Chapter 531: with translation of chapter title

As altitude kept climbing, the light-flame-spraying propulsion device on Sam's back also emitted a strained humming, its core already dark, spewing piercing electric sparks.

But Liuying's eyes showed no wavering.

"A human life is too short, like a moth flying into fire. So, if you too have found an answer in your heart..."

Through Sam's vision, she could see deeper, more chaotic, more bizarre depths of the memory realm ahead—that was the only place where a neutron bomb could be detonated!

"Er ah ah ah——!!"

A stifled roar mixed with pain and determination burst from her clenched teeth, and the already overburdened propulsion device, driven by this reckless will, actually let out a final deafening roar.

"Always remember, don't leave yourself with regrets. We have this right… right?"

Xing, usually lively, now closed his eyes tightly, fingertips touching, silently praying devotedly toward the girl who fearlessly charged toward the brink of destruction.

Just as tension tightened—

"Bang!"

A blinding flash of white light shattered the night's brief silence.

Immediately after, it wasn't a single sound but countless delicate, pleasant tinks; the night's black velvet was ripped open by this white light—

The first firework quietly burst open.

It was Miss Huāhuǒ's portrait, lifelike as if a girl in the night sky were pretending to be a ghostly face, playfully dragging a long, translucent red tail, but it seemed merely a signal.

The next moment, the night sky became an endless canvas.

Like more seeds scattered into the night sky, fireworks vied to bloom, instantly filling Pinokangni's night sky to bursting, enveloping the whole of Pinokangni in a hazy, romantic shower of fireworks.

——

Slaying the Crimson Red Eye.

"Huu… great, it's just fireworks. Not a bomb… really great."

Seeing the fireworks blooming in the sky, Tazmi's perpetually tense shoulders finally relaxed, he let out a long, heartfelt sigh: "... As long as Miss Liuying is safe."

His focused, relieved expression and that sigh clearly showing his happiness for her fell unmissed into Main's eyes beside him.

"Hmph!"

A clear hum of obvious dissatisfaction came from beside him.

Main crossed her arms, turned her face away, deliberately avoiding looking at Tazmi, almost writing "I'm not happy" on her face.

"Is that woman… really worth staring at like that…?" she muttered, deliberately lowering her voice to a level Tazmi could barely hear, "What an idiot… Tazmi…"

The air was tinged with a sour smell.

Only then did Tazmi belatedly react, somewhat blankly turning his head to Main: "Eh? Main, what's wrong?"

"Nothing!" Main snapped her head back, glaring at him, cheeks slightly puffed: "I just think that certain idiot is too easy to fool! That doll is just a trick Huāhuǒ used to deceive everyone! It's obvious at a glance! Only someone as simple as you would believe such flashy nonsense!"

Her words came rapid-fire, yet listening to them sounded like forced excuses.

Tazmi grew more confused, completely missing the point: "Eh? But… Main, when Miss Liuying hugged the bomb and flew up just now, you seemed the most nervous of everyone, didn't you?"

"Enough already!!" Main stomped her feet in anger, turned and marched into the base, "Just keep staring at your Liuying all you want, you idiot Tazmi!"

Having said that, the girl stormed off, leaving only a bewildered, at‑a‑loss Tazmi, unaware what he had said wrong this time.

The silently observing Chìtóng ate his rice ball calmly, eyes showing no ripple, merely murmuring softly: "... Tazmi, slow."

——

Huāhuǒ, hands behind her back, hopped over to Xing's back.

The tinkling of bells carried a warm breath, drawing nearer. Xing snapped his head back, just meeting Huāhuǒ's clever, smiling face; she almost rested her petite chin on his shoulder, her playful tone hinting at doubt and incomprehension.

"If you care so much about others' safety—why not get closer to look?"

She suddenly drew from behind her back a wooden mallet as tall as herself, shouting "Heave-ho!" as she swung it at Xing's back; though it seemed harmless, it directly shoved Xing off the Radiant Long Stone!

But in the next second, Sam darted past the Radiant Long Stone, firmly grasped Xing's falling body, and immediately shot skyward.

"Look, in this land of dreams, everything is permitted, everything is possible. We came here with our own purposes, and achieved them in unexpected ways."

"When it reached the highest point, the mecha's light flowed and shifted, layers separating and converging, revealing the girl's familiar silhouette."

"She steadfastly held Xing in a princess carry; the immense kinetic energy, in this moment softened by dream‑like power, turned into incredible weightlessness and lightness."

"Their four eyes met."

"No trace of prior resolve or tragedy remained—only pure, almost transparent satisfaction. She slightly adjusted her posture in midair, her hands sliding gently yet firmly into Xing's fingers."

"They clasped tightly."

"Their fingertips intertwined tightly, warmth passing through the gloves, speaking more of the girl's heart than any words could."

——

Frieren of the Funeral.

"You two, hurry up and get married——!!"

Zan Yin slammed his beer mug onto the table with a "thud", watching the two in the sky already at this point; a strong surge of sourness and jealousy made him involuntarily down a few more cups.

The canopy almost covered the whole sky; if fireworks were being set off in it, it would be like a grand fireworks rain over the entire continent, and in this atmosphere many pairs of adventurers had already left the tavern.

In the empty tavern, only Zan Yin and Frieren remained, silently drinking.

"I really want to have a drink with a beautiful, mature older sister under the fireworks!"

"Older sister?" Frieren's pointed ears seemed to catch something sensitive; she lifted her head, flashing a cheeky smile: "If you don't mind, Zan Yin, as a mature older sister I can have a drink with you."

"I don't want to."

Zan Yin pointed at the fleet of trains flashing by in the sky: "The beautiful, mature older sister I have in mind is someone like Himeko or Kafka; you could probably never become like them, right?"

Frieren set her fork down on the table, turned and headed back to her room without looking back, leaving as she went the light remark: "... Superficial."