Apocalyptic Era: Starting from picking up a Bishoujo
Chapter 63 - 60 Mazao’s friend 3

Chapter 63: 60 Mazao’s friend 3

Number Two, just like Mazao, was from the Doomsday Era?

And from what Number One said, Number Two wasn’t even "someone who traveled from the Doomsday Era to the modern society," but "someone who is still alive in the Doomsday Era"?

My gaze immediately focused entirely on Number Two, who shyly shrunk back into the rocky chair, as if startled by my stare.

Although I really wanted to ask about the giant first, compared to that unresponsive being, I was now more concerned about Number Two.

"Is what Number One said true?" I asked.

"Yes, it’s true..." Number Two replied uncertainly, like a timid young animal, "although you probably won’t believe it..."

"All this talk of a world on the brink of destruction, a wish-granting machine that fulfills all desires, is just the ramblings of a lunatic," said Number One calmly. "If you really want others to believe such fanciful notions, it’s best to provide evidence. Empty words prove nothing."

Even though I was currently inside an incredible dream, he seemed to hold onto obstinate thoughts. But did he truly think that way? Perhaps he didn’t completely disbelieve. Presenting the evidence to me—that might be his real demand.

I felt the same. To truly convince me, seeing would be believing.

I asked Number Two, "Could you describe to me what the Doomsday World is like?"

"Uh..." Number Two seemed embarrassed.

Was he unable to answer? No, perhaps my question was too abstract. If someone from an otherworldly place suddenly asked me to describe the world I live in now, I wouldn’t know where to start either.

"If the prophecies of Doomsday from Luo Mountain are true, then after Doomsday arrives, all life and matter will cease to exist, and everything will return to nothingness," said Number One. "How could humans possibly continue to exist in such a world?"

"But there are still people alive in the world I live in..." said Number Two weakly. "Although there are very few, and it’s extremely difficult to encounter others, there are still some people struggling to survive amidst the ruins..."

"...It’s not entirely impossible," Number Four suddenly spoke, turning his attention to our conversation. "Everything has a process, just as the world has the stages of existence, stasis, decay, and void from birth to death. Doomsday probably has stages too.

"The time period we are experiencing might just be the signs of Doomsday approaching, with the great calamity not having truly descended yet; whereas her time period might be after the calamity has struck, but before everything has deteriorated to the stage of complete emptiness."

"Finally come to your senses, have you, Number Four?" said Number One. "What, do you believe in the cock-and-bull stories that Number Two is telling?"

Number Four seemed to adjust his clothing, introducing himself with a solemn voice: "There’s no need to assign me a numerical code, you can call me ’Xuanming.’"

"—Xuanming?"

Number One and Number Two simultaneously reacted to this name.

The former displayed an overt wariness, while the latter vaguely revealed a sense of fear.

Did the name Xuanming hold some special significance? I also felt like I had heard the name somewhere before. After racking my brains, I could only come up with a distant myth.

This myth was called "Xuan Niao gave birth to Shang."

It was said that in the ancient tribes, a woman named Jian Di swallowed an egg laid by the Xuan Niao and later gave birth to a son, whom she named "Qi." This Qi was the progenitor of the Shang Clan, and an ancestor of the founder of the Shang Dynasty, a contemporary of Da Yu, famous for his flood control efforts.

Qi, also known as "Eebo," invented the calendar based on the Great Fire Star (Antares), and mastered the technology of managing Fire. In ancient times, keeping Fire alive was extremely difficult, but he was able to reignite the flames time after time. Hence, he was revered by later generations as the Fire God.

By the Song Dynasty, he had come to be known as "King Xuanming."

Could this Number Four who called himself Xuanming have any connection with the legendary King Xuanming? Or was he actually King Xuanming himself—perhaps because this was a dream, I even considered such a preposterous idea.

However, the emotions that Number One and Number Two expressed towards Number Four Xuanming clearly weren’t the reactions one would have towards a remote mythical figure.

"Are you that Xuanming?" asked Number One with a complex tone.

"It seems you two have heard of me; then let’s get straight to the point. You both have Divine Seal Fragments, right? Would you trade them to me?" Xuanming Number Four displayed a direct attitude, "I’m willing to offer anything within my power as compensation."

"I refuse," replied Number One without hesitation. "Since we’ve been pulled into this Mist Dream Realm by the Divine Seal Fragments, it means we’re already bound to them. Trading them is impossible. Even if you throw the Divine Seal Fragment into the sea, it would automatically return to its owner.

"What’s more important is, I don’t want to have private dealings with someone as dangerous as you, nor do I want you to know my true identity. As for Number Two..."

"I seem to be from a different time than everyone else..." Number Two observed our conversation, then said dejectedly, "Also, I can’t reveal my real name like Mister Four does, sorry."

I was already curious about the identity of Number Four Xuanming, but when I heard the latter half of Number Two’s sentence, it sparked my imagination: "Can’t reveal your own name, why?"

"Isn’t that obvious? Who would disclose their real identity to strangers in such a suspicious place," said Number One matter-of-factly, adding, "Except for certain big-hearted individuals."

I let his words go in one ear and out the other, repeatedly scrutinizing Number Two, the child.

Number One had previously described her as a little girl, and my observation confirmed it. Judging by height and voice, she was at most about ten years old, still of primary school age.

A little girl around ten years old... Speaking of which, Mazao had also mentioned that her friend was a little girl around that age...

According to Mazao, in Doomsday World, "not being able to report one’s true name" carries a special significance. It likely means that the person has forgotten their name and past, teetering on the edge of becoming a Sin Demon. Her friend was in the same state when she first met her, unable to even remember her own name.

—So, could Number Two be the friend Mazao mentioned?

I knew that suddenly making such a conjecture seemed abrupt. How could there possibly be such a coincidence?

However, since Mazao’s Broom Star Physique is like a vortex that attracts the strange and my fate has not yet escaped Mazao’s vortex, I must take seriously every coincidence I encounter on the road and attempt to link it to Mazao. This is especially true for coincidences encountered in strange events.

The black jade stone was brought to me by Mazao’s Broom Star Physique, and within this Mist Dream Realm, which I entered through the black jade stone, I met someone whose characteristics matched Mazao’s friend.

They are also residents of Doomsday World, also a ten-year-old girl, also likely to have forgotten her own name...

These "coincidences" made the next question I asked seem only logical.

"You’re not unwilling to give your real name, but you’re unable to, right?" I said to Number Two, "If I’m not mistaken, you have already forgotten your true name, haven’t you?"

"Eh?" Number Two seemed taken aback, then admitted, "Yes, that’s right..."

Number One’s gaze towards me instantly became scrutinizing and puzzled.

Number Four Xuanming first observed Number Two’s reaction and then looked at me with a meaningful gaze.

Seeing Number One’s reaction, did he know that Number Two could not state her name because she was unable to, and that his previous attitude was to cover for Number Two? I originally thought he was just an abrasive person, but now it seems not so simple.

"Why would Mister Number Three know this?" Number Two asked, utterly confused.

I didn’t answer her question directly, instead, I continued on my own: "So, does that mean you’re not far from becoming a Sin Demon?"

"To even know about Sin Demons..." Realizing a possibility, Number Two said excitedly, "Could it be, Mister Number Three, are you..."

"Hold on, you still have to answer me another question first." I hadn’t completely trusted her yet, "What’s another name for Sin Demons?"

Number Two immediately answered: "They’re called ’monsters’!"

"Monsters?" Both Number Four Xuanming and Number One seemed to react to that term.

"Mister Number Three, are you also from the Doomsday Era, just like me!?"

Number Two was very excited; she even couldn’t help but jump down from the stone chair and trot over to me.

"No wonder I didn’t know where to find someone like you, the future, huh..." Number Four Xuanming mused while looking at me, "If it concerns a Divine Seal Fragment, maybe it really could connect the future and the present through dreams..."

I had no intention of dispelling their misunderstanding for the time being, and besides, Number Two seemed to have something else she wanted to tell me.

She stood in front of me, looking up, hesitated for a moment, but finally could not help but ask: "Mister Number Three... can you answer a question for me? I’ve been looking for someone..."

"Wait a moment." Upon hearing this, I had a stronger foreboding.

I stopped her first, glanced at the other two, and then said to her, "Let’s not talk about it here. Let’s move away and talk in private."

"Where are you taking her?" Number One was on high alert.

Number Two was also hesitant. Even if we’re both from the Doomsday Era, that doesn’t mean I’m trustworthy. In fact, Mazao had mentioned that the moral standards of residents from the Doomsday Era weren’t very high. It was very normal for Number Two to be wary of me.

As for Mazao, she’s an exception. She has the Doomsday-style disregard for the law, along with a conscience that does not want to involve innocents, her sense of morality might in some aspects be higher than many modern people.

In the end, Number Two made up her mind and said, "I understand... I’ll go with you, Mister Number Three."

Number One seemed like he wanted to intervene but ended up giving up, allowing me to lead Number Two away.

We moved to a place far enough away that the other two couldn’t hear the conversation. Surrounding us was dense fog, with the stone chairs and others no longer visible. With no landmarks here, I could only remember the direction I had come from using pure mental effort.

"The question you wanted to ask me just now, ask it here," I said to Number Two.

"Okay, alright..."

She was very nervous, her speech nearly unintelligible, but she eventually gathered determination and spoke as clearly as she could: "I’m looking for someone. That person had always been protecting me, but recently we got separated... I might be turning into a monster soon, and I don’t even know if that person is still alive...

"So... at least before I turn into a monster, I want to find out news of that person..."

Towards the end of her words, her voice grew sadder, as if she was about to cry.

"What’s the name of the person protecting you?" I asked.

"...Mazao," she said, "Her name is ’Mazao.’"