Chapter 981: The Last Adventure of the 5th Era 5177

Saturday night was the date time for Xia De and Princess Lei Qianya. After Xia De woke up from the "coma", he heard Luweiya

After the study session on Saturday afternoon ended, when the Princess's soul swapped into the novelist's body and saw the note Dorothy had left in the notebook, the expression on her face was very unpleasant.

Of course, although her physical state during this "special period" did not allow her to eat food that was too cold, it at least would not affect their normal date time. Although it was no longer snowing, the winter chill and the snow accumulated on the roads made both Xia De and Luvia, who was using the Golden Girl's body, unwilling to go out.

That evening, the two of them sat on the clean carpet in front of the fireplace, each holding books for the exams at the end of next month to study. The firelight illuminated their faces, and the lazy cat was curled up in front of the fireplace.

Although the two did not have much conversation throughout the evening, Xia De could tell that, at least before resting, Luvia was quite satisfied with the night.

"When I have time, I want to paint 'Xia De and Dorothy in Front of the Fireplace' as an oil painting, frame it, and hang it in my own bedroom. My oil painting skills are quite good; I will definitely be able to finish it before the end of the year."

Luvia said to Xia De before going to sleep. She was wearing pajamas and, in front of Xia De, somewhat regretfully placed the 【Leaf of Eternal Youth】 into the study drawer for the time being. Her emerald eyes lowered slightly as she looked at Xia De:

"What a pity."

Xia De knew what this meant, and Little Mia was also able to rest on the bed in the bedroom on a Saturday night for the first time in a long while. This was a treatment the cat had not enjoyed for a long time since the first "Night of the Red Butterfly."

Because they went to sleep very early on Saturday night, not only did Xia De, who was preparing for his final adventure of the Fifth Era 5177, wake up very early, but Luvia also woke up very early.

When the Golden Girl opened her eyes, the familiar yet strange ceiling reminded her that she was at 6 Saint Teresa Square. When she climbed out of bed, she discovered that Xia De, who had been on the other side of the bed, was already gone, but the sound of brushing teeth coming from the washroom indicated that he had not yet left.

On the four-poster bed, there was not only the sleepy-eyed Luvia, but the cat, who had been sleeping groggily on the outside of the soft pillow on Xia De's side, was also startled awake by Luvia's movement of getting up.

The cat, waking up in the early morning, had drooping eyelids and appeared clumsier than usual, lacking any of its usual cleverness. It kept its prone position and looked left and right, and only after confirming that Xia De was not by its side did it stand up. Its bottom tilted slightly, its two furry front paws kicked forward, and its hind paws kicked backward, performing a stretch. After stretching, Little Mia immediately became full of energy.

It ignored Luvia on the bed and nimbly jumped off. After circling the bed, Luvia only saw the cat's figure flash past the bedroom door, and judging by the sound, it had gone to the washroom to find Xia De.

The Princess looked at the pillow to confirm no hair had fallen out before slowly getting up. Because the steam pipes provided heating and the fireplace fire had not gone out, the temperature in the house was acceptable. She straightened her pajamas, touched her chest to compare the differences between the two bodies, and after confirming that Dorothy was still the same as usual, she stepped into her slippers in a good mood and walked to the bedside to pull back the curtains.

"Oh, a silver-white city."

The fog was not heavy this morning. Saint Teresa Square at six o'clock sharp was covered in snow, but there was already a clear set of footprints on the snow. It seemed it had snowed again for a while last night; Luvia remembered that when she returned yesterday evening, the snow in the square had clearly been cleared once.

As the core block of the northern pearl, Tobesk City, Saint Teresa Square had the City Hall send people to clear the snow in the square when it snowed, which could be considered part of the city's public services. Of course, only a few places in the city could enjoy this treatment, so it was reasonable that the land and housing prices in Saint Teresa Square were expensive.

However, the snow in front of the doors of the residents of Saint Teresa Square needed to be cleared by the residents themselves or by hired help. Although it didn't matter if it wasn't cleared, living in such a civilized block, if the neighbors' doors were all cleared clean and only one's own door remained in that state, one would be looked down upon by the neighbors.

"Send someone to help Xia De shovel the snow today."

Looking at the snowy winter morning scene outside the window, the Princess thought to herself. Her hand toyed with the golden hair hanging in front of her right shoulder, inwardly admiring Dorothy's hair quality. Her eyes unconsciously saw the blurry reflection of the interior on the glass again, saw that large bed, and felt a slight sense of annoyance.

Xia De, just like the previous few weeks, intended to finish the adventure of the Time Key before returning for breakfast. When Luvia walked out of the bedroom, she saw Xia De packing books into a box by turning them into toys, and then turning the black suitcase into a toy to put away.

Casting a spell on "toys" again required consuming more Qi, but Xia De was still repeating his actions.

"Why are you bringing so many books?"

Luvia asked curiously, picking up the cat at Xia De's feet to prevent it from disturbing the busy detective.

"Today is my last time using this key. Because I'm not sure what the final test will be, I need to bring more things. Special items and relics that are not mission targets cannot be brought to the past with me, so I can only bring as many books as possible."

Xia De said, turning the last suitcase into a toy as well.

He picked up the glass bottle on the coffee table and drank the No. 4 Holy Water inside in one gulp to replenish his consumed Qi. Although the effect of drinking Holy Water in large quantities in a short period would be severely weakened, this was his first time drinking it today.

Luvia, holding the cat, watched Xia De prepare to depart with some annoyance. After the Day of the Red Butterfly, Xia De had of course tried using bedsheets to turn her and Dorothy into toys via the 【Toy Making】 miracle, and naturally, he had failed.

Luvia still remembered that when Dorothy and Luvia discussed this matter in private, the witch diviner had let out a real sigh of relief. The Princess understood Luvia's thoughts, but she still hoped that she and Dorothy could prove that affection through 【Toy Making】.

"Meow~"

The cat in her arms didn't know what it was thinking and let out a soft meow.

"Are you taking Mia with you?"

Luvia asked.

"No, no, it's still too dangerous there, and look, this cat doesn't want to go with me either."

Xia De said and beckoned to Little Mia. The clever cat meowed at him, showing no intention of breaking free from Luvia's hands.

"Look, it really doesn't want to move. Oh, let me think, water skin, books, Holy Water... all packed."

Taking out the Time Key covered in cracks, he waved his hand at Luvia:

"Wish me luck, Luvia, I hope everything goes smoothly this time."

"Yes, my knight, I wish you luck."

Luvia walked over and kissed Xia De's cheek, and Xia De smiled and touched his own cheek:

"May the World Tree protect the me in time."

He inserted the key into the lock of the side bedroom door—

Click~

The key turned, and behind the pushed-open door was that familiar white fog door.

For Luvia, Xia De's adventure only took three seconds, so Xia De didn't say goodbye again and walked straight in.

A familiar reminder from "Her" reached his ears:

【Outsider, you have stepped into the "Corridor of Time."】

【Message from the Ancient God "Father of the Infinite Tree":】

【Spring, Fifth Era 5177, Broken Isles, Lost Lake.】

【Event: The Witch Seeking Eternal Beauty.】

【Duration: Thirty minutes (3/3).】

【You have obtained additional information.】

【The figure of the Father of the Infinite Tree continues to watch you.】

【The test given to you by the Ancient God of Time will continue.】

【Help the mortal visit the gods and learn the secret of eternal beauty.】

【The Father of the Infinite Tree will grant you a reward: Ritual - Moon Water, Ritual - Sun Fire.】

"Speaking of which, I haven't had time to get the next key. Where am I going to get the Time Key this time?"

Taking a step into the white fog, he continued forward. The curtain of white fog pulled apart in all directions, revealing the scene of the lakeside forest in the dark night to Xia De.

The temperature at home was comfortable, even a bit stuffy, but the temperature around him plummeted. Xia De took a deep breath, letting the diffused calming mist be inhaled into his lungs, which could calm his unusually active mind after just waking up:

"This is the last time I will meet Miss Violet and Miss Theresa."

He looked out at the island in the center of the lake from the dark lakeside, feeling a bit melancholy at the thought. He experienced segments of past time, searching for and witnessing those lost stories, but at the same time, he was brushing past one friend after another. To Xia De, who lived in the Sixth Era 1853 and continued to move forward, everyone in the Fifth Era, whether witch or commoner, was someone who had definitely already departed.

It was already lucky that he could see the middle-aged witch and the old man in leather armor on Mount Sikar, and as for the many other friends he brushed past in the past, he would likely never see them again. The story of the Red Butterfly twins even reminded Xia De that for friends of the Fifth Era to sleep forever in their own time was a better story ending than crossing the long passage of time to meet him again.

Feeling a bit melancholy, Xia De attributed it to his active mind upon waking up early in the morning. Strange noises were already coming from the eerie forest behind him, so Xia De didn't linger and stepped directly onto the lake surface.

After the swirling mist blurred his departing figure, the red butterflies radiating a scarlet color flew toward the distance in the mist.

The area of Lost Lake was much larger than the Lake of Cherub in Huntington City. Xia De, walking silently on the water, endured the freezing airflow rushing from his feet to his whole body, approaching the island in the center of the lake bit by bit.