Chapter 121: The Overbearing Time Angel and His Hundred Disguises
Alice returned home, her heart in her throat.
The journey took her through familiar streets, past familiar shops, and vendors she knew well.
She opened the familiar door, and the interior was just as she remembered.
Yet, Alice's intuition told her that something new had been added to her surroundings.
What could it be?
Alice knew deep down.
The Time Angel didn't intend to kill her for now, but it seemed he also didn't plan to let her go so easily.
—This was a warning.
He didn't care about the death of a mere avatar. She could escape or seek help, but she would undoubtedly die.
Could she be resurrected again?
Even if she could, she couldn't just throw her life away!
So, what did the Time Angel want?
Alice recalled Song Shu's words.
He didn't have a compelling reason to kill me. Maybe I could try to keep him interested in me... but what kind of interest does he have in me?
Isn't he supposed to be with Klein...
"Hmm?"
A voice filled with confusion and surprise interrupted her thoughts. Alice immediately stopped her wild imaginings and started counting from 1 to 100 in her mind.
After counting from 1 to 100 and then back from 100 to 1, the Time Angel remained silent.
It seemed like he had just learned something so shocking that he couldn't help but react...
But that made sense. After all, if one day I knew... No, stop thinking about it!
Fortunately, the Time Angel didn't seem to be in a hurry to push her further. Apart from that initial gasp of surprise, he made no further sound.
However, the fact that he could know what I was thinking is a bit troubling... I'm worried he might suddenly ask, "How do you plan to keep me interested?"
"How do you plan to keep me interested?" The Time Angel's voice rang out, full of curiosity.
Alice finally understood how others felt when facing her—what was she going to say just now? What was she planning to do?
After a moment of contemplation, Alice asked, "Um... may I ask you a question?"
"What?" Amon's voice replied.
"If there are many avatars, won't they fight each other due to differing opinions?" Alice asked seriously.
"Don't you know me well?" Amon countered.
"I... I lost most of my memories..." Alice hesitated.
Amon didn't respond.
After a moment of silence, Alice continued, "Since you're following me, do I still get to have ice cream tonight..."
"..." Amon's voice came after a pause, "Actually, I'm curious... I and that Klein... is this something fate told you?"
Alice opened her mouth, unsure how to answer.
After a long pause, Alice pinched her brow and said, "How about I draw it for you?"
"Hmm?" Amon's tone rose.
"I'll draw it for you, what I... uh, what I saw and still remember." Alice hesitated, organizing her words.
"Why don't you just recall it directly?" Amon asked with interest.
"Why don't you just steal my memories?" Alice couldn't help but ask.
"Maybe you should become a 'Provocateur'." Amon's voice grew dangerous.
Alice closed her mouth.
But Amon didn't intend for her to stay silent. He chuckled lightly and said, "Continue."
"Huh?" Alice was momentarily confused.
"You can be bolder." Amon replied.
"..." Alice didn't speak, but she understood the meaning behind his words—she needed to be bolder to make this game more interesting.
Grinding her teeth, Alice decided to go all out. She leaned back on the sofa, closed her eyes, and began recalling those vivid images, striving to capture every detail perfectly.
"Very good," Amon interrupted her thoughts during dinner, his tone unreadable, "You should go have your ice cream now."
"?" Alice was momentarily stunned. She stood up from the sofa in a daze and asked, "Can I eat dinner first?"
No one answered her question, but recalling Amon's earlier tone, Alice ultimately decided not to eat dinner and went to the familiar ice cream stand on an empty stomach.
Amon, who was diligently studying how to make ice cream, hadn't appeared yet. After waiting for a while, Alice saw Amon leisurely approaching. Before she could say anything, another Amon's voice rang out:
"You can go eat dinner now."
"Am I part of your play?" Alice blurted out instinctively.
"?" Although Amon didn't respond, Alice felt that must be his sentiment.
Realizing Amon probably didn't understand the English in her sentence, she quietly turned and left, pretending nothing had happened.
"So, what does 'part of your play' mean?" Amon abruptly asked as she took a sip of juice.
"Choke! Choke! Choke!" Alice choked on the question, coughing for a long time before responding softly, "If I explain it here, I'll be seen as a crazy person talking to herself..."
A light laugh came from across the table. Alice looked up and, for the first time, saw the other protagonist she had drawn in real life.
He was just as he appeared in the drawings, dressed in a black trench coat, black pants, black leather shoes, a high hat, with a wide forehead, a thin face, and a crystal monocle over his right eye.
He leaned back in his chair, his hand resting naturally on the table, tapping lightly, a teasing smile on his lips, his unreadable gaze fixed on her.
However, an uncontrollable image appeared in Alice's mind.
She saw Song Shu holding a tablet, reading aloud with great emotion:
"The Time Angel smiled coldly, his eyes filled with wicked charm, three parts disdain, three parts sternness, but also four parts amusement. He grabbed the Fool's wrist, binding both hands above his head, and gently lifted the Fool's chin: 'I knew it...'"
The image shattered, and Alice stiffly looked at the Time Angel across from her. Song Shu's recited words echoed in her mind. She opened her mouth, unsure what expression to make.
Wait... he doesn't understand Chinese, but he should understand Ruen, right?
—Just like how she mostly communicated with Klein in Ruen, she considered Ruen her mother tongue.
And the Time Angel across from her was clearly equally shocked, but his reaction was unexpected—he began adjusting his facial muscles, trying to make an indescribable expression.
Alice opened her mouth, unsure if she should interrupt him.
The legendary Time Angel, after several attempts, settled on a final expression. He looked at Alice and asked:
"Is this the expression with three parts teasing, three parts sternness, but also four parts amusement?"
I never said Amon didn't parasitize, did I?
Amon has always been dancing on the edge of the deadline, hasn't he? If he didn't die, he'd jump a little further.
So, really, if he could parasitize right away without any problems, how could Amon not catch up to Alice?
One more chapter... uh, I'll finish the last chapter on the 3rd. Now I need to work on a properly formatted internship report.
Why the 3rd? Because I need to pack and return to school tomorrow and the day after (sigh).
The title of this chapter is the name we gave to that fanfic (what).