: We Will Never See Each Other Again

[Serpent School Swordsmanship Level Up: LV2→LV3 (0/5000)]

【"Demon Slayer!" Level Up: LV2→LV3 (0/5000)】

Qiao Ye didn't know how long he had been fighting.

He was so engrossed in swordsmanship and combat that he didn't notice the sky gradually turning white.

"call--"

Qiao Ye slashed another black shadow, stood up with his sword on his back, panting heavily.

His physical strength was finally nearing its limit.

At this moment, the recovery speed of the seven demon servants visibly began to slow down.

Look up at the sky above your head.

The little painter gradually descended, shedding his demon king form and returning to human form.

He was also panting heavily.

Although he did not directly participate in the battle, maintaining the strength of his retinue was an extremely heavy burden for him.

"hateful……"

The young painter stared intently at Qiao Ye.

"If you had appeared a year later, even just one year later, I could have easily wiped you out..."

One year from now, a global war will ensue.

At that time, with the help of the war, the young painter can complete his first transformation.

To completely shed this frail appearance.

He could no longer take a mere witcher seriously.

Qiao Ye did not answer, but focused solely on recovering his strength.

In fact, he could have left this dream long ago.

The dream ends when a task is completed.

Side quests count too.

If it's a main quest, you'll leave immediately after completing it.

However, after completing the side quest, you can choose not to receive the reward and thus remain in the dream.

The young painter's task is to [clear his name].

Qiao Ye has already done it.

The death of the college professor was essentially suicide.

He was bewitched by the young painter and fell into a blind worship of the devil.

His subsequent death was a sacrifice to the Demon King.

The professor did indeed die because of the young painter, but currently, there is no crime under imperial law for inciting someone to die.

Therefore, the law cannot punish the young painter.

In a sense, Qiao Ye proved that the professor committed suicide, thus clearing the young painter of suspicion.

Qiao Ye chose to stay in the dream world in order to take the opportunity to gain more skill experience.

It's time to leave.

however--

"Getting involved with you was my biggest miscalculation."

The young painter suddenly spoke, interrupting Qiao Ye's preparation to leave.

He raised the pistol again, aiming it at the back of his head.

"Since I can't get rid of you directly, I might as well erase this part of my experience."

"What do you mean?" Qiao Ye frowned.

Could it be that the young painter has some hidden trick up his sleeve?

"The Demon King can distort the spacetime around him to a certain extent when there are no beings of equal rank nearby."

The young artist said, "I'm having a hard time using it now, but it's okay, I just need to twist it for a few days!"

Killing the professor was a mistake.

Fortunately, it had only been a few days since it happened, so I could still back out.

Let all of this never have happened, and continue living your peaceful life.

"Really?"

Qiao Ye became interested.

He had no intention of stopping the young painter from firing the gun; on the contrary, he longed to broaden his horizons in his dream.

The Demon King can do this?

Qiao Ye vaguely thought of something—

In reality, time differs between inside and outside the dense fog, and a full twenty years have vanished without a trace.

Based on what the little painter just said.

It's hard not to make those connections.

We will never see each other again.

The little painter said in conclusion.

then,

boom--

The gunshot rang out, and everything in front of Qiao Ye gradually became unreal.

This feeling.

It's like waking up from a dream.

……

Qiao Ye suddenly opened his eyes.

I was sitting in a bumpy carriage.

Across from me sat a person dressed in fine clothes, who looked like a member of royalty.

"Mr. Qiao Ye, thank you for accepting this commission."

"I……"

Qiao Ye covered his forehead, feeling an unusually heavy head.

I must have just entered a dream.

Why am I so tired?

The man opposite him seemed to be talking about the theft of the [Saint's Tooth], but Qiao Ye had no interest in listening.

He remembered that he hadn't planned to do the main quest when he entered the dream this time.

The dream message appeared precisely at this moment—

[You have cleared the young painter of suspicion, completing the side quest.]

[Should we proceed with the settlement?]

"Um?"

stunned.

What the heck?

Didn't I just enter a dream?

Why did the side quest end up being completed?

"Mr. Qiao Ye? What's wrong?"

The man seemed to notice that Qiao Ye was acting strangely and kindly asked him what was wrong.

Qiao Ye not only didn't answer him, but suddenly got up, opened the carriage door, and jumped off the carriage.

After landing safely, the carriage drove away.

The screams and shouts of the coachman and the men were mixed in.

Qiao Ye suddenly had a feeling that this scene seemed familiar.

Something's not right, not even 90% right!

Something must have happened; I couldn't have just entered a dream.

[You have cleared the young painter of suspicion, completing the side quest.]

Little painter...

Is she the art student who failed the college entrance exam in his memory?

Qiao Ye had a vague idea of ​​what was going on.

Although I can't remember what happened, I'm sure I can't go wrong by going to find that little painter.

I saw him.

Everything will then come to light!

……

The young painter was walking back to his apartment.

His face was even paler than usual.

The cost of distorting spacetime was far greater than he had imagined.

But it's okay, it's all worth it.

No one will disturb his peaceful life anymore.

The little painter can quietly wait for the war to come.

That annoying demon hunter detective has absolutely no memory of him.

They will never see each other again.

Never!

The little painter turned the corner.

Then he saw a person.

The man was standing downstairs at the apartment building, looking around as if searching for something.

The two looked at each other.

The paper bag in the little painter's hand fell to the ground.

It's Qiao Ye.

That detective!

When Qiao Ye saw him, his eyes suddenly lit up.

"Feed—"

He strode over.

Holy crap!

The little painter turned and ran.

Impossible! Impossible! Impossible!

He clearly twisted everything!

Why is this guy even showing up again?!

"Don't run!"

Qiao Ye's voice rang out as he caught up from behind.

The little painter could only run forward even faster.

however--

He ran, he chased.

They have no way to escape.

The young painter gritted his teeth and strained with all his might to rush around a bend.

dead end.

Three high walls, a few broken wooden crates.

The little painter suddenly stopped, turned around, and leaned his back against the wall.

Qiao Ye chased into the alley and stopped ten meters away.

The young painter stared at that face, wanting to curse.

"you……"

Why are you running?

Qiao Ye grumbled and said, "Do I look that scary?"

Ok?

The young painter discovered the blind spot.

like……

The other person has indeed lost their memory of them.

Otherwise, he would have drawn his sword immediately.

Speaking of which, where's his knife?

Where did he hide such a long knife?

"You...you're not going to rob me, are you?"

The young painter started to play dumb.

"That's ridiculous, who would want to rob you?"

"Then why did you contact me?"

Why do I need to talk to you?

Qiao Ye thought for a moment and made up an excuse.

"Of course it's because I like your paintings!"