Shifting focus back to Yoshino, when she once again used The Twelfth Bullet to return to the past, the strain of using this power a second time caused her to kneel on the ground, drenched in cold sweat.
A strong pulling sensation in space made her feel as if her body was being torn apart, making it difficult for her to breathe. She was somewhat puzzled; she hadn't felt this way when using The Twelfth Bullet just now, so why was this happening now?
'Yoshino! Can you hear my voice? Yoshino! Answer me quickly!' Just as Yoshino was about to use the energy within her body to resist this tearing sensation, a familiar voice came from within her mind.
At the same time, a surge of energy enveloped Yoshino, helping her resist the tearing sensation. However, the weakness in her body still prevented Yoshino from moving, and she knelt on the ground, breathing rapidly.
'Forget it! You don't seem able to answer my question in your current state. Now, listen carefully! Although you were originally this world's task, your thoughts have somewhat exceeded the world's consciousness's permissible range!
So, the tearing sensation you can feel on your body now is given to you by the world's consciousness. My and alaya's energy cannot last much longer, so quickly do what you want to do! We will be responsible for communicating with the world's consciousness!'
"Even if you say that, the continuous use of The Twelfth Bullet brings too much pressure. Even using Zadkiel's power to recover will take some time. What should I do now?"
Her spiritual power was almost exhausted. If Zadkiel's power wasn't supporting her, she would probably have fainted by now due to spiritual power depletion.
But what should she do now? According to gaia, she didn't have much time. Was there no way at all?
At this moment, the collar of Yoshino's clothes emitted a faint white light. Under this light, Yoshino's depleted spiritual power recovered at an extremely fast rate.
Feeling herself gradually returning to peak mode, Yoshino took out the glowing point on her collar and saw that it was a necklace engraved with the English word 'Muse'.
It was emitting a faint light, replenishing Yoshino's spiritual power. "Everyone... thank you."
The necklace given to her by everyone in Muse. After gaining the knowledge of the grimoire and the power of the kabbalah tree of life, Yoshino had not used this necklace, wearing it as a regular ornament.
She didn't expect that besides enhancing her attacks, it also had the function of replenishing spiritual power. Now she didn't have to worry about her spiritual power.
However, this power should not be without limits; it would probably not be able to sustain itself after a certain period.
"Now, we have a mission to complete!" With determined eyes, Yoshino swiftly streaked across the sky.
To prevent DEM and AST from discovering her whereabouts, Yoshino placed a protective measure on herself to prevent satellite monitoring of her movements.
Why did she have to help Tobiichi Origami save her parents? Yoshino didn't know why she had to do this.
They were clearly in an adversarial relationship, and the spirit crystal of the First Spirit on Origami had also been obtained by Yoshino.
Now, the particle of the kabbalah tree of life within her body had also been lit. Logically speaking, she didn't need to do such troublesome things. But she couldn't control the thoughts in her heart.
Tobiichi Origami was a girl who was both pitiful and tragic. She had lived a happy and peaceful life, but on August 3rd, her home was engulfed in flames, and even her parents died in the disaster from a sudden beam of light.
Such a scene was witnessed by the Little Girl, who was then eleven or twelve years old. How cruel was that for her?
But the tragic thing was that she also witnessed the killer who murdered her parents at that time. It was then that the seed of hatred was planted in the Little Girl's heart, leading her down this tragic path, a path whose end held only despair for her.
But she didn't know, because at that time, Tobiichi Origami's heart held only the words 'hatred'.
This hatred made this originally ordinary girl, in order to gain power and take revenge on the spirits, become a Magician who surpassed humans, causing her to dedicate all her time to almost cruel training.
This was only to gain enough power for revenge.
But this was not the most important thing. Yoshino, who clearly understood Tobiichi Origami's situation, knew that the object of her long-standing revenge was not Itsuka Kotori, whom she believed to be the culprit, nor all the spirits she had hated so much.
It was herself! Tobiichi Origami! She herself was her own enemy.
In the original work, after Tobiichi Origami obtained the spirit crystal from Ponantom (Phantom) and became a spirit, she asked Tokisaki Kurumi to return to the past to change the history of her parents' death by killing the spirit at that time.
But this choice was the one that led Tobiichi Origami down a path of no return.
In such circumstances, how despairing would Tobiichi Origami be when she learned the truth, having been sustained by the motivation to live all this time? This is easy to imagine.
Yoshino knew that what she was doing was a bit meddlesome, but she still wanted to do it! She still wanted this tragic fact to be changed!
Soon, Yoshino arrived at her destination and saw that the building below was Tobiichi Origami's former home.
However, it was now engulfed in flames. Shiina quickly saw a middle-aged man and a young woman in the flame-engulfed building, carefully avoiding the heavily covered areas and running to a safe place.
In their hands was a silver-haired Little Girl, who fearfully held her parents' hands, her face full of terror as she looked around.
"What should I do now? To deceive the world, to a certain extent, I still have to follow the historical development, so that's the only way. Shiina, do you think the method I'm thinking of now can succeed?"
Yoshino quickly asked, wondering if the possibility of this matter was high or not.
"Do it, Yoshino. Time is running out. I can feel spatial fluctuations appearing in Tengu City. It's probably either our past selves or the spirit-transformed Tobiichi Origami who has returned here.
Hurry up and complete your plan!" Shiina said anxiously. She had been in contact with gaia and the others, and also sensing how long gaia's power on her could last.
There was no time for her to dawdle now! Who knew how strong the world's consciousness's next attack would be!
"No time! It seems I can only ask them for help. Zadkiel! Astaroth! Can you hear my call? Do you have any way to help me rescue them without disturbing history?"
Yoshino asked the two, one good and one evil, within her body.
"Eh! We've been watching you, Master. I never thought you'd have such a bold idea; it really shocked me. You used to be so obedient, but now you're doing something even I, a demon, wouldn't dare to do," Astaroth's phantom appeared beside Yoshino, speaking to her with a surprised tone. But your current smile doesn't make anyone believe you're surprised, okay?
"Stop messing around! You, guardian, I don't recommend you do such a thing. Although I don't understand who is helping you resist the world's consciousness's attack, you must know that if it hardens its heart and directly erases your existence, none of us can save you! Your action will directly cause us inside you to be eliminated as well. I'm not worried about disappearing, after all, I'm just a clone of the Main Body, but if you are eliminated, then you will truly have never existed! To risk your own life to save someone who was already destined to die is simply too irrational! Think it over carefully!"
As an Angel, Zadkiel shouldn't say such things. But to her, the lives of those who have nothing to do with her are not even worth one of her beloved guardian's fingers! She understands that Yoshino, as the fourth sephirah mercy, is very kind, but sacrificing her own life to save others is not worth it in her eyes!
"I actually think Master being like this is more in line with..."
"Shut up! Go stand aside!" Astaroth was roared back before she could even finish her sentence! Feeling wronged, she could only purse her lips with a helpless expression. She just wanted to speak, why treat her like this? So sad! So heartbroken!
"Alright! There's no time now! What I need to do is save Tobiichi Origami's parents. But I can't let her know her parents are safe; they still need to appear to have sacrificed themselves in her light beam, just like in the original timeline! I'm the fourth sephirah! As my Angel! Hurry and help me think of a way!" After speaking, Yoshino's small face seemed to feel her tone was a bit too harsh, and it returned to its previous timid expression.
"Help me, okay? Just consider it my one willful request. I know you spoil me the most, right?" Then Yoshino looked at Zadkiel with teary eyes, as if she would burst into tears if Zadkiel didn't agree.
"!!!!?" Seeing Yoshino's expression, Zadkiel's eyes suddenly widened. A feeling she had never experienced before surged from her heart. She didn't know why, but she really wanted to hug Yoshino and rub against her, even if she would be scolded afterward.
'What's wrong with me? Have I become abnormal? Calm down, Zadkiel! You are the Guardian Angel of the fourth sephirah, you won't be affected by any external factors! Now, calm yourself down and don't let anyone discover your problem.'
"Oh, it seems our Zadkiel is now..." Seeing Zadkiel's emotional state, Astaroth thought for a moment and understood what was happening to her. Just as she was about to tease her, Zadkiel extended her right hand towards her, and a faint light began to condense on it. This was a warning that if Astaroth spoke carelessly, she would face consequences.
Ah! Seriously! Why am I being forced into such a situation! I'm the demon! Why does that Angel opposite me act more like a demon! Has this world changed so quickly? I haven't even adapted yet!
"Alright, let's talk about your matter properly, Master. If we don't hurry, things might be too late."
This was a matter of her life and death; Astaroth wasn't in the mood for jokes. Since her Master wanted to stir things up, she would accompany her.
---------------------------------
If you'd like to read the next 70 chapters in advance, you can support me on Patreon.
I regularly post chapter previews there, so you'll always be up-to-date and won't have to wait too long.
patreon.com/SolyuraMT
And if you enjoy the story, don't forget to give me a Power Stone. Your support really motivates me to continue translating!