Chapter 38: Late Night Musings After Chatting with Mr. Ster

Night had deepened. Pure moonlight streamed through the window, spilling onto the floor. Exhausted, I lay on the bed and fell into a deep sleep. When the moon hung high, I suddenly opened my eyes and sat up.

"What are you doing~? I was sleeping so soundly~" Cindira grumbled, awakened.

"...Well, I’m really sorry about that?" I watched Cindira treating my bed like her own. My eyelid twitched. When did you even get here?

"Getting up to pee? Hehe~ Is little Mashang scared of the dark? Don’t worry, big sister will take you~"

"Can’t be bothered." I dressed quickly and slipped on the Star Absorption Gloves. "I’ve got business outside. Sleep first."

"Sigh~ I can’t sleep without hugging you~"

"Sighing won’t help. I can’t sleep when you hug me either!"

Ignoring Cindira’s grumbling, I leaped out the window. I slashed my right index finger, casting Light Body and Cloud-Stepping Arrow spells. I glided smoothly to the manor gate.

"You called for me?" I faced the old man there. He wore a silver-white silk robe, his pale hair and beard loose. Just standing there, he felt like a primordial beast.

"Sharp senses, young man! I only probed lightly with spiritual power."

"Not light at all. Master Joseph’s thirty-four magic alarms didn’t trigger once. Your control is remarkable."

"Humble brag. I know his tricks well enough to avoid them. By the way—it’s thirty-seven alarms. You missed the three on the second floor."

"...May I ask your name?"

"Forgotten my surname after so long. Call me Old Ster."

"Mr. Ster? Are you the Sacred Beast of Crescent Lake?" Only then did I notice his pupils weren’t human.

"Sacred Beast? No. I merely repaid a debt to John long ago." He waved a hand.

"So you’ve known the Old Mage for years?"

"John saved my life when young. Later, I saved him—but beyond debts, we became friends. He’s one of my few human friends."

"I see. Here to take Bobo back?"

"No. I want Bobo to stay with John. Trouble’s come up—I can’t care for him now."

"Then why visit me, Mr. Ster?"

"For you, Mr. Mashang."

"Me? What about me matters?" I was baffled. First meeting, no reason for a midnight call.

"I came to see the Goddess’s chosen one. And to deliver Her words."

"Oh? You know about the apocalypse too? What useful info did She send?"

"Sigh~ Most strong beings at our level know. It’s sorrowful. Ants don’t know doom; bigger ants know but can’t stop it. Because ants are just ants."

"I’m an ant too. Why think I can save the world?"

"Sigh~ Desperate times, desperate measures."

"Mr. Ster, be less blunt. Spare my feelings." I frowned.

"Hehe, joking, old man. The Goddess has three pieces of advice. Want to hear?"

"I don’t want to, but I must. Go on."

"First: Don’t let the past chain your steps."

"Second: Don’t let hatred blind your eyes."

"Third: To protect for love or destroy for hate—the results may match, but endings never do."

"Why do big shots talk in riddles?" I was lost. Why not share apocalypse details instead?

"Hehe, the Goddess also said: your baptism won’t be normal this time."

"What?! Joking? Do you know why I’m fourteen again? For the baptism! Why block me?" I was confused. Had plans changed? I’d hoped to fix my soul imprint then!

"Calm down. She prepared a special baptism—John will conduct it. Here’s the main ingredient." Sacred Beast Ster pulled out a crystal from his robe. Translucent, one end thick, one sharp—like a dragon’s horn.

"What is this?" I took the red-glowing horn-crystal. Restless fire and blood elements pulsed inside. "What the hell? Feels dangerous!"

"Brat! You’re the hell thing! How dare you?!" A fierce spiritual wave burst out, nearly knocking me over.

"W-what? A powerful consciousness lives in here?"

"Yes. This is the divine core of the Blazing Blood Dragon Princess, Cocymis. Thirty thousand years ago, she surpassed gods, becoming the first Creator-level being in eons. Her fiery rage led her to challenge the Creation Goddess. The Goddess destroyed her body—but a Creator’s consciousness can’t be erased. It lives here, in this Crystal Dragon Horn."

"Why give it to me? For baptism?" I shook the core.

"Brat! Stop shaking! I’m dizzy!" Spiritual waves trembled weakly.

"Oh?!" I grinned. "Move! My Qilin Arm! Golden Ripple Overdrive!"

"Enough! On baptism day, with heaven’s power and John’s help, you may contract with her. Only a Creator like the Dragon Princess can bind souls with someone lacking a soul imprint."

"I... refuse to contract with this brat! Give up!" Her voice faded.

"Oh? Still got fight? Time to get serious!" I vowed to my past life’s laptop folder ‘Principles of Joystick Drive Learning’ on drive F, calculating T-presses: "JOJO! This is my final Ripple!"

"Ahem! John will handle details. I’ve duties elsewhere. Keep it safe. Farewell!" Sacred Beast Ster seemed flustered by my lewd shaking.

"Bye, Mr. Ster!" I waved left-handed while shaking the core rapidly with my right.

"Stop! Shake again, and I self-destruct!"

"Threaten me? Do it! I miss fireworks!"

"You... ruthless brat!"

"Hmph! After thirty thousand years half-dead, you’ll blow from shaking? Prove it—I’m watching."

"..." Silence. No more waves.

"Needs discipline." I stopped shaking. Rusty from disuse. Yawning, I walked back to the courtyard.

The past? Hatred? Results and endings? Why tell me this? The Goddess knows my history—She knows I’ve avenged myself. I’ve let go.

The past is gone. Hatred resolved. Results and endings are set. Now I live freely. Nothing holds me back. Nothing blinds me. Nothing...

Unaware, I reached the courtyard. Wind magic lifted me to my attic room. I sighed, tucked the Crystal Dragon Horn into my robes, and flopped onto the bed.

"Back? Bathroom took forever?" Cindira sat up.

"I said it’s not the bathroom!"

"What? Met a fox spirit? I slave for this home while you cheat! How face me and our child?"

"Stop acting! Let go of my neck. When did we have a child? I’m no cuck!"

"Today! The princess ‘eloped’ with you. I just tried being the neglected wife—you’re biased!"

"With that setup, don’t say ‘just’!"

"Waaah~"

"Crying won’t work. I’m tired. Sleep, okay?"

"Waaah waaah~"

"Sigh... My fault, child’s mama. Sleep now?" Why do I always cave?

"No! Today’s your husband tax day, darling~"

"Damn! Where’d you learn that?"

"Romance novels! Told you—keep acting!"

"I’ll ‘act’ your face! This isn’t romance anymore!"

"Fine~ Switch roles. I’m the lonely new wife; you’re the merchant husband home late. Darling~ Pay your husband tax today!"

"Nothing changed! The day’s the same! The key thing’s unchanged!"