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

"You're not thinking that it would be better if I did it, are you? Don't disgust me, how could you possibly do something like that?"

Xi Wang maintained that disdainful look in her eyes, but her tone remained calm.

"Not to mention that I don't have the same power as the two of you to fight a Herrscher, even if I did, I wouldn't care about the consequences of fighting a Herrscher. As long as the Herrscher dies, that's all that matters. After all, that's the mission given by the higher-ups. I don't care about anything else."

"Compared to those who have already died and those you couldn't save, you should look at how many people you actually saved and think about how to reduce the number of deaths next time."

"And who are you trying to impress with that mournful face? Are you trying to play the victim? Don't act like this will bring the dead back to life. If it actually works, I'll kill you first."

"……Why?"

Although Xi Wang's words were relatively normal at first, her last sentence was rather inexplicable, to the point that Kevin subconsciously asked a question.

"Because you will cause all my previous missions to fail, then cause me to lose money and go bankrupt, and I will have to wander around while dodging multiple assassination attempts and wanted notices, and finally be stabbed to death or starve to death in some unknown corner."

Xi Wang squinted, his tone tinged with disdain... Anyway, ever since [Poisonous Chrysalis] was officially established in the Fire-Chasing Moth, his and Ying's past identities were practically public knowledge, and anyone could guess them with a little thought, so he spoke of this topic without any reservations.

Not to mention that there are only the three of them here now.

"Pfft... Kevin, he just wants you to remember this sacrifice so you can do better next time... But what he said might have been a bit harsh, maybe a bit... arrogant?"

Alicia covered her mouth and chuckled twice, then took over the conversation. As for the last sentence... Xi Wang didn't refute it after hearing it, she just rolled her eyes slightly, then shut up and stayed to the side to eat candy quietly.

Anyway, he's not good at comforting people, so let Alicia handle it.

“Not just Wang, but me too, Kevin. I hope you can remember it, remember this sacrifice, remember that moment of hesitation and weakness, and keep it firmly in your heart. That's... the real you, Kevin.”

"Sacrifice is sacrifice, yes, we all know that, but... these people who have passed away, these people who were [forced to sacrifice], are your responsibility, mine responsibility, our responsibility, and the responsibility of many people. It is something that everyone involved should bear, not something that is entirely placed on one person's shoulders, nor should it be borne by a single person alone."

"So I hope you can remember this day, remember that moment, and keep it forever in your heart, mine, and his heart... and it will remind us of what we are fighting for."

"Speaking of which, Kevin."

Alicia moved closer to Kevin with light steps, her long pink hair shimmering in the moonlight, and deftly changed the subject.

"If one day you would unhesitatingly sacrifice the minority for the majority, or make the choice to sacrifice the majority for the minority... Hmm... I can't quite imagine it."

Alicia tilted her head.

"After all, that version of you is still a bit too unfamiliar to me, isn't it?"

"...Alicia."

Kevin seemed to have recovered quite a bit, and his tone gradually calmed down, no longer carrying the bewilderment and regret he had before.

"If you had to make a choice... would you choose the minority... or the majority?"

"……me?"

Alicia smiled, slightly bypassed Kevin's figure, and walked forward, leaving him with her back turned.

“Kevin, you know, there’s a difference between the minority and the minority. In everyone’s heart, there are certain minorities… not to mention the majority, they are even more important than the whole.”

"so……"

Alicia lowered her voice, slowly stepped forward, and then suddenly lunged forward, reaching out to grab her target—only to find herself grasping nothing.

"My answer might be the same as the answer you give me next."

Alicia pressed closer, reaching out repeatedly, but her opponent skillfully dodged each attack.

pat-

Without hesitation, Xi Wang closed the lid of the candy box and quickly put it back into her inner pocket.

"That's going too far!"

"uh-huh?"

Xi Wang raised an eyebrow, ignoring Alicia who was deliberately puffing out her cheeks to act cute... She said she would never let her get it, and she meant it.

Today's mini-game result – Xi Wang wins! Almost 100 wins in a row!

"And... what about Wang's answer?"

"Ok?"

"Wang has been eavesdropping for so long, shouldn't he give us an answer?"

"...I'll choose whichever side the person I care about is on."

There was nothing to hesitate about, and nothing to "solve a riddle," Xi Wang said.

"Hmph~"

Alicia smiled happily.

"What if someone made you choose between me and Sakura? You have to choose one~"

Why is it this kind of question... Xi Wang was speechless.

"I'll beat up the person who asked this question first."

"Hmph~ So what if I was the one who asked that question?"

"........."

Xi Wang's features instantly contorted, his conflicted and embarrassed expression making people laugh. Even Kevin, standing to the side, couldn't help but smile slightly at the sight.

Finally, after some hesitation, Xi Wang reached out and flicked Alicia's forehead with his finger, so that he wouldn't be going against what he had just said... Just tell me whether he hit her or not!

"Hehe~"

Although she received a light, painless blow, Alicia laughed again. She even grabbed Xiwang's hand, which he was about to pull back, and gently placed it on her forehead, tapping her brow with his finger twice.

"Then... if one day, simply pulling the trigger on me like this, or wielding a blade, could save the majority of people..."

"Kevin, Wang, you..."

"I would never do that."

Before she could finish speaking, Xi Wang immediately said something.

“I will never turn my blade against you, Alicia.”

He grabbed her hand, holding it tightly and forcefully, as if afraid she would suddenly disappear.

"Absolutely not."

"……Um."

She laughed again, a very, very happy laugh.

Chapter Twenty-One: Alicia: Actually, I really like him~

"Good evening, Sakura."

"Good evening, and... thank you for your hard work on the mission."

At the edge of the noisy ball, Xi Wang and Ying greeted each other. Then, Xi Wang shifted her gaze to the green-haired beauty next to Ying and asked.

"I never expected Dr. Möbius to attend the ball; it's quite a rare sight."

"I came to see you, is that not allowed?"

Mebius narrowed his eyes, stepped forward, and spoke in a seductive tone.

"Little lab mouse, would you like to visit my lab?"

"And then you tricked me into going to the operating table?"

"Since you know what I'm up to, it's not a lie. Besides... if you're willing to cooperate, I'm also willing to pay a price~"

She leaned forward again, her tongue moving slightly to attract the attention of others, her words carrying a strange allure, like a snake persuading someone.

“…Dr. Möbius, I think you should know very well that I will not accept this.”

Xi Wang's tone turned cold.

"And your choice of words and tone really annoy me."

"Yes, yes, but what does that have to do with me?"

Mebius tilted his head.

“Even though Alicia and Sakura have both said that these words will remind you of bad things, you should also know that this is not something you should avoid, and just how fascinating this natural ‘trait’ truly is.”

Mebius reached out to touch his body, but Xiwang dodged him.

"It's just you, Dr. Mebius."

"...How boring."

Mebius pursed his lips, then smiled meaningfully.

"But one day, you'll be lying on my operating table."

"maybe."

"Haa~ Alright, alright~ I didn't mean to spoil your celebration, that would be too boring."

Mebius gave Sakura a slight push on the back, waved his hand, and said casually.

"Go on, go find your boyfriend~"

"Dr. Mebius..."

"Alright, stop using that same excuse you use on others... Do you really think that with the strongest members of the Firemoth here, anyone would try to assassinate me? Those guys are trying to avoid me like the plague."

Mebius's tone was slightly sarcastic. Then, as if demonstrating, she beckoned to a person who was idly wandering around and asked him to get a drink. After a moment of surprise, the person shakily ran to a table not far away, grabbed a nice-looking drink, handed it to Mebius, and after receiving her permission, quickly ran to the other side of the ball and found a corner away from her.

"You see, that's how they are. They have a strong fear of things or people they don't understand, and they won't even think about contacting them."

Mebius spoke with a smile, but his eyes remained fixed on the person who was running away quickly, looking like a snake eyeing its prey.

But she quickly looked away, casually waving the drink in her hand, and said something as if it were nothing.

"Speaking of which, if you really intend to stay by my side forever, then why did you specifically change into a formal suit to come over, my good bodyguard?"

"........."

Sakura looked away somewhat awkwardly.

At this moment, Sakura was wearing a purple dress, with a black ribbon and a white beaded chain tied together below her chest, perfectly accentuating her graceful figure. The deep purple skirt swayed freely, and the fishtail-shaped back hem gently swayed. The dark stockings, complemented by the light purple inside of the skirt, made her legs appear long and slender, while the exposed white part of her thighs drew attention.

Her long pink hair was styled into a bun at the back of her head, with the remaining strands secured with cherry blossom-shaped hair ornaments. A small crown hair ornament was also placed on her forehead. Exquisite gemstones were suspended by slender metal chains and rested on her chest, reflecting beautiful light under the ball lights—just like her at this moment.