Mini World Game Console

My hand... it feels numb.

The first sensation Ren Suo felt upon waking was that his right hand no longer seemed to belong to him.

He looked down and saw Qiao Muyi resting her head on his arm.

She was raising her head, her eyelashes quivering ever so slightly, staring intently at Ren Suo. He couldn't tell if she had just woken up.

After staring at each other for a minute, Ren Suo finally said, "You're on my hand."

Qiao Muyi replied in a languid voice, "You're on my hair, too."

After washing up, Ren Suo went to the front desk to ask the attendant to deliver breakfast to their room. There, he saw a Black Armored Warrior and another person at the front desk, chatting with the receptionist.

Ren Suo kept his composure, suppressed his Qi Cyclone, and as he walked by, he overheard them discussing whether any strange guests had been seen in the inn these past two days.

Ren Suo told the receptionist in Japanese to bring two breakfasts to their room and glanced curiously at the Black Armored Warrior. The Black Armored Warrior was a young man. He noticed Ren Suo's gaze, nodded politely, and said, "I hope you have a pleasant trip here. If you stay a couple more days, you'll be able to see the snow-covered Shirakawa-go."

Just then, a Caucasian man walked out of the inn's corridor. Although he wore a black coat, Ren Suo immediately noticed the deep blue, hexagon-patterned, tight-fitting garment underneath—it was a Federal Watcher wearing a Nano Combat Suit!

"Thanks," Ren Suo said with a smile and turned back to his room.

Sure enough, by the seventh day, not only the Martial Soul Hall, but also the Mysterious Country Tactical Bureau, the Federal Watchers, the Wizard Council from Europe, Russia's Winter Castle, and the South American Union's Iron Sun had all sent people.

Hmm... I'll need to tell Qiao Muyi in a somewhat urgent tone, but not too urgent. It has to be an 'unexpected yet understandable' kind of tone.

No, no, that won't do. If Qiao Muyi becomes fearful because of it, that'll be troublesome. I need to be more assertive, describe them as if they're nothing but chickens and dogs...

Or should I just bring it up casually over breakfast, like it's an ordinary matter, so she can accept it more naturally?

Contemplating his verbal strategy, Ren Suo returned to their room. He glanced at the living room—nobody there. The bathroom—empty. The courtyard—also empty.

Ren Suo blinked and went back to the bedroom, only to find Qiao Muyi had crawled back into bed, curled up like a caterpillar under the covers.

Ren Suo couldn't help but chuckle. He walked over, crouched down, and shook the blanket. "Wake up, don't sleep anymore. How can you be lazier than me?"

Qiao Muyi's head popped out from under the covers. Ren Suo gave her a look, his face lined with incredulity. "You've already combed your hair, applied foundation, and even put on eyeliner. Why did you go back to sleep?"

"You can tell?" Qiao Muyi blinked, as if showing off her quickly applied yet beautiful winged eyeliner.

"Of course, I can tell. What's there not to see?" Ren Suo said casually, adding, "Hmm, very pretty."

Just a few days ago, you said I looked just as pretty with or without makeup, and you only noticed I'd put on makeup after I pointed it out...

Qiao Muyi's eyes narrowed slightly, and she smiled like a Little Fox that had just snitched a chick. Her charming and flirtatious expression was so bewitching that Ren Suo forgot all about the urgent matter at hand. Only after a dozen seconds did he slowly say, "I encountered Martial Soul Hall Warriors and Federal Watchers outside. It seems all Six Great Supernatural Organizations have sent people here to investigate. They're checking the guest registers at various inns."

"Is that so..."

Her joy dissipated like smoke. Qiao Muyi's smile faded, and she lowered her eyelids, concealing the desolation in her eyes.

Just as Ren Suo was about to say something to comfort Qiao Muyi, she suddenly opened her eyes wide, revealing a bright, brilliant smile. "But I haven't gotten out of bed yet."

"..."

Ren Suo simply looked at her calmly and asked, "So?"

"So, you have to wake me up," Qiao Muyi asserted confidently.

"??? What kind of weird game is this?" Ren Suo was baffled. He couldn't discern anything from listening to the echoes of her thoughts, so it seemed this really was Qiao Muyi's genuine intention.

"Just wake me up. Why are you, a grown man, being so hesitant?" Qiao Muyi pouted and said unhappily, "I just want to try being woken up by someone. Is that not okay?"

"Alright then, whatever the Young Master says, this servant will do," Ren Suo replied with a twitch of his lips, not understanding Qiao Muyi's intentions. Without dwelling on it, he shook Qiao Muyi, poked her on the head, and said, "Wake up! The sun's about to bake your backside!"

Qiao Muyi cooperated beautifully. She lazily stretched on the bed, casually showing off her fine figure. Then, propping herself up on her elbows and resting her cheek in her palm, she reclined on the bed, looked at Ren Suo with a smile, and asked, "Has day broken? Am I supposed to wake up now?"

"Yes, you need to wake up. It's a brand-new day," Ren Suo said, playing along.

"Okay."

Qiao Muyi suddenly kicked off the covers, sending the blanket rolling towards Ren Suo. Completely caught off guard by such a maneuver, he was instantly enveloped by it.

She stood up and looked around the lavish bedroom, filled with the lingering scent of them both. She saw her clothes and Ren Suo's hanging to one side, noticed the impressions they had left on the mattress, and recalled their earlier conversation, as sweet as that of newlyweds. The smile on her face was fleeting.

In a very soft whisper, she murmured, It's time to wake up.

Having Ren Suo wake me up... it couldn't have been more perfect.

Qiao Muyi turned her head and saw Ren Suo, his hair all messed up, looking back at her with an exasperated expression.

She smiled and, sitting down, said, "It's not surprising they could trace me to the Missile's location. The one pulling the strings Behind the Scenes was able to frame me as the Demon King, knows the details of my awakened spells, and it's perfectly natural for them to possess Spells capable of Scouting my exact location... It's as if they exist solely to eliminate me. We can't stay here any longer. Let's head into the mountains now."

"Can we make it there and back in one day?"

"Not necessarily. I've only traced faint clues to somewhere in the mountains. It's possible that..."

...it's all for nothing.

"Then let's go to the Morning Market to get some food and drink before we head out," Ren Suo said, ruffling his hair to neaten it before standing up. "We might have to stay in the mountains for a couple of days."

Qiao Muyi had no objections. She waved her hand, signaling Ren Suo to leave. "I'm going to change. Take your clothes and change in the living room."

Ren Suo took his clothes and left the bedroom, closing the door behind him. Just as Qiao Muyi was untying her yukata, preparing to change her top, Ren Suo's voice suddenly came from the other side of the door. "Hey, Qiao Muyi."

"Don't call me by my real name here—"

"You already know who the culprit Behind the Scenes is, don't you?" Ren Suo's voice was very close, as if he were right next to the door. "I've actually guessed it too, but I can't be sure... If they were to die, just like that, would it clear your name?"

Qiao Muyi pursed her lips, her expression complicated.

She picked up her top, walked to the door, and placed her hand against the black and red wood. In a slightly cheerful voice, she said, "Between a dead good person and a living menace, who do you think they would believe?"

"But you can find evidence—"

"They don't care about evidence. They just need a result: to catch the 'Demon King' who can create Demon King's Followers and is the Source of Disaster. Proving I don't have that kind of power won't satisfy the expectations of the Six Great Supernatural Organizations, not unless I can provide solid evidence identifying the culprit Behind the Scenes who *does* possess such power."

Qiao Muyi's voice grew calmer. As the Deputy Director of the Tactical Bureau, she understood the intentions of the Supernatural Organizations far better than Ren Suo. "When the wanted poster stated that my awakened spells could be transferred, the objective of the Six Great Supernatural Organizations was no longer just 'for Justice,' but also 'for greater interests.'"

"The premature death of the culprit Behind the Scenes would only make them seize my awakened spells for that last shred of possibility. Even if I provided evidence, it would be useless—they would treat me as the final sacrifice in this trial."

"If I truly want to escape unscathed, then either I find evidence and provide the Six Great Supernatural Organizations with a real Demon King, or I genuinely become the 'Demon King,' possessing the 'Demon King's' Abilities. At that point, I could at least use evidence to convince the Tactical Bureau, regain the Trust of the Mysterious Country, and the nation would protect me for my Abilities."

Ren Suo's reply carried a tone of sudden understanding. "Ah, so that's how it is..."

Leaning against the door, Qiao Muyi sat on the tatami mat, knees drawn up, hugging her top to her chest. She gazed down at the dark border of the tatami seams and said, "Actually, there's an even better way."

Ren Suo: "Oh? What way is that?"

Qiao Muyi poked the tatami with her index finger, tracing circles on it. "Just transmigrate to Another World. Then, all of Earth's troubles would have nothing to do with me."

Ren Suo chuckled. "You wish! If transmigration were possible, I'd want to do it too."

Qiao Muyi laughed. "Would you want to transmigrate as a Beastman or a Goblin?"

"Can't I just be a human?"

"If I transmigrated, I might become a Spirit. As for you, being a Beastman wouldn't be bad. You could carry my luggage and, while you're at it, carry me around on our travels..."

"Don't be so euphemistic with 'Beastman.' Just say I'd transmigrate into a horse," Ren Suo said. "So, who is the culprit Behind the Scenes? I'm mentally prepared; I just need your confirmation."

"Not telling you."

Fool. How could I possibly tell you? When the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up. You just go back to being a Salted Fish, focus on researching your Ren Naiser, and live a good life. I don't need you to avenge me.

I just want to go somewhere with you where no one knows us, to keep traveling, keep bickering playfully, keep...

Just then, Ren Suo's voice sounded again, so close it seemed to whisper beside her ear, resonating within her, precisely striking the softest spot in her heart. "Although I can't transmigrate to Another World with you, I'll always be by your side to find the evidence. We'll take down the culprit Behind the Scenes, seize their Abilities, and then, using a two-pronged approach, achieve a grand Reunion ending."

Qiao Muyi snorted, then laughed. "You're so greedy."

"Yeah. I even want to come back here again. I've heard it's especially beautiful when covered in snow, and there's a light festival. We could watch the lights of Shirakawa-go Shine from the mountains... Let's come back here next time."

Just the two of us?

Qiao Muyi opened her mouth, but in the end, only managed one word: "Okay."

Don't ask such silly questions. Don't compare yourself to others. Don't let resentment fester in your heart.

Besides, there probably won't be a next time.

However, as Qiao Muyi continued to trace circles on the tatami, her mind couldn't help but conjure images of a snow-covered Shirakawa-go. The two of them, bundled in thick padded coats and cotton gloves, building snowmen and having snowball fights in the courtyard. When they tired, they would tumble and roll in the snow, holding each other...

I just managed to wake up; don't lull me back to sleep again.

...

The Morning Market at Shirakawa-go was a typical combination of a vegetable market and a souvenir market. Ren Suo and Qiao Muyi bought two "Missile" beef buns. Each bun was palm-sized, tasted pretty good, and was quite hearty and flavorful.

Ren Suo knew they would be staying in the mountains for two days, but he didn't buy any food. Instead, he purchased two large water skins.

The "Unlimited Fried Chicken Set" had a cooldown of twelve hours. This meant they could eat fried chicken twice a day after entering the mountains, completely eliminating food worries. Water, however, was a different story; finding a source in the mountains was uncertain. Although it was snowing on the mountain, only a thin layer had accumulated, not enough to melt for drinking water.

While browsing the market, Ren Suo spotted a toy store, likely catering to locals. It didn't stock any particularly unique items, just the usual array of toys and related merchandise: Kamen Rider Transformation Belts, Superman transformation devices, Kamen Rider Masks, Magical Girl Wands...

Suddenly, Ren Suo stopped in his tracks. Qiao Muyi, who had been habitually holding his hand, also stopped. Following his gaze, she laughed, "What's this? A sudden surge of childlike enthusiasm?"

"Yeah." Ren Suo, however, nodded firmly. "Wait here for me; I'm going to buy something."

A short while later, Ren Suo emerged holding a long, pink box. Qiao Muyi glanced at it, her expression turning peculiar. "I didn't expect you to be a fan of Cardcaptor Sakura... Or are you planning to give it to Little Jiu? But has Little Jiu even seen this anime?"

Inside the long pink box was none other than the most frequently appearing Magic Wand from Cardcaptor Sakura—the Sealing Staff, also known as the Bird's Head Staff. It featured a bird-head shape formed by a red pointed beak and white feathers, and in the anime, it was generally used to thoroughly trounce the Clow Cards.

The Magic Wand Ren Suo bought was a 1:1 scale replica. It looked sturdy enough to be used as a club, but it was quite bulky, and they were about to head up the mountain.

Isn't it a bit inappropriate to buy something like this right now?

However, Ren Suo decisively tore open the box, took out the Bird's Head Staff, gave it a swing, and nodded with satisfaction.

Qiao Muyi blinked. "Oh, so it's for you? Are you planning to take this Magic Wand up the mountain? Or... is this Magic Wand actually one of your Casting Materials?"

Transcendents were full of oddities. Qiao Muyi had even read files about an awakened spell that required smelly socks to enhance its Casting Spells effect—as for how disgusting the Spell's effects were, that was better left unsaid. And among the props that could enhance Casting Spells effectiveness, besides smelly socks, there were Black Dog's Blood, women's clothing, glasses, Super Saiyan Wigs, and even cats...

Qiao Muyi had always known Ren Suo had secrets and that his awakened spell definitely wasn't Healing Magic. However, she had no intention of prying into his secrets; her question had merely been polite curiosity.

Yet, Ren Suo shook his head, handed the Bird's Head Staff to Qiao Muyi, and said seriously, "This is for you."

Qiao Muyi looked at Ren Suo, realizing he didn't seem to be joking. She reached out and pinched his cheek, tugging it this way and that—

Are you sure you're fully awake?