Chapter 176: Happy Birthday
Klein was anxiously looking towards the eastern district of Backlund.
The gradually changing fog made Klein worry about Alice, even though he knew Alice was there for her promotion ceremony, he couldn't help but feel uneasy.
He wasn't mainly concerned about Alice getting into trouble; he was more worried that Alice would come back and tell him that the "Primordial Witch" had come looking for her.
... After all, the impression Alice left on him was really unreliable!
Suddenly, Klein noticed the branches outside the window starting to sway, and the glass window gently trembling.
The wind is picking up... Klein was slightly startled, a hint of joy flashing in his eyes—the wind would disperse the fog, which meant that this incident was about to end.
I wonder how Alice is doing... Klein pondered, attempting a divination without much hope—a coin stood on his palm.
Klein thought for a moment, walked backward four steps, and attempted divination above the gray fog.
The coin stood on his palm again, and the dream was a blank.
Klein gazed at the deep red star belonging to Alice for a moment, but ultimately did not try to poke it.
...
The unusual fog made Evelyn give up her plan to find Alice and stay at home peacefully.
—After all, the New Year was approaching, and they had agreed to spend it together.
Evelyn thought happily, looking forward to the New Year, then glanced worriedly at the fog outside.
However, the fog is really inconvenient... huh?
The trembling branches and shaking window frame caught her attention. She walked to the window, watching the fog weaken with the increasing wind, and suddenly felt her mood improve.
...
Alan looked at the increasingly dense fog outside the window and suddenly said to Vilma, "I'm going to the washroom."
Vilma smiled and nodded, jokingly saying, "It seems like you've been going to the washroom more frequently lately."
"Really?" Alan smiled, not minding as he entered the washroom.
After checking the door lock three times, Alan asked the mirror, "What's wrong with the fog outside?"
After a while, a black cradle appeared in the mirror, with a silver baby inside.
A clear voice rang out in the room, "You are so rude... Do you speak like this in front of Him too? How come He didn't do anything to you?"
"What exactly did she do to make you always belittle her in front of me?" Alan asked, puzzled.
"Ha," the clear voice sneered, "He... well, even if it's 'she' now."
The voice emphasized "she," then paused for a moment before continuing:
"That's not belittling... In the past, I imagined how I would introduce her to others—although until she disappeared, I never mentioned her existence to anyone.
"She is the destroyer of the world and the creator of miracles."
After saying this, the image in the mirror disappeared, not giving Alan any chance to ask questions.
Alan was silent for a moment, then returned to the living room, glancing uneasily at Vilma's belly.
He was a bit worried whether his initial choice was correct.
...
In the Forsaken Land, the exploration team from Silver City finally broke free from the loop after several attempts and prepared to return.
Finally... Derrick looked at the ruins of the city one last time, sighing softly in his heart.
Then, he quickly perked up again.
This was all thanks to Mr. Fool and Miss "Destiny's" reminders, and Mr. "Hanged Man's" help...
Hmm, I need to find an opportunity to help Miss "Destiny" transfer her things...
I hope Amon doesn't come too quickly, at least, at least give me time to escape...
Thinking of this, Derrick suddenly sighed, silently lamenting: If only Miss "Destiny" could be like Mr. Fool... but such a capricious personality is indeed very "Destiny."
...
"Happy birthday to you... happy birthday to you..."
In the flickering candlelight, a group of people softly sang around the girl on the hospital bed, but none of them had happy expressions on their faces; most were filled with deep sorrow.
There was no one else in the ward, the lights had long been turned off, and under the candlelight, a middle-aged woman who bore a five or six-point resemblance to the girl on the bed opened her eyes and slowly wiped the tears from her face with a tissue.
The middle-aged woman took a deep breath and blew out the candles. At the same time, someone turned on the lights in the ward and handed her the cake knife.
The middle-aged woman looked painfully at the girl on the bed, then cut a piece of cake and placed it on a plate.
The middle-aged woman carried the plate towards the bed, and the people around her made way, silently watching her walk to the bedside.
"Clang!"
The plate and cake fell to the ground, but the middle-aged woman's attention was not on it. She looked at the girl on the bed in disbelief, then turned her head tremblingly and asked:
"Did you see that just now?"
"... Did Huanhuan's finger move?" In the silence of the room, a man who also bore a five or six-point resemblance to the girl spoke uncertainly.
...
Half a month had passed since the last anomaly, and the middle-aged woman and man took turns guarding the ward.
After confirming it wasn't an illusion, they hurriedly called the doctor. After an examination, the doctor told them that something might have stimulated Huanhuan's consciousness, and if it continued, she might have a chance to wake up.
They cried tears of joy, and for the next half month, they sang birthday songs by Huanhuan's bed every day, afraid that the recordings weren't enough, and whenever they had time, they would come and sing in person, only using the recordings when they absolutely couldn't.
By today, their voices were completely hoarse, their throats hurting with every word and swallow.
However, the scene from that day seemed like an illusion; they never saw the girl on the bed move again.
The middle-aged woman and man looked at each other, struggling to pull a smile, then the man who had been guarding the bed got up and left, and the woman sat in his place.
As she did every time she came, she tucked Huanhuan's blanket, smoothed her hair, then lowered her head, preparing to kiss her cheek.
Suddenly, she stopped, noticing Huanhuan's lips moving slightly, as if saying something, but the voice was too faint to hear.
She suppressed her excitement, her trembling hand pressing against the bed, carefully lowering her head, placing her ear close to Huanhuan's lips.
Ignoring the tearing pain in her throat and her still trembling body, she tried her best to make her hoarse voice gentle and calm, softly saying:
"Huanhuan? Do you have something to say to mommy? Can you say it again?"
At the same time, tears streamed down her face, falling onto the blanket.