It wasn't just Homura; Mami also stared with wide eyes, unable to believe what she was hearing.
She was already skeptical of Su Mo's claim that he could save every magical girl across all timelines, past and future, in this world. Now the topic had suddenly jumped to an even higher, multiverse-level rule.
The Law of Cycles itself was an existence she could barely fathom, yet Su Mo was saying he wanted to replace it with a more mature and reliable multiverse law?
Wasn't that like saying, "You can't handle this one million, so you'll need a multimillionaire to help you handle it"?
But where in the world would you find this supposed multimillionaire?!
How could such a thing be...
"Ah! Big Brother Su Mo, you mean a Cosmology?!"
Just as Homura and Mami wore expressions of disbelief, thinking Su Mo's words were logically leading them into an even more difficult predicament, Madoka's face lit up with joy.
Only she understood what Su Mo meant.
The method Su Mo proposed was indeed extremely demanding and would be an increase in difficulty for any ordinary person. But for Su Mo alone, this was not a problem.
A rule sufficient to govern the multiverse? A cosmic truth that transcended the Law of Cycles?
Su Mo just so happened to have those, and more than one!
"That's right," Su Mo nodded. "As long as we optimize the Law of Cycles into a more advanced Cosmology, you can use my power to achieve complete mastery over this multiverse-level rule."
"Thank you, Big Brother Su Mo!" Hearing his words, Madoka immediately expressed her heartfelt gratitude.
Even she knew that sharing power of this magnitude was something other Asura and Buddhas could only dream of.
"No need to thank me," Su Mo shook his head. "If we integrate the Law of Cycles as an immature fragment into the Cosmology, it's equivalent to it becoming a part of the completed Cosmology, which is to say, it becomes my subordinate. I will also be able to grasp your legal principles through your power and ascend to the multiverse domain together... Therefore, if we use this method, I actually stand to gain more. I should be the one thanking you."
Su Mo was incredibly frank.
Help was mutual. By sharing his mastery of the Cosmology with Madoka, he was essentially absorbing the Law of Cycles as part of the Cosmology he controlled.
In this way, Madoka's ascension to the multiverse domain was equivalent to Su Mo himself ascending to the multiverse domain. In fact, due to his authority over the Cosmology, Su Mo's position would always be above Madoka's.
For both of them, it was a mutually beneficial plan. Madoka would gain a more mature multiverse-level rule and be able to completely master her own power, while Su Mo could use this as a stepping stone to ascend beyond the multiverse.
But in terms of concrete benefits, Su Mo undoubtedly gained more. He would complete the leap from a two-digit existence to the multiverse domain, while Madoka would only overcome the weakness of her ascension and gain a boss.
"Of course, even if you don't want to use this method, there's another way to alleviate the problem," Su Mo added.
Although he leaned towards the first option, he never liked forcing his friends to choose.
If he could use this opportunity to ascend to the multiverse, that would be great. If not, it wasn't a big deal. With his aptitude, ascending to the multiverse was only a matter of time.
Without any attachment to gains or losses, he could naturally understand the troubles of an ordinary person.
Any normal person, if they could achieve immortality and godhood, would not want a boss reigning over them.
However, what surprised Su Mo a little was that after hearing his words, Madoka didn't hesitate for a second. "No other methods needed! This is the one!" The pink-haired girl's eyes sparkled as she looked at Su Mo and pressed on. "Big Brother Su Mo, are you sure this will help you?"
Seeing her expectant look, Su Mo fell silent for a moment.
Alright, Madoka was definitely not an ordinary person.
An ordinary person would be considering things like personal relationships, whether Su Mo was forever trustworthy, whether they could accept the price of their choice, and whether it would be better to refuse Su Mo and go it alone.
But Madoka was different.
When Su Mo mentioned the parts that benefited her, she was merely grateful for his generosity and didn't make an immediate decision.
But when Su Mo said that this method would benefit him, she agreed without a second's hesitation.
What a joke. This was a rare opportunity to help Su Mo. So many members of the chat group couldn't do it. Even Shiroyasha, the strongest besides Su Mo, could only watch from the sidelines.
But she had actually stumbled upon such luck.
Madoka had to consider if this was the only chance she would ever get in her life. The one possibility of helping Su Mo. If she missed it, wouldn't she regret it for the rest of her life?
So, without any hesitation, she gave her answer and looked at Su Mo with anticipation. When it came to matters that benefited Su Mo, she seemed even more eager than Su Mo himself.
"As expected of Madoka..." Seeing the pink-haired girl like this, Homura put a hand to her forehead, but the corner of her mouth curved into a smile.
This was what she loved about Madoka. Madoka was so saintly that she was willing to give up her own life for unknown magical girls in other worlds.
Naturally, she wouldn't be stingy in her devotion to those close to her.
If it could help Su Mo, even if she gained no benefit and even had to bear side effects herself, Madoka would not refuse.
Not to mention, Su Mo's proposal would also greatly benefit her. A more mature multiverse rule, the security of being backed by a powerful figure—these were blessings you couldn't find even if you searched with a lantern.
As for becoming Su Mo's subordinate or even property, it was hard to say whether that was a side effect or a reward for Madoka.
In any case, Madoka fully accepted Su Mo's proposal, and was even a little impatient.
"Of course it will help. Thank you for your trust, Madoka," Su Mo said, patting Madoka's head, not engaging in any pointless modesty.
"No, no! I should be the one thanking you, Big Brother Su Mo!" Madoka said, enjoying Su Mo's affection and shaking her head playfully. "If it weren't for helping me solve my problem, with your power, you could have ascended to the multiverse domain at any time following your own discoveries!"
Though usually a bit ditsy, Madoka was exceptionally clear-headed at this moment. "You said something about it being my legal principle and needing my power to ascend to the multiverse domain... but in reality, that's not my thing at all. Even if there was a chance to ascend to a multiverse-level domain, you discovered it first and then offered it to me."
"If you look at it that way, it's not really me helping you. It's you, Big Brother Su Mo, who specially saved this opportunity for me to take care of me."
From Su Mo's perspective, he would naturally see the Law of Cycles as Madoka's private domain, and the opportunity for the Madoka Magica universe to ascend to the multiverse as belonging to her personally.
But in reality, from the perspective of a third party, or even Madoka herself, that wasn't the case.
The opportunity for the Madoka Magica world to ascend to the multiverse was created by Kyubey, who didn't even realize this opportunity existed. It was a case of "finders keepers."
Now, Madoka hadn't discovered this opportunity either. It was Su Mo who had taken the initiative to tell her.
In Madoka's eyes, anything she could do, Su Mo could absolutely do as well, and do it better. With the power he possessed, Su Mo didn't need to consult Madoka at all. He could have just made the wish himself and ascended to the multiverse on his own.
Since Su Mo hadn't been stingy about it and had generously shared the opportunity with her, how could she treat the gift he gave her as purely her own property? That would be far too greedy.
"..." Hearing Madoka's words, Su Mo was slightly taken aback. He shook his head but didn't refute her. "With our relationship, there's no need for all these thank-yous. Let's focus on the plan we've already decided on."
Hearing this, Madoka's heart leaped with joy. Our relationship?
Though she didn't know what kind of relationship he was referring to, she felt that his favorability towards her had risen significantly.
"The plan we've already decided on?" Seeing the two of them grow closer, Homura was naturally happy for them. However, right now she was more concerned about the plan Su Mo had proposed, as it concerned Madoka's life. "Is there still a problem with the plan?" she asked with concern.
"The Law of Cycles is a cosmic truth that stands on the side of magical girls. It only represents the rule of 'good' and can only be considered a fragment of a complete Cosmology," Su Mo explained. "To use it to guide the operation of the multiverse, we still need to fill in the rules for the other side. This requires an existence equivalent to Madoka to fill the gap..."
At this point, Su Mo looked at Homura.
"Me?" The black-haired girl immediately understood what Su Mo meant.
"Can I really do it?" she asked nervously. She wasn't surprised that Madoka could be the cornerstone of a multiverse rule, but herself... To be honest, Homura still felt a little insecure.
However, that insecurity vanished in an instant.
"Of course you can. I believe in you." Looking at Su Mo's serious expression, Homura was stunned for a moment, then nodded vigorously. "Mhm!"
If Su Mo said she could, then she would bet on herself too.
Seeing that both of them agreed, Su Mo nodded in satisfaction. "The aspect of the cosmic rules is settled then. This will solve the flaw in Madoka's control over the Law of Cycles. However, it doesn't completely solve the problem of her existence being diluted. Someone has to pay that price in Madoka's place."
Hearing this, both Madoka and Homura grew tense.
"Wait, Big Brother Su Mo, you're not planning on paying the price yourself, are you?"
So, the price couldn't be eliminated, only transferred. And besides Su Mo, who else could bear the dilution of their existence on a multiverse level?
"Of course not," Su Mo shook his head, and just as he had done ten minutes ago, he turned his gaze to the activity room window. "Although I can communicate with parallel worlds to mitigate the price, besides me, isn't there a more suitable sacrifice?"
Hearing this, Madoka and Homura were both stunned. Homura couldn't think of any existence that could pay such a price, while Madoka was reluctant to let another pay it in her stead.
Their confusion was answered in the next second.
*THUMP!*
Like a cat or a sprite, a white mascot jumped down from outside the window and landed lightly on the coffee table. Kyubey raised its head, its inorganic ruby eyes looking at Su Mo.
"Su Mo-kun, you mean you want me to pay this price?"
At these words, everyone was slightly shocked, then immediately realized something.
In the multiverse related to magical girls, which existence spanned across all multiverses, all timelines, all regions?
Besides the magical girls and witches, the only multiverse cornerstone that met the criteria was the perpetrator of it all: Kyubey