Chapter 1238: with translation of chapter title

When Bai'e picked up that thin sheet of paper, Aglaea seemed to whisper softly in his ear.

"Bai'e, my humble student, trusted colleague——"

"While I was writing these words, you were clashing with the Senate's debaters, fighting for the survival of the Fire Pursuit Journey on an invisible battlefield of smoke. The decision to push you and Xingceng onto the debate stage fills me with dread and guilt. But please forgive me, for at that time I could not show cowardice before you—for that would have struck your morale."

"I originally regarded this debate as routine, thinking that the public opinion and experience accumulated over a hundred years would be enough to win. But I both underestimated the cunning of Kaines and her faction, and underestimated the decline of my own synesthetic ability."

"That trap was likely set by the debater Kalaqetis. He had prepared severed golden threads in advance, and when Kaines' debate fell into a disadvantage, he suddenly displayed them before everyone, claiming I was using the golden threads to read people's thoughts to cheat in the debate. I had a hundred ways to counter that lowly trick outside the rules, but my words slipped out without being examined by thought..."

"Precisely because the crowd is full of villains like you, I need to monitor everything in this holy city with golden threads."

"The reaction to those words needs no explanation; you can imagine it. At that moment I suddenly felt my time was short. The divinity within this body might endure—but that is ultimately not the source of 'me'. I am a daughter of humanity, born from my mother's placenta, and I will die in human form."

"Realizing my humanity would soon end, I began to plan my exit. How should I depart so as not to waste this belated death? I had not yet found the ideal answer. But I knew I could not leave peacefully in sleep like ordinary people. Those poisonous snakes fear having their heads severed by golden threads, which is why they always lurk in the darkness."

"If my departure were calm and undisturbed, a snake plague would pour forth from the nest. It is regrettable that a peaceful death in comfort is a luxury I cannot attain. I must feign weakness to provoke those poisonous snakes into losing patience, to stir them into action. When they think they will get what they want, baring their fangs to bite my heel—I will ignite the snake nest with my final flame, burning the threat lurking in the shadows."

——

The dragon maid of the Kobayashi household.

"Could this also be part of Aglaea's plan? Could it be that her apparent weakening of golden-thread control is actually her feigning weakness?"

Tor furrowed his brow slightly; he could only grasp five or six parts of Aglaea's idea. It is hard to imagine how she intends to do what she wrote in her letter: 'I will ignite the snake nest with my final flame, burning the threat lurking in the shadows.'

Aglaea is already dead, but though the Senate's members act wickedly, they still live well. Unless... Bai'e directs his spear first at Kaines and her allies, which would mean the conflict between the Golden Descendants and the Senate becomes public, possibly tearing the holy city apart.

Could it be... that Aglaea still has a trump card?

"She is indeed feigning weakness, but the weakening of her control over the golden threads is also true. At that time in Yunshi Tian Palace, Kaines could approach her largely because she deliberately lured the enemy."

Luokua drew a small circle in the air with her forefinger: 'Her scheme is truly thorough; while alive she was a formidable rival of the Senate, able to help Bai'e clear all obstacles for the Fire Pursuit Journey; now that she knows her time is short, she is willing to sacrifice her own life as bait—hehe… no wonder Kaines has never been able to defeat Aglaea over these thousand years; one who can make such a decision must have the resolve of self-sacrifice.'

Tor pursed his lips, wearing a look of disgust: 'Even at the end, Kaines still thought her methods had bested Aglaea by a move.'

Luokua nodded: 'Now it's up to Bai'e and them to decide their next steps. Even if he doesn't intend to uproot the entire Senate, at least he must take Kaines away… this person's hatred has lasted a thousand years, the threat is truly too great.'

——

"The soaring flames may confuse and frighten them, but I am not worried they will lose their way, for Aohema has you, Bai'e."

"You are not perfect, Bai'e. Countless dawns your confusion, rashness, and oversensitivity have played out before me. The weight of your past presses on your shoulders, causing you constant anguish. Yet that is also 'perfect'. Because you understand and tolerate everyone's shortcomings, you are willing to discern, with unconditional kindness, the most precious qualities hidden within the rough embryos of mortals."

"I think that may also be how the heavenly father KefaLe differs from other gods. He discovers the flaws in his creations, yet still chooses to shine upon them, guarding them with unconditional universal love."

"Bai'e, I want you to understand—when you fervently pursue 'conflict', believing it to be your destined calling—from beginning to end, my thought has never changed: you are the world-bearer destined by Wengluo Luoos, the gate to Wengluo Luoos's future."

"Go fulfill the Fire Pursuit Journey of the divine prophecy. Go light the stars, bring hope to humanity. I will wait at the end of the west wind for the miracle you will open up."

……

Bai'e slowly put away the letter in his hand, his pupils trembling slightly: 'Aglaea, what virtue or ability do I have… to deserve you passing the burning torch to my hands?'

……

Bai'e drew a deep breath, slowly turned around: 'Dengheng, could you do me a favor?'

"'Tell me what I can do, and I'll do it.'"

"'Please deliver a message to Lord Kelatus: have him gather the holy city's guards and the Xianfeng tribe, go door to door spreading the news: at tomorrow's dawn, Bai'e will give a lecture at Yunshi Tian Palace. Tell them that anyone concerned about the holy city's future and the Fire Pursuit Journey should attend this gathering. Tell them Aglaea has left the seed of hope for Wengluo Luoos.'"

Dengheng nodded: 'Okay, I understand.'

"'Thank you. Everyone has just survived a harrowing day; please be sure to rest well and compose yourselves. I still need to finish preparing……'"

Before Bai'e's words had finished, heavy footsteps sounded at the gate of the Life Courtyard—there stood Hatonoos, unexpectedly arriving here.

"'Bai'e——'"

Seeing him, Bai'e was visibly surprised: 'Hatonoos? How did you come to Yunshi Tian Palace? I intended to settle everything first before coming to find you. Is there some urgent matter, Hatonoos?'

"'I want to know how you are.' Hatonoos spoke slowly, 'Better than I imagined, it seems now.'"