In space the sight was even more breathtaking; dream-like auroras ringed the planet like a planetary halo, rippling with a hazy, exquisite beauty.
Aurora
People of different planets, races, and backgrounds now felt an indescribable connection. Without a word, a bond deeper than language quietly formed. The clamor died away, replaced by a shared, silent resonance and wonder.
This wasn't brainwashing or forced mental control; Caelus was tuning everyone's emotions, gently syncing them to the same frequency.
The spectacle was being broadcast live.
And the many-faced god seemed to turn its gaze.
The concert's atmosphere surged to its peak.
Robin's voice and the aurora created a performance destined for history. When the final note faded, the lights in the sky slowly withdrew like an ebbing tide, melting back into the deep starry dark, leaving only an unquenchable awe and wonder in countless hearts.
Applause erupted like thunder as Robin bowed deeply onstage.
Backstage after the show was a little chaotic but jubilant. Staff bustled about, excitedly recounting the spectacle. Escorted by her assistant, Robin returned to the lounge, cheeks still flushed from the performance.
That last song had been improvised, composed and sung on the spot—effortless, flawless.
Two more shows tomorrow… incredible, really.
The galaxy is vast; miracles and beauty always appear.
Her assistant's voice trembled with excitement: "Miss Robin, that improvised melody just now—it was pure divine inspiration!"
"Yes, even I can't quite believe it."
Caelus knocked; Robin signaled her assistant to let him in.
"Throat all right?"
"No. It felt as if… this planet, no—many planets were answering me. This one was just especially loud…"
"That… is actually called…"
Caelus shaped the word silently.
Robin read his lips.
The word was… Star-Voice.
Because he faced away from everyone else, only Robin saw.
She wasn't unfamiliar with such ideas; she knew far more than most.
But "Star-Voice"… that was new.
"Miss Robin, it's time to rest," the assistant reminded softly.
"I know." Robin nodded, gaze still on Caelus. She seemed to make up her mind. "Mr. Caelus, after the final concert the day after tomorrow, could I… speak with you alone? No—tomorrow would be fine."
Caelus said nothing; he simply inclined his head and left, leaving Robin to digest the revelation. The assistant asked if she needed anything, but Robin only shook her head, eyes on the night sky where faint aurora still lingered.
That night Robin, of course, didn't obediently rest. She slipped into inconspicuous clothes, hiding her striking looks, and left the quarters.
There was no pretentious welcome here; even after dark people strolled the streets.
Why were they still out so late?
"Why not? It's only half-past nine—time for another couple of laps."
So… public safety really was good.
In an unremarkable corner she spotted a familiar figure.
Caelus, back in oil-stained work clothes, knelt talking to a little girl of seven or eight clutching a worn plush toy. Needle in hand, he was mending the toy.
The girl looked up, speaking softly; Caelus listened patiently, nodding while stitching.
Soon the toy was repaired; the girl gave a small cheer, hugged it tight, and beamed at him. He ruffled her hair and stood.
He turned and saw Robin not far away. No surprise crossed his face; he simply nodded, as if he'd expected her.
Robin walked over.
"Can't sleep?" he asked, casual again.
"Mm… wanted to see the night here." Robin watched the girl skip away, toy in arms. "You seem… able to do anything."
"Just fixing a toy." He shrugged. "Ran into her, nothing special."
"Could I… live here someday?"
Emotion flickered across Robin's eyes.
"When do you want to move? If it's soon, there's an empty cottage I can assign you. Later, you'd pay market price."
Robin studied his oil-smudged profile and felt oddly amused—and oddly reassured.
"Then… soon." She spoke softly, as if deciding something big. "After the concerts I'd like to stay a while. Could you reserve that cottage for me?"
"Sure. Tomorrow I'll have someone give you the key and address. It's small but has everything; you'll just need to clean." He dusted off his hands. "If you need anything, register at the service center and they'll deliver."
His manner was so natural she felt she was renting an ordinary house on an ordinary planet, not moving to a recently abandoned star system.
"In such a hurry—what now?"
Robin caught his shoulder as he turned to leave, then let go just as quickly, as if the gesture had been casual.
"Hmm? My daughter insists I sleep with her tonight,"
A daughter… so he already had a child?
A faint, indescribable feeling drifted through Robin—like learning the idol you admire has a family.
"I see. Could I… visit your place?"
"Do you eat late-night snacks? Got to watch your figure?" He lifted a bag of rice rolls. "If you don't mind, join me. Just don't pour bubble-tea pearls over the rolls."
"Occasionally... making an exception is fine."
"Then let's go." Caelus turned around to lead the way, his steps casual. "Just a heads-up, my place isn't anything fancy, so don't be startled."
Robin followed behind him. Caelus's 'home' was located in an ordinary residential area for employees, and its exterior looked no different from the other houses.
It really was no different.
He pulled out his keys and opened the door, and a complex aroma—a mixture of engine oil, the scent of food, and a certain fresh plant-like smell—wafted toward them.
"I'm back."
Accompanied by the sound of pattering footsteps, a small figure rushed over like a cannonball and hugged Caelus's leg.
"Whoa, slow down." Caelus bent down to pick her up. "Lu Shi, let's go have some late-night snacks."
"Hmph! I'm not Lu Shi!"
Lu Shi shook her head.
Caelus:?
"Just now, I've become partners with Kyuusyou! Now, I am the Magical Girl ☆ Lu Shi!"
Caelus:... "And Sister Bailu too! She is now the Super Abyss Requiem, Dragon Sovereign of Light and Darkness, Bailu!"
Lu Shi said with her hands on her hips.
No.
Kyuusyou, what have you done!
If there's a child with chuunibyou at home, they might attract other children of the same age and turn them into chuunibyou as well. Thus, Prometheus recorded all these precious growth experiences.
Kids these days are lucky; their dark history is preserved in ultra-high definition.
Watching this chaotic yet vibrant scene, Robin couldn't help but let out a giggle. She quickly covered her mouth with her hand, but the mirth in her eyes couldn't be hidden.
So he has this side of an old fatherly figure too.
Soon, two other little girls ran out. Kyuusyou was still wearing that beret, her small face carrying a look of feigned profundity. Bailu, on the other hand, seemed a bit embarrassed, her dragon Tail swaying restlessly, clearly distressed that such an incredibly cringeworthy title had been heard by an outsider.
"This is Sister Robin, she's here as a guest." Caelus gave a brief introduction of Robin. "Grab your own chopsticks. The pearl milk tea is here. Kyuusyou, you're not allowed to pour it into the Rice rolls or Hot dry noodles."
The warning was effective, and the little girls obediently picked up their respective snacks and milk tea.
"Three children, are they all yours?"
"No, Lu Shi and Kyuusyou are my daughters. Bailu is a child from the Xianzhou Luofu, she's... just visiting."
"Luofu..."
But looking at the features on Bailu's head and behind her, and then seeing the same features on Lu Shi, Robin blinked her eyes.
Hmm... it must be adoption or... well, it's common knowledge that the Vidyadhara cannot reproduce, but these two children clearly have a close connection to the Vidyadhara. The dragon horns, the dragon Tail, and the faintly radiating aura made Robin almost certain of her identity.
"We didn't go because there were too many people before. Are you the sister who came here to hold a concert?"
"Ah, yes."
Suddenly questioned by Lu Shi, Robin fortunately reacted quickly.
"Tomorrow at noon, I have to send you back to your mother, Kyuusyou. The weekend is over."
"Ehhhhh! O... over..."
Kyuusyou blinked and froze.
"What? Didn't I just come here yesterday at noon?"
"Kyuusyou, you came the day before yesterday at noon. Are you sleep-dazed?" Lu Shi felt her younger sister's forehead.
Kyuusyou was stunned, her small face crumpled, and she began to count on her fingers: "Day before yesterday... yesterday... today... Uwawah! It really is over!"
She let out a wail, and even the beret on her head drooped. She looked like a little blade of grass hit by frost.
"My magic power... is not yet full... how can I return to the Tower of Trials like this..."
Damn it, Black Ma... no, she didn't want to eat the food her mother made for her at all!
Only the food at Dad's place is edible!
It was evident that Kyuusyou could even drink milk mixed with Spicy soup, so one could only imagine what kind of disastrous things Ms. Herta, who 'handled' all of Kyuusyou's meals, had cooked to make the child like this.
"Mom, if things really don't work out, let's just order takeout."
Kyuusyou, who really couldn't take it anymore, had her chuunibyou cured directly by Ms. Herta.
IndeSince there isn't a better one, use this.
This appearance... why does it look so much like... that world-renowned genius?
A bold guess formed in Robin's heart. The signature hair color and expression were almost identical to this sulking little girl. Moreover, Caelus had just mentioned 'mother' and... sending her back.
Caelus's daughter is also Ms. Herta's child?
Then Caelus and Ms. Herta... to be able to win over that arrogant genius famous for her wisdom and lack of empathy—though, she was already considered one of the easiest geniuses to get along with.
Caelus seemed completely unaware of the turmoil in Robin's heart. He just looked at Kyuusyou helplessly: "Stop poking it, the Rice rolls will turn to mush. If you don't want to eat, don't force yourself."
"No!" Kyuusyou suddenly looked up, her small face full of determination. "I must bring more compressed biscuits, or I'll definitely be poisoned to death."
"If you say that, your mother will be sad, right?"
"She didn't consider if I'd be sad eating those things!" She stuffed the remaining Rice rolls into her mouth in a few bites and said indistinctly with puffed cheeks: "Dad, help me prepare more... dry rations that can last a long time! The more the better!"
Caelus rubbed his chin, puzzled.
"What about your aunt? Doesn't your aunt bring you snacks?"
"They're delicious, but Mom somehow got into a fight with the kitchen."
Caelus:... Ms. Herta, fighting with the kitchen?
That must have been quite a sight. He didn't get to see it; what a loss.
Kyuusyou's small face was filled with a resolve unbefitting of her age as she announced her survival plan. In those eyes that closely resembled Ms. Herta's, a desire for survival burned, as if she were heading not to a space station, but to a survival challenge requiring full preparation.
Though it was a bit of an exaggeration.
Space Station Operation.JPG
"I am going to survive on the space station for four days."
Beep beep beep... "The matters are basically settled. I'm back."
Prometheus pushed open the door.
"This is..."
"Prometheus, my wife."
"Ah... wi... wife?"
"Yes, that's right."
Married to an Intellitron?
Robin felt greatly shocked. Another thing was, she might have already understood (or imagined) why Caelus wanted to live apart from Ms. Herta.
So, such a thing actually happened...
Robin began to brainstorm.
"That... Mr. Caelus," Robin weighed her words, trying not to sound too gossipy, "the relationship between you and Ms. Herta... and Ms. Prometheus... is truly... very... unique."
Caelus was shoveling the last mouthful of hot dry noodles into his mouth. Hearing this, he looked up and fell silent for a moment.
"Um, actually... our relationship is a bit more complicated than you think. Don't misunderstand, there's no discord..."
"Ah, no need to explain... I can understand. After all, this kind of thing is very common... I mean, this kind of thing... er..."
Robin's voice grew smaller and smaller, her cheeks flushing slightly. Clearly, her imagination had run wild in an uncontrollable direction. She looked at Caelus's 'it's not what you think but I'm too lazy to explain' expression, then at Prometheus, who was calmly wiping Lu Shi's mouth nearby, and felt as if she had discovered some incredible secret.
Caelus looked at the ever-changing expressions on Robin's face and roughly guessed what she was thinking. He sighed helplessly, "Anyway, it's not the kind of complicated relationship you're thinking of."
"I understand, I understand." Robin nodded repeatedly, wearing an 'I get it, I totally get it' look, yet her gaze became even more subtle.
"I'm full!" Lu Shi put down her bowl. "Sister Robin, take your time eating. We're going back to the room to play."
The children chirped as they ran into the room and closed the door.
Robin picked up the pearl milk tea in front of her, which she had barely touched, and gently stirred it with the straw. Her amber eyes were lowered, and her long eyelashes cast a small shadow under the light. She seemed to be organizing her thoughts. After a while, she looked up at Caelus, her tone carrying a cautious concern.
"Mr. Caelus... if there's any offense in what I'm about to say, please don't mind."
"Go ahead." Caelus leaned back against his chair, arms crossed.
"I just feel... well, matters of the heart are indeed very complicated." Robin's voice was very soft. "Especially around someone as... well, as charming as you, it's normal for all kinds of outstanding and unique people to gather."
She glanced at the composed Prometheus and added, "Ms. Prometheus is a very excellent... well, woman. And Ms. Herta, her academic achievements are second to none. They are both at the peak of their respective fields."
"And?" Caelus raised an eyebrow, signaling her to continue.
"So, the relationship between them, and their relationship with you... it's understandable if there's some friction, or if a special way of balancing things is needed." Robin's cheeks began to flush again, but her eyes were exceptionally sincere. "I just wanted to say, if there's any trouble, or if you need a listener... perhaps I can help a little. After all, coordinating melodies of different parts to make them resonate harmoniously is one of my specialties."
"You don't need to decline; after all, this is something I can do for you as a friend."
With that, Robin bowed and then politely took her leave.
Caelus:...Huh?
"She misunderstood."
"Do we need to clarify?"
"Clarifying might actually make her very embarrassed... If she's misunderstood, so be it. If she ever asks, Herta will surely explain the situation to her."
"True, for someone as enthusiastic as her, it's best not to throw cold water on her passion." Prometheus nodded.
Meanwhile, Kyuusyou was in the room with Bailu and Lu Shi, packing snacks.
"What kind of snacks do you think my mom would like..."
"I don't know, maybe try some authentic Xianzhou snacks?"
"But Mom seems like she can't get excited about any food—"
Eh!
Kyuusyou's eyes lit up instantly.
Then, making a food that would make her mom's eyes light up seemed like a great idea!
No sooner said than done, Kyuusyou rushed into Caelus's kitchen, her small face full of impatience.
"Dad! Dad! I want to make something delicious!"
Caelus didn't even look back. "There's Nutrition Express and ice cream in the fridge, help yourself."
"Not that kind of ordinary stuff!" Kyuusyou stomped her foot, trying to make her voice sound more imposing. "It's the kind that makes people's eyes light up after eating, as if their soul has been cleansed! The ultimate cuisine that conquers the taste buds and makes even the most discerning tongue tremble! Skittles, popping candy, chili sauce, yogurt, chocolate, cheese slices, and... this glowing mushroom fished out of this green jar!"
Caelus expressionlessly took the sealed jar containing the fluorescent mushroom back from Kyuusyou. "Not this one, you'll see little people dancing if you eat it."
Kyuusyou didn't even pretend to be in her chuunibyou state anymore, showing a pitiful, pleading look.
"I think you'd better just teach her, bring out those magical recipes of yours."
"Hiss, let me see, items from the Cooking Master Boy world and Toriko world... I should have them, I don't know where I put them before."
Caelus started busying around the kitchen with Kyuusyou... until the next morning, Kyuusyou was in high spirits.
Because people don't get tired when they're doing something mischievous.
As long as Mom eats this, her hair will sizzle and stand up because of the electric current. This was Kyuusyou's little bit of revenge against Herta.
Additionally, Kyuusyou tasted a portion of the decent-looking food herself for breakfast. Aside from making her hair stand up, the taste was quite good.
"Remember," Caelus reminded Kyuusyou as he walked her to the port, "just say you specifically learned it from the head chef at the cafeteria because you wanted her to taste your feelings. Don't sell me out."
"I know, I know!" Kyuusyou nodded vigorously, her small face full of excitement about the impending prank. "This is my secret ultimate technique against the 'Witch of the Tower of Trials'! How could I easily reveal the source!"
If Mom asks who taught her, she'll just say Dad taught her.
Because Kyuusyou is an honest child (not).
But Mom definitely won't ask; she'll know who did it just by thinking about it.
Caelus took Kyuusyou to the Herta Space Station, looked at the lunch box Kyuusyou was holding, and turned to whisper to Prometheus.
"You say, if the space station was suddenly invaded, and this meal she spent all night making was knocked over... what do you think would happen to the culprit?"
"That's impossible. If Herta is there, no one can break into the space station."
"Sigh, just a hypothesis, a hypothesis. Would they be chopped into fine mincemeat by Herta?"
"Not that whole, not that large."
"Hmph! Evil witch, let me show you the hundred thousand volts I prepared just for you after staying up all night..."
Upon arriving at the space station, Kyuusyou took the lunch box to find Herta.
"It seems she had a pretty relaxing and happy time over at your place." Herta watched Kyuusyou running over with a 'thud thud thud' and spoke to Caelus on the video call.
"It wasn't that sad."
She even played until she forgot the time.
"Oh? You're not even willing to come to the space station to see me. Can I take that to mean you've grown tired or disgusted with me?"
Herta chuckled softly.
"Not at all."
Herta knew that, of course; she just wanted to see Caelus's reaction.
"What's this?"
"Food. It tastes better than what you make."
Herta caught a glimpse of Kyuusyou's appearance and knew she had probably stayed up all night to make it.
"I see. Go read on your own for a bit. I have an important subject to discuss. Come in after I'm done; I plan to have you participate in this project."
Although Kyuusyou looked young, Herta was quite satisfied with this daughter of hers.
First, she was smart; second, she was quite creative; third, she knew her boundaries.
She perfectly inherited Herta's various strengths. Of course, Kyuusyou also inherited some flaws that Herta was reluctant to admit she had.
Carrying the bag, Herta went to find Ruan Mei and swayed it in front of her.
"She made this for me. How about it?"
"Oh?"
It seemed that in terms of culinary skills, she hadn't inherited Herta's traits.
Ruan Mei gave a faint smile.
"This portion is for you." Herta handed a bag to Ruan Mei.
Ruan Mei took the bag with some surprise. Opening it, she found an exquisite lunch box with a sticky note featuring a crookedly drawn smiley face. Inside the lunch box were carefully plated desserts and a small portion of colorful fruit salad.
"Hmm... cocoa powder, and a small amount of Gel Grass to add a springy texture." Ruan Mei used a small spoon to gently scrape off a tiny piece for a taste. "The sweetness is well-controlled. The star-shaped parts are granulated sugar mixed with a trace of Phosphorescent Algae powder, so they glow. As for this unique aroma... a little bit of honey?"
One could say... she was very happy.
Yes, this feeling was very special. Ruan Mei had never felt anything like it before.
"Aren't you going to taste your portion? After all, she is your child."
"Of course I'm going to taste it, and I'll do it right in front of her." Herta held her lunch box, a confident smirk playing on her lips. "However, I've already seen through her little tricks. It's a pity her facial expression is too obvious; she's far from how I was back then."
Ruan Mei didn't respond, merely lowering her eyelids and taking a small piece with a fork.
"The taste is very good." Ruan Mei's voice was a few shades softer than usual. "She's very talented."
"Naturally. Look whose genes she has." Herta accepted the praise as a matter of course, even though it didn't seem to be for her. But when her gaze fell on Ruan Mei's expression, she added, "It seems she doesn't have any designs on you; the portion she gave you is quite normal."
Carrying her "special dish," Herta walked back to her office at a leisurely pace. Kyuusyou was sitting upright waiting outside, her little face working hard to maintain a calm expression.
"You're back."
Herta glanced at her without speaking, walked straight in, and placed the lunch box on the desk.
"Aren't you going to try it?" Kyuusyou urged, her little feet swinging faster.
"What's the rush?" Herta finally sat down and opened the lunch box with poise.
Kyuusyou held her breath, her eyes fixed on Herta's face without blinking, expecting her to jump up from a sudden electric shock in the next second.
However, nothing happened.
Herta simply chewed calmly and even gave a slight nod.
"Hmm, the taste isn't bad." She swallowed the food, picked up a nearby tissue to wipe the corner of her mouth, and then looked at Kyuusyou with a hint of playfulness in her eyes. "To achieve an 'eye-opening' effect, you should at least increase the current to a level that can instantly numb the taste buds on the tip of the tongue. Moreover, the discharge should be concentrated, bursting the moment the food touches the mouth."
Expectation, tension, bewilderment... various expressions took turns on Kyuusyou's face. In the end, they all turned into a look of defiance after being completely seen through. Her little face flushed red as she jumped down from her chair.
It failed! Her carefully prepared prank not only had no effect but was also seen through and critiqued!
The sense of frustration lasted for less than three seconds before being replaced by an even stronger fighting spirit.
"This was also within my plans! I was merely conducting a slight test!"
A classic case of being stubborn.
Seeing Kyuusyou with her neck stiffened, trying to save face, a very faint smile flashed in Herta's eyes, so fast it was almost uncatchable. She didn't expose her further, but slowly finished the remaining food in the lunch box before speaking: "The project materials are in the terminal next to you. Read them yourself. If there's anything you don't understand, mark it."
Watching her like this, the corners of Herta's mouth curved almost imperceptibly. Then, she resumed her researcher's indifferent expression and began to handle her own affairs.
Heh.
Kyuusyou tilted her little chin up, and even her beret swayed... Meanwhile, at the headquarters of the Cosmic Junk Company.
Caelus looked at the report that had just been preliminarily summarized and rubbed his temples. Robin's concert had brought not only prestige and a brief period of harmony but also subsequent, more complex attention.
While the Interstellar Peace Corporation's Market Development Department had temporarily quieted down, the encrypted communication sent by Aventurine hinted that other factions within the company—especially those closely related to Oswald Schneider—were re-evaluating Talia's "threat level" and "value."
"According to Omikron's monitoring, several unidentified small probes and information brokers' ships have been lingering on the edge of the star system recently. Do we need to take expulsion measures?"
"No need, let them watch." Caelus waved his hand. "Let them see exactly how we built this place. The more they see, the more some people won't be able to sleep. Now we should recuperate and develop well. The ones who shouldn't be able to sleep aren't us."
You can tempt a person running for money with profit, but it's hard to shake the conviction of someone who lives an abundant, fulfilling life and firmly believes they are participating in a great cause.
"At this rate, the original three-year infrastructure goal is expected to be completed within one year."
"Not bad. Tell everyone that bonuses will be doubled this month."
"Some people have already started complaining about having nothing to do," March 7th interjected, though she had a smile on her face. "Especially on those few planets where construction was finished earliest; the workers are all asking what to do next."
"Nothing to do?" Caelus raised an eyebrow, revealing a meaningful smile. "Then let's find something for them to do. Send out the notice: initiate the 'Home Beautification' and 'Skill Expansion' plans."
"Home Beautification? Skill Expansion?"
"Exactly," Caelus explained. "Now that the planet's basic functions are complete, it's time to improve the quality of life. Let everyone get hands-on—planning parks, planting trees, designing public art installations... however they want it, as long as it's good. We'll supply the materials. As for Skill Expansion, we'll open free interest classes and skill training. Whatever they want to learn, we'll have it: mecha maintenance, programming, agricultural technology, artistic creation... as long as someone wants to learn, we'll find teachers to teach them."
...Silver Wolf's face was scratched.
"Silver Wolf, what happened to your face?"
Looking at Silver Wolf's face, which was covered with a band-aid, Kafka was slightly puzzled.
"...Don't mention it. I got injured."
"Injured? How did you get injured?"
"...It was that 'genesis set'."
Silver Wolf's mouth twitched.
The sandbox world she had been playing with for several months had exploded.
While playing, Silver Wolf was suddenly punched by a white-haired man covered in flames who appeared out of nowhere. A thin cut was opened on her face. That man was also shouting something like, 'Creator, I have brought you destruction' or whatever.
Then, the genesis set exploded.
"No way, I've been playing that save file for months. It had so much data I designed in it."
Silver Wolf was fuming.
"Hello? Is this the Cosmic Junk Company? I'm requesting after-sales service!"
"Beep beep, this is Customer Service Sylvia. I am very unhappy to serve you. Our records show that you purchased a random item from our Cosmic Junk Company, so I will transfer you to the salesperson who sold it to you..."
A burst of pitter-patter typing sounds came from the other end of the phone.
"Hello? Is something the matter?"
"The thing I bought exploded."
"The thing you bought?"
Caelus picked up the phone and thought about it for a moment.
Oh.
It was one of the first two orders since opening.
Silver Wolf's order was the genesis set.
"Exploded? Oh, then the universe probably met with an accidental destruction. Since it's a real universe, once it's gone, it's gone."
"Gone?"
Silver Wolf's hand trembled.
Just like that, snap, and it's gone?
"Then how do I restart?"
"It's a toy; of course it's disposable."
"Disposable?!" Silver Wolf's voice suddenly rose an octave. "You call a universe with complete physical laws and evolutionary history a 'disposable toy'?!"
"Yeah," Caelus's tone was matter-of-fact. "When the energy runs out or the internal laws collapse, it naturally ceases to exist. It's quite normal."
Silver Wolf felt the veins on her forehead throbbing.
Who designed this!
Why is it disposable and why does it destroy the save file!
"Well, what else do you want then?"
"I... I'll just, I'll just buy another one."
Silver Wolf clicked her tongue.
This game was a real time-sink, and it gave Silver Wolf that immersive feeling of creation.
It was the kind of game Silver Wolf would give the highest score among all games. Not only did it have exciting combat, but it also had wonderful cutscenes and even a grand world-building... The only downside was that some guy suddenly emerged from the disaster zone and directly detonated the save file, even scratching Silver Wolf's face.
"Buy another one?" Caelus scratched his head on the other end of the phone. "The 'genesis set' was a limited edition; once they're sold out, they're gone. You know, everything I have here is junk. I sell whatever I dig up; I can't guarantee stock."
"Limited edition?!" Silver Wolf almost crushed her terminal. "Then do you have anything similar? You know... the kind where you can set the rules and create worlds yourself?"
"Something similar... Let me think." A clattering sound of rummaging through boxes came through the receiver. "No, that one you had was out of print."
Out of print... Out of print... Out of print!
What's that supposed to mean!
Argh!
Not being able to play the genesis set made Silver Wolf feel like ants were crawling all over her body.
"How many credit points? Name your price! Or... or I'll trade something else for it! Intelligence? Technology? Just say the word!"
Caelus, on the other end of the phone, seemed startled by Silver Wolf's excitement. He said slowly, "Oh, why are you so persistent... I told you it's junk; once it's gone, it's gone. I can't just conjure one out of thin air for you, can I? Dealing in junk is all about fate. When fate arrives, it naturally appears in the trash can; when fate is gone, you won't find it even if you search every trash can in the universe."
"To hell with fate! My life is in my own hands, not heaven's. The money will be in your account in a moment."
"I really don't have any more genesis sets. Apparently, when someone was evolving a civilization before, that civilization developed too fast and almost ascended from simulation to reality. Because of the danger, the manufacturer temporarily stopped production and disposed of the rest as trash. I only had that one copy."
"Ascended?! You mean the civilization in that sandbox... could break through the virtual boundaries?"
"Theoretically, any sufficiently complex system has that possibility," Caelus's tone remained unruffled. "So they temporarily stopped production. Safety first, after all."
"Then do you have anything similar in your hands? Even if... it's not as dangerous?" Silver Wolf refused to give up, looking exactly like a player who had gone overboard with microtransactions and was determined to pull a limited-edition card. "As long as it can create something, even if the rules are simpler!"
"Eight hundred and ninety million credit points. It's a planet with 71% of its surface covered in liquid water, named Earth. It's a scaled-down replica of the planet, but it's currently in the Age of Dinosaurs—uh, dinosaurs are a type of sauropsid animal. Also, you can only look at this planet; you can't touch it with your hands, otherwise it's very easy to make the planet collapse."
Silver Wolf placed the order without hesitation. To her, credit points were indeed just a string of numbers. Based on her understanding and speculation about this company, these eight hundred and ninety million would definitely be worth it.
"Alright, then wait a bit while I find where I put it." Another clattering sound of rummaging came from Caelus's side. "By the way, let me remind you: this thing is very delicate. Don't shine strong lights on it, don't drop it, and definitely don't try to take it apart or connect any external devices. If it breaks... I don't have a second one for you."
"I know, I know, just ship it already!"
"Found it, Simulated Earth," Caelus said on the other end of the phone. "Note, you can only input commands for this planet through a remote control. I'll send the remote control along with it. This planet is also disposable; if it's destroyed, there won't be a second one."
"Transferred, transferred. Hurry up."
"Justin, new mission." From a dusty metal box, Caelus carefully brought out a crystal-clear glass sphere and a remote control that looked like an old-fashioned game controller. He placed them together in a special shockproof box. "Deliver this to the specified coordinates. This customer is a big spender; be polite on the way."
"Beep beep, the customer is God." Justin took the box, his mechanical arm holding it steadily. "Mission guaranteed to be completed, Boss. About the transportation fee this time..."
"You'll get your share," Caelus waved his hand, looking like a wealthy tycoon. "Go on. When you get back, I'll get you a new set of polishing wax."
Justin emitted a series of electronic sounds indicating happiness, turned around, and transformed into a streak of light, disappearing outside the cabin.
[Note: I said it's a simulated planet, a simulated planet. How could I really sell the Earth? (It's just a special kind of projection)]
When the goods arrived, Silver Wolf watched as she pressed the button and a large glass box, which suddenly became taller than her like a compressed towel hitting water, fell into deep thought. Silver Wolf finished reading the manual and began to get her hands on this "game."
It was still a bit unfamiliar.
When Silver Wolf played with the genesis set before, a casual wave would cause a galaxy-wide change. Now, she was getting a bit of a headache just dealing with a single planet.
"Tsk, what a pain," Silver Wolf curled her lips, but her eyes became increasingly focused.
Although this simulated planet wasn't as fun as the genesis set, it wasn't bad to keep here as a display piece.
Moreover, this planet didn't actually exist; it was simulated.
Similar to a special kind of projection, it had a sense of reality and matter, but it was fundamentally just a projection, and the life born on it wasn't real life.
This planet was quite beautiful.
"Why are reptiles still ruling the planet? Where are the mammals? Why are the mammals still gnawing on pine nuts?"
Silver Wolf even felt like using Aether Editing.
But if this thing suddenly exploded, there would be no new replacement. The data for this thing was the same as the genesis set; Silver Wolf couldn't replicate it.
Boom... "Evolution failed. The asteroid hitting Earth was too large; Earth has shattered, and biological extinction has occurred."
Silver Wolf:...Fortunately, there's a reset button.
In other words, if played normally, choices can be traced back.
As she played, Silver Wolf suddenly paused.
"..."
She began to recall that white figure from the second before the universe of the genesis set exploded.
Why did it look so much like Nanook?
This thought made Silver Wolf's fingers freeze on the console.
Hiss.
Under her intervention, a Nanook had appeared in that universe?
It felt completely different from a prophecy. That wasn't a threat, but a terror born from within the "toy" she had built with her own hands and thought was completely under her control, attempting to backlash against its creator.
Hiss.
In other words, she had just witnessed a universe destroyed by Nanook...?
More accurately, she had created or facilitated a universe where the concept of the "Aeon of Destruction" was born, and then that universe was completely terminated from within by the "Destruction" it had nurtured.
"Kafka... I think I just took a full-force hit from Nanook."
Kafka:?
... "By the way, I remembered something. Do you still have that [genesis set] you sold to someone else?"
"Why are you suddenly interested in this?"
Caelus looked at Herta, who was making a video call to him.
To save costs, of course.
If there were another device that could create a simulated universe, Herta would naturally want to try it out.
"Or, you could tell me, who did you sell that thing to?"
"Well, you probably won't be able to buy it, because I just found out the buyer played with it until it blew up."
"How did it explode? Was it attacked by something? Or did it self-destruct from energy overload?"
"It seems it was blown up by a civilization that evolved inside it," Caelus recalled Silver Wolf's exasperated description. "I'm not exactly sure. The buyer just told me it was gone after playing for a while. A formidable being evolved inside, shouting something like 'I bring you destruction,' and then the 'genesis set' couldn't handle it and collapsed from within. That's why I said it's a limited edition; the manufacturer has stopped production."
"A formidable being evolved inside..." Herta's fingers lightly tapped the table, a glint of great interest flashing in her eyes. "Interesting. In other words, that simulation system was complex enough to spontaneously generate 'variables' capable of threatening its own stability. This is even more worth researching than I imagined."
She looked at Caelus: "Who was that buyer?"
"Trade secret," Caelus refused without a second thought. "But I can tell you, she's currently obsessed with a new toy—'Simulated Earth'—and is having a blast. She probably doesn't have time for you."
"'Simulated Earth'?" Herta raised an eyebrow. "Which trash can did you dig this one out of?"
"Something like that," Caelus said vaguely. "A miniature planet you can only look at but not touch, currently in the era of reptile evolution. I warned her not to mess around, but I expect she'll get bored with it before long."
"Get me one too."
"Seven hundred million credit points."
"Fine, I'll have Asta help pay for it later. Give me a thousand."
"...Huh? How many do you want?"
"A thousand. What, you don't have them?"
"A thousand? Are you going to eat them for dinner?!"
"You don't even have a thousand? Then give me a hundred."
"No, no, I don't have that many."
On the other side of the communication screen, Herta leaned back in her chair, her slender fingers tapping lightly on the armrest, and she curled her lip slightly. "Tsk, then a dozen or so will do."
This tone was as if she were buying cabbage at a wet market.
"...There are only two left. I'll send one over to you."
"Only two left? It seems the stock of your 'junk' is even more sought-after than I thought." Herta chuckled.
"You're overthinking it. It's simply because I didn't stock many."
After receiving the Simulated Earth, Herta didn't immediately start researching it. Instead, she placed it in the center of the laboratory. The blue sphere rotated slowly under the soft light, and the ecological evolution inside was quite detailed.
"This is his 'junk'?" Ruan Mei approached, observing the Ornithomimosaur running inside the sphere with great interest. "A miniature ecosystem, and the flow of time seems to be compressed as well... the technical principles are very interesting."
"It's not just the technology that's interesting." Herta crossed her arms, her gaze sharp. "How much more of this 'interesting' junk does that guy Caelus have? His 'Cosmic Junk Company' is like a bottomless pit."
"..." Ruan Mei observed the Simulated Earth.
"It's very similar to Terra."
Herta looked at Terra outside the window, then at the slowly rotating Simulated Earth. Indeed, the outlines of the continental plates and the distribution of the oceans had a striking similarity, though the stage of biological evolution on the Simulated Earth was still stuck in the distant past.
"Similar, yet different," Ruan Mei added softly. "One is the present we know, and the other... is another possible history sealed within this."
"The flow of time is controllable, and environmental parameters are adjustable... but intervention must be cautious, otherwise, it could easily lead to a system crash." Herta summarized while operating. "What if we... gave it a little push?"
Herta's eyes sparkled with a researcher's characteristic curiosity.
This thing was like a super-super-super-super-super budget version of the simulated universe. Herta gained some inspiration from this Curio, which might allow her to optimize and improve the simulated universe.
"When all life on Earth dies, it will force a restart... Hmph, even if the planet isn't destroyed, it doesn't count."
Herta observed the evolution inside the Simulated Earth with great interest, her fingers tapping lightly on the control interface, adjusting the atmospheric composition and sunlight intensity.