Just a few hours before the Prime Minister and Mio Ito's secret talks began, the RV had just arrived on the tree-lined lane.

On the other side, on Mt. Arana, Saiya stared at Manami Mizuhara.

“…… Actually, the real you, afraid to have power? ”

Xi Gu said.

Faced with the young man's questioning, Manami Mizuhara fell silent.

"Afraid ......"

Xiao Xiao's wind echoed in his ears.

The weeds and shrubs in the atrium of this centuries-old shrine have been wiped out by the Shinki clones of Xiya, but it is still desolate and empty.

At this time, the air of desolation and loneliness could not be stopped by the autumn wind, and the slightly wet soil under the feet was like a cemetery where the gods were buried.

I don't know how long later, Mana Mizuhara finally raised his head again and stared at Xi Gu bravely.

"That's right...... I was really scared.

"However, what I am afraid of is not that I have power, but that the person who has power will become a completely different version of myself than I am now.

“…… Just like Mio Ito-senpai. ”

"I don't believe that Mio-sensa is a pure bloodless and tearless monster. There must also be hesitation and loneliness in her heart.

"-Maybe Mio-senpai does have a monster-like side. Before she gained strength, she already had many strange manifestations. She is not afraid of pain, and she never shows a weak expression, like a warrior who will never back down, or a killer who will always remain calm.

"But...... Even if it's that kind of Mio-senpai, before she gains power. I've seen the tenderness in her eyes, too. That gentleness is the proof of Mio's humanity.

"Maybe you will think that gentleness is weakness, but even if you are weak, what's the bad, do you have to be a person who is not afraid of killing? Monsters that don't stop killing? ”

Mana Mizuhara stared at Xi Gu, and the anger in her chest slowly overflowed.

That anger rose like rising water in a spring pool.

"I like that kind of senior sister, although her face may not be so good-looking, but at that time she would not hurt others. It won't get so cruel.

"Although the current senior sister is unimaginably beautiful, whether it is her in the abandoned factory or the indiscriminate killing on the streets of Shitamachi, she has become completely different from the original senior sister.

"So, I can only think that the so-called power you have given you, Mr. Storekeeper, can only be obtained by distorting your own mind. However, if the mind is distorted and the self is changed by this power, is the person who has gained the power still the original self?

"And I'm afraid that this power will also lead my new self down the path of destruction—whether it's destroying myself or destroying others, that's not what I want. What I want is a world of occultism that is full of fantasy, as if I am wandering in the sky, and will not harm others, not this mysterious power that feeds on other people's flesh and blood, even uglier than the ugliest side of humanity! ”

The girl's furious anger turned into sharp words, and she attacked Xi Gu word by word.

It was the thought that had been hovering in the girl's mind during this time. It was her voice that intertwined with remorse and enlightenment.

The girl's character and determination are vividly reflected in the words.

However, Xi Gu, who was still looking at her, still just looked at it with a smile, and there was a little appreciation in his eyes. 、

Then said lightly.

"It's really an interesting discussion, but there is one thing about Mana that you seem to be mistaken, and you are very wrong.

"I'm not going to put any boundaries in other people's power, or what they need to pay for it. The power I give has never had a definite nature, nor is it absolute, it is like a seed, no matter what the result is. It will only depend on each person's own endowment.

"Some people receive this seed, but the soil is too poor for that seed to produce anything; There are also people who plant the seed and pour their hearts and souls, and finally grow a gorgeous flower; Others planted seeds, but thorns grew out of the ground...... However, no matter what the result of that seed grows, it is essentially none of my business. ”

"But...... Sister Mio......"

There was a slight hesitation and confusion in the girl's voice.

It's probably because what Xi Gu said was completely inconsistent with the result she had expected.

But she could hear that there was absolutely no lie in Xi Gu's words, it was his voice from the heart.

And with such a high incarnation of a god, there should be no need to lie.

However, if that's the case......

"That's just the result of Mio Ito's own wishes.

“…… After all, in addition to those two days of getting along, and the story that Mia Mineyama told to Ling - how much do you know about Mio Ito? ”

The girl wanted to say something, but at this moment, Xi Gu's eyes that met her suddenly glowed.

No, it's not the actual light in the physical sense.

It was just a mental illusion.

However, the illusion burned on the retina with great clarity, like a movie being shown in a theater.

That was the story before Mio Ito gained power.

- Ragged and ragged, she stumbled out of the abandoned factory; After meeting Xi Gu, he talked in the bookstore; The girl's distant past; Things related to Hiromi Ito; Her heart's desire; Her precepts......

A strong sense of vertigo hits Manami Mizuhara's brain, and scenes from the past become active shots in front of him.

In an instant, a large amount of information was transmitted to the brain through vision, but the impact of this amount of information was not the most shocking to Manami Mizuhara, which really made her mind tremble.

- It's the content of those messages.

"Mio-senpai......"

Whispering the name in his heart.

Manami Mizuhara stood speechless, stunned until all the images in front of him were played.

At this moment, she finally completely convinced what Xi Gu said.

She finally fully understood that the power of "flesh and blood resonance" displayed by Mio Ito was not the compulsion of Xigu, but the result of her own wishes.

However, it was precisely because of this realization that the girl fell into deeper despair.

There will never be a chance again...... Have you seen the former Meixu senior sister?

"There's a chance."

It was as if Xi Gu had heard what was going on in his heart. Said to her casually.

Manami Mizuhara trembled, at this moment. , a red solidified object was thrown from Xi Gu's hand.

Minami Mizuhara subconsciously caught this thing.

She looked at it, and it was a piece of blood that was as clear as crystal.

“…… It has a similar effect to the pendant, but the power contained in it is much stronger than that of the pendant. ”

"Unlike pendants, once you use it, you don't have a chance to go back. It is also impossible to stop again.

"So—when you really have that enlightenment, hold it up.

“…… Then, you'll stand on the same height as Mio Ito and see the world as she sees it. ”

(End of chapter)