I Will Never Submit to Miss Grim Reaper - Chapter 136
Chapter 136: No Need for Any Bouquets of Condolences for Me
The way Yin Xiamo and I look right now feels like protagonists in an anime. Sitting atop a tall lighthouse, gazing at the sea and the deep blue horizon amidst flickering lights. Wearing a skirt, occasionally feeling the cool touch of the sea breeze, sitting on the top of the Nanqi Tower, I can feel the slight chill on my thighs and the fluttering of the skirt when the wind blows.
“In reality, I often wonder, even if I am truly the reincarnation of that hero to you, is someone like me really equivalent to the so-called hero in that world?”
Together with Yin Xiamo, we gaze at the distant sea in silence for a very long time. I softly speak, “I have no memories of him at all. Even if I occasionally dream about those times, it’s just as an observer, like in someone else’s story. A hero who has lost their memories, is that still a hero?”
This involves a very philosophical question. I haven’t seen what a hero looks like, and I don’t know how people in other worlds perceive a certain “existence.” At least in the real world, this modern world that lacks any magic, with both science and medicine being very primitive, people judge others based solely on appearance.
There’s no time travel here, no strange occurrences like transformations or soul possessions because many things are impossible. So, almost everyone confirms their companions through appearance and body. Under these conditions, “amnesia” isn’t really anything special. There are plenty of examples on Earth where people lose their memories due to accidents or diseases. The brain suffers permanent damage, and seriously affected individuals may not even know who they are. But whether or not they’ve lost their memory, their family and friends still treat them as the companion they once were.
But evidently, for Yin Xiamo, “appearance” doesn’t seem to be a decisive factor in recognizing people. She came to this world, turned me into the appearance of this girl, it seems to be her own consideration? If we think deeper, it seems to involve some extremely delicate considerations.
In the scenes I dream about, the “little demon” personalities from the other world are the kind that… show utmost respect to the hero, are very obedient, though quiet and reserved, they are clever and cute, like the existence of a small pet.
Of course, since most of the dreams I have about the other world are scattered fragments, the information about the hero and the little demon may not be very accurate. Moreover, according to the timeline, the little demon of that time and the current Yin Xiamo are separated by several thousand years, a time span long enough for anyone to change themselves.
If we were to describe it using the existing nine-grid alignment, the previous little demon was probably “neutral evil,” and then the hero forcibly brought them to the side of “lawful evil.”
Currently, I can’t quite comprehend Yin Xiamo’s thoughts—putting myself in her perspective. If it were me, since even things like crafting a body can be done here, for the beloved person, she shouldn’t just solve all the hardships after crossing over, like defeating the Demon King or overcoming inner demons. After resolving these issues, she could restore me to the appearance of the former hero, and then the two of us could return to the other world and live happily ever after, right?
If she can transform me into a little girl with various genes from different worlds, a perfect body, she should have the ability to turn me back into the human hero I once was. The logic here is that if this were Earth, it would probably be the same.
Imagine two people from Earth deeply in love, and one day, the protagonist’s spouse dies. The protagonist learns that they have crossed over to another world and gains magical abilities. Together, they cross over to that world and become gods. In this scenario, wouldn’t the protagonist’s goal be to transform their spouse back to their original self and bring them back to Earth to continue a happy life?
Or perhaps… after Yin Xiamo dealt with the Demon King’s army, and the Demon King remained elusive, harboring ill intentions toward the hero, he came to Earth prepared to confront the reincarnated hero. For some reason, Yin Xiamo, in her considerations, decided to eliminate “Yin Shiren” in advance?
I don’t understand.
As Yin Xiamo mentioned, the magic of the other world is truly challenging for Earthlings to comprehend. It feels like we cannot use our thinking and logic to deduce the thoughts of people from that side.
“That’s also the reason why I brought you here tonight.”
My words made the girl beside me silent for a while. She then stood up and gazed into the distance. “When I first came here, I naturally thought that since your souls are the same… you must be him.”
The slightly cool sea breeze lifted the girl’s flowing hair, swaying like detached petals under the starry sky.
“Later, I realized I was wrong. You… are not him.”
After staring at the sea in front of her for a while, Yin Xiamo turned back, “And that wouldn’t be fair to you.”
“Hmph.”
I protested, “You also know it’s unfair.”
Regarding being transformed into a little girl, after so many days, I’ve gradually gotten used to it, and I’m not as resistant as I was at the beginning. But this… Miss Grim Reaper treating me as the hero of another world, regarding me as her former lover, always gives me this strange sense of deviation. As if I received this blessing because of someone else, making me particularly uncomfortable.
Yes, it’s very uncomfortable. I can’t describe the specific feeling, but even according to Yin Xiamo’s theory that my soul and the hero’s soul are the same, based on my current worldview and values, I simply cannot bring myself to believe that I am the so-called “Great Hero.”
People in the real world are materialistic. Growing up as “Yin Shiren,” I completed my education alone, entered society, found employment like most ordinary college students, and lived a common life of watching anime and playing games every day. That is me—a completely ordinary person.
Even after Miss Grim Reaper turned me into the little girl I am now with her special powers, it is still part of “me,” and it has nothing to do with that so-called “previous life” hero.
“So, I’ve come to terms with it.”
Standing next to me, Yin Xiamo casually opened the familiar void gate for me, pulled out a flute-like instrument from the dark crack, and handed it to me, “Do you recognize it?”
“A flute?”
I recognized the instrument with just one glance, “Is it a gift from the Great Hero?” The theory behind making his flute is quite simple. As long as there are plants similar to “bamboo” in the other world and people there enjoy music, such an instrument is likely to exist.
Yin Xiamo strange dimensional tunnel, aside from being used as a portal, I’ve only seen her retrieve one thing from it—her weapon, a scythe. This flute is something new.
I can easily guess that this item is very important to her. Considering the current situation, I can deduce that this flute was a gift from the “Great Hero” of the other world.
“Sort of.”
Facing my question, Yin Xiamo nodded slightly, “This is his relic. I’ve kept it with me all these years, along with that signal flare.”
“……”
“Do you know how to play this instrument?”
Under the starlight, Yin Xiamo handed me the flute, saying, “Give it a try?”
“I only learned a bit when I was a child.”
I took the flute, checked the membrane, held it horizontally to my lips, and covered a few holes with my fingers before blowing a “toot” sound.
I don’t remember if it was in elementary school or junior high, but there was a tutorial on the flute in our school’s music class. The music teacher even asked us to go back and get twenty yuan from our parents to collectively buy a flute for class practice.
However, that type of flute was a vertical flute that produced sound with a simple blow. It was much simpler than the horizontal flute made of bamboo that Yin Xiamo handed to me. To make sound with this kind of flute, certain skills are required. At the time, it was just out of interest, so I self-taught a bit. After all, many things are similar between the vertical and horizontal flutes.
“Toot—”
Under Yin Xiamo’s gaze, I tried blowing a few more times and, once I found the feeling, played the melody of “Prague Square” relying on memory.
The reason I chose this piece is because… the sheet music for this song is very simple for the flute. The climax has a clear pattern, and as long as you remember one section, you can descend one octave and repeat the entire melody.
?I stand on the dusk square of Prague, casting hopes into the wishing well?
?Those white doves facing the setting sun, the scene is too beautiful for me to dare to look at…?
“……”
I stopped playing this piece after just ten seconds.
“I can’t remember the rest.”
Handing the flute to Yin Xiamo, I awkwardly smiled, “The last time I used such an instrument was almost ten years ago.”
“It’s okay.”
In response, Yin Xiamo just nodded, took the flute, and turned towards the sea. She lifted the flute to her lips.
“Toot—”
A melodious tune emanated from the instrument with noticeable marks in the hands of the young girl. Unlike my mediocre attempt, Yin Xiamo’s flute played with a graceful and pure sound, carrying a deep yearning for someone.
It wasn’t a melody I had ever heard before. It seemed to be a song that raised the banner of strong resistance against the fate of the future, yet under Yin Xiamo playing, it had a distinct feeling of sorrow.
The song that came closest to this melody in my memory was the opening theme “to the beginning” from “Fate/Zero” or Kiritsugu’s theme song “Manten” in the same series.
?A mere beautiful dream tears you apart, cold eyes only retain a bit of tenderness and truth?
?The fiercely flickering stars traverse the sky, accompanying the wishes of hatred…?
“……”
At the top of the lighthouse on the coastline, I quietly listened, while Yin Xiamo played passionately beside me. It felt like the entire world had narrowed down to just the two of us and the vast black sea beneath the radiant night sky.
In Shenzhen City, if you want to see the stars as much as possible at night, the city center won’t do. Only places like the southern district, where modern city light pollution can’t reach, provide an unobstructed view of the entire Milky Way.
?Faint light on the slender branches, forgetting the blooming future…?
?The flower bud that withers before being named, once plucked, brings about the end of the world…?
Yin Xiamo…
As I gazed at the sea, my heart couldn’t help but be moved by the haunting sound of the flute. How much have you… gone through?
“……”
The melancholic flute continued for about four minutes before coming to an end.
At times like these, you usually have to compliment the other person, right?
In the now quiet world, I quietly pondered in my mind. If Yin Xiamo sees me as the hero, she must really hope that I can comfort her and encourage her, just like before.
“Um…”
I was about to speak when the girl beside me suddenly lifted the flute above her head and, without hesitation, with a swift motion, threw the seemingly sentimental flute away.
The flute, with a red string tied at the end, traced an arc along the Nanqi Tower and, with a “plop,” landed in the water. It was swiftly sucked into a nearby vortex, disappearing from sight.
Huh?
“He’s already gone.”
Facing my curious gaze, the girl returned to sit beside me.
“Now, in this world, it’s just you and me.”
Saying that, Yin Xiamo took out two ribbons from her pocket, similar to the one on my head, “These are the ones I asked the café manager for when I applied before. They match yours.”
“Can you… help me tie it on?”
“……”
……