Chapter 603: with translation of chapter title

NO. 185: Zaluo: I have noticed!

【Deep Brew Coffee: Aimu Zhiji's classmate indeed has a returning spirit body nearby, and a face very similar to Aimu Zhiji's classmate can be vaguely seen—is it a mirror spirit?】

Low-level spirits often appear following simple summoning rituals, used as divination tools, attaching to dead objects or appearing in mirrors—and that image is usually the one standing before the mirror.

Spirits like these can all be called mirror spirits.

Before cultivation methods were widely popularized, such low-level spirits were the most common, and the basic knowledge of source energy studies even directly marked the point that 'basic spirits lack a self'.

Need to take an exam.

They are remnants left at the brink of life, the dregs of chaos; according to radical soul theory, since they cannot correctly recognize themselves, they do not even deserve to be called souls.

Even to this day, funerary rites in both East and West contain a similar segment of lighting lamps, intended to guide spirits back to the path of rebirth.

These are the lowest-level wandering souls, easily attracted by the living's extreme mental states, and they instinctively imitate those around them, even their own appearance—Chazuo is most familiar with such souls, after all, the entrance exam of the Spirit Summoning department often requires contact with these low-level spirits.

And she herself, as an excellent medium, has attracted such things since childhood, to the point that initially she even mistook Zhouri Ningjing for a mirror spirit.

This is obviously not her fault.

Anyone who sees Zhouri Ningjing following Chazuo in spirit form would make similar guesses, especially since Chazuo's records note she is an only daughter.

The same misunderstanding arises again now.

If after receiving help it shows the consciousness to greet with a salute, that spirit is clearly not a low-level wandering mirror spirit.

【Yuehuanshe: No, that is her original appearance】

【Deep Brew Coffee: ……But… everyone says Aimu Zhiji's classmate is from a three-person family……】

【Yuehuanshe: Aimu Zhiji's mother was originally carrying twins when she became pregnant with her】

【Deep Brew Coffee: ……Was one aborted? Why?】

Chazuo finds it hard to understand.

Even any native of this era would not understand why there would still be a 'keep one, abort one' situation.

From a medical technology standpoint, modern obstetrics can guarantee a smooth birth; from a nutrition standpoint, a pregnant woman's nutrient supply for twins is not insufficient to warrant abortion; and from a child-rearing cost standpoint, the social welfare of the Jiemen district is not so poor as to be unable to afford raising a child.

As for Aimu Zhiji becoming a horse girl after birth, according to Jiemen district's welfare policy this further reduced upbringing costs, though it seems somewhat like hindsight given the unknowns of the maternal-infant period.

But if from the very beginning one did not want it.

One should rather abort both together, not keep one and abort one.

【Yuehuanshe: This belongs to the unspeakable, and…… perhaps it is also part of the fate held by the horse-racing spirit】

【Deep Brew Coffee: …Such a fate……】

【Yuehuanshe: All horse girls, from the moment of birth, must face the trial of fate together with the other half of the soul they carry; and the fateful node that occurred even before memory is irreversible】

This is like the poverty in the Yuzuoju family; in this era it is itself a kind of spectacle.

Because under this city district's policy, horse-girl families are hard to associate with poverty; even if they have not yet entered a race, nor can they be said to earn prize money, horse-girl relatives can still obtain considerable advantages in job selection and social welfare.

But there are more than one worker-warrior in Toresen, and everyone has their own reasons for poverty.

Aomo has no right to say this, and Morisen bringing him a child also shouldn't be tied to poverty, but the fact is that even good policies can't stop people who spend heavily.

He only looks at part of the horse-racing data from another world sent by Bi Ze, comparing it with the horse-girl data he holds, as if he could grasp the patterns and standards of certain fate nodes.

Or perhaps it's just an illusion.

【Deep Brew Coffee: Is this the pressure that Aimu Zhiji's classmate has always borne?】

【Yuehuanshe: You have always been this perceptive, but please do not let slip in front of others or even the person concerned】

【Deep Brew Coffee: No problem… but… how is the spirit of a stillborn fetus……】

【Yuehuanshe: Isn't the figure you saw very similar to Aimu Zhiji's classmate? Are the ears and tail also exactly alike?】

【Deep Brew Coffee: ……Is she also a horse girl?】

【Yuehuanshe: Not only that, the fates of these two sisters have been entwined since birth; that figure might become a spirit not inferior to your 'friend'】

【Deep Brew Coffee: But…… she is now so weak that I can hardly see her……】

【Yuehuanshe: This is precisely the reason you need to pay close attention to her

Watch over her, especially protect her sister; her body overflows with abnormal negative energy, and if I had not previously given her a stab, perhaps not long from now everyone will be able to see monsters in Toresen.

【Deep Brew Coffee: ……】

Chazuo stared blankly, for a moment not knowing whether to pay attention to the monster or the so-called 'give a stab'.

The trainer… probably wouldn't have stabbed Aimu Zhiji's classmate, right? Earlier she was still fine.

【Yuehuanshe: If you need help, you can also directly call Bai Ren; that counts as treating the right symptom】

Strictly speaking, negative energy and resentment are the same thing, except that resentment is often used in relation to spirits, almost a technical term of spirit summoning, whereas the scope of negative energy is clearly much broader.

What it can give birth to is not only monsters.

Moreover, there are fate trials like the 'palace demons' that are nearly malicious, and the shadow on Narita Bai Ren that is considerably low in purity.

Mentioning Narita Bai Ren, he recalls the amulet from back then that could make Bai Ren's shadow more tranquil.

Thinking that perhaps Bai Ren no longer needs that thing, or perhaps we should communicate to transfer it to Aimu Zhiji.

But upon further thought……

Trying to take back what was sent out is still too strange, and besides, I've only just been regarded as a weirdo by Aimu Zhiji not long ago, so suddenly sending things over is unlikely to be accepted.

Handing it to Zhen Jiling and letting her come would actually have a decent chance of success.

In that case, one might as well make another trip to the rear mountain.

Just like now, his leather shoes have already crushed the dry, brittle twigs.

Aomo, who has plans, has always been decisive in action, never disappointing; even a certain party called Zhouri Ningjing once hoped his investigation would progress slowly.

But he has no habit of procrastination.

Rather, it's better to finish work early and rest early—this desire for vacation will make his actions more efficient.

The difference between him and a typical lazy dog lies only in the mindset of 'can rest after finishing work' versus 'rest first then work'.

So after sending a message to the AI goddess's account, he was already transmitted to the front of the forest mountain path.

Even though he had used such an ability as spatial transfer, the steps to climb the stone stairs were still taken one by one.

This sense of ritual based on sincerity allowed him to meet the goddess calmly.

A head of brilliant gold hair mixed with a few strands of brown horsehair was that Haflinger Arabian recorded in history as having a gentle temperament and actively caring for others' conditions.

Compared to the blue-clad, blue-haired image constructed by AI, the real her instead wore the summer outfit that Aomo had seen in a certain fashion magazine.

Her 1.8-meter height made her look more like a model in a specific field, and she lacked those squinty eyes that lie between gentleness and cunning.

In her plain brown eyes lay softness, also hinting at a bit of worry, prompting Aomo to follow her gaze back and see that the vermilion wood he had just crossed had already climbed up some black cracks.

The torii, called the gate of the divine realm, separates the boundary between humans and gods, and will remain eternal and immortal when filled with divine power——that is how religious studies explain it.

But now, it seems to be shaking from its foundations.

Clearly, the three goddesses should not have any lack of faith; the risk lies in the waning incense deities and artificial gods.

"Although Dahli told me about your specialness, she never said you could reach this point……"

Although the tone was troubled, there was no intention to refuse just then; the Haflinger Turkish supported his face and spoke subtly.

"Is it because of them?" Aomo raised his hand, in which was a closed card box.

Again declaring that the so-called isolation and shielding are useless, at this moment the entire card box trembles in his hand, fully revealing various wild instincts unwilling to be restrained.

"No, they are merely mediums of power, or rather, a mold." The goddess shook her head.

"Through them, you can substantially feel the various darkness hidden deep within yourself, and they will also give substantial shape to the darkness in your heart; they are precisely the molds for forging the inner self."

"By now, what forms does the darkness in your heart take? Have you noticed?"

"I should ask for leave! I'll send a weak condition for No. 11 later; as for whether No. 12 will pull or not, we'll see when the time comes!"

"First, I'm going to meet up with the brothers!"

"(End of chapter)"

".."