Chapter 286: The Environment Should Become “Us”

"I really can't stand you guys at all!"

While he was putting away his pistol... oh no, to be more precise, his [compatriot], he started complaining to Nozomi.

"If I had known you could do it so easily, I wouldn't have gone through so much trouble... Are you (obscene words) kidding me?!"

"And what's wrong with you? You rushed over here just because you saw your beloved was unhappy, right? Where's the 'equality' you promised? You only care about taking care of your little lovers, right? It's so disgusting... Ugh, so disgusting, get down quickly with my blessings!"

He made a "friendly" gesture to Nozomi in a very "friendly" way.

As for why he is so resentful... Anyone who finds himself concentrating on lurking and trying to complete his task bit by bit, while also having to pay attention to the emotions of the "boss's" lover and his family, and ensuring that some crazy people do not provoke them... Oh yes, "don't provoke them."

After all, the accessories given by Nozomi are really not just accessories. Although they have never taken effect, it does not mean that the power inside does not exist... and if they really take effect, then the counterattack of the power inside will really be aimed directly at "killing."

In other words, he was trying his best to protect others... However, just when he was racking his brains to figure out how to deal with the psychological problems of people in high-pressure environments, just when he was about to complete the mission...

Because a certain girl was in a bad mood, one of his "bosses" immediately ran over as if he couldn't sit still anymore, and while comforting her, he also "ignited" all the subsequent issues, or solved them...

It's not impossible, at least his task was completed, but the feeling is still very disgusting. There is a unique "beauty" of working on a project with all his heart and soul, but when it was almost time to submit it, the superiors took it and filled in his name... Tsk, thank you, my mentality is about to explode.

...Forget it. Anyway, the trouble with Sakura itself needs to be dealt with by Nozomi. After all, there is something Nozomi left specifically for her... You have to know that even he, who can be classified as [compatriots], will be counterattacked. After all, the basic operating logic of that thing is "protection." Except for some people, everyone else may be judged as an "enemy" by it.

Nozomi's actions saved him a lot of trouble... especially with the children. Although he had thought about the subsequent arrangements for other people, he had not really thought about how to deal with Sakura and the children. He just thought about calling for help from others through his "thoughts" in the end.

At worst... he could just call for rain and use the Honkai and the invasion of "Kaiji" to cover it up. That way he could at least relax a little.

Now that Nozomi has come directly, he don't have to worry about his follow-up matters. This is really a cause for celebration~

'...Tsk, I still feel a little bit uncomfortable. What's going on?'

"Is it normal for the first 'partner' or 'blood relative' to be partial to one another?"

The bright red figure swayed gently and swam out from behind Nozomi in an increasingly strange posture... Hmm? Why did it feel like the connection between Skadi and Nozomi was getting closer? Although he couldn't tell where it was, it felt very subtle...

"If he really wanted to be partial, why didn't he take her back from the beginning... To put it bluntly, it's (obscene words)."

He curled his lips, not trying to hide the jealousy in his words.

"Let me say this first! No matter how you explain, it can't change the fact that you were the last one to pick her up! As long as you refute it, you are (obscene words), you emotional guy, get down now!"

He complained a little angrily and made a "friendly" gesture to Nozomi.

"Yes, you are right."

Nozomi just nodded in response, stretched out his hand to control the blue water flow, wrapped up the children in the other room so that they could have a good dream, and responded softly.

"…You are right."

After a brief pause, Nozomi said this again, which seemed a little puzzling... Oh, maybe he was responding to the other people in his "thoughts."

"After all, I was late and I was indeed late... I knew very well how serious the consequences of [being late] could sometimes be, but I still did this. It was indeed my problem."

The rhythm of his fingertips caused the power to flow through the different bubbles. He seemed especially careful with those of Sakura, Rin, and the children... Even so, he still seemed a little worried. He lightly twisted his fingertips, and a paintbrush appeared in his hand. He gently "painted" in the air, and the numerous bubbles disappeared in an instant and entered the strange "painting."

Then, the paintbrush disappeared, and Griseo, who was far away on the other side of the planet, gently moved the paintbrush in her hand and took over this group of rather special bubbles from the "painting."

"No matter what excuses I make, they are useless. I will naturally accept the accusations."

Nozomi's response was rather calm, even gentle, so gentle that it made people feel a little uncomfortable.

"…It's really strange that you don't sound that crazy right now."

He said this with a somewhat strange look on his face.

"Maybe it's just because you've gone crazy too?"

Nozomi raised the corner of his mouth slightly, raised his hand, and tilted his head, indicating his head.

"After all, we are connected by thoughts and blood. Maybe you are influenced by me, so you don't think I am crazy?"

"You know, Kosma still thinks I'm crazy, right?"

"Hey, if that's the case... then there's nothing I can do."

He put his hands on his hips as if he wanted to refute something, but in the end, he changed the subject and his tone was full of helplessness, which made people feel somewhat funny.

"Blood relatives are not crazy. You [compatriots], please do not speak ill of blood relatives."

However, Skadi on the side was a little dissatisfied and had an angry expression on her face.

"Blood relative loves you very much and has done a lot for you... You are not allowed to let him down or hurt him again."

"Forget it. At this stage, what else can hurt him..."

"Traitor."

Skadi uttered a word with an indifferent expression.

"[Traitor], that's fine."

"Suspicion and distrust are both fine."

"That's what you did in the beginning, so I don't like you."

"Alright, alright..."

Nozomi reached out and rubbed Skadi's cheek, melting away her increasingly gloomy expression and crushing her ever-overflowing hostility.

"That won't happen this time, my 'blood relative'."

"In the future, it will most likely not happen again."

"So... don't worry."

"...Um!"

Skadi tilted her head first, enjoying Nozomi's touch for a while, then she smiled and nodded gently in response.

"...Tsk, tsk, tsk, I really can't stand you guys at all."

He was silent for a while, and then as if he had just come to his senses, he took a deep look at Skadi, who was obsessed with being stroked by Nozomi, shook his head, stretched out his hand, twisted his fingers lightly, and waved casually... no response.

"......"

The corners of his mouth twitched slightly... Didn't he just say a few words to Nozomi? Why did Griseo have to "sanction" him?

Well... although it was somewhat embarrassing, it was okay. With another shake of his wrist, the paintbrush quietly appeared. With a casual "painting", his figure disappeared on the spot—using "painting" to move long distances quickly, they were now very skilled at it.

The only pity is that the coordinates of the space area cannot be reached directly by "drawing", but it doesn't matter, they can take their time~

As for why he was in such a hurry to leave... nonsense if he didn't leave, would he stay here and be a light bulb?

And Skadi's move just now was really scary... As Nozomi's "blood relative", a kind of Kaiji beast that is different from a "companion" but better than a "companion", she has not had much contact with "thoughts" so far.

Although it is not impossible to perceive her through "thoughts", she gives people the feeling that she is a "separate" individual... It is as if Nozomi has given her special permission.

But that's true. After all, the relationship between the two of them is more subtle than others think. After all, they are "blood-related" in the physical sense... Ahem, forget it, let's not mention it, so as to avoid being nagged and targeted again.

Moreover, Nozomi's things are not over yet... Not long after that person left, a nimble figure jumped out of the "painting" accompanied by some brilliant and strange colors that appeared out of thin air and quickly faded away. The brightly colored fluffy hair revealed her identity.

"Brother, I'm going to make a scene."

However, as soon as Vill-V landed, she adjusted her hat out of habit, then put her hands on her hips, with obvious dissatisfaction on her face, and began to complain to Nozomi.

Also, there are eight dark blue "eyes" extending from her back that look like joints and are connected like mechanical arms. Each of them shows different emotions.

However, except for one "eye" that still revealed the ignorance of a newborn baby, the other seven "eyes" all expressed the same meaning with different expressions—I am unhappy.

"You didn't even come to pick me up! I'm going to make a scene!!!"

"No! It's [us] who are going to cause trouble!"

Vill-V took a few steps forward, with undisguised resentment on her face, and a little bit of childishness, like a child throwing a tantrum.

"I was the first one to meet my brother... Strictly speaking, I'm not the first one to do that, but at least when it comes to reminiscing about the past and supporting my brother, I'm the first one!"

"I was the one who came here first!!!"

"…By the way, could you please stop making such loser-like remarks? [Me]?"

One of its "eyes" shifted slightly, looked at Vill-V, and then made a voice of its own using an unknown organ... 'Judging from the steady tone, it should be the "expert".'

"You are a loser! Your whole family is a loser!"

"But aren't [we] are you, and aren't you are [we]?"

'This tone, which carries a distinctly frivolous tone... maybe it is "extremely evil"?'

"Or do you want to separate us? We can do it now, right? Actually, we don't mind. After all, there will be eight of us, so the competition will definitely be fierce!"

'Okay, okay, "Magician", you don't mind making trouble, right?'

"In fact, including the new [compatriots], there should actually be nine people... Hmm."

'... "Chef" please stop making trouble. You've never been so good at talking before? Are you infected?'

'Oh, no, these people are all from "Vill-V", there is no such thing as "being infected"... They are just like this.'

"Okay, stop talking nonsense... If you continue like this, I'm afraid that Vill-V's CPU will burn out."

Nozomi reached out and flicked Vill-V's head with his fingers, drawing their attention back.

"No way... [Brother], are you underestimating me?"

Vill-V first rubbed her forehead subconsciously... Although she didn't feel how painful this force was in her current position, she still wanted to rub it, trying to relieve the non-existent pain.

"But I'm still very angry."

Vill-V brought the topic back.

"My brother didn't come to pick me up! I'm not happy!"

"What a childish temper."

"How boring."

"So lame...let me take over."

The other "Vill-V" were still making sarcastic remarks.

"Ha... so tell me, what do you want, Vill-V?"

Nozomi smiled and just asked this.

"......"

However, when it really came to this moment, Vill-V fell silent, and the other "Vill-V" didn't say anything extra. Except for the "eye" that was still a little confused, the other "eyes" looked at Vill-V and each other, and finally looked at Nozomi very seriously.

"We... hope you can accept our apology, Brother."

Whether it's the "first time" or the "third time"…it's always the same.

The indifference of the "first time", and the lack of concern for Nozomi's situation... considering the situation at that time, it was indeed natural. After all, they were not familiar with each other, and Nozomi's identity at the time was too delicate and dangerous. It was normal for Vill-V to act according to orders.

But no matter what... Nozomi ended up like that, and it was somewhat her fault.

As for the "third time", there is no need to mention it.

Although the "Herrscher" interfered, no matter what, she was the one who pressed the button and clicked the confirmation button with her own hands, and this would not change.

"Ha... I knew it."

Nozomi sighed, then smiled, reached out, and lightly touched Vill-V's forehead with his finger.

"I've said this many times... Let the past be the past. For things like those that cannot be changed, just remember them and move on. That's all."

"There's really no need to apologize."

"But if there is a fault, it must be acknowledged. An apology is unnecessary, but it doesn't mean it is not needed, right, [Brother]?"

Vill-V raised her head and said this.

"I can sense that Brother is in a better mood just now... I never thought Brother is such a hypocrite~"

"…I knew it."

Nozomi rolled his eyes and ignored Vill-V's teasing. At the same time, he stretched out his finger, pressed against her head, and gently pushed her away from him.

"Okay, are you satisfied?"

"Well, that's it!"

Vill-V blinked, and took a few steps back obediently, no longer sticking to Nozomi.

It's okay…there will be plenty of time and plenty of opportunities after this.

"This time", [Brother] is just laying the groundwork, so... it's okay.

"Next time", she will still be the first one, [they] will still be the first one, she has this confidence.

Because she is Vill-V.

[They] are "Vill-V".

"Well then! Next~"

Vill-V blinked again and again in coordination with the "eyes" behind her. All of a sudden, her expression changed slightly, and her eyes seemed to have exchanged with one of the "eyes", and the look in her eyes became different.

'Hmm... this is the "Magician" for sure.'

"It's time to start setting up the [stage]!"

She raised her hand, intentionally guiding the gaze of the "audience" who were not sure whether they existed or not, and elegantly took off the gorgeous "everlasting flower" from her magic hat. She sniffed it at the tip of her nose with a slight performance gesture, then raised her hand high and "presented" it.

The "Eternal Flower" slowly slipped from her hand, and then... it dispersed and dissolved the moment it touched the ground, turning into nano-level "individuals" that dispersed, and began to replicate itself continuously under the blessing of massive Honkai energy.

Immediately, the ground seemed to be "boiling" and began to "vibrate" one by one, and this strange phenomenon was spreading rapidly.

At first, it was just the floor of this room, then the walls, then the entire shelter, and finally... it began to spread to the yellow sand outside that was soaked by rain.

The scene that followed... was somewhat horrifying.

The desert areas that should have been dry... are gradually beginning to accumulate water and grow lush vegetation. The overall environment is rapidly changing towards a swamp-like environment.

The air around, which had already become a little humid due to the rain, became even more humid at this moment, and... it also began to slowly take on a little salty taste like seawater.

The ground has changed, and so has the sky... Bubbles began to appear unconsciously with every breath, as if the air had turned into invisible sea water, and the ground that was supposed to exist had become the bottom of the sea.

Everything was changing at a speed visible to the naked eye to an environment close to the ocean, or in other words... an area that was more suitable for "Kaiji," more suitable for Nozomi and their activities.

Haha... it's only natural to be able to do this, after all...

[Echo/Authority—Transformation]

[The environment should join "us"]

"Everyone, the [End] has arrived!"

Vill-V gently wiped her magic hat, and the "everlasting flower" reappeared in its original position, as if it had never disappeared and never withered.

"Please take your respective [scripts] and put a commendable end to this [time]!"

"[Curtain Call Performance]is about to begin!"

"......"

"Have you had enough fun? If you have, you should return your body to me."

"No! You're being too slow. When facing someone like my brother, I should take the initiative! Look at me taking him down in one fell swoop... Ouch!"

"I'm still here, go on, I'm listening."

"'Sisters'... you always want to be 'partners' of 'blood relatives'... Why? We are already closer than 'partners'... How strange."

"These two represent different things!"

"Then why don't we just call ourselves 'sisters' and 'partners,' since we're blood relatives? That should work, right?"

"No, 'blood relatives' are not mean in that way..."

"But my compatriots have told me about similar situations..."

Skadi was still confused.

"Is it not possible?"

"Can't..."

"Yes,yes!"

"Vil-V!!!"

......

Compared to Nozomi's "relaxed and happy" situation, Pardofelis, who was still on the road, was standing in the desert in a daze...

"What is this?"

Just now, she watched as a desert area turned into a swamp in front of her, and then turned into an ocean-like area... The air that came into her nose also changed from dry sand and dust to moist air, and finally to a salty and humid sea breeze.

All the changes were visible to the naked eye. An entire area... was "transformed" right before her eyes.

"......"

Pardofelis looked into the distance, at the area that had been "transformed"... that was where she was supposed to be going. Sakura and the others were there, waiting for rescue.

And now... it seems that there is no need for rescue anymore.

Silence, and only silence.

In the end, she could only grit her teeth, turn around, leave quickly, and bring the news back to "Fire Moth" as quickly as possible to tell Mei and the others.

This is... the best way.