Phainon returned alone, bearing wounds that still seeped golden blood.
But when he saw Cyrene with her head buried in her knees and her shoulders trembling, he forced a smile that was uglier than tears. "Phaethon, how did you manage to make Cyrene cry while protecting her?"
However, upon seeing the dozens of monster corpses surrounding Cyrene, his face still couldn't help but twitch.
"Cyrene and I already know... Phainon." Phaethon gently patted Cyrene's back, soothing the distressed girl. "It wasn't that monsters killed everyone... but that... everyone became monsters."
"..." Phainon's composure finally broke. He looked up at the blood-stained sunset, his voice trembling as he said, "Livia... she screamed at me, saying she didn't want to die..."
The self-proclaimed fairy lady buried her head even deeper. Faint sobs even escaped. This was the first time Phaethon had seen Cyrene so distraught.
...
After Cyrene's shoulders finally stopped trembling, she remained sitting quietly just as before, seemingly with no intention of raising her head at all.
But her hands, which had been tightly clutching her knees, were now completely covering her face, preventing anyone from seeing her current expression.
However, Phaethon noticed a detail—from within Cyrene's pink hair, which cascaded over her shoulders like a waterfall, peeped a pair of bright red ears, which are especially noticeable.
Phaethon naturally understood what this meant. Clearly, Cyrene was currently in a state of extreme embarrassment, so much so that she didn't even dare to look up and face him.
So, he decided not to disturb Cyrene for now, giving her some time and space.
Thus, Phaethon slowly rose from beside Cyrene and turned to walk towards the village. Passing by Phainon, who was busy dragging the villagers' "remains" to the base of the central statue, he stopped and called out to him.
"...Phainon, the sun is about to set. I'll go find some firewood and see if there's anything edible." Phaethon's voice was calm.
Hearing Phaethon, Phainon stopped his work, looked up at him. His face showed little expression, simply replying, "Okay."
...
*System? Are you there?* Phaethon noticed the fence in front of the village school was scattered all over the ground. It was perfect fuel.
[First, I'm here. Second, I'm not the kind of 'system' you're imagining. I have no stat points, no shop, no gacha.]
*Then what are you?* Phaethon stepped over the corpses of two Black Tide creatures and pushed open his own front door.
[As I've shown you, I am a system capable of collecting and creating 'Folders'.]
[As long as you have the corresponding Folder, you can obtain their physical attributes, techniques, or even skills.]
[Also, although the essence of Amphoreus is a computer...]
[My abilities can be used even in other worlds.]
*Your ability? To make use of the powers of the dead for me?* Phaethon found his biscuit s in a familiar corner.
[Yes, but it requires you to have observed the deceased.]
*What does that mean?* Originally intending to leave after achieving his goal, Phaethon surprisingly found a half-full bag of flour while passing the kitchen.
[It means you only need to be aware of his, her, or its existence, and then witness their death at that moment. It can be a name, appearance, clothing... any piece of information.]
[For example: Although you haven't seen Aglaea. If she died now, even if not in front of you, but you are aware of her existence, I could complete the data recording and archiving. But if you only know that some man or some woman in the world has died, that won't work.]
*Then... are there any usage restrictions or costs for the abilities I get from the Folders?* While moving the flour, Phaethon's finger accidentally touched a bag of wheat seeds.
[Should there be?]
(Golden Finger: Buddy, you're here to cheat. Asking like that makes me look lame.)
*Ahem, indeed, there don't need to be.* Phaethon carried the gathered supplies towards the door. The two monster corpses at the entrance had already vanished—moved away by Phainon.
...
Back at the village statue, the monster corpses were piled into a small mountain—three hundred and sixteen bodies in total. Because Phaethon's mind held three hundred and sixteen already named and completed Folders...
"Phaethon! Over here!" Cyrene's voice came from the small plaza with the swing. It seemed she had composed herself.
The bloody remnants of the sunset completely disappeared, replaced by the glow of a bonfire illuminating a corner of the small plaza. Cyrene, wrapped in a blanket, was sipping the biscuit porridge Phaethon had cooked—something he had specifically brought for her, worried the night would be too cold.
Phaethon handed a bowl of the cooked porridge to Phainon, who was still standing. "Rest for a while, Phainon. I've piled firewood around the bodies. We'll burn them later... and give them a proper burial."
"Thanks, brother." Phainon silently took it and found a spot to sit alone.
"I... plan to go to Janusopolis, to receive the baptism of the Three Titans of Fate, and learn some skills along the way. What about you?" Though the wooden swing hadn't been damaged in the calamity, Cyrene didn't sit on it as usual. Instead, leaning near the bonfire, she broke the silence.
But neither Phainon nor Phaethon answered her immediately.
...
The raging flames burned, as if intent on devouring the entire village. The raging fire wantonly burn a round the tall statue at the village center.
Amidst this blaze, Phainon's voice suddenly rang out. His voice was low and firm, carrying an irresistible force. The fire danced in his eyes, making them look like burning suns.
"I plan to go out and train," Phainon said. "I need to become stronger. Only then can I protect everything I want to protect!" His gaze fell on Phaethon, a flicker of anticipation in his eyes. "What about you? Brother? Become a Savior with me! Phaethon!"
However, Phaethon's silence took Phainon by surprise. He didn't immediately respond to the invitation but turned instead to look at Cyrene in the plaza.
Cyrene stood there quietly, still wrapped in her blanket. Her figure seemed somewhat blurred in the firelight, but Phaethon's gaze remained fixed on her.
After a moment, Phaethon slowly spoke: "I'm afraid not, Phainon. The gap between us is already obvious. You just cleared most of the village's monsters and still have strength to spare. But I... I can't do that."
His voice carried a hint of helplessness. "You have Golden Blood flowing in your veins, but I'm just an utterly ordinary person. If I follow you out to train, not only will I not improve much, I might even hold you back."
Here, Phaethon paused slightly before continuing: "So, I've decided... I'll follow Cyrene." His gaze returned to Cyrene in the distance.
"But you are also a prophesied Savior..." Phainon's face was full of astonishment, seemingly completely unprepared for Phaethon's words. He stared wide-eyed at Phaethon.
Phainon took a deep breath and continued: "The gap between a Golden Descendant and an ordinary person might not be as big as people think. Just like in those stories, those without great talent can still become great heroes through their own efforts..."
However, before Phainon could finish, Phaethon interrupted him, his voice slightly raised: "But reality isn't a novel! More importantly, are you really comfortable letting Cyrene go to such a far place alone to study?" Here, Phaethon's voice regained its calm: "Let's leave it at that. I've decided."
The brothers stood in silence, neither speaking further. Their gazes fell upon the pile of "monster" corpses, watching them gradually turn to ashes, as if everything became illusory in that moment.
But actually, what Phaethon didn't say was that his golden finger must follow Cyrene to achieve its greatest effect.
While gathering supplies earlier, Phaethon had figured it out. To witness their deaths and gain abilities, what faster way was there than for Cyrene to take him back to the past to directly witness segments of history and become stronger?
…
(Cyrene: I have an ability to take others back to the past to witness history.
Phaethon: I have a golden finger that lets me gain abilities by witnessing others' deaths.
Author: I have an idea.
Phainon: Six-six-six, you're cheating without me.)
(Translator's Note: "六百六十六" or "Six-six-six" is internet slang in Chinese, similar to "666" in English, meaning "awesome" or "incredible," often used in gaming contexts. Here, it's used humorously to mean "That's so unfair, cheating without including me!")