The Grotesque Miss’s End Story v3c9

Chapter 9: The Land of Qing Qiu

Iris’s face suddenly fell, and Luo Ling, in her Amethyst form, was speechless.

She finally understood the reason for Iris’s drastic change in attitude…

She had mistaken Amethyst and Black Kite for two different people!

Although her personality was slightly influenced by her different forms, perhaps due to the drastic changes in appearance…

…all forms were still Luo Ling herself.

Whether Amethyst, White Witch, or the newly acquired Black Kite, besides their appearance, they were essentially the same.

Iris didn’t seem to realize this, or rather, although she knew it logically, she couldn’t help but react differently.

Luo Ling could understand the reason:

Iris’s low opinion of Amethyst…

In contrast, towards Black Kite, born from her and carrying Jingwei’s aura, Iris’s favorability was naturally higher.

Luo Ling even noticed a difference in Iris’s appearance, her cute face more vibrant, likely having dressed up before meeting Black Kite.

However… Luo Ling still found this difficult to understand.

Seeing Iris’s fluctuating expression, as if she was about to faint, Luo Ling sighed inwardly.

Fine, she would indulge Miss Iris today.

Luo Ling transformed back into her Black Kite form. Two teal-haired girls stood facing each other, seemingly identical twins, the only difference being their hairstyles, one with her hair down, the other tied up.

Iris’s complexion improved, but her initial excitement and anticipation were replaced by unease.

She knew Amethyst and Black Kite were the same person, Luo Ling, but she couldn’t quite reconcile the two images in her mind.

Luo Ling’s transformation had shattered Iris’s illusions.

Luo Ling, after a moment’s thought, used Jingwei’s innate ability, transforming into Jingwei’s true form.

Instantly, Iris’s expression changed drastically, a look Luo Ling vaguely recognized from Elsa or Linna.

Luo Ling flapped her small wings, familiarizing herself with this body before flying into Iris’s hair and settling down.

She transmitted her voice into Iris’s mind through the Spores remaining in the fungal threads, a slightly childish yet cold voice echoing,

“Miss Iris, let’s… interact like this for now, get used to it. We can’t let those old foxes, Moonflower and Camellia, see through our disguise.”

“Okay, okay…”

Iris nodded repeatedly, her movements careful, afraid of dislodging Luo Ling.

She gently rearranged her carefully styled hair, covering Luo Ling, just like she usually did with Jingwei.

Her previous gloom vanished, replaced by a wide, uncontrollable smile.

…Miss Iris was so easy to read.

Of course, Luo Ling wasn’t just doing this to comfort Iris. She truly needed to get used to this form and their method of interaction.

Moonflower and Camellia were dangerous, as was the perpetually mysterious Snowdrop, all incredibly formidable…

Even if Luo Ling and Iris used the excuse of the teal bird being a part of Iris’s ability, it might not fool them. They couldn’t assume they were as simple-minded as Miss Iris. It was best to be prepared.

However…

Miss Iris’s hair was quite comfortable.

Luo Ling nestled within the teal hair, surrounded by the faint fragrance of vegetation and a hint of the sea, feeling slightly drowsy.

With some time before their meeting, Luo Ling stayed on Iris’s head, observing her daily life.

It was… monotonous.

Iris woke up every day to tend to the plots of land she had cultivated for medicinal herbs and saplings within her Kingdom, then surveyed the Kingdom for new areas to develop.

Then, she visited the area completely consumed by Immortality, trying to salvage something, before finally attending to Jingwei.

Even the simple-minded Iris knew not to bring Luo Ling along when caring for Jingwei, so she reluctantly put her down.

This was Luo Ling’s only opportunity to explore Twilight Victoria, but she wasn’t interested in the scenery, instead, perhaps due to her Black Kite form, drawn to Iris’s cultivated lands.

Learning a few tricks might allow her to replicate them in Starry Victoria.

The resulting medicinal herbs would be beneficial to everyone.

In Victoria, “sacred medicine” referred to anything refined from Sacred Relics. Even the Torchbearers, skilled in medicine, couldn’t create them from other materials. Obtaining sacred medicine required hunting Grotesqueries and obtaining their Sacred Relics.

Iris’s method of cultivating medicinal herbs was unheard of, likely using a special Grotesquery, like the Bodhi Ancient Tree, and then, through her unique cultivation techniques, creating these various herbs.

But this alone wasn’t enough. For these herbs to be effective for Awakened Ones or Godchosen, they had to contain some form of power. This was Iris’s unique secret technique.

Before Amethyst’s arrival, Iris’s position within the high-profile Tea Party, her acceptance by the seemingly easygoing yet actually arrogant Moonflower and the others, was due to her mass production of these herbs.

Compared to Sacred Relics, they had fewer side effects, were more stable, and could even be customized.

Even Luo Ling, seeing this, couldn’t help but want to bring Iris to Starry Victoria, or perhaps hire her to modify her own Kingdom.

Unfortunately, even with the same abilities, Luo Ling couldn’t replicate Iris’s techniques.

Time passed quickly. After her daily routine, Iris finally received a message from Moonflower.

“Hello, Sister Iris, do you miss me? It’s okay if you don’t, but I miss you so much I can’t sleep, so much, so much! I can’t wait to see you, little Iris…”

After several cute emojis, commonly used by grandmothers, came the location.

“I’m in Qing Qiu Kingdom in the Great Xia Imperial City, waiting for you!”

This sounded like a seductive invitation to a pre-booked hotel room…

Especially imagining Moonflower’s cloyingly sweet loli voice made Luo Ling shudder.

Even Iris felt a chill, especially knowing Moonflower was practically a grandmother… perhaps even a great-grandmother or older.

Feeling the slight weight and warmth on her head, Iris felt slightly better.

Miss Black Kite was so much better, not just cute, but also a true little sister…

Iris’s opinion of Luo Ling had improved significantly, especially since Luo Ling hadn’t changed forms, mostly appearing as a small teal bird, occasionally as a teal-haired girl.

Luo Ling didn’t know that Iris’s improved attitude wasn’t just due to Black Kite’s similar appearance, but also her young age.

Iris rarely encountered such a true “little sister,” and she couldn’t help but want to protect her, just like her precious crops.

But if Luo Ling transformed into Amethyst, her initial bad impression and seemingly older age…

Clearly, Miss Iris, unlike Luo Ling and Stasha, wasn’t a sister-con.

…She was a closet little-sister-con.

“Qing Qiu Kingdom? Is that one of the Kingdoms in the Great Xia Imperial City?”

Luo Ling pondered, then, seeing Iris’s equally confused expression, realized asking was pointless.

“If you don’t know, just ask Moonflower.”

“Oh, oh…”

Iris finally reacted, replying to Moonflower.

[Iris: Sister Moonflower, where’s Qing Qiu Kingdom?]

[Moonflower: You don’t know? Sister Iris, aren’t you from the Great Xia Imperial City?]

[Iris: I think so.]

[Moonflower: …I remember, your previous Kingdom should have been on Mount Fajiu.]

[Iris: I think so.]

[Moonflower: Don’t you know how to get there?]

[Iris: I think so.]

[Iris: Oh, I think I do.]

[Moonflower: ……]

Moonflower was likely speechless, but she seemed used to Iris’s confusing replies.

Even Luo Ling couldn’t help but ask,

“Miss Iris, where were you… before you obtained Twilight Victoria?”

“My hometown,” Iris replied honestly, then, as if realizing something, “Oh, is that Mount Fajiu?”

Luo Ling stared at the screen, sighing softly.

“Sometimes I wonder how you even survived this long.”

So carefree…

Only after Jingwei’s injury had she finally started to act like a normal person, gaining some common sense.

And she had mocked Luo Ling for not knowing about Kingdoms…

She wasn’t much better herself.

“But,” Iris’s face fell, “My hometown was destroyed by a fire, even Lord Jingwei was injured and hasn’t recovered yet.”

“Hmm?”

Luo Ling’s head turned sharply, her gaze intense.

This was the first time Iris had mentioned Jingwei’s injuries, perhaps a sign that her guard was lowering.

But more importantly…

Moonflower didn’t seem to know about Mount Fajiu’s destruction.

“Can you still go back?” Luo Ling asked after a moment of thought.

“I can, but it’s covered in flames. I only escaped thanks to Lord Jingwei’s protection. I’ve been wandering the Kingdoms ever since…”

“Was Jingwei injured by the fire?”

“No,” Iris shook her head. “Lord Jingwei was already injured before the fire.”

“In that case… let’s try this.”

Luo Ling thought for a moment, flapping her wings and landing nearby, instantly transforming into a small, white-haired girl.

Her White Witch form.

Luo Ling looked at Iris cautiously, worried about another adverse reaction.

Thankfully, it didn’t happen. Although Iris was surprised by the transformation, unlike with the Amethyst form, she didn’t seem disgusted.

Luo Ling examined Iris’s clothes, then, with a wave of her hand, an identical outfit appeared.

A perfect replica, woven from fungal threads.

“Wear this, it should protect you from the fire,” Luo Ling said. “Unless it’s a Taboo-level fire—in that case, you wouldn’t have escaped either.”

The fungal thread clothing was essentially an extension of the White Witch’s abilities, a part of Luo Ling’s power.

As long as Luo Ling could withstand the fire, so could this clothing.

“Huh…”

Iris took the clothes, watching as the white-haired girl transformed back into a teal bird and perched on her head, a subtle joy in her heart.

Was this… Miss Black Kite’s first gift to her?

Soft and gentle, with a sweet fragrance, it seemed much better quality than her own clothes, clearly made from expensive materials.

And it was identical to her own outfit… she must have put a lot of thought into it…

These thoughts brought a smile to Iris’s lips.

She quickly changed into the new clothes, looking at herself excitedly.

At the same time, Luo Ling, using her beak, checked her phone, seeing Moonflower’s latest message, which included instructions on how to get from Mount Fajiu to Qing Qiu Kingdom.

“It seems… unlike Victoria, the Great Xia Imperial City is… completely fragmented…”

Luo Ling gleaned some information about the Great Xia Imperial City from these instructions.

First, the Origin Point, Great Xia Imperial City, still existed, unlike the annihilated Columbia, but each location was completely separated, even more so than Boundaries.

Mount Fajiu and Qing Qiu Kingdom were completely separate, requiring special methods to travel between them.

Second, the various Kingdoms originated from these different locations. Both Mount Fajiu and Qing Qiu Kingdom had their own corresponding Kingdoms.

Iris’s burning hometown wasn’t Mount Fajiu itself, but its Kingdom, which was why Moonflower hadn’t known about it.

However, this meeting wasn’t in a Kingdom, but in the real-world location of Qing Qiu Kingdom.

Perhaps because each Kingdom had its own ruler, and they didn’t want to be restricted by each other…

Actually, regarding this meeting, Iris was just an insignificant addition, practically a pawn. The true purpose was the collaboration between the other three.

Poor Miss Iris, although also on the table, the others were the diners, while she was… the menu.

“Let’s go, to your hometown, let’s try it,” Luo Ling said, flapping her wings and nudging the still daydreaming Iris, puzzled by her strange behavior.

She had specifically replicated Iris’s outfit to avoid any resistance, why was she still acting like this…

Oh well, at least it wasn’t disgust.

“Oh, okay, okay.”

Hearing the teal bird’s command, Iris didn’t dare delay, preparing the ritual to return to her hometown.

Traveling to other Origin Points’ Kingdoms was different from traveling within Victoria, requiring special methods.

“It might be a bit uncomfortable, Little Sister Black Kite. Be careful.”

Iris took out a cracked tortoise shell, the cracks forming a ritualistic pattern.

After infusing it with a large amount of inspiration, a jingling sound echoed from within the shell, as if it contained something.

At the same time, the surrounding scenery began to change.

First, all color faded, then they were enveloped in an empty void.

“The Realm of Nothingness again.”

Luo Ling understood what Iris meant by “uncomfortable.”

Unfortunately, she wasn’t in her original form, and the void’s erosion still affected her, preventing her from experiencing the subsequent changes.

When Luo Ling came to her senses, she was on a mountain summit.

A raging inferno engulfed the mountain, its heat seemingly scorching even the sky above, the ocean on the horizon also burning, Mount Fajiu completely covered in crimson.

“So hot, so hot… huh, not that hot?”

Seeing the familiar scene, Iris instinctively cowered, then quickly realized…

The fungal thread clothing Luo Ling had given her was protecting her. Even though the fire was more intense than in her memories, she felt nothing, only a slight warmth on her skin.

“This fire is indeed a Calamity disaster, but not strong enough to affect me.”

Luo Ling looked around at Mount Fajiu, and disregarding the flames, the scenery seemed familiar.

Wait…

“Isn’t this… the scene from my consciousness space when I transformed into Black Kite?”