Crossover Anime: From DanMachi to Becoming a Garbage Scavenging Master

"I'm sorry, Tomoya!"

For the first time, Nanaka's voice trembled, choking in her throat.

"As your sword... I failed to protect you."

Tou'er smiled softly, looked up at the darkening sky, and her tone carried a rare hint of relaxation.

"Ah, we lost this time. But—" she paused, "if I die, you won't have to die. This kind of ending... isn't so bad, is it?"

"Don't say that!" Shichika interrupted immediately, her voice filled with anxiety and unease. "You won't die, I'll go get the doctor—"

"At this extent of injury, there's probably nothing that can be done," Toga said softly, her tone as calm as if she were talking about something completely unrelated to herself.

Then, she suddenly called his name.

"Seven Flowers".

"What is it?"

"After I die, make sure that the powerful phrase 'Cherisho' becomes popular all over Japan!"

"My journey is probably coming to an end here," Toga said with a smile. "So, Nana, please—only Cherry, please!"

"You want me to popularize this incorrect usage all over Japan?" Shichika was almost going crazy. "One person can't do that alone!"

Silence washed over us like a tide, and lingered for a very long time.

Suddenly, Jiu'er spoke, her voice as soft as the night breeze.

"This year's journey... has been truly enjoyable. I feel as if I've been reborn."

She paused for a moment, something quietly sinking into her expression.

"But—in the end, I still didn't change anything."

"This is exactly how someone like me should die. Someone as despicable as me has no right to possess you."

"What are you talking about?" Shichika's voice was tinged with urgency. "Didn't we agree that after collecting all the swords, we'd travel all over the country? We were also going to draw the first national map and make a fortune! Was all of that... just a lie?"

Touji was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke.

"It's a lie, all of it."

Her left eye slowly turned into a cross, her voice still soft, yet it pierced her heart like a knife.

"After the journey ended, I was originally planning to kill you, just like I did when I used the Maniwa ninja."

"All of this... was just my clever scheme." She coughed up blood, then chuckled softly. "Even my heart was nothing more than a pawn."

Nana didn't speak, she just listened quietly.

Toga continued, her voice completely flat:

"That's just the kind of person I am. I can't survive without scheming. Your trust in me... was just another pawn. How could I possibly forgive the Kyoto-ryu who killed my father right before my eyes?"

She paused for a moment, and her voice suddenly became very soft, so soft that it seemed as if it would disappear at any moment.

"However, my desire to forgive you and to continue our journey together is not fake. It's just... I'm nothing more than a pawn."

"What are you talking about? And what emotions have you taught me this past year?!"

"They are pawns. Joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness—they are all pawns," Toga said. "But while the words may be false, the emotions are not."

Something seemed to ignite within Nanaka, and she coldly said, "How pathetic, Tomiji."

Qi Hua looked at her, her tone calm, yet like a stone falling into deep water.

"The person who gets hurt the most by living like this is actually... yourself."

Toga raised her hand and slowly touched Shichika's face. Then, with a sense of relief, she softly uttered her last words: "Forget all of this about me, and then live well."

Then, her hand fell to her side, her body lost all strength, and she slowly collapsed to the ground.

-----------------

Not far away, five figures slowly approached, two of whom were children with slightly red eyes and expressions of unconcealed sadness.

After the Maniwa ninjas died, and she no longer needed to play the Maniwa octopus, Yasuri Nanami asked, "You must already know Togame's wish—even so, are you still going?"

"Ah, it's you, older sister. I'm leaving Tomoie's matter to you." Shichika's voice was soft but calm. "Right and wrong... I've lost my sense of right and wrong..."

Tianxing suggested, "Then go, go to Owari Castle, and end it all."

After listening, Nanaka handed Tomoko to Nanami and ran out.

After Nanaka left, Metaria walked up to Toji and tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.

"Ugh... Toga'er-neechan's life is so hard!"

Nanami sighed, "What a contradictory person you are, Miss Tomi, the strategist. Bound by fate, unable to break free on your own, you can only die a ridiculous death in the end, just like I was before."

Hei Ta stood aside, watching the soul that had not yet completely left the body, and said slowly, "The formula for synthesizing artificial bodies on the universal synthesizer has been developed, and two have been synthesized this month. However, the production of key commodities in the DanMachi world has declined quite sharply."

"That's still better than I expected," Tianxing replied. "We can gradually develop localized products later. Using recycled nutrients from trash collected from outside the world to synthesize health and mana potions is still too extravagant."

Just as Black Tower and Tenko were chatting and waiting for Toga's soul to completely leave her body and awaken, a golden light shone on Metalia's body—the light spread from her chest, gentle yet intense, as if something long dormant was awakening.

Nanami and Koyuki were somewhat surprised, as magic had never appeared in this world where martial arts were prevalent.

Over the past few months, Metalia had come to regard Toga as a true friend. At this moment, a strong, almost instinctive desire to save her resonated with the dormant flame of romance within her—like a resonance, or perhaps some kind of quiet transformation.

A sudden inspiration struck, and a magical aura, entirely otherworldly, began to emanate from Mettler, vast yet gentle. She spoke softly, her voice ethereal, as if chanting a hymn:

"The source of compassion, the blessing of birth, and the fundamental wish to carry all beings are my vows."

"Unable to abandon, unable to forget, unable to bear death—"

"The resounding voice of heaven and earth is my prayer."

"The breath of the earth, the song of life, the rhythm of life—these are the imprints of all things."

Answer my call! Make the stagnant heart beat again, let the dried blood flow once more—

"Rise, Garden of Life!"

As the words fell, a massive torrent of magic surged forth like a tidal wave, the laws of the higher world subtly altering the rules of this world. The surrounding scenery began to blur—shrines, trees, the ground—everything faded silently, like paint losing its original color in an oil painting, as if these things had never truly existed in this world.

"Has a new magic awakened at this moment? Because this world cannot bear magic, it has turned to using the existence of things themselves to complete the magic repair command?" Tianxing was surprised by the newly discovered phenomenon.

In that fading world, Toga's soul slowly returns to her restored body.

After an unknown amount of time, Toga slowly opened her eyes, seeing only white. She thought she was probably a little dazed, so she straightened up halfway and finally noticed the somewhat surprised and delighted Metalia beside her. She then glanced at the nearby Frozen Snow, who was happily waving her little hand at her, as well as Alphia and Yasuri Nanami, who still had indifferent expressions.

Finally, Jiu'er's gaze fell on Tianxing, a hint of confusion and bewilderment in her eyes, and she asked softly, "Am I... in the Divine Realm? You... are you a god?"

Tianxing did not answer directly, but simply looked at her quietly and said, "Rong Sheji, since you have already died once, let go of the past and embrace a new life."

Jiu'er hurriedly got up and then knelt down, her voice respectful and calm: "Yes, Lord Tianxing."