“Niao Xiaomi, come here.”
Eh?
The girl was still suspicious, wondering who this woman, who looked like a spirit of abundance, really was.
Unexpectedly, the other party suddenly called out to her.
Does she know me?
But I’ve never met her before…
Could she be a fan?
Heh heh~ My fans really are all over the universe already!
However, facing the smug girl, that woman only looked at her with a half-smile.
“I’m not your fan.”
“And besides, not everyone in Guxing is a useless slacker turned genius.”
Can she read minds?!
“Of course not, it’s just that your thoughts are too easy to figure out.”
Fig…figure out?!
Heavens, what kind of CPU does that require?
Is this even a human brain anymore?
“You’re underestimating the human brain. Hmm… Enough about that, come, I’ll take you to see something fun.”
Something fun?
Niao Xiaomi was a bit timid, not daring to step forward.
This woman was too terrifying.
She even knew what Niao Xiaomi was thinking.
If she followed her, wouldn’t she get abducted and even help count the ransom money?
“Relax and go,” the Witch came forward to persuade.
She shrugged. “I saw her methods on the way. The White Space is her masterpiece. She shouldn’t have any ill intentions.”
I don’t believe it!
What if the White Space is just her bait? Maybe humans are just her workers, and her real plan is to collect the souls of the dead…
“Oh, shit, you’re way too dark. Are you sure you’re not from Universe 404896?” The woman’s eye twitched. “Do I look like a villain?”
The word “villain” wouldn’t be written on her face anyway.
But since she’s the creator of the White Space, it seems reasonable to go with her.
After all, she’s helped humanity so much.
[Alright then……]
Niao Xiaomi reluctantly stepped out from behind Bai Xiaozhi.
She walked toward the woman.
The woman grabbed Niao Xiaomi’s hand.
A flash of teleportation light.
The surroundings were no longer the White Space.
[Where is this?]
“This is a Time Crevice, it’s very dangerous, don’t touch anything randomly.”
So why did you bring me here?
“Do you hate me?”
The woman half-squatted, held Niao Xiaomi’s shoulders, and looked straight into her eyes.
Niao Xiaomi frowned in confusion.
What kind of weird question is this…
You helped us so much, I’m grateful, not even time to thank you, how could I hate you?
“I clearly have the power to save all of you, yet I only provided you with a White Space, sent you to another world, and let you fend for yourselves.”
“As a result, so many people died.”
Oh, so people died, whatever… Wait, you had the power to save everyone?
That’s kind of upsetting.
Niao Xiaomi pouted.
She started to get angry!
“So, do you hate me?”
[Hate is definitely too much.]
[After all, just being able to help is already Earth’s luck.]
[But there’s certainly some dissatisfaction, since so many people died…]
“Oh? Dissatisfied?” The woman showed that half-smile again, her expression a bit scary.
“I’m the benefactor who saved your world. With a snap, I could wipe out all your efforts, and yet you dare to say ‘dissatisfied’ in front of me? Instead of kneeling in gratitude?”
Niao Xiaomi was instantly scared silly.
But the next second, the woman picked up Niao Xiaomi, lifted her high, and spun her in a circle.
“That’s what I like most about you~”
Ah? Eh?
“Don’t worry, it’s not that kind of ‘like’.” The woman set Niao Xiaomi down with a smile.
“It’s just that being friends with you would be very comfortable. With you, there’s no pressure or calculation.”
Ah…ha… really?
Niao Xiaomi still hadn’t recovered from the earlier fright.
Her calves were still shaking.
“You’re like a blank sheet of paper, your mind is clean and empty, nothing can get inside.”
Heh heh heh, scared now~
Niao Xiaomi put her hands on her hips.
“The reason I didn’t step in is because, as a third party, Guxing doesn’t take sides with any civilization.” The woman said,
“That’s the Stellar Code. Some paths, you have to walk on your own.”
I see… ah…
Niao Xiaomi nodded.
She understood easily.
Just like watching two ant colonies fighting; helping either side is taking sides.
Not helping is true fairness.
By the way, did you go through all this trouble just to tell me this?
“No, I brought you here because, as usual, I want to extend an invitation to an outstanding Raider—would you like to join Guxing? Become a star-faring hero like me, saving endangered planets.”
[No way.]
Niao Xiaomi replied very decisively.
Snacks and games are all ready, and you tell me this?
Go risk my life again?
No way!
I want to stay at home and play games until I die of old age!
“Alright, that answer was expected.” The woman nodded. “You like freedom, and that’s what you deserve.”
Alright, can I go back now?
“There’s one more thing.”
Just before returning, the woman spoke.
Hm?
She reached out, placed her hand on Niao Xiaomi’s shoulder, and, in a very buddy-buddy way, said: “When you’re playing games together
can you bring me along? I play healer super well.”
Niao Xiaomi looked up at her with disdain, looking down on the woman.
You, healer, good? Can you be as good as me?
I used to be a top-100 ladder healer, hmph, daring to steal
the healer spot from me, showing off in front of a master!
[I, healer, am the real deal! You, healer, not so much!]
[If you try to take my spot, I won’t play with you!]
“Alright, then we’ll both play healer.” The woman paused, “Games, well
after your adventure in Nerrifa, you’re probably tired of ordinary games.
Let’s do something exciting—”
Exciting?
The woman fiddled around and somehow pulled out a whole sack of chips.
“This is the latest Holo-Game: Quest for V.
It can connect across star systems, opening next week.
All the Guxing friends are playing, those from the underworld and the living world, even your ancestors are in there.
I’ll pull you and your friends into a party, and we’ll form a small guild to play together.”
A holo-game?
Niao Xiaomi curled her lips. All that metaverse and full-dive stuff is just
for fooling idiots and scamming investors, sheesh!
The girl had just pressed the chip to her temple when the scene before her eyes changed,
as if she had traveled to another world.
Only, in the sky, a countdown appeared, its style a bit like the Strategy Timer, but this was for server opening.
You can revive infinitely after dying, no need to worry about the dangers—enjoy stress-free raiding. Since you want to play games, let’s play here together.”
Fine, this can be a backup option.
Anyway, there’s a long future ahead to fill, and if someone kindly recommends a game, why not accept~
“I’m off, I’m off.”
With a snap of her fingers, the woman sent Niao Xiaomi home.
She herself also vanished.
“How was it, did she make things difficult for you?”
The Witch and Bai Xiaozhi quickly gathered around with concern.
Niao Xiaomi shook her head.
She hadn’t spent much time with that woman, but if she had to evaluate her—
She didn’t seem like some worldly sage.
She was just another young person like herself.
With a child’s heart…
Rather approachable.
Looks like these saviors aren’t some lofty, stiff-necked authorities after all.
Maybe, joining Guxing wouldn’t be so bad?
……
At the same time, there were two people waiting for Niao Xiaomi; they’d already waited a long time.
The Former Shaman, and Ah Fu.
The two slowly walked over, knelt down, and hugged the girl.
The Witch and Bai Xiaozhi quietly stepped back a bit.
They didn’t want to disturb this family reunion.
Besides, the tragedies of half of Niao Xiaomi’s life were caused by their parents.
They had no face to meet Niao Xiaomi and her family.
However.
Just as the two women sadly stepped back.
Ah Fu and the Former Shaman reached out together, one on each side, and pulled the Witch and Bai Xiaozhi into their arms.
“From today on, we’re family.”
The two women froze.
Faced with that warm embrace, the defenses in their hearts seemed to melt away.
Their tense bodies unconsciously relaxed.
Bathed in the gentle, warm light of the new sun.
Tears welled up, tears of joy.