"Dad." Rikka Takanashi lunged towards the familiar 'person' in front of her, but passed right through him. It was then that she fully accepted the truth she had been unwilling to believe.
Dad had died three years ago; what she saw now was his soul.
She refused to believe the fact that Dad was no longer there, so she had immersed herself in a false reality she was willing to accept.
Tears streamed continuously from Rikka Takanashi's eyes. She turned to look at the face unchanged from her memory, wiping away the tears with her hands, but the more she wiped, the more tears fell.
She had always been a chuunibyou, always deceiving herself, until she met a kind God who made her self-deception a reality.
"Rikka isn't a child anymore, you can't cry at the drop of a hat." Rikka's Dad raised his hand to stroke Rikka's head, though he couldn't touch her at all.
"You must be very sad that Dad isn't here anymore."
"But there's no need to fall into pain over it. People, they all experience birth, old age, sickness, and death. Everyone goes through it."
"Rikka just experienced this pain of parting earlier. Dad is very sorry about that."
"However, being able to see Rikka again at this time, Dad is also blessed by Rikka's good fortune."
"Rikka is favored by a God. Your future will definitely be different from ordinary people, and different from Dad's. You will surely be very happy."
"Dad, can you stay by Rikka's side forever?" Rikka Takanashi choked out, her eyes tearful.
"Rikka, you can't be so greedy. Although it's a pity Dad can't always look after you, Dad will always bless you." Rikka's Dad's tone became a little more serious. He was a strict father and hoped Rikka would become a strong girl.
"Dad will always live in Rikka's memory."
"When you miss Dad, just recall what Dad said when you were little."
"I, I understand, Dad." Rikka wiped her tears.
"Don't cling to those who have passed away. Go freely pursue your own life, meaningful things. Rikka's life will surely be very exciting." Rikka's Dad said lovingly.
"To think a dignified grown man would say so many embarrassing things."
"But this is truly the last time, so I have to say it all to my good daughter at once."
After speaking, Rikka's Dad looked at Xia Wei and bowed.
"God, thank you for granting me this opportunity, allowing me to say all the words I didn't get to say."
Xia Wei did not speak.
When this world was incorporated into the "Gods' Order," the souls of those who died in this world would enter the 'network' formed by the power of order that permeated the planet.
The souls of the newly deceased would enter the "network" and be 'reincarnated' to be randomly born into other worlds.
However, not everyone could be reborn as a human. The vast majority would be reborn as plants, animals, and those evil people would even be reborn as "monsters."
"Goodbye, Rikka."
Rikka's Dad said lovingly, and his soul gradually transformed into transparent light particles, slowly dissipating.
This was a forced 'reincarnation' by the 'network'.
Unless a world was special and had unique rules regarding souls, they would directly "reincarnate."
Rikka Takanashi watched her father gradually disappear, choking back tears, her shoulders trembling slightly. Although pearls of tears continued to fall from her eyes, the false obsession in her heart had vanished.
After calming down a bit, she looked at Xia Wei, who had been standing by her side watching her. She bowed ninety degrees, and much of the chuunibyou feeling in her voice had disappeared.
"Thank you, Upper God."
Xia Wei nodded. Chuunibyou, it's a necessary path for most people. Once they realize it's just their own fantasy and return to reality, their spiritual growth begins.
The more they experience during this period, the greater their spiritual growth will be.
"An exciting life has just begun." Xia Wei ruffled Rikka's head.
"Yes, I will definitely become a true hero, carrying Dad's expectations for me." Rikka Takanashi used her fingers to pull up the corners of her mouth into a U-shape.
"Your dad probably just wants you to live an ordinary life." Xia Wei said.
"No, Dad told me to pursue what I love, a meaningful life. Can I?" Rikka Takanashi looked into Xia Wei's golden eyes.
"Then go pursue it, after all, you're already on the train." Xia Wei smiled.
Back at the school's 'secret base.'
Except for Dekimori Sanae, the other three were diligently studying magic.
The true 'chuunibyou' was actually only Dekimori Sanae.
Nibutani Shinka and Tomioka Yuuta had only picked up the shell of 'chuunibyou' again because of Rikka and Dekimori Sanae; their past selves would not return.
Just like the path beneath their feet, the distance already walked would not disappear even if they went back.
"Brave ones, are you ready?"
Xia Wei's voice reached their ears as they were immersed in magic.
"Are we, are we going to another world?" Tomioka Yuuta trembled, quickly stood up from the ground hugging his magic book, looking very nervous.
"Oh yeah! It's finally starting!" Dekimori Sanae clenched her fists and jumped high.
"Going to another world, gulp, are we going now?" Nibutani Shinka swallowed hard, feeling anticipation,
curiosity, and half of it was worry and fear.
Humans are always full of fear for the unknown, even if they have learned some common sense, they still fear unfamiliar environments they have never encountered.
"I, I'm ready, God." Kumin Tsuyuri weakly raised her hand, her voice turning soft and gentle. Although very worried, if she encountered danger, she would just sleep, and her body would get her through the crisis; everything would pass after she woke up.
"Hehe, it's not that scary. There will be capable seniors to guide you."
Xia Wei held Rikka Takanashi's hand and walked into the 'Heavenly Realm Gate.'
The Heavenly Realm Gate rippled with water patterns, and the two disappeared into the gate.
"Wait for me, Master." Dekimori Sanae rushed in.
Nibutani Shinka, Tomioka Yuuta, and Kumin Tsuyuri, seeing everyone enter the golden gate, also ran over in a hurry, closing their eyes and reaching out their hands.
Whoosh~
When they opened their eyes, they were already in a spacious coffee shop.
The customers in the coffee shop merely glanced at them curiously before looking away.
The customers in the coffee shop were at least Exorcists with one or two spells. They simply assumed that these suddenly appearing people had learned magic they didn't know.
And they were now sitting in front of a coffee table, as if they had lost a bit of memory after walking out of the 'door.'
"Where is this?" Nibutani Shinka saw a young man wearing a magician's hat in the corner of the coffee shop using a small fireball to light a cigarette.
"This is an Exorcist's coffee shop, and Lord Xia Wei is the owner."
Busujima Yako walked out from behind the counter, holding a cup of coffee, and placed it in front of Xia Wei.
"You've worked hard, Saya." Xia Wei smiled.
"It's what I should do." Saya Takagi smiled like a wife.
"Call Ayame and the others over, their trial has arrived." Xia Wei said.
Today, they would purify the evil spirits at the very bottom layer of Tokyo's Ri (Other) World.
Of course, it was unrealistic to have them purify everything. He would have Yako supervise them and ensure their safety, but,
unless absolutely necessary, Saya would not intervene.