Chapter 79 It’s Your Turn to Open Your Heart to Me
The sun rose from the east, reached its zenith, and then descended toward the west.
As a gathering place for a vast number of extraordinary beings, the school anniversary of Starry University naturally differed from ordinary university celebrations.
Among the four major institutes, the Ruins Institute temporarily opened the first floor of the Tower of Secrets, holding an exhibition within.
It was to showcase their latest compilation of the old epoch chronicle in the Night World.
They even adapted some already well-understood historical fragments from the Night World into stage play performances.
Unfortunately, this did not include the Sixth Epoch related to Deep Blue Harbor, Frozen Water Town, and the Guardians…
As perhaps the closest old epoch to the current era, the historical echoes of the Sixth Epoch have only started appearing sporadically in the Night World in recent years. Even the Ruins Institute knows very little about the Sixth Epoch, possessing only fragmented records.
To this day, the complete history of the Sixth Epoch remains shrouded in mist, making it difficult for travelers to see the full picture.
The Ashen Academy showcased a large number of new-style equipment, though most of it consisted of technological weapons, which didn’t attract Hiltina, a swordswoman, very much.
However, it did catch Rast’s attention; he stared at the sci-fi-themed anti-material sniper rifle on stage, wishing he could swap his bird g*n for a cannon from the Sevenfold Domain right away.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t an Emblem Armor, so it couldn’t be brought into the Night World.
As the only extraordinary weapon that can be used in the Night World, the production of “Emblem Armor” is under strict regulations in the Night World—
According to Hiltina, the main research focus for the Ashen Academy is to find ways to break free from the restrictions of the Night World to produce artificial Emblem Armor…
However, even with massive resources invested for this purpose, the development plan for artificial Emblem Armor remains painfully slow.
Of course, the Ashen Academy has also accumulated a lot of experience in repairing, modifying Emblem Armor, and producing related byproducts such as alchemical enchanted ammunition.
If it weren’t for this, repairing a half-destroyed Emblem Armor, like what Hiltina did previously, would not be an easy task at all.
In addition to showcasing new equipment, the Ashen Academy also organized corresponding activities, such as a shooting challenge for new firearms.
Unfortunately, after Rast had won a round of prizes, just as he was about to disguise himself and take on another student identity to harvest another round of prizes, he was dragged away by Hiltina, who could no longer contain herself.
This left him somewhat regretful.
Although the shooting challenge limited participation to one round per person, Rast was absolutely confident in his makeup skills. While continuously portraying a male character might raise suspicion, he could definitely dress as a female…
If he could do this for seven consecutive rounds, he would be able to pay back his debt of sixteen hundred Gold Karl to Hiltina.
Of course, with normal activities like those of the Ashen Academy and Ruins Institute, there were also some abnormal ones.
It seemed that having felt the untrustworthiness of the Night World from Rast’s previous serious injury, and realizing one cannot completely rely on the Night World’s recovery, the alchemy department of the school hospital and the clockwork academy launched the “Who is the Drug Resistance King” challenge.
As long as one can consume various alchemical potions within a specified time and regularly provide follow-up feedback, they could receive a series of generous prizes.
The most appealing benefit was that as long as students participated, they could directly earn academic credits.
Additionally, the challenge announcement also kindly added a warm reminder, suggesting that extraordinary beings from the “Abundance” sequence with strong vitality, or students possessing healing, recovery, or body enhancement night blades actively sign up.
Of course, the “Who is the Drug Resistance King” challenge was urgently halted just under an hour after its launch, thereby saving a group of innocent college students from being used as guinea pigs with delusions of grandeur.
Naturally, with Hiltina’s prominence in the academy, along with her unwillingness to disguise herself and appearing in her original form…
Participating in the anniversary celebration so publicly, she naturally couldn’t escape various unusual glances.
The sacrifices in the Night World cannot be concealed from everyone.
Due to confidentiality, the specific details of the strategy in the previous Calamity Echo could not be known to outsiders… However, the names of the strategy group’s casualties being dimmed on the Obelisk are accessible to every student.
Let alone, as the second year’s top genius after Hiltina, Fran, due to her sociable and extroverted nature, is already a celebrity in Starry University.
Even she had sacrificed herself in the Night World, with the added peculiarity of being a former friend.
The rumors swirling around Hiltina naturally intensified… even suggesting that Hiltina, out of hatred for Fran’s betrayal, deliberately sent her to undertake the most dangerous tasks.
Consequently, Rast, who appeared by Hiltina’s side, also could not escape the gossip and scrutiny.
But it was evident.
Neither Hiltina nor Rast was the type of person who cared about the opinions of others or trivial gossip.
Hiltina was accustomed to such glances, having never held expectations for others from the start.
Rast, on the other hand, adhered to the principle of energy conservation.
Avoid unnecessary actions, and simplify necessary ones.
Just like the saying from his past life.
“Do not argue with fools.”
“Master, I strongly disagree with your opinion!”
“That’s right, you are correct.”
Turning around his reputation within the student body… Could it teach me how to make the sniper rifle “release its true name” and unleash a world-destroying light cannon?
Clearly, it wouldn’t.
…
When Rast and Hiltina had generally wandered through the four major institutes’ anniversary activities, it was already evening.
The sun set, and the sunset painted the entire sky with flames.
They walked side by side on the streets of Starry University.
At this hour, most anniversary activities had concluded, and students gathered in the auditorium, awaiting the evening gala dance to commence.
The once bustling main road of the academy was now quite silent.
“So this is how the academy appears in Fran’s eyes, the celebration she expected…”
Hiltina held a cloud-like cotton candy, elegantly taking small bites.
Their shadows stretched infinitely on the street, cast in the sunset.
“Why do you say that?” Rast asked.
“How to explain… in my eyes, the academy used to be a massive operational base… or a safe zone.”
“Just like a human village in an adventure game, every time I returned from the Night World, I would need to repair equipment, gather intelligence, and organize consumables to prepare for the next entry into the Night World.”
“The meaning of the academy’s existence was merely to allow me to better conquer the Night World, that was all.”
Hiltina stopped, turning to watch the sunset slowly pull sunlight from the earth.
The originally crimson academy buildings turned black-red under the descending night curtain.
“But now I can understand.”
“To Fran and the others, this place is not a supply point in a game, but a genuine home for living.”
“And the people in the academy are not like game characters with clear roles like blacksmiths responsible for forging, alchemists for providing healing potions, and village chiefs for accepting quests… but individuals with flesh and bl**d.”
“The meaning of travel is not just to reach the destination, the process of the journey is equally important; this is the reason Fran and I parted ways.”
“Fran isn’t afraid of d*ath… but she refuses to abandon the process itself to reach the end.”
Hiltina’s words paused, and in her eyes, Rast saw the sunset.
“Yes, this is how the students see Starry University, and the world… How does it feel?” Rast continued to ask.
“It’s somewhat different from what I expected, but I don’t dislike this world.”
Hiltina softly said, “Because life is uncertain and fleeting, we must run hard while alive, laugh loudly, love boldly… leave our mark in this world and embrace all the beauty it offers.”
“This is what Mr. Silver told me when I first enrolled, and it is the philosophy instilled in Starry University by the principal.”
“But it wasn’t until now that I truly understood.”
Rast smiled: “Aren’t you afraid that after realizing all this, you’ll become weak and timid like those who oppose you…?”
“Unable to dash towards your goal as you once did, disregarding all rumors and the danger of life?”
“No, I won’t.” Hiltina gently shook her head.
“My past actions were driven by the ideals left by my mother…”
“Becoming an extraordinary being and inheriting the Sequence of the ‘Chariot’ was all for the obsession with the Ranger.”
“But now, I have another reason to move forward.”
“It’s not for the obsession of the departed, but for this world that has sparked my expectations.”
She looked at Rast: “And for the person who rekindled my expectations for the world.”
At that moment, the sun set, and the veil of night enveloped the entire world.
In the deepening night, Rast saw the brilliance in Hiltina’s eyes.
Her eyes were brighter than ever, overshadowing the stars and moon in the night sky.
The prompt for the increase in bonding level at the Fool’s Library did not appear.
But for some reason, Rast felt a subtle shift in his relationship with Hiltina.
A change that even his lengthy experience could not articulate.
…
“I’ve said so much about my matters.”
“Next, it should be time to talk about yours.”
When Hiltina spoke again, there was no trace of shadow in her voice.
In an instant, she transformed back into the formidable Silver Sword Saint.
“Me?”
Rast was taken aback.
“That’s right.”
Hiltina crossed her arms.
Her chestnut long hair flowed down, swaying elegantly in the evening breeze, making a rustling sound.
“You’ve heard all my secret worries… but I know nothing about you, that seems a bit unfair.”
“I chose to become a Night Traveler and fight in the Night World due to my mother’s ideals and the obsession with the Ranger.”
“And Fran and the others initially may have sought power or social status, but ultimately, they fight to protect this beautiful world and the people around them.”
“But what about you, Rast?”
“You are not a resident of this world. Perhaps you once came from here, but three hundred years is enough to make you lose that sense of belonging.”
“Such a free-spirited person like you, what drives you to fight desperately in the Night World?”
She fixed her light brown eyes intently on Rast’s eyes.
“Back then, before we entered the Calamity Echo.”
“You told me that we are of the same kind.”
“What did that mean?”
(End of Chapter)
