Chapter 36: Dream and Reality Exchange Day (5)
“Can this really work?”
“I can’t guarantee it completely, but theoretically, it’s feasible. First, we’ll guide Xuan into the dream, then place the Yata no Kagami in her hand, connecting her dreamscape to the spiritual world within the mirror. Finally, I’ll transfer her into the dream.”
“That’s just theory, and there’s no guarantee at all. Kaoru Tsukiyose is in a super unstable state right now. If it fails, we might enrage her, and the situation could spiral out of control.”
“But this is the only method left. Do you have any other ideas?”
“Fortunately, Xuan is like a neutral monster in a game right now. As long as we don’t cross her line – meaning, we don’t show any intention towards her blood – she won’t attack us.”
“That’s true. When I tried to communicate with Kaoru Tsukiyose before, she could even hold a conversation with me. Though, the content was completely nonsensical, and her sanity is still on the verge of collapse.”
“I understand. But for safety’s sake, let’s go bring those two over.”
“Two maids who might be useful should be around. I’ll go find them. Principal, you adjust the situation here first. I’ll be right back.”
Ignoring the Principal’s call, I waved my hand and left the room, heading towards Ji Lianbing’s containment chamber.
Walking into the room, I found only Ji Lianbing there. The Head Maid hadn’t returned yet, and the other maids were also absent.
“Hehehehe, back so soon? Found the answer?”
“Not yet, but it should be soon. Lianbing, where are the other maids?”
“Because the new maid was clumsy, I sent her home. Why, do you need them for something?”
Ji Lianbing was sharp. Seeing me ask about the maids, she realized I might need them.
I didn’t stand on ceremony and nodded. “Yes, I need to use Bai Lin and that cat-eared… what’s her name again, Xiao Yu?”
“Certainly. I’ll have Shirley summon them here.”
“Summon them?”
Ji Lianbing snapped her fingers, and a crack about a finger long appeared in the space before her. The crack opened like an upright eye, its iris patterned with concentric circles like an onion.
“Shirley, transfer Xiao Bai and Xiao Yu here.”
The command was transmitted to the Head Maid through the ‘eye’. The small eye then closed, and a much larger, horizontally-opened eye appeared in the air.
The two maids landed with a thud as the eye opened, letting out screams.
“Uwaa!” “Nyaa!”
Bai Lin seemed to have landed on Xiao Yu’s tail, causing her pain. Xiao Yu rolled on the ground, crying, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes.
Summoning two maids instantly. That’s a convenient ability.
“What the nya… Ugh, based on my past experience, this should be the Head Maid’s… ”
“Get up, quickly.”
“Nyaa! M-Master! I’m so sorry, nya! Xiao Yu is getting up right meow!”
The cat-eared maid, Xiao Yu, seemed terrified of Ji Lianbing. She scrambled to her feet and stood at attention. Bai Lin, on the other hand, stood up slowly.
“Then, these two maids are yours, Zi’ai. You can ‘use’ them however you please, hehehehe~ After all, we have plenty of cat-eared maids, no matter how many you want.”
“Eh? Eh?!”
“Don’t say things that could be so easily misunderstood. You’re scaring the cat into bristling. It won’t take long; I’ll send them back soon. Follow me, you two.”
Xiao Yu trembled as she followed me, as if she were walking to her execution. Her eyes were already dead.
Seeing her state, I patted her shoulder. “I won’t do anything to you. I just need to use your ability for something.”
“Lies, nyaa! I heard humans like to ‘cat-suck’ these days, nya! It’s too scary, nya!”
“I think that’s not meant in a literal sense, is it? On the contrary, there are many cat lovers among humans. They treat their cats like masters, proudly calling themselves ‘shit shovellers’.”
Juncheng is the type who would take meticulous care of cats.
But just as I was about to correct her misconception, Bai Lin, with her hands behind her head and a relaxed expression, casually said, “Miss Zi’ai, I think it’s better not to tell her the truth. This silly cat gets carried away easily. If she acts out in front of the Young Miss or the Head Maid, even Sister Yan wouldn’t be able to save her.”
“Ho, you seem much more composed now.”
According to what I heard from Juncheng, Bai Lin was supposed to be the most unstable among the Maid Squad. Juncheng would always call her the ‘trouble-making maid’ with a headache.
Bai Lin puffed out her meager chest proudly and wiped her nose with her index finger, saying smugly, “Hehe, of course~ I’m not the youngest maid anymore, so the Head Maid doesn’t order me around for everything!”
“Wuwuwu, they’re all ordering me around, nya…”
“Of course. I’m your senior. You have to listen to me, understand? Stand up straight!”
It seems that with Xiao Yu’s arrival, Bai Lin has been freed from long-term exploitation. It’s like how in families, the youngest sibling is always made to do chores. Xiao Yu has taken Bai Lin’s place.
“I don’t really understand what there is to be afraid of with the Young Miss. If anything, the Young Miss is the kindest to the maids. The Head Maid is the truly terrifying one! You have no idea how much she overworked me before you, it was pure hell!”
Bai Lin seemed to have finally found an outlet and began to vent about her tragic experiences. Just then, a slit opened behind her.
“Ah, Bai Lin…”
“Honestly, that overbearing old hag, how many years has she lived? Look at that white hair, she must be well past four digits.”
A hand reached out from the eye that opened in the slit.
“Behind you…”
“Hahaha, don’t scare me, Miss Zi’ai. The Head Maid isn’t omniscient. She hasn’t placed eyes on me, so she can’t hear me!”
The hand grabbed Bai Lin’s face, contorting it. I even suspected the Head Maid could just crush her head like that.
Of course, the Head Maid wouldn’t do anything so bloody. She simply retracted her hand, taking Bai Lin’s head with her into the eye, making it look like her head had been severed. Bai Lin’s body struggled fiercely, then suddenly stiffened, her strength completely draining. She trembled uncontrollably, and yellow liquid flowed from under her maid uniform.
“Ah, um, Miss Shirley, don’t take her away just yet, I still need her here.”
Although I received no reply, after about ten seconds, Bai Lin fell to the ground with a thud again, liquid dripping from both her upper and lower mouths. Her expression was vacant.
“Her eyes are dead…”
What exactly happened in this short time?
I returned to Xuan’er’s containment room with a trembling Xiao Yu and Bai Lin. Nana frowned when she saw them.
“What’s wrong with these two?”
“Perhaps they’ve witnessed true terror. But, never mind that, let’s talk about the mission assignment. Xiao Yu, grab Nana’s shoulder. When we enter the dream later, observe her expression. If it becomes very savage, immediately use your ability to jump onto a ‘non-dreaming’ route, understand? Or *ding ding*”
“Forced exit?”
“Yes. And Bai Lin, hey, are you still conscious?”
“Yes—use me as you wish.”
Although a bit dazed, she seemed to retain the ability to act and think. The perfect Head Maid truly never caused anyone trouble.
“If Kaoru Tsukiyose attacks Nana’s body, please treat her.”
“Understood. However, to complete the replacement, we’ll need to remove any damaged body parts first. Is that alright?” “Yes.”
It seems like this current situation demands even more efficiency.
“Alright, then we’ll go in and face her.”
Entering the isolation room, Nana, who was in front, spoke first. “Ticket.”
Kaoru Tsukiyose and Nana were good friends who once lived together. Nana’s attitude towards her was very friendly, which was one of the reasons for Nana’s confidence.
“Yes, let’s play a game.”
“Play a game? Sure, what do you want to play?”
“Eagle catching chicks.”
Wow, this person can say a game that lowers intelligence by three levels without batting an eye.
“Yes, yes~ Then I’ll be the mother hen!”
“Oh, then please be the eagle, Zi’ai.”
I understood. Playing this game would allow the two maids to naturally touch her body, always being ready to activate their abilities.
“Then let’s start the game~”
Kaoru Tsukiyose left her chair for the first time, eagerly wanting to start the game.
And I, who voluntarily became the eagle, pretended to chase Nana behind me.
Xuan spread her arms in a protective posture, her blood-red dress fluttering like wings—that imposing aura—she’s serious now!
But I wasn’t here to catch chicks. If anything, I just needed to touch you.
I stepped forward and grabbed Kaoru Tsukiyose’s hands, making her place them on the Yata no Kagami I had already taken out.
“Nana!”
“Eh?”
The next second, Xuan and Nana both fainted, and Juncheng’s blood scattered, splashing onto me.
We’ve already entered the dream. I don’t know what will happen in the dream.
But how should I collect this blood? I forgot about this. I should have prepared a container beforehand.
I’ll ask Lily if she has any useful anomalous items.
“You two watch here. Tell me immediately if anything happens, understand?”
Both maids nodded and stood by, awaiting orders.
“Okay, then I’ll…”
“No need to trouble yourself.”
This sudden voice made me jump. I turned around and saw a familiar figure.
What is it? It’s Li Nai.
Li Nai, wearing a patient’s gown and with her hair disheveled, walked into the isolation room—Wait, Li Nai?
Wasn’t Li Nai unconscious? How is she here?
Did she finally wake up?
Speaking of which, we don’t even know why she fell unconscious.
Why did she wake up at this time?
The skein of thread in my hand reached out towards Li Nai. I opened my backpack and saw that the threads wrapped around the skein had completely disappeared, and it had returned to its original spherical form.
Is Li Nai the last clue?
“You’ve worked hard, Zi’ai. Thanks to you, I’ve obtained the last item. Huhu.”
Crap, this tone of voice is…
Juncheng’s scattered blood gathered and quickly left the isolation room.
I instantly realized what was about to happen. I pushed Li Nai aside and ran towards the corridor.
But it was too late. When I arrived, Juncheng’s blood had formed a blood curtain, obscuring Miss Yao Chun’s vision.
She, too, had regained her freedom because of this.
“I told you, don’t blink!”
Purple
