Chapter 217

Kagami has already noticed Xiao Xi's feelings toward Jiang Xia.

Even if his brain is slow, he can see many things; every detail shows that unusual feeling.

Xiao Xi's every change is inseparable from him; originally thought it was just the relationship getting a bit better, but now Kagami suddenly realizes it's not just that simple.

The gaze of the originally embarrassed Kagami letting go starts to seem odd, as if he saw something very amusing; he doesn't believe Jiang Xia doesn't know Xiao Xi's feelings toward him.

Seeing Kagami's teasing gaze, Rixia Bu Xi, who was originally in the back kitchen, couldn't stay put, but had no other choice; finally she could only glare fiercely at Kagami, as if warning him not to speak of it.

Jiang Xia looks at Kagami, who seems to be looking at him like a joke, and thinks, "Your gaze is like you've caught hold of a handle!"

But unfortunately, what you've grabbed has no use. So Jiang Xia finishes the last bite and stands up,

turns his head and says to Xiao Xi: "Let's go out to relax today and leave the restaurant to Kagami."

"Hmm." Rixia Bu Xi nods.

Now it's Kagami's turn to be dumbfounded; what should I do alone? I only know how to clean and tidy tables, but how to handle orders? He can't do anything.

"Go find the boss lady or look for Tiandao." Jiang Xia pats Kagami's shoulder.

"Wait..." Kagami hadn't finished speaking when the restaurant was left with only him inside.

Alright, Kagami now knows he shouldn't provoke him.

Jiang Xia rides the bicycle while Rixia Bu Xi sits on the rear seat; the ginkgo leaves covering the ground, golden yellow, seem to glow in the sunlight.

The ginkgo leaves gently detach from the branches, flutter down, not like petals, yet even more like petals.

For a moment, Rixia Bu Xi's eyes are engulfed in the sky-full of gold.

She instinctively reaches out, gently catches one, the corners of her mouth lift slightly, a blush rises on her fair cheeks: "So beautiful!"

She longs for more, more.

And Kagami also told the boss lady about Jiang Xia and Xiao Xi going out to play.

Upon hearing the news, Zumi Yuko slapped her thigh hard, indicating she would immediately give Kagami a raise.

After a month of disappearance, she finally acted; this habit of occasionally disappearing needs to change, from now on we can't keep doing this.

Jiang Xia slowly grips the brake; Rixia Bu Xi jumps off the rear seat, the bicycle won't go.

Whenever she encounters a puzzling problem, she comes here alone; she clearly remembers every detail of this place.

Following the gravel path upward, this place faces the sea, surrounded by layered peaks; the mournful sea wind constantly echoes in the rugged mountain gullies.

Actually this place isn't far from the restaurant; it's just that normally no one deliberately comes to the cliff edge.

Jiang Xia and Rixia Bu Xi leave footprints step by step, following the opened path upward; the highest point is their destination.

As they step onto it, the waves howl, ten thousand li of billows.

Jiang Xia merely feels the scene before him very familiar, though not this world, but the original place; standing at the highest point, he takes a deep breath and gazes at this spot.

On the cliff grassland stand two small graves; unlike what he saw before, here lie the parents of Rixia Bu Xi.

This is her secret; every so often she returns here, does nothing, just stands quietly, and an afternoon passes like that.

But today she also brought another person, someone who has helped her a lot.

Jiang Xia looks up along the tombstone; on the gray-white marble are engraved the names of Rixia Bu Xi's father Sōichi and mother Mayumi.

The tombstone is like two small rooms, they lean tightly together, mutually dependent.

These are the Original Insects of the Mimicry Tiandao Chief's parents who died in the Shibuya ruins; they were buried here in human form.

Previously, to Rixia Bu Xi this world was like an infinite cage; she felt as if her wings had been clipped, losing the ability to fly toward the sky.

She was bound by this sky, constantly yearning for the heavens, waiting for the day her wings would regrow.

But that opportunity would never come.

Formerly, the world for Rixia Bu Xi was like that; hatred robbed her of the ability to grow wings, but now she has it: one is her family, the other is Jiang Xia.

She brought Jiang Xia here, with no other thought, merely wanting to tell her parents that she's doing well now, so they needn't worry.

She has regained her wings of flight; this world is no longer a cage binding her, but a home that lets her be reborn.

Rixia Bu Xi takes out the flower she had kept wrapped in her bosom, then gazes at her parents' black-and-white photo, gently placing the bouquet before their graves.

When she does this, her eyes no longer hold sorrow or hatred, but are filled with relaxation and peace.

Jiang Xia stands beside her, watching Rixia Bu Xi's body, seeing the wings gradually grow, seeing the body emit a pure white light,

The wind unknowingly gathers, carrying the dandelions that once blanketed the meadow toward the sky, like a fireworks display.

Jiang Xia previously wasn't sure if Rixia Bu Xi could accept being an Original Insect, but he never expected her to awaken here.

No longer is it external pressure forcing self-preservation awakening; rather, Rixia Bu Xi's heart undergoes an unimaginable change,

this change becomes power, awakening the mighty power originally belonging to the Molting Original Insect within her body.

The heart is the source of power—not just for Knights, but even for monsters; this is the best interpretation of enemies and allies sharing the same origin.

"What... what has happened to me?" Rixia Bu Xi looks at her own appearance.

She merely feels the world suddenly changed, and then something seems to have suddenly flooded her consciousness.

Upon clearly seeing her own form, Rixia Bu Xi lets out a sharp scream.

Her entire body is covered in jade-green skin, black lines spreading across every part,

the insect wings on her back unfold, her whole body resembles something floating on Earth.

The green wing membranes resemble lotus leaves dropping from her waist; her formerly beautiful appearance instantly turns into a hideous monster, her eyes also shrouded in black stripes.

Floating Original Insect.

She weeps while looking at Jiang Xia, unable to imagine what will happen once Jiang Xia knows she is an Alien Insect.

She knows Alien Insects are the target her brother Tiandao Chief and Jiang Xia aim to eliminate, but she never imagined she herself would be that target.

If she is an Alien Insect, then everything she now possesses is false, all a sham.

The Original Insect's power has been unleashed; suddenly the Floating Original Insect's wings spread wide,

Its whole body seems to convulse; a powerful impact instantly engulfs this place, a scorching explosion instantly envelops the surroundings, erupting outward!

No!

Rixia Bu Xi looked at the explosions all around, and immediately let out a mournful cry.

(End of chapter)