[Simulation Complete]
[Achievement Unlocked: Like a Shooting Star (For 14 years and 10 months, you were no different from the countless drifting stones adrift in the cosmos. But in the final two months of your life, you shone with a dazzling, brilliant radiance, breathtakingly beautiful.) Reward Points: 1000]
[Achievement Unlocked: What is Pure Beauty? (You soothed the maiden's heart, eased her sorrow, and gave her the courage to face the future. You bestowed all that was beautiful upon that girl, including yourself.) Reward Points: 1000]
[Achievement Unlocked: If I Can Stop One Heart From Breaking (If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain; If I can ease one life the aching, Or cool one pain, I shall not live in vain. You undoubtedly achieved this.) Reward Points: 1000]
[This "Knifing Simulation" Rating: S-, Reward Simulation Points: 4000]
[This "Knifing Simulation" Evaluation: There are more than three thousand ways to kill a man, but the most vicious and ruthless is the emotional blade. Your technique in wielding this blade is masterful and refined; your grip is steady, your strikes swift, and the force exquisitely controlled, capable of dragging the audience back and forth between joy and sorrow.
But beware, for one day in the future, you might just receive a special gift from your audience.]
--+--
[Simulation Rewards Obtained: Unsealed Star Child(3-Star), Beneath the Afterglow (4-Star).]
[Total Reward Points: 7000 (These points can be converted into 500 Attribute Points)]
[Information Panel Generated]
[Name: Bai Heng]
[Currently Active Talents: Unsealed Star Child, Beneath the Afterglow.]
[Strength: 100 Stamina: 100]
[Agility: 100 Spirit: 150]
[Charm: 500 (Unsealed Star Child: Charm Value x2)]
[Note: The baseline attribute values for a Pathstrider who walks their Path are: 100]
--+--
With a sudden jolt, Bai Heng shot up from his chair, shaking his head to clear the lingering disorientation from the simulation.
The sensation of his body dissolving into motes of starlight bit by bit was far from pleasant. Thanks to the system, he didn't feel any physical pain, but the sheer helplessness of his brain issuing commands his limbs could no longer receive was all too real.
He closed his eyes, waiting for the discomfort in his mind to gradually fade, before turning his gaze to the antique clock hanging on the shop wall.
The ornate golden hour hand rested squarely on the Roman numeral II.
Two in the afternoon?
He vaguely remembered it was noon, just as his Great Snow King Tea Shop was opening for the day, when he'd started the simulation.
"So, fifteen years in the simulation... was only two hours in reality...."
Letting out a soft sigh, Bai Heng got up to wash his face.
But when he looked up into the mirror, the figure reflected there made him freeze for a moment.
Silvery-white hair tied back long, heterochromatic eyes of gold and silver intertwined, and those silver eyelashes that seemed to radiate a divine aura—without a doubt, it was the appearance he'd had in the simulation as a Star Child after unsealing the Tear of Stars.
The corner of Bai Heng's mouth twitched slightly. The Star Child setup was undeniably cool in the simulation—looks maxed out, blessed by Beauty itself. Once that Tear was unsealed, any female, even a passing dog, would give you a second glance. It was basically like being a human-shaped succubus on legs!
But having it in real life? Bai Heng couldn't handle that at all!
To put it in one sentence:
'Looks good, doesn't it? Traded my life for it!'
Fifteen years of lifespan... put that in a certain souls-like game, and even a 9-intelligence warrior's mana bar would be longer than your health bar!
Fortunately, the system wasn't that heartless.
After a closer inspection, Bai Heng felt slightly relieved.
The 'Star Child' effect applied to him was just a nerfed version.
The utterly broken 'The Place Where Stars Fall' ability was stripped away. The human-shaped succubus effect had also expired since the Tear of Stars was already unsealed, leaving only the Charm Value x2 effect.
On top of that, Bai Heng could freely adjust his appearance.
If he wanted, anyone except someone wearing a Tear of Stars would see his usual self. It was quite user-friendly.
Another thing Bai Heng paid attention to was 'Beneath the Afterglow.'
It was the item obtained from swearing the Vow of Bond with Firefly—a small object resembling a 'Light Cone.' On its crystalline, glazed surface, a tiny scene was etched by some unknown means.
Under a sky ablaze with crimson afterglow, a silver-haired girl, face tinged with shyness, stood on her tiptoes to place a gentle kiss on the lips of the young man before her.
Its effect was just as it was in the simulation.
[Beneath the Afterglow: Activates the talent 'Starlight and Fireflies' when equipped. When in the same region as Firefly, ability values increase by 100%. Firefly gains 50% of your ability values.]
The more Bai Heng thought about this talent's effect, the less sense it made.
Was it powerful? It only worked if Firefly was nearby. Was it weak? It provided a 100% stat boost and a 50% aura effect.
What, am I a League Character, or is Firefly a Magical Cat? I only get the stats if she's latched onto me, is that it?
Might as well let me pilot the SAM suit instead. Better yet, add a transformation that requires shouting 'Henshin!'—we could fight together as a two-in-one Kamen Rider, me and good ol' Firefly.
After mentally complaining for a bit, Bai Heng soon understood.
When you got right down to it, this Vow of Bond thing was kinda like the 'marriage certificate' in certain card-collecting gacha games, something you get for free after maxing out a character's bond.
It comes with a beautiful card art and an effect that's... well, take it or leave it.
It's nice to look at, sure, but as for practicality... let's just say those who know, know.
After roughly sorting through the rewards and converting the 7000 reward points into 500 attribute points, Bai Heng's character panel updated once again.
[Name: Bai Heng]
[Currently Active Talents: Unsealed Star Child, Beneath the Afterglow.]
[Strength: 300 Stamina: 200]
[Agility: 200 Spirit: 250]
[Charm: 500 (Unsealed Star Child: Charm Value x2)]
The feeling brought by the upgraded character panel was subtle.
It was as if every cell in his body had grown, crying out with unrestrained exhilaration.
Stretching luxuriously, Bai Heng got up to begin preparing for the day's business.
As good as the simulation was, life had to go on.
He still had to sell Great Snow King Tea for a while longer.
But the moment he opened the door, a flash of pink entered his vision, followed by a light, lively girl's voice.
"The only shop in the Exalting Sanctum that would dare keep this one waiting a full two hours must be yours."
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.