The Speedrun Manual of Miss Witch

Chapter 293.4: Old Days Unlocked, Beseeching the Saint’s Return

Ciel took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.She had stayed in the simulation for 24 hours just now; perhaps because there was no intense mental depletion, only 9 minutes had passed in reality.

What was the time flow between the Old Days and reality then?

Regardless, would she have to step into the Old Days to explore for herself?

Knock knock knock——

A knock sounded, and Ciel looked toward the door.

"Come in."

The door opened, revealing Avena’s figure in the doorway. Behind her followed Tara and Adele, and Tara seemed to be carrying a tray.

"You’re not asleep yet? Adele happens to have some herbal soup to regulate your body..." Avena looked at Ciel. She seemed to notice the cold sweat on Ciel’s forehead and stepped forward, taking out her handkerchief to gently wipe it for Ciel. "What’s wrong?"

Avena keenly noticed that Ciel’s spirit was currently a bit tense... as if facing something unknown and terrifying.

"It’s nothing..." Ciel shook her head. She licked her somewhat dry lips and reached out to take the cup Tara handed her.

Inside the cup was a churning herbal soup, with some unsettling green bubbles and glow. The soup also emitted Adele’s signature minty fragrance.

Ciel raised the cup to her lips and took a small sip. The cool soup rolled down Ciel’s throat, making her breathing feel much clearer.

She drank the slightly bitter soup in one gulp, then scanned the people before her.

But just then, the previously dim red flame in Ciel’s mind began to change color, burning with a silver brilliance.

「Host, please respond to the altar within 10 minutes, otherwise there’s no telling when the next time will be ^^_」

Within 10 minutes?

Ciel’s pupils subtly constricted.

So soon?

She wasn't ready yet...

Ciel didn't know the situation in the Old Days, but before entering, she had to arrange everything... even if not for herself, she had to leave some fallback measures for those around her.

Ciel gently brushed aside Avena’s hand holding the handkerchief, stood up, and looked at Tara.

With just a glance, Tara seemed to know what Ciel wanted to do. She directly drew a notebook and pen from the pocket sewn into her apron and handed them to Ciel, while also unscrewing the ink bottle cap and holding it before Ciel.

Ciel took the notebook and began writing rapidly.

【Be careful of the Deton Group. For the time being, it’s best to keep a certain distance from Lucy and avoid contact...】

【Closely monitor Cora Blood-Chip’s movements. If she shows any sign of approaching me, run immediately...】

【Take Amy Hastings to Eleanor at the See of the Savior Goddess. Eleanor will naturally protect Amy. Do not let Amy act alone, and do not let her get too close to us. Above all, do not let her near Cora Blood-Chip...】

【...】

Ciel wrote quickly.

The arrangement for Amy was a choice Ciel was forced to make.

Amy had the protection of a Divine Servant, so logically, Amy should be the one needing the least worry.

However, the enemy this time was precisely Sadhana... the genuine Sadhana, not the one the Divine Servant mistook her for...

Currently, the Divine Servant was sealed behind Amy’s back. Sadhana in the Other Side likely couldn't contact it.

But if Cora Blood-Chip were to meet Amy in reality and activate the Divine Servant, Sadhana would certainly use the Divine Servant for somthing.

So she had to ensure Amy was in a safe place, neither too far nor too close to Ciel and the others.

After writing everything, Ciel handed the notebook to Avena.

Avena took the notebook. After just a quick glance, her pupils constricted.

She suddenly looked up at Ciel. The cold indifference she had been maintaining on her face wavered at this moment. Looking at Ciel, Avena slowly spoke, "You... are leaving?"

These writings clearly looked like she was arranging her "final affairs."

"No... I don't know either..." Ciel shook her head. She looked at Avena, unable to hide the bewilderment in her eyes.

Writing those things just now had consumed a massive amount of Ciel’s time. Now, there were less than 30 seconds left for her to respond to the altar.

Ciel would not ignore the system’s warning. This Old Days simulation clearly didn't allow for choosing the entry time. Before understanding its operational logic, Ciel had to seize this first opportunity.

Heaven knew if the next summoning would be after Sadhana’s descent; if so, it would be too late...

"I’m going with you." Avena reached out and squeezed Ciel’s hands, speaking firmly.

"No." Ciel spoke subconsciously.

The Old Days was a place even Ciel hadn't figured out. Even if Avena really could go along, Ciel wouldn't let her take the risk.

The next moment, Avena stepped forward and hugged Ciel tightly.

Avena held her with such force, as if trying to use this almost childish method to keep Ciel from leaving, while Ciel merely raised her hands slowly and returned the embrace.

"Wait for me..."

Ciel spoke slowly.

"No matter what is over there... I will return..."

Time was running out. Within her mind, Ciel focused her attention on that silver flame.

The silver flame expanded wildly in Ciel’s mind. Those illusory flames pierced directly through Ciel’s brain and skin, but upon contact with reality, the illusory silver flame transformed into red and black.

Fierce flames consumed Ciel completely. In just a brief instant, only the stunned individuals remained in place, along with a dazed Avena, her arms encircling empty air.

"Cie... l?"

Adele spoke in a murmur, but it still failed to break the deathly silence in the room.

…

"I take the minute hand as my dagger, to rend the membrane of dawn and dusk..."

Thud——

The dilapidated door was kicked open, revealing the pitch-black sky outside.

"I use the sun and moon as fuel, to burn down the ladder of causality..."

"Aaaaah——!"

A girl’s scream rang out. At the door, a terrifying monster, dressed in fine church robes and with a face covered in suppurating eyeballs, reached inside. It grabbed a girl by her tattered clothes and dragged her up.

"The time for the great god’s blood sacrifice has arrived, yet you still dare to hide here... I remember your name is... you over there, what are you doing?"

"O Time-Binder... strip away my future, excise the cancer of yesterday..."

A small figure huddled inside a ruined wardrobe, covered in old clothes, clutching a strange silver rune in her arms and continuing to pray while trembling.

"With my blood sacrifice..."

"I beseech the Saint’s return..."

"Boom——"

A giant axe swung through. The already dilapidated wooden frame shattered completely. The eerie light in the monster's pupils illuminated the girl's messy hair. The girl looked up in despair, staring at the monster before her in terror.

"You actually pray to an outer god..."

The monster’s giant claw reached toward the girl.

But just then, the silver rune in the girl’s hand erupted with a brilliant silver flame!