This is not the date I wanted.

Well, actually. This story started with my last editor, who suggested that I move the short story collection to the end of the novel to avoid misleading some readers. I thought it made sense, so I did it.

I didn't expect that it would become a joke now.

Well, when I first saw this joke, I actually felt a sense of responsibility. After all, it would be really uncomfortable to read a chapter that left you in suspense, and then flip through the pages to find that it was not an update but a title that you had read several times.

So after much thought, I decided to add a blank page with no content (a fragment chapter) to separate the main text from the short story.

Then I discovered...

——Please turn the pages manually to read the incomplete chapters.

That’s enough for you.

To be honest, I really couldn't help but smile bitterly at that time. It seems that you guys just want to make fun of it, right?

Huh? Update faster?

Ah, sorry. I am standing on the top of the sea of ​​clouds, facing the typhoon, with thunder and lightning all around me. I can't hear what you are saying.

—————————————My evaluation of Volume 3 of Kurumi————————————

Well, speaking from a positive perspective. Actually, I quite like the setting that Tachibana gave to Kurumi, "I once admired the Justice Partner". After all, I am also a fan of "The Justice Partner", so I feel that Kurumi is a lot more approachable.

Moreover, Tokisaki Kurumi herself is a character with very unique settings in all aspects in the original work.

Whether it's encountering Shido without being sealed, actively killing tens of thousands of people, not yearning for redemption but instead planning to kill Shido to take his spiritual power, all of these make Kurumi's presence far greater than other spirits, and she's very attractive.

——Of course, there are also the dark histories created by the “Eight Bullets” (suppress your laughter).

Of course, Lao Ju's character design is very good. But how can I put it in this volume... Why are all the plots showing off their love?

No, although what I am going to say next may sound a bit harsh, I think this volume should describe how Shidou was inhumanely killed by DEM, and how much torture and pain Kurumi suffered from the repeated reincarnation. The more painful it is, the better, and the word "miserable" should be highlighted.

Ahem - of course I'm just kidding, don't take it seriously.

It's not that the writing is bad, I just think that Tachibana's distribution of the scenes in this volume is a bit bad. Because the scenes of Kurumi and Shidao's date took up the majority, and Shidao's murder was only mentioned briefly a few times. So when the eyepatch Kurumi confessed to Shidao that he had died 204 times.

All I thought was - oh, I died 204 times.

How should I put it - it's just like hearing Kurumi tell Shidao "You ate a total of 204 pieces of bread this month". It doesn't feel real.

To be honest, when I watched Stone Gate and the brooch's reincarnation, I felt so sad.

————————————Notice of suspension of update————————————

Calm down! Calm down! Put down your weapons! We are all civilized people, and gentlemen use words instead of fists! !

Well, the reason is actually very simple. I am currently training and have to team up with other people to make a final project website. I am the team leader, so in addition to the tasks at hand, I also have to manage the progress of others. I really can't squeeze out extra time to write. (This chapter started at 11 o'clock, and it is now 1 o'clock in the morning.)

Well, it will probably take me about ten days. I just thought that if I sit there in silence for ten days and then write a postscript and post it, you guys will definitely be furious, so I squeezed out some time to finish it.

Finally, let me talk a little about the plot that I will be writing next. In the next volume, I have decided not to write the main storyline of the original work for the time being, and to write an independent volume with a completely original plot. This volume will also collect most of the foreshadowing that was laid before in one go.

And I warn you, the next volume is very sad, very sad! Readers who have read my novel "The Girl and the Dragon" should understand what I mean.

Readers who don't want to read the tragedy can choose not to read it, because not reading this volume will not hinder your understanding of the main plot of the book.

Kuku - my magic eyes have seen your mental activities and thoughts when you watched this passage. Just as I expected, you were completely led by me like a puppet.

Well, having said that, it’s almost time to finish.

Well, gentlemen, let us meet in the near future!

00 Divergent Nodes

==============================

<A love affair, a tragedy. It was so terrifying that a woman could persist in it for thirty years, even involving other innocent people and turning her lover into her own son... Oh my, a woman in love is so scary. ——A certain girl sighed in a pretentious manner. >

Human emotions are incredible.

Murasame Reion... No, Takamiya Mio couldn't help but sigh in her heart.

Joy, anger, sadness, fear, love, hatred, despair... Although emotions can be classified with specific names and colors, the motivations for people to have certain emotions and the choices driven by emotions are often so strange that it is difficult to derive a clear pattern using logical thinking and arithmetic formulas.

The same emotion, when expressed by different people, may produce two completely different results.

Different emotions placed on the same person may unexpectedly produce the same ending.

Even if it is the same person or the same emotion, a difference of just one second can lead to completely different answers.

Like clouds and mist, it seems to have a traceable path, but in fact it is erratic and uncertain.

It is precisely because of this instability and variability that Mio feels a little overwhelmed.

"Why...don't you kill me?"

Looking at the bullet that deviated from its trajectory and hit the floor, Ling Yin couldn't help but ask.

However, in response to her question, Kurumi stated that her goal was not revenge.

That's not the truth, but it's not a lie either.

As a former perpetrator, she naturally understands how cruel what she did to Tokisaki Kurumi was. Lingyin has repeatedly played the mysterious spirit named "Phantom" to contact Kurumi. She also saw that in order to change history and to avenge the original spirit named "Takamiya Mio", Kurumi pushed herself to the brink of death in an almost crazy way.

It was no longer a simple emotion like anger or hatred, but had bound Kurumi in a form that was almost like a curse.

This was definitely not a conflict that could be resolved with a few words, and therefore she had already prepared herself to be hunted down and killed by Kuang San once her identity was exposed.

In fact, if there was nothing that had to be done, if she could die, she would even be happy to die at the hands of this former friend.

However, just now, despite the undisguised hatred and murderous intent in her eyes, Kurumi still controlled her emotions and stopped attacking.

"Tokisaki Kurumi...what did you see in the future?"

Silently watching Kurumi's expression, Ling Yin fell into thought.

Although the specific reason is unclear, it is likely that something happened during the time cycle using the "Keke Emperor" that prompted Kurumi to change her mind.

"No comment!"

"..."

However, Lingyin was naturally turned away. Although she had no intention of attacking, it was obvious that Kuang San had no good feelings towards the culprit who had ruined her life, so it was naturally impossible for her to answer Lingyin's questions with a kind heart.

(If I use force and cause a disturbance, it will attract the attention of Kotori and Westcott...)

After secretly weighing the pros and cons in her mind, Ling Yin chose to evacuate quietly.

(The plan failed...)

Leaving the building where Kurumi was, Lingyin couldn't help but sigh.

Instead of feeling relieved that Kurumi let her go, Reine's plan was disrupted by Kurumi's choice.

Originally, she planned to play the role of "Phantom" and give Kurumi some hints on how to break the cycle of reincarnation to induce her actions. If she failed and her identity was exposed, she would let the irrational Kurumi kill her, and then fake her death to make Kurumi let down her guard.

But who would have thought that not only did he fail to achieve his original purpose, but he also exposed his identity in vain. It was truly a case of losing both the wife and the army.

However, compared to the frustration brought by failure, Ling Yin found that her emotions were more complicated than she had imagined.

There is joy over the redemption of an old friend,

I am also happy that my children have grown up.

There is also anxiety about the unpredictable future.

What's left is a bit of envy and jealousy towards his partner for betraying him and changing himself on his own.

Unlike artificial intelligence, "Takamiya Mio" can understand human emotions and have joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness like humans.

However, she is different from humans.

Human beings grow old with the passage of time, gradually becoming gentler, more tolerant, stronger, and able to forget the pain brought by loss.

But she couldn't do it. Even though she had the power to control everything and destroy the world. Even with her extraordinary learning ability and considerable attainments in all aspects of human knowledge, "Murasame Reine" had not changed at all.

Over the past thirty years, she has only been imitating the people around her, pretending to be a gradually changing person.

(After all... on the day Shinji died... my time... stopped.)

——————————————————I am the dividing line for shifting perspectives——————————————

At night, the moon is high in the sky, and the early spring breeze blows through the streets with a hint of coolness.

After leaving Kurumi's abandoned building base, Gokawa Shido was walking home with Mengyue.

To be honest, Shidou hasn't completely digested what Kurumi's clone said yet, and his head hurts a little.

From February 2th to today, DEM has killed herself 9 times in total. Every time she dies, Tokisaki Kurumi will use the "Kekekei" to travel back in time and save herself. This is the truth that Kurumi is hiding.

Having said that, Shidao actually didn't have much sense of reality. It wasn't that he thought the idea of ​​reincarnation was unbelievable, nor did he suspect that Kurumi was lying to him. It was just that his eyesight was fine now, and his throat could make sounds normally. He tried to touch his chest and neck, and found that he was neither disemboweled nor his body was separated.

I was clearly alive and well, but was suddenly told that I had died more than a hundred times. I could understand it rationally, but my emotions and instincts still resisted acknowledging this fact.

"What's wrong, Shidou? You have a serious expression on your face. What are you thinking about?"

As if noticing it, the brown-haired girl beside him turned her head and asked Shidou.

"Ah... How can I put it? I was suddenly told that I died more than a hundred times in the future. I was a little overwhelmed for a moment."

Shidou let out a long breath and said with a wry smile.

"It's a normal reaction. Most people would just treat it as a joke and forget about it."

Mengyue said she could understand.

"Mengyue, you already knew about this, right? You don't look that surprised."

"Well, it's just as you thought. As early as when Kurumi first approached me for cooperation, she told me the information about time travel and your assassination."

In response to Shidao's question, Mengyue shrugged and did not deny it.

Shidou clapped his hands in realization.

"I see. That's what you said you couldn't answer."

"Yeah, that's right."

Mengyue nodded.

"At first, I wasn't sure if Kurumi was lying. If I told everyone this news, it might cause unnecessary anxiety, and I was afraid that you would be shaken when facing Kurumi because you care about this. So I planned to tell you about this if Kurumi didn't say anything after today. Let me say I apologize first, Shidou."

"It's okay. I understood it from the beginning. Mengyue, you must have a reason for doing this."

Shidou waved his hand and replied.

"Besides, you also want Kurumi to tell me this in person, right?"

"yes……"

Meng Yue sighed and said helplessly.

"Kyousan probably didn't realize it herself, but every time she reincarnates, her expression is so ugly that it looks like she's about to cry. At that time, I understood metaphorically that what Kyousan said was true. Although I don't have any memory of reincarnation, I can't help feeling guilty when I see her like that. After all, she's the one who will witness your death in the future. So, regarding reincarnation, I think it would be better to let Kyousan tell you in person."

"Yeah...I understand."

Hearing Mengyue's words, Shidao nodded solemnly.

"Well. Actually, after hearing what Kurumi said, what are you going to do Shidou?"

Raising her voice a little, Meng Yue asked Shidao.

"How should I put it...I feel like every time I talk to you about conquering elves, you always ask me this question, Mengyue."

Shidou sighed with a look of confusion.

"Of course. It's you who wants to capture the elves, not me. The most I can do is to assist. If you are not sure about your attitude, how can I know what to do next?"

Meng Yue answered as a matter of course.

"Indeed... But Kurumi didn't tell me about the reincarnation, and I had already made up my mind."

Shidou took a deep breath and answered decisively.

"I will save Kurumi, absolutely!"

Hearing Shidou's answer, Mengyue nodded with satisfaction.

"Yes, that's right. That's the aura! There's no need to feel guilty or owe her anything just because Kurumi is trying to save you. If she wanted to take a favor, she would have done it at the beginning. This purest and most resolute belief is the best reward for Kurumi."

"Yes!"

With Mengyue's approval, Shidao felt emboldened and said confidently, "And Mengyue, I have thought of a way. I can save Kurumi without her having to devour my spiritual power and go back to the past.

"Oh? What method?"