At this time

In a world full of time hourglasses

Future Bai Ling flipped through a book in her hands, muttering to herself.

"Butterfly effect?"

"In my world line, Su Wanying didn't come find me because we didn't know each other at that time."

"So in my world, D City was destroyed and the evil god descended."

"E City also didn't encounter any bug anomalies because they no longer needed to make sacrifices."

"The current Bai Ling, due to Su Wanying's interference, saved both D City and E City. The world line has been completely rewritten."

"Then what's the next target? The evil god hasn't successfully received sacrifices yet. The Terminus Cult couldn't possibly give up."

"Interesting. Who exactly is behind all this, changing everything?"

○

"Hey, small fry, is your stomach still uncomfortable?"

"Still hurts a bit. I just pooped out some bugs earlier. It was so uncomfortable."

"Heh heh, as expected of small fry~"

Explosion Head clutched his stomach with a face full of worry. Good thing he had Fire Death Anomaly attached, otherwise he might have fallen to these bug anomalies today.

"It must be the instant noodles I made with tap water this morning. Bug anomaly eggs got in."

"Eh? Do you eat instant noodles every day, small fry?"

"Occasionally. Mainly I'm tight on money lately."

"Didn't we just get paid? Where's your money?"

"Uh, heh heh heh, spent it all."

Bug Anomaly came over with a bag of beer, handed it to the two and sat down beside them.

"Brother, long time no see."

"Mm, just got back."

"You know, today our city..."

"I know. I couldn't make it."

"Eh? Didn't the captain notify you to come back quickly?"

"No. I heard the acting director next door resolved it. With her there, I wasn't needed."

"True. After all, she's A-grade now. Don't worry brother, there'll be times for you to shine."

"Heh heh, I'd rather hope there won't be such incidents again. Although not many died this time, seeing others die while I'm powerless really hurts."

"..."

"Alright, alright, small fries. Let's celebrate that we lived another day."

"Cheers."

○

"Didn't you say you liked me?"

"But..."

"You already said it. Why won't you?"

Bai Ling was pressed onto the bed by Chi Xiaoyu. Chi Xiaoyu held a cucumber in her right hand, squinting with a smile as she looked at Bai Ling.

"Don't worry, I won't hurt you."

"No!"

Bai Ling transformed into a blood-red light and disappeared from the room.

Chi Xiaoyu took a bite of the cucumber and chewed, looking at the window where Bai Ling left and smiled.

"It was just a joke. Why did you run away?"

○

"Chi Xiaoyu is getting more and more perverted!"

"Where should I stay tonight?"

"I don't dare go back to my room. What if Chi Xiaoyu uses that thing on me while I'm sleeping?"

"So scary!"

Thinking of this, Bai Ling inexplicably felt a sense of dread. Was she about to lose her virginity before even losing her male virginity?

Just then, Bai Ling saw a familiar figure walking over—Su Wanying.

"You're Chi Xiaoyu's contracted anomaly?"

"Eh? How do you know? You shouldn't have seen me before."

"I smelled it."

"Uh, did, did you?"

"Wait, why is there also Lin Bai's scent on you? What's your name?"

"I'm called Bai Ling."

"Mm mm, I'll remember."

"If there's nothing else, I'll go first."

"It's the middle of the night. Why aren't you with your master? Did they kick you out because they're doing something inappropriate?"

"Uh."

"If you have nowhere to stay, you can come to my house."

"Eh? Really?"

"Mm mm."

Su Wanying led Bai Ling back to her home—a newly decorated single house.

"New house?"

"Yeah, just moved in recently."

"Don't you mind Chi Xiaoyu and Lin Bai's relationship?"

"I don't care."

"Is that so..."

Su Wanying brought out a plate of strange black strip-shaped food.

"This is my contracted anomaly's favorite food. I don't know if it suits your taste. Eat if you want."

"I'm going to shower. The innermost room is yours."

"Oh oh, okay."

Bai Ling picked up a black strip and chewed it. It tasted weird, like jerky.

"What kind of meat is this?"

Su Wanying's voice came from the bathroom.

"Jerky made from spider anomaly leg meat."

"It's a bit tough."

Coming to the innermost room, it was decorated in pink with various dolls girls would like, different sizes, like a children's room for a daughter.

Bai Ling uncertainly went out to look at another room. It was decorated in sea blue with toys everywhere, like a children's room for a son.

【This Su Wanying even prepared children's rooms】

【She probably even thought of names for the kids】

【Scary】

Bai Ling gently covered herself with the blanket and fell into deep sleep. Initially she worried about Su Wanying's mental state and whether she'd do something to her, but Su Wanying never entered her room. It seemed Su Wanying was as she said—only liking Lin Bai and completely uncaring about other things. What exactly had happened to cause this?

"Good morning, Bai Ling."

Su Wanying knocked on Bai Ling's door. Seeing no response, she gently pushed open the door.

"Time to get up."

"Eh? Where is she?"

○

"Brother Lin, we're getting early summer vacation!"

"Ah? When did this happen?"

"Yesterday because someone poisoned the water treatment plant, and fearing such incidents would happen again, they're strengthening supervision. Then all the schools in the city are having early vacation. Didn't you know?"

"Yeah Brother Lin, many people died at our school too. Now no one dares use water."

"Is, is that so?"

"Good morning, Lin Bai~"

Su Wanying skillfully sat beside Lin Bai again, taking his arm.

"What, what's wrong?"

"I heard summer vacation is starting early. Where are you going to play during vacation?"

"I'll stay in E City."

"Is that so? Then I'll accompany you."

"Uh, don't you have your own things to do?"

"My own things? No, the only thing I need to do is accompany you."

Su Wanying smiled while holding Lin Bai's arm.

"So during summer vacation, I'll come find you often."

○

School rooftop

"Lin Bai, let me explain our Investigation Bureau's future policy."

"The currently public information is that there's a cult organization called Terminus Cult that's been summoning evil gods. Unfortunately, they successfully summoned an evil god in Egypt."

"Under the Director's and other departments' intervention, this evil god is very weak, which is why the E City bug anomaly incident occurred. Fortunately, you led us to stop it all in advance."

"So the leadership above made schools have early vacation. Our Investigation Bureau is now fully pursuing Terminus Cult. Given your significant contribution to this incident, but since you're a newcomer, we won't promote you yet. We'll apply for a B-grade anomalous tool for you. I'll take you to get it later."

"Oh oh, okay."

"Perform well. The Director thinks highly of you."

"Mm."

The girl looked up at the city. Beneath this seemingly normal, peaceful facade, how many undercurrents were surging?

【Terminus Cult, I'm coming to catch you】