Chapter 64

"Is the universe a game?"

"How could the universe be a game?"

"Our universe is a game!"

"Buddy, buddy, listen to me."

"I'm telling you, there's a nine-out-of-ten chance our world is a game."

"It's meant to entertain the players."

Inside the Horizon Probe, within the Wang Zuo World of the Calamity Empire, Terra Ne,

a shrill voice, like that of a theater performer, chattered noisily.

The source of this piercing sound was a small red clown mask.

It had been tossed onto the table and was now clamoring at Zhou Xuan:

"After IX, that dullard, learned this truth, he shut himself away."

"But old Aha is different; since the players seek amusement, old Aha will stir up some fun for them."

"......"

"Buddy, are you listening to old Aha? Old Aha isn't lying to you! Aha never lies."

"Our world... this whole cluster of worlds, it's all a game."

Zhou Xuan propped his chin on his hand, watching the clown mask chatter on the table, and couldn't help but smile and shake his head.

Aha, the Aeon of Elation from the world of Honkai: Star Rail,

was said to have once ascended to the summit of the Imaginary Tree, where He realized the absurdity of the world and thus burst into unrestrained laughter.

Zhou Xuan had discovered this mask of His while observing Huang Quan and Nephiana clash in Tophet, and casually grabbed it back into the Horizon Probe.

Now, He was attempting to convince Zhou Xuan that this world, and many more worlds,

were merely a game, an absurd thing designed for human amusement.

"Buddy, listen to me, today let me tell you~"

"This empire was made by you, please listen to Aha~"

"This universe is for play, this game is a game~"

Seeing Zhou Xuan remained unresponsive, Aha simply began to sing.

Stimulated by this grating, discordant song that hurt the ears, Zhou Xuan helplessly waved his hand.

"Buddy, believe me, this universe is just a game."

Seeing Zhou Xuan finally react, Aha hurriedly said:

"Player brothers, you tell the Emperor of the Empire, isn't what old Aha says correct?"

Aha shouted into the void, though it was unclear who He was speaking to.

"Mm, and then?" Zhou Xuan asked in a rather flat tone.

"Hehehe! You still don't believe old Aha——————"

Seeing the utterly bland expression on Zhou Xuan's face, Aha's face crumpled into a knot.

He wanted to see some fun, such as Zhou Xuan's expression collapsing after learning the truth,

or an expression of stubborn disbelief, or perhaps him shutting himself away just like IX, or exploding like Akivili.

Any reaction would have done, but Zhou Xuan wore nothing but a bland expression.

"I believe you."

Zhou Xuan stood up, picked Aha's mask up from the table, and held it before his face:

"But you're wrong; our world is not a game."

"Our world is a novel."

"A fan fiction serialized on a certain green-colored pleasure-reading website; up to this chapter, a total of 160,000 words have been updated."

"..." Aha's mask blinked its eyes: "Aha?"

Zhou Xuan shrugged, looked beyond the screen at you who were reading this passage, and asked:

"Reader brothers, you tell Aha, isn't what old Zhou Xuan says correct?"

71. 【L-Stargate and the Grey Tide Storm】

"The Eternal Wang Zuo, immortality for all..."

"The Calamity Empire is truly an unimaginable existence."

Bronya rubbed her temples with considerable exhaustion, unable to help but feel fortunate in her heart that she had shown sufficient respect toward the Calamity Empire.

If she had followed the earlier suggestions of the officials, nobles, and Architects, and rudely slighted His Majesty the Emperor...

Bronya couldn't help but shudder.

Had she provoked the Calamity Empire, Jarilo-VI would likely already be debris scattered across the universe.

Bronya let out a deep sigh, driving these chaotic thoughts from her mind.

She still had to deal with the complex state affairs on her desk.

Belobog re-establishing contact with the cosmos, the Warm Sun Festival celebrations, inviting His Majesty the Emperor of the Calamity Empire to participate in the grand ceremony...

Furthermore, the nobles, officials, and Architects held considerable grievances against Bronya.

They were still unaware that the starship hovering above Jarilo-VI belonged to the Calamity Empire.

They mistook it for an ordinary interstellar civilization within the cosmos, and thus frequently condemned Bronya for being too friendly toward them.

They also expressed dissatisfaction that Bronya had finalized the matter of transforming the planetary environment without consulting them.

They condemned Bronya for aspiring to become a dictator and for wanting to sell out Belobog's interests to the interstellar civilization in the sky.

Bronya could only offer a bitter smile and endure these condemnations.

"Sigh... The nobles are demanding I explain my recent actions..."

"... The Builders want me to prove I remain loyal to the Path of Preservation..."

"The officials feel my recent conduct has been somewhat autocratic and hope the Supreme Guardian will distribute the workload among them..."

Bronya couldn't help but lean back in her chair, saying with a bitter smile.

She had considered disclosing the news to the officials, the "Two-Eight-Zero" Builders, and the nobles,

but Bronya dared not trust them, and furthermore worried whether this would cause panic, bringing about even worse results?

But more importantly, what was the Calamity Empire's stance?

Did they care if her existence was made public? Bronya dared not gamble on it.

"What a hassle..."

The image of that Calamity Empire Emperor arose in her mind,

"I wonder how Your Majesty would handle such a matter..."

"... Kill them all?"

Bronya couldn't help but shake her head:

"I could never do that... What about Lady Huifeng? If only I possessed one-tenth of her intellect."

In Bronya's mind arose the image of that exceptionally beautiful Calamity Empire Secretary of State, Huifeng,

her swift, calm, and wise mind, along with her efficient handling of state affairs, had all left a deep impression on Bronya.

"I truly don't know how such a mind was born..."

"... If Lady Huifeng devoted herself to scientific research, could she perhaps become a member of the Genius Society?"

Bronya murmured,

Regarding the wisdom Huifeng displayed, Bronya could only feel envy...

Ding————

A burst of light ignited from the corner of Bronya's eye,

that screen of light suddenly expanded before Bronya's eyes,

【The Calamity Empire's Seventh Great Crime: Opening the L-Gate, unleashing the Gray Tempest and the L-Star Dragons to rampage among the stars, subjugating the Gray Demons to slaughter all living beings!】

Watching the text appear on the screen of light, Bronya couldn't help but blink her eyes,

"Gray Tempest? L-Star Dragons? Gray Demons?"

Bronya paused slightly,

"What is this now?"