Chapter 393: Gemini

「Boom—」

A huge sound burst at the last barrier's position, the rumbling like thunder, and the Four Gods Barrier, inherited for a thousand years, was completely destroyed at this moment.

Leo glanced at the already beaten-down fourze with disdain, then turned and leapt away.

Their mission was already complete; there was no need to stay in Kyoto any longer.

When it destroyed the barrier, Lord Wo Wang had already left in advance, leaving only to finish the final ritual, which is the reason it is fighting now.

"Is this Leo's true power?" Ge Xing Xian Wu frowned; this difference in combat power felt completely unlike before.

"Xian Wu, what do we do? The extremely important barrier has disappeared; if this is destroyed, according to the data given by Professor Jiang Ben, it should accelerate the birth of the Star Disciple." Ruyue Xian Tairan climbed up from the ground and deactivated his transformation.

"We can only take it one step at a time." Ge Xing Xian Wu shook his head.

Now all cosmic energy has gathered at the heavens, Kyoto's void has disappeared, and creating another void is simply Arabian Nights.

Splitting into two groups to search for the stone tablet would indeed speed up the search, but encountering a powerful enemy could also leave them without help.

The seven-day study trip perfectly concluded on its final day; aside from the time spent searching for the barrier, all the students enjoyed the holiday of this study trip.

Jiang Xia also achieved the goal of this trip to Kyoto; he should return to attend to proper business.

……

Inside the Heavenly River's secret chamber where constellation energy gathers.

The half‑sky was filled with glowing stars, like the dazzling Milky Way in the universe; several stars in that river shone especially bright, radiating charming light, they linked together and finally formed different constellations.

Wo Wang Guangming reclined halfway in the center of the red sofa, silently gazing at Hayami Kohei standing before him.

"Libra, how is the target now?" His tone was calm and very patient.

"Capricorn, Taurus, and Aquarius have all successfully awakened." Hayami Kohei leaned close to Wo Wang Guangming's ear and whispered, "Are we to start that plan?"

"Hmm, Libra." Wo Wang Guangming rose, turned his back, and spoke slowly, "I absolutely trust you; don't let me down."

"This is my honor." Hayami Kohei bowed.

One bright morning, Heavenly River High School, Class 3B.

Chengdao Youmu sat alone at the side table, lazily swinging her well‑proportioned legs, holding a magazine about the universe in her hand, wearing headphones, shaking her head and swaying, utterly leisurely.

A few minutes later, the classroom door of Class 3B was pushed open, and a person wearing a brown windbreaker and holding two paper documents walked in.

"Are you Chengdao Youmu?" he said.

Chengdao Youmu turned her head toward the door; upon seeing the person's appearance, she slid down from the desk like a bolt of lightning, quickly tidied her clothes, took off her headphones, became elegant, and then spoke formally: "Principal, you have come."

Hayami Kohei looked at the pretentious girl before him, merely smiled and said nothing, then handed her the two documents: "These are application forms for visiting the Space Agency, organized by the Chairman; there are two copies, one yours and the other belonging to Ge Xing Xian Wu."

Chengdao Youmu froze for about five seconds, her hands trembling as she looked at the application; she almost wanted to burst into song, singing the tune that introduces the Peregrine Falcon.

But after glancing at Hayami Kohei, she dismissed that unrealistic thought; the person standing before her was the school's principal, and she couldn't behave so improperly—as an outstanding astronaut she must remain absolutely calm.

"I understand; I will cherish the opportunity to visit the Space Agency together with Chairman Wo Wang."

Chengdao Youmu eyed the application bearing her and Xian Wu's names, nodding quickly like a chick pecking at grain, fearing the principal might change his mind.

"However, I must state beforehand that only one of you and Xian Wu can accompany the Chairman." Hayami Kohei said, "The Chairman will first evaluate you two, then select the most suitable from among you."

Originally excited, Chengdao Youmu heard there would be a selection between her and Xian Wu, suddenly her expression drooped with dejection; she picked up the application belonging to Ge Xing Xian Wu and said regretfully:

"If that's the case, I definitely can't beat Xian Wu; he's far stronger than me."

Whether it's grades or any of the various tests, as long as it's not a physical contest, Xian Wu is top‑notch, but she also truly wants to visit the Space Agency.

"Is there any way we could both go together?" Chengdao Youmu looked at Hayami Kohei, blinking earnestly, hoping to get from him an answer that would give the best of both worlds.

"Sorry, the quota is indeed limited; only one person can go." Hayami Kohei raised a finger and harshly rejected Chengdao Youmu's words.

He also didn't understand why Wo Wang Guangming paid special attention to Ge Xing Xian Wu and Chengdao Youmu; after all, they were nothing special, merely companions of fourze Ruyue Xian Tairan, and had no potential to become a member of the Zodiac, which truly baffled him.

Moreover, Lord Wo Wang even wanted to meet these two people in person, which is indeed somewhat abnormal.

"My Voice of the Universe!" Chengdao Youmu, hearing Hayami Kohei's answer, could only shout out the window to express her somewhat pitiable mood.

Of course she also had another option: to destroy the other copy of Ge Xing Xian Wu's application outright and pretend it never happened, thereby ensuring her own selection.

But she would not do that, for Xian Wu is her best friend; she would not choose to do anything that harms a friend, even if she would lose to him in the competition.

Just then, Wo Wang Guangming happened to walk into the classroom through its open door, and he heard the content of Chengdao Youmu's shout toward the sky.

Wo Wang Guangming's originally cold and ruthless heart stirred at hearing the words "Voice of the Universe," and he quickly approached Chengdao Youmu, slightly excited: "Did you just say 'Voice of the Universe'? What's going on?"

"Chairman!" Chengdao Youmu started in surprise, then said embarrassedly:

"I feel that not many would believe if I spoke of this, but before I had heard voices from the universe calling me at night; when I gazed at the night sky, that special sound would echo in my ears."

Chengdao Youmu gazed at the sky, her eyes showing longing: "That voice said, I am waiting for you there; please come find me quickly."

Indeed, this girl before him was just like him—also someone chosen by the universe—and thinking of this, Wo Wang Guangming's gaze suddenly softened.

"Who would have thought someone would wait for me in the universe? From then on I unconditionally fell in love with the cosmos; I told this story to my teacher, and he believed it was true. Even though my parents don't believe me, the teacher does—hehe, isn't that hilarious?"

"Of course, such a foolish thing is something nobody would believe." After hearing the whole story, Hayami Kohei found it absurd—how could the universe have someone waiting for an underage girl? As a physics PhD, he does not believe the universe possesses consciousness.

"That's true, this is indeed hard to believe; let's just pretend I never said it." Chengdao Youmu scratched her head embarrassedly.

"No, I believe you, just as your teacher believes you, Chengdao classmate." Wo Wang Guangming looked at the embarrassed girl and nodded.

He had once encountered a similar situation, and coincidentally he also spoke of it. But his friends, teachers, and parents likewise didn't believe him; later, decades afterward, he found the core switch on the Moon, decoded its data, and confirmed the matter.

Therefore, hearing Hayami Kohei's words, he did not get angry, because Libra had not been selected and could not feel the vast universe's call.

Wo Wang Guangming knew clearly that the teacher Chengdao Youmu spoke of was not her regular instructor but Jiang Xia, with whom he had drunk that night; whoever let him return to school and investigate Jiang Xia's background to the fullest? Originally he just wanted to chat with Jiang Xia's students, but instead he got this surprise—if you were a companion, how wonderful that would be, Wo Wang Guangming sighed in his heart.

"Thank you, Chairman, I'll be going now." Chengdao Youmu watched the two people approaching, shrank her neck, and quickly fled from in front of the Chairman.

Although gaining the Chairman's trust was good and she truly felt happy in her heart, she wasn't that happy.

Since the Chairman wasn't the first to believe her words, seeing this situation she felt a bit strange; still, she first handed Xian Wu's application to him, after which they would proceed with an open and fair competition.

Watching Chengdao Youmu's bouncing figure as she left, Wo Wang Guangming turned his head toward Hayami Kohei and commanded:

"Libra, use Laplace's Eye to look at her."

"Lord Wang, I saw it during the study trip; I already saw it then, just an ordinary person, definitely not a constellation apostle." Hayami Kohei said.

"Don't waste talk! Look again!" Wang Guangming's eyes turned red, he would not allow questioning his command.

"Yes." Hayami Kohei lowered his head, as if he had done something wrong, never having seen an adult like this.

Hayami Kohei transformed into Libra again; the single eye at the center of the disc emitted light as he observed seriously.

Wait, this is! Chengdao Youmu's body, which previously showed nothing, suddenly burst out a black mist—that is the constellation's light.

As the gaze deepened, what it saw deepened as well; finally two similar streaks of starlight merged into one, bursting forth brilliant light.

"Sir, it's Gemini, sorry, I misread." Hayami Kohei said sincerely.

"Hmm, I leave it to you, Leo." Wang Guangming turned his head to look at the ever-present Lion's Roar and ordered.

"Yes, rest assured I'll handle it." Lion's Roar, when leaving, also glanced at Libra, as if saying you're a bungler who can't succeed but only fails, then followed behind Chengdao Youmu's back.

……

"Professor Tachibana, it seems we haven't been in touch for a while, right?"

Jiang Xia sipped orange juice taken from the fridge while leaning on the chair chatting with Jiang Ben.

Jiang Ben hasn't appeared at all these past few days, not even his Virgo identity has shown up.

"Wang Guangming seems to be plotting something lately." Professor Tachibana floated in the space station, "He hasn't summoned me in a long time; this is unusual."

His relationship with Wang Guangming was quite close, they'd gotten along for decades, but since returning from the study trip, he's been given the cold shoulder.

At the same time, the frequency of Libra entering and exiting the secret room has greatly increased, and now even the news of the new Twelve Constellations' awakening is known by only a few.

If he weren't still alive, he would even suspect that Wang Guangming had discovered something.

"Sounds like you're unemployed; I didn't expect Star Disciples to have a midlife crisis too." Jiang Xia said with feeling, "But at least he hasn't moved against you yet—that's good news; once an undercover agent is exposed, there's hardly a good outcome."

According to Wang Guangming's personality, anyone who betrays him hardly has any way to live; now that he's merely been given the cold shoulder, it shows it's not yet certain, or perhaps it is certain but for some reason he hasn't found a suitable opportunity to act.

"No, I'm quite sure I haven't been exposed." Professor Tachibana said.

"That's just suspecting you, although not entirely certain, or rather no solid evidence has been found." Jiang Xia shrugged, "Those in power always do this; and you say he's plotting something, but our business is merely to gather the Twelve Constellations and carry out a spatial leap."

"In short, it's about finding candidates to give him the Constellation Switch, being defeated by Kamen Rider, then recovering the Switch. This whole process has been gone through many times, so now no new Star Disciples appear, and you have no one to carry out executions—you feel there's nothing to do."

"I suspect a new Twelve Constellations Star Disciple has already been born, but I don't know." Professor Tachibana ignored the teasing tone, very serious.

"I understand, I'll notify them to be on alert; you'd best stay silent now, the moment you're seeking is coming right up—before the opportunity arrives, you'd best be careful." Jiang Xia said.

"I'll be careful…"

Just then, a knocking sound came from outside the door; upon hearing it, Professor Tachibana immediately closed the communication.

"Come in."

"Teacher, I noticed Youmu seems strange." Ruyue Xian Tairan pushed open the door, looking at Jiang Xia seated in the psychologist's chair.

"Youmu, what's wrong?"

"This is what I personally saw Youmu do."

Ruyue Xian Tairan handed Jiang Xia the application form he had retaped with adhesive tape, which he had seen Youmu tear open in an irritated motion, and the form also bore the name Ge Xing Xian Wu.

He wanted to pursue, but Youmu had disappeared.

"It's the application for Ge Xing Xian Wu to visit the space agency, torn apart by Youmu." Ruyue Xian Tairan said.

Jiang Xia lowered his head to examine the application form, its surface covered with tape marks, the torn traces resembling shattered glass.

It's hard to imagine that Ruyue Xian Tairan painstakingly pieced it back together, like using glass shards to assemble a whole pane of glass—far more difficult than a regular puzzle.

"Do you really believe Youmu did this?"

"No, Youmu wouldn't do such a thing." Ruyue Xian Tairan instinctively retorted, she respects every classmate, let alone this group of close friends—"Then the answer is clear, it wasn't Youmu who did it." Jiang Xia closed the application form, "It could have been Duo Peilu who did it."

"Duo Peilu? What's that?" Ruyue Xian Tairan wondered.

The name sounds foreign, but what does it have to do with the Youmu he saw?

"It means a doppelgänger, a kind of urban legend—if one encounters their double, one of them will die."

Jiang Xia picked up the application form, stood up, twisted his neck, "Naturally this sort of thing should be asked directly of the person herself; if Youmu didn't do it out of jealousy, then it's another her who did it."

"How could that be? Youmu is one of a kind, and how could something from an urban legend possibly be true!"

"Think about it, everything we've encountered so far—Star Disciples, monsters, various battles, Kamen Rider—none of it is outside urban legend; they're all part of urban legend."

"Could that fake Youmu be a Star Disciple?" Ruyue Xian Tairan widened her eyes.

"Go ask about the situation at the Jade Rabbit Cabin, you idiot." Jiang Xia rolled the application into a column and lightly tapped Ruyue Xian Tairan's head.

(End of chapter)