### Chapter 66: Lying is Bad
“Can you help me out? Audience Performer.”
Night Star fell silent for a moment.
“When it comes to a friend’s wish, I usually go all out to fulfill it, no matter how tough it is. In the past, I braved a city full of creepy puppets to find something important for a friend, knowing I could be caught at any moment. I even battled my social anxiety and stepped onto a stage filled with tens of thousands of spectators, all those gazes on me… Those were huge challenges, proof I was willing to go for broke.”
The Administrator listened attentively, not interrupting.
“For the requests from friends, I mostly tend to agree, because friends come by so rarely. I’ve only recently gathered such precious friends. My Star is the Wish Machine, theoretically capable of granting any wish! I hardly ever use it for my own desires because it just leaves me exhausted. So I give those opportunities to friends who need them, trying to help them as best I can.”
Night Star turned to the Administrator, determination sparkling in her eyes.
“Although you’ve made a wish, I refuse to grant it. The decision lies with me, and I will reject wishes that I find unreasonable. This is just my personal opinion.”
Upon hearing this, the Administrator lowered her head, exuding a silent despair.
“Well then… give me a reason to keep living. My long life has no meaning anymore. I don’t want to continue suffering, nor do I want to see the people around me passing away one by one. I’m a freak, destined to not fit into this world.”
“Are you asking for my help?” Night Star inquired.
“Maybe…”
Night Star stood up, speaking earnestly, “In that case, I’ll give you a reason to live. Tell me, do you consider me a friend?”
The Administrator paused, then nodded slowly.
“Undeniably, yes. Even I, who’s reluctant to make friends, have been moved by your sincerity. Perhaps my psychological defenses will remain stagnant for another few centuries.”
“Have you considered your friends’ feelings?”
The Administrator fell into silence.
Night Star carried on. “Is the meaning behind your endurance merely to find a way to d*e? Why isn’t it to encounter me and live joyfully together?”
“That’s an obsession…”
“It’s not a question of obsession! All I know is, if you d*e, I’ll be very sad. You’ve said you’ve experienced the pain of losing close friends many times; if so, how could you bear to let me suffer because of you?”
“I don’t know… My heart feels empty, without any expectations for the future. If it could be resolved in a few words, we wouldn’t be in this situation.”
Night Star grabbed the Administrator’s shoulders, forcing her to meet her gaze.
“Then make a new wish to me.”
“Eh?”
“I can be the all-powerful Wish Machine; I’ll help you achieve a perfect ending, one that both you and I can accept. So spill your thoughts, don’t hold anything back, okay?”
Night Star extended her hand, her tone almost pleading.
The Administrator felt Night Star’s genuine sincerity and slowly closed her eyes.
Someone cares that she doesn’t want to d*e, and she understood that.
Not just the Audience Performer in front of her but also the respected Eternal Watcher.
Ice Lixie similarly possessed a near-immortal ability and had experienced a long time.
She, however, fought for a grand goal: to battle for a better world, and for that, she could persist indefinitely.
One day, Ice Lixie accidentally became her friend.
Upon learning of the Administrator’s plight, she expressed sympathy and consistently offered comfort through words and actions.
What does it feel like to have someone by your side at your last moments?
The Administrator only knew that this feeling brought peace, at least she wouldn’t feel alone, disconnected from the world.
And now, another person truly cares for her.
That would be the Audience Performer.
This pure, adorable silver-haired girl seemed like an angel who fell from the sky, always making people smile.
And her request, in a way, was impossible to refuse.
How could one deny such a heartfelt plea again? That would just be rude!
Gathering her last bit of courage, the Administrator grasped Night Star’s hand, as if it was a lifeline, expressing her final yearning.
“My wish is to live… peacefully.”
“I’ll make it happen,” Night Star promised with a nod.
The Wish Machine activated.
Time and space froze in a twist.
A beam of white light engulfed Night Star, completely vanishing from the theater.
When Night Star reopened her eyes, she found herself in a strange place.
“Hmm… Where am I? Did the Wish Machine teleport me to some weird spot again?”
Night Star pondered for a moment, completely clueless about how the wish-granting thing worked.
The Administrator wanted a reason to live, a simple wish for peace of mind, right?
“Forget it.”
After thinking it over, Night Star brushed aside all the wild theories swirling in her mind and started to scan her environment.
Since the Star brought her here, it must relate to the Administrator’s wish.
Night Star needed to act and complete the key condition.
“Is this… the countryside?”
As she observed, Night Star realized she was in a suburban area, surrounded by green trees and grass, definitely not in the city.
She could even hear the sound of running water; there must be a stream or river nearby.
With renewed determination, Night Star set off to search for the Administrator’s figure.
It felt like there was a massive time gap between now and the future; this must be when the Administrator was still quite young.
Was it hundreds of years ago?
With this question in her heart, Night Star looked around, sensing the atmosphere closely.
Soon, she detected a presence and quickened her pace toward it.
“Hmm…”
At the bank of a stream, Night Star saw a girl staring blankly at the grass, appearing rather downcast.
Though she bore some differences compared to the future Administrator, Night Star recognized her instantly.
Without hesitation, Night Star approached her.
“Hey there! Can we get to know each other?”
The girl looked up, confusion in her eyes.
“Who are you?”
“Well, how to put it? I’m from the future, sent back to meet you.”
Night Star said this without a second thought, leaving nothing hidden.
Upon hearing this, the girl froze in place.
“Future… Are you joking? Lying is bad.”
Night Star didn’t bother to explain further.
“You can’t d*e, right?”
“Uh… what’s that? I don’t know what you’re talking about.” The girl averted her gaze, looking a bit guilty.
Looks like at this time, she still didn’t know how to hide her secrets; they were obvious.
So, Night Star served up her words right back to her.
“Lying is bad.”
“…..”
Seeing the girl fall silent, Night Star sat down beside her without saying much more.
Eventually, the girl couldn’t hold back anymore and spoke first.
“What exactly are you? How do you know my secret?”
“Um~ I already said it. I’m from the future, your future friend. You can call me… Night Star.”
“Night Star…”
The girl repeated the name a few times, and for some reason, she began to believe in this silver-haired girl a little.
