Chapter 1403

The water light fell on Haseyin's lowered lashes, casting two shadows: '…Because I have already tasted the utmost freedom.'

Long ago I once lived in the sea. In that lightless seabed, beyond civilization's sight, great fish constantly devour the lives of small fish, and when a great fish dies it becomes nourishment for newborns, feeding the whole ocean.

This is the tide of civilization's continuation: anyone may be devoured, or meet a fate destined to fall.

Xilian frowned slightly: 'Are you saying… that ultimate freedom, for life, is actually the cruelest?'

I merely mean that if life wishes to enjoy dignity, it must first be bound by 'law.' Haseyin looked at Xilian, who still wanted to say more, and raised her hand to interrupt her: '…No need to say more, little sea rabbit. I share your view. Whether Caesar's 'law' can guide the fish shoals, lead us to a truly free sea… let us wait and see together.'

"Now, heart-to-heart ends here—another fish comes swimming along the scent of blood."

Before her words faded, Aglaea pushed the door open and walked straight in.

"Ha… being your subordinate is truly pitiful, having to waste energy all day cleaning up the messes the superior throws down at any moment."

Haseyin instantly changed at light speed, walked up to Aglaea: 'Just fulfilling my duty to Caesar. And you, a gold trout constantly busy fluttering your fins, how do you suddenly have leisure to come visit me?'

Aglaea sized her up from head to toe, her expression displeased: 'You think I wanted to come? I advise you to burn more incense from allied tributes, so my work doesn't reek of fish. I'm merely Caesar's envoy to remind you: remember to prepare for the banquet.'

Known. But I still must rebut: the fishy smell you mention is, to me, the sea's unique fragrance.' Haseyin paused, a smile touching her lips, 'Besides, if this fine attire gets stained, wouldn't you also gift me new clothes?'

Aglaea tilted her head: 'I won't.'

——

Silver Soul.

"I get it, I get it—a cool‑outside, hot‑inside blond tsundere lady; tsk tsk… I never imagined that a thousand years ago, before Aglaea had inherited the fire seed, she still had such an adorable side."

Gintoki kept making clicking sounds with his mouth, unable to help marveling at how great the contrast is between the Aglaea of a thousand years later and her present self.

"Little Gin, if anyone heard you say that, they'd surely nail you to the holy city's gate as a decoration, Aru." Kagura sat cross-legged on the ground, chewing pickled kelp, speaking indistinctly.

"Besides, their relationship is still quite good—no wonder that in the previous life, when Sai Fei'er mentioned Haseyin, Aglaea would show such a forlorn expression… It seems she just doesn't show it normally, but deep down she truly cherishes Haseyin. Mm… tsundere really isn't candid, huh."

"Being uncandid is one of the moe points of a tsundere—you lot wouldn't understand." Beside, Xinba ji suddenly spoke up, "However, you just mentioned Sai Fei'er… she seems to have been born around the same era as Aglaea, right? Why haven't I seen her?"

"Seeing those familiar faces from the previous life reappear, Xinba ji felt an indescribable warmth. According to the timeline, Xie die should still be serving as a holy maiden in Ai Diliya; if we could win her over, that would be even better."

"Maybe she got caught?" Kagura tilted her head, guessing.

Gintoki stroked his chin, analyzing seriously: 'If it's someone like Catherine with cat ears, being captured would be plausible. But if it's Sai Fei'er, a golden heir who can inherit the priesthood, there's no way.'

"Besides, as long as they haven't been tainted with nicotine or the like, everyone's acceptance of cat girls is high. Moreover, even if Sai Fei'er steals, she steals from nobles and distributes to the poor—roughly speaking, this is helping Kaisar strike at the old nobility!"

——

"Looks like they get along well."

"You've also tasted the same flavor, huh~" Xilian looked at Haseyin, "Speaking of which, you two just mentioned the 'banquet'—could you please elaborate?"

"Right, you don't know yet. Before each battle, after a victory, Caesar holds a grand gathering for the golden heirs to boost morale." Haseyin explained, "For us warriors who constantly wander between life and death, that's a moment even more to look forward to than victory itself."

"Ha… using a feast as the overture to the god of feasts' slaughter, and honey brew as an offering to the ancestor of honey brew—truly absurd." Aglaea pursed her lips.

"Don't wear a tear‑stained face. The big picture is set, and this is a feast prepared for Fajina—why not learn from the Titans, live in the moment, and enjoy yourself while you can?"

"I'm not as carefree as you. That little Dolos cat keeps running around causing trouble, already enough to worry me. Besides, I still have to finish the tailoring commission on my hands… once the fire seed lights my eyes, I might not be able to focus as I used to."

Xilian: "Aglaea's eyes……"

"Curious about these eyes? People often compare them to jewels. And I've already decided to trade romance for eyes that can see everything." Aglaea's face flickered with worry, "I don't know what the world will become once I receive the divine authority."

Xilian said earnestly, "Your future self… will still be the finest Zhiyuan in the world."

Aglaea stared for a moment: "Is this also a prophecy lowered by the Three Fates of Destiny?"

"Even more accurate than a prophecy. After all, Star has personally witnessed it, right?"

Star nodded: "In the future you will weave the most romantic thing in the world, and you will build for all peoples the long stairway of the Recreation of the World, then bask in the golden light of hope."

……

Upon hearing Star's words, the worry on Aglaea's face vanished in an instant.

""Become a demigod, and lose one's humanity"—I have pleaded with the divine oracle countless times, and this is the only reply I ever got. But the fragments of fate are like stitches; before they are woven into a splendid garment, no one can see their true beauty, right?"

——

Azure Archive.

I really wish Star would tell Aglaea about her contribution to the pursuit of fire in her previous incarnation.

"No, Qinxiang, even if we told her about her past life's experiences, Aglaea probably still wouldn't fully grasp it." Yeno mei lowered her head in thought, "The greatest threat in the previous life was the Heichi; in this life the Heichi continues to be suppressed by the Bai'e. Aglaea and her companions don't yet understand the threat of the Heichi, and trying to describe their past sacrifices and calamities in just a few words… language is still too pale."