Chapter 187 Epilogue: Wishing You Goodnight, Noon, and Morning
The breeze blowing through carried a faint scent of burning. The bustling city was infused with the atmosphere of post-war desolation. From the rooftop, one could see flames rising everywhere.
The demon parade approached its end, and the jujutsu sorcerers began to clear the battlefield.
Hishogawa Natsumi, the only two among her school who knew the healing technique for others, was treating injured sorcerers. Meanwhile, other support staff started helping the survivors and assessing casualties and damage.
Snow之下雪乃 and Lin Qi stood on the rooftop, both gazing at the devastated city, with myriad thoughts swirling in their hearts.
After some silence, the power in the city reconnected. Multi-colored neon lights flickered on, creating an apocalyptic scene.
A full moon peeped out from behind the clouds, casting bright moonlight onto Snow之下雪乃’s cold face, reflecting the sorrow on it.
Her cerulean eyes reflected the flames and smoke, and from Lin Qi’s perspective, the girl’s profile seemed as if she were crying.
“A lot of people died,” Snow之下雪乃 finally broke the silence after a long pause.
“This is inevitable. No one could have predicted this attack,” Lin Qi attempted to comfort her.
“But what about those people in front of me?” she retorted.
Once the excitement faded after the battle, memories of previous scenes began resurfacing in her mind.
Those innocent victims killed by curse spirits and curses users; those who should have been saved, and those who perished due to their own weakness.
Their faces filled with agony, fear, and despair seemed like dark hands trying to drag her down into eternal darkness.
“I should have saved those people if I wasn’t so weak…”
Snow之下雪乃 turned around, lifted her chin slightly, and looked into Lin Qi’s eyes.
She bit her lower lip, her eyes glistening with tears: “Even the last battle… I keep being saved by you, Lin Qi.”
“If that’s the case, you never should’ve had to go through all this cruelty and pain.”
Looking at the tears rolling down the young girl’s cheeks, leaving damp traces, Lin Qi said regretfully but kindly: “My unexpected arrival altered your life.”
Snow之下雪乃 shook her head: “It’s not about being weak.”
What’s already happened can’t be changed, although it contradicts everything else she believes in. The consequences weigh heavily on her mind, especially when the lives of others are involved.
“Even knowing the past is irrevocable, I cannot accept repeating similar future mistakes.”
“I want to become stronger,” the black-haired girl declared firmly.
She wanted to stop feeling regret over her weakness, stop depending on him, and stop being a burden.
“Lin Qi, can you help me?”
This was the second time Snow之下雪乃 earnestly asked him for help.
Lin Qi hesitated. A jujutsu sorcerer’s potential and innate talent define their peak, while their determination defines their bottom line.
Did Snow之下雪乃 possess such talent?
Though harsh, the answer was no. She was just an ordinary, somewhat quirky girl. Due to a misplaced teleport, they shared her soul and body, giving her jujutsu abilities.
The system’s subtle manipulation enhanced her significantly. That she realized her domain could be impressive, even if incomplete. As soon as she mastered it, perfection would naturally follow.
Even if she won’t match his fully open-ended domain, she can still reach special grade.
Perhaps this was the endpoint that Lin Qi anticipated for Snow之下雪乃.
But reaching that point would take a lot toil and pain. In that span, she might experience more hardships and regrets.
No one knew.
The lengthy journey of a jujutsu sorcerer ended in mountains of bodies, filled with pain.
Seeing Snow之下雪乃 so troubled, Lin Qi struggled to continue his blunt words.
Damn it, why do I want to beat up Sukuna again?
Host is you, correct?
Since you agree, then it means my idea could work.
…
Lin Qi smiled reassuringly, his tone boosting her confidence: “I can.”
With this, Snow之下雪乃 visibly cheered up, her previous anguish easing.
“Close your eyes.” Lin Qi smiled. “I have a gift for you.”
Seeing the mischievous smirk, Snow之下雪乃 became cautiously guarded, then relaxed and obediently shut her eyes.
Sure she couldn’t peek, Lin Qi nodded contentedly.
He proceeded to do a strange act, not fit for her eyes.
Target locked. Teleport sequence starts in thirty seconds.
Thanks for backing me, first time ever, feels nice, Unit.
Inwardly replied Lin Qi.
Cutting off a finger, new regrow immediately through the reversal techniques, but the detached remains in Lin Qi’s hand.
“Open your mouth.”
Snow之下雪乃, heart filled with hope, opened her mouth to receive Lin Qi’s gift.
Placing his finger inside her mouth: “Don’t chew, just swallow.”
First, a soft touch, like Lin Qi’s finger entering her mouth, followed by an iron rust taste spreading in her mouth.
Before she recognized something wrong, she complied, swallowing down the finger.
“What did you feed me?” The black-haired girl frowned, opening her eyes searching Renshia.
Eyes narrowing, Lin Qi’s body glowed, resembling the moment he arrived at the juvenile facility.
“Lin Qi?” The unease suddenly rose to her heart, reaching out her hand toward him.
Smiling gently: “Work hard and become strong enough not to be left behind.”
His form started disintegrating from bottom, turning into numerous golden particles.
“Lin Qi! Don’t…” The black-haired girl’s expression turned frantic, stepping forward to grab him, but passing right through him.
“In our next meeting, Yuki.”
Lin Qi’s form completely dispersed into golden specks, disappearing from the sky even as she waved her arms attempting to grasp.
As if he vanished completely.
Exhaustion setting in, legs giving way, she slumped onto the rooftop, blank stare muttering:
This is…
A mechanical voice suddenly rang in her ear.
Not in her ears, in her mind!
Having experienced mental communication with Lin Qi, she instantly grasped it.
Snow之下雪乃, you have successfully bound to the “Strongest Jujutsu Sorcerer System.”
This system will cultivate you as the strongest jujutsu sorcerer. Please complete tasks, living up to expectations.
You received a gift from Lin Qi.
Store system activated.
Task system activated.
Tasks released:
Rookie task: Kill a grade 4 cursed spirit, gain 500 points. Completed, pending retrieval.
Kill ten grade 4 cursed spirits, gain 1000 points. Completed, pending retrieval.
Kill…
Special task released: Reach 0/1,000,000 points in the worldline.
Sounds clinking inside her mind. Seeing unexpectedly popping out azure translucent suspended window, Snow之下雪乃 felt utterly shocked.
A radiant galaxy hovered above, surrounded by colorful stars. Lin Qi appeared in what seemed like infinite space, before a rainbow-colored archway glowing with iridescent light.
“How does it feel like a rainbow bridge, leading to Asgard?”
Observing the stunning scenery, he stepped onto the archway, walking towards the unseen ends of time.
As he walked, the eight light walls began showing various scenes with him and Snow之下雪乃, retracing moments of their time together.
“I want to become stronger. Lin Qi, can you help me?”
“Thank to you, my dream has gained shape. Lin Qi, will you help me?”
“I’m going to sleep now, goodnight, Lin Qi.”
“Why are you here at the service club… Anyway, afternoon, Lin Qi.”
“Good morning, Lin Qi, having an early morning drink?”
A series of seemingly recent memories flashed in Lin Qi’s mind, causing an odd emotion in his usually calm heart.
Momentarily dazed, smiling and shaking his head, he continued walking toward the dawn of time.
…
After school, then become a jujutsu sorcerer.
