Faced with Hare's statement, Bronya said: "We just want to take back our normal lives!"
Hare said slowly: "But childhood always ends, and adults must ultimately take responsibility for the world."
Kiana interjected: "If you put it that way, the Stigmata Plan is really a pretty terrible way of taking responsibility."
Hare said: "But it is fair enough."
"Have you never heard the saying——freedom and fairness, people can ultimately only choose one?"
Bronya immediately refuted: "Freedom and fairness are not absolute."
"And the reason people cannot accept the Stigmata Plan is precisely because of its absoluteness."
Hare explained: "This is actually a technical issue, Bronya… because absoluteness provides the strongest operability."
"For example, the Stigmata Plan will not simply exclude someone from the scope of civilization just because they are a bad person or because a certain action is evil."
"The Stigmata will record all concepts created through human history, regardless of their value."
"And on top of that——if human civilization is beautiful, then the integration brought about by the Stigmata Plan will certainly also be beautiful."
Mei asked: "Even if at that time no one can feel this beauty anymore?"
Hare shook her head: "How could that be?"
"Whether it's you who were once Herrschers, or Durandal and Li Sushang, and of course myself as well."
"Everyone can clearly continue their lives in the new world, can't they?"
"You simply need to wait quietly for the Earth to be fully restructured by the Stigmata Plan."
"The only difference is that in that newborn world…"
"Its infants will not need to go through long periods of learning and growth like human children before they can stand on their own."
"From the moment they are born, they will perceive all known things in the world through the Stigmata."
"That is, the concepts, cognition, will, and such things you mentioned."
"As far as I know, those are treasures that many humans spend their entire lives seeking, right?"
Kiana said: "You cannot make a person's growth happen overnight."
Hare did not refute: "Of course, but that is only true for humans. For life forms that use Stigmata as their underlying code…"
"They simply start by standing on the shoulders of humanity, and from there continue advancing toward the unknown."
"This is what is meant by——letting civilization end its childhood."
Mei: "…"
Hare continued: "Everyone, please do not forget my opening statement——I am not human."
"But a brand-new species brought to this world by the Stigmata Plan."
"To me, those static and dull Eidos Seeds are not much different from Archaeopteryx or Australopithecus."
"Alright, discussing too much about my own topics seems to be too far from your original intentions."
"I have fully understood that you are defending the story of humanity, rather than focusing on defending the story itself."
"This naturally differs greatly from my way of existence… but I do look forward to what kind of fruit your efforts will bear."
"For example——further surpassing transcendence itself."
Bronya thought of something: "You mean…"
Hare smiled with unclear meaning: "I actually didn't say anything."
"It's just that I already believe you can achieve results of your own on the main battlefield of the Stigmata Plan."
Kiana couldn't help but think to herself: "The main battlefield of the Stigmata Plan…"
"——Earth?"
Having figured out the answer, Kiana couldn't help but blurt it out.
Hare said happily: "Of course. The final answer to all secrets lies there… and not on this already dead planet."
"If you are unwilling to let humanity be bound by the Stigmata Plan, then please break through the final blockade and advance there."
"——As long as you can seize the necessary opportunity."
Mei couldn't help but ask: "Why are you telling us all this?"
"This seems to contradict the position you stand in."
Hare said: "Position? Ah, you seem to have misunderstood something."
"The reason I assisted World Serpent in completing the Stigmata Plan… simply stems from a somewhat absurd transaction."
Bronya spoke: "…It seems you have quite a few stories yourself."
Hare said with slight seriousness: "Strictly speaking, they do not belong to the current me."
"In any case, compared to your stories, those old past events have no meaning."
"…"
Bronya cautiously fell silent, only watching Hare with slight vigilance.
She seemed to be judging the truthfulness of her words.
Hare, as if realizing it late, let out another low sigh and stopped speaking.
For a moment, both sides fell into an almost eerie silence.
However, on Kiana's side, they were secretly communicating.
Kiana said: "Mei, Bronya, what do you think?"
Bronya answered: "…No flaws found, and no real information either."
Mei agreed: "Indeed. Everything she said, while full of surprising points, doesn't hold much practical value."
Kiana said slowly: "Then only one question remains."
Bronya continued: "…What is her true intention in telling us all this?"
Seeming to sense the thoughts of the trio, Hare showed a nearly distressed smile.
"As expected, gaining your trust is really a difficult task."
"That's right… from a human standpoint, everything I have done and everything I have caused is naturally unforgivable."
Hare sighed: "No matter how much I explain——their benefits indeed have very little relation to humanity itself."
"…"
Mei said bluntly: "Good that you know."
Hare continued on her own: "A long time ago, someone told me that as long as you consider one person wholeheartedly…"
"Even if you make a choice that isn't the best for her, that person will eventually have a day when they can understand."
"…The reason we have reached the current situation is probably because I really don't understand humans enough, right?"
As she spoke, Hare lowered her eyelids, seemingly falling into some kind of recollection.
"If I help you a little more, will the trust between us become clearer?"
"I know you want to confront my Lord face to face——and he is also waiting for your arrival."
"But even if you only intend to communicate… with your current states, I'm afraid it will be difficult to gain much."
Kiana refuted: "That may not be…"
Before she could finish, a muffled cry of surprise interrupted Kiana's words.
Without any warning, Hare suddenly reached out toward Bronya.
Faced with this sudden attack, even as the Herrscher of Reason, Bronya failed to defend in time.
The moment she was hit, similar groans from Mei and shocked cries and questions from Kiana came from the side.
Amid the vortex of power, Hare's voice still echoed unhurriedly beside Bronya's ear.
"If you really must go see him, if you must put yourselves in danger…"
"Then before that, please allow me to release the restraints the Stigmata Plan has placed on you."
The dull pain and impact gradually faded. Bronya and the others subconsciously looked at their companions beside them.
The girls saw the same astonished expressions in each other's eyes.
Bronya said subconsciously: "Mei, you…"
Mei also murmured: "The mental shackles… have completely disappeared?"
The girl named Raiden was currently releasing electricity all over her body.
Under her equally astonished gaze, Bronya subconsciously looked at her own hands.
There was no doubt——it was the Herrscher outfit, the proper form of the Herrscher of Reason.
"So Bronya also…"
However, before she could think carefully, a sudden emptiness suddenly assaulted her.
She felt as if she had turned into a leaky balloon. Power as vast as mountains and seas surged into her body.
Then in the next instant, it disappeared without a trace like a mud ox entering the sea.
Countless noisy and chaotic voices clamored incessantly in the depths of her consciousness.
Those were the past and wills sealed within the Core of Reason.
In a blazing fire, Bronya struggled to breathe.
"What's going on… the Herrscher Core rejected me?"
The burning sensation grew increasingly fierce, making it even harder for Bronya to understand, even unbelievable.
When she opened her eyes again, Bronya saw three pairs of concerned eyes in front of her.
Kiana, Mei, and… Hare.
Bronya thought subconsciously: "At least… Mei didn't have the same reaction as me."
Mei also asked with concern at this time: "Bronya, are you okay?"
Bronya shook her head and looked down at her own hands.
Sure enough, the Herrscher outfit that had just appeared had vanished, and she was once again in that powerless state.
Seeing this scene, viewers across the country laughed unkindly.
"Is this the Herrscher of Reason experience card?"
"Pfft, god damn experience card, and it's charged by the second!"
"No way, does the dog director's malice toward our Duck-Duck run that deep?!"
"Frequent setbacks are one thing, but she gets no highlights, and now even when the trio assembles she still gets tormented!"
"Hug my poor Bronya, and take Seele home too!"
"…"
Ignoring the gradually derailing group chat content.
On the TV, Hare said apologetically: "Sorry… from the current situation, it seems I cannot help you any further."
Kiana couldn't help but say: "What exactly is…"
Hare also pondered: "I had released the mental shackles binding you. You should have all returned to your original state before falling onto the Moon."
"However, the reason reality contradicts this, I think…"
At this point, Hare gave Bronya a meaningful look.
"The root of the problem probably traces back to the origin of this power, right?"
"…"
Bronya remained silent on the surface, but in her heart she thought: Indeed as she said, I felt the Herrscher Core rejecting me.
But such a situation has never happened before…
What exactly is going on?
Just as Bronya was full of confusion and subconsciously looked at Hare…
Hare met Bronya's gaze, calmly blinked, and revealed a calm, undisturbed smile.
"It shouldn't be an illusion. She is still hiding something from us."
Bronya thought this way.
Kiana asked worriedly: "Bronya?"
Bronya shook her head: "It's fine. Bronya's problem isn't serious."
"On the contrary, you two… Kiana, Mei——are you ready?"
Kiana and Mei were stunned for a moment, then showed understanding smiles.
Of course!
Hare sighed at this time: "Although this might not be something I should say, still…"
"With your current states, facing World Serpent's Lord, you——have no chance of victory."
"If you choose to rest and recuperate, I will create a suitable space for you, and he will also be happy to wait."
"——As long as the Stigmata Plan has not yet fully converted the Earth."
"So… you still insist on speaking with him right now?"
The phrase "no chance of victory" might sound a bit absolute, but neither inside nor outside the TV did anyone think it was exaggerated.
Yet Kiana said: "…Just as you pointed out earlier, we must strive to return to Earth as soon as possible."
"And blindly resting and recuperating will not change the power gap between us and Kevin…"
Mei also said calmly: "It would only make him look down on us."
Bronya concluded: "That's how it is."
Somewhat unexpectedly, Hare stared at Bronya for a moment and revealed a meaningful expression.
"I see."
Hare said slowly: "…I understand. Then please continue forward. He is right below, not far away."
"I hope the information my Lord provides personally can help you."
With that, Hare left just as she had before.
After exchanging glances, Kiana and the other two followed Hare's directions to search for Kevin.
…
At this moment.
The man named Kevin stood alone in silence, just as he had grown accustomed to for fifty thousand years.
Even though he had taken the Karma Demon form, with his upper body half-exposed, displaying a terrifying demonic appearance.
The pair of horn-like protrusions on his head, the single remaining broken wing on his back, the long and inconspicuous tail…
Even the elf-like ears and the black star mark on his forehead that his hair couldn't cover.
So many changes on Kevin's body, yet viewers across the country still felt the same way.
Kevin was still that Kevin, regardless of form or power.
Just by standing there, he could be recognized at a glance.
Inside the TV, Kevin was still pondering and waiting.
In the past, he let himself be washed by waves of memory and thought.
Repeatedly chewing over the irretrievable past… doing so for ten thousand years.
——Until now, when he no longer thought about unnecessary things.
Today, with the river of time already flowing into the sea, Kevin only needed to wait silently.
"…Finished?"
Looking at Hare's appearing figure, Kevin asked calmly.
Hare answered: "It's finished."
Kevin said: "Good."
"…"
After a moment of silence, Hare proactively said: "Aren't you curious about what I did?"
"When I took the initiative to come find you earlier, you showed a trace of surprise."
"I even reminded you that dream-catching could only help the Stigmata Plan up to this point. Weren't you ever worried?"