Chapter 1854

NO. 469: Discussing Terms, Saying Yes

I say, partner, are you sure you want to give up this rare rest time?

【Sure, how? Do you have other things to be busy with?】

Digital World, Hei'an Area, Skeleton Wasteland.

His appearance was that of a normal person; even the serpent horn that had been retained when he walked the church's garrison had vanished, and Star-Eating Zero calmly gazed at the vast, pale landscape.

【I have no intention of assigning you work; if there's anything you want to busy yourself with, just go ahead.】

"Eh~ how could I possibly leave my partner unattended in a place like this?" the witch on the screen wore a mischievous smile.

Although he was looking at the main body, he was indeed using the screen to view everything that Star-Eating Zero faced.

This attention inevitably reminded the demon person of the other's initial attitude of 'let's just talk about work.'

I wanted to say time flies, but in reality it's been less than a year.

In less than a year, the Witch Beast, who preferred to tinker with code in secret and called herself a 'magic path researcher' over work, had become this look of anticipation for playing a prank on herself.

Whether to say the relationship has improved or that the other's interests have taken a mistaken evolution, Aomo couldn't say; but given that the other's thoughts were completely transparent, this was probably a good thing.

Then there's no need for more words; just ignore it.

By the way, how exactly should I do the joke you mentioned? Actually go chat with the other side? I feel the other party won't show up~

However, that act of ignoring was also not noticed by the other party.

That lively and energetic—mainly manifested in being swept along by the broom, flying back and forth—yet the witch's trajectory is nimble and smooth, still chatting enthusiastically; the reason she didn't appear directly before the main body is also because Aomo's main body is still surrounded by several girls.

Several girls whose attention should not be drawn by this side's bold, reckless action.

Thus she ended up with that awkward demeanor: while talking with Aomo, her eyes kept looking toward Star-Eating Zero's side; not in the real world, nor having returned to the digital world, she merely used external network communication tools to monitor Star-Eating Zero and chat with Aomo.

Naturally, this also involves Aomo's indulgence. Otherwise, if Star-Eating Zero cut off the connection, it could sever the witch beast's camera; there are several reasons for not disconnecting, one of which is that the witch beast also bears the monitoring commission entrusted to Xiao Xi and Suzi.

He felt there were some misunderstandings in this, after all he isn't exactly an impulsive person, nor would he suddenly fall ill and make big news; although he has had a few impulsive actions in the past, they were all based on impulsive decisions with prudent execution, so there shouldn't be any major issue—but those two seem not to agree.

With the witch beast also standing there, Aomo wisely gave up arguing.

He complied.

It's just opening another screen, with a few more people on it.

Even when not necessary, the witch beast wouldn't directly manifest, after all Aomo, as the witch beast said, intends to go 'play a joke' on that high priest.

Joking is a discipline.

Anyone who tries to make themselves humorous and witty will delve into it, then experience a round of things turning out contrary to expectations.

The dull will repeatedly challenge, while the perceptive will fine-tune their steps and begin to realize that joking itself is a trap.

As a stroke of genius, it is naturally likable.

But when you deliberately pursue it, failure will enlighten you to the fact that it is actually an advanced challenge.

Therefore, Aomo Lindun feels most indifferent about the holiday, which is April Fools' Day.

Although others' jokes and teasing can be seen as a 'puzzle-solving' challenge, making him happy to be on the receiving end and preemptively expose them, he himself never truly participates in the teasing of 'fools.' Because the degree of a joke is hard to gauge, mishandling it easily becomes a provocation that angers people, or else a foolishness that disgusts them.

Thus, April Fools' jokes are mostly filled with self-centered output, completely disregarding whether the other party can accept it.

Demons naturally dislike this, but if the teasing is directed at an evil enemy rather than a friend, then it's another matter.

So when the witch beast asks him how to carry out the joke he mentioned, and the other party perhaps doesn't even want to show their face, he merely smiles.

【Also no need to show up, ah】

Text replaces speech, swiftly filling the chat box, making the witch who notices it even more suspicious: 'You want to leave her a message?'

【Wrong direction】

What?

Under the witch beast's gaze, Star-Eating Zero's steps did not cease, and every so often it would step into the space rift summoned by him, thus crossing the long distance, swiftly shuttling between the Bone Wasteland, the Mire of Sin, the Eternal Sin Corridor, the Wall of Sighs, and the Chaotic Vortex.

It gave her a subtle feeling of 'being in a hurry, but not knowing what for, as if even the destination is unclear'.

【She doesn't need to show up, I don't need to leave a message, because actions can also convey information, and I only need to wait for her reaction】

"Ah," the witch beast understood, "you want to provoke her? That works too."

"The Destruction Cult also took her belongings, so she must really hate you."

【She is also a very rational person】

The moment Aomo's words took shape, Star-Eating Zero halted.

Danger! Partner!

【Don't come out】

The spatial rift that was about to be stepped through quickly closed under the repair of streaks of black data, and a pair of astonishingly expansive dragon wings suddenly unfurled behind him.

The golden membrane wing, each single wing spanning two meters, like a bat's membrane wing, in the instant of unfolding in two stages, he violently swung it forward! Stirring up several fierce gusts, it also made his body, which appears extraordinarily small relative to the wing span, retreat swiftly amidst the gale.

At the same time, his raised palm condensed blazing-gold lightning to oppose the suddenly appearing light beam that tore through the air for several seconds!

Within those seconds, the see-saw progress revealed a trend toward defeat, so he stepped sideways together with the rear-swinging wing behind him, letting the beam graze the medal on his attire.

Drip.

The sound of liquid falling also came from the half-melted medal at the collar; Star-Eating Zero glanced at the twisted flower spreading in the alloy solution on the ground, then looked toward the source of the light.

【Aomo: Even came】

Star-Eating Zero: "What astonishing courage, Your Excellency the High Priest."

I should return these words to you unchanged.

With a gloomy gaze, he stared at the man whose wings had retracted, now resembling someone bearing two great banners; behind the high priest, the black door continuously spewed out death beasts, corpse satan beasts, feral ghost beasts, and new demon beasts—digital monsters that are especially common in the Demon King's army.

Most likely, an ultimate-form digital beast representing some kind of leader stands at her side, while the remaining digital beasts are arranged in formation, gradually acquiring the scale and momentum of an army.

Do you really think the power of the Maga Giant Snake and King Ghidorah alone would let you recklessly provoke here?

Or perhaps you've found a way to heal yourself, so you can reconstruct that aberrant fusion beast again to run wild here? I don't think so, Star-Eating Zero—have you looked in a mirror?

"Partner… your puppet face isn't quite right, huh…"

In the chaotic battle several days ago, the witch beast, also exhausted from constantly shifting battlefields, had never truly seen what the information chip carried by Shi Xing Ling looked like when it gained the upper hand.

They would thus feel a bit surprised to see Shi Xing Ling's face being covered by glowing, rose‑vine‑like patterns, and the countenance revealing a few draconic, ferocious traits.

But it was only surprise, after all she didn't think this was a sign of her partner losing control.

You should know that the partner themselves already has a far more fearsome form; compared to the demonic transformation, this light half‑dragonification is as harmless as the words they speak.

"So I've come to discuss terms with you, Your Eminence, the High Priest."

(End of chapter)