Time in a collapsing world

In the next few days, without Teofel on their behalf, Li and Alicia's traveling speed was obviously much slower.

They were born with mortal bodies, and their physical strength was limited. They had to rest for a while after walking for a while, and there were also food problems. Various factors slowed down their progress.

Of course, the time they spent along the way was quite relaxing. At least Alicia could always find new and interesting things for the two of them.

"Look, Li, there are so many flowers, so beautiful!"

Alicia squatted down in front of a flower bush, happily playing with the brightly colored flowers.

"Alicia, we have to go on our way."

"It's okay, it's just for a while. Take a little rest and everything will be fine~?"

Alicia picked one of the little flowers that she thought was the most beautiful and inserted it between her pink hair. "Li, how are you doing? Isn't it very beautiful?"

"very beautiful."

Li told the truth.

"Then do you think it's the flowers that are more beautiful, or me?"

"Both beautiful."

"Hey, Li, you can't be greedy. You can only choose one answer~?" Alicia said dissatisfied.

"..."

Li thought for a moment, "Flowers are beautiful, and you are also beautiful, so you are even more beautiful with flowers..."

"Eh? Li, you have become so good at talking?" Alicia covered her mouth and said in surprise. If it were Li before, he would have been unable to hold back a single word even if his brain was drained.

"……Thanks to you."

During the time she spent with Alicia, Li also learned some good words.

"Humph~?"

Alicia immediately put her hands on her hips, showing satisfaction, "If Li thinks I'm beautiful, then you must really like me, right?"

"..."

"You can't pretend to be dumb~?"

"Okay, I like it."

If you don't hate it, you probably like it, right?

"Yeah, I am the same, I like you very much~?"

Alicia held one of Li's hands tightly, interlocking their fingers, just like the two clay figures before.

"We agreed, no matter what happens in the future, we will never separate, forever and ever~?"

"..."

……

After marching for a while, Li's body started to suffer. He was still talking to Alicia and suddenly fell to the ground. He grabbed his head with one hand, his eyes were red, and he let out uncomfortable gasps.

"Ha ha……"

"Li, are you okay? Do you have a fever? Wait for me here, I will go find herbal medicine for you right away..."

Squatting down, Alicia put the back of her left hand against Li's forehead. It was very hot. She immediately wanted to leave in a panic, but Li held her back with her other hand.

"No need...just take a rest and you'll be fine soon..."

Li smiled with difficulty, but her weak appearance did not convince Alicia at all.

"No! You must take medicine when you are sick. You cannot bear it alone!"

Alicia shook off Li's hand for the first time. She also had her own opinion on this matter.

Seeing Alicia running away quickly, Li sighed helplessly, moved his body on the ground, found a tree trunk to lean on, closed his eyes, and felt the constant impact of another consciousness in his head on himself. Li knew that he Time is running out.

He had to find a way to eliminate or suppress him. With this consciousness full of malice, Li couldn't let him come out.

At least... we can't let him come out next to Alicia.

Li's blurred vision swept around and found a mushroom with blue spots next to the tree trunk he was leaning on. Alicia seemed to have told him that there was a toxin in this mushroom that could continuously Stimulates human nerves, causing extreme pain, but not fatal.

Eat it.

He quickly made up his mind. Li needed something like this to keep him awake now. As for the pain? It's just an inconsequential side effect.

With this thought in mind, Li struggled to control her body and picked the mushroom, stuffed it into her mouth, chewed it a few times, and then swallowed it.

By the time Alicia came back anxiously holding a bunch of herbs, Li had already stood up like a normal person and was leaning against the tree trunk in a daze.

"Li, are you... okay?"

Alicia piled a bunch of herbs in front of Li, her face still showing uneasiness.

"It's okay, you can touch it."

Li put her forehead forward and let Alicia feel her own temperature.

It's ice cold, and it seems like nothing is wrong.

After Alicia breathed a sigh of relief, she became a little resentful again, "Ugh...then wouldn't the herbs I worked so hard to find go to waste?"

"I told you everything will be fine...but thank you anyway."

Li touched Alicia's little head. This first action made Alicia raise her head in surprise.

"Li, you actually touched my head?"

"...Sorry, I was quick to act."

Li thought Alicia was complaining about touching her head without permission, so she quickly stopped and apologized.

"No, Li, how about...you touch me again?"

"?"

"Just touch my head again~?"

Alicia missed the feeling just now, it was so comfortable, just like Celia's mother touching her head.

"never mind……"

"Then I'll touch you~?"

"No."

"It doesn't matter what you say, just wait and see!"

Alicia rushed onto Li's back, used both hands to rub his head hard, and turned his hair into a chicken coop.

Worried that Alicia would fall, Li subconsciously grabbed her legs, which also allowed Alicia to do whatever she wanted with Li's head.

"Can you come down now?"

Li asked after standing there for a while.

"No."

Alicia, who had had enough fun, grabbed Li's neck and rested her little head on Li's shoulder, with no thought of coming down.

"……never mind."

Li grabbed Alicia's legs and lifted them up. After making sure that she would not slip down, Li carried Alicia on her back and embarked on the last part of the journey.

……

"Li, look at that hillside!"

Alicia, who was staying on Li's back, patted his shoulder and said excitedly: "I remember Celia's mother said that as long as we cross that hillside, we will be able to walk out of the woods soon!"

"..."

"Li, why don't you speak again?"

"Alicia, please get off my back first. I'm a little tired."

Li let go of Alicia's legs and let her slide down.

"Thank you, Mr. Li, for taking care of yourself during this time. Alicia will always remember your kindness~?"

Alicia clasped her hands together and pretended to be sincerely grateful to Li.

"...Want to climb up and take a look?"

Li pointed to the hillside not far away.

"Of course, only up there can you see the whole picture outside the woods clearly~?"

With that said, Alicia took the lead and ran ahead, turning back to greet Li in the middle of the road: "Li, hurry up and follow me, otherwise I won't wait for you~?"

"..."

"..."

"...I'm sorry, Alicia."

This was Li's low murmur that only he could hear.