Wow, I didn't expect this translation to reach 1k collections, it's really surprising because I remember that sometimes only 10-20 people read this story in 1 day, so I say thank you and congratulations on the achievement, please enjoy the bonus chapter provided.
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After years of fighting, Ryan had long since understood that sitting idly and waiting was useless. It was better to proceed with his own plans step by step, even if it was just to fulfill a wish for Eden or Elysia.
There was no such thing as focusing on one point to solve a problem. He had more than a dozen plans progressing simultaneously in his mind. This multi-threaded processing capability had been maxed out without him even realizing it.
Amidst Ryan's leisure and everyone else's busyness, the artificial sunlight reappeared, and the Golden Courtyard gradually came to life.
Aponia, who was lying on her stomach on the table, woke up and rubbed her eyes. She saw a messy tabletop and realized that this was the first time she had fallen asleep due to exhaustion since becoming a MANTIS.
So everyone is the same.
Griseo was lying on Pardofelis's belly, and Pardofelis's head was held down by Rin. Rin was held in Sakura's arms. The fox-eared girl had obviously woken up first. She smiled slightly at Aponia, and then carefully pulled her hand out.
"Let them sleep for a while. Eden is tired too."
"Mhm, I can tell Eden is more dedicated than when she was a big star before. She told Elysia not to be nervous, but she herself rehearsed until midnight."
The two lowered their voices and looked across the round table. Eden was curled up on the sofa with a lyric book on her face, and Vil-V, who had returned after midnight, was lying at her feet, her right hand pinching Destopia's face.
"I'm really looking forward to the concert." Aponia smiled gently like water.
"Are you an Eden fan too?"
"No, but I think these days filled with anticipation are miraculously unbelievable. The fate I've seen shouldn't be like this; it should be more cruel and somber."
Aponia bowed and went to the bathroom to wash up, leaving Sakura stunned for a long time before she finally had a slight reaction.
Somber and cruel?
As expected of an observer of fate, she easily discovered the problem she had overlooked. It was indeed miraculous. During this time, they should be struggling to survive, and they should only be able to see somber faces, but there wasn't a single sense of abruptness.
Everything was very natural, and the things they were about to do had multiple layers of meaning. Anyway, with Sakura's intelligence, she could see three purposes for this concert alone. As for more, only Ryan and Mei could understand them.
She glanced at the time, went to the kitchen to busy herself for a while, and then went up the stairs. Sakura saw Ryan just coming out of his room, with dark circles under his eyes.
"Didn't sleep well?"
"Didn't sleep at all." Ryan yawned, his hands gripping the railing, overlooking the strange sleeping postures of everyone in the living room. "It's weird. When I was fighting in South America before, I didn't get tired even after three days and three nights, but after coming back, I get tired easily."
"You've probably relaxed too much." Sakura pursed her lips and smiled. She opened the thermos she was holding, and a strong aroma of tea floated out. "I've brewed the tea. I guess you didn't sleep well last night, so I specially put in some extra tea leaves. It might be a little bitter."
Ryan took it and took a sip. It was indeed a bit bitter, but it was invigorating. He looked back with a sense of emotion.
"Sakura, if it weren't for you, I'd probably become a useless person."
The fox-eared girl was like a tapeworm in his stomach. She thought of everything in advance and prepared everything without him even having to ask. Recently, she had also developed the ability to handle government affairs.
Plus, with this black professional suit and flesh-colored stockings, where could he find such a perfect secretary?
"You're exaggerating. This is my duty." Sakura never became conceited. When she heard Ryan's praise, she only gave a slight smile and immediately changed the subject. "I've sorted out yesterday's intelligence. Do you want a briefing?"
"Is there any news related to the Herrscher?"
"Not yet. It's mostly about the progress of some experiments."
"Then we'll listen to it later. There's an important event today, so we can't ruin the good mood." Ryan had just raised his hand when his empty teacup was filled, which made him feel a little embarrassed.
"Ahem, did you tell Rin about the news of her evacuation?"
When this was brought up, Sakura's face showed a troubled expression. She shook her head slightly: "Not yet. Rin is clamoring for the fusion surgery. She's been sulking since I lectured her last night."
"She's just a child. It's normal for teenagers to be rebellious. They really don't understand our painstaking efforts." Ryan smoothed things over for Rin. The little girl was hot-headed, but she didn't know that she and Griseo were the most dangerous ones.
They had a very high Honkai energy adaptability and were not MANTIS. They could become Herrscher vessels at any time. Although Sakura didn't say it out loud, she was always worried.
"When we talk to Rin about this, we have to choose a time when she's happy. It'll be most suitable after this event. I'll be the one to tell her then."
Is this the fourth purpose?
Even though she knew Ryan liked to kill multiple birds with one stone, Sakura didn't expect that the grand event for Eden could also involve herself. Her heart warmed.
Ryan's considerations were indeed comprehensive. He calculated everyone's thoughts in a single matter. This would be terrifying if he were an enemy, but as a friend, it was incredibly reassuring.
"Alright. She's always admired you."
It was more than just admiration. If he knew what Rin said in Siberia, he would probably spank her butt.
Ryan gave a dry laugh and stepped down the stairs: "This is called 'exchanging a plum for a peach.' We've always been helping each other."
He had hit the nail on the head. There was never love without reason. All human relationships were mutually maintained.
As Kalpas returned covered in stars and moonlight, there was no need for Ryan to speak. His loud voice woke everyone up. They each rubbed their eyes and went to wash up, and those with performance tasks had to change into their gorgeous dresses.
They didn't have to worry about these things. Eden had already prepared everything, and even Ryan had one. According to her, this was originally a uniform prepared for Ryan. Considering his personality, she had specially made it in a simple style.
It sounded full of resentment. She was still complaining about Vil-V's tin cans to this day.
Today, Eden was the protagonist, and Ryan didn't sing a different tune. He obediently put on the clothes and felt that something was a bit strange when he looked in the living room mirror.
"Eden's aesthetic is much better than hers. What kind of broken power armor? I've wanted to destroy the data several times." Vil-V hopped over. He could tell it was the Magician by her tone.
"You're scolding yourself, aren't you? I think 'Elysian's' aesthetic is quite to my taste." Ryan observed himself in the mirror. He was wearing a pure white stand-up collar trench coat with a V-neck black-edged shirt underneath.
He thought for a moment, took off his frameless glasses, and used his hand to slick his bangs back. He suddenly slapped his thigh.
"I knew there was a sense of déjà vu. Isn't this Aizen?"
"Who is Aizen?" Vil-V poked her head over. She saw that Ryan looked even more slender in these simple clothes, but with his glasses off, his eyes, although gentle, gave people a sense of pressure.
"A king of cool. Eden and Elysian are a perfect match. They can both fit two different styles of coolness. Not bad, not bad."
Ryan no longer had any resistance. Even though this outfit was made of nano-material, it could also provide a certain level of defense.
He didn't need hair wax. The electric arc directly fixed his hairstyle. Then, he held the Judgement of Shamash and resumed his usual cold appearance.
"Ryan, we're going to an event, not to kill people." Vil-V said with some difficulty.
"Eden is the protagonist. Alright, is everyone ready? Let's go. The news has probably already been leaked."
Eden and Elysia had already gone to the site, and the rest of the people were also dressed up. Aponia, holding the Guzheng, carefully looked Ryan over.
"Aren't you supposed to be the closing act? Why don't I see your instrument?"
"It's already made. It's this thing." Ryan took out a long stick-like object from behind him. It had eight holes. He held it vertically and blew into it forcefully, producing a low, deep sound.
"This is called a Xiao. Uh, I guess I invented it."
The previous civilization had flutes, but most of them were made of metal. None of the people present had seen an instrument made of bamboo, and they couldn't help but look at each other.
"Ryan, are you an all-rounder? You can kill people and also play music?" Sakura's eyes flickered. She rarely admired a single person.
"The Xiao and the sword don't conflict. My ideal used to be to be a swordsman who lived a life of gratitude and vengeance."
"Oh, that's the same as Hua's ideal. She said you were a hero. I was skeptical at the time, but she said that a great hero serves the country and the people, and for the entire human race, that's a giant hero."
What the hell is a 'giant hero'? I'm not named Emiya. And this girl is praising me like this behind my back. It's really, really...
Makes my heart bloom.
Everyone likes to hear flattery. Ryan considered himself a commoner. He immediately grinned and waved his hand.
"Let's go. We're going to support Eden."
"Let's go!"
With Pardofelis and Rin cheering in unison, a group of people laughed and went out. The fastest one, Griseo, rushed out of the small courtyard in a flash because Blanca had returned and was waiting for her at the door, holding some gifts.
When the others saw the mother and daughter reunite, they either smiled or went up to greet them. Only Sakura stopped and looked at Ryan, who was at the back.
The young man locked the door and happened to stop in the center of the courtyard. He placed his hand on the courtyard gate that Kalpas had personally modified, and his gaze swept over the small courtyard.
He saw the fish pond that he and Kalpas had worked hard to dig. A few koi were wagging their tails. He saw the toys that Hua had personally made. A few rascals hadn't put them away and had just left them on both sides of the stone path. He also saw large flower beds where Elysia often wore a sun hat and watered them, and he also saw the swing they had sat on a few days ago.
Every blade of grass, every tree, every brick, and every tile was made by him and the Flame-Chasers of the Golden Courtyard. Every inch of soil was filled with memories, which made him feel a bit dazed, as if he hadn't heard the piano music that had already begun.
"Ryan, what are you looking at? It's already started."
"Okay, I'm coming right away." Ryan came to his senses. He held the iron gate that Vil-V had welded and pulled it shut with the smallest force.
Click.
The lock was secured. Ryan took out the golden key and carefully put it in his chest pocket. He didn't know why, but he had a sense of déjà vu, as if he was personally closing his dorm room door when he was leaving Chiba Academy.
At that time and place, just like this time and place.