Chapter 22 (1/2): “Observer”

After tossing and turning for most of the night, Allen’s paranoid tendencies finally quieted down for the moment.

His annoying habit was somewhat similar to that of a certain married man with a penchant for older women—the chancellor.

Whenever he slept elsewhere, he had to say to those around him, “In my dreams, I am a killer.”

Allen originally wanted to sleep inside the wardrobe, but no matter how he tried, he just couldn’t get comfortable.

Exhausted to the point of having no strength left, he had no choice but to lie back on his big bed and drift into a hazy sleep.

Tomorrow, he still had to keep scheming and struggling with this damn world.

However, not long after falling asleep, the familiar sensation of weightlessness dragged him away.

The ceiling of his bedroom was gone, replaced by the vast, boundless, cold, and lonely starry sea—the very place where he had previously met that mysterious Black Dress Girl.

But this time, something was different.

The black-haired girl in the black dress was standing with her back to him, at the “edge” of the starry sea.

Her long hair was like the universe’s deepest darkness, as if it absorbed all the faint starlight around her, leaving behind a silhouette that made one’s heart race.

Allen immediately snapped awake.

This was definitely not a dream!

He instantly realized that this starry sea wasn’t real—it was a false microcosm created by the girl before him.

It seemed this powerful being had once again “invited” him over for tea.

Who was she?

The Original Creator?

An Evil God?

Or some other unspeakable entity?

In any case, it was time to test the waters.

Allen forced himself into the most respectful posture he could muster, imitating a knight paying homage—half-kneeling behind her, bowing his head, and speaking in a deep voice:

“My Lord, you have summoned your humble servant. What revelation do you have for me?”

The girl didn’t turn around; her cold voice directly entered Allen’s mind.

“I am not the Creator worshiped by your human faiths. I have never seen ‘Him.’”

Allen: “!!!”

Cold sweat broke out all over him!

Not the sleeping Original Creator?!

Then who the hell was she?!

“I have never seen ‘Him’”—this sentence exploded in Allen’s mind like an information bomb!

From it, Allen could draw several conclusions:

First, this “girl” might not be a god, but she was definitely a higher-dimensional being equal to a god!

Second, she mentioned “you humans,” admitting that she was not human at all—her human form was merely a convenient cosplay for communication!

Third, “never seen ‘Him’”?

She was either implying the Creator didn’t exist, or she was born after the creation event and never saw the sleeping Original Creator.

Either way, it was terrifying!

Allen unlocked a rare and unprecedented achievement—direct contact with a cosmic-level “god”!

At that moment, Allen noticed an interesting detail.

The first time this divine being met him, the sense of artificiality was strong; they couldn’t even communicate properly.

But now, she seemed much more natural and could converse with Allen normally.

Why?

The girl seemed to anticipate Allen’s question.

Still facing away from him, her voice was flat and emotionless.

“My form is generated from your subconscious. At first, you felt dissonance because you couldn’t imagine my existence.”

“Now, you have become aware of my presence. That is the premise for our communication.”

“Eh?”

Allen was stunned and blurted out, “Do you mean the subconscious kink I have is for black-haired, long-haired beauties in black dresses?”

The moment the words escaped his mouth, Allen wanted to smack himself!

Allen de Laval!

What the hell are you talking about with a cosmic-level god?!

Get serious!

This is about the survival of humanity!

“You are interesting.”

The girl seemed unfazed by Allen’s “kink confession” and went on by herself.

“I have been observing you for a long time.”

“…Observing me for a long time?”

The respect on Allen’s face instantly vanished, replaced by a gloomy expression.

“It was you? All this time I’ve crossed worlds and endured these damn reincarnations—was it all you?”

The girl had said Allen had already realized her existence.

What else had Allen realized?

He had realized that Starshine Serenade, this damned game, had no such thing as a “Happy End”!

That meant behind Starshine Serenade, there was a hidden mastermind controlling the fates of countless lives.

And now, this mastermind was revealing herself!

This was bad!

The mastermind had blocked the newbie village entrance!

This villain was way too cautious—she even personally came down to cut off Allen’s development!

“Crossing worlds? Reincarnation?”

The girl finally turned slowly.

Her purple eyes, deep like a nebula, gazed at Allen without a trace of emotion—only pure, inhuman coldness.

“It seems you have forgotten the beginning of all stories.”

Her words detonated Allen’s suspicion like gunpowder.

What did she mean by “forgotten”?

Did his past self know something?

What was the beginning of all stories?

Wasn’t he transmigrated while stubbornly pursuing the hidden route of Starshine Serenade?

Allen hadn’t expected even the truth behind his crossing and reincarnation to be shrouded in mystery.

His soul felt completely transparent before the girl.

Seeing through Allen’s questions, she said flatly: “Your story is lost beyond time. You are not yet qualified to face the truth.”

Huh?!

I don’t even have the right to know my own story?

Aren’t I just an ordinary transmigrator…?

Could it be that I’m actually a core figure in some world-shaking conspiracy?

Allen suddenly thought of a common sci-fi trope—

“My memories are false?”

The girl only shook her head and didn’t explain further.

My memories aren’t false…but I have forgotten the beginning of all stories…

Could it be…

I crossed over far later than when I played the hidden route of Starshine Serenade?

I just lost that part of my memory?

This mysterious mastermind’s personality was certainly not one to reveal much information.

Besides, Allen seriously doubted that such an obscure “god” always told the truth.

What exactly was the purpose of the mastermind observing Allen?

Allen suddenly recalled how he once prayed to the divine during his battle with the Fake Crest Knight.

“I want to live! No matter what, I will struggle to live! God, I have always thought you threw me into this damn world—you must be an evil super bastard! But if you respond to my prayers, I will dedicate everything to you! So…please give me strength! Even if it costs a price more desperate than death!”

“Look at me! You bastard god! I will give all my love to this damn world!!”

Damn it, his prayer was actually heard by a god!

Not the sleeping Original Creator, but the mastermind!

That phrase “Look at me” was outrageously arrogant!

After all, the other side had been observing him all along!

Allen had been bitterly cursing the divine, but the girl didn’t mind—she was pretty patient.

It seemed she was here to claim her price.

Sure enough, never casually pray to a god in a world where gods exist!

Allen’s endless cycle of death might be the price he paid for his “cheat” power!

Something felt off again.

Allen’s suspicious instincts flared up.

This was the mastermind—would she really listen kindly to Allen’s prayer and bless him?

“Future Sight was your gift to me?”

Allen asked doubtfully.

The girl answered sincerely, “That is your own ability; it has nothing to do with me. Of course, I don’t know what your ‘Lord’ is like. Maybe you can think along those lines.”

Future Sight is my own ability?

And I can consider the Original Creator?

Allen’s mind grew even more tangled.

“What do you want with me?”

Allen gave up on the confusion and came straight to the point.

“A being like you must look down on humans like ants, right?”

“You humans observe ants’ ecology as well, don’t you?”

The girl answered calmly, then raised her hand and snapped her fingers.

Snap!

With the crisp snap, the vast starry sea behind her was struck by an invisible hammer, and countless stars instantly collapsed and shattered, becoming a dead, silent dust belt!

“But recently,” the girl’s voice remained steady, “I discovered that this perfect ecological bottle was infiltrated by some annoying creatures. I found you to have you eliminate those invaders with your own power.”

Allen fully understood the girl’s cryptic words: Recently = The latest human reincarnation cycle.

Ecological bottle = The planet humans currently inhabit.

Annoying creatures = Evil gods or some other damn things.

Invaders = The minions of the Evil Gods and the crests they left behind!

Damn!

So you’re the mastermind behind Starshine Serenade!

You created this planet as an ecological bottle?!

Humans are the ants trapped inside your bottle?!

Now other bugs got in, and you’re sending me to be the bug killer?!

A surge of rage shot up Allen’s chest!

What’s wrong with being ants?

Ants have dignity too!

I died 999 times already—not to be your free exterminator!

“Forgive me for refusing your order!”

Allen risked it, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

“I’m just a doomed villain who can barely survive. How could I help a ‘god’ like you get rid of the pests you hate?”

“If I’m not mistaken, you’re not an omnipotent god, right? Otherwise, couldn’t you just snap your fingers and crush those pests yourself?”