Fool's Library

Last breathed a sigh of relief, feeling somewhat relieved.

He instinctively wanted to stretch, but found that the girl with long chestnut hair in his arms was still nestled against his chest.

"Hiltina?"

He gazed at the girl in his arms, her long hair flowing like brocade: "Although those external enemies have all been dealt with."

"But if I remember correctly, you'll need to swear your coronation before the people of the empire and complete the final enthronement ceremony, right?"

"I know."

Hiltina's soft words were carried on the evening breeze, sounding extremely faint.

"However, there is still a little time before the ceremony begins."

“I know that Xiao Ai also came to the mortal world with you.”

"This may be the last time I can have you all to myself."

"so--"

She whispered in Last's ear, "Let me have you a little longer."

Hearing Hiltina's words, Last was slightly taken aback.

For some reason, he always felt that there was another layer of meaning in Hiltina's words and actions.

In fact, there was no need for Last to think further.

Because in the next instant, he also sensed the familiar aura descending from the end of the sky.

And, the sandalwood scent that lingered in the air, which he missed so much.

In Last's memory, the scent of violets was a fragrance unique to Hiltina—

During the two years he lay asleep in that hospital room, whenever he sensed the faint fragrance of violets, it meant that Hiltina had come to visit him again.

And the cool, pure scent of sandalwood evokes the melodious fragrance of snow-capped mountains… its owner, naturally, is only one—

Amys.

……

"Nice to meet you, Miss Hiltina."

"Do not……"

"Although this is our first meeting, I would say... I have long admired you through Rast's stories."

A cool, clear voice came from not far away.

Her pale golden hair floated in mid-air.

Last looked back and saw that Amys had appeared behind them at some point, with her arms crossed and staring at him expressionlessly.

Silver-white steel wings slowly folded behind her, gradually fading and eventually disappearing into nothingness... just as if an angel had folded its pure white wings and returned to human form.

"Is that so?"

“Actually, I am just like you. Although we have never met, I have heard about you from Rust before, Miss Amys.”

Hiltina tiptoed back two steps, slipping out of Rust's embrace.

Then, she also looked at Amys not far away with those light brown eyes.

What Hiltina said truly came from the bottom of her heart.

Back in the Dark Blue Harbor Echoes instance of that Night World, when Hiltina first met Rust, she had heard Rust mention the name "Little Ai".

According to Rust himself, it was because of Ai's existence that he did not fall into depravity, self-abandonment, or even the abyss of self-destruction during the long time loop of Deep Blue Harbor.

However, the two have always been in different dimensions and different times.

Amys made her only appearance in the Night World instance of the Sixth Age, and Hiltina was not present at that time.

Therefore, this was indeed the first meeting between Hiltina and Amys.

"Nice to meet you, Miss Amys."

She gently extended her finger, sensing the lingering traces of magic and authority in the air.

A moment later, a slight smile appeared on Hiltina's lips: "To be honest, I thought Miss Amys would be the gentler type."

"Is that so?"

Amis's cool and pretty face remained expressionless: "Miss Hiltina is exactly as I imagined."

"That would undoubtedly be my honor."

Hiltina smiled, her gaze lingering briefly on Amys before turning back to Rust.

"So, Rust, what are you planning to do next?"

"Although for me, I really want to complete the wedding that we didn't have time to do two years ago as soon as possible..."

"However, I know—"

"You dream of becoming a champion of justice, and consider the duty of a 'Guardian' your life's ideal... but I suppose conquering the Night World will be your top priority?"

"After all, it's not too far off to complete all seventy-two Night Worlds and unlock the Echoes of the End."

As soon as Hiltina finished speaking, even Amys turned her gaze back to her.

Clearly, although she outwardly maintained a blank expression, she was also quite concerned about Last's answer.

Of course, in reality, both Hiltina and Amys had already guessed what Rust would say.

After all, humans named Rust have always lived like machines.

He considers "becoming a shorekeeper" his sole mission... Everything else is superfluous to him and can be discarded.

However, in the next instant...

The boy's answer surprised both Hiltina and Amys.

"The Night World must be opened up; this is my duty as the guardian of the shore."

“However, Hiltina.”

"Only now do I understand the true meaning of what you said to me that day, when we toured the Starry Sky University anniversary celebration together... Hiltina."

Hiltina was slightly taken aback.

Then she recalled her own words from back then.

“You told me back then that as travelers in the night, it is important for us to pursue the destination of our journey, but what is even more important is... the scenery along the way.”

"And also, the person who accompanies you to see the scenery."

“In the past, I lived like a machine, constantly moving forward to reach the destination... but in doing so, I missed all sorts of people and things that I should have encountered.”

"So, Hiltina."

"Although it may be a little too late... before I continue to immerse myself in the night world, I still want to try to stop and appreciate the scenery along the way, and the people who are with me to enjoy the scenery."

Hiltina's expression faltered slightly.

Meanwhile, Last turned his gaze to the girl beside him, whose pale golden hair fluttered in the wind.

"Xiao Ai, do you still remember the promise I made to you before I completed the Echoes of Deep Blue Harbor and left the Night World for the first time to truly enter the real world?"

"Of course, even if a thousand or ten thousand years have passed, how could I possibly forget such a thing?"

Amys's voice rose with the evening breeze, carrying a slight tremor.

"I told you then... if there are those fairy tale landscapes in another world, please be sure to go and see them."

"Then, tell me about the myriad mountains and rivers, the floating islands, the water city, and the golden grasslands of that world."

"Yes."

Rastian nodded.

"Although I have told you these things, hearing me recount them in words is still not as good as seeing them with your own eyes."

"Floating islands in the clouds, water cities, golden plains, and vast deserts with endless yellow sand..."

"Little Ai, those countless rivers and mountains in the fairy tale books—"

Now that you've come into this world, don't you want to come and see it with me?

Amys paused for a moment.

In the fiery red glow of the sunset, her sky-blue eyes shone brighter than ever before.

Chapter 276 I want to create brand new memories with you

The western continent, the northern border of the Holy Kingdom of Fran.

A thriving small town sits at the foot of the Three Sages Mountains.

As the northernmost point of human civilization in the western continent, the Three Sages Snow Mountain and its surrounding area were, for a considerable period of time, synonymous with barrenness, desolation, and sparse human presence.

A century ago, when technology was not advanced, it often took more than ten hours to travel by sled to reach the border... Therefore, the only link between the residents of the North and the outside world was the traveling caravans that came every six months.

However, with the rapid development of technology today—the emergence of aircraft, railways and other means of transportation, and the opening of the passage between the North and the West Continent, it is no longer the barbaric land isolated from the civilized world.

Because the Three Sages Mountains contain a large number of rare minerals, extraordinary materials, and extraordinary creatures, the Northland, which is buried with countless treasures, has also attracted a large number of adventurers.

Amidst the comings and goings of people, a brand-new city rose from the ground.

Amidst the hustle and bustle, no one remembers the desolate and impoverished state of the Northland in the past.

……

"It is said that in the distant past, the place we are in now was once a border town called 'Canaan.'"

"However, about two hundred years ago... it seems that due to some inexplicable natural disaster, that town was razed to the ground overnight."

"Sounds incredible, doesn't it? It's as if the great hand of a god wiped it off the map, leaving not even a trace of the Canaan town's existence."

In an adventurer's tavern in the city, a middle-aged man with a large beard held a wine glass and was talking animatedly to the two people in front of him.

Just as depicted in the bard's story—

In every adventurer's tavern, there's an old man who loves to tell stories to new adventurers, and this tradition hasn't failed in the North either.

"It is said that after this bizarre incident, the Holy Kingdom at the time even dispatched a bishop of the legendary rank of the Holy Court to investigate the matter, but ultimately found nothing."

"Left with no other option, the authorities had to block all information about 'Canaan' and classify it as a classified matter..."

It is said that—

The bearded man softened his tone slightly, speaking in an extremely careful and captivating manner:

"The unusual events that occurred in Canaan at that time may have involved something beyond legend, the realm of the gods, which is why the Holy See took it so seriously."

"Uh-huh."

Of the two listeners in front of the bearded man, a black-haired, black-eyed boy nodded earnestly: "And then?"

"And then nothing special."

The bearded man took a sip of his strong liquor: "Initially, because the town of Canaan mysteriously disappeared overnight, the nearby residents believed that the town might have been cursed by the gods, so they designated that area as a forbidden zone and dared not approach it."

"But then, as time went on, nothing unusual happened here... In addition, a large number of rare mineral veins were discovered inside the Three Sages Mountains, so just like a gold rush, people began to flock here from all over the Western Continent."

"Ultimately, this new border city was built on the site of the former Canaan town."

"The world is bustling with activity, all for profit; the world is bustling with activity, all for profit—" In the end, the rugged-looking bearded man revealed a touch of philosophy in his words: "The things here are no different."

He glanced at the man and woman in front of him who had spoken to him.

Both of them looked quite young, like an adventurous couple who had just come of age and were going out to explore together.

"To be honest, I was quite surprised when you asked me about these things."

Even here, on the site of that former Canaanite town, not many people know about this anymore.

"If my family hadn't lived in the North for generations, and if I hadn't heard these things from the elders in my family when I was young, I probably wouldn't know about these things..."

The bearded man glanced at the two of them but didn't think much of it—after all, they were young people, and it was normal for them to be curious.

Judging from their clothing and rather handsome appearance, they must be the offspring of some noble family in the vicinity. Perhaps they saw a record of "Canaan" in some ancient book in the library, which is why they came here to inquire.

"In short, that's all I know."