Chapter 1318

No response.

The teacher sat in the chair, his gaze sweeping past the window lattice of Xuanlong Gate and fixing directly on the two cute pink-haired girls in the sky curtain, completely failing to hear Feixiao's question.

Feixiao's hand holding the teacup paused slightly.

"Teacher." She added weight to her tone, but not so much that it sounded deliberate, "Have you seen enough?"

"!"

The teacher came back to himself as if waking from a dream, looking somewhat dazed and guilty at Feixiao: "Ah? Feixiao, what did you just say?"

"Nothing." Feixiao lifted her eyelids, the corner of her mouth bearing a faint smile, "I was merely asking the teacher for his opinion, not wanting the teacher to be busy with official duties, busy…… 'admiring' the sky curtain. It's my fault for not picking a good time."

Xinnai blinked, leaning close to Shun's ear to whisper softly: "Shun sis, is the sect master angry?"

Shun quickly covered her sister's mouth: "Don't talk, just drink tea."

The teacher hastily sat upright, cleared his throat and explained: "Sorry sorry, I wasn't spacing out just now, I was thinking—yes, thinking. Feixiao, what you just said… I find it interesting; could you elaborate?"

"Oh? So the teacher was thinking. I thought Xilian miss was so stunningly beautiful that the teacher momentarily forgot the time." Feixiao lifted her teacup again, "But speaking of which, Xilian miss really is pretty. Pink hair, delicate features, and those clear-as-water eyes—no wonder people stare, not even hearing what I say."

"I was wrong…" The teacher put his palms together, surrendering on the spot.

"I didn't say anything, why must the teacher apologize?" Feixiao put on a spoiled act, though her mouth twitched with a smile, "But now the teacher can finally listen to me properly, right?"

——

"……"

"Three Month Seven stared for a moment, then hesitantly lowered her head. 'To be honest, I don't know which side is the truth. But you're willing to stand before me, putting in all this effort to dissuade me. This makes me want to trust you more. Xilian, do you know how I can return to my own world?'"

"The method is actually not complicated at all; just turn back and then step by step leave this place."

"Before Xilian's words had finished, a translucent shadow suddenly appeared beside her, saying: 'Don't believe… that girl…… passing through…… the door…… helping…… memory garden…… you are all…… children of 【Memory】……'"

"'It's really troublesome, right? But never listen to them; you must walk forward resolutely.' Xilian turned to San Qi and said, 'The road back may take a long time, much longer than an ordinary person's lifetime…… but you must believe, that is the direction of home.'"

"'……' San Qi lowered her head, pondering deeply, then solemnly said: 'Thank you, Xilian. I've decided.'"

"The girl turned her body, facing the great door: 'I have decided to walk through this door and enter Ouroboros.'"

"Xilian blinked slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing her eyes: 'Huh? Why……'"

"San Qi, however, lightly laughed: 'Don't worry, I'm not doubting you. But for me, the only place that can be called 'home'…… is where my companions are.'"

"'My two most important friends have already set off first, their destination being Ouroboros. Although it seems somewhat reliable, only I know……' San Qi paused, her words carrying a hint of pride, '…they are two super, super worrisome rascals! Without me as their mainstay, they'd probably be unable to take a single step in the new world.'"

Xilian quietly looked at her.

Gradually, the corner of her mouth also curled up with a hint of a gentle smile.

"'So, since the door behind leads to Ouroboros, I have no reason not to catch up. And as long as the three of us are together, there's no difficulty we can't overcome.'"

——

The Funeral of Frieren

"Their threefold bond…… is truly wonderful."

Zan Yin gazed at San Yue Qi's determined, resolute eyes, feeling a twinge of envy. However, thinking of San Yue Qi's body still being in a frozen state……

He briefly imagined Velt and Himeko, Star and Dan Heng losing contact the moment they entered Ouroboros, with San Yue Qi's body also acting strangely…… If possible, he still hopes San Yue Qi can quickly reunite with Star and the others, and find a way to let the two 'parents' on the train know they're safe.

"However, since San Yue Qi has arrived in Ouroboros, where exactly is she?" Sutaluk couldn't help but wonder, "Besides the city-states swallowed by the Black Tide, the few remaining cities in Ouroboros—Star and the others should have scoured them all by now, right? Why is there not a trace of San Yue Qi?"

"To answer this question, I think it depends on when exactly the conversation between Xilian and San Yue Qi took place." Frieren slowly closed the grimoire in her hand, saying lightly, "Did San Yue Qi enter Ouroboros first, or did she and Dan Heng, Star and the others arrive there first? In this world, time flows differently from the outside; a few minutes outside could correspond to several days inside. Even if they differed by only a few hours, they could be separated by anywhere from several months to a year."

"But, Lady Frieren, this still doesn't solve the problem of where exactly San Yue Xiaojie is." Filien whispered from the side, "If San Yue Xiaojie had arrived in Ouroboros earlier, she should have made contact with Aglaea and Tiboo much sooner; the golden lineage couldn't possibly know nothing about San Yue Qi."

"That……" Frieren pondered, nodding slightly, "Could San Yue Qi have actually become a ghost? Even if she were a ghost, the Eclipse Moth should be able to sense her presence, right? How could she have left not a trace of activity?"

——

"Explore, understand, build, connect——then we will return home together!"

The girl's voice was clear and resolute, like a ray of morning light breaking through the clouds.

"... Is that so. You also have companions more important than life." Xilian smiled with relief, slowly walking to her side, "Just hearing it makes my heart pound. San Yue, since this is your decision, I will surely stand by you."

She leaned in slightly, teasingly remarking, "Who made us so alike? Beneath our weak, cute exteriors lie ardent, sincere hearts!"

"... Save that kind of talk for someone else next time!" San Yue Qi scratched her head, embarrassed.

"Then, I'm setting off?"

Xilian gave a light nod.

Before passing through that door, San Yue Qi halted her steps, finally turning to glance at her once. The girl's eyes held a hint of reluctance as she softly asked, "Will we… still have a chance to meet again in the future?"

"Who knows?" Xilian tilted her head slightly, her smile remaining as gentle as ever.

"However, you don't need to worry about me. I've been here so long that I've grown accustomed to chatting with the friends I imagine."

"Since Ouroboros is your homeland… if there's any way I can help, I and my companions will surely do our utmost."

Xilian smiled and nodded: "Hmm, then I'll eagerly await, okay?"

San Yue nodded, and as she passed through the door, the girl's figure gradually blurred like a wet oil painting.

Xilian stood in place, watching the girl's receding back.

"Go forth, San Yue. I wish you all could write an incredibly romantic story♪"