Chapter 428: Thousand Stars Journey

The bespectacled girl gently lifted the camera in her hand, slightly tilted her head up, and observed the star-filled night sky through the lens.

"What is this?" Liuying stepped forward and asked curiously.

"I picked it up on the battlefield; it seems to be civilian equipment. Although it's no longer usable and the lens is somewhat worn… just looking through the lens makes the whole world feel different."

Under the lens, lotus leaves float calmly on the water; occasionally an evening breeze sweeps over, raising a few fleeting ripples on the surface. Several fireflies drag glowing trails in the night, fluttering lightly, and finally drift toward distant flower bushes.

"The lens…"

The white-haired boy beside her chuckled lightly: "No wonder you're wearing those strange goggles."

"There's another reason too—if everyone looked the same, we wouldn't be able to tell who's who." The girl pointed the camera at Liuying: "Your hair is also quite special."

Upon hearing that, Liuying smiled, tucked the hair falling by her ear behind it, and said: "Thank you, I've been growing it for a long time."

"Hair length is also proof of seniority."

The evening breeze lifted her long hair, strands like moonlight-woven silk swaying, tracing a soft arc under the starry sky: "But sometimes it gets in my eyes; lately it's been a bother… I'm also debating whether to tie it up."

——

Wishing blessings upon this beautiful world.

"She's really beautiful."

Hezhen tilted his head up and muttered involuntarily.

At the same time, the other male adventurers in the guild also spontaneously expressed the same sentiment.

It wasn't just praise for the girl's looks; it was a feeling that even after experiencing countless battles on the battlefield, she could still pause for a wildflower, retaining her innocence and gentleness.

Aqua snapped back to her senses, realizing she too had almost been captivated by Liuying's smile, and rushed over to grab Hezhen's shoulder, shaking him hard: "Hey, Hezhen! Don't be deceived by this woman! She's a soldier who kills without blinking!"

"What does 'killing without blinking' mean?" Hezhen brushed off Aqua's hand, saying: "I only see a woman who punishes evil and promotes good, so kind-hearted she can't bear to see others suffer, thus wiping out her foes in one sweep and sending them away—an absolutely wonderful woman."

Aqua looked disgusted: "You ought to listen to what you're saying; otherwise people might think you've been charmed by a succubus."

"Please don't compare that cheap rouge of a succubus to Miss Liuying." Hezhen spread his hands, adding: "And Aqua, don't drag me into this. When Shajin's past was displayed in the sky, the slave master said Shajin was worth only sixty red copper coins… who said they wanted to work a month to earn money and buy Shajin?"

"I-I..." Aqua stammered, "It's impossible to actually buy it! Besides… I want to buy Shajin to successfully defeat the Demon King! This idea of mine isn't because of you, Hezhen, is it?!"

"Hey hey! It's all your fault, useless goddess!"

The two started bickering again in the guild, while the adventurers nearby completely ignored them, as if in another world—they remained fixated on the girl in the sky curtain, letting out sincere sighs.

"She's really beautiful..."

——

"The lens shifted to the Imperial Guard‑model mecha; the bespectacled girl smiled and said: 'It's your turn—don't you have anything to say?'"

"It lowered its arms, as if about to speak, but the communicator at its ear chimed just then. It paused for a second, then immediately said: 'Communications restored. Under Grammer Military Regulation Article 8, surviving knights must muster voluntarily.'"

Liuying lifted her face, her gaze falling on the nearby flag torn by battle.

She reached out and gently pulled two relatively intact strips from the torn fabric, using one as a hairband to tie up her hair, and folding the other into a slightly rough bow, which she carefully pinned into her hair.

The bespectacled girl lightly patted her shoulder: "It looks great, really suits you."

"When it was time to part, several of them also had to return from their brief rest to the battlefield. The white‑haired boy had already transformed again with them into a mecha, leaping toward the horizon: 'Next battlefield, I hope to see the stars.'"

"Will we meet again?"

"Probably not."

"What if the war ends?"

"... Then we should be able to recognize each other, right?"

"Watching the three streaks of fire soaring in the sky, the ground‑based Firefly‑V type disengaged its transformation; after the flames faded, a white‑haired woman stepped out from within."

She stood silently in the morning breeze, watching the distant dawn inch by inch devour the night's domain, staining the sky with a gradient blue. She narrowed her eyes, and finally the corner of her mouth rose in a faint curve.

"Want to say something…"

"Then let's wish for a triumphant return."

——

Crimson‑Eyed Slayer.

"It seems… the war they spoke of has already ended."

Inside the night raid headquarters, Mayin saw the dawn in the sky curtain and a flicker of relief crossed her eyes as she leaned on the table: "I just don't know where they are now—did Liuying never actively look for their whereabouts?"

"Oh? Mayin, what makes you think their war is over?" Qieersi set down the small cake in her hand and glanced sideways at the pink‑haired girl beside her.

"The result is obvious. Look, Liuying is already free." Mayin extended her hand, counting off on her fingers: "Love, shopping, travel, tasting delicious food… without the restraints of Gelamo Military Regulation, as long as we fully resolve the entropy sickness thereafter, she'll be no different from an ordinary person. Isn't that exactly what the post‑war world looks like?"

"Hmm… that really is a lovely fantasy," Qieersi blinked, the corner of her mouth curling into a meaningful arc: "But Mayin… you said, could there be another possibility?"

"What possibility?"

"Perhaps the war never truly ended." Qieersi lightly waved the fork in her hand: "Perhaps… all her comrades fell in battle, leaving only her alive, and the youths now keeping her company have also vanished in the flames of war."

Mayin's smile, just shown, instantly froze.

"You woman! How could you say something so cold‑blooded?" Mayin flushed with anger, lunging to grab Qieersi's collar: "You're not implying something about us, are you? Huh?"

"You violent woman…" Although roughly treated, Qieersi still managed a strained, composed smile: "I'm merely putting forward my hypothesis; it's you who's dragging reality into it. Besides, if you really intend to survive in battle, just venting anger at your teammates won't cut it."

"Hmph!"

Mayin, fuming, released Qieersi, turned and gave her a cold stare: "Just watch—I will absolutely survive… together with Tazumi."