Chapter 134
What if Miki Died? Part 8
Lin Lin had noticed something different about Senior Wakako lately. It was as if she suddenly had a secret, her movements becoming elusive and unpredictable, her actions cloaked in an air of mystery.
…It was strange. It seemed she was always the first to notice whenever Wakako acted strangely.
Why does this feel so familiar?
Remembering how Wakako had rambled deliriously during her recent illness, Lin Lin grew worried. She wanted to check on her, but what she glimpsed through the door crack left her speechless.
Senior Wakako was sitting alone, speaking gently to the empty bed, as if someone were really there. Her tone was unusually caring, as though addressing a living person.
The conversation itself was ordinary – just everyday small talk, but… there was no one else in the room!
What’s happening to her?!
In just a few seconds, Lin Lin’s shock turned to heartache. She couldn’t hold back any longer and burst through the door. “Senior sister, please stop…”
Wakako turned, surprised. “What’s wrong?”
Without words, Lin Lin rushed forward and wrapped her arms tightly around Wakako. Tears flowed freely down her face, “It’s okay, senior sister. I’ll go find master right away. I’ll go find Master right away. We’ll get the best healer in the kingdom to help you!”
Her perfectly fine senior sister… had lost her mind, and started talking to herself!
Wakako’s face paled. She instinctively tried to push Lin Lin away, but the petite girl had somehow found unexpected strength that even Wakako couldn’t shake off without hurting her.
“Let go of me!” Wakako’s voice trembled with anxiety, even fear.
Lin Lin clung tighter. “No! Don’t be afraid… no matter how difficult your illness is, we’ll be here for you!”
Wakako went pale, glancing nervously at Miki beside the bed.
She didn’t need to look fully to feel the chilling air spreading gradually around them.
Only Wakako could see Miki. To Lin Lin, there was nothing there except an empty bed and the faint impression of a white robe. She must have caught a glimpse through the door and misunderstood everything.
“Let go!” Wakako had never shouted at Lin Lin like this before. “Do you want to die?”
“You’re being mean to me…” Lin Lin cried harder, more convinced that something was wrong with her senior sister. The usually caring Wakako would never act this way. “You even want to hurt me…”
Wakako was so frustrated she could scream.
Of all times to get emotional… If you don’t let go, your life’s really in danger!
With no other choice, she mustered her strength and shoved Lin Lin away, sending her stumbling to the floor. Lin Lin sat there crying for a moment before scrambling to her feet and running to find the others.
Finally, Wakako let out a sigh of relief, only to turn and see Miki still seated on the bed, her expression cold as frost, head tilted slightly to one side.
“Your… junior… sister…”
She spoke each word deliberately.
Wakako’s heart, which had just settled, jumped again. She hurried to explain: “Lin Lin can’t see you! She thought I’d gone mad. Please, don’t blame her, alright?”
Miki stared silently at the wrinkles on Wakako’s black clothes.
The marks left by Lin Lin’s embrace.
Wakako quickly smoothed out every crease, pretending nothing had happened. She looked hopefully at Sa Miki, wishing she would let the matter drop.
After a long silence, Miki finally spoke.
“I want to kill her.”
Wakako: …
Her heart sank completely.
And so began another round of placating the ghost.
***
From that day onward, Miki had returned to Wakako’s side, though in a form only Wakako could see. To everyone else, all that remained was the white robe the Saint was buried in, fluttering faintly in the air.
Miki began following Wakako everywhere – during training, on missions, and especially at night…
Wakako had originally shared a room with Lin Lin, but with Miki’s presence, that arrangement became impossible. She had to request a room transfer from their master, claiming she needed to be alone for her recovery.
To Lin Lin, this only confirmed that her senior had become strangely reclusive and withdrawn.
***
Which led to today’s situation.
The more Wakako thought about it, the more her head hurt. She couldn’t reveal Miki’s existence to anyone – even their masters would think her illness had returned and she was speaking nonsense.
The immediate priority was to appease Miki. Sitting beside her, Wakako patiently reasoned with her.
She progressed from “Junior sister is young and doesn’t understand” to “You’re the only one in my eyes,” and finally, with great effort, to “Only you can touch me here… and here…”
Only after her throat went dry did she finally convince Miki to spare Lin Lin’s life.
But then her junior sister returned at the worst possible moment. Seeing her figure, Wakako felt the urge to punch her for the first time.
Do you know how hard I worked to save your life? And yet you still don’t cherish it!
Lin Lin brought several others into the room, her tear-stained face still swollen: “Masters, look at her! She keeps talking to an empty robe. What should we do?”
“This robe…” Carol stared at the white garment thoughtfully, finding it familiar. “Isn’t this the ceremonial dress only the Saint could wear?”
Wakako didn’t know how to explain.
Except for Hua Yumu, the others didn’t know about her history with Miki. But during her recent illness, she had called out about seeing the Saint, so everyone could guess at some past connection.
Albert exchanged shocked looks with Hua Yumu.
Even the usually carefree Liu Siruo was stunned: “Have you… been secretly keeping the Saint’s robes all these years?”
Wakako lowered her head, silently confirming.
Carol advised worriedly: “Wakako, I don’t know what your connection to the Saint is, this disrespect could mean execution if discovered. Besides, she passed away so long ago… haven’t you… haven’t you let go yet?”
Wakako lowered her gaze, watching the white robe hem seem to sway slightly.
Without hesitation, she placed her hand over the cold one beside her.
To others, it looked like she had simply moved her hand.
“I’ll never forget,” Wakako said gently, finally speaking. “Even if she’s no longer here, I won’t forget.”
She gripped Miki’s hand tightly.
Though she knew she could never warm it, she refused to let go.
“I don’t need to see any doctors. It probably wouldn’t make any difference… you can think I’m crazy if you want.”
Wakako said.
She knew it was absurd to keep company with someone only she could see, knew that the presence beside her was no longer the Saint of the past, but a ghost who could lose control at any moment.
But none of that mattered.
What mattered was that her master had returned.
Whatever form she took, whatever others thought—it didn’t matter.
As long as Miki was with her, it was enough.
Wakako saw Miki watching her. ghost couldn’t express much emotion, but she seemed to feel the icy hand warm ever so slightly.
The sacred wine in the temple – as a servant, she had never been worthy to taste it.
Now, her ghostly wine stayed by her side.
And she would never leave again.
