Brain bloom

The production of the parts was progressing faster than expected. The book had underestimated the skill of human craftsmen. After news of the true god's personal involvement emerged, they knew their parts would be used by the true god, and through the power of their faith, they unleashed the highest level of craftsmanship.

Sen listened intently, for it concerned everything.

"You are the true god, so you need to act as a lubricant to smooth the operation of all the parts."

"That makes sense. So, what's the recipe?"

"No recipe is needed. Just cry as hard as you can, the more heartbroken the better. Then collect your tears into a small bottle, about the same amount as the amount of water you need for watering your plants in the four seasons."

Sen Shi's mouth dropped open. This ridiculous request... Even if she were given a super complicated recipe, she could try to work her way up, but to make her cry so many tears? Sorry, she's not a pessimistic person, and her tear ducts aren't very developed.

This is tantamount to declaring defeat.

She hurriedly asked, "Is there any other way?"

"Sweat, saliva, blood, anything will do—basically any liquid with the properties of a true god. Taking it from a true god is the easiest way. Or, why don't you try drinking a lot of water? That's a large enough quantity, better safe than sorry..."

"Oh, then let's use blood."

Sen was very serious because using divine blood was considered more prestigious. What if it triggered some wondrous hidden conditions, like a blood oath? As for saliva or sweat, that was too shameful, unacceptable. But for some reason, some believers were disappointed after hearing this.

Only then did the book begin to seriously explain how to repair it—

Specifically, it involves determining the order, method, and placement of the various parts. Mori needs to replace all the damaged parts of the pocket watch within a very short time and then activate it.

It seems simple, but in reality, the requirements are extremely high, and the difficulty is frighteningly high. After listening, beads of sweat appeared on Mori Toki's forehead. She was about to weave an entire world. Mori Toki needed to understand everything about it before she could even attempt to weave it. It was an extremely mentally demanding task, yet only she could do it.

Everything was progressing smoothly and normally, with Shan occasionally announcing the time to remind everyone of its passing.

With nothing much to do, the believers simply stared blankly at the face of the true God, knowing they could look at it forever. But the Pope and Pope B thought this was inappropriate (and many in the back rows couldn't see it either), so they took the initiative to share the burdens of the true God.

These two religious leaders gathered a large congregation to pray, hoping time would slow down. Before the true God, even time must yield and fade. Some were also praying for Yuan; though they didn't know who Yuan was, the person carrying the coffin wanted to save her, so she must be a lovely and kind girl.

Volume 1, Chapter 350: Listening

The length of time did not increase in response to the believers' prayers. Or perhaps, it had already slowed down, but no one noticed. People even forgot that time was passing, focusing intently on their assigned tasks as if meditating on Zen.

The craftsmen kept checking whether the parts were up to standard, while Mori, with his eyes closed, was trying to build the clock city.

"How long until dawn?" someone asked.

"Twenty minutes to go."

The time sprite announced the time a second early, and as the last sentence disappeared, it arrived precisely at the exact moment. Shan was proud of her clever move, but it seemed no one was praising her, which made her a little sad.

The ancient demon king was restless. As a shadow, it was so anxious it forgot how to maintain its form, transforming into all sorts of bizarre shapes, like sand being kneaded by the wind. Death or the arrival of happiness—the time to see.

Ten seconds later, the silence was broken—

"All parts are up to standard. Be proud, craftsmen, your skills are truly remarkable."

"So—it's my turn?"

Mori's clear and confident voice, like an arrow, pierced through the cheers of the craftsmen.

Her eyelids, beneath her eyelashes, gradually opened, revealing soft, amber eyes. Having just left the clock city in her mind, she felt as if she were in another world.

"Your turn, coffin bearer."

"Ah."

"Is there enough time...?" No one knows who asked the question, but it represents the sentiment of everyone.

Mori had no intention of answering; unnecessary words and trivial matters would only dull her sharpness. At this moment, she was not a person, a being of the four seasons, nor a true god. Rather, she was simply a tool, a tool capable of solving any problem.

She maintained her sharpness and focus, with nothing else on her mind.

The noise of encouragement, prayers, and calls for her had all vanished. She couldn't even see anyone; there was only her pocket watch, the neatly stacked new parts on the table, and her own tools.

The ancient demon king unleashed his overwhelming power, silencing everyone.

But Mori had already started working.

Her mind was as still as water, each movement fluid and natural. She inserted strange tools into the pocket watch, pried open the dial, removed each damaged part, and replaced it with a new one, weaving a world together. Her movements were not fast, even somewhat casual, yet precise and skillful.

Every movement is devoid of artifice, performed effortlessly, as if it were an innate instinct from the soul.

This instinct is like an infant climbing upwards with its tender hands, swaying back and forth with its soft feet, and crying out in its innocent voice. At times, Sen forgets everything else, pure as a child, doing these things that require no thought.

The book even forgot to remind Mori again that if the repairs weren't done properly, or if there was some mistake, the world would be doomed.

It seems there's no need to remind me...

As the design blueprint, it watched the whole process and gradually forgot its other responsibilities.

At that moment—unlike the others, a seasonal person who had absolutely no interest in Mori's clock repair strode out of the pastry shop. It was Dandelion; she didn't intend to watch Mori make things, but rather had noticed a problem—a problem that everyone else had overlooked.

She had to step in to help, otherwise all their efforts would be in vain.

Even if the world ends and all of humanity dies, it doesn't matter, but if Mori's efforts are in vain, Dandelion will be unhappy too. She's actually been secretly watching from the window the whole time; anyway, it's so bright she can't sleep…

Leaving the crowd, Dandelion summoned a vine, stretched it towards the sky, and poked the sleeping Thundercloud Worm, as well as Melia, who was silently guarding the wish.

"Bring your wish down." She handed the paper with this message written on it to the clouds.

In less than half a second, the Demon Queen's figure streaked across the air in crimson, and Melia carried the still-sleeping Wish down. The battle marks on Wish's body seemed to have been wiped clean by Melia, and her hair and clothes were also neatly arranged.

But Melia couldn't soothe the pain on her face in her sleep.

"Has it started?" Melia asked.

"It's been going on for quite a while now..."

"No one came to call me?" She was so anxious she almost jumped up.

"I'm here now, don't worry too much. It's just that my strawberries are too attractive, everyone can't take their eyes off them. Let's go, or we'll miss it."

After speaking, Dandelion led Melia through the crowd towards where Sen Shi was diligently working. After a moment's thought, she added softly—

"Actually, it was Mori who asked me to call you."

"Hmm! As expected of her, she handled everything perfectly..." Melia breathed a sigh of relief, her tense face breaking into a smile, because she saw hope for her best friend's rescue.

The same goes for dandelions.

Although there were only a few minutes left, she was sure she could make it—that was the kind of confidence Dandelion had. When it came to tailors, there was truly no one in the world better than Moritoki. With just a few touches and a few glances, Moritoki could create such comfortable clothes, socks, and shoes; she still remembered it vividly.

But somehow, when they saw Mori, they couldn't help but rub their eyes. She was there, completely focused on replacing parts, her beauty unchanged—but for some reason, Mori seemed as if she might vanish from the world at any moment, and then cease to exist.

Until the last part is replaced—

Mori paused his movements.

Just one more step, and everything will be a success.

"There are still three minutes until the ancient Demon King must depart this world," Shan whispered a reminder.

"Yes, that's enough."

Mori Toki had remembered who he was, where he was, and was gradually able to see the people around him again. It was time to enter this restored clock city with his wishes and await the inevitable salvation... Oh no, Mori Toki felt like his heart had been gnawed by a rat.

Would you be willing?!

Oh, it's here...

She saw Yuan's face, as well as Dandelion and Melia.

Sen wanted to say a lot, such as thank you, say hello, and praise, but Dandelion pressed her lips against hers and shook her head: "We'll talk about the nonsense when you get back."

After nodding, Mori looked away from the two faces. He quickly inserted the last component, fitting it perfectly and seamlessly. He then poured a teaspoon of the blood of the coffin bearer, which he had prepared beforehand, into every crevice of the component.

now--

Something great has happened.

Just as this world possesses vibrant colors and enchanting music, just as people can communicate through words and express their desires through love... this world seems to have gained something new and important.

Mori heard it, wondering what that door leading to the City of Clocks looked like.

She took Wish's hand, and with the sleeping Dawn Princess in toe, she listened to the door.

Volume 1 #351: My First Encounter with You

Colors flowed into Morishita's ears. Like ropes binding her body, or like garments woven from melodies, they adorned her soul. Within these colors, she contained everything, yet bid farewell to all. The exquisite colors, melodious and enchanting, painted everything about Morishita—

Gradually, Mori felt that he could understand how "time" changes and guides the world.

Because she heard it, she heard it clearly.

That's the color of "time".

She also had the will to break free from the material world and become a soul within the colors of time.

The original world vanished—no, it was replaced. Time spiraled, intertwining and forming everything new, constructing a wondrous new city.

If city walls are made of bricks, and animals are composed of cells, then everything in this city is made up of "time," an intangible and formless thing.

In this city of clocks, time is frozen. Unable to flow any further, it becomes a usable material for building the city. But without time, everything vanishes…

The silent city of clocks.

"Now... I can no longer tell you the time." The familiar voice belonged to Shan. "Welcome to the City of Clocks, Mori-shiki."

"...Did I do something terrible? Why...this place is so eerie?"

"No, I didn't."

Shan's appearance somewhat calmed Sen Shi's heart. This place is really strange. Wait, is it because time is frozen here that—Yuan was able to remain unharmed? She hadn't forgotten that she was still holding Yuan's hand when she brought her in.

Time to get to work.

According to the book, now it's time to put your wishes in a quiet place.

Mori held onto the wish, only to find her so light as to be weightless, and possessing an indescribable tactile quality. It was as if she had ceased to exist as matter, leaving only a soul frozen in the world? Indeed, she remained completely still…

"But I can still move, because I am the true God?"

As he walked, Sen couldn't help but ask himself the same question, but unfortunately, Shan couldn't provide an answer either.

The city was deserted, devoid of anything else, not even the Time Sprite, of which there was only Shan.

What is the reason for its existence? The creation of the tomb keeper, then how exactly was it made? Mori realized that perhaps his so-called restoration, despite all the hard work, had only opened that door, and might not have much impact on this place—but it was ultimately just theory.

The problems are piling up.