IdleYoungMaster
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Chapter 286: This Time
🕑 Added 2025-05-13 11:02:58 +0000 UTCSirin had second thoughts ever since this ‘global cataclysm’ occurred a few hours ago. She blankly stared at the complicated patterns behind Kiana’s back. Despite not physically looking back, her mind tells her it was there.
It was such a strange phenomenon she had to rethink her life choices.
‘Why did God grant humanity with His power?’
Sirin’s beliefs were subverted. She thought God wanted to kill all humans; that was why God granted her strength and capabilities to do so (i.e., cause widespread casualties).
Seeing the very same God grant humans powerful strength, she became confused.
‘Why… Was it all futile? Are our lives futile?’
The injustice on her heart grew stronger and stronger. It led to a point where she became impatient, thus she directly showed up to Kiana for the first time.
After all…
‘That person… is he God?’
Only by showing up could she confront Kiana’s nominal tutor, the very same person who restrained her from slacking off.
Sirin longed for answers. Revenge comes second.
“You haven’t beaten it yet? Your current improvements should have been enough.”
“Eek?!”
Kiana jumped up from the couch. She threw the controller upwards before catching it in her hands.
Seeing it was the familiar ‘fairy’ ELF, she calmed down.
“You are back. How did it go?”
“It went well. Anyways… brute-forcing that stage with reflexes won’t work. You have to be patient and wait for certain combos to land. It’s true we can take the advantage if we can punch more, but sometimes, a decisive strike is all that’s needed.”
Aleph did not preach for long. He knew that with Kiana’s attention span, she would feel sleepy.
If not for it, why would he devise teaching methods that are as fun as playing video games?
“Um. Right. This game talked to me.”
“..?”
“I am not joking. It called me an idiot!”
“...”
Kiana saw Aleph’s ELF close his eyes. He prevented himself from showing any visible signs of laughter.
Once he opened his eyes, though, Kiana felt the same pitying look Siegfried received from Aleph.
“Don’t worry. I will sort it out later.” He told her. “School is suspended for two weeks, by the way.”
“..!”
Unconcealable joy appeared in her eyes.
“We will carry on with the homeworks.”
“Aw…”
“I will let you play for today, though.”
“Yes!”
Just like that, Kiana went through several ups and downs in a single day.
Unbeknownst to her, the ELF Aleph showed a projection of a tall man. It moved from its original position and tapped the back of Kiana’s head. The latter did not notice anything due to the perception alteration inherent to complex lifeforms.
His hand surprisingly went through. It pulled out a purple-haired girl. Surprise could be seen in her eyes.
“You are finally willing to talk.”
“...God.”
“Hum..?”
It took a second for Aleph’s projection to realize something. He possessed the authority of Finality. Sirin met the Will of the Honkai. It is very easy to be mistaken as the actual Cocoon of Finality with it.
“I am a God, but I am not the one you are looking for.”
“...”
“We are two separate entities. If they are like this…”
A pure white dot appeared atop Aleph’s left palm..
“...I am this.”
A similar white dot appeared on his other palm. It was soon devoured by a kind of ‘indescribable’ light; thus appearing as ‘different colors’ with each look.
Aleph made sure to let her understand it was not he who supported her. He was not the one who fed her desire to take revenge on humanity.
This realization made her blank out.
‘Why…’
The sheer power God emitted and the fact God helped her that easily… it left an indelible mark on her mind. She has no idea how to fight such a being, more so take revenge on humanity.
It was as if everything she had done was pointless. In the face of overwhelming strength, it is absolutely nothing.
Nothing.
“Sigh…”
Aleph let out a deep breath when he saw her expression.
Morally speaking, Sirin was wronged first. Her life and death had always been locked since she was sent to ‘Babel’. Her greatest value is to provide live data for the researchers presiding over that place.
The blatant disregard not only to her life, but also to her friends’ lives, created a seething rage targeted on all of humanity. The unfairness and inequality suffered by a small girl created the entity known as the ‘Herrscher of the Void’.
‘Was it why I gave that girl a second chance?’
He remembered the time he gave the Previous Era’s sixth herrscher, “Ling”, a second chance.
Aeons do not mind peoples’ life and death. It is more of a story worth seeing rather than a scenario where they play a role.
Aleph is different in that regard. He played a direct role on Earth. It is a rare instance when his ‘purpose’ as an Aeon comes second.
To him, what he wanted to see the most is a good ending. The struggles and hardships do not necessarily have to be removed, but those painful sacrifices must be. Earth is a place where he can be selfish.
It is not an issue for Aleph to become a wish-granting genie for people like Sirin.
“There’s no telling what is right or wrong.”
“...Hu..?”
Surprise first lit up on her eyes before it turned into confusion.
“God. What do you deem as right and wrong?”
“Me? You are wrong.”
His words struck Sirin hard. Her face became pale at the thought of her impending doom.
“But… humanity is also wrong. Both sides are wrong. Two wrongs don’t make it right.”
“What…” Her voice trembled before it proceeded, “What should I have done?”
“...Do you want to know?”
“..?”
“My answer is not the absolute one. It is still better to find it yourself.” He stated frankly. “That is why… I am giving you a chance.”
Snap-!
Their surroundings turned pitch-gray. Countless pictures appeared around them. They are all translucent.
Their similarities was Sirin’s familiarity with them.
‘That day…’
It was an exact replica of the events that occurred during the second major eruption.
“If you were to choose for the second time, what choice would you make?”
The scenes halted at Aleph’s words.
Sirin’s attention went towards Aleph. The latter did not defy human aesthetics. He is tall and handsome. His golden pupils hold a certain charm that draws her gaze into. His Fire MOTH uniform added the feeling of a veteran atop all.
His dark blue overcoat swayed. His fingers are positioned for another finger snap.
“I hope you can find your answer.”
Snap-!
Just like that, she went ‘back’ in time.
