Chapter 153: I'm sorry this chapter can't be translated
Chapter 154: Inner Demon
Sometimes "allow me to offend" is a polite greeting, not a genuine intention to cause offense.
But in Lin mouth, the phrase meant "I am about to offend you."
Furthermore, it wasn't just offending anymore; it was dancing in the other person's minefield.
Sakura could feel the killing intent around Little Red Riding Hood intensify more than twofold in an instant. She instinctively placed her hand on the hilt of her blade. However, Little Red Riding Hood managed to control her temper this time. Perhaps because she believed she still needed their help to kill the "Wolf"?
"Hmph... there's no harm in telling you. Back then, I really did tell the 'Wolf' where Grandmother lived, because He disguised Himself as a human to ask for directions, and I didn't notice any problem."
"What do you mean by telling Him? I had questions when I read Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf. Why would Little Red Riding Hood tell the truth just because she was asked the way to her grandmother's house? And there are many versions of the story—some say it's a grandmother, some a maternal grandmother. In some stories, she's saved by a hunter; in others, she saves herself. There are even versions where Little Red Riding Hood is a sexy lady. As for your story... forget it."
Just as Little Red Riding Hood was about to explode, Lin abruptly stopped talking. He gave her a faint glance.
The implementation of a game-like flow within the consciousness world—this was unmistakably Vil-V handiwork. Mobius and Mei wouldn't have such whimsical ideas. Vil-V had a vast range of interests, including poetry, novels, and fairy tales. Vil-V herself was a fundamentalist regarding these things.
So, if Little Red Riding Hood's story followed the most ancient versions, and combining that with the characteristics of the "Wolf" she mentioned...
"Are we almost there?" Lin asked, looking at the mountain range that was drawing closer.
"About ten more minutes," Little Red Riding Hood replied impatiently. "You've asked ten times already. You ask every few minutes. Are you a mosquito?"
"I have a strong sense of time."
"..."
Sakura couldn't help but purse her lips and smile. It wasn't obvious back when Lin didn't talk much, but now that they were communicating normally, Sakura discovered he was actually somewhat mischievous, often able to shut people up with a single sentence.
"Miss Little Red Riding Hood, what do you want to do after killing the 'Wolf'? Continue being a hunter?" Sakura struck up a conversation with Little Red Riding Hood. She actually felt somewhat sorry for this child who had suffered so much, forced like her to lead an abnormal life.
"...I don't know. Maybe I'll kill myself."
"What?"
"What's there to be surprised about?" Little Red Riding Hood spoke in a mocking tone, though it was unclear whether she was mocking Sakura or herself. "The real Little Red Riding Hood died five years ago. Can this walking empty shell even be considered alive just because it's still breathing?"
"Have you never thought about another kind of life?"
"Don't give me that preaching nonsense. I know my situation better than you. If someone important to you died, would you think, 'I should pull myself together and live another life'?"
"..."
Sakura was speechless, her throat feeling as if something were stuck in it.
If Rin were to die, Sakura could hardly imagine what she would become.
This heavy shadow became the dark cloud over this relatively short journey.
As they neared their destination, Lin noticed the sun was about to set and announced they would find a place to rest. They gathered some fruit and finished dinner with the grilled fish they had brought. Little Red Riding Hood went off to find her own place to rest, while Lin and Sakura found a large tree to lean against.
Lin was still explaining to Sakura certain points in the consciousness world that were easy to notice: "The cry of the Honkai beast is very suggestive. It should howl once every night, serving as a means to lure players to do quests..."
Before he could finish, the familiar howl of a Honkai beast rang out again.
Lin and Sakura exchanged a look. He then sat by the tree trunk, closed his eyes, and leaned back.
After hesitating for a long time, Sakura finally asked: "Lin... do you have a way?"
"...Regarding what?"
"Regarding Little Red Riding Hood."
"..."
In the quiet woods, there were occasional insect chirps. Lin kept his eyes closed the entire time. He seemed to have fallen asleep, but the muscles beneath his clothes were tense, as if he were on guard against something.
"She is just a false existence in this consciousness world. After we leave, she will cease to exist," Lin gave a rational answer. "Everything was set by Vil-V, including her past, her tragedy, her hatred. Everything is nothing more than a few strokes of a pen in some script."
"But... this story will always exist in my heart." Sakura leaned against the trunk, separated from Lin by the tree, looking at the starlight glimmering faintly through the shade. "Lin, do you know that in the Way of the Sword, there is something called an 'Inner Demon'? The heavier the inner demon, the slower the hand wielding the blade becomes."
In other words, she couldn't watch this girl with such a tragic past walk down a path of no return.
She had killed many people, yet she couldn't even save one.
"Then you don't need to add an inner demon to yourself."
Lin opened his eyes, stood up, walked to Sakura side, then crouched down and whispered a few words into the ear of the confused Sakura.
Her eyes widened.
...
"The area where the 'Wolf' roams is just ahead. The silver blade of the bunny-eared girl should be able to kill Him."
Little Red Riding Hood pointed toward a dark, gloomy forest that looked extremely ominous. Lin gazed at the place, observing the surroundings.
"Bunny-eared girl... no, your name is Sakura, right?" At this moment, Little Red Riding Hood came before Sakura. She looked up at Sakura with her blood-red eyes. "I don't know where your baseless pity comes from, but I thought about it all night. Perhaps you're right. If I remain trapped under the shadow of that monster from five years ago, maybe that's just my way of fearing Him."
"No, it's nothing," Sakura shook her head.
"I have a request. Leave the final blow of killing the 'Wolf' to me. I want to slay Him personally and put an end to this revenge."
Sakura looked at Lin hesitantly, but he was looking elsewhere. So she said to Little Red Riding Hood: "But the only thing that can kill the 'Mountain God' should be this silver blade. Do you want me to lend you the blade?"
"There's no need to lend it to me. Just let me use your blade to kill Him when He is on His last breath."
"Phew... alright."
Sakura let out a long breath and finally agreed, nodding her head.
For the first time since her appearance, Little Red Riding Hood showed a normal smile. She was just about to say thank you—
Shing!
The silver blade pierced through her chest, protruding from Little Red Riding Hood's back, impaling her completely.
She spat out a mouthful of blood, looking confusedly at the cold, winter-like eyes of the animal-eared girl before her.