[Cipher: Little Hermit Princess, I've been 'borrowing' money from you from time to time. You're not really angry, are you?]
[Castorice: No, Your Excellency Cipher.]
[Castorice: Actually, what the main quest said isn't wrong. Those possessions are indeed of no use to me anymore.]
[Cipher: Don't be like that, Little Hermit Princess. It's mainly because I saw you were a level 10 severe social recluse, always holed up alone, so I just wanted to tease you a bit.]
[Cipher: Cat's mischievous grin.jpg]
[Cipher: If you think it's too much, you can say so. I'll do it less from now on~]
[Isn't that just bullying an honest person?]
[Exactly, exactly! Since I can't find the cat in real life, my anger shall be borne by you!]
[Bullying Castorice? The cat is too wicked!]
[Zagres: How dare you speak to the Big Sis like that?!]
[What the hell? A bunch of legends in Guinaifen's stream? Hanging out with a Chrysos Heirs avatar, are these fans cosplaying the real deal here?]
[Hah, just like that cosplayer I met last time at the Black Tower Merch Fan Club. I even gave them some fan support goods.]
[...]
[Castorice: That... might not be necessary, Your Excellency Cipher. I don't think it's that excessive... um, well, of course it would be best if it could be less.]
[Castorice: But, can we chat somewhere else? I always feel this place is a bit...]
Facing the 'slate', Castorice typed, then deleted everything. After revising and editing, she still felt it wasn't quite right to send.
Her expression was slightly conflicted.
Mainly because Cipher said she would take her 'out' to see, but seeing so many people on the outside network always made her a bit nervous.
...
"Mydei... Your Excellency?"
"Your Excellency Mydei, you've been through another fierce battle to the death."
Meanwhile, in the livestream.
Facing the golden, phantom-like Mydei, Castorice said uncertainly.
"The black tide is endless. My death is only temporary."
"I will find the path of return, come back to the world of the living, and continue my 'Guardianship'." Mydei's voice, however, came in fits and starts.
She was quite happy to see Mydei at first, but upon realizing his current state...
It turned out Mydei wasn't simply immortal; rather, he was actively resisting death. The Underworld was also his battlefield.
[Can't bear to watch. I was quite happy seeing Mydei at first.]
[So it's not simple immortality, but Mydei resisting death?]
[And he still wants to press forward? That alchemist even said he wants to use Castorice as a sacrifice.]
[Didn't Castorice say fate might show a moment of mercy? It should, right... Mihoyo?]
But Mydei's appearance undoubtedly became a good signpost.
Traveling with Mydei, everyone followed the guidance of the alchemy scholar from earlier and advanced towards the location of the Alchemical Array.
Crossing numerous obstacles, they pushed open the great door.
But just as Guinaifen was eagerly anticipating the moment of truth...
A familiar golden phantom appeared by the side of the path.
"What?"
In an instant.
Even Sushang suddenly opened her mouth wide.
Castorice's sigh carried a trace of astonishment and sorrow. "This is..."
Until that small golden phantom turned its head and put its hands on its hips.
In the form of the deceased, it was precisely Trianne, who had left the group earlier.
"Wow! So many people!"
"Little Die, Little Hui! And... Little Di, and the pink puppy!"
Her voice and demeanor were still lively and spirited, as if she had never left.
But whether it was Mydei or Castorice, they both understood perfectly well.
"Just like the spirits we encountered along the way, I could not sense any living aura from Lady Trianne." Castorice said in a low voice.
"Mm-hmm! Everyone, you're right. Trianne has known for a long time that she can't return to everyone's side."
"But Trianne believes that Little Die will return to the Underworld one day. So Trianne has been waiting here, in the place closest to the mortal world, for Little Die!"
Castorice was speechless, her voice trembling slightly.
In contrast, Trianne.
After chattering away, she suddenly took out a painting—a gift she hadn't been able to give before.
She had made a promise with Tribbie and Trinnon to give it to Castorice as soon as possible.
In the painting.
It was a picture of all the Chrysos Heirss holding hands, with Castorice in the center, Aglaea on the left and Tribbie on the right.
Surrounding them were Mydei, Phainon, Cipher, Hyacine, Anaxa, and even Dan Heng and Stelle.
"Trianne painted for a long time! Hope Little Die likes it!"
Seeing this, Guinaifen had already covered her mouth, and then her 'little pearls' (tears) began to wobble uncontrollably.
"Wuwuah! Chang Chang, I can't do anything!"
Without another word, she threw herself into Sushang's arms again.
[What the hell? Still chasing to kill?!]
[Mihoyo, with your 36-degree body temperature? How did you create such dark plotlines?]
[There's even a 3.1 epilogue? Trianne has been waiting here for Castorice all this time, and even prepared a painting...]
[I really, I'm crying my eyes out!]
Castorice's expression became moved.
After receiving Trianne's gift, she gradually realized that on her journey chasing the flame, she seemed to have already gained far, far too many unimaginable 'first times'.
Castorice silently recited:
"For the first time, I had many companions. For the first time, I developed hobbies for handicrafts and photography. For the first time, I shared a dinner with others. For the first time, I entered a market, bought the Chimera doll I had liked for a long time, and held it as I fell asleep."
"For the first time, I wore a dress personally woven by Lady Aglaea. For the first time, I went for a walk with Lady Tribbie, Lady Trianne, and Lady Trinnon. For the first time, I watched the stars with Miss Hyacine in the evening breeze. For the first time, I tended to the Earth Beast with Stelle."
As Castorice spoke, Guinaifen cried.
And she started crying harder and harder, leaving Sushang utterly bewildered!
"Little Guizi, stop crying! This is fake, it's all fake! There's no Castorice, no Trianne. It's just the Author's trick to make you spend money!"
"Wuwu~ Chang Chang, Castorice is so pitiful, and Trianne can't come back either!" Guinaifen buried her head even deeper.
...
Finally.
The moment to head towards the end arrived.
Both Trianne and Mydei had places they must go, so they had no choice but to bid farewell to Castorice once again.
Before leaving, they each left their hopes and bestowed them upon Castorice.
"Little Die, Little Hui, and everyone—see you tomorrow!"
"May you master what you can master. When that unavoidable fate descends, use your powerful will to resist its manipulation."
"In the name of 'strife'... may you die a worthy death."
Meanwhile, over at Aglaea's side, she also entrusted Cipher to leave a message for Castorice.
"Whether you are willing to escape death or not, please follow your heart. As proof of your past promise, for the last time, I ask you to wield your own mission—"
"Castorice, please live as a human lives, and die as a human dies."
Under everyone's hopeful gazes, Castorice began to step forward, one step at a time.
The necessary path to find Thanatos was the Alchemical Array before her.
After pursuing it all this way, the fragmented information could now be perfectly pieced together. Castorice also began to narrate for everyone.
The truth about everything.
To activate the array, one needed the Sky of Aigle, the Earth of Giaoria, the Ember of Kephale, the Ocean of Phagousa, and the Love of meneta.
And then, the final ingredient: Castorice herself!