The cosmic diva, Robin.
Born in Penacony, she was a singer of the Halovian race, renowned throughout the galaxy. She was a young woman who carried herself with grace and composure.
With a voice blessed by [The Harmony], she manifested "resonance" among her fans and, indeed, all living beings across the myriad worlds.
She shone on stage as a dream-like idol. Her pure figure and sweet smile captured the hearts of all who saw her.
Even here, at the Herta Space Station, it was no exception.
"Miss Robin's voice is so beautiful and moving. It's like a trickling stream in a quiet valley after a fresh mountain rain. It brings peace and tranquility to the heart. I feel like I've found new inspiration for a project that's been troubling me for a month."
"I wonder if Miss Robin will come to perform at our space station."
"She's truly my goddess. The halo above her head is so brilliant, and her pure eyes are so clear. After listening to the goddess's song, I've forgotten all the brokenness, ugliness, falsehood, and loneliness in my life. What difficulties could possibly stand in my way now?"
"Which planet is that? It looks so desolate, and the stage is so crudely built. It's completely unworthy of Goddess Robin's radiant presence."
"I think it's a planet called Kasberlinat-VIII."
"Never heard of it."
"It's a place of frequent warfare, where the people live under the bloody rule of a tyrannical government. Miss Robin went to the front lines herself to spread peace and save the lives on that planet. She truly has a kind and beautiful heart."
"Is that so? As expected of my goddess. My admiration for her grows by the day."
"…"
Her eyes covered by a black cloth, Jingliu walked slowly through the largest exhibition hall in the space station's main cabin.
There was a giant screen here.
Jingliu noticed that some of the researchers, who were usually engrossed in their work, had actually put down their experiments and gathered here, cheering for the cosmic diva, captivated by her.
Only then did Jingliu pause slightly, lifting her head to look at Robin singing on the massive screen.
The young woman was indeed pure, moving, gorgeous, and graceful.
Even as the focus of the world's attention, no pride or arrogance could be seen in her emerald eyes.
This cosmic diva truly had ideals and convictions, and she genuinely wanted to save those who were suffering.
Jingliu watched in silence as ripples spread across the lake of her heart.
It was precisely because of the existence of people like this that beauty could stand out in this cruel and unreasonable world.
On the screen, as the Halovian girl's song reached its climax, rainbow-like ripples spread out, and white wings suddenly unfurled behind her.
Robin's entire being was bathed in a holy radiance.
Like a divine messenger, sowing light upon the mortal realm.
"[The Harmony]…"
Jingliu withdrew her gaze. Even watching the live broadcast through a screen, she could faintly feel a slight "frequency" vibration.
It was a voice that could stir a resonance deep within a person's heart.
"A peculiar ability."
Although it couldn't stir any resonance within Jingliu, such an ability was practically born for singing. No, to be precise, it should follow a certain specific frequency, which was…
"[The Order]."
But that no longer had anything to do with Jingliu.
Her ice-blue hair drifted lightly as the peerless Sword Champion departed.
Jingliu needed to familiarize herself with the space station to prepare for the upcoming invasion of the Antimatter Legion.
Although she would much rather slay the abominations of Abundance, [The Destruction] was also a great enemy.
Herta had gone to an unknown star region for a meeting, making this the time when the space station's security was at its weakest.
No matter the security system, none could be more effective than Herta herself being present.
However, Jingliu never would have expected that because of this brief pause, the ripples of [The Harmony] would spread to Ye Feng's world, and she would have the chance to witness the… peerless elegance of this pure and kind cosmic diva.
…
…
"Phew, so tired~~"
Robin sat down on a white leather sofa, her smooth, fair feet in crystalline high heels resting on a luxurious red carpet.
The crystal chandelier on the ceiling refracted a brilliant light, lending a lavish color to the room.
Robin didn't enjoy this kind of luxury, but accepting it as a matter of course and using it naturally was a required lesson for being a "cosmic diva."
Her very existence represented radiance, beauty, and flawlessness. She was the materialization of longing, a singer born to be a complete "idol" and an "ideal woman."
Elegance and luxury were, of course, indispensable.
However, at this moment, Robin wasn't tired because of the concert she had just finished, but because…
"Why can't humans understand each other?"
Why must they resort to war and plunder?
Why must they use violence?
If only everyone could open their hearts…
Robin had learned one thing in her short life: the more she sang and toured, the more she realized that music has its limits.
A song might be able to briefly console the soul, but it could never soothe physical pain, much less change a chaotic situation or inflated desires.
"Is what I'm doing right now truly meaningful?"
Robin tilted her head, gazing at her own reflection in the French window, and couldn't help but murmur to herself.
After releasing three consecutive albums, her music career was gradually reaching its peak. Songs like If I Can Stop One Heart From Breaking and On the Loveliest Day had topped all the major music charts in the galaxy, becoming household hits.
But Robin was growing more and more lost, not knowing what she was singing for.
In the face of real disaster, her songs were useless. Was she singing to please the powerful or to whitewash suffering? She was only giving people false hope.
Was there really any need to continue this "journey"?
Robin couldn't help but ask herself this question.
The young woman lowered her head, and her whole figure seemed to shrink.
"Mother, Brother… what should I do now?"
When Robin was still in her swaddling clothes, a Stellaron fell upon her homeland. Crying, sighing, pleading—those were the first sounds in Robin's memory, and they later became her musical enlightenment. Robin and her family prayed for salvation with dirges, but the gaze of a god never fell upon them.
Later, her mother died. Cold stars fell rapidly behind her mother, dissolving into the vortex of the Memory Zone.
Because of this painful childhood experience, the siblings had made a pact: they would use everyone's wishes and the power of the "Harmonious Choir" to build a paradise of happiness.
There, everyone's wishes could be fulfilled, and everyone could live a happy and beautiful life.
This was Robin's greatest wish.
"Miss, Grand Councilor Niev would like to invite you to join him for dinner."
A bodyguard from [The Family] gently pushed the door open and reported with his head bowed.
"No. Please relay my thanks to Grand Councilor Niev for his kind offer, but I don't have time right now."
"Yes, Miss."
Closing the ornate white door, the bodyguard departed without a sound.
They showed no hesitation in rejecting a high-ranking official from what was practically the most powerful faction on this planet.
Robin was able to tour among the stars not because of her captivating voice, nor her galaxy-spanning popularity, but because of power.
The bodyguards of [The Family] were capable of handling any sudden crisis on this planet.
And Robin herself was a Pathstrider of [The Harmony].
If not for this, with her beauty, she would have long ago been locked in a cage by some dignitary, to be… admired, day and night.
Robin leaned back on the sofa. Pondering her future and the meaning of her songs, she slowly closed her eyes…
Her consciousness gradually sank, as if falling into the deep sea.
The pressure around her was immense, suffocating, making it hard to breathe.
Robin instinctively struggled upwards, but someone grabbed her ankle and dragged her deeper…
---o---
The cosmic diva felt as if she had just closed her eyes before she opened them again.
It was bright outside the window. The lingering gloom had finally dispersed, and warm sunlight streamed in, making her whole body feel warm and indescribably comfortable.
"Is it morning already?"
Robin stood up gracefully. Her beautiful legs, revealed from beneath the hem of her dress, seemed to be coated in a layer of light, their skin smooth and fair.
"…It's so quiet."
Robin scanned the room but found nothing out of the ordinary, yet a sense of unease lingered in her heart.
She called out for her female bodyguard but received no response.
If she were here, it would be impossible for her not to answer.
There was only one answer, then. Something had happened!
The room was empty and silent. Alarm bells rang in Robin's mind.
'…What on earth happened?'
Robin couldn't help but think back to last night when she had refused the Grand Councilor's dinner invitation.
Could it be him?
Robin's delicate hand, clad in an exquisite silk glove, clenched slightly over her chest.
No, impossible.
This planet shouldn't possess the power to make a bodyguard from [The Family] disappear without a sound.
And even if they could, why was she still here, sleeping safe and sound?
It defied logic.
Robin stared at the closed door. Staying here wasn't a solution.
She swallowed lightly, intending to leave the room.
But before she could act, the door opened first.
A man with a gentle smile appeared.
Seeing him walk in so casually, without a shred of etiquette, Robin asked warily:
"Who are you?"
"I never would have thought it would be you who arrived first. But you'll make a nice appetizer. As for 'who I am,' my name is Ye Feng. As for my identity… whatever you think I am, that's what I am."
Ye Feng said with a faint, lilting smile.
His gaze was unconcealed, brazenly sizing up the cosmic diva before him, the pure idol adored by countless people.
The singer was dressed in a formal gown that showcased her elegance and grace.
Her overall color scheme was gray, white, and purple. Purple ruffles were layered on her chest, from which musical staff patterns and star-shaped accessories flowed, adorned with a musical note brooch. Her earrings, bracelet, and the hem of her dress were also decorated with pearls and stars, with ribbons falling from them, further accentuating the young woman's pure beauty.
What was even harder to ignore was that Robin, as a Halovian, had a pair of wings on her back and by her ears. The wings on her back were usually tucked away at her waist, while the wings by her ears added an alluring, exotic charm.
"Ye Feng… where is everyone at the door? Why are you here?"
Ye Feng sat down on the sofa Robin had just been sitting on. It was soft and still retained her warmth.
"Don't be in such a hurry. Let's take our time. I'll answer any questions you have. But in return…"
"In return, what?"
Robin shrank back slightly.
She stood in a patch of sunlight, poised and graceful, her figure beautiful.
Ye Feng's gaze, however, was fixed on her beautiful legs in their high heels.
The lean bones were covered by supple, icy skin, yet her legs were not without a pleasing fullness. In the sunlight, every line exuded a gentle beauty and an inner, water-like grace.
Her delicate toes were as round as freshly peeled lychees, and her small, exquisite feet looked as if they could be held in one hand. Her crystal-clear toenails were curled cutely, tempting one to caress and play with them.
Ye Feng smiled gently. "Miss Robin, you should understand."
Ye Feng's unbridled gaze made the skin on Robin's legs feel as if it were being scorched.
She wanted to cover them with her skirt, but the design of the opening left no extra fabric. She could only remain exposed to the man's licking gaze.
At this moment, Robin showed no fear. Instead, she took a step forward.
"I don't know."
"Oh my, Miss Robin is an idol singer, yet you don't even know this bit of common sense? To put it simply, to gain something, you must give something in return. There's no such thing as a free lunch in this world. Even if something is free, its price has already been secretly marked by fate."
"You mean an 'exchange'?"
Ye Feng nodded with a light chuckle. "Isn't Miss Robin well aware? This is an unspoken rule that applies everywhere, especially in the idol business."
Mhm, mhm, speaking of idols, we should definitely play with the unspoken rules first.
"…"
From the man's eyes, Robin read a fiery desire, a gaze that wanted to burn her very clothes to ashes.
"Mister Ye Feng, please have some self-respect. I have never heard of such a thing."
Robin snorted lightly.
She understood in her heart that the person before her probably couldn't be reasoned with.
She had already prepared herself for a fight.
"Oh? Is this Miss Robin's resolve?"
"Resolve?"
Ye Feng laughed contemptuously. "You're always saying, 'Why can't humans understand each other?' and 'Why must everyone use violence to solve problems?' Yet, when you yourself run into danger, you find that violence is indeed the easier way to solve the problem, isn't it? Hehe."
"That…"
Ye Feng's words left Robin stunned.
She opened her mouth but couldn't refute him.
Ye Feng smiled. "That doesn't seem any different from those humans who start wars, does it, Miss Robin?"
"I…"
Robin was flustered for a moment but quickly regained her composure.
The halo above her head began to glow as she looked at Ye Feng and said with determination, "Mister Ye Feng has misunderstood. I have never denied the use of power. And appropriate violence can promote peace."
"Oh, interesting. You want to fight me?"
Ye Feng responded with a smile of his own.
Author PS: Miyabi, from the moment I saw your mom, I was determined to be your friend! Although I don't play ZZZ, and I don't have much feeling for Miyabi right now, her mom is really juicy, so beautiful, the standard image of a perfect wife in my mind, I want to…