Toyokawa Shoko doesn't want to become a witch

Page 281

"Cerberus."

As the spell took effect, the fragments transformed into a threaded short gun in her hand.

The short gun was exactly the same as the spiral gun that pierced Cerberus's chest, except that it was smaller in size, making it easy for Xiangzi to use.

Offering: Fragments of the guard's threaded gun

Power: A+, Attribute: None, Duration: S, Rarity: A+

The spear that pierced Cerberus's chest can be used as an offering to create a custom-sized threaded spear in one's hand.

This is good stuff.

Xiangzi didn't mind replacing the memory space of Ice Wolf Fang with it.

Having received the new offerings, Xiangzi put them away contentedly and turned to look at the man kneeling in the center of the square.

She carried the threaded gun and walked over.

Judging from Cerberus's appearance, this was supposed to be a guard's lance, but it pierced his own chest, and moreover, it was pierced from behind.

He was stabbed by his own people.

Was he betrayed?

Xiangzi raised the tip of his gun and aimed it at the man's forehead.

"Is Master going to use that again?" Ai Yin looked uncomfortable and turned her head away, seemingly unwilling to look.

Of all the people, she had been with Xiangzi the longest. During this time, Aiyin had seen Xiangzi use this "magic" many times.

"What is that?" Li Xi raised an eyebrow.

"sacrifice."

It was Xiao Su Shi who spoke. She stared blankly as Xiang Zi gripped the screw gun with his hand covered in white feathers and aimed the tip at the man's brow.

"She's going to 'sacrifice' this person."

"What does sacrifice mean?" Li Xi didn't understand.

During the month she spent wandering around this world, she and Hailing explored sparsely populated areas and had never heard of such a term before.

"It's about using him as an offering to exchange for his memories and power—in gaming terms, experience, extra experience," Ai Yin whispered. "My little master is currently level eight, higher than me..."

Ai Yin's level is level seven, while Xiang Zi was level one when she entered the game, and now she is level one higher.

It's all because of "sacrifice"—through "sacrifice," Xiangzi gains a lot of extra experience. No wonder she could hold her own against Cerberus for several rounds.

Xiangzi slightly extended his hand forward, and the tip of the gun pierced the man's forehead.

A dark red light burst forth from the man's body.

"ah------!"

The man let out a hoarse scream, his eyes rolled back, and the black and red light on his body was absorbed by the spiral gun in Xiangzi's hand, flowing into his arm covered with beautiful feathers.

It seems that, without anyone noticing, that arm has become more beautiful.

"Isn't this... a sacrifice?!" Lixi's eyes widened. "What she's doing is too..."

“I think so too, but… Riki.” Aine whispered in Riki’s ear, “Don’t forget, everyone in this world except us is a familiar.”

They are not human, but merely familiars. Since they are familiars, they should not have any psychological burden when offering sacrifices.

This is a phrase that Xiangzi always says.

Although she herself didn't quite believe it, it was precisely because of this statement that she was able to kill the monsters without mercy, sacrificing their "souls" and then using their heads to exchange for bounty money, which enabled the group to develop rapidly.

Her ability to quickly rise to the rank of "adjutant" in Santo Xiuya was largely due to her decisive and ruthless actions.

Xiangzi, his face grim, gripped the screw gun tightly, feeling something flowing into his arm from the guard's body.

The guard's combat skills, memories, and power were flooding into Xiangzi's mind, just like when she absorbed the witch's lamentation seed.

She gritted her teeth and faced the onslaught of memories.

The Lost Tale: The Lost Child - Chapter 353 The Guardian's Memories

The Pass of Wrath is located in a canyon bordering the World of Desire and the World of Wrath, a place once frequently attacked by barbarians and monsters from the World of Wrath.

The man was born in Guankou City. Driven by his love for his homeland, he picked up a screw gun and joined the Guankou City defense force, becoming a guard.

He led two fierce hunting dogs and stood guard in front of the city wall, achieving many military exploits.

The story of the man and his two hounds spread throughout the Pass of Wrath and even further afield, becoming quite well-known throughout the empire.

What truly made him famous was a routine inspection.

On that occasion, the young Red Queen, at the suggestion of her staff, asked him if he wanted to go to the capital to join the Centurion Corps of the Imperial Guard and become a general.

He refused.

He felt immense honor and joy in his work of guarding the nation's borders and protecting his hometown.

He lived for this.

This incident made him famous throughout the empire and gradually established the reputation of the Pass of Wrath. More and more people noticed the city and saw business opportunities there.

They gather in the city, heading to the world of anger to pan for gold, and bringing their spoils back to the world of desire to exchange for money.

Because of the presence of guards, they did not need to worry about the border falling. The presence of guards gave everyone an unprecedented sense of security. It seemed that as long as the guards remained in the city, the prosperity would continue.

He probably never expected that the end would come so suddenly.

The plague spread quietly through the city, and people who feared the disease and gatherings began to evacuate the land.

At the time, the whole country was in the same boat. Anger Pass was not the only city affected, but in any case, the loss of population and the spread of disease quickly caused the city to lose its vitality.

The guards could no longer tolerate this situation; the city they were supposed to protect was slowly declining, or even disappearing.

He dedicated his entire life to "protecting the city from the encroachment of an angry world." This was his purpose in life, the meaning of his existence. Once he lost this purpose, he would have no reason to live.

The guard angrily denounced those leaving the city as "heartless bastards."

This idea has become increasingly radical.

He began to seal off the city, using violence against citizens who wanted to leave, using the fear of power to keep them inside the gates.

Although the plague continued to spread relentlessly within the city, it meant nothing to the guards who were gradually descending into madness.

As long as this building still stands, and the person is still here, his life's wish remains.

Misfortune never comes singly. One day, amidst the plague, monsters arrived outside the Gate of Wrath.

disaster?

For ordinary people, this might be a disaster.

For the guard, this was a reward, an important piece of evidence that he had achieved his life goals.

Only with enemies can he protect his city.

Right, that is it.

Come on, bring on more of you, let me drive you all away.

He looked dazed, opened his hands, and asked his men for his spiral gun.

but......

The screw-down gun, which should have been delivered to him, was thrust out from an angle where there was no enemy.

This blind spot is his back, and it's the place he's protected his whole life.

The residents, including his men, who could no longer tolerate his atrocities, pierced him from behind with their own guns.

The screwdriver pierced his spine; he didn't even have a chance to resist, collapsing helplessly to the ground, watching the world recede into the distance. Two loyal hunting dogs came to his side, licking his wound with their wet tongues.

He weakly raised his hand to stroke his beloved dog's head, awaiting death.

In his fading consciousness, the guard saw an incredible sight.

The Holy Grail, according to legend, can grant wishes.

Give up what is most important to you, and you will have the opportunity to fulfill your wishes.

Anger ignited the guards.

The hounds surrounding him merged into his body, and the helmet, resembling a vicious dog, became his flesh and blood, transforming into a vengeful monster filled with furious flames.

Yes, the first thing he offered was his beloved dog.

Without their companionship, I wouldn't be where I am today.

The monsters born inside the walls slaughtered all the monsters outside, and then extended their claws to the inhabitants inside.

It seeks revenge.

However, its love for its hometown outweighed its anger at being betrayed.

It has another wish, and for this, it is willing to give up its most important thing: the inhabitants of the city it has devoted its entire life to protecting.

The corpses were piled up like mountains.

The guardian, transformed into Cerberus, wept in the city square, facing the mountain of corpses.

The Holy Grail did not respond to its wish.

Because... the chance to fulfill one's wish is only once, and it used that chance for revenge.

The monster roared to the sky, letting out a mournful howl like the distant barking of a wild dog.

Its true wish is to restore Guankou to its appearance more than ten years ago. No, not even more than ten years ago, the year before last, or even last year, as long as it was before the plague arrived.

All it wanted was to return to those happy, carefree days under its protection.

==========

"what......"

Xiangzi covered his forehead, which felt like it was about to crack, and accepted the guard's memories.

"...Just as I thought... that's how it is..."

She showed no surprise and clenched her right hand.

After sacrificing Cerberus, she felt her power increase further, and the feathers on her right arm became fuller and more beautiful.

However, my mind is filled with the memories and feelings of many people.

Xiangzi gritted his teeth, shook his head, straightened his body, and put the screw gun away.

She looked up at the sky and let out a long sigh.

It's all worth it.

Xiangzi thought.

"Xiao Xiang...are you...alright?" Chu Hua asked worriedly as she walked to her side.

"...It's nothing." Xiangzi shook his head. "We should go. The Centurion Gang will probably be here soon."

—And Santoshouari.

Xiangzi raised his eyes and looked in the direction from which the sound came.

The person who answered was not one of them, but a figure dressed in the same nun's habit as Xiangzi, standing above the ruins, blurred by the sunlight.

“You can’t just leave like this, ‘Lieutenant’.” The figure standing on the ruins had a clear voice. She said softly, “Your mission is not yet complete.”

Xiangzi covered his still throbbing forehead, his eyes gradually focusing on the man.

"I do not know you."

"Of course you don't know me, because I've always followed the crowd."

A figure jumped down from the ruins, the dazzling light disappeared, and a face that looked about fifteen or sixteen years old appeared in front of Xiangzi.

"Let me introduce myself. I am Nene Yashiki, the adjutant of the Second Resistance Army of Santo Hurley."

The girl introduced herself.

"She is an eccentric, and also... a magical girl."