Collapse Iron: I just transmigrated! You want me to save the Black Tower?!

[Sai Fei'er: Do I...do I like it? Of course I do! Is there even a question? It's about me walking the world with dignity, upholding justice, punishing evil and promoting good, and being able to decide my own future. Who wouldn't like that?]

[Sai Fei'er: But...but...Jiang Jiu, why are you asking this? You're not talking about...the real-life Onpharos..., are you?]

Saifeier's barrage of comments suddenly stopped here. She stared at the line of text on the screen, her tail taut and her cat ears flattened.

It's not that she's afraid to speak, it's that she's afraid to believe.

[Aglaia: Sefaria, don't panic.]

[Saifei: But... there are Star Gods! The Star Gods are asking us if we like that future! This... this... does this mean...?]

[Aglaia: I saw it.]

Aglaia's comment was only four words, but her hand was already pressed to her heart. She appeared calm on the surface, but her heart was beating faster than she expected.

Tibo: *We* saw it too! The Star God is asking us questions! Tibo is so nervous, what should Tibo say?

[Tian: Tian wants to say something too! But Tian is so scared of saying the wrong thing!]

[Tinin: Tinin too...]

[Bai E: Jiang Jiu... isn't the kind of person who cares about titles and wording, just answer directly.]

When Bai E posted the comments, my hand holding the phone trembled slightly.

Answer directly.

How can I answer directly?

Who can answer this?

That is a Star God, an being that controls "existence" itself, perhaps one that can easily determine whether a civilization can continue.

He asked, "Do you like this kind of future?"

Is this a consultation, or... a sentencing?

[Xi Lian: I think... he was just asking a very ordinary question, okay?]

[Xi Lian: It's like when friends ask each other, "Do you like this?" or "Do you think this is a good idea?" The tone is very casual, without any threat, probing, or even expectation.]

[Xi Lian: He just wants to know the answer, you know?]

Questions that friends might ask each other.

Friend, huh?

Does a star god consider them friends?

[Black Tower: It's okay if you really don't know how to answer.]

[Aglaia: No...]

[Aglaia: Lady of the Black Tower, there exists the Star God.]

When Aglaia posted her comment, her tone was more serious than ever before.

[Aglaia: I'm happy to answer your question now.]

[Aglaia: That future is beautiful.]

[Aglaia: So beautiful that it's almost unattainable.]

[Aglaia: But if you ask us if we like it... yes, we like it, we really like it.]

[Aglaia: It's not because that future is so dazzling, so glamorous, or so enviable.]

[Aglaia: It's because, in that future, everyone in Onphalus is alive, doing what they love, and becoming who they want to be.]

[Aglaia: This is more precious than anything else.]

Seafaring adventurer, designer, scholar, singer, novelist...

Everyone is doing what they love.

Most importantly, everyone is alive; they are no longer virtual data, but living, breathing people.

[Xi Lian: They answered you too?]

[Xi Lian: I really like that future, I really, really like it.]

[Xi Lian: Because there, people saw Bai E, Sai Fei'er, Aglaia, and everyone else. Everyone was there, doing well, smiling, and moving forward.]

[Xi Lian: That's enough.]

[Xi Lian: This is better than anything else?]

[Haiserin: ...Me too.]

[Cerudela: Me too.]

[Wan Di: ...Hmph, count me in.]

Tibo: "We are too! We are too!"

[Tian: Tian too! Tian wants to live, she wants to live with everyone!]

[Tinin: Tinin too... Tinin wants to live, wants to be with everyone forever and ever...]

After each of Onfaros's men expressed their opinions, everyone anxiously awaited Jiang Jiu's reply.

But no message from the other party popped up on the screen for a long time.

After an unknown amount of time, the Black Tower spoke.

[Black Tower: No need to rush to give an answer.]

[Black Tower: Besides, believe it exists.]

......

[Interstellar Peace Company (Official Account): We believe in its existence! All for the Amber King!]

[Topa: Wait a minute, wait a minute, isn't this slogan mixed up?]

[Jadeite: not strung together; Amber King: for preservation; Jiang Jiu: for existence; both are honorary supervisors of our company, no problem.]

[Gold Sand: ...It's a real shame you're not in the genius club.]

In the scene, Jiang Jiu listened quietly to the cat telling a story for a while. When the story was almost over, it was time to part ways.

"Are we leaving already?" Sai Feier followed. "Aren't we going to continue talking? I still have a lot of embarrassing stories to tell."

"Let's listen to it later." Jiang Jiu didn't turn around. "There will be an opportunity."

Sunlight streamed in from outside the door and fell on him.

The moment he stepped out the door, he suddenly stopped and looked back.

Bai E, Xi Lian, and Sai Fei'er all stood still, watching him.

“Oh, right,” he said, “could you pass on a message to Na Kexia for me?”

"What?"

Jiang Jiu thought for a moment.

"I'd say... a world where someone can say something like 'the starry sky will look up to me' must be a good world."

He smiled.

"So, tell Teacher Xia not to forget to exercise regularly."

As soon as he finished speaking, the room erupted in laughter.

[Sai Fei'er: Hahahaha~]

[Sai Fei'er: Hey Tree Garden boys, don't forget to exercise regularly!]

[Xi Lian: It seems Jiang Jiu really likes that world.]

[Hanabi: Isn't that right? You're beings he saved across thousands of years, of course he'd like you a lot. Of course, it could also be because the other timelines are just too terrible.]

—A world where he can say things like "the stars will look up to me" must be a good world.

Do you like this kind of future?

--like.

[Su Chang: Is this what "existence" is? Allowing everyone to live the way they want... Sounds so cool.]

[Gui Naifen: That's so cool! I, Gui Naifen, also want to be like that!]

[Yu Kong: Not everyone has the qualifications to become a Star God, nor does everyone have his perseverance and spirit of sacrifice. The price he paid to reach that point is unimaginable to us.]

[Qingque: What conditions are required to become a Star God?]

[Soaring Through the Sky: ...You must have a sense of conviction.]

[Qingque: And then?]

[Yu Kong: ...Extremely extreme.]

[Qingque: ...?]

"Tsk tsk, that's really sentimental. Here, Jiang Jiu, catch!"

Saifei threw a gift box over.

Jiang Jiu opened it and saw a book and a box of chocolates.

"Ok?"

Sai Fei'er proudly crossed her arms: "I'm so well-informed, I knew you were coming the moment you arrived. The reason I didn't come was because I was preparing a gift for you. While you were sleeping, we did a lot of inquiries about you."

"That genius named Black Tower from the Genius Club isn't that unknown. I'm not exactly unaware of her. This stuff was prepared to her taste. I'm not mistaken, am I?"

"It's okay if you forgot, but don't disappoint her."

Jiang Jiu chuckled.

"Then what is this book?"

"I don't know, Xia Die left it at my house. It looked quite interesting, so I'm giving it to you~"

[Xia Die: !!!]

Jiang Jiu opened the cover; on the title page was only one line of handwritten text: