Chapter Forty: One Hundred Percent (1/4)
On the rooftop, beneath the sparse stars and bright moon, Yan Ye Gui sat alone on the long bench, gazing at the person in her phone and smiling quietly.
"Liu Mengchao."
Her lover’s name slipped from her lips, carrying a delicate fragrance, light as the scent of orchids.
And the lover she spoke of was even now making his way toward her. Liu Mengchao walked slowly, uncertain of what awaited him. This was his first time, his first true journey as a Proxy of the Lord God in a cycle of worlds.
Having always considered the world filthy and squalid, Liu Mengchao’s conviction only deepened.
"Yan Ye."
Liu Mengchao halted, staring at the steps before him. Not far ahead was the place he and Yan Ye Gui had agreed upon—the rooftop.
Behind him, the corridor stretched out in utter darkness. He suddenly thought this shadow looked like a scene straight from hell—no trace of light to be found.
His steps faltered and, unexpectedly, a smile appeared on Liu Mengchao’s face.
"Honored Proxy," came Bai Ya’s voice in his ear, brimming with curiosity.
"What is it?"
"It’s just that..." Bai Ya’s voice trembled with anxiety. "Soon, dawn will break. When that happens, you’ll have to leave the world of 'School Days' at once."
Leave?
Liu Mengchao looked back at the pitch-black hallway behind him.
No. In truth, he had always been in hell. This hell was of his own making, and he watched as others, step by step, fell into his trap and sank into hell with him.
Liu Mengchao, a student of psychology, knew that everyone sought a spiritual anchor. It was this which allowed people, in moments of madness, to find their way back to themselves, to avoid losing the last shreds of their humanity as those other cycle-walkers had.
"Bai Ya," Liu Mengchao called the name of the Lord God’s secretary in his mind.
"Did you know?"
Bai Ya fell silent, but Liu Mengchao knew she was quietly listening.
"For Anna, I could destroy everything."
A sudden light flared in Liu Mengchao’s eyes.
"Weak girls must be protected."
He stepped forward, heading for his destination.
"Whether it’s Anna or Yan Ye."
Liu Mengchao’s hand gripped the handle of the rooftop door.
He turned it.
"They are my heaven."
Click.
The door swung open, and in Yan Ye Gui’s eyes, tears of joy shone like stars beneath the night sky, dazzling and enchanting.
"Whoever dares hurt her, even if I must become hell itself, I will not hesitate."
Liu Mengchao lifted his head high and walked toward his beloved.
When Yan Ye Gui came into view, a smile unknowingly bloomed on Liu Mengchao’s face. He knew this was a genuine smile, born from his heart. The lines at the corners of his eyes curled even before his lips, suffusing his whole being with happiness.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Yan Ye," Liu Mengchao said apologetically.
"No… not at all…" Yan Ye Gui smiled, shaking her head joyfully. "It wasn’t long at all. Just seeing you makes me perfectly content."
But what if I have to leave after this?
Liu Mengchao suddenly found his throat dry. The words poised at his lips failed him.
"Mengchao…"
Liu Mengchao said nothing, but Yan Ye Gui noticed his awkwardness and, unexpectedly, began to speak.
"Actually… I’ve always been afraid… Mengchao, that one day you’ll leave me." Though Yan Ye Gui smiled, tears unwittingly hung at the corners of her eyes.
"This is my first love… All I want is to be with you from now on."
As if seized by a thought, the blush on the girl’s face deepened.
She rose on tiptoe, like a child eager to steal candy, her eyes full of timidity and hope, her hands unconsciously circling Liu Mengchao’s neck.
"I’ve always been afraid of boys, and maybe I always will be, but… but…"
Suddenly, Liu Mengchao could no longer hear Yan Ye Gui’s words—a scent as gentle as orchids suddenly filled his senses.
Vaguely, he seemed to catch the voice of her heart.
"But Liu Mengchao is different from everyone else."
At length, their lips parted.
The moon was bright, the stars sparse.
The beauty stood alone.
For the first time, Liu Mengchao gently cupped Yan Ye Gui’s face, studying the girl who had entered his heart.
"Yan Ye."
"Yes!"
The girl nodded excitedly.
"Do you remember the movie we watched on our first date?"
"'Sky of Love'…" Yan Ye Gui’s face was flushed, but her heart overflowed with happiness.
Suddenly, as if struck by lightning, Yan Ye Gui pushed herself from Liu Mengchao’s embrace. A girl’s intuition was always frighteningly keen—they needed no psychology to grasp the crucial truths.
"Are you leaving me…?"
"Yes."
Liu Mengchao nodded.
"Is it because of someone else…?" Tears overflowed from Yan Ye Gui’s eyes, no longer held back. "Will you never come back…?"
"No."
Liu Mengchao’s answer was firm and decisive. He had already resolved in his heart that, no matter what happened, he would return to the world of 'School Days'.
There was still someone here who loved him.
"Liu Mengchao…" Yan Ye Gui tried to force a smile, but found it hopeless; the joy of her first kiss was shattered by Liu Mengchao’s impending departure.
"Do you know… I think you’re very fortunate, because you can choose to love me or not. But I can only choose to love you, or love you even more."
Love me… or love me more…
Suddenly, Liu Mengchao felt that the cycle world he inhabited was not so terrifying after all. At least in this hell, when he lifted his head, he could faintly glimpse the outline of paradise.
Smiling, Liu Mengchao unfastened the invisible Tang horizontal blade from his waist and, to Yan Ye Gui’s astonishment, placed it in her hands.
"Keep this blade safe, and protect yourself."
Why? Yan Ye Gui’s face was full of confusion, her lips parted. She didn’t need to speak—Liu Mengchao already knew what she wanted to say.
"I’m heading somewhere very dangerous."
If Yan Ye Gui wanted to accompany him into the cycle world, he lacked the power to ensure her safety. If anything happened, that would be his life’s greatest regret.
"So, hone yourself well, and take good care of yourself."
As he spoke, Liu Mengchao gently wiped the tears from Yan Ye Gui’s face, his eyes filled with indulgent affection.
"Wait for me—wait for the day I return."
As his words faded, the first rays of dawn peeked through the clouds.
"Honored Proxy, the sun will rise in one minute. Please prepare to leave the cycle world."
Liu Mengchao gave an almost imperceptible nod, and for the last time, pulled Yan Ye Gui into his arms.
Everything was as it should be. In this moment, peace shone on Yan Ye Gui’s face.
"Countdown begins…
10 seconds…
9 seconds…
8 seconds…
7 seconds…
6 seconds…"
As if realizing something, Yan Ye Gui smiled, cupped Liu Mengchao’s face, and pressed all her heart and soul into a kiss.
Cherry blossoms fall at five centimeters per second.
Yan Ye Gui’s heart was utterly intoxicated—for five seconds.
Ding!
A system prompt rang in Liu Mengchao’s ear.
"Yan Ye Gui, strategy completion: 100%"
Brilliant sunlight finally spilled from the sky, falling across the shoulders of the couple on the rooftop.
"Transferring…"
The system’s cold notification echoed slowly in Liu Mengchao’s ear, and with it came an unexpected message.
"Confirmed by the Proxy: School Days world guardian established.
Guardian name: Yan Ye Gui."
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A bow of gratitude—the School Days arc ends here. Thank you, everyone, for your unwavering support! Now, let’s take a deep breath, and plunge into our Lord God Space! As for supporting characters, I never expected so much enthusiasm—the ones you’ve provided will last well into the next cycles… Some have very detailed backgrounds, so they’ll appear later. I’ll do my best to let each one shine… But please note, the fates of these supporting characters may all end in death… and it might be quite tragic…
Finally—a heartfelt thanks to “Rabbit Radishsky, Letting Go Morning, Restia, Reader 130120131542087, Moe Is Justice, DLDLx, Otaku Bug, Oath of the Sky, This Dream, Even If It’s Chuunibyou, It’s Adorable” and everyone else for your rewards. I can never thank you enough—so I’ll explode with new chapters!
Next update—tomorrow morning at ten!