Chapter 59
Lin Ran, holding the piglet, sighed. He would have to apologize and return Ein to his family. He was surprised the little guy had followed them so readily.
“Is this… Memory Spring Water?” he asked, looking at the jar. How had they known he needed it?
“Cheep~” Sootball, wanting to be held, climbed onto Ein. It had found the information on A-Ran’s desk!
“You’re using your cleverness for the wrong things,” Lin Ran chuckled, poking Sootball. Both the piglet and the spring water felt like hot potatoes. He would have to offer something in exchange. He wasn’t sure if the boar’s family would even talk to him.
Brian, the boar father, was indeed anxious. Shao Mian, after hearing his complaint, had simply tapped his desk, his expression unreadable.
“Memory Spring Water? How much did they take?” he finally asked.
“Not much, just a few hundred grams… but they also kidnapped my son, Ein! I fear for his safety!” Brian exclaimed.
Shao Mian, however, tossed him a magic crystal showing Ein’s location.
“This…?” Brian looked at Ser, confused.
“It’s the young master’s location. The light is steady and cheerful, indicating he’s safe and happy,” Ser explained. Except for the location itself, within Shao Mian’s territory, everything seemed normal.
Brian: !? How had he found him so quickly?
“But… this is a serious offense! They must be punished!” Brian insisted, still wanting to confront the Luna and Feather Clans.
Just then, there was a knock on the door. Oni and Yorke entered.
“You wanted to see us, Clan Leader Brian?” Oni asked. She had rushed over as soon as she heard about Nemo’s involvement, surprised, but also slightly pleased. He was finally taking initiative, even if it was for mischief. She knew this was a strange way to feel, but she couldn’t help it.
“O-Oni… it’s a complicated matter,” Brian stammered, intimidated by the Luna Clan leader’s presence. He hadn’t expected her to come personally. The Luna Clan was far more powerful than his own.
“Clan Leader Brian, I apologize for my son’s actions. Will this be enough compensation? And I’ll purchase the Memory Spring Water as well,” Oni said, gesturing to her assistant, who opened a suitcase filled with high-grade moon crystals, enough to buy an entire mountain.
Brian felt like someone had stolen his table at a restaurant, then, as he was about to protest, had been handed a million dollars. Stolen spring water? This was clearly a gift!
“This is too much! I can’t accept this…” he said, looking at Oni, then at Shao Mian. Was this the Demon King’s doing?
“Just accept it. Your son is safe and happy. Anything else?” Shao Mian asked, wanting to see Lin Ran’s reaction to all of this.
“This… navigation crystal… will it lead me to Ein?” Brian asked, feeling like he had stumbled into a high-stakes game.
“Yes, but it seems he’s returning to your territory. You’ll see him soon,” Ser said, surprised.
“Oh, thank you, thank you,” Brian said, flustered. He had been ready for a fight, but everything had been resolved before he could even start. He felt like he was here for a handout.
Oni and Yorke exchanged a look with Shao Mian, who was sure the human would return the cub, though perhaps not the water, since the Luna Clan had already paid for it.
Lin Ran, having bathed and dressed the cubs, was preparing to visit the boar’s family, a basket of fruit from his riverbed orchard as a peace offering.
[Beep—S-Rank Fruit Basket. Provides anti-corruption effects. The perfect gift for demons!] Even “Demon World” had graded his gift.
“S-Rank? Hope they like it,” he said, amused.
“Demon World,” however, was offended. It was just trying to prevent him from giving away valuable items without knowing their worth!
“Oink—” Ein, seeing the basket, sniffed it curiously, then looked up at Lin Ran, wagging its tail. The other cubs also gathered around.
“One for each of you? Eat them on the way,” Lin Ran said, giving them each a Demon World apple, its flesh laced with golden threads. The cubs, initially excited about the outing, realized they were heading towards the Kulma Mountains and panicked.
“Cheep cheep cheep!” Sootball clung to his waist, not wanting to go. What if the boar saw them?
“Ee…” Little Feather, perched on its half-eaten apple, also looked at him questioningly.
Lin Ran, grabbing Snowball and the other two, said, “Stealing is wrong. We’re here to apologize.” He petted Snowball’s cheek. “And what if Ein’s father is worried? Did you think of that?” He looked at Ein.
“Oink…” But Ein, realizing they were going home, also didn’t want to leave. He had barely played! He backed away, then ran, his little bow bouncing. Lin Ran had given him the bow after noticing him admiring the other cubs’ accessories.
“Ein—!!” A loud roar echoed through the mountains, and a large, black boar charged towards them, snatching Ein in his mouth. Brian, having watched them from the shadows, had been increasingly confused. His son didn’t look kidnapped. He was clean and even had a cute bow. And now, he was trying to run away? Had he left willingly?!
“Oink—!” Ein, seeing his father, tried to run, his little legs flailing in the air.
Lin Ran chuckled. Boar cubs were so cute. He then sobered up, seeing Brian turn and look at him. He was unsure of the boar’s mood.
But Brian, holding Ein, simply turned and ran, dropping something before he left.
“Cheep!?” Sootball, guarding A-Ran, quickly grabbed the object, worried it was a bomb.
“Mew…” Snowball sniffed it. It was the Memory Spring Water!
“Strange… He just took Ein and gave us this?” Lin Ran was puzzled. He wasn’t that powerful in “Demon World” yet.
“Ee!!” Little Feather, however, hugged the jar, not letting him return it. It was a gift!
“This is getting weirder,” Lin Ran said, feeling the cubs were becoming more emboldened, not less, after their little adventure. Whose fault was that?
He left the fruit basket by the entrance of the boar’s territory. Perhaps they would come back for it.
“I apologize for my cubs taking your spring water without permission. This is a small gift. And your little one is very cute,” he said, then left with the cubs.
Brian, after they left, cautiously approached the basket. Those cubs were little thieves, but the human seemed polite…
“Oink—!” Ein, however, was crying. A-Ran was gone! No more baths and lotions! And his new basket!
“Stop crying! You’re wasting our clan’s good fortune!” Brian scolded, wondering if he had failed as a parent. Then, he sniffed the basket and his eyes widened. These were anti-corruption magic fruits! A priceless remedy for demons! The spring water he had given them seemed like a paltry gift now. Had Ein’s little adventure actually benefited their clan?
“Ooh…” Ein, however, just sulked, looking for A-Ran, his ears drooping.
Back home, Lin Ran, confirming it was indeed Memory Spring Water, poured it into the box, the cubs watching curiously. They seemed to have bonded during their adventure.
[Beep—Obtained “Box of Memories.”] The “Time Mirror” button for Snowball was now active.
“Mew…?” An Xun, sensing his gaze, chirped, and Lin Ran picked him up and petted him.
“I wonder what you’ll be like when you grow up,” he said, excited about revisiting that strange future.
“Mew!” An Xun wagged his tail, nuzzling him. He would always be A-Ran’s good cub!
But as Lin Ran tried to activate the Time Mirror, a message appeared:
[Please have the cub activate the box first. This is a safety precaution.]
Lin Ran, following the instructions, had An Xun dip his paw in the water. An Xun, though confused, obeyed, and a wave of memories, his time with A-Ran, flooded his mind, then flowed into the water.
“The water is so colorful now,” Lin Ran said, noticing the change.
[Because the cub’s memories with you are precious.] A notification appeared.
Lin Ran looked at Snowball, his beautiful blue eyes so close.
“So, you like being with A-Ran this much?”
“I’m happy to know you too,” he said, poking Snowball’s cheek, and Snowball, its tail wrapping around his wrist, purred contentedly.
Sootball, hearing this, also wanted to express its affection, jumping into the box.
“Sootball, no! It’s for Snowball!” Lin Ran quickly pulled it out, then grabbed Little Feather, who was also about to jump in. Did they think it was a wishing well?
“Ee…” Little Feather looked disappointed. It also liked A-Ran!
“What happens now?” Lin Ran asked, looking at the box, its color now tinged with purple.
“Demon World,” after a long silence, replied:
[No negative effects, but activating the Time Mirror may alert those whose memories are stored within. Since you’re entering Snowball’s timeline, where Sootball also exists, he may sense your presence, leading to unforeseen consequences.]
So, Sootball might sense his presence in Snowball’s future? That made sense; they both existed in that timeline. But what if Sootball got jealous that he had only visited Snowball’s future? Would it remember their last encounter?
“You’re always causing trouble, Sootball,” he said, ruffling its fur.
“Cheep cheep~” Sootball, its face being squished, seemed to enjoy it.
“Ee…” Little Feather also wanted to be ruffled.
Lin Ran sighed. Even being scolded was a competition for them.
An Xun, however, looked at the box thoughtfully. What was A-Ran planning? He found A-Ran mysterious, a human existing in a demon-exclusive game, even interacting with him in the real world. What was his purpose in “Demon World”?
“What are you thinking?” Lin Ran asked, stroking his head. Perhaps this trip to the future would reveal more secrets. And he was curious about Snowball’s future self.
That night, after the cubs fell asleep, he activated the Time Mirror.
[All prerequisites met! Activate “Time Mirror” to alter the world’s destiny? Target: An Xun] The message mentioned “altering destiny.” So, this was “Demon World’s” purpose for him?
He clicked “Use.”
Little Feather, waking up, saw A-Ran enveloped in white light and tried to follow, but was thrown back.
[Detected unauthorized entity. Eliminated! Unknown effects!]
Lin Ran, startled by the warning, found himself in a large walk-in closet, landing on a pile of clothes. He peeked out; it was filled with expensive clothing, jewelry, and accessories. An Xun’s closet? The clothes seemed to match his style: simple black and white, like a snow leopard’s fur.
Just then, a cold voice came from downstairs: “This is the Human Supreme Monitoring Bureau. We suspect you of colluding with demons and undermining human interests.”
Lin Ran: ? This timeline was different. A Human Supreme Monitoring Bureau? Who were they investigating? He had a sinking feeling.
Could it be… Snowball?
O皿O# What had that little fluffball gotten himself into? It seemed no better than Sootball’s future.
