Xyrin Empire-Chapter 672 Scallion Warrior

Please, you definitely need to think twice before you hand anything over to Lily.

Firstly, she will absolutely complete the task because at least she is obedient.

Secondly, she will definitely complete a lot of other things because she has no morals.

Burning that proposal, which was a disaster in every sense, made me feel a lot better. Then I pulled Lily out from the big basket next to the desk, ignoring her frantic protests and dancing about, and forced her down into a chair.

"I’m leaving this to you!"

"Boss is being mean!"

"Nonsense! Have I not been the one working since this morning? What have you done besides making trouble and creating this terrible proposal?" I knocked on Lily’s head, "Since there’s nothing left, hurry up and deal with these trivial matters so we can relax in the coming days."

Lily pouted, her big watery eyes looking at me. Unfortunately, I, who am bombarded daily by all sorts of cuteness, have become immune to such antics. After flicking the forehead of the fake Lolita who had been slacking all morning, I turned and dashed out.

Even the joyful bunch at home, early in the morning, everyone had scattered without a trace. Even Sandora had dashed off to feed at a new chef competition at the gathering spot, leaving behind me and the sleepy Lily. When Sivis arrived and saw only the leaders remaining, he was moved to tears, "Ah, my Emperor, you must be waiting for my report! This is the first day’s information I gathered yesterday. Please look it over."

...Although I know Big Sister didn’t want to disturb me because I was sleeping deeply, this outcome is still quite depressing.

Usually, the Mercury Lamp and her sisters would wake me, but ever since the carnival started, did they shift their attention from the fallen box?

"Anwina!" While everyone went out to have fun, not all did. At least one maid who hates going out is definitely at home. After loudly calling out in the living room for the maid almost fused with the house, sounds emerged from the large cabinet against the wall and a little dark head peeked out.

At that moment, Sal screamed in surprise, "Medivh! What are you doing here?!"

As it turned out, Anwina’s cosplay skills were godly.

A large crow from the cabinet looked down, and then flurried down, tumbling on the ground several times before landing safely: if only Medivh could have acted cute like this in front of Terenas... probably he wouldn’t have even finished his first sentence before being thrown out.

"Master... Master!" After turning into a human form amidst a burst of green light, Anwina hastily fixed her immaculate clothes and curtseyed to me, but my words evaporated all her elegance: "Let’s go have fun at the carnival."

"Eh?" The little maid exclaimed in surprise, then, as if rehearsed countless times, she "piu"-ed to a nearby pillar, blending half her body with it, creating an illusion as if without the pillar, she would still be standing, "Outside... outside is too overwhelming, meow, Master!"

...This girl was even starting to act cute out of fear.

I didn’t say a word, just chuckled watching this little ghost who desperately didn’t want to go outside flicker brightly and dimly, then she suddenly shouted, "What is Chapter 1, Section 8, Paragraph 4 of the ’Maid Code’?"

"Master’s words must be obeyed, Master’s wishes must be fulfilled, Master is always right, the only thing that can be wrong is the world!"

I suddenly felt that not only is the Maid God who established these overwhelming rules astonishing, but even the person who could pinpoint these specific sections was amazing—truly a meaningless skill.

"Hmm—" Anwina knew things were beyond salvage after she finished speaking; her fiercely burning Maid’s Soul inside wouldn’t allow her to tolerate disobeying master’s command, especially when master was considering her benefits, "Alright, Master, let Anwina get ready."

"Hmph, let’s see how ready you can be! Today, no matter what, I’m determined to get this young maid, who never leaves the house unless it’s to briefly visit Shadow City when I return from a campaign, out to see the sun!"

It’s not that I’m being harsh to Anwina, nor do I want to force this girl to do something she dislikes. It’s just that I think it’s too pitiful for her to clean the house alone and keep to herself in such an important, joyful festival when everyone else is out having fun.

Even if this Little Ghost feels safe only at home, I hope she can experience more of the outside world. After all, Anwina’s background is filled with regrettable aspects; she was quite a cheerful girl in life, as I gathered from our occasional casual chats. However, her years as a ghost after death have left her with an extreme fear of leaving her room. This phobia undoubtedly originated from the time when ghouls surrounded her door, living in constant fear of leaving her room and dying. Now, that same shadow still lingers in her heart—without saying it, I can feel Anwina’s apprehension.

Psychology expert Lilina told me, "Repressed feelings are the primary culprits in exacerbating various mental illnesses"—ahem, this statement, slightly modified, is still understandable.

At any rate, I must find a way to gradually teach Anwina to step out of her room and relive the joy under the sun. Only then can she completely bid farewell to the last bit of darkness in her heart. This girl has suffered too much already. Now that she regards me as her master, I have the responsibility to help her break free from her own shackles.

At least, when she’s near her master, she won’t be so afraid of the outside... Can I take back all those thoughts I just had?

"Anwina, do you really have to?"

Walking on a crowded square at a gathering, I looked at the large cage in my hand and felt a headache coming on.

The stares gathering around are getting weirder and weirder, I say!

Crouching in a huge birdcage, covering her head tightly with her wings, a certain large Crow, however, let out a girl’s voice in a rushed tone, as if self-hypnotizing: "I’m not afraid, I’m a Crow, I’m not afraid, I’m a Crow..."

An old gentleman carrying a cage with a golden canary passed by. From the badge on his chest, he must be a transmigrator reviewer from some otherworldly realm. Clearly, the old man didn’t recognize me, but he did recognize that bird: "It’s truly like people from the Empire, even walking a bird as big as this one. This Crow must have cultivated for three to five hundred years, right?"

Anwina instantly trembled more, curling up into a black ball in the cage: "You can’t see me, I’m a Crow, you can’t see me, I’m a Crow!"

Whether you are a Crow or not has nothing to do with being invisible, you know! Go back and study some middle school physics!

"Um... Master, there are so many people here!"

Glowered at by my "fierce" gaze, Anwina immediately shivered even more, this time too afraid to speak out loud, instead communicating with me directly through a spiritual connection in my mind.

I’ve heard that claustrophobia is super powerful, but it seems that agoraphobia is no less formidable.

The old gentleman hadn’t left yet: "Young man, don’t be so harsh to the bird. Raising birds is like cultivating the heart; these little guys are really frightened of disturbances, although your bird is a bit large..."

I was nearly in tears: "Grandpa, if there’s nothing else, please go over there and chat with Cao Xueqin. This really isn’t a bird!"

Finally managing to coax away this passerby granddad, I sighed, feeling how absurd it was that the Time-Space Administration still employed someone of such age, a place that clearly doesn’t implement a retirement system, all the while looking at Anwina who had put herself in a cage to create a "sense of safety."

I was completely defeated by her. Normally, it’s so difficult to get her to come out when there’s no one around; today, with so many people outside, it was a miracle that I could get her to leave home at all, so let’s not fuss over whether she’s a Crow or not.

Resignedly sighing, I hoisted the large cage carrying Anwina onto my shoulder, beginning to walk my maid... like walking a bird.

Passing a small stage where a group of Alchemists were performing bizarre material exchange methods from various worlds, I caught the attention of a cheering crowd. I stole a glance at my shoulder—sure enough, a certain Crow sister peeking out with wide, curious eyes was watching the activity on stage intently.

Despite her fears, Anwina is still very curious and longing for the outside world. If I hadn’t confirmed even this much and forcefully brought out this girl who fears going out, that wouldn’t have been my style.

"Anwina, don’t worry, I’m right by your side, so just relax and take a look at the outside world."

In the Spiritual Connection, I said this to Anwina while also feeling the curiosity of another pair of eyes in the spirit world spying on the outside world: Little Qijing had just woken up, and after waking her angel mom, the little one began to "see" the outside world through the white halo on my hand. Pacifying the maid, taking care of the daughter, I really felt like a super dad.

"Thank you, Master," Anwina’s voice came intermittently, "I know what you mean, Master, I’m sorry, I’ve been too willful..."

I gave a relieved smile, compared to that trio of troublemakers Bubbles, Lin Xue, and Lilina, you are a model of morality.

Carrying the Crow maid and wandering in a sea of joy, ignoring comments like "That guy with the bird is awesome," and occasionally responding to the chick-like calls in the spiritual world, explaining the novel things on the way to the curious Little Qijing—this kind of outing seemed quite fun.

But just halfway through, my attention was suddenly captured by a petite figure staggering toward me.

She was a girl dressed in a silver-gray top that seemed like a modified sailor uniform, black ultra-short skirt, and black long socks, with sleeves that featured unique mechanical decorations, sporting very exaggerated green twin ponytails, and looking refreshingly lively. What made her even more striking was the big scallion she was clutching tightly as she staggered over...

A non-GMO, natural product from Shadow City Academy District supermarket, grown near the World Tree which made it unusually large, adored by many Misakas and called "King of Scallions"...er, just an ordinary big onion.

Shadow City, you’ve already changed into new gear in such a short time, Miku?

Undoubtedly, this girl rushing over was the transmigrating Vocaloid Miku!

With a feeling of speechlessness and a bit of surprise, I watched the onion-hugging girl come from diagonally in front and had already calculated the position to accurately extend my hand and catch Vocaloid Miku who was about to fall.

Seeing the way she ran over, it looked just about right that she would fall here: is there a urban management officer chasing you?

"Thank... Thank you!"

The girl, almost falling head over heels like a frightened rabbit, suddenly sprang up then hurriedly bowed to thank me, her ankle-length twin ponytails swinging lightly.

"Don’t run~~ I won’t hurt you!"

A distant shout surprised me, while the onion-hugging girl in front of me suddenly turned pale.

Looking around, I realized we had run into an unobstructed square with nowhere to hide, and she was almost on the verge of tears.

Expressionlessly, I watched a little girl, dressed just like the trembling Miku beside me but tinier, dash across the square at lightning speed. With her clothes slightly disheveled, she posed with an onion in each hand in a blocking stance. Could this be the legendary Dual-Onion Style?

The chased, original Miku however, with a resolute expression, tightly held the onion—which was either a prop for performances or intended for cooking at home—in her hands placed at her waist, readying the Onion Pulling Technique stance. Instantly, a faint kitchen aroma filled the air.

"Wuwuwu, the world is so scary, even such a cute onion has turned into something so terrifying."

Anwina, curled up into a ball inside the cage, had already plunged into the hell of giant onions.

I had finally had enough at that moment when, from ten meters away, little "Miku" once again pulled a scallion from her personal space, bit down on it, and proceeded to strike a three-scallion pose, I decisively charged over and yanked the wig off her head.

"Bubbles, you’ve been asking for half-days off to do this?!"

Yes, you read that right. The girl who’s been chasing after Miku, who knows for how long now, shamelessly performing the two-scallion and three-scallion streams in the middle of the square—all decked out in COSPLAY—is none other than my child who’s practically become a shut-in from her deep addiction.

"Eh? Dad? You’re here too?"

Have you not seen anything but Miku in your eyes since a while ago?

Barely resisting the urge to deliver a series of swift karate chops, I firmly tucked the visibly upset Bubbles under my armpit and presented her to the distressed Miku, "Apologize to her for your behavior!"

"Eh?" Miku, utterly befuddled by the abrupt turn of events, gasped in astonishment. Finding out that the Great Demon King who had pursued her all morning had actually been subdued, she immediately pleaded like she saw a savior, "Please... please save everyone! This terrifying costumed freak has captured them all!"

Me: "..."

"Dad, listen to me explain! It’s just a little research interest!"

"Interest my foot!"

Holding back a furious vein, I clenched my fist as I raged above Bubbles’ head, "What exactly are you doing?"

With her lips pouted and eyes welling up in tears, Bubbles glanced up at me, then muttered softly, "It’s really just research. Dressing them up in all kinds of costumes, posing them in all sorts of positions, taking all kinds of photos, and then... slurp slurp... posting them on various kinds of websites... slurp slurp~~"

The first half sounded normal enough, but by the second half, she couldn’t even control her drooling.

"Heh, hee hee, and there’s this and that, this thing and that thing, pure original content, absolutely original. I, Bubbles, will unify both AB sites and dominate the ACG world... slurp... hee hee hee, Mercury Lamp and the others are too cunning, but these ones with no combat abilities are easy to catch... ow!"

Retracting my hand chop, I pressed Bubbles’ head down and apologized to the confusion-riddled Miku, "I’m terribly sorry for the inconvenience, your brothers and sisters are now safe, please don’t misunderstand, this wasn’t intentional!"

But it was absolutely intentional on Bubbles’ part.

"Eh?" Miku, who had been confused since a while ago, stared at me for ages before finally remembering something. Her expression grew richer until she finally exclaimed, "Ah! Aren’t you... aren’t you the one who gave the speech... Emperor!"

Don’t make such a shockingly troubled inquiry at the end like that! Am I that ordinary to you?

"Yes, that’s me, the ’eh,’" I acknowledged gloomily. Miku took another moment to react, then quickly snapped to attention, "Ah, that, that, world number EW365Q42F, that... what’s its name... ah, Reviewer, Trainee Reviewer Vocaloid Miku, and then... and then whatever..."

At that moment, I was internally moved to tears. From the enterprise employee who’s the old grandpa hoisting birdcages in Beijing to the youthful and energetic Vocaloid Miku, from the immortal Witch C.C. to the alchemy genius Edward Eric, the Time-Space Administration’s personnel department, indeed organized single-handedly by Qianqian, do you guys pick staff by throwing dice?

Encountering Miku was just a small episode, but considering the psychological shadow my child’s mother had cast on this poor girl, I couldn’t just leave her be. So, for the next part of our journey, I valiantly took on the role of a guide, leading Miku around the carnival.

With a large iron cage containing a crow perched on my shoulder, one hand holding an otaku girl who constantly spouted shocking remarks as she looked around, followed by a bewildered Scallion Warrior, even in the bustling and bizarre crowd of visitors from various realms, our combo stood uniquely alone. I feel like any random artist could now paint an oil painting of our group—a painting titled "That Year, That Person, That Bird, That Scallion."

Under the painting, add a line: telling a tale of man and nature... (to be continued. If you like this book, please vote for it at Qidian (qidian.com) with recommendation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)

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