Brain bloom

Volume 1 #297: They Really Didn't Abandon

The open, square window, neither too big nor too small, framed the dandelion's melancholy face.

She looked extremely disappointed.

I'd rather stand still and watch her silently.

It's like a vivid painting, with a rich and varied composition.

As the sun sets, the ordinary houses are enveloped in its light. A beautiful girl, yet radiating a youthful melancholy, stands by the window. Lush green leaves and soft dandelions that seem as if a gentle breeze could scatter them. Even with dandelions growing on the girl's head, she still appears fresh and lovely.

“It seems the princess is really upset. Why did Mori abandon her…” Yuan murmured.

“I don’t know…” Fufu said again, “but it’s not surprising that Sister Morishi ran away and abandoned the princess… well, I should say she ran away.”

"Fu Fu!" With a shout, the serene girl who had been drawn in the frame vanished. "Say that again? It's not surprising you abandoned me?"

"Hmph, I won't say it a second time. I'm not stupid."

With a straight face, she explained seriously, "I was just joking. Mori just went out for a big meal by herself and then had to earn money for our Flower Kingdom. Remember, she didn't abandon me."

"A feast..."

Yuan's tongue gently licked her lower lip, as if she had only heard that one word.

Afterwards, she and Fufu were called into the house. The freckled girl who was tidying up the raw materials at the pastry shop was surprised to find that there were new customers. She wondered why there were so many people, but she didn't mind.

In the living room, I'd like to sit opposite Dandelion and chat about recent events.

Dandelion recounted much of their journey, and what happened before that. After all, she hadn't participated in or witnessed anything that occurred in Silvermoon City. Of course, this was merely to boast about Sen Shi's power.

Yuan's words were quite simple: "Fu Fu and I ate and drank our way here before finally arriving in front of you."

"So, are you planning to travel together later? We're also thinking of doing some more sightseeing."

"Hmm, I'm thinking of doing it this way... I wonder if that's okay?"

"According to the devil's rules, a price must be paid."

"I'm actually human." Yuan's face flushed slightly with embarrassment.

"Haha, you're willing to admit it now. Well, I was just joking. Traveling together later would be fun. Provided... the world is safe and sound."

Dandelion spoke detachedly about recent events. The calamity that was to be unleashed by the sea god seemed to have arrived sooner than expected.

But even though she used such understated language, as if she were just describing mundane things like "I ate a small bread roll and drank a cup of tea today," she still understood the importance of this matter to her.

This lively and interesting human world is about to become desolate.

Her expression grew increasingly serious, and along the way, she couldn't help but interrupt Dandelion.

"In that case..."

"Don't worry, even if this really happens, Wing Cloud of the Kingdom of Flowers will still invite you to witness it."

"...Really? Even if the world becomes a complete wasteland, with only bones and barren land left?"

"Really." Dandelion's promise was firm and resolute.

Even so, Yuan's expression remained dejected, and she seemed even more depressed.

"But how am I supposed to kill time before I reach Winged Cloud? I finally learned how to interact with humans, and I've only managed to travel to a few places in the remaining years of my life... and I've only tasted a little over a hundred kinds of food..."

"You've come to like the human world?"

"Doesn't Princess Dandelion like it?"

“I like it, but that’s a different matter.” Dandelion looked out the window at the bustling streets that were about to fall into night. “Unless I can find a special reason, I won’t stand by and watch the human world die. Rather, I would be happier if they all disappeared and only Mori and I were left.”

Hearing this, Fufu muttered softly, "It was a wise choice for Sister Senshi to run away."

"I already said you didn't escape! You left with Sister Yuan for a while, found a backer, and now you've become so fickle, haven't you?"

"I hope you won't be too sad, sister. Sister Mori is relatively kinder, so maybe she'll step in to solve the problem."

The little girl noticed that Yui loved the world but was feeling down, so she brought out the most powerful person in her mind, Mori-shiki-nee, to comfort her.

Yuan nodded, but didn't have much hope.

Leaving her fate to others to decide was not the life she wanted to choose...

She gently pinched Fufu's hand against her forehead, trying to ease the pain slightly... She hoped that in the final days of her life, she could see something new and interesting every day, making those precious moments more fulfilling. The human world was a fascinating place, and she sincerely wanted to explore it more.

Perhaps it's because the human blood flowing in my veins is softly reciting the word "hometown".

“If Mori is unwilling to help me, then… Princess Dandelion, I may not be able to do as you wish.”

Do you want to solve it yourself?

She nodded.

At least in the end, I'll say goodbye to a life of passive acceptance. Perhaps the remaining time in my life will be shortened as a result, but it's still more interesting than a dull one.

After that, they didn't continue the conversation. Not because it was too heavy a topic, but because Mori hadn't returned yet. If she were willing to lend a hand and resolve this imminent crisis, then Ken would accept it without hesitation.

Dinner is over.

Dandelion found Yuan, who was clutching his stomach and taking a walk around the house to digest his food. She quietly walked up behind him, put her hands on Yuan's shoulders, and adopted a profound tone.

"—Great Princess Dawn, would you like to try something fun with me?"

"I won't try any more, thank you... I'm too full, that strawberry cake was just too delicious... Oh right, don't tell Mori about tonight's dinner."

"No, it's not for food." She looked mysterious. "Would you like to see the scenery at night?"

He stopped walking, opened his eyes slightly, and immediately became interested.

……

Silver Ring City has a long coastline, which has been developed into farmland, fishing villages, and a port. However, because most of the land is rocky, even with the help of local mages, it is difficult to level the ground.

As a result, these coastal areas were gradually abandoned.

But some people deliberately used it as their residence—a group of people plotting a rebellion.

Where there is light, there is also darkness. Even though the grandeur of the coffin bearers and their profound cultural beliefs illuminate the entire cultural sphere, some people still resent this light. Their reasons vary: some are non-religious, some want to seize the wealth of the coffin bearers, some want to question whether a true God exists…

They gathered on the sea cliff, waiting for night to fall.

They discovered a pattern that could be a major breakthrough: the so-called ghosts only emerged after midnight to take over the streets at night. But people, like frightened birds, locked their doors at seven or eight o'clock, when it was just getting dark.

They were a group of outlaws who had discovered this pattern through bloodshed. In the past, their strict leader was always away on business, so these men secretly plotted to use this night to steal something to fill their pockets.

Silently—something strange slowly climbed up the sea cliff.

Volume 1 #298 - Occasional Kindness

No one noticed.

A sense of tension and excitement permeated everyone's hearts.

"Hey...did you all remember? It's in the Deep Purple Chamber of Commerce's third warehouse. Even though the gates are tightly closed at night, but..."

"There's a secret passage. I've memorized it all. How many times have you repeated it?"

"But there must be guards inside..."

"It's just a few people, I've investigated. There are many of us, so we'll sneak in under the cover of night when no one's looking, kill them, take the loot, and go through the secret passage. We just need to be back before midnight..."

"The key question is... what kind of goods are we moving?"

“I checked before, there’s a batch of gemstone ore worth thousands of gold coins, we’ll look for that.”

This group of thugs and thieves, looking like hooligans, were discussing something in the sea breeze, their mouths watering at the amount of gold coins. This was a big heist! But they had to keep it a secret from their leader, otherwise, that annoying guy would scold and whip them again.

All they did was contribute some money and manpower, yet they're so full of righteous indignation and act all high and mighty... and then they start a rebellion. We've had our complaints for a long time. Money is best earned with like-minded people.

On the eve of departure.

Everyone organized their equipment while chewing on something to refresh themselves.

But one of the sentries suddenly noticed that there was someone behind him.

He wasn't particularly perceptive; it was just that this person was too close, a complete stranger, and looked a bit odd, though he couldn't quite put his finger on what was strange about him.

"Is that new here? Why is he standing so far away?" the sentry asked with a look of disgust.

"There's no newcomer...who?!"

People turned their heads, and a commotion arose again. A man reeking of fish and inexplicably repulsive and terrifying had suddenly appeared there. He was soaking wet, as if he had just crawled out of the sea, and his body remained drenched as he walked.

"Stop! Who the hell are you?!"

"Is this someone the leader recently hired?"

Suddenly, a seasoned middle-aged thug recognized the other party and his expression changed drastically: "How could this be... this is a puppet that was swallowed by the Evil Mist!"

This word was more terrifying than the plague, and within a second, it spread fear to everyone's hearts. Indeed, by the light of the fire, one could see that dark mist would occasionally emerge from the other person's seven orifices.

The ominous fog has appeared.

"Run! Everyone, run!"

"Run into the city! Go knock on the guards' doors!"

They fought with all their might, their rebellion dream yet to take flight, when they encountered this monstrous thing. But no matter how hard they tried, not a single one escaped.

The puppet moved with lightning speed, as if struck by lightning. In an instant, it wiped out the rebel camp of dozens of men. Blood splattered with screams of agony, and the villains who had been plotting their grand scheme were gone, leaving only corpses.

Even at the very end, no one could realize how they died...

After the killing stopped, the puppet looked bewildered as it stared at the pile of corpses.

After a long pause, the evil mist within his body hastily issued its command. The puppet then walked to one of the corpses, opening its mouth as if to tear apart its prey. But from deep within its throat, a wisp of evil mist suddenly shot out, like a long serpent, also opening its mouth and piercing the corpse's skull.

It sucks the soul to replenish its nourishment.

It's still absorbing memories from the brain, which is also very important.

After all, Hodge's orders were to find a young girl who might become a danger, as a precaution. Unfortunately, even after draining all the corpses, they got no answers, only some useless cannon fodder puppets...

It mechanically carried out the instructions and continued walking towards Silver Ring City, followed by dozens of puppets that were awakening one after another.

In the darkness of night, without a sound.