"The Stellaron Hunters only act according to Elio's script. Glowbug, what's your mission here on Jarilo-VI?"
"You know quite a bit about us," Liuying murmured, resting her head on Anming's shoulder. His familiar scent brought her peace—no nightmares could haunt her here.
"There is no script."
Her answer surprised him. By all accounts, the Stellaron Hunters operated based on predetermined futures.
"My being here has nothing to do with prophecies," Liuying whispered, intertwining their fingers. "I came because I wanted to see you."
Just that simple. No grand design, no cosmic imperative. Only longing—so unbearable she'd shattered every script, defied every calculation.
To be with Anming was the only future she wanted.
"I've been waiting for you to marry me, Anming..."
Her tender gaze filled him with sudden, crushing guilt. Damn these simulations... If he continued, how many more wedding vows would he accumulate?
The terrifying truth? These weren't mere simulations. They felt like memories—ones he'd somehow forgotten. Was the system turning him into an unwitting scoundrel?
Anming shuddered. If this continued, it wouldn't just be Fu Xuan's Qiongguan Matrix versus Liuying's ocean pyromania. Worse—what if women he didn't remember started showing up with children and ultrasound scans?
Panicked, he summoned the system interface. Time froze mid-breath, Liuying's silver strands suspended mid-air.
"System, what the hell is this 'simulation' really?"
[Life Simulator cooling down. Next activation in: 61h 45m 06s]
"...What happens if I skip the next one?"
[Then you don't simulate.]
"?"
Anming resisted the urge to punch the hologram. The upgraded interface now featured a shop—stocked with impossible items:
Glamoth oak cake rolls (C-rank)
Yuque candied hawthorns (B-rank)
Cloud-Scrying Mirror (SSS-rank)
Firefly IV Assault Armor (A-rank)
Golden Blood (S-rank)
Aeon's Token (???)
"You're telling me I can buy the Cloud-Scrying Mirror?!" The legendary artifact, shattered centuries ago, available for mere simulation points?
[Life Simulator activated!]
The system's message glowed tauntingly. Clearly, it wanted him to simulate—to accumulate more "memories," more entanglements.
Not now. The current romantic minefield was volatile enough. He'd face Belobog's Stellaron first, let Stelle awaken as Preservation's champion. His priority? Figuring out how to cuddle Liuying without triggering another emotional landmine.
As time resumed, Bronya approached hesitantly.
"Glowbug, let's go."
"Mm." Liuying gripped his hand desperately. The trauma of losing him once had left scars no words could heal. She needed more than promises—she needed vows.
Anming understood. Kneeling before Belobog's iconic statue, he whispered:
"I love you. My oath still stands—always."