Chapter 380

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Chapter 380: A Calm Night’s Thoughts

“Tired but physically fine. Nothing serious. Just rest well for a few days.”

“This young man looks quite strong. How did he get so tired from staying up late?”

“Doesn’t seem like it. People who indulge excessively don’t have this kind of expression. Anyway, remind him to rest well.”

The doctor glanced over the diagnosis certificate and then spoke to the girls.

“Okay, Doctor Fujii.”

“Hmm… And over there, don’t go rummaging through patients’ beds.” Dr. Fujii tapped the head of Sword Witch with a clipboard that hung by the bedside. “What were you trying to do by secretly putting your hand in there?”

“I’m just afraid his feet might get cold…” whispered the little girl with the doll-like face.

“Was it his feet that you touched?” The doctor huffed. “Why are girls nowadays so bold?”

“We’re different from you, doctor. We haven’t had many opportunities to interact with males since we were little… sigh…”

Her words resonated with the girls around.

Everyone’s circle of life is small, even after finding a job. In fact, the circle might not even expand, but instead become more closed off.

Especially in Yingzhou, where women’s minds have only recently been liberated due to industrialization. However, most women still don’t interact much with men outside of work.

“The Secret Insider: The Counterattack of the Female Police Officer” details the harsh daily life of local police officers and civil servants.

Although sword witches receive high treatment, their work environment is very closed off. Besides going shopping, they hardly interact with the opposite sex.

A high-quality man willing to engage with sword witches is rare. Naturally, it’s hard to resist…

“Even if you can’t resist, you have to resist.” Dr. Fujii snorted. “If you’re so curious about the male body, come with me to the morgue. I’ll let you take a good look, from age ten to ninety. I’ll also explain the process of decomposition in the human body. Let’s see if your curiosity about anatomy still holds.”

The girls were startled and quickly rushed out, leaving only Igarashi Shimizu and Yoshine Ise behind.

After all, it was late, and they had just captured many evil cultists. The Chief Priest needed to hurry back.

The room fell silent, and Yoshine Ise observed the young man’s peaceful, sleeping face. She gently adjusted her position, propped up his side face with her right hand, and studied his features. Upon closer inspection, she saw how few flaws there were on his handsome face.

There was something different about watching someone while they’re asleep. Their expressions softened, almost appearing cute. But when awake, their features were sharper, more distinct.

Igarashi Shimizu broke the silence, “Haven’t you seen enough? You’ve been looking for over half an hour.”

“I was just thinking…” Yoshine Ise said, “If Mr. Bai gained another twenty pounds, he would be more attractive to me.”

“Twenty pounds? That means a lot more fat, right?”

“Exactly,” Yoshine Ise said. “Fat makes the body feel softer, less rigid when touched. I’m not like the others. I don’t really care about perfect figures. How they feel is more important to me.”

Igarashi Shimizu put her hand to her forehead and sighed. “No one asked you about this. I know your taste well. You’ve said it many times. But don’t focus your attention on Mr. Bai.”

“Why?”

“He has a girlfriend.”

“He never mentioned it.”

Shimizu whispered, “Saki Jingūji lives in this building too, so don’t cause trouble.”

Yoshine Ise ignored the warning and said, “Do you remember what happened in the dream just now?”

“I remember,” Igarashi Shimizu nodded, “but some things are a bit fuzzy.”

“I’m the same,” Yoshine Ise replied, “but I still remember the golden tree.”

“What’s the deal with the golden tree?” Igarashi asked, confused.

“He’s the owner of that golden tree. What if I tell you that?” Yoshine Ise replied.

Igarashi Shimizu was startled, then laughed it off. “How could that be? Mr. White couldn’t be the emperor. You’re overthinking it.”

She paused, then continued, “He is… an emperor, a ruthless and cold-hearted tyrant.”

“Did Sophia tell you that?”

“No. Actually, Sophia didn’t have much contact with him. She mostly observed from afar,” Igarashi Shimizu said, gently nibbling her thumbnail. “But the palace did have many bloody purges, that’s true. I’m not Sophia, maybe I’m connected to her somehow, but I don’t like that emperor. To me, he’s mysterious and frightening.”

“So you think he wouldn’t be Mr. White?”

“Hmm, they are completely different people. Besides, being an emperor means immense power. If they were reincarnated, they’d be a heroic spirit. But Mr. Bai isn’t like that.” Igarashi Shimizu shrugged. “Also, having control over golden power doesn’t necessarily mean they’re the reincarnation of an emperor. It could be Europa’s magic, or maybe a special bloodline.”

Yoshine Ise glanced at her good friend but didn’t argue. “If you think so, then it must be.”

“What did you really see?” Igarashi noticed the change in tone and asked warily. “Ise, you aren’t being influenced by those memories and changing your personality, are you? I might need to take you for a purification ceremony.”

“I’m not a vengeful spirit. Why would I need purification?” Yoshine Ise’s expression returned to normal. “I’m perfectly fine, actually more mentally awake than before. I just had some thoughts.”

Igarashi Shimizu bent down, her expression subtle, and gently reached out to touch Yoshine Ise’s head.

“My head isn’t damaged,” Yoshine Ise swatted the hand away.

“I know. I just wanted to see if you had any horns growing on the sides of your head.”

“Nonsense. I’m not what you think.”

“Is that so? Then you’re not interested in Mr. Bai?”

“I…”

“You hesitated! Hesitated!” Igarashi Shimizu whispered with a smile. “To explain is to hide!”

“This forced choice is unreasonable,” Ise frowned.

“Even if it’s unreasonable, don’t dig yourself deeper. You can’t win against… the debt of gratitude.” Shimizu spoke seriously. “But don’t turn into the person you used to dislike the most. You’re not the type to pester relentlessly.”

Yoshine Ise straightened up, denying it coldly. “I didn’t.”

“Then let’s pretend you didn’t.” Igarashi Shimizu moved to the door, giving a final reminder. “Even though it’s late, someone will still check the rooms. Don’t even think about sneaking around.”

Yoshine Ise angrily grabbed the pineapple bread beside her and threw it at Shimizu. It hit her in the face but didn’t hurt. She bit into the pineapple bread, regaining her carefree expression, and left the hospital.

She walked alone down the stairs, slowing her steps on the empty staircase.

With no one around, she closed her eyes and clenched the railing, tightening her fingers. The palm of her hand began to ache from the pressure.

She murmured in an old pronunciation, “God bless our emperor…”

…

Inside the hospital room,

Ise said quietly, “Pretending not to care… but you clearly saw it too.”

She gazed at the sleeping young man and whispered, “Mr. Bai, who are you really?”

She couldn’t find the answer, but was too tired. Leaning against the bedside, she fell into a light sleep.

A quiet night passed.

As dawn arrived, sunlight streamed in, awakening the sword witch with a soft brightness.

Yoshine Ise rubbed her eyes, glanced at the time, and realized it was around eight o’clock.

But when she looked around, she noticed she was lying in a bed. The person who had been in the bed before was gone.

A note had been left at the head of the bed – “If there’s something, please leave first. Keep what happened last night a secret.”

A little drawing of a bowing figure appeared in the corner.

Ise tore off the page and laughed.

“I respect, love, and admire you, mentor, as you wished.”

…

Bai Wei boarded the bus at the stop in front of the hospital, and a chubby orange cat silently followed, slipping through unnoticed.