"Since you've done it, then as promised~"
Evernight suddenly leaned close to Fu Zhu, her eyes half-closed in a charming smile. "I give my 'self' completely to you, darling."
With that, she even gave him a wink.
Fu Zhu's heart skipped a beat. He felt like he was being hit on.
March 7th, standing to the side, was completely dumbfounded.
Heavens, am I really that good at flirting? But why can't I ever think of moves like this? Is it because of my amnesia?
Evernight straightened up and secretly glanced at March 7th beside her. Seeing her still scratching her head like a silly roe deer, she couldn't help but sigh.
Learn something, March! You know yourself that every time Fu Zhu goes off on his own, he brings back a new girl, yet you never learn! If you don't keep a tight grip on him, what if he runs off for good?
March 7th pushed aside the sour feeling in her heart. She suddenly remembered that Fu Zhu hadn't mentioned Stelle or Dan Heng yet. Her other two companions couldn't be in trouble, could they?
"Fu Zhu, what about Stelle and Dan Heng? Aren't they supposed to be with you?"
"Only remembering them now?"
Fu Zhu looked at March 7th's傻憨憨 (silly and cute) expression and couldn't resist teasing her. "If Stelle finds out, she'll definitely cling to you and cry for half a day, saying you've forgotten your roots."
March 7th realized she had been a bit lovesick and had forgotten her friends. She scratched the side of her face, embarrassed, and giggled foolishly.
"This... This isn't because I was scared by those Memokeepers and forgot for a moment! Right, it's all their fault!"
Fu Zhu and Evernight exchanged a helpless glance at the Memokeepers, who were still endlessly repeating the moment of their death.
They really had it rough. They came all this way to carry out a mission, only to be repeatedly executed, and now they had to take the blame for this baseless accusation. What a tragedy!
After teasing March, Fu Zhu didn't forget to give her a rough summary of what had happened before.
"So... you went through all that while I was gone?"
March 7th couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for Fu Zhu, having spent such a long time all alone on Amphoreus. She completely forgot that she had been on the run for her life for just as long.
Fu Zhu took her hand and shook his head.
"It's alright. It wasn't that long, and it's all in the past. Let's go, we should meet up with Stelle and the others. We can't keep them waiting."
"Okay."
Just as Fu Zhu was about to use Yamato to open a passage, March 7th paused and pointed at the Memokeepers trapped in the endless loop of execution. Even though they were here to harm her, she still felt a bit of pity seeing them like this.
"Can you give them a quick death?"
"Of course."
Fu Zhu would naturally not refuse March 7th's request. Just as he was about to cancel the command inflicted upon the Memokeepers, Mimi flew up from his shoulder.
"Mimi! (I want to try!)"
"Hmm? You want to try? Try what?"
Mimi stared earnestly at the group of Memokeepers, raised her two pink, tender paws, and waved them in front of her. A faint luster shone on her fuzzy claws.
"Mimi!"
The next second, a prompt suddenly popped up before Fu Zhu's eyes.
[Mimi has submitted a request to stop. Do you agree?]
Fu Zhu looked at the prompt with a strange expression, then at the suddenly stunned Mimi.
"Mimi? (Why isn't it working?)"
Fu Zhu stared at her thoughtfully. According to what Herta and the others had said, Demiurge had suddenly transformed into Mimi after absorbing knowledge from MC. Could it be that she had also become a creature from MC?
It was just that this "creature" was a bit special, able to use commands from MC, albeit requiring his approval.
This wasn't bad, though. Didn't this mean he wouldn't have to input commands himself in the future and could just let Mimi do it? He could totally be a Stand User!
Fu Zhu chose to agree. In the next second, the repeatedly executed Memokeepers finally died for good.
"Mimi! (It worked! But why was there a delay?)"
Seeing that she had succeeded, Mimi chirped happily.
March 7th stared at Mimi for a good while, then couldn't help but tug on Fu Zhu's sleeve and whisper.
"Fu Zhu, who is this little one? I was so overwhelmed with information before that I didn't pay her much attention. Now that I think about it, Evernight said she's a Pure Child just like me. Where did you pick her up from?"
Fu Zhu couldn't help but chuckle as he reached out and pinched her nose.
"Ouch! Why'd you pinch my nose?!"
"You silly melon, why are you only asking about this now? It's been so long!"
"It hasn't been that long! And you still haven't answered my question!"
"Let's talk on the way. Who knows, maybe she's your long-lost biological sister from a different father and mother? You're both pink-themed, after all."
While speaking, Fu Zhu opened a portal with Yamato, taking March 7th's hand with one hand and Evernight's with the other, with Mimi perched on his shoulder, and stepped through.
---o---
In a certain secret chamber in Okhema.
Anaxagoras put down his instruments, crossed his arms, and looked at the unconscious Khaslana on the bed. He couldn't help but let out a "tsk," then cocked his head and raised an eyebrow at Phainon.
"I can solve his spiritual or soul-related problems, but I have a question."
"Please ask, Teacher."
"He's not really another you, is he?"
Hearing this question, a dark expression instantly fell over Phainon's face. He said through gritted teeth, "Teacher Anaxa, I'd also very much like to know the answer to that question. How about you start by treating him?"
"First, call me Anaxagoras. Second, I was just about to."
Anaxagoras scanned the crowd of Chrysos Heirs standing in the secret chamber and waved his hand in disgust at Aglaea, who was standing opposite the hospital bed.
"I say, isn't this room a little too crowded? I need to begin 'surgery' on him. Can all non-essential personnel please leave? Oh, and Hyacine stays."
Aglaea naturally knew Anaxagoras was talking to her. She was long accustomed to his curt way of speaking and paid him no mind. She simply gave a knowing look to everyone except Hyacine and led them out of the secret chamber.
After leaving the room, Aglaea brought everyone to the meeting room and sat down.
"Let's leave the matter of the man in black to Anaxagoras and Hyacine. We have other things to attend to."
Aglaea took out a sealed letter and spread it on the table.
"This is a request for aid from Castrum Kremnos. The letter states that the corrosion on the [Strife] Titan has worsened, and they hope Okhema can lend a hand."
"Corrosion has worsened?"
"Yes. Back when Nikador was leading the grand army to attack Castrum Kremnos, the [Strife] Titan at the time was already corroded by the Black Tide. The symptoms were still minor, but Nikador, considering that a rampaging [Strife] Titan could cause massive casualties to the army, and with Fu Zhu's disappearance happening around the same time, she temporarily retreated. That retreat has lasted until now."
After explaining the history to the group, Aglaea turned to Dan Heng and Stelle.
"This time, I hope you two can participate. Besides hoping for your assistance on the Flame-Chase Journey, the Crown Prince of Castrum Kremnos, Mydei, was the last person to see Fu Zhu. He is also the only one who knows how to enter the Nether."