while the weak are bullied and ravaged and have no power to resist... This is reality, isn't it?"

In this regard, Xia Zhi does not deny that the law of the jungle is the normal tone and the underlying logic of this world. The so-called reality is indeed like this.

but……

"You made a mistake, Miss Kuang San."

Xia Zhi paused for a moment, and his voice was filled with a hint of deep meaning.

"Only the weak need to change themselves to adapt to the so-called 'reality'."

Coincidentally, one of the abilities of the dream game is to redefine reality.

"……I see."

After a long silence, Tokisaki Kurumi took a deep breath and a hint of smile appeared in her voice:

"I feel like I'm beginning to admire you, Mr. Xia Zhi."

"Is there no shining point on me that you can appreciate before?" Xia Zhi complained.

"Hehe, for example?"

"Something like appearance?"

"Ah, I like Mr. Xia Zhi's confidence."

"..."

Anyway, this is also a kind of love, right?

Xia Zhi comforted himself in his heart.

On the other side of time and space, Tokisaki Kurumi felt the emotions coming from the boy and couldn't help but raise the corners of her mouth slightly.

Very magical.

The more incomprehensible and difficult to control a powerful force is, the more it should bring anxiety and fear to people.

However, as she got to know Xia Zhi better, facing the young man with this power, Tokisaki Kurumi did not feel the slightest bit uneasy or wary.

"Mr. Xia Zhi..."

"Ok?"

"...I'm beginning to understand why those children trust you." The girl said softly.

She also began to understand Yuanzi's feelings at that time... It was not a rational inference, but a growing belief from the bottom of her heart.

Young man, you will definitely be able to bring salvation to them... to the elves.

She thought silently in her heart.

.......

Chapter 1044: Yokote Jasmine: What should I do if I find a god when I go out in the middle of the night?

Although the words sounded so nice, Xia Zhi still faced the original crisis.

...Where should I stay tonight?

As Xia Zhi was thinking, he unknowingly arrived at the previous singularity in time and space, his own residence.

That is the apartment that I shared with Yokote Marie and Takashima Yuna.

I raised my head and looked towards the familiar floor. The lights inside were not on. I guess the girls must have fallen asleep.

Or maybe... they don't actually live here at all.

Xia Zhi thought.

It was after Jasmine and the others met him that they moved into this apartment under Hinata's arrangement.

But for this independent time and space that has been separated, these things are as if they never happened.

In other words, they may live somewhere else in this time and space.

How should I put it? The place where we used to live together is no longer home to familiar figures, not even a trace left. I still feel a little inexplicably sad.

Xia Zhi sighed slightly, looked down at the phone in his pocket, and hesitated.

Should I give Hinata a call?

But I was careless and wasted too much time just now. It's so late now. I hope it won't disturb her if I call her.

...I should have known not to try to be cool and stayed at Xixian's house for one night. She has a lot of rooms anyway.

If I turn around and go back now, wouldn't it be embarrassing?

Just as Xia Zhi was thinking about this, he heard a voice behind him that sounded a little unbelievable.

"Xiazhi...sir?"

Xia Zhi turned around and saw a familiar girl standing under the dim light of a street lamp at the end of the street.

A smile appeared on his face, and he greeted the witch not far away.

"Hello, Jasmine."

……

"saved……"

After drinking the last bit of noodles in the bowl along with the soup, Xia Zhi put down his bowl and chopsticks and couldn't help but sigh:

"Jasmine's cooking skills seem to be getting better and better."

"After all, I have been living alone for the past few years."

Jasmine replied as she skillfully cleared the dishes.

"..."

Xia Zhi came to his senses again.

Yes, although it was only one night for me, it has been two years since the last time I came here.

Although Jasmine, as a priestess, can synchronize the memories of the previous singularity like Hinata and the others, her original memories of this time and space will not disappear... For her, these two years have been truly spent.

In other words, in the girl's eyes, he hadn't seen her for more than two years.

"Why are you still outside so late at night?" After thinking about it, Xia Zhi changed the subject and asked.

"Isn't it the same for Xiazhi Lord?"

“I am a god.”

He can even justify not returning home overnight with such confidence. God is really as willful as ever.

Jasmine did not say this out loud, but this familiar conversation made the nervousness and unfamiliarity in her heart that had been caused by not seeing each other for a long time disappear at once, and she felt much more at ease.

"I went to the convenience store to buy daily necessities for tomorrow." She replied after shaking her head slightly.

"...Middle of the night?" Xia Zhi tilted his head slightly.

"Because at this time, many things will be much cheaper."

The girl continued to explain:

"Some items in convenience stores are discounted late at night. Some bento boxes and food with a short shelf life are even discounted by half. If you can find a bargain, you can save a lot of money on snacks and meals for a week...Some items that are usually hard to get will occasionally be available late at night..."

Looking at the girl in front of me chattering, it seems like she is an ordinary female high school student who lives alone and is very careful about everything.

Among the girls around him, apart from Xia Zhi in the past, perhaps the only one who cares so much about these things is Jasmine?

In every way, she is an ordinary girl.

"……What's wrong?"

Seeing the boy looking at her like that, Jasmine asked a little uncomfortably.

"nothing."

Xia Zhi retracted his gaze, thought for a moment, and then asked curiously:

"By the way, where's Takashima-san?"

He remembered that the girl had just said that she had been living alone for the past two years... In other words, she was the only one living in this apartment now, right?