The days are getting longer and longer in the summer.

Just like the silent arrival at the beginning, the strange thing of the deceased seems to have come to an abrupt end with the fiasco of the Empress of the Firmament. And the Demon King has also erased the superficial pain with an astonishing recovery speed, and it is still an ancient and magnificent city standing in the summer sun and wilderness.

Now, the children are in the wilderness between the Demon King's capital and Empers, investigating the secrets of the Demon King's core base-

The thunder that frightened the Empress during the Demon Night was actually the sound of the Dome Seat, a symbol of her supreme authority, being shattered and scattered by the Blue Sage. Oreo did a fairly clean job, and the countless rubble scattered across the wasteland was nothing more than rubble, no longer threatening.

So Rebecca, who proposed to let the children come to see each other, was also very relaxed, and after finding a sea of flowers, she pulled the children to shoot, preparing the new issue of "Demon Slayer" magazine to summarize the overwhelming victory of the Demon Night.

She knows how to shoot her, and the main subject is Cedar: in less than a year, he has gone from an outsider who knows nothing about magic to a contractor of the Xeno-5 Synth Beast, and although all aspects are still unsatisfactory, he also played a huge protective role in the Demon Night, this kid is said to be untalented, but how hard and excellent he is.

"The original information also said that it was a mediocre-looking ghost...... Rebecca smiled and adjusted the camera, deciding to let others see what the kid looks like now-

At this time, it can no longer be said that the appearance is mediocre, the young man wearing a colorful wreath in the sea of flowers is so vibrant, and his reddish face in the summer heat and shyness is full of youthful atmosphere, as if it is flashing.

"Is this okay? I like it, but the uniform is really hot...... "It's too hot in a heavy, old-fashioned uniform...... Cedar tried to cooperate, urging weakly.

"Come smile at the camera and unleash your magic...... That's it, it's okay, three, two, one!" Rebecca carefully adjusted the angle, "The effect of the flower crown is so good, Komatsu, it's okay!Can I use this as the cover of the new issue of Demon Slayer?"

"Is it really good? show me ......" Cedar has never been photographed, and Cedar looks at the finished product with disbelief, "I always feel a little ashamed...... I'm nothing, if Mr. He agrees, then use it, right? But I'm just a newcomer, okay?"

"How come, everyone will like you!" Rebecca looked quite excited, "What a great ability and expression, so healing, perfect interpretation of hope in the eyes, sparkling like diamonds......"

"You're too exaggerated...... never been praised by a girl, Cedar laughed and reminded herself not to believe it, "Isn't it really considered a girl?"

"How so!" Rebecca smiled and patted him on the shoulder, "Thank you for your cooperation! And then there's Ellie, and the handsome girls are sure to be a big hit!"

"Can I not shoot?" Although she had already put on a white military uniform, Ellie, who had been watching from the side for a long time, was still a little reluctant, "Embarrassing styling or something......"

"You can just stand as handsome as you normally would, right? Cedar took off the dark brown coat of the old uniform and looked at Ellie's crisp white uniform, "This is the uniform of the White World Division......?

"You like the uniform of the White World Branch, but I'm afraid you won't be able to get it yet," Rebecca smiled, "I heard that your file didn't make it to Future City." ”

"What?" Cedar's eyes widened in surprise.

In other words, you may not have been assigned to the White World Branch. ”

"And where was he assigned?" Apparently not expecting the partners who should be together to be unwound, Ellie also asked suspiciously.

"Arcane or Miami, just ask Mr. He and Jean," Rebecca took it for granted, "Komatsu and Zhaohua are from the original world, and they should return to the original branch, I think it must be the Miami branch." ”

"Ah......" Cedar glanced at Ellie's white uniform again in disappointment, "but I want to follow Mr. He." ”

"I don't know what Mr. He thinks," Rebecca blinked, "Go back and try to be coquettish?"

Would it be better to ask...... When I returned to the city, the cloud peaks were already piled high, and soon after, there was another rainstorm. Cedar went with Harden to find He Yanfang, and when he entered the house, he found him sitting in the middle of a pile of papers, calling their tall head minister to sweep the corners of the ceiling.

"Don't let anyone know," Glancing at Oreo in silk clothes and dusting off, He Yanfang shushed at the two children, "But he didn't have anything else to do when he came." ”

"So is there anything else to do?" said the blonde young man, who had condescendingly held the duster, still in an extremely graceful manner, approached as he gestured to dust his head.

It's actually boring, and there's no place for active blonde youths here. He Yanfang slapped the duster away in disgust, and said distressedly: "You just go back first, I'll deal with it here, there are still many things in the headquarters, right?"

"Hyde will take care of it, let alone say something like saying that he came to help you and didn't bring you back properly...... By the way, let's go check it out," Oreo suddenly suggested, "Flower Blossom." ”

This...... Maybe we shouldn't let Mr. He, who is too deeply involved, face it again, right? But if you want to confirm the identity of the deceased, you should still let the witnesses of the year go.

"Let's ...... Wouldn't it be better for Teacher Jean to go?" But when he said it, he still understood that he had said the wrong thing, Cedar looked at He Yanfang, and the other party really showed a wry smile.

"In order to confirm the identity of the deceased, Huakaiyuan still has to go again. He Yanfang made a decision and glanced at Oreo again, "But if you go...... It's going to be boring. ”

Oreo probably didn't particularly understand the matter of his friend who deliberately drew the line, but the straightforward blonde young man still stared at him silently for a moment, and did not give up, "Let's go." ”

In order to get closer to the memories of forty years ago, they called Carlos to drive up the mountain and quietly along the ring road to Huakaiyuan.

There was no music in the car, and Cedar could even hear everyone's breathing. As we reached the mountainside, the rain crept down, and the sound of the bombardment on the glass was so clear that it added to the unsettling silence.

Cedar suddenly thought to make matters worse, though it was not quite appropriate. He looked sideways at He Yanfang in the melancholy rain, and the latter, who seemed to have a dense cloud between his eyebrows and eyes, coughed at this time, and the cough in his throat was low and enduring.

Still not fully recovered...... couldn't help frowning like He Yanfang, and Cedar sighed lightly.

"It's been raining too much this year...... Carlos said in the sound of the rain intensifying, but the atmosphere was still too somber for him to slip through even if he was usually giggling.

The cedars looked through the car window at the rain-blurred mountain forest, and in the dim light, all the trees that swept overhead and in front of them were deeply and shallowly inky, and the rain fell heavily. Obviously, the monsters have been cleared a long time ago, but at this moment, the mountains and forests still seem to be devouring their ghosts, and the flower blossom courtyard still hides secrets.

The car drove through the dark wooded dome and quietly into the grass-infested road, stopping by the fountain. The blossom courtyard peeking out from between the crazy hedges remained gloomily, the traces of rain eroded the dilapidated buildings one by one, and the smoky windows hung loosely and hung loosely on the wooden planks that concealed the secrets, revealing a hollow blackness.

"The building is no longer in order, and it won't be long before it collapses. Glancing at the building after getting out of the car, Oreo said.

"Maybe this is the final check," He Yanfang got out of the car and rejected Oreo's umbrella again, "No, it's not proper to let the head of the headquarters hold the umbrella, I'll be with Harden." ”

"Rebecca isn't here, look at your nervous look," Oreo smiled again and walked around Carlos to take Cedar, "Come Komatsu, let's go together." ”

"Why do you all mind Miss Rebecca's presence?" asked Cedar, confused, which made Carlos, who had just complained about his disgust, laugh.

"You don't know yet, do you?" Oreo laughed, "Well, don't know." ”

"What do you know?" asked Cedar curiously.

"To put it simply, Rebecca is a rotten girl, so be careful not to provoke her in the future. Carlos couldn't help but break the news, and then was glared at by He Yanfang again.

"You must have revealed some 'material' to her, traitor, traitor. Forgetting the gloomy atmosphere for the time being, He Yanfang turned around and accused.

"Hey, hey, I'm going deep into the enemy, okay!, or who's going to tear up the rotten book for you?" Carlos shouted loudly, and Cedar was at a loss when he heard it.

"The legendary ......" Cedar looked at Harden as he spoke, and Harden seemed to be stunned for a moment.

"Don't ask, it feels like you're going to get to a bad topic, let's go, let's go!" Carlos trotted all the way to the gate, as if he was afraid of losing his rhythm.

As soon as she entered the gate, Cedar had no intention of chatting, and the dim red hall that had been used as a place for summoning demons still looked evil, not to mention the shaking of the ground and torrential rain of the Demon Night, this wet and strange hall was really depressing.

Cedar followed everyone through the rubble and up the stairs on the dark red carpet that was damaged and moldy.

It's disgusting to the touch...... With every step, I felt the thick moss-like blanket seeping water under my feet, and Cedar looked up at the cracked moss decorations on both sides, and suddenly slipped under her feet, and was steadily pulled when she lost her balance.

"Be careful," He Yanfang gently let go of his hand, "the floor is cracked, follow me." ”

Cedar thanked him in a whisper, and He Yanfang saw that he wanted to stop talking, so he slowed down and asked, "What's wrong?"

"I heard Miss Rebecca...... You want to send me and Zhaohua back to our original world. ”

He Yanfang glanced at him, then nodded: "Well, returning to the original world is the best choice." Because you are all elites who have participated in the Demon Suppression War, you will go to the core of the Origin Branch, that is, the Miami Branch. ”

Why...... Unable to ask in this depression, Cedar lowered her head in silence and stared at the cracked dark flower floor on the second floor.

Perhaps sensing his emotions, He Yanfang added: "Miami is a good place, you will like it." ”

"But I want to go back to Future City with you," said Cedar in a whisper, "Miami is in the United States, and this is not home...... It doesn't make a difference to go to Future City, right?"

Suddenly realizing something, he smiled bitterly again: "Or is this actually a springboard home? Did I lose the election? Do you think I can't-"

"That's not the case, Komatsu, although it must be hypocritical to ask now......" He Yanfang smiled self-deprecatingly, staring at him with distress, "But do you really want to join the Heavenly Punisher?"

Cedar can see himself in those gentle black eyes, immature and stupid, a young boy with an immature mind, He Yanfang must be like this in his eyes. While he smiled understandingly, he also used an uncharacteristically affirmative tone: "You're worried that I'm not ready. ”

"I know...... I didn't do well, I almost couldn't hold on against the Empress—" Of course she knew how weak and clumsy she was, but Cedar tried hard to say, "But what else can I do, right? I'll do better! I want to stay!"

"I didn't mean that......" He Yanfang hurriedly explained, laughing a little distressed, "I've already said it, the Heavenly Punisher is destined to fight to the death, you ......"

How can you stay out of the matter now? Cedar nodded lightly: "I originally agreed with Dengzhi to live and die together, so I am already a person from this world." Even if I will die in battle, I want to punish him on the same day. ”

He Yanfang's eyes in the shadow were full of sorrow, and there was still a smile on his face: "Evelyn has replied, you will go to the Miami branch, you are the Heavenly Punisher." ”

"You can transfer jobs in the future, right?"

"Yes," He Yanfang patted him lightly on the shoulder, "Let's go." ”

After entering the corridor on the second floor, as if he was worried that Oreo was bumping into things, He Yanfang gradually walked to the front. Cedar looked around with a small flashlight and crashed into Harden carelessly.

"I'm sorry ......"

"Did you just say anything to him?" Harden didn't care about the collision, and just asked.

"Talking about distribution, Zhaohua and I are going to the Miami branch...... What about you? Will you be in Future City?"

Harden glanced at him and replied indifferently, "Lan Shi, Arcane Headquarters." ”

"Even you've been transferred......"

Harden smiled faintly, with a little helplessness: "He wants someone to accompany him, but he still keeps pushing us away." ”

This feeling is beginning to understand, Cedar nodded: "Because the path he took was the most dangerous, and we ......" actually didn't know how far I could accompany him, right?

"I'll follow. Harden said lightly.

"Me too. ”

They walked out of the room with nothing, listening to the bell ringing out of nowhere, and walked to the reed-themed ballroom, only to see Oreo there.

The faint light was cast from above, and the blonde youth, who had nothing to do with everything here, just lowered his head and gently poked the round head of the red-crowned crane statue, his expression was full of innocence and helplessness in boredom, he did not belong to this atmosphere.

"What about Mr. He?" always felt that Oreo seemed too innocent here, and Cedar walked up to talk.

What beautiful eyes...... As Oreo raised his eyes, Cedar looked at the iridescent deep blue eyes and felt like staring at a mysterious gem.

"Over there, he said it was the director's office, and that Mingyin might leave something behind," Oreo shrugged frankly, "I shouldn't have come, should I?"

It's all the joys and sorrows of the old times, and they belong to the present...... Maybe there is no way to walk into He Yanfang's sadness.

“...... Let's go over here? This side is the lounge and individual rooms. Cedar suggested, and Oreo smiled, walking ahead as if nothing had happened, opening the old wooden door that closed the room.

Before Cedar entered the door, he suddenly heard music sounding, and after being startled, he heard Carlos's wah wow shout and He Yanfang's accusation from a distance, probably pressing the wrong thing and happened to turn on the old stereo?

"Will turning on the stereo in this leaky and broken place leak electricity or cause an explosion?" said Harden and walked over, Cedar watched him disappear around the corner, and did not chase after him timidly, but could only look at the source of the sound worriedly. The slightly distorted but still melodious music came through the corridor like an undercurrent with a cold wind, so strange that he shivered and hid in the room.

"Komatsu," Oreo, who was walking in front, suddenly pointed to the case, "is that her?"

Cedar walked over, and then was stunned again—

A portrait.

A peach-pink girl dancing a blood-colored sword in a red plum. Forty years later, the color of the portrait has dimmed, but it still gives a vivid and intense impression in the dimness.

subconsciously cast a worried gaze behind him, but behind Harden, He Yanfang had also walked over, his posture was awe-inspiring, and his eyes as black as the abyss could not see joy and sorrow.

The dim darkness filled with the sound of rain was silent and incomparably noisy for a moment, and then, He Yanfang finally smiled slightly, and opened his mouth very lightly, but there was a martyr-like tragic meaning: "Yu Xuan......"

That girl, the container that liberated the evil power of the Black Water Hime, the source of the white sage's benevolence and tenderness, and at the same time the unhealed scars that entangle the associates, her posture is so strong, but her eyes are so compassionate, she has been fixed into such an image for thousands of years, and it is not the same as when she was alive.

"Did Mingyin draw it...... The opening was a little difficult, and He Yanfang smiled and sighed lightly, "The most difficult thing is that people are the same." ”

"Do you want to take it back and give it to Kamishirasawa Nobuyoshio?" Harden asked quietly.

Cedar could see that He Yanfang's gaze at the portrait was softer than usual, and after a moment of silence, his voice was soft: "It should be handed over to him, ......right?" It doesn't look like it. ”

Xue Song continued to look at the portrait, and He Yanfang said flatly: "This is what Mingyin and I take for granted to imagine her, and the real her has never shown such sad eyes." ”

Enthusiastic, energetic and simply optimistic, as desperately red as the morning glow, that is Yu Xuan in He Yanfang's eyes, right? The girl who gives people warmth and hope should not be associated with tragedy, and the sad demon that torments the related person is not Yu Xuan himself.

Is there anything else left but the portrait? Cedar tried to pull open the drawer and slowly opened the small slightly faded jewelry box inside—

Inside is a garnet of blood, a symbol of faith, fidelity and simplicity. If I'm not mistaken, that's a gem that Yu Xuan likes quite a lot, right?

He Yanfang gently took out the garnet, his eyes were not as sad as he imagined, but with comfort and relief, although Cedar couldn't confirm whether it was covered up in front of them: "Take it back to the old man Xinfang, it's time to bring a bottle of wine to talk to him." ”

"What are you drinking like that? Oreo immediately objected.

"A glass is fine. He Yanfang's pale face in the dim light smiled slightly, and when he lowered his head, his expression was calm, but he just gently rolled up the scroll preciously, "Let's go." ”

He looked up with a bright, familiar smile, accentuated by the abruptness that he was stubbornly trying to hide. Watching him and Oreo walk out, Carlos also went out with a rare sigh.

"I want to ask...... Do you think it's unfair," Dumont asked suddenly, his voice low, "about me who survived." ”

Yes, judging from the original performance, why would it be Dimon who survived? If it was Yu Xuan who became the second superbreed in the first place...... But no matter how you think about it now, Cedar shook his head: "Who survived, it should make sense." ”

"What's the point, the girl resisted so hard...... Dimont paused again, "it's strange that I don't feel guilty, it's just ...... Feel sad. ”

"There's no need to think so, Dimon. Harden exhaled heavily, "At least we inherited Mei Zhixia." ”

Not knowing what else to say, Cedar was silent, and then Harden ended the uncomfortable silence again: "Go ahead." ”

"Hmm. "Let's keep up, maybe it would be superfluous to say anything, all they can do is to walk beside He Yanfang and prove to him that love is what makes people grow, and that the emotions and beliefs represented by the blood ruby always have a bright meaning in the midst of bad luck.

fin.

-

The title and main emotional tone come from the ED "Jewel" of "Portrait of Cosette", and this anime is also recommended to you. You can use the song "Jewel" as the BGM of this article, and the following lyrics are translated:

Listen quietly to the quietly flowing song

With the sigh of the bright moonlight, share sweet kisses

(Disappear forever)

It's like a lover, hug it tighter

You'll be alone in the twilight-lit wilderness

Embrace your loneliness while you are clasping each other's fingers now

The faint light is sure to shine even in the dark abyss

The dream of a jewel that sleeps far away

Explore together at the end of the night

-

I hope you can call me by that one name

A memory that sleeps somewhere in the world that no one knows

It also shines brightly in the future

(Disappear forever)

It seems that only the deeper the pain of repayment, can support this longing

At this moment, I want to melt your frozen heart with pain more than gentleness

Like a shadow that can't be escaped, it is always with you

Your tears drip, turning into gemstones between your fingers

-

You and I will go parallel to that dazzling wilderness

Embrace your loneliness while you are clasping each other's fingers now

Never separate

The faint light is sure to shine even in the dark abyss

In search of the sleeping gems in the distance

Believe in the power to cross the night