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 (×)
Go 'real' him (√)
And so, Asta set off with satisfaction.
"Depart!"