Castorice was stunned for a moment.
Seeing Xu Qiong's playful expression, she realized she had been tricked—or rather, teased.
So there was no price to pay at all?
Castorice couldn't help but pout.
But then again, at a time like this, a hug or something...
"Lord, stop teasing me." Castorice's hands fidgeted restlessly against the hem of her skirt, appearing very nervous. "We're still in Okhema, and Little Polyxena is right here."
"A hug... it feels too embarrassing..."
Polyxia turned her head to observe the two of them.
However, while Castorice was still hesitating, a soft 'click' was heard.
"Eh?"
Xu Qiong snapped his fingers and had already lifted Castorice's hand, guiding it toward Polyxia's leg.
"Lord?"
"Sigh, I was just teasing you, Castorice." Xu Qiong's expression became quite serious. "Don't move. Carefully feel this power that now belongs to you."
"Use it to achieve what you want to do."
Castorice's eyes widened, filled with a mix of disbelief and joy.
Then, before she had time for more shock or thought...
As Castorice's hand lightly touched Polyxia's leg, a miracle occurred.
A purple light saturated it, spreading, climbing, and intertwining, as if antiling flowers were blooming in a gentle sway.
On the surface, everything seemed calm, as if nothing was happening.
But.
"So light," Polyxia murmured.
Her reaction also affected Castorice.
Polyxia's lips curved upward as she reached out a hand, mirroring Xu Qiong's gesture, and placed it over the back of Castorice's palm.
"So light... Sister's hand is so warm..."
Silence.
The quiet atmosphere persisted.
Until a moment later.
The miracle known as 'Life' concluded as the light faded.
Seeing Polyxia seemingly trying to get up, Castorice's movements became shaky as she immediately rushed to support her.
In contrast, Polyxia appeared exceptionally calm. "It's okay, Sister. Don't be so nervous."
"Look."
With just a slight shift of her ankles...
Almost without hindrance, Polyxia stood up from the wheelchair, the entire process smooth and effortless.
If there was anything slightly off, it was only that standing up for the first time felt a bit unusual to her.
"Little Polyxena, you... you can really stand up now?"
"Look." Polyxia tried to take two steps forward barefoot. "I can not only stand but also walk."
A short moment passed.
Castorice withdrew her hand and placed it over her heart, feeling a long sigh of relief in her soul.
Although she didn't say anything, the joy was evident on her face.
It really worked.
Castorice wanted to turn back and thank Xu Qiong as well.
But at that moment, Xu Qiong suddenly mimicked Anaxa, clutching his forehead and leaning backward.
"Hiss~!"
This scene terrified Castorice. She immediately ran over in small steps to support Xu Qiong's arm.
"Lord, Lord? What's wrong?"
"Are... are you feeling unwell somewhere?"
Xu Qiong quickly waved his hand, then shook his head, feigning a weak and listless state. "No, no... it might just be from overusing my power."
"It's just... my arm hurts a bit. It shouldn't be a big deal."
Despite what Xu Qiong said, Castorice didn't think he looked like it was 'not a big deal' at all.
Could it be that using Path power actually has a price?
"Your arm?" Castorice touched it with a mix of worry, urgency, and deep concern. "Is it here, Lord?"
"It seems... my chest feels a bit tight too."
"And your chest?" Castorice continued to feel further down. "Does it hurt here too?"
"No, no, a stinging pain in my right cheek, like it's burning." Xu Qiong pointed.
"Ah?" Castorice stood on her tiptoes and pressed her cool, delicate fingertips against it. "How can this be... does it even hurt here?"
"Lord, should we go back and find Lord Hyacine?"
"I'm sorry... I, I didn't know using this kind of power would cause you so much harm..."
Seeing this, Castorice was as anxious as a headless fly, nearly spinning in circles.
She had just healed Polyxia's legs, and before she could even be happy, Xu Qiong was suddenly stumbling in pain.
Castorice instinctively assumed this was the price of using such power.
Could it be that Xu Qiong was kindly lying to her earlier, and in reality, a price was required just as he was saying now?
And she hadn't even been willing to give a hug for it.
Thinking of this, a mixture of guilt and anxiety welled up inside Castorice; she truly had no idea.
And just as this emotion was about to reach its peak...
"Pfft~"
Before Xu Qiong could say anything, Polyxia behind them covered her face and giggled.
Feeling something was odd, Castorice wanted to turn around to check the situation, only to find that she had unknowingly fallen into Xu Qiong's embrace.
With just a gentle wrap of his arms, he held Castorice close.
"Mm?"
Castorice opened her eyes in confusion.
"Haha, although it feels a bit mean, Sister really is easy to trick."
Polyxia suppressed the corners of her rising mouth and reminded her, "It's a good thing Sister has friends like Xu Qiong and Lord Sai Feier. Otherwise, I'd really worry that if Sister went out, she'd be swindled out of everything she owns~"
Turning her head, Castorice stared at the smiling Xu Qiong; he seemed perfectly fine.
Alright.
She seemed to understand.
It seemed she had been tricked by Xu Qiong again—no, rather, she had been teased by him.
Xu Qiong was actually fine; he had just lied about being in pain.
Castorice's face gradually flushed red, a faint look of grievance appearing on her face, followed by an indignant hug back.
"Lord, you're too much..."
"Please don't use such a mean way... to, to tease me in the future. I really get worried."
Xu Qiong gave a bright smile, then took out his mobile phone, preparing to take a photo.
"A friend once told me that moments worth cherishing should be recorded."
"Little Polyxena can finally stand, and Castorice is here too. How about we take a photo together?" Xu Qiong shook the camera.
Castorice buried her head and chose to nod.
...
A short while later.
The official account platform updated again.
[Tonight Eat Roast Chicken: Twins, A Story Made Complete Because of You~]
[Image.jpg]
Before long, the community platform was swamped again.
In the picture, Polyxia was standing in the foreground wearing casual clothes, her face beaming with a brilliant smile.
Behind her, Castorice was in a light, casual white dress, gently supporting her two arms.
A gentle breeze stirred the ends of her purple hair and its ribbons. On a rooftop balcony in Okhema, it also carried falling petals.
[Touching, this is so damn touching!]
[This epilogue from the Author is simply the greatest invention of this amber era. Castorice can finally live together with her sister!]
[Castorice can hug, and Polyxia can stand. Haji Roast, you guy, you've finally done something decent.]
[I can't bear to look. In reality, Polyxia is gone and Castorice is forever trapped in the Underworld. Thinking about that makes me feel like I'll never smile again...]
[Will that so-called Re-creation really happen? Can we really meet Castorice and the others again?]
[Speaking of which, there's only one last Sky Tinder left to return, right? Doesn't that mean there's only one version left?!]
[So fast! One more version and Re-creation will happen. Is the game actually ending?]
[I absolutely have to see what kind of ending the Author can write to be worthy of the Chrysos Heirs' long journey. If they dare to write something half-assed, I'm going to start flaming them—!]
End of Chapter 95PreviousNext ChapterAll chaptersCHAPTER 94
Let's see him in real life!
Guinaifen was extremely indignant!
Castorice had clearly just sacrificed herself for Fire Chasing and was trapped in the Underworld, yet in the epilogue, the game Author actually used her for consumption?
This is more than a person can bear!
Making her favorite characters go offline one by one, and even treating them with such cruelty?
Now she had to show the power she currently possessed as a major streamer, to make a video properly attacking the game Author and counting his sins!
Guinaifen was a woman of her word, so she immediately set to work on the video.
...
Meanwhile, on Xu Qiong's side.
Castorice placed a hand over her chest and sighed, "Your Lordship really knows how to make a girl happy; you must have many friends outside as well."
Although she had lost her composure out of excitement just now.
It was clear that Castorice was very happy to be out today; after all, she had accomplished many things she had never been able to do before.
But Xu Qiong remained silent.
He coughed and changed the subject, "For Castorice, if we are friends, why do you still call me 'Your Lordship' with every breath?"
"Polyxia, you clearly call her Polyxia or Little Polyxena, right?"
Castorice's expression froze for a moment as she looked at the smiling Polyxia.
She seemed to think Xu Qiong had misunderstood, believing she didn't actually consider him a friend and was only saying so out of superficial flattery.
So Castorice quickly waved her hands and spoke in defense, "Your Lordship has misunderstood, I, just..."
It wasn't that Castorice didn't want to see people.
It was mainly because she couldn't get close to people before; even Aglaea helping her comb her hair was a life-and-death situation.
So over time, to avoid hurting others, Castorice would try to keep her distance, whether physically or in her manner of address.
That way, others would find her difficult to get along with and wouldn't be harmed by her.
Later on, this became a habit, and she became more and more of a shut-in, even earning the nickname 'Woju Princess' from Lord Sai Feier.
"I just... wanted to deliberately keep some distance. It's a habit, to avoid hurting Your Lordship."
Castorice tilted her head, her eyes instinctively darting away. "Of course, now, if Your Lordship is willing, I can... change the way I address you."
"Hmm..." Xu Qiong nodded and asked, "Then has Castorice thought of how to address me?"
"If you're asking how to address you..."
Castorice counted on her fingers as she walked, "Lord Xu Qiong? Mr. Xu Qiong? Little Xu Qiong?"
"Or should I call you... Hui Zi, like Lord Sai Feier does?"
"It feels like none of them are quite right. Naming things really isn't my forte."
"Then let's leave it like this for now," Xu Qiong interrupted considerately. "When Castorice has thought of something, tell me when we get back."
Hearing this, Castorice felt relieved and smiled brightly, "Your Lordship really is considerate."
"Alright then, Your Lordship!"
...
"But speaking of which, the power Your Lordship bestowed upon me shouldn't be eternal, right?"
While pushing Polyxia around the city, Castorice suddenly asked.
Xu Qiong looked at her and shook his head, "Of course not."
Although he could modify the Rules, it was best not to do so casually, and such modifications consumed Xu Qiong's Path energy.
From the moment he transformed it from a simple system ability into a Path and a group of Pathstriders began to form, it no longer relied solely on the system, but on Xu Qiong himself.
"It's just for this one time, also to avoid any trouble," Xu Qiong added.
Constant 'Death' was certainly hard to accept, but uncontrollable 'Life'—wouldn't that make one just like Yaoshi?
So thinking about it...
This wasn't something Castorice would want either; she would likely prefer to be an ordinary girl.
"Is that so, Your Lordship?" On the contrary, Castorice actually seemed a bit disappointed.
"Although I know my current life is already very satisfying, and it's wrong to crave this power, but Your Lordship..."
Xu Qiong gave a hum of acknowledgment, and saw Castorice looking at him, her large, watery eyes filled with a cute innocence, revealing a hint of longing and expectation.
"Could I..." Castorice paused and pleaded, "Just one more time?"
"I want to borrow this power again to give it to Polyxia."
Sitting in the wheelchair, Polyxia turned her head in confusion, "Sister..."
In response, Xu Qiong blinked and then gave an 'oh' of understanding.
So she was concerned about Polyxia's legs.
Xu Qiong remembered that at the end of the final life, even Castorice's mother Amonet lived, but Polyxia was still in a wheelchair.
So if she had the power to save others, Castorice's greatest wish would likely be to free Polyxia from the constraints of the wheelchair.
"It's possible, sure."
Castorice showed a look of surprise and joy.
"But," Xu Qiong demanded, "what is the price?"
"The price?"
Castorice pursed her lips, showing a conflicted expression.
Everything had a price; for example, in many lifetimes, Polyxia was trapped in the Underworld to resurrect her.
And after taking over the authority, she could not return to the human world.
"Your Lordship, if there is a price..."
"The price is just to give me a hug!"
"Eh?"
...
[Live Stream Clip, Uncut! Sharp commentary: Shaoji is actually the Aeon of Nihility, wanting to drag the whole universe into oblivion!]
Asta, who had just finished the 3.2 story, was browsing the community and official accounts when she saw a high-heat video quickly hitting the front page at the same time.
Looking at the creator profile, it was actually updated by the recently popular Xianzhou uploader, Guinaifen?!
Actually, there was no problem with that.
As a meta-player, Asta basically didn't pay much attention to the story.
Until recently!
With the successive conclusions of versions 3.1 and 3.2, Asta felt like she was about to become depressed; no wonder someone was attacking the Author.
What happened to the promised happy ending?
A reunion in the Underworld?!
Thinking about how on Castorice's first day of being trapped at work in the Underworld, she saw her own teacher floating by, it felt incredibly hellish.
Is this a story a human could come up with?!
Fortunately, there was now only one way left to alleviate the pain!
"Arlan!"
Asta walked out of the office with bold strides.
At this time, Arlan was already waiting outside the door; he bowed slightly, "Miss, the space jump is prepared."
"The travel fleet you requested has also been assembled for you; we can depart at any time!"
That's right.
After Asta received the coordinates sent by Xu Qiong, she was going to head over for the appointment after some preparation!
"Good, Arlan, remember to bring the Space Station 'local specialties' we're giving him, don't forget!"
"Don't worry, Miss," Arlan said seriously, "I guarantee that no one will notice the vicinity at that time, even if a planetary-level explosion occurs."
Asta nodded with considerable joy.
"Then let's depart; we're going to find him in reality!"
Go find him in reality (× かける )
Go 'real' him (√)
And so, Asta set off with satisfaction.
"Depart!"