Apocalyptic Era: Starting from picking up a Bishoujo
Chapter 443 - 413 Little Bowl’s True Identity

Chapter 443: 413 Little Bowl’s True Identity

Among all the Void Envoys, the easiest to recognize is Little Bowl. So I immediately identified her; the petite figure appearing in my sight was indeed Little Bowl herself.

I walked up to her right away, quickly reaching her front. She seemed to be slightly startled at first, but upon seeing it was me, she soon relaxed and called out in a cute and polite voice, "Long time no see, Mr. No.3."

"Long time no see, No.2," I replied, "Though from my perspective, it’s only been about over three weeks."

"Over three weeks... it feels like I’ve experienced at least over three months," Little Bowl said.

What she meant was probably not that the time since we last met felt like over three months. In the time-inconsistent Doomsday Era, it’s easy to have experiences where time was not consistent with each other.

Previously, when she was on the verge of Sin demonization, fortunately, she didn’t end up in a place where time flowed too quickly. Otherwise, she might not have lasted until I found her the name Little Bowl again. Or could this luck also be brought forth by her Right Positioning Heavenly Phenomena?

Little Bowl seemed to be observing me carefully. After a small moment, she tentatively said, "Mr. No.3, you seem a bit different from before... maybe even stronger than before. Could it be..."

"That’s right, I am now Impermanence," I blurted out straightforwardly, "I have already defeated Ming Zhuo and saved our friends. The issues I asked you to help strategize last time have been mostly resolved."

Upon seeing I hadn’t avoided Xuanming and No.7’s ears, Little Bowl was initially stunned, then burst into genuine jubilant sound, "Really? That’s great, Mr. No.3!"

Originally, I had thoroughly digested all those matters, but seeing her so happy for me, I couldn’t help feeling happy too. But I wasn’t here just to report this to her.

I reached out my hand to her.

Perhaps because it had been indeed too long for her, at first, she seemed puzzled by my action, then she realized and lifted up her hands, sweetly placing them upon mine.

Then, through telepathy, her voice sounded in my mind.

"Mr. No.3, is there something you want to tell me privately?"

As she inquired, she discreetly examined Xuanming and No.7 in the distance from the corner of her eye. Xuanming seemed rather interested in our interaction, looking at us with an inscrutable gaze.

Even though I had already told Little Bowl my real name last time, she seemed to still prefer calling me "Mr. No.3".

Actually, I quite liked this special form of address too, it carries a non-everyday feeling.

"Indeed. I think I’ve found your identity in the modern world," I said.

"Identity in the modern world... you mean what you mentioned last time, that I might not be a native of the Doomsday Era, but a soul-loss patient from Mr. No.3’s era who crossed over to the Doomsday Era?" Little Bowl seemed a bit hard-pressed to digest, "...You found my body slumbering in that era?"

"No, it’s not like that," I replied, "Little Bowl, do you still remember the name ’Zhu Shi’?"

"I remember. It’s another ’love strategist’ you found, right Mr. No.3." Little Bowl immediately reacted.

However, her memory focal point was odd, and she very seriously said, "Mr. No.3, you absolutely cannot be with any girl other than Sister Mazao!

"Those girls who claim they will help strategize your romantic issues while stealthily getting close to you are the most cunning. She will pretend to be harmless and come near you, accompanying you in a listener’s stance to gain your favor, quietly occupying a space in your heart. Initially, she claims to help you scheme and strategize, then she will gradually suggest you practice confession with her, even later, she might casually allow you to practice kissing and other shameless affairs... By the time you try to retreat, it will be too late!

"I feel Mr. No.3 might be really naive about this kind of thing, easily falling for it... By the way, how far have you and that Zhu Shi developed?

"Listener phase? Or confession rehearsal phase? Surely it cannot be at the kissing stage already..."

I answered honestly, "I have already arranged a marriage with Zhu Shi, she is now my fiancée."

Little Bowl seemed to widen her eyes, even involuntarily exclaiming, "What——!!"

Her voice caught even No.7’s attention, reflexively turning to look in our direction.

Little Bowl hastily shut her mouth, hurriedly questioning in the telepathic chat, "What happened, what happened, why why why, isn’t Mr. No.3 supposed to love Sister Mazao! Why would you arrange a marriage with that Zhu Shi? Could it be Mr. No.3 has some leverage leaked to that demon fox Zhu Shi..."

"It’s not like that. Calm down and listen to me; the main point is not about Zhu Shi and my engagement," I said, "Remember what we were talking about at the beginning? The main point is, Zhu Shi is you."

Upon hearing this, Little Bowl stared blankly.

A few seconds passed before this approximately ten-year-old girl spoke in the telepathic chat again, "...The demon fox is me?"

In the people I’ve met, perhaps Yinyue and Changan fit best with the term "demon fox"; they do have real demon fox blood.

"Listen to my explanation first; Zhu Shi is not who you think," I said.

"...Okay, I’ll listen to Mr. No.3’s explanation first," Little Bowl nodded dumbly, "...What exactly is going on?"

I told Little Bowl the basis for my deduction that "Zhu Shi is Little Bowl," and the entire progression of how Zhu Shi became my fiancée.

Simultaneously, I disclosed the fact that Zhu Shi doesn’t harbor romantic feelings.

Gradually, Little Bowl seemed to have digested that shocking information, regaining her usual composure and rationality.

"Mr. No.3... isn’t this what they call ’opening a harem’?" She seemed to show an exasperated expression, "Although Sister Mazao, due to her lack of common sense and seeing me as a third party, is happy to accept this; and that fox... girl named Zhu Shi, given her special circumstances, can also accept this absurd unfoldment... but Mr. No.3, you don’t have those special circumstances, right?"

"I feel as long as Mazao is happy, it’s fine. Besides, Zhu Shi resolved her marriage issue, my destiny anchor is also fortified, and none of us three felt unhappy about it, why is that a problem?" I asked.

"Almost forgot, Mr. No.3, you were initially the pervert planning to confine Sister Mazao, who’s just a little girl..." Little Bowl covered her small head with one hand, "I cannot believe I mistakenly thought Mr. No.3 is actually someone with common sense and an ethical mindset..."

Her current reaction makes her quite similar to Zhu Shi, evoking a sense of familiarity.

"But that’s not the point at the moment. How do you feel now?" I asked, "After regaining the name Zhu Shi, do you recall any memories as Zhu Shi?"

According to my statement, Little Bowl refocused on the matter at hand. She seemed to be checking her consciousness.

After a brief moment, she shook her head: "No... the name Zhu Shi indeed feels familiar, just like I’ve known it for a long time... but I don’t feel like I’m Zhu Shi, nor do any past memories surface."

This reply wasn’t outside of my expectations.

Previously, when I returned the name Little Bowl to her, her reaction was like being entranced by a mysterious spell, entering a state of selflessness. If her true name were given, she might have an even more intense reaction. Yet her reaction to the name Zhu Shi was very calm.

It’s probably because "Zhu Shi" isn’t truly a name she identifies with. Therefore, I must bring out my trump card.

"What about... ’Zhu Jiuxing’?" I gazed into her eyes, "Your true name is not ’Zhu Shi.’ That was merely a designation given to you as the tenth successor of the Zhu family.

"Zhu Jiuxing—that is your original and genuine name."

Upon hearing this, Little Bowl appeared struck by lightning, rooted to her spot.

"I am... Zhu Jiuxing?" she said dazedly.

Then, she fell into a prolonged silence.

It seems finally I have inputted the correct "password," her reaction now is akin to how she was after recovering the name Little Bowl. I felt somewhat relieved, feeling another long-standing problem had been resolved.

Nonetheless, subsequently, I must confront new mysteries. Why did Zhu Shi become Little Bowl in the Doomsday Era, and is Little Bowl indeed Zhu Shi’s principal self, or Zhu Shi’s Dream Avatar; if it’s the latter, should she return to Zhu Shi’s original form... One problem after another emerged in my mind, without readily available solutions.

Right at this moment, Little Bowl suddenly broke the silence.

Her spoken words, like a massive stone thrown into a pool, stirred up silt and clay, turning the previously clear-bottomed pool into a complex turbulence.

"I... am not Zhu Jiuxing," Little Bowl said.

"...What?" I took a moment longer to process.

"The name Zhu Jiuxing feels incredibly familiar, even more so than Zhu Shi..." Little Bowl said with a complex tone, "But... I am not Zhu Jiuxing."