Chapter 206

Chapter 206: Famous Paintings of the World, Charlotte’s Little Feelings

Klagenfurt.

This place was founded in ancient Roman times and is called the Rose of Lake Worth, blending modern commerce harmoniously into the old Baroque and Renaissance city.

The lights of thousands of homes cut through the dark night, while the old museum stands proudly in the center of the city.

The girl is like a fairy in the lake; as she enters this exhibition hall, the ground beneath her feet stretches out, turning into a clear blue lake. The antique murals around her seem to swirl like a kaleidoscope, weaving new scenes from splashes of paint.

—Stained glass.

This decoration, often found in churches, enhances the sacred atmosphere and strengthens the sense of religion. It is pieced together from all directions, replacing the museum’s original design as if it wants to swallow the faraway saintess within. The sound of the organ begins to rise and fall.

The dome appears cracked like glazed porcelain, revealing beautifully designed stained glass windows. The lead strips and colored glass twist together like curved lines, connecting as she walks, featuring dark blue and deep red tones in a small, dim Romanesque style, as well as the magnificent rose windows like those in Notre-Dame de Paris.

Outside it is clearly night, but suddenly sunlight pours into the museum, streaming through the colored glass like angel feathers. The different shades create a magical dream-like experience.

Charlotte gazed at the scenery around her, her eyes sparkling with curiosity like the shimmering depths of an opal. She felt like a serious traveler, looking left and right, yet the atmosphere around her remained unchanged, bringing a feeling of relaxed joy, like the clear and cheerful sunlight of the afternoon.

The girl’s outfit had changed again since the afternoon, seemingly to keep it a secret from her fans. This time, she wore a vintage, bold style, with a color-blocked short-sleeve shirt and light-colored athletic shorts. Her signature dark blue hair was braided in a twist, paired with a baseball cap and brown-silver headphones.

This outfit showed off her figure well, as her fair thighs were on full display, and the lines of her long legs were accentuated with each step, highlighting her beautiful curves and full of youthful energy in the dappled light.

"No reply? Is there no signal here?"

Charlotte glanced at her phone, noticing that the message she sent to Chu Yuanqing still showed as unread.

The girl’s cheerful and lively spirit occasionally showed hints of sadness. In the afternoon, she took a moment to ask Dream Weaver Rabbit for news about Chu Yuanqing, overlooking symbols like [Donghong Gem], [Donghong Amaterasu], and [Those Fated with Pure White]; the most impressive part remained the person’s looks and performance.

There’s no need to mention Chu Yuanqing’s beauty; she was as stunning as the flawless version of herself from the makeup process.

But the secondary rating event, and even the first performance stage, were the main reasons she would sneak messages to her during work hours.

There is a familiar scent in Chu Yuanqing’s stage.

Charlotte thought for a long time and finally understood. Putting aside the raw dance moves and different charm, the other person’s stage presence was just like her own. It felt as if she was watching a more mature version of herself dancing on stage, creating a strange sense of familiarity.

On the other hand, beyond that stage presence, Chu Yuanqing had a scent that brought back fond memories. The moment Charlotte saw the photos and videos, a deep feeling arose within her—an overwhelming love that craved to hold Chu Yuanqing close, mixed with a confusing sense of unfamiliarity.

These emotions were very conflicting, leaving her unsure of what to do.

But no matter what, she could confirm that Chu Yuanqing was her destined person.

Moreover, Chu Yuanqing was of a very special kind, even unique, which explained why just connecting with her online felt so profound.

It was also because of this that she felt such warm affection for this "stranger," as if she were a wind choosing to limit her freedom after being tamed, eagerly sharing her travel plans on the first day.

Charlotte put away her phone, ignoring the increasingly grand choir around her. The lantern in front of her shone like a kaleidoscope of jewels, the magic tide creating a protective barrier, shielding her from mental temptations and the fog of disaster.

"She should be in the hotel now. Is she playing games with her teammates?"

"I’ll ask her tomorrow. There’s still work to do right now."

Charlotte continued to look around the area that Dream Weaver Rabbit wanted cleared. Recently, there have been several cases of staff members going missing from this museum, and the investigators sent by the officials also disappeared without a trace, only to be found a week later.

Based on the clues, it is very likely that this place is being transformed by a forbidden zone, creating a special area with defined patterns.

Now it seems to be true.

These songs are very similar to those in the Monte Cristo forbidden zone.

Worry crossed Charlotte’s eyes. She knew she could take care of the situation here because, compared to the forbidden zone, the disaster aura here was not as strong and could only intimidate some ordinary people.

But Monte Cristo is tens of thousands of kilometers away. How could the disaster aura from that forbidden zone reach this place?

This is a question worth exploring, and it is deeply unsettling.

Whether it is the[Calamity Seed]being smuggled here or the[Pure White]losing its power to suppress, both indicate that the Church of the Gods and the lurking disaster beasts are becoming increasingly powerful.

"Dream Weaver is right; the last suppression by Pure White was just a brief flash of light. It is inevitably heading toward exhaustion."

"There is not much time left for humanity; we need more shine."

Charlotte whispered softly, her Lantern Gem glowing with greater magic, igniting the night, as waves of light flowed backward through many stained glass windows.

In an instant, the colorful light turned into a mysterious flame of pearly brilliance, coloring the entire museum, as if all the places touched by light transformed into windows leading to heaven.

Snap.

The girl snapped her fingers, and the window to heaven burst open, the realm built by disaster aura fell apart, and the glass shards crashing down scattered like dream dust, as the surroundings returned to the museum’s original appearance, and the vast night once again enveloped them, with the lights and moonlight embracing.

—[Heavenly Funeral].

Even without creating the Magic Armor, the magic born from this Flower of the Soul is enough to clear away the disaster aura from this area.

Charlotte put on her headphones, walking out like an ordinary visitor, her long legs moving forward. She slid her fingertip across her phone screen, glancing at her next work location, her heart full of youthful hope, but when she switched to the chat interface, she saw the message marked as read but not replied.

The girl’s deep blue eyes sparkled with unshed tears. She pouted her lips. Although she didn’t know the other person well, she couldn’t help but feel a little unhappy, as if she had been forgotten by her boyfriend. She quietly mumbled:

"If I wake up tomorrow and still don’t see a reply, even I will feel a little upset."

When that time comes, I’ll need to comfort her for at least three minutes!

But they don’t seem to know each other very well yet. Will that make me seem stubborn? Well… if I just explain, I can forgive her.

…

…

Sah Hotel.

The soft orange glow of the nightlight shines on a corner of the bed sheet.

"……."

In the room, the blanket is twisted into a pile of wrinkles.

The Pure White Witch was confused and didn’t know if she should struggle, until she heard the ringing sound of her phone, which suddenly made her mind clear, and she stuck her head out from under the blankets.

Chu Yuanqing’s cute face was blushing brightly, and her lips were smooth and shiny, as if she had just drunk a lot of water. The mist in her eyes made her look a bit tipsy, and she instinctively reached for her bedside table, grabbing her phone.

In the next moment, the screen unlocked when it touched her eye, and the messages turned to read.

Chu Yuanqing hadn’t fully realized what was happening; she tried to regain her thoughts to understand the message Charlotte had sent, then got her overworked brain to reply.

Meanwhile, the golden retriever was unhappy with her distracted patient; she nudged the Pure White Witch’s soft waist, then grabbed the little hand that had just regained freedom, causing the phone to slip from her grasp and fall to the ground with a thud.

Chu Yuanqing’s thoughts went blank again; she didn’t know if it was because she was getting weaker and craving more magic restoration, or because she confirmed that Xie Qingxuan was a past comrade, making it hard to see her as just a junior, or simply because the other person was becoming more of a witch, making the magic restoration more effective.

In any case, her rationality vanished faster than before.

In her daze, Chu Yuanqing felt no shame; she could only be a good and obedient patient, as if she were celebrating Christmas in Austria during winter, walking through a bustling market with the golden retriever, eating gingerbread and candied almonds, watching the street brass band and choir, and carefully choosing holiday gifts.

What gifts could there be?

Xie Qingxuan spoke gently and clearly, which shocked the innocent young widow who had no experience in this area.

Chu Yuanqing wanted to seriously tell her that such a big gift was not something a good child should accept.

But she soon realized that she was not a child; her mind felt foggy, and she tried hard to find other excuses, but the other person countered each one and said that Little Qing received gifts from others; did that mean she didn’t like herself?

Then there was a strong tug-of-war.

The golden retriever, halfway through, suggested they could change the gift.

So, the two of them continued to enjoy the festive atmosphere of the Christmas market, strolling together in the gently falling snowflakes.

To prevent Chu Yuanqing from getting a cold and relapsing an old illness, Xie Qingxuan thoughtfully borrowed a stall from the owner and made a warm bowl of mulled wine soup.

The custom in Austria is to mix red and white wine and cook it; the other steps are similar to those in the Sacred United Country, adding spices like cinnamon, cloves, fresh orange peel, white sugar, or brown sugar, and stirring it slowly to boil.

Of course, adding fruits like strawberries, apples, lemons, and pineapples can make it sweeter and more suitable for girls.

Xie Qingxuan cared a lot about the Pure White Witch’s taste, so she specially prepared a lot of pineapples and came well-prepared.

Chu Yuanqing was very nervous because, before drinking, the golden retriever handed her the important job of stirring, while it took care of the second important task of heating.

Chu Yuanqing had never cooked red wine soup before, and she couldn’t control the heat and the strength of stirring. After all, if she simply crushed the spices, brown sugar, and fruits too hard, it could ruin the flavors and waste the ingredients, and even hurt the pot.

So, the Pure White Witch firmly refused this task.

Xie Qingxuan was a really good person. She believed that everyone should take part to find warmth in the cold wind, so she turned down the Pure White Witch’s refusal. She held Chu Yuanqing’s little hand seriously and firmly, and offered to help control the stirring of the red wine soup.

Time passed slowly.

The fire gradually brought the red wine to a boil, mixing the spices and the sour wine, releasing the scent of raspberries and cherries, while the sugar melted at the bottom. The apples and pineapples became soft at the increasing temperature, adding a fresh fruity aroma.

As the stirring became faster, the complex scents blended together in the heat, creating a warm pot of hot red wine.

Once the task was done, the golden retriever invited Chu Yuanqing to enjoy the victory they had made together.

So, under the warm invitation from the other person, Pure White Witch had to agree and began to savor the hot mulled wine that had just come out of the pot. She discovered that unlike the champagne from last time, this special wine had a velvety texture, smooth and gentle, kissing her taste buds.

Moreover, the wine was richer and thicker, and its strong fruit aroma beautifully balanced the tartness, leaving a sweet aftertaste that was unforgettable.

With this delightful flavor, a powerful feeling of happiness surged through her, wrapping around her body and mind, dancing in her soul like ribbons, making her forget all about the phone she had dropped on the floor.

A night without any words.

When morning came, a golden retriever filled with magic was still sleeping soundly beside her.

Chu Yuanqing sleepily opened her eyes; she felt drowsy and light-headed, as if she were walking on cotton, still under the influence of the magic buff that shielded her from 50% of the pain caused by the curse.

However, as she came to her senses, the wild events of yesterday flashed clearly in her mind, causing the innocent retired hero’s brain to short-circuit, until she glanced at the beautiful girl sleeping next to her, looking innocent, which stirred a tsunami of emotions within her.

Chu Yuanqing’s mind shook; her serious little face turned pink with shame as she looked at her long, soft fingers with their round, rosy nails, suddenly remembering the barrage of comments from the live stream where people were going wild about her, making her even more uneasy.

The girl tried to recall the events and felt a bit relieved, whispering softly:

"Fortunately, although it was used for strange things, it… should not have damaged anything important."

After realizing she had not made a big mistake, Chu Yuanqing managed to calm down a little. She hurriedly got out of bed, picked up the four pieces of clothing that had been thrown on the floor, stuffed them all under the blanket, and tightly covered Xie Qingxuan with the quilt.

Then she pinched that soft little face and called her awake.

It was now 6 AM, and the hotel room was over a hundred square meters, not as big as the independent dorms at the base. If Xie Qingxuan lingered in her bed a bit longer, what happened last night could end up being known by the whole team.

The more Chu Yuanqing thought about it, the more scared she became. Even without mentioning her lovely daughter’s physical and mental health, if the other teammates found out, very bad things could happen!

As the saying goes, it is not about having little, but about not having enough.

From Little Sakura’s perspective, it would be hard not to think, "If that silly dog can do this, why can’t I? Does Little Qing not like me?"

At that point, if she did not want to see the other person cry, she would have to treat everyone equally and level out the progress of her little idols.

Chu Yuanqing had a very strong sense of morality; just imagining that scene was enough to make her feel so ashamed that her CPU might explode. What a joke! That kind of terrifying thing is enough to happen just once!

The girl had a serious look on her small face as she urged the golden retriever to hurry and get dressed. Then, she carefully opened the door, watched her surroundings closely, and waited for the right moment to push the still-sleepy dog outside.

How should I put this?

This scene looked like a widow trying to send someone away after a secret meeting, but also like a girl who, after having enough fun, simply throws the other person out.

Chu Yuanqing let out a sigh of relief, finally having some peace to think about other things.

Although it was quite embarrassing, she had to admit that this time the magic restoration worked exceptionally well, even to the point of being several times better than usual.

Chu Yuanqing found it a bit strange; this was her first time restoring magic until she passed out.

You see, just the day before yesterday, she had restored magic with Xie Qingxuan, fully aware of how much benefit this process could bring. Her body also understood what effects it would have; even if the second performance brought significant rewards making Xie Qingxuan closer to being a witch, it shouldn’t have been like this.

Could there be other factors that decide the effectiveness of magic restoration?

Chu Yuanqing decided to suppress her extra emotions and carefully analyze this issue.

If she could, she would definitely want to live longer, to hold back the Disaster for a few more months. The magic involved has to do with that possibility, and some details naturally must give way to it.

"In the last time and this time, apart from the number of people and magic, what else has changed clearly?"

Chu Yuanqing carefully checked and, after a moment, came to a somewhat difficult conclusion.

That is—her favorability rating for Xie Qingxuan.

Last night, Xie Qingxuan’s words confirmed something that made her truly recognize the other person’s identity, leading to a subtle change in her feelings that were previously fixed at that threshold.

The most direct change was that, just like with Little Sakura, she could no longer see the golden-haired dog as a child of her daughter’s generation.

In this situation, the original feelings would naturally start to change towards ambiguity.

Even a small change is still a breakthrough; it makes a fundamental difference.

Chu Yuanqing grasped the key point, feeling a bit dazed as she realized a problem she hadn’t noticed before.

Since magic and magical girls are both abstract, restoring magic will naturally be no exception.

Therefore, each other’s favorability rating will certainly affect the result of restoring magic.

As for how to confirm this, it is quite simple. If one doesn’t mind their morals, just find a chance to optimize Little Sakura’s "Cocoon of the Heart."

Chu Yuanqing felt a bit ashamed thinking about this. She hadn’t even figured out how to deal with Miyuki yet, so how could she do something… something so shameless?!

At that moment,

Pure White Witch felt a great terror, like choosing a key option in a game, where a wrong choice would lead to endless despair. She was in a daze while washing her face in front of the mirror, until halfway through brushing her teeth, she felt something was off and remembered something even more frightening.

Wait, did I not reply to Charlotte’s message yesterday?!