I've already said this isn't a life simulator!

However, Xi Wang readily accepted the offer.

After all, he himself... was the same.

"What can I do for you, Father?"

At this moment, Mei spoke first.

Shifting my gaze, I looked at her... As the only "ordinary person" here, she seemed so fragile, yet so strong. She devoted herself to the survival of human civilization, and even when her mind and body were on the verge of collapse, she never stopped.

What a beautiful and strong person she is, what a rational and resolute person she is... Even when facing a sinner like him, she can speak rationally and talk to him politely.

And this is exactly what Xi Wang needs.

Good day, everyone.

Xi Wang bowed slightly, as was his usual courtesy, but... the emotion in his words startled everyone present.

He... seems different now. He's no longer the cold, aloof "puppet" who only knows how to carry out the will of "God."

"I'd like to know... how much time do you need to prepare all the tasks? I mean, how long does it take to prepare all your pre-arranged plans?"

"...It will take at least 72 hours."

Mei thought for a moment, then gave an exact number... She didn't know what Xi Wang was going to do, but if she didn't tell Xi Wang the information now... hmm?

Mei suddenly paused, then realized something... The "god" that Xi Wang spoke of hadn't told him all this, and his near-precognitive ability hadn't worked. Did this mean... something had changed about Xi Wang himself?

"Three days...that's an auspicious number."

Xi Wang nodded, indicating that she understood, and then turned and left.

"I will buy you... at most seven days. I hope you can do everything perfectly... no, you must do everything perfectly, and then... defeat [me]."

Before leaving, Xi Wang left behind these words, which stunned everyone present... His words seemed to indicate that he already knew that Xi Wang was the [Final Herrscher].

But Mei quickly realized what was happening, took a deep look in the direction Xi Wang had left, and then immediately discussed the next steps with the other two, speeding up their work.

…………

………………

He continued walking forward, following his own heart... He ignored the hostile and fearful gazes behind him, because he knew that even if he stopped to listen, even if he turned around to explain, no one would believe him.

He had to move forward, he could only move forward, and do the last thing he could... do well.

tick-

It was the sound of raindrops falling.

Before he knew it, he had already stepped outside. The sky was neither clear nor gloomy, only the rain was falling silently, conveying his emotions.

The water cares about him and longs for his return home, even though he is tainted with the aura of fire and his warmth is incompatible with the water's coolness.

Water...is all-encompassing.

It's raining... The timing is just too perfect—Xi Wang thought to herself, subconsciously reaching out to catch the raindrops falling from the sky.

However, at that moment, an umbrella appeared silently from the side and enveloped Xi Wang's figure.

"Boss? What are you doing here?"

Padofelis's somewhat surprised voice rang out from the side.

Looking to the side, you can see that she is shielding you from the rain... and at this moment she is carrying a backpack, as if she is about to go out.

"Pado? What's this...?"

"Ah, it's nothing. I just wanted to put some of my collections back in our old home... After all, I don't have much time to deal with these collections now, so I was thinking of burying them and digging them up later when things have calmed down, like that... time capsule thing?"

Padoflis scratched her head a little embarrassedly, while subtly leaning closer to Xi Wang... On rainy days, it was always warm to be near Xi Wang, and she liked being close to him so much that it had become a habit she couldn't break.

Immediately, Padofelis took out several simple treasure maps she had drawn, with some unique little riddles written on the back, and traces of deletion and modification were clearly visible... One can imagine that Padofelis looked troubled and thoughtful as she pondered these riddles.

"And I've also prepared a few treasure maps. Hmm... I'll hide them in designated places so that even if I forget about them later, I can find them using the treasure maps. If I lose even the treasure maps... well... whoever finds them can keep them! Consider it a treasure left to them by me, the [Collector]!"

She patted her chest, seemingly quite pleased with her title of "collector."

"Is that so? If those who came here specifically for the [treasure] find it... I'm afraid they'll be very disappointed?"

"Ah ha ha……"

Hearing this, Padofelis scratched her face awkwardly. After all, she knew that her collection as a "collector" wasn't anything of great value. If someone who came for the "treasure" found it... they'd probably be so angry they'd curse her.

"However... maybe some people will like your [collection]? After all, it's full of novel little gadgets... um... perhaps you could call yourself a [collector of curiosities] in the future?"

"【Rare Artifact Collector】? Boss, that's a great name! It sounds impressive! And this way, even if others find it, they won't scold me!"

"Haha... Well then... I'll fill out another 'Collection' for you... Or rather, this should be a gift to you."

As he spoke, Xi Wang placed the Bible in her hands.

"Put it in your [Collection]... If someone finds it, they might gain a rather valuable item."

"……boss?"

Padofelis suddenly realized that something was off about her conversation with Xiwang today.

"Okay, it's okay."

However, Xi Wang patted her head, ruffled it, and casually stroked her cat-like ears, causing Padofelis's animal ears to tremble slightly. Padofelis herself even let out a soft, cat-like purr...

No, no! I'm not a cat! And why is the boss's movement so practiced? Could it be that the boss has touched someone's ears before?! —Padofelis quickly shook her head, trying to clear her mind of the jumbled thoughts.

However, by the time Padofelis came to her senses, Xi Wang's figure had already disappeared, and in the drizzle, only she remained standing there with her umbrella.

"...Take it with you."

She looked at the Bible in her hand. It was originally a "gift" that she had specially bought to give to Xiwang in return for providing her with a safe place to live and a stable job, and to thank Xiwang for giving her a stable life... But later, Twilight Street no longer existed, and all of this disappeared as well.

But she was still very grateful to Xiwang, because she had a really happy time in Twilight Street. At that time, she was just an ordinary girl with a slight "collecting obsession", not a "thief" who had to worry about tomorrow.

But now... all of that is gone.

Padofelis remained silent, then quickly shook her head, her usual smile returning to her face. Carrying her [Collection], she embarked on her journey "home".

…………

………………

Continuing forward, before they knew it, Xiwang had reached the seaside. White waves crashed against the shore again and again, making sounds unique to the ocean, which, together with the sound of rain falling, composed a melody belonging to the ocean.

Xi Wang paused, and the seawater swept over his feet again and again, wetting his shoes, socks, and the hem of his clothes... The seawater was not harsh, but gently expressed its concern for Xi Wang, conveying its care.

Along with the waves came countless fragments recorded by the water, fragments of what had happened in the past.

His awkward romance with Sakura, his strange feelings for Alicia, and... his rejection and hatred of humans.

The ocean is telling its own story, a story that belongs to it.

"I see."

Xi Wang understood, and immediately... accepted it.

The surrounding water began to frolic, and even the "ocean" exuded a clear sense of joy, while the fragrance of lilies lingered in the air.

But... all of this was quickly dispelled by the warm flames.

"Ocean" indicates doubt or confusion.

"I want to go see her..."

Xi Wang spoke softly, and "Ocean" agreed and offered to help him.

After all, he is a child of the "ocean".

Immediately, Xi Wang stepped onto the sea surface, and strangely, he stood on the sea without sinking. In fact, the seawater carried him rapidly into the distance.

Along the way, his body became increasingly damp and cold, and the warmth surrounding him gradually receded... but it did not go out, just like his strange tricolor eyes, although they were mostly covered by gold, the dark and scarlet ones remained.

Soon, Xiwang arrived at the Far East, Sakura's hometown, and Sakura and Rin's gravestones were also here... However, there were no cherry blossom trees here as Sakura had hoped, because the environment in the Far East no longer supported the growth of cherry blossoms, and even if it did, the cherry blossom trees would be destroyed by Honkai Beasts.

Moreover, both Sakura and Rin's bodies were burned by Hikari and vanished in the flames. All that remains here are truly two tombstones.

"........."

Xi Wang remained silent, kneeling before the two tombstones in the rain, placing the sword on his lap.

In truth, he should have realized it sooner... This strange ability of his couldn't be described as merely "human abnormality"... How could anyone possess such power? Inflicting fiery punishments on people—this couldn't be described as "abnormal" at all; it was utterly "inhuman," just like Qian Jie's situation, completely "inhuman."

Even the power bestowed by [He] could not have become like this... Like Aponia, she was also noticed by [He], but when she was still human, she could only easily [persuade] others. The real manifestation of being favored by [He] was only after Aponia underwent the "operation" and became [non-human].

But he himself... while still in human form, clearly demonstrated superhuman strength... presumably at that time, he was no longer a "human".

No...maybe he was "non-human" from the beginning?

After all... in the story that water presented to him, he had shown "abnormalities" very early on...

However, none of that matters now.

Xi Wang has come to understand some things, figured some things out... through the story shown to him by the water.

That was not a story, but something that had happened in the past, recorded by the water.

Although he didn't understand why everything had "started over" again, Xi Wang knew that the problem must lie with him, because the most obvious variable was himself.

Perhaps... he possesses some unknown ability that allows everything to "start over".

If that's the case, that would be wonderful.

However... we cannot let our guard down.

This time, he couldn't do anything, he couldn't change anything, and most importantly... he couldn't change the thing he wanted to change most—to let Sakura and Rin live.

"...Therefore, we must move forward again and make another effort to change all of this."

Xi Wang reached out and gently stroked Ying's tombstone, speaking softly.

"Don't dwell on the past... just remember it."

"Focus on the present, think about the future, and then... take action to change everything."

Xi Wang slowly drew out the strange sword.

"If it were me... I could definitely do it, and it's something only I could do."

The sheath was peeled off and inserted into the ground. Then... flames emerged, spreading and burning across the water-covered ground, finally outlining the shape of a cherry blossom tree on the ground.

This was the only "apology" he could offer... even though it was all too late.