Perhaps it was Shen Shiyu and the thirty-something youth beside her who moved me.

If there are villains like the village chief, surely there must also be selfless saints?

Today, I’m truly grateful the people I met weren’t like those two from last time.

Especially the fragmented corpse on the ground—I think that must’ve been a hero…

Sacrificing himself to delay Bonesoul’s advance, buying time for these people until I arrived.

“No more Bonesouls left. Rest well now.”

Kyuubi hopped beside me, plopping down with a carefree tone as I stood guard. It assured me my worries were unfounded.

“Really? So they’re just unconscious?”

“Yep. They were too noisy. Had to let them nap for a bit.”

“Kyuubi…”

“Hmm? What is it?”

“Nothing. Let’s go.”

Seeing the gray world begin to regain its color…

I knew we couldn’t stay. Leaning on the railing, I pushed myself shakily upright.

I unclipped the belt at my waist, shifting back to my ordinary, unremarkable male form.

“You—”

“It’s fine. Let’s go.”

Kyuubi opened its mouth to speak, but I cut it off with a quick shake of my head and a smile.

“Alright, as you wish…”

After studying me for a moment, Kyuubi finally looked away, nodded, and leaped onto my shoulder.

Once it settled there, I turned back for one last look at the unconscious villagers. A faint, heartfelt smile touched my lips before I walked away.

I doubt they’ll remember today’s events when they wake.

A good sleep, perhaps…

Ever since last time, I’ve noticed…

Kyuubi is surprisingly gentle with humans.

Erasing their memories…

In a way, it’s a release for their minds. In this suffocating world…

Anyone staying too long would surely go mad.

Let alone witnessing death firsthand—the psychological weight would…

Crush a person completely…

Just like it did to me before…

Despair… Helplessness… Terror… And that horrifying moment when my father’s head parted from his body…

Each one, the final straw breaking a camel’s back…

If they could wake up and forget every nightmare they faced here today…

It might be the greatest mercy for them.

That’s why I feel this Kyuubi…

Isn’t the evil source from *that* certain anime. It feels more like a mascot of order, in a way.

I probably couldn’t beat it in a fight, but its mascot status seems set in stone.

As I left the mall, the gray world gradually bled back into color.

The once-empty mall now teemed with people, its bustling entrances and exits painting a picture of vibrant life.

Sensing the crowd’s energy, I slowly turned back to gaze at the mall’s logo glowing under neon lights in the night…

I stood still for a few seconds, then turned away and walked straight ahead.

Tomorrow, I’ll probably have to reintroduce myself to Shen Shiyu again.

“You’re Chu Dongyu, right?”

Just as I was lost in thoughts of Shen Shiyu, a voice cut through the night ahead.

I froze mid-step, lifting my head to look.

And what met my eyes was…

“Lin Jincheng?”

A man I’d once disliked—a coward who valued his life above all.

“Yeah, it’s me. Out wandering the streets this late?”

A coincidence, it seemed.

But this time, he hadn’t ignored me. That small surprise flickered through me.

“Late? I guess it is pretty late.”

At his words, I glanced at my wristwatch.

The display read 9:15 PM.

Definitely late…

“I just logged off at the internet café and was heading home when I spotted you. How about some late-night snacks?”

While I checked the time, Lin Jincheng explained his presence, then casually invited me.

“Oh? With that friend of yours?”

I recalled the unnamed companion always at his side and asked without thinking.

“Yeah, but he left first.”

Mention of his friend dimmed Lin Jincheng’s expression. Clearly, he’d been hoping for company.

“I see. Then how’d you remember my name?”

I studied him suspiciously. I doubted this guy would recall my name.

Before, he’d walked right past me like I was invisible.

Now he was inviting me for snacks?

His motives felt off.

(And for the record—I’m not into guys.)

“How could I forget my good friend?”

Lin Jincheng looked genuinely puzzled by my suspicion.

“You remember I’m your friend?”

“Of course! It was… uh… somewhere…”

“Never mind. Let’s go eat.”

His hesitation sparked nothing in me—until he said “snacks.”

My stomach growled in loud protest. I hadn’t eaten dinner.

No wonder. The battle in the mall had dragged on.

Time flowed equally in the Fallen World and reality. The real world didn’t pause while I was trapped inside.

While I fought Bonesouls, time here kept moving. People simply didn’t notice others vanishing…

That must be the “world correction” Kyuubi mentioned.

Making disappearances feel utterly ordinary to everyone else…

Yet Lin Jincheng’s gaze slid right past Kyuubi on my shoulder, as if it weren’t there.

“Right. Let’s hit our usual spot.”

My interruption seemed to erase his struggle to recall our history.

Seeing my agreement, he clapped my shoulder and pointed down the street.

“Sure.”

I knew “our usual spot”—a barbecue stall near the internet café.

An unlicensed roadside stall, but its flavors were legendary.

The owner had run it for over a decade. Trustworthy, despite the lack of permits.

If anyone had gotten sick there, the stall wouldn’t have survived ten years without being shut down.

(Though they did vanish whenever city inspectors showed up.)

*Please don’t let inspectors be here tonight,* I prayed silently as we walked.

I couldn’t bear another delayed dinner.

After ten minutes, we reached the stall beneath the internet café building.

“Still packed, huh…”

I scanned the scene.

The place was swarming. Every small wooden table was occupied, with queues snaking around the stall.

A decade-old barbecue joint naturally drew crowds.

I merely sighed at the sight.

“Yeah. Gotta wait. Didn’t expect it to be this busy right after opening.”

“The food’s worth it. We’ll wait.”

Unwilling to search elsewhere, I found a spot to sit and wait our turn.

“True.”

Lin Jincheng mirrored my thoughts, sitting beside me as I settled down.

“I’ll go pick the skewers. What do you want?”

I stood immediately. This wasn’t a proper restaurant—no menus, no waiters. You served yourself.

You chose your raw skewers straight from the cart.

Glancing at Kyuubi still perched on my shoulder, I added, “Kyuubi, want anything?”

“Anything edible’s fine.”

It considered briefly before replying.

“Got it. Won’t disappoint.”

With Kyuubi’s nod, I quickened my pace toward the stall.

Ahead, a row of baskets—already filled by other customers—lined the counter. At least seven or eight waited.

“Grab whatever you like. Put your picks in a basket. We’ll grill ’em for you.”

The owner, noticing me, lifted his weathered face. Deep wrinkles framed his kind smile as he pointed to empty baskets beside the food.

He must’ve thought I was new.

“I know the drill. Focus on grilling, boss.”

I smiled back at the man, easily over fifty.

Besides him, two men in their thirties manned the grills, sharing the workload.

They were his sons—I recognized them.

They wouldn’t let their aging father exhaust himself. Not when they were here to help.