It was unknown how long it had been, but when everything finally settled, Daziel felt as if all strength had been drained from his body. He sat slumped on the edge of his bed, not wanting to move even a single finger. The room was filled with a mix of various body scents and sweat. The disheveled bedsheets and clothes scattered on the floor silently recounted how intense the absurd "seminar" had been.
Even with the Thunderous Heart providing him with a continuous supply of energy, facing these women, whose physical strength was also extraordinary, this "cultivation" still left him feeling a long-lost exhaustion. The physical exhaustion was secondary; more important was the mental drain.
Compared to this battle, the final confrontation with Sunday seemed like nothing. If the struggle against the Inner Realm Memes was an enduring war of attrition that would last forever, then this act, undertaken for the sake of having children... This was truly the "final showdown" befitting the Inner World's backdrop!
He looked up; the women in the room had all tidied their appearances, their faces bearing identical expressions of satisfied indulgence.
March 7th's cheeks were still flushed from the exertion; she was taking small sips of water, rinsing away the residue in her mouth.
Sparkle sat on a nearby chair, legs crossed, casually swinging them, her eyes under the mask filled with amusement.
Tingyun was already kneeling beside him, meticulously smoothing the crumpled edges of his clothes, her movements gentle, her gaze devout.
Herta stood to the side, arms crossed, her expression still assertive, yet the slight upward curve of her lips revealed her good mood at the moment.
As for Ruan Mei, she sat on the sofa, her posture still graceful, but her eyes, usually calm as still water, now rippled with a rare, gentle glow.
Daziel took a long, deep breath, his voice filled with exhaustion. He murmured softly, "Who would have thought that with a body only a few months old since its creation, I would already be creating new life?"
This slight sigh was caught by the sharp-eared Ruan Mei. She withdrew her gaze from the window and gently shifted towards Daziel.
Daziel also happened to look up at her, raising his head to ask, "Ruan Mei, how did the gene infusion go just now...?"
"Flawless," Ruan Mei replied, "Every gene segment precisely reached its designated position and displayed extremely high activity."
Ruan Mei's statement was like delivering a rigorous academic report, devoid of any superfluous emotion.
"If Master so desires," she continued, her beautiful eyes fixed on Daziel as if discussing a perfect experimental design, "I can activate the life cultivation chamber at any time. We can bypass the lengthy and inefficient ten months of pregnancy and bring a healthy, perfect child into existence in the shortest possible time."
Herta raised an eyebrow, letting one of her crossed arms drop, and interjected with interest, "Sounds much more intriguing than my process of creating Herta Puppets. Can I see the data? It wouldn't do to let having a child delay research progress, would it?"
Sparkle giggled. She rose from the chair and tiptoed over to Daziel, leaning down, her eyes under the mask curving into crescent moons. "Oooh, skip the waiting, fast-forward straight to the ending? Sounds like my style. But wouldn't that miss out on a lot of interesting surprises?"
March 7th silently put down her water glass, her eyes holding some hesitation. She looked at Ruan Mei, then at Daziel, seemingly both intrigued and uneasy by the suggestion.
As for Tingyun, she remained quietly kneeling by Daziel's side, merely smoothing the edges of his clothing, as if she would unconditionally obey and support any decision Daziel made.
Daziel, however, slowly raised a hand, making a gesture to stop them. His movements were slow, imbued with obvious fatigue and disarray, yet the will contained within them was undeniable.
"No need," his voice was weak, but the words he uttered were crystal clear.
He scanned the women in the room, their expressions varied, his gaze finally returning to Ruan Mei.
"The matter of the Desire Bud Memes is indeed troublesome, but it's not yet an emergency."
He leaned against the headboard, making himself more comfortable, and continued, "If the sky falls, the Aeons will hold it up. Although I am the savior of the fallen in the prophecy, the world isn't about to be destroyed the next second. There's no need to rush like this."
A flicker of incomprehension crossed Ruan Mei's eyes—a pure confusion regarding an irrational choice.
"Daziel, I understand your concerns. However, my technology can perfectly simulate all variables within a maternal environment."
She patiently explained, as if guiding a student who misunderstood cutting-edge science, "Whether it's nutrient supply, or the influence of emotional fluctuations on hormone levels, I can precisely replicate everything through data. From a biological perspective, a child born this way is no different from one conceived naturally."
Her words were full of confidence, an absolute belief in her own technology. In her view, since the outcome could be identical, choosing a more efficient and controllable path was undoubtedly the optimal solution.
Daziel looked at her, then sighed helplessly.
He reached out and gently took Tingyun's hand, which was smoothing his clothes, feeling the real warmth. This subtle gesture seemed to be drawing some kind of strength.
"Ruan Mei, look," he said softly, his voice no longer just tired but with a touch of gentle solemnity, "You're doing it again. You always see the most precise data, the most optimized solutions, the most perfect outcomes."
He paused, steadying his breath, then spoke word by word. "But once again, you've overlooked the meaning of the process, overlooked humanity..."
A life anticipated, felt, growing day by day within a mother's body—that connection, that bond, cannot be simulated by any data. Ten months of waiting is not inefficient accumulation, but a process of emotional fermentation. That, too, is a part of humanity, perhaps even a very crucial part.
His gaze was clear, looking directly into Ruan Mei's eyes. "You see, you again lack consideration for humanity. You create life, yet you always want to skip the most clumsy, yet most precious, stages of nurturing it."
Daziel's words echoed in the quiet room, rippling through everyone's hearts.
Ruan Mei stood there silently. She did not refute, nor did she explain.
After a long silence, she nodded slightly, her movement gentle and solemn, as if completing an important academic Mannerism.
"Understood," she said softly, her voice so flat that no emotion could be discerned, yet it contained a new kind of realization.
For her, this was not a surrender of principles, but an update in her data. The "humanity" and "process" in Daziel's words became a new variable, immeasurable yet necessary to consider. She stored this variable in her knowledge base for life engineering.
This slightly heavy atmosphere was broken by an impatient "Hmph!"
Herta brought the arm she had lowered back to her chest, tapping her arm impatiently with her fingertips, her face full of that "you mortals are so troublesome" expression.
"Since you put it that way," she curled her lip, her gaze sweeping between Daziel and Ruan Mei, finally showing a clear competitive streak, "then I'll do it myself. It's just ten months of pregnancy, isn't it?"
Her tone was light and dismissive, as if speaking of a trivial matter.
"Hmph, I'd like to see just how much variability this so-called emotional fermentation process can bring to gene expression. It just so happens that several of my projects on chromosome code are at a bottleneck; perhaps a change of research environment will provide new insights."
She lifted her chin, her expression proud and fervent, "It's merely having a child incidentally while conducting experiments. This level of parallel processing is nothing difficult for Madam Herta."
These astonishing remarks instantly froze the air in the room.
"Hah!" Sparkle was the first to burst, her laughter as clear as colliding silver bells. She sat back down on the chair, her legs happily swinging, her tiptoes drawing playful lines in the air.
"Oh my, what truly remarkable scientific spirit. To be willing to use even yourself as experimental material. Sister Herta, I'm starting to admire you..."
Herta clearly didn't appreciate Sparkle's teasing. She tightened her crossed arms slightly, as if in a self-protective stance, yet her gaze was filled with aggression.
"Cut it out!" she snorted coldly, lifting her chin higher, her gaze precisely locking onto Sparkle, with an undeniable tone of command.
"Before you get pregnant, don't slack off on your foot-washing maid duties for a single day. Today, continue to serve Madam Herta, understood?"
Sparkle's silver-bell-like laughter abruptly ceased. Her pretty little face instantly crumpled, her mouth gaping into a "person" (人) character shape.
"Urgh..." she drawled, full of reluctance, "So many other sisters have come along, so why am I still the one doing this job?"
The matter concluded amidst somewhat absurd laughter.
However, the speed of information transfer in the universe can sometimes be even faster than an Aeon's single thought.
The incredible news that Daziel needed to save the world by procreating almost immediately spread throughout his circle of female companions scattered across various star systems.
When the women on other planets heard that Ruan Mei, Herta, and Sparkle had been entrusted with this important task first, a ripple, not insignificant, began to stir beneath the calm sea of stars.
The first echoes came from Jarilo-VI.
A formal invitation, meticulously worded, issued in the name of Belobog's Supreme Guardian, arrived in Daziel's hands.
Bronya hoped he could personally visit Qlipoth Fort for a detailed discussion on "fundamental issues concerning Belobog's continued existence."
When Daziel arrived at Qlipoth Fort and pushed open the heavy wooden door, the scene inside made Daziel pause slightly.
Bronya was not the only one in the room.
The current Supreme Guardian sat formally at the head of the long table, her silver-grey hair meticulously coiled at the back of her head.
Beside her was Seele, arms crossed, her expression as sharp as ever, her eyes tightly fixed on Daziel, unabashedly revealing a hint of displeasure. Although what Daziel had done still bothered her, she had nonetheless appeared here.
By the window, Serval leaned lazily, her hands tucked into her pockets.
Pela stood behind Bronya, holding a notebook, her expression serious yet slightly nervous.
And among them, looking somewhat out of place, was Clara.
The girl sat awkwardly on the chair, her small hands resting on her knees. Seeing Daziel enter, she shifted uneasily.
This setup felt less like a detailed discussion and more like some form of interrogation.
"Daziel, thank you for making time to come."
Bronya was the first to speak, her voice steady and formal, breaking the room's silence.
"We have received intelligence regarding a... peculiar solution to the current crisis."
She carefully chose her words, her gaze as calm as still water, "And, the list of the first executors of said plan."
No sooner had she finished speaking than Seele, standing nearby, couldn't hold back.
"Why bother saying it so complicatedly?"
She snorted, leaning forward, and questioned impolitely, "We heard you're going to have a few children to save the world. Why did you only think of the women in your room?"
"Seele," Bronya frowned slightly, her tone carrying a hint of warning, but she didn't actually stop her.
She turned back and looked at Daziel again, stating frankly, "Her question, though direct, indeed represents our confusion. Belobog, and each of us, are ready to bear our due responsibilities at any time. We are just very surprised that the matter has already begun without any communication with us..."
These words, though polite, carried undeniable weight.
This was an interrogation from all of Belobog.
"Exactly," Serval also spoke up. She shifted into a more comfortable position, winking at Daziel, her tone carrying her unique blend of playful seriousness. "Is there a priority list we're unaware of? Or does this project have strict requirements for participants?"
Pela nervously pushed up her glasses and added softly, "From... from a resource and security perspective, Supreme Guardian, Belobog possesses medical facilities and security systems provided by the Company. The environment is stable, actually very suitable as a base for the 'nurturing' plan..."
As they spoke, one after another, the air in the room gradually grew tense. A single emotion clearly flowed from each of their words: We were put last.
Daziel listened quietly, the fatigue from his journey seemingly deepening on his face. He pulled out a chair and sat down, his gaze sweeping over everyone present. Finally, he saw Clara, who had been silently in the corner.
The girl felt his gaze, her small body shrinking slightly, then she gathered her courage and asked in a voice barely audible, "Mr. Daziel... are you, are you alright? This sounds... very difficult..."
Daziel looked at Clara's petite frame, suddenly unsure what to say... Everyone else was one thing, but for Clara to do this? Was it real or fake?
"I'm fine, Clara, thank you."
He took a deep breath, leaning slightly back against the chair, his gaze returning to Bronya. "This matter isn't what you think; this isn't a priority list..."
"We understand," Bronya nodded, her expression unwavering, as if Daziel's explanation was exactly what she had anticipated.
"The reasons of the past are not important. What is important is now, and the future."
She clasped her hands on the table, leaning slightly forward, her silver eyes reflecting the Supreme Guardian's resolve and dignity.
"Belobog cannot, and will not, stand idly by in this crisis concerning our survival. Daziel, we are not asking anything of you, but fulfilling our responsibility."
Her gaze swept over Seele, over Serval, finally resting on Daziel's face.
"The continuity of the plan is the highest priority at present. Pela's suggestion is pertinent: Belobog can provide a confidential environment to safeguard the 'Hope' until the time is ripe."
Daziel fell silent.
He looked at each person in the room. He realized that no matter how he explained, he could not change their will. Belobog's will, like its long winter, was firm and unshakeable.
Daziel could only let out a long sigh, that sigh filled with helplessness and compromise.
"I understand."
There was no other way; Daziel could only undertake another "great decisive battle" in Qlipoth Fort.
As Daziel left his genes in Belobog and prepared to depart, a communication request from the Xianzhou Alliance connected to the Astral Express's comms.
On the other end of the communication was the Divination Commission of the Xianzhou Luofu.
Needless to say, Daziel also knew what they were there for.
Daziel could only perform another interstellar jump.
When Daziel's figure appeared amidst the Divination Commission's dazzling star charts and hexagrams, he saw an even stranger sight than Belobog.
Diviner Fu Xuan sat primly in the center of the grand hall, her small frame containing an undeniable aura.
Between her brows, her Third Eye slightly opened and closed, as if it had already discerned the complete cause and effect of Daziel's current visit.
Below her, several jade tables were scattered.
In the corner, Qingque was secretly fiddling with the jade tiles in her hand. Feeling Fu Xuan's gaze sweep over, she immediately startled, hastily put away the jade tiles, and sat up straight.
Not far away, Guinaifen, the street performer from the Aurumaton Gatehouse, was curiously observing Daziel, her lively eyes sparkling with the light of discovering new material, as if she had already conceived the title for her next livestream.
Sushang, on the other hand, appeared somewhat uneasy.
She straightened her back, trying to appear dependable, but her trembling hands still betrayed her inner nervousness.
"Daziel, this one has told you before," Fu Xuan spoke first, her voice clear and direct.
"The sole path to the universe's continued existence, its very root, lies within you." Fu Xuan's gaze calmly rested on him, "And this path requires the combined irrigation of Xianzhou bloodlines. Otherwise, obstacles will proliferate, and all connections will lead to a dead end."
Qingque whispered softly to herself, "Master Diviner is saying things I don't understand again... I really want to slack off..."
Guinaifen pulled out her small notebook, rapidly scribbling something, muttering to herself, "Shocking! The antidote to the cosmic crisis is actually the streamer's former top fan's..."
"Ahem!" Sushang cleared her throat loudly. She looked at Daziel and spoke earnestly. "Well... although I don't quite understand what the Diviner means, if there's anything you need me for, I will certainly not shirk my duty!"
Fu Xuan paid no attention to the girls' whispers. She simply gazed at Daziel, awaiting his response.
Daziel looked at Fu Xuan; her youthful face held a composure and resolve unbefitting her age.
He understood: this was not a negotiation or a request at all, but an announcement.
Whether it was the frozen snowfields of Belobog or the star-cruising Xianzhou Alliance, they all displayed astonishing consistency when facing this ultimate proposition.
Explaining was futile; refusing was pointless.
Daziel's shoulders slumped. His taut nerves completely relaxed at that moment, followed by a wave of fatigue that swept through his entire body.
He tugged at the corner of his mouth, forcing out a smile uglier than a cry.
"I know," he said, his voice hoarse, "What else can I say?"
This almost surrender-like statement instantly eased the atmosphere in the grand hall.
Qingque let out a long sigh, her entire body slumping, and whispered to the person next to her, "Great! I can finally slack off... I mean, get some rest."
Guinaifen's eyes shone like two celestial navigation lights. Her small notebook was almost written through.
"This is amazing! Will I be the first extraterrestrial to livestream while pregnant?"
"Guinaifen!" Sushang's face flushed red, and she hastily interrupted her, then turned to Daziel, bowing solemnly, "Master Daziel! You... you've worked hard! We, we will definitely protect this Hope!"
Fu Xuan remained impassive. She simply nodded slightly, her Dharma Eye between her brows slowly closing.
"You have made the correct choice," her tone was completely placid, "The Xianzhou Luofu will remember your contribution."
Whether history would remember him, he didn't know, but Daziel knew that the Divination Commission was probably about to get very lively.
"Thank you for agreeing to see me, Master..."
Robin slightly bowed, her posture elegant and sincere, "I apologize; for you, this might be a burden..."
Sure enough, after leaving behind the "seed" concerning the future for the Xianzhou Alliance, Daziel almost immediately boarded the next Astral Express without delay. This time, the destination was the Land of Dreams—Penacony.
When he stepped onto that golden Dreamscape again, he was greeted not by a grand party nor a solemn meeting.
He stood alone on the terrace of Dewlight Pavilion. The distant sky always remained in the gentlest twilight, brilliant rainbows and billboards circulated through the city like silent star rivers. The air was filled with sweet fragrance and faint, lingering melodies.
This was completely different from Belobog's severity and the Xianzhou Luofu's antiquity; Penacony's beauty carried an unreal, illusory quality, as if it would shatter with a mere touch.
A soft footsteps came from behind.
Daziel turned around and saw Robin.
She was dressed in an elegant gown, her silver hair gently swaying in the breeze. Her eyes were clear, reflecting Daziel's somewhat tired and weary figure.
"You've arrived, Mr. Daziel."
Robin's voice, like her singing, possessed the power to soothe the heart.
"I'm here," Daziel nodded, actually feeling a long-lost sense of peace in his heart.
He suddenly realized the good news: the women he had met in Penacony before all had their own matters to attend to, or had already moved into Daziel's room, and thus would not participate in this activity.
It seemed he only needed to face Robin alone.
This sudden "good fortune" finally gave Daziel's long-strained mind a moment to breathe.
"No, this isn't your fault," Daziel shook his head, "I just think you don't have to..."
"Penacony's dream will eventually wake up one day," Robin said softly, her gaze directed towards the colossal Clock Studios Theme Park in the distance, "But people living in Reality need true Hope."
Her tone carried a faint hint of sorrow, but more so, a sense of understanding and release.
"I am here, not only representing the will of the 'Family'," Robin's gaze returned to Daziel's face. In her beautiful eyes, there was no command, no demand, only a gentleness that was almost pleading, "but also for my own wish."
"I hope that one day in the future, there will be a song sung for true Rebirth. Daziel..."
Daziel silently nodded.
Time flowed on, and several months slipped by quietly.
The Astral Express was docked in the gravitational well of an unnamed star system, undergoing lengthy routine maintenance.
Daziel's room, however, was in utter chaos.
"Pom-Pom is about to faint from anger, pom!" Conductor Pom-Pom, wearing an ill-fitting cleaning uniform, was trembling with rage in its tiny body.
It stood with one paw on its hip, the other trembling as it pointed at a figure in the corner of the room, "Passenger safety is the highest principle of the Astral Express! How can you let Passenger Herta conduct high-dimensional decomposition experiments while heavily pregnant here?! This is too dangerous, pom!"
In the corner of the room, Herta was floating in mid-air, her abdomen showing a distinct bulge completely inconsistent with her slender figure.
But she herself paid no attention to this, all her focus concentrated on a complex instrument in front of her that continuously flickered with dangerous electric light and emitted a "humming" sound.
"Silence, Conductor. You are interfering with a great research project," Herta said coldly without turning her head. "The critical point of a pregnant maternal body's tolerance to spatial curvature changes—this data is invaluable and hard to estimate. If you bother me again, I'll turn your cleaning cart into an Antimatter Bomb."
"Pom-pom!" Pom-Pom yelped, startled, and jumped back, hiding behind Daziel, only poking out its little head, huffing indignantly as it complained, "Daziel, control her, pom!"
Daziel helplessly spread his hands, a wry smile on his face: "I've tried, Pom-Pom. You know I can't control her."
No sooner had he spoken than the room door was elegantly pushed open.
Black Swan gracefully entered, wearing a figure-hugging black long dress, its skirt swaying with her steps.
Her face held a perfectly measured smile, her purple eyes sweeping over the scene in the room without the slightest surprise, as if she were long accustomed to a heavily pregnant woman floating in mid-air conducting dangerous experiments and a Conductor so angry it was almost comatose.
Because Black Swan does not possess a real body, having a child was not her turn; she was now the most relaxed among the female companions on the Astral Express.
"Passenger Black Swan!" Pom-Pom seemed to have found a savior, scurrying to her feet, "Come quickly and assess this situation! It's too dangerous here!"
Black Swan merely smiled faintly, her gaze moving from Pom-Pom, past a wry-smiling Daziel, finally settling on Herta and her humming instrument.
"An interesting study," she murmured appreciatively, her voice soft and magnetic, "The essence of memory is also a form of high-dimensional information; perhaps your research can offer some inspiration to the Memorians in the future."
"Cut it out, Memorian," Herta snorted coldly, but still spared a bit of her attention, the electric light on the instrument dimming slightly. "If you have something to say, just say it. I'm busy."
"Of course." Black Swan's smile remained unchanged. She turned to everyone, as if merely announcing an afternoon tea arrangement, "Ladies and gentlemen, regarding the Astral Express's next stop, I have already discussed it with Ms. Himeko and Mr. Welt Yang..."
She paused briefly, her eyes, as if able to discern everything, drifted between Daziel and Herta.
"How about 'Omphalos, the Eternal Land'?"
This unfamiliar name caused the atmosphere in the room to solidify.
Black Swan's lips curved slightly upwards, "A world even Akivili has never set foot in..."
"Since Ms. Himeko and Mr. Welt Yang have no objections, then I have none either..."
No sooner had Daziel finished speaking than a soft arm wrapped around his arm.
"I object!" March 7th gently leaned over. She was wearing comfortable, loose loungewear, and her similarly swollen abdomen made her movements slightly inconvenient, yet her face held an unprecedented expression of satisfaction and serenity.
She held Daziel's hand, resting her head on his shoulder, and squinted her eyes contentedly, like a cat finding sunlight.
"Several of us are still heavily pregnant, Daziel, can't you consider us?" she coaxed softly, her gaze never leaving Daziel's profile. "Let's talk about trailblazing matters after the children are born. We should think about more important things now."
Daziel lowered his head, looking at her happy smile. The fatigue worn down by the long journey in his heart seemed to dissipate.
He asked softly, "What more important things?"
March 7th's smile brightened even more. She looked up, her bright eyes fixed on him, and whispered, "Like, the children's names!"
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And that wraps up our first translation—I hope you liked it.
This weekend, I'll be posting some new and really interesting stories. If you have ideas for new ones, just leave them in the comments.
Oh, and tell me—what anime would you like to see a fanfic of? I can try to find one that matches your taste! 👻
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Hello readers, I have some extremely sad news to share. Unfortunately, our account has recently suffered restrictions. I am unable to interact with you all as my comments have not been appearing for a long time, and I have only just noticed. Additionally, the last 3 books I launched were simply deleted from the site, preventing me from bringing more stories to you...
But the director will not accept this; on the contrary, I will continue working and bringing you incredible universes!
I open a new account and continue the posts there. The books on this account will continue their releases until the end, but the new ones will be launched on a new account: MikuDayo.
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Hey everyone...
So, I need to have a heart-to-heart with you all.
I'm not sure if you've noticed, but my main account got hit with a restriction that basically cut its reach off at the root. (Literally, the new story's reach is 90% lower than the others, and it doesn't even show up in the mobile rankings). This was a huge blow and has made everything much, much harder for me.
I'm genuinely sad about this situation because I love what I do. This project started as something from a fan, for fans. I dedicate my time and affection to it because, just like you, I'm addicted to fanfics and novels. All the stories I bring are ones that I'm either currently reading or plan to read after stocking up some chapters, which is why I started to invest in it.
And speaking of investing, keeping the translations online is a very expensive endeavor. Just to buy the chapters, I spend between 100 and 150 dollars a month, which is a lot when converted to my currency (and that's not even counting the API usage, which can increase the cost depending on the chapter length). This is money that comes from the help we receive on P@treon. To ensure even better quality and consistency, we also use a paid AI system, which makes the translations much more fluid and faithful.
With this restriction, our ability to cover these costs has been severely compromised. That's also why, unfortunately, we can only maintain a pace of one chapter per day. We'd love to release more, but the cost would double, and in the current situation, it's simply impossible.
It's heartbreaking to see all this happen after so much effort. But we wanted to be transparent and share this with you. The support and understanding from each of you are what give us the strength not to give up.
I know many of you can't help, and I thank you all the same; your comments and engagement are what keep the stories going. But if you want to support me in continuing this project, subscribing to P@treon helps me cover the production costs, no matter which tier you choose.
[email protected]/Walnutchan
Thank you for being with us, really. ❤️
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