Chapter 1325

"How come you changed identities again? Just a short while ago you were a drifter from a foreign land, and you made a sword‑arts study contract with me as a hero..."

"These words instantly made Bai Er's face flush: '…Spare me! Let's not bring up the past.'"

"\"By the way, weren't we supposed to look at the Shenpai? It's been ages since we played a divination game—why did I suddenly remember it today? \""

"\"I was just about to tell you: not long ago, I fell asleep sweetly on the swing and had a strange dream…\" Xilian lowered her head in thought, \"In that dream, there was always a vague voice, as if calling for something. \""

"Bai Er furrowed his brows: '…You had that dream too?'"

"\"Hmm… you too? No wonder, after waking up I always feel uneasy inside. \" Xilian said, \"So I recalled the Shenpai I often played with as a child—although the omens from Oronis are always hard to interpret. \""

"Bai Er: 'When the kids draw a good card like "King" or "Warrior," they cheer; if they get a "Demon" or "Drunkard," they shout that it doesn't count and draw again—taking back their word whenever they want. Can divination really reveal anything true?'"

"Xilian smiled gently: 'Children are always happy, thinking the gods don't notice the little corners of Aolixie, turning a blind eye… but fate is always certain. After all, we don't know how far in the future the future shown in the omens lies.'"

——

The dragon maid of the Kobayashi household.

"\"Did Xilian and Bai Er have the same dream, also concerning that talk of the 'ashen hero' and the 'nameless savior'? \" Kobayashi recalled what Bai Er had heard in his dream earlier, feeling it a bit strange."

"\"You shall bear the proud sun until the ashen dawn becomes apparent…\""

Considering that those previous omens, though they sounded mystical, were without exception literal in meaning, Kobayashi tried hard to understand a few prophecies literally, yet still found them somewhat abstract.

Bear the proud sun? Could it mean letting Bai Er walk forward with the sun on his back? If we liken the sun to a dawn‑machine, that interpretation isn't impossible.

But the sun is so scorching—carrying such a thing would surely burn him to ashes.

"\"Kobayashi, if Laigushi is the operator of the scepter, does that mean all the omens are announced by Laigushi? \" Tor tilted his head, his amber eyes brimming with curiosity."

"\"Yes, logically it indeed has the ability to manipulate the omens and a reason to do so. However——"

Kobayashi had a strange feeling that the few omens Bai Er had just received in his dream were unrelated to Laigushi—no, it should be said that Laigushi would never say such things to Bai Er.

But if it isn't Laigushi, then who is speaking these omens to Bai Er and Xilian in the dream?

——

"\"Several people went to look for the previously hidden Shenpai; along the way, Star not only read Bai Er's childhood essay about the savior, but also toured his hometown, and finally the three arrived at a granary. \""

"\"The granary under the sunlight exudes the scent of ripe wheat. From the straw heap we dug out the various fruits the squirrels had hoarded, and… a wooden figurine missing an arm and a leg. \""

"\"A voice only Star could hear came from mid‑air, the exclusive narration of Laigushi. \""

Bai Er let out a "Huh": "The half‑carved little soldier? It's actually still here… Wait, isn't this the one that Teacher Pisi Thesi confiscated back then? Hey, now we're finally reunited…"

Before his words had even finished, Professor Pisi Thesi walked up from behind: "Bai Er, Xilian? Where are you headed?"

"\"Speak of the devil… Professor Pisi Thesi? Has school let out?" Bai Er turned and asked."

"\"Hehe, there's no class today. This morning I divined with fallen leaves for Oronis, and it said the kids are prone to injury today, so I gave everyone the day off. Coincidentally, it's the busy farming season now, so even without class there's still other work to do. \""

"\"Xilian: 'The little schoolhouse of Aolixie has only you as a teacher—it's really too much.'\""

"\"It's all for the students; a little tiredness is no problem." Professor Pisi Thesi said, "This time, when you go far away, please go to the legendary Divine Wisdom Tree Garden on my behalf and witness the true garden of wisdom…\""

——

Fate/Demonic Beast War Front Babylonia

"\"……Huh? \""

Mashu slightly opened her mouth, her gaze darting back and forth between Bai Er's plain attire and the wooden figurine he held in his palm, as if the whole person had suffered a great shock: "Is… this really Mr. Bai Er? The one who shouldered the Fire Pursuit Journey, bearing the memories of all worlds, the savior of Ouroboros? Turns out he was… this… so ordinary?!"

Stuffed into a drift bottle, full of misspellings, the little essay; the wooden soldier toy carved all crooked… At first glance, it's completely the childhood of an ordinary boy.

"\"I never imagined Bai Er had such a… fireworks‑filled time as a child. \" Fujimaru also felt it unbelievable: "I thought that as a golden‑blooded Bai Er and Xilian, they'd have undergone strict training from childhood, and only when they were old enough would they be summoned by Aohema…""

"\"Oh dear, Rikuka‑kun, do you really think heroes are born already clad in armor, destined to save the world?" Merlin approached with a grin, "A so‑called hero also has a mortal side before becoming a hero. In fact, it's precisely because Bai Er has a mortal side that he was chosen as leader by Aglaea. \""

"\"That's not wrong, but from what they're saying, are they planning to set off soon for Aohema?" Mashu frowned slightly, "Senior, does that also mean……"

"\"…The fire‑thieves are coming to attack. \""

Fujimaru Rikuka's expression gradually grew solemn; although the sky over Aolixie remained calm and bright, showing no sign of disaster, what is displayed here is Bai Er's past memories, and the impending disaster will become the greatest driving force for him to embark on the Fire Pursuit Journey.

However, what puzzles Fujimaru Rikuka is that Xilian appears in the space where March Seventh is.

Was she imprisoned in that space after being killed by the fire‑thieves?

——

"\"The three came to a sacrificial courtyard while searching for the Shenpai; this place was one of the spots where Bai Er and Xilian often agreed to meet as children. \""

"\"I still remember… you always called me out to play without using the front door, loving to climb over the wall—so mischievous! Just like someone, you can't pin down when you'll show up, right? \""

"\"Star crossed her arms: 'That's exactly how I am—impossible to read.'\""

"\"Xilian smiled brightly: 'Hee! I guess she gave a mischievous answer.'\""