Apocalypse Forecast Chapter 97: Wish (Episode 1 Finale)

Seeing her bewildered expression, everyone from the Xuan Niao above to the Sublimators of the Social Security Bureau below couldn't help but cover their faces in embarrassment and hold their heads in pain.
From somewhere, a white dove flew over and landed on her shoulder, cooing, and only then did Bai Dizi finally feel relieved.
"The Present Realm? Thank goodness."
"I felt like I was getting more and more lost the further I went. I didn't meet anyone at all."
Bai Dizi said, puffing out her chest proudly.
"I didn't get lost. And it wasn't that far either!"
Yes, Bai Dizi was still very much lost today.
"Ah!!!!"
In the awkward silence, a scream suddenly rang out.
The girl turned around in surprise and saw Huai Shi, who had fallen on his butt in shock at the altar he had destroyed and the person who had appeared out of nowhere.
Huai Shi compared the Bai Dizi in front of him with the character portrait displayed on his smartphone, wearing an expression of disbelief.
"Y-y-you are..."
"Eh?"
Bai Dizi looked blank.
"What about me?"
Before Bai Dizi could finish her sentence, the human rushed over and grabbed her hands. His face was flushed, and his eyes were shining with light.
"--The only card I ever wanted!"
"Eh?"
Chu Qingyu was so stunned she couldn't say a word.
"Warm? Is it real? Oh my god!"
Huai Shi held her hands, his eyes welling up with hot tears of emotion. How could a paper card have thickness and body temperature?
"Did you come all the way from the 2D world to see me?"
Huai Shi asked excitedly.
"Are you free tonight? Would you like to grab a bite to eat?"
"I, um... that... I never expected you to welcome me so much..."
Chu Qingyu looked at Huai Shi in surprise. She wondered if he had mistaken her for someone else.
Chu Qingyu looked at his expectant eyes, his expression full of enthusiasm and joy, and the two hands holding hers. She opened her mouth in surprise.
--Dear Father... I think I've just been confessed to.
For the first time in my fifteen years of life.
What a shock!
She felt dizzy and looked blankly at the boy in front of her. She didn't know what to do.
"Um, s-sorry, I... that... I'm only fifteen... I'm too young..."
Her tongue tied in knots.
"Besides, I don't even know your name... things like this... we should probably get to know each other better first, right? W-what I mean is..."
The more she spoke, the less sense it made, and almost in desperation, Bai Dizi closed her eyes and shouted.
"Anyway, please wait until I'm eighteen for things like this!"
"...Eh?"
Huai Shi was stunned. He didn't understand what she was talking about.
And then he immediately felt the gazes of the Sublimators in the distance directed at him. Surprise, shock, dark and icy coldness... and piercing murderous intent.
Huai Shi finally realized what he had said and broke into a cold sweat. His smile gradually faded, and he felt like he was doing radio calisthenics on the edge of death.
Calm down, Huai Shi, don't panic!
Stay calm!
Use your head!
Think of a way out!
In that instant, Huai Shi's mind raced, and he finally found a survival route among the countless paths leading to the crematorium.
"Ahem, actually... I'm a fan of yours."
He put on a smile, trying to project the vibe of a gentle older brother.
"Could I have your autograph?"
"Huh? Oh, sure!"
Chu Qingyu was startled, lowered her flushed face, and after a while, said in a small voice.
"Could you let go of my hand?"
"Oh, right!"
Huai Shi awkwardly let go and gave a cheeky smile to the older brothers and sisters who had come to the rescue. But he couldn't help but rub the fingers that had just held Bai Dizi's hand behind his back.
The touch of her hand felt nice.
Huai Shi shed tears of joy inwardly.
When he received the autograph pen Huai Shi offered, Bai Dizi searched her pockets for paper or something, but found nothing. Huai Shi said.
"Could you sign my clothes?"
"Eh, that's, a bit..."
Imagining the strange scene, the girl's face turned even redder. Bai Dizi hurriedly refused, looked around, dived into the abyss, and returned immediately. She held a palm-sized transparent crystal, quickly wrote her name on it, and handed it to Huai Shi with her head down.
"Here you go."
"Thank you."
When Huai Shi hurriedly reached out to take it, he accidentally touched her fingers. Bai Dizi flinched as if she had been electrocuted and said.
"Y-you're welcome... I-I have to go now."
Bai Dizi turned and took a step, but her legs felt weak, and she stumbled. She lowered her head to avoid people's gazes and, taking advantage of the fact that the gate to the Blissful Paradise hadn't closed yet, ran away as if fleeing.
In the silence, Huai Shi remained alone at the edge of the platform, staring blankly at the abyss that was rapidly disappearing as the Mirror Realm was destroyed. After a while, Huai Shi looked at the autographed crystal in his hand.
"What a shame."
Huai Shi muttered.
"I should have asked for her WeChat."
Pop!
An aged hand was placed on his shoulder, and Huai Shi trembled all over. He turned around awkwardly to see the dark-faced Xuan Niao behind him.
"Hey, kid."
The old man narrowed his eyes and stared at the incredibly foolish idiot.
"Do you know what happens when you seduce a minor?"
Murderous intent was rising.
Huai Shi's legs went weak, and he opened his mouth to beg for mercy.
"Wait, I'm a minor too!"
"Eh?"
Xuan Niao was surprised and stared in silence.
At that moment, a host who had been turning a blind eye to his younger brother's series of reckless actions hurried over and spoke with a smile.
"He's seventeen this year. Please, be lenient..."
"Seventeen?"
Xuan Niao was angry.
"You dropped out of school at that age? Falling in love instead of studying!"
Dropped out of school?!
"Part-time job, it's a part-time job, for a living..."
Huai Shi mustered the courage to raise his hand.
"Besides, I can play the cello, so I get extra points on the common entrance exam!"
Xuan Niao didn't seem to believe him, pulled Huai Shi over, and stared at him until he felt like he was being pierced. One of his eyes turned pure black, and he stared at Huai Shi as if seeing through his destiny.
The Heavenly Fate Xuan Niao's 'Eye of Destiny'!
I don't know what he saw, but Xuan Niao's expression changed slightly.
"Huai Guang's great-grandson? What a coincidence..."
Xuan Niao was surprised and muttered for a while, but his expression suddenly softened.
"Working at the Astronomical Society has no future. Why don't you come to the Social Security Bureau? I'll put you in the same squad as my Bai-chan. You can see her every day!"
"As long as you pass the entrance exam, it doesn't matter what university you go to. I'll write you a recommendation letter so you can go straight to Jixia to study. Graduate in four years and become a civil servant, that's an 'Iron Rice Bowl' (guaranteed job). The pay isn't high, but it's not low either. How about it?"
For a moment, Huai Shi was dazzled by the three words 'Iron Rice Bowl'.
A secure life, a happy family, a peaceful job...
But remembering that he was deeply involved in matters he couldn't tell anyone about, Huai Shi swallowed, shook his head with a pained heart, and firmly refused.
"Thank you. But I've already decided to dedicate my life to the peace of the Present Realm!"
"Tch, everyone's so cunning..."
Xuan Niao shook his head unhappily and said nothing more. He just waved his hand to have his subordinates carry the wounded away and disappeared into the veil of night.
The others were busy too, and there was no time to linger here.
Before leaving, Satomi Kohaku stared at Huai Shi with vengeful eyes.
He didn't know if that meant 'wait here while I call someone' or 'watch out on moonless nights'.
Huai Shi waved refreshingly, pointed to the Astronomical Society badge on his chest, and smiled without saying a word.
I'm ready for you anytime!
※
And thus, the commotion came to an abrupt end.
Under the hammer that fell from the sky, the evil conspiracy was completely crushed by absolute power.
The Social Security Bureau fully proved its power and the civilization of Dongxia. Soon, this great battle would also come to a complete end.
But that had nothing to do with Huai Shi.
Supported by Liu Dongli as they exited the subway, he saw the veil of night had fallen.
It had become night before he knew it.
The city was still shining, and the several explosions during the day were blamed on a non-existent chemical plant in the eastern suburbs. There was a stir, but it would quickly subside.
The world was still moving.
Huai Shi breathed a sigh of relief. He felt as if his body had become lighter. When he had a physical checkup in the ambulance, he saw a familiar wheelchair.
Ai Qing, with her pale face, was quietly receiving an IV drip, and when she saw Huai Shi, she nodded slightly.
"Well done."
"Oh, it was nothing..."
Huai Shi smiled awkwardly. Just as he was about to be humble, he heard the following words.
"Confessing to a fifteen-year-old girl in front of everyone, that's impressive."
"..."
Huai Shi hurriedly tried to explain, but saw Ai Qing wave her hand with a calm face.
"Next time you're going to be an idiot, look around a bit. So you don't get crushed by the parents behind you."
"Oh, right..."
Huai Shi nodded repeatedly, shrinking on the bed, trying to make himself as invisible as possible. Until Liu Dongli, who had finished reporting to Director Dian, came barging in.
"Brother, you made a killing."
Liu Dongli stared intently at the crystal with Bai Dizi's autograph.
"It's unprecedented to get such a luxurious consolation prize after a failed confession."
"What do you mean?"
Huai Shi was surprised, picked up the seemingly ordinary crystal, and examined it from all angles, but it didn't seem to have any magical effects.
"Is it that amazing?"
Liu Dongli's eyes widened in surprise.
"It's a Wish-Granting Crystal, how could it not be amazing?"
"Wish-Granting Crystal?"
Huai Shi's curiosity was piqued.
"Does it grant wishes?"
"There are limits."
Ai Qing glanced at it.
"It's a source crystal formed by the condensation of miracles within the body the moment Garuda died."
If you release this kind of power in an instant, the Silver Sea will lose its balance, making the extraordinary possible. Of course, setting aside nonsense like world peace, it only realizes things that are at most possible for humanity.
Huai Shi was happy.
"Is it that amazing?"
Seeing Huai Shi's excited look, Ai Qing shook her head.
"Compared to the genuine article, it's a crudely synthesized knockoff. Don't get your hopes up too high."
Whatever Huai Shi wished for, it didn't matter to her. Anyway, this guy's wish would probably just be to get a lot of money.
A wish of that level would be easily realized with tens of millions to hundreds of millions in assets.
"Then..."
Huai Shi held the crystal a bit uneasily and asked seriously.
"Can it grant a wish to have my family come back?"
Ai Qing fell silent.
Liu Dongli also looked away.
"Ahaha, I guess not?"
Huai Shi smiled awkwardly and scratched his head.
"Yeah, you're right, there's no way it could grant such an extravagant wish..."
At that moment, the crystal in Huai Shi's hand trembled.
Cracks appeared on the crystal one by one, and in the blink of an eye, it became cloudy like old glass, and nothing magical happened anymore.
In the silence, all three were stunned.
Soon, the night became noisy, and outside the window, Huai Shi and the others saw a streak of golden light heading toward the sky. The light pierced through the black clouds, and sparkling stars could be seen through the gaps in the clouds.
Where the light rose from was...
"My house?!"
Huai Shi jumped up in surprise.
※
※
Driven by Liu Dongli, ten minutes had already passed by the time the car carrying Huai Shi arrived at storm-like speed.
The shining golden light had disappeared, and in its place, the soft lights of twilight were lit in front of the gate, and a brand-new sign hung on the Stone Marrow Hall.
Huai Shi jumped out of the car and was stunned to see the new fence and the completely changed garden.
The dusty statues hidden by overgrown weeds were sparkling, and the broken marble fountain in the center of the front yard was once again spraying clean water.
Deep in the lush trees, the lit windows had no cracks, the walls were not peeling anywhere, and the entire building had regained its former beauty and splendor, as if time had been rewound.
The crystal chandelier sparkled, illuminating the thin figure waiting in front of the gate.
The old man was wearing a black tie and a neat formal suit, his graying hair was slicked back without a single strand out of place, and he stood at the bottom of the stairs with his back straight, smiling at the boy who had returned.
"Dinner is ready, young master."
He opened the door for Huai Shi, took the luggage he was carrying, and showed a gentle and loving smile.
"Welcome home."
Huai Shi looked blankly at the old face.
He clearly had never seen such a face or such a person, but for some reason, he felt like he knew him well. As if he had been by his side for over a decade.
As if in a dream, Huai Shi followed the old man through the door and into the hall. He looked around at the elegant decorations and the scene that only existed in dreams.
Then, he entered the dining room, sat at the table, and saw the steaming dinner.
Huai Shi picked up his chopsticks, hesitated for a moment, and looked back at the old man behind him.
"Is this... mine?"
"Of course."
The old man smiled shyly.
"I'm sorry, I haven't been in the kitchen for a long time, so the stock was a bit low, and I made it with what I had. Please forgive me."
"No, that's fine."
Huai Shi shook his head, lifted his bowl, picked up some soft greens with his chopsticks, and tentatively brought them to his mouth, then stopped moving and slowly put the chopsticks down.
The old butler bowed and asked.
"Was it not to your liking?"
"No, it's very delicious."
Huai Shi hung his head, rubbing his reddened eyes, and couldn't help but shed tears.
"It's really delicious."
The lost time was like this too.
Now that he had regained that time, Huai Shi couldn't help but hug his family's waist and burst into tears.
After crossing a long, long time, witnessing many miracles and disasters, and going through countless pains and prayers.
Huai Shi finally realized his wish.
He had come home.
※
※
Outside the mansion, the two were inside and outside the car, watching the boy go in.
"Now is not the time for guests to visit. Let's go."
Ai Qing knocked on the window and called Liu Dongli, who was wandering outside.
"If you have business, let's do it tomorrow."
"I suppose so."
Liu Dongli turned back regretfully and returned to the car, smelling a familiar scent, and couldn't help but be stunned.
"Do you smoke?"
The girl sitting in the back seat looked at the warm light shining in the windows of the Stone Marrow Hall and answered quietly.
"Sometimes, when I'm in a good mood."

Translator's Note:
Happy Ending!!! ヾ(*´∀｀*)ﾉ
Thank you for reading this far!!
The butler who suddenly appears at the end is not a human, but an existence like the incarnation of the Stone Marrow Hall. In fact, it was this butler who drove away the dying Wang Hai when he came to the Stone Marrow Hall to take revenge on Huai Shi (I can't find which chapter it was right now).
The story of 'Apocalypse Forecast' continues for another 1645 chapters + epilogue after this. But I think the first episode alone is neatly wrapped up.
After this, Huai Shi advances as a Sublimator, solves various incidents, gets to know various girls, and finally saves the world.
As for me, I plan to continue uploading Japanese translations of the subsequent episodes to note, within the scope of what is officially released for free, so please continue to follow along if you'd like! ヾ(*´∀｀*)ﾉ