Comet Dragon, breaking into the gravity field

With the guidance of Ritsu Naruse, Shiina Riki finally realized the part of his memory that he had overlooked.

"I……"

She opened her mouth and wanted to make some excuse, but her honest and serious heart prevented her from saying anything.

In the end, Shiina Riki could only lower his head helplessly and sullenly admit this ironclad fact.

Indeed, when [CRYCHIC] was formed, she treated everyone equally.

Looking back now, her attitude towards Deng at that time was very similar to her current attitude towards Chihaya Aine, who was a drag on her.

100. Nutrients (Sleeping Grass.ver)

Although Ritsu Narose was not there to experience the atmosphere up close under the stage, the emotions contained in the song will not fade just because it is transmitted through a video.

Takamatsu channeled the fiery emotions hidden beneath her quiet and withdrawn exterior into her songs – and it was this act, along with the heartfelt lyrics she wrote, that helped Shiina Tatsuki find the part she was missing.

No matter which world we live in, humans will create idols out of their reach and out of their fantasy.

Shiina Riki's behavior is more like wishful dependence than fanatical support.

Therefore, Ming Lai Ritsu was not surprised by her performance.

"'I'm all alone in this world' - when Deng sang this line that spoke to her heart on the stage, I think she was no longer as lonely as she used to be."

"It's a thing of the past." Instead of refuting this, Shiina Riki turned to state another fact.

"Yes, precisely because it is already in the past, people need to focus on the future."

While silently admiring Shiina Riki's thorough understanding, Naruse Ritsu also found it even more difficult to understand Nagasaki Suyo's obsession with the past.

"Wait, how do you know so much about CRYCHIC?" Shiina Riki frowned slightly, and suddenly reacted and looked at Naruse Ritsu with a suspicious look.

"Su Shi told me."

"...Tsk."

"Smacking your lips is a bad habit."

"you are annoying."

Without paying any more attention to Ritsu Narose, Shiina Riki, feeling slightly relaxed after the call therapy, continued to devote herself to her great cause.

And where she couldn't see, Ritsu Narose also took out his notebook, seeming to be thinking about something.

It was not until evening that the quiet atmosphere was broken by the sound of wood burning at the bottom of the stone stove.

When it comes to diet, Shiina Riki follows the principle of "convenience first" and heats up the bread left over from the morning and has it as dinner.

As for Ritsu Narose, he didn't feel hungry yet.

"I say, you've been working all day... aren't you really tired?" Seeing Shiina Riki wiping his mouth and seeming to be ready to plunge into the endless work again, Naruse Ritsu couldn't help but dissuade him.

"We still have plenty of time."

"Not enough for me."

This stems from both the inner distrust of oneself and the environment that Tatsuki Shiina was and is in.

Not to mention Toyokawa Shoko's outstanding piano skills in the past, her composition skills alone were far superior to his own.

Hachiman Kailing, who is now in the class, supports dozens of bands by herself. As a mercenary who moves between large and small bands, you even need to make an appointment a week in advance if you want her help.

It is because he knows the level of these geniuses around him that Shiina Riki dare not relax.

When I think about people who are better than me and are still working hard, the anxious sense of urgency comes over me again.

However, humans are not machines - even machines will wear out due to long-term work, and the accumulation of too much redundant data will affect their own computing efficiency.

Even the strongest spirit can't do without the support of the body. When Shiina Riki felt her thoughts like rusty gears, she could no longer ignore the "click" sound.

She struggled to stand up and tried to move around, but when she forced herself to get up, she felt dizzy.

"Young people shouldn't take advantage of their good health to do whatever they want."

After helping the reckless man, who almost hit his head on the ground, to sit aside, Ritsu Narose handed him the drink he had already prepared.

He had no idea that Naruse Ritsu might have added anything suspicious to it. After he finished drinking it in one gulp, Shiina Ritsuki frowned and asked him, "It's bitter and sweet... What did you put in it?"

"A nutrient supplement made from blue mushrooms, bitter worms, and honey."

"Nutrients?"

"But in order to improve sleep quality, I also added sleeping grass."

"Varied--"

Before he could finish his words, a surge of sleepiness came over him like a tide.

Struggling not to fall asleep, Shiina Riki stared at Naruse Ritsu angrily and annoyed in her last moments before she woke up.

Then she fell into a peaceful and tranquil sleep.

Seeing that this inconsiderate girl finally fell asleep peacefully, Ritsu Narose finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"How can you squander your body like this..."

Putting his hands into her popliteal fossa and back, Ritsu Narose picked up the girl who looked like a sleeping beauty and then moved her to the tidied tent.

Without planning to change her clothes, after settling Shiina Riki down, he flew to the hammock on the other side of the camp to rest early.

No words were spoken that night until the next day.

When Ritsu Narose removed the rain shield above the camp, Tachibana Shiina was awakened by the noise.

Opening my eyes, I could clearly see the brown tents above me. Even though I was still wearing clothes, I felt warm and comfortable.

Just like a fish stranded on the beach returning to the sea, the over-exerted body and mind, after getting a full rest, are all cheering for the current situation.

The scent of fragrant grass in the air should have soothed people's mood, but it made Shiina Riki, who was particularly clear-headed at the moment, feel angry.

After she realized the truth of last night, the anger brought by being deceived rose first, and then disappeared as if the combustible material was taken away.

Seeing the busy figures in the camp, only the remaining residual heat proves in my heart that something once burned here.

——Some things should be said even at the risk of being disliked.

Thinking of what he had said before, Shiina Riki couldn't help but fall silent.

The more she denied the emotions welling up in her heart, the deeper she fell into them.

Because she couldn't express the chaotic emotions in her heart, she felt angry; because she couldn't blame the other person for this anger, she felt even more self-loathing.

Rushing out of the tent, Shiina Riki saw Naruse Ritsu putting a tray into the stone stove.

Seeing that she had woken up, Naruse Ritsu just smiled as usual: "Good morning, if you're hungry, wait a moment, I'm still heating it up."

Upon hearing this, someone's quickened pace was forced to slow down.

Walking to the stone stove that was emitting heat, a warm feeling came over me, and the annoying whispers in my heart gradually melted away like ice and snow in the sun.

Shiina Riki finally understood what was bothering her.

But if she were to admit something that was sprouting in her heart, then she would also have to admit the fear that arose from it, which was of equal weight.

"Can I ask you a favor?"

"sure."

He agreed immediately without asking why, nor did he worry about whether Shiina Riki would say anything embarrassing.

He just waited quietly for Shiina Riki to speak.

101. Observations on the Great Anthill Wasteland

Compared to attacking in ancient dragon form, it is easier for Ritsu Naruse to maintain human form and fly - even though he has to carry another passenger on his back and needs to be aware of whether she can withstand his speed.

It didn't take much time to move from the [Coral Plateau] to the [Great Ant Mound Wasteland]. Ritsu Naruse quickly brought Tachibana Shiina to the area bordering the [Ancient Tree Forest].

"How are you? Are you feeling unwell?"

Unable to answer Naruse Ritsu immediately, Shiina Riki tried to adjust himself for a long time before nodding to indicate that he was fine.

"I never thought that Riki would be interested in [Ceratops]." After handing the prepared [Strong Walking Potion] to Shiina Riki, Naruse Ritsu seemed to be in a good mood.

"Just a little curious, that's all."

"I understand, I understand, but the [Ao Mo] that Li Xi is looking forward to is highly unlikely to happen."

"I had no expectations!"

"You've memorized the entire description I wrote in the log, and yet you still say you're not looking forward to it at all?"

"Gu..."

Seeing that the girl's hands were gradually getting stronger as she squeezed the bottle, Naruse Ritsu just temporarily gave up teasing Shiina Riki.

After all, he was still very happy to see Shiina Riki take the initiative to suggest going out for a walk.

"Forests, swamps, and sand—these three types of landforms make up this area. We're currently in the forest area in the southwest, while ceratopsians mostly live in the desert in the northeast and parts of the central region."

"Then why are we here?"

"Prepare weapons for you."

"what?"

Seeing Shiina Riki's surprised expression, Naruse Ritsu gave a smile that he thought was kind, but in the other person's eyes it was quite malicious:

"If Lixi can gain some knowledge in this area, the scope of his activities in this world can be gradually expanded."

Holding the blue one-handed sword named "Elegant Fighter" made of the same Wind Dragon material in front of him, Naruse Ritsu cleared his throat and spoke in a solemn, hoarse bass voice:

"After taking this set of one-handed swords, you will no longer be a tourist. You will never be distracted during battle again. If you do, your shame will tighten around you, making you miserable. Before this journey is over, do you have anything else to say?"

"..."

However, Shiina Riki did not respond, but just glanced at him with a look that seemed to indicate chuunibyou.

However, even if Shiina Riki is so disrespectful of his sense of ritual, Naruse Ritsu won't mind.

After instructing her to equip herself with this set of light weapons that were below average in weight, the two of them left the secret camp at the edge of the forest.

Weapons crafted from the Wind Dragon inherit its ethereal form. Utilizing its ice-attribute claws and cryobags containing cryogenic liquid, weapons also possess ice-attribute effects.

Therefore, the Wind Dragon equipment on Shiina Riki is particularly suitable for use in the desert where there is no shade from trees and is exposed to direct sunlight.

In the southwest of the Big Anthill Wasteland, the specific process of evolution from forest area to rocky area can be clearly seen.

Heading southeast, the two soon saw the swamp covered with purple-red flowers and a large group of ankylosaurs drinking water near the puddles over there.

As the most common herbivorous dinosaur, Ankylosaurus has some similarities in appearance with several individual dinosaurs from another world.

When Shiina Riki saw these animals wagging their tails and docilely lowering their heads to enjoy the low plants in front of them, she even had the illusion of traveling through time and space to the dinosaur era.

To avoid water and food, most Ankylosaurs live in the rocky plains south of the swamp, where they breed and build nests.

"As for their eggs... they look like that."

Looking in the direction pointed by Ritsu Naruse, Shiina Riki saw a bird-like creature with bright feathers on its head running on the mud holding a gray-white egg.

And behind it, an ankylosaur was desperately chasing it.

[Scratching Bird] - It is named because the way it digs in the ground looks like it is scratching.

"Its main food source is the eggs of other creatures."

After hearing Ritsu Naruse's introduction, Shiina Riki's brows furrowed even more.

In her eyes, the funny-looking thief was undoubtedly a disgusting villain.

When she saw the Ankylosaurus trying desperately to catch up with the Scratching Bird but failing and had to slow down, and witnessed her own offspring who had not yet hatched being eaten, her anger grew even more intense.

Beside her, Ritsu Narose still spoke calmly about the habits of the jaywalker.

Although the egg itself is nutritious, the egg white is inevitably lost when the bird's beak breaks the eggshell, so this picky creature only eats the remaining yolk, which is also the most nutritious.

For this creature that is more than three meters tall and runs around in wastelands and forests all day long, it must eat three to four eggs a day to be full.

"That's the nature of the stork. In this wasteland, there's more than one stork stealing eggs, and more than one ankylosaur losing its offspring."

After a few seconds of pause, when Shiina Riki's rapid breathing gradually stabilized, Naruse Ritsu suddenly asked, "Ritsuki, do you want to take the egg back?"

"But you didn't say..."