Chapter 18: The So-Called Jinx
After playing board games for a while, Xiao An suddenly grabbed my hand and said, “Dad, I want to go out and see the stars~”
“Uh, but it’s already very late…”
“Dad… Can you?”
Facing those big eyes, I of course immediately softened and surrendered, agreeing to Xiao An.
“Of course no problem!”
Ah… I really can’t refuse a child’s request.
“You want to go out and see the stars? Then I’ll go with you.”
“You’d better stay here. After the dangerous thing just happened, it’s not suitable to go out.”
“Ugh, it’s boring to leave me alone…”
If I took Xiao An outside, Ke Ling would be left alone to watch.
But it’s impossible to let Ke Ling go out now, and I don’t have the confidence to protect both Xiao An and Ke Ling at the same time. So I can’t just agree to her here.
“Hmm? Are you going out? Then I’ll accompany you.”
Lily tilted her head to look at Nana, and I also looked over. She rubbed her shoulder and stood up, saying, “I’m a bit bored too. It’s not interesting to always win. Little witch, you come and play. There’s still mahjong and other board games in the cabinet. If you get tired of it, change to another set.”
“Oh, that’s perfect. But wear more clothes, Nana. The temperature is very low at night.”
“Got it, stop nagging.”
Although she said that, she honestly went back to her room to change. I also started changing Xiao An’s clothes.
Suddenly, I felt a piercing gaze. Lily was staring at me intently.
And I accidentally overheard her mumbling. “She’s actually calling her by her last name… as expected…”
Ahaha…
“I’m not a fan of married women…”
“…Forget it. Lily in this world is not the Lily I know. She’s not a high school teacher, but a university teacher. She’s not troubled by her charm, and lives a normal life. She’s a hot beauty teacher.”
“If it weren’t for Nana, we wouldn’t even have a chance to meet, would we?”
Thus, we decided to take Xiao An to see the stars on impulse. Along the way, Nana and I each held one of Xiao An’s little hands, and even I felt like we were a family of three—
We arrived at the seaside park and walked along the beach at night. In winter, the sea breeze turns into a biting cold wind, and it should be very cold.
But today it wasn’t cold at all. I could even feel some warmth. Did I catch a cold? Or were my senses malfunctioning? Or did I turn into a zombie again?
I pinched myself but it didn’t hurt much. As expected, I’m just an ordinary person now. And it’s not just me who feels this way. Nana also said she didn’t feel cold at all.
Xiao An was even running ahead, happily leaving footprints on the beach.
“…It’s strange… The seaside in late February is not cold at all.”
“…This is what happened before.”
Around ten o’clock, I went to buy a can of coffee. This time I didn’t choose hot coffee, but bought a cold one.
You probably wouldn’t believe it, but I still felt a bit hot even after walking this far.
When I came back, I heard Nana say something that made me crush the coffee can on the spot.
My blood rushed to my head, and my head felt swollen. This was the second time I felt terrible today. Getting angry twice in one day was something that had never happened before!
“What did you say!!! Xiao An is lost!”
“What happened! How could she get lost!”
“I don’t know either! I just looked at my phone for a few seconds, and when I looked up, she was gone.”
“Where could she have gone in a few seconds!”
“I’ve looked all around, but she’s nowhere to be found.”
Nana also looked very anxious, but more so confused. She really didn’t understand why Xiao An got lost.
I grabbed my hair and shouted, “How could this happen?!”
“Let’s just look around first.”
“Oh oh oh oh oh, wah ah ah ah, why wasn’t I watching her properly!”
What the hell was I thinking drinking coffee! Am I brain-dead! I’d rather be poisoned by caffeine!
“It’s no use saying that now. This is a typical case of ‘better late than never’.”
“Right! It’s too late to say that now! Every time I encounter an emergency, I regret it, but it’s useless! What’s more important now is to find Xiao An.”
“I’ll go look now!”
“Wait, where are you going to look?”
SF Light Novel
“Everywhere!”
Then, I started frantically searching, using this as a starting point.
“Xiao An!”
I shouted as I ran.
“Where are you! Xiao An!”
I poured all my spiritual power into it, hoping it would reach her!
“[Xiao An! If you hear me, reply!]”
Still… no sign of Xiao An.
Xiao An is just a child, she shouldn’t have gone too far. I’ve already searched the entire area around the spot, but still no sign of Xiao An’s whereabouts.
If Nana said she just looked away for a few seconds, how is that possible?
—Return to the original world—
This thought suddenly flashed through my mind.
Yes, Xiao An is not an ordinary child.
I knew this from the first day I came to this world.
A child who descended enveloped in flames.
With dazzling golden hair and golden eyes, that child is the only ‘special existence’ in this world.
Unlike me, an ordinary person who uses borrowed abilities with the magic circle in my head, she is an ‘anomaly’.
Although I don’t know why she came to this world, she truly doesn’t belong here.
So, it’s natural for her to return to her original world— Is that it?
No! Now is not the time to think about such things! Don’t give up so easily!
To put it bluntly, these are just speculations! Who knows if Xiao An has really returned to her original world!
Where… I can’t find her alone! How long will it take me to find her!
Most importantly, will Xiao An encounter any danger during the time she’s lost alone? Damn it!
Why didn’t I have Nana implant a scout magic circle in my head—
If only Yu Hui or Lan were here. They are both experts in searching and tracking, and should have a way to find Xiao An.
But Yu Hui… I don’t know where she is now.
I don’t know what kind of deviation led to this result, but Yu Hui is indeed not at Shui Gao High School.
I happened to encounter her once, but who knows if I’ll ever meet her again— I can’t count on her.
There was no other way, so I had to return to the original place. Nana was also gone; she must have gone to find Xiao An.
Xiao An is so smart. If she really got lost, she would come back, but it’s been two hours, and she still hasn’t returned…
I slammed the vending machine hard. The drinks clattered and poured out from the dispensing slot.
Anxiety, annoyance, mania— I felt worse and worse.
My mood was at its lowest, but more than anything, I felt helpless—
“[Anyone, please help me find Xiao An… Let me see Xiao An!]”
At this moment, the world froze, and Thought Acceleration automatically activated.
But my heart was still beating, and it was beating faster.
In this world where time had slowed down countless times, my heart was still racing. Wouldn’t my real heart be like an overloaded motor, about to explode?
Then, I felt something draining from my body.
This feeling was not new. When I faced the Mother of the Black Forest, I had this feeling when I saw Xue Qing’s chest being pierced.
Then Xue Qing truly came back to life, while I felt like I had died—
What I say will become reality.
Words becoming—
No, it’s not such a wonderful power. When I use it, I can clearly feel something is missing from my body.
…
[Misfortune comes from the mouth]?
“Huh?… ”
“Ugh!”
I was startled when someone suddenly spoke to me.
I reflexively stepped back and then saw the person in front of me.
It’s Lan!
It’s really Lan!
She actually appeared in front of me!
SF Light Novel
“That’s great! She really appeared!”
Lan is a real stalker!
Wherever I am, she can find me. Her talent for finding people is absolutely top-notch!
“Huh? Ah, that?”
Lan seemed a bit confused. Well, that’s understandable.
But there’s no time to explain now!
“You’re here at the perfect time! Can you help me find someone? I have a child who’s lost! She’s wearing a white down jacket, a red plaid skirt, and rabbit ear muffs!”
“Hmm? Hey, I know, find someone… right—”
Under my imposing manner,
She could only agree first and then start looking around.
“Please! I’ve looked everywhere nearby! But I just couldn’t find her—”
“What about over there? Have you looked over there?”
“Huh?”
Over there… I looked in the direction Lan pointed. It was a bridge.
“It’s a bridge!”
Because it was dark and there were no streetlights, I didn’t even notice there was a bridge over the sea!
“No, it’s a pier. I remember they originally intended to build a cross-sea bridge, but later, for various reasons, the plan was rejected. It’s a semi-finished product.”
“Let’s hurry and go look!”
“Ah! Hey!”
What are we waiting for! The breakthrough is right in front of us! I grabbed Lan’s hand and ran towards that pier.
For some reason, I had a premonition that Xiao An might be there!
I prayed for someone who could help me find Xiao An, and then… I hoped to see Xiao An again.
This is not blind confidence. Through what just happened, I received confirmation.
With explosive emotions as the ignition, and soaring spiritual power as the fuse, by expending ‘something’ from within my body, what I say becomes reality.
So this is… the ability of an ‘anomaly’?
Isn’t this exactly what they call a jinx? However, no matter what, being able to help me find Xiao An is enough!
Xiao An! Wait for me! Dad is coming!
