Chapter 13: Unfortunately, No +1

"Ling Bo Wei Bu, Luo Wa Sheng Chen."

As early as the late Eastern Han period, there were already elegant praises for women wearing stockings. The origin of stockings can even be traced back to the Xia Dynasty.

Most products of civilization gradually disappear with the passage of time, only visible through fragments or documents unearthed.

But stockings have survived to this day, indicating people's fondness for them.

Especially when worn by women, they can exhibit a unique charm.

As for over-the-knee socks, they actually existed as early as the Roman period. However, it was only recently that they spread to the East and were further popularized by the Eastern two-dimensional culture.

But regardless, such things did not appear in the Eastern Warring States period 500 years ago.

Yae Sakura said she made them herself.

One could say that Lady Yae Sakura single-handedly advanced the aesthetic standards of the Eastern world by 500 years.

Tsk, Karen, what have you done! You sealed away such an outstanding talent for 500 years.

You must know that over-the-knee socks are a treasure of civilization, a step in human progress.

"Benefactor?"

Seeing Ye Feng staring at her thighs, Yae Sakura could not help but speak up.

"It's nothing. Seeing you, I'm reminded of an old acquaintance. She was also old-fashioned, a fox, and always called me benefactor."

"If... you do not wish for me to address you this way..."

"No. Please continue to call me that in any situation. Foxes and benefactors are a perfect match."

"Y-Yes... Benefactor."

Although Yae Sakura did not fully understand the story of "foxes and benefactors," since the benefactor said so, it must be reasonable. Besides, since he is the benefactor, it's quite normal to address him as such.

But it always feels like "in any situation" sounds a bit heavy...

And she is not a fox.

However, Yaemiko had no interest in correcting these minor issues.

Because she was concerned about what had happened to Hellmaru.

"Hellmaru? On the playground."

Upon hearing Leaf Feng's words, Yae Sakura walked to the edge of the ruins and looked toward the playground. The fox, once as large as a hill, was gone, but a petite girl with pink hair lay on the playground.

"She is..."

"Ah, back to her human form. As you guessed, she is Hellmaru, the Herrscher of Corruption who has been entangled with you for 500 years."

Yae Sakura stared blankly at the petite girl lying on the ground, momentarily lost in thought. She seemed to see the shadow of her sister.

Yae Sakura's younger sister, Yae Rin, was an unfortunate child. Rin had been frail and sickly from a young age, only able to watch the flowers bloom and wither, and see the wind, rain, frost, and snow through the window.

To encourage her sister, Yae Sakura had promised Rin that once she got a little better, they would go to see the cherry blossoms together.

But before the spring blooms could arrive, disaster struck first.

To pray for favorable weather, the Yae family chose a shrine maiden for sacrificial rites. Under her father's coercion and having been taught the "responsibilities of a shrine maiden" since childhood, Yae Sakura personally thrust a blade into her sister's heart.

It was from that moment that Yae Sakura's heart was scarred, giving the regulator of erosion an opportunity to take advantage.

And now, the fallen figure of the regulator of erosion slowly overlapped with the image of her sister lying in a pool of blood that day... Wait, it cannot overlap.

"Why is her stomach so big?"

Yae Sakura asked with wide eyes.

"Have you never seen a pregnant woman?"

"...?"

Yae Sakura turned her head, looking at Ye Feng in disbelief, "Hellmaru is pregnant?"

"Sort of."

"When?"

"Just now."

"....?"

There were so many things to comment on that she didn't know where to start.

"So this is Hellmaru's true form?"

"To be precise, whether it's the big fox or her, they are both 'Hellmaru' or rather, 'the Herrscher of Corruption.' But this consciousness and personality are based on another consciousness and personality. How? It's Honkai, it's quite magical, isn't it?"

Ye Feng paused and added, "By the way, the 'other consciousness and personality' I mentioned is from 50,000 years ago, during the brilliant era of highly developed civilization. That girl was named RIN, and she had an older sister named SAKURA."

Yae Sakura's pupils widened, and her face showed clear signs of agitation.

"RIN and Yae Rin..."

Yae Sakura murmured. The pronunciation of these names in the Eastern world is the same.

It's almost like a "reincarnation."

"Don't get too involved. The only thing showing now is 'Hellmaru,' a collection of hatred and resentment. I don't sense Rin's consciousness. Otherwise..."

Ye Feng looked at Yae Sakura's face, which resembled SAKURA from the previous era, and said:

"You don't need to be so troubled."

Ye Feng took Yae Sakura to the square. The white silk-clad, shoulder-baring shrine maiden looked at Hellmaru with noticeably more gentleness than before.

"So why is she pregnant?"

"It's not that. I've already explained a lot, yet you haven't kept your original intention. Also, it's not exactly a pregnancy."

"What do you mean?"

Ye Feng looked at the character panel and saw that there was no +1.

Ye Feng thought the rules had slightly changed.

But they hadn't; it was still impossible to add new characters.

Ye Feng explained, "She only has the state of pregnancy, but there is no life growing inside her."

"Why does the benefactor know?"

Leaf Feng smiled mysteriously, "Guess."

"...."

Yae Sakura fell silent for a moment, her fox ears twitching.

"What does the benefactor plan to do with Hellmaru?"

"Are you worried that I'll kill her?"

"No... I just..."

"Don't be so anxious. Rest assured, I won't. It's rare to encounter someone who immediately shouts to kill me upon entering. I admire Hellmaru's courage. Keeping her around will definitely be interesting.

Oh, and one thing I almost forgot to tell you, this is not the real world."

"Hmm."

Yae Sakura nodded slightly, noticing the abnormalities here. The students in the classroom earlier were the biggest anomaly.

"You can think of this as a dream world."

"A dream world...?"

"But you will eventually return to the real world. When that happens, help me check if Hellmaru's pregnancy buff is still there."

"Yes, benefactor." Although she didn't understand some of the terms, Yae Sakura roughly understood what Ye Feng meant.

Ye Feng wanted to see if his buff could influence reality.

Yae Sakura picked up the fallen Hellmaru, looking at this longtime enemy with a complex expression.

Until now, Yae Sakura had always thought that to end this endless battle, it would either be her death or that of her enemy. There was absolutely no possibility of reconciliation.

But at this moment, gazing at her peaceful sleeping face, Yae Sakura also felt a sense of tranquility in her heart.

At least, in this dream world, it was permissible to relax her nerves a little.

Though the protruding belly was still quite eye-catching.

---

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