Chapter 2601: Chapter 1741: Negotiation (Ben Cat Rolls Into a Ball and Doesn’t Want to Move)

This is a story from a distant planet, set in the distant future of long ago.

It tells of the summer Star Festival in a small village of a small nation.

Under the cascade of annual meteors, Flora and Claire met.

The two, as if they had known each other long before, made a distant promise to one another.

However, at the Star Festival when they were sixteen, upon meeting again, Flora found that Claire had forgotten her.

Because on her way back from last year’s Star Festival, Claire had met with an accident and lost her memory.

To retrieve her memory, the young girls decided to reach the top of the Star-picking Tower on the night of the Star Festival.

If they could get there and catch that star, perhaps Claire’s memory would be restored.

If you pluck a small star, you will gain small happiness.

If you pluck a large star, you will gain great fortune.

If you can pluck both, you will gain an eternal wish.

Star-picking is the forgiveness of sins, star-picking is the miracle of night.

Relying on songs, the two reached the Star-picking Tower.

However, someone blocked their way.

They were the sinful goddesses, imprisoned within this tower five hundred years ago, sleeping here, destined to die here.

Pride, evasion, arrogance, binding curses, jealousy, despair.

Why were they imprisoned here, what crimes did they commit?

Over the long passage of time, even they have forgotten, yet these goddesses stood in the way of the two.

Even though they were impeded by the goddesses’ dark emotions, the two overcame numerous obstacles and reached the top of the tower.

But just when they were about to pluck the star, its radiant light suddenly burst forth, and Flora lost her eyes. Amidst her cries and wails, Claire finally regained her memories and remembered the girl’s name.

Burned by the star’s brilliance, the blinded Flora fell from the tower and was forever separated from Claire.

And above her, the star continued to shine with its eternal brilliance.

This is the story of StarLight.

A profoundly moving......

"Once again demonstrating that taking shortcuts never leads to good outcomes."

Duanmu Huai threw the book aside with a dismissive snort.

"This is the consequence of humans foolishly attempting to fulfill their wishes through external forces. If I had witnessed this, I would surely ridicule their foolishness."

"Huh? Is that so?"

Facing Duanmu Huai’s opinion, Tenpou Zou seemed to have a different take.

"I think it’s wonderful, that Flora and Claire were willing to trust each other even after losing their memories...what do you think, Little Wing?"

"Yes, I think so too..."

Feng Mingyi nodded as well, while Duanmu Huai let out a soft snort.

"That’s why you two are just girls, thinking that getting two stars could grant an eternal wish. Where’s such a good thing? In the end, fate is something you must control yourself. Foolishly entrusting your fate to an unknown entity leads to such an outcome. Honestly, I don’t find Flora pitiful at all."

"Is...that so?"

"Exactly, just think, in this story, wasn’t Flora’s wish for Claire’s memory to be restored? Even though she went blind and fell off the tower to her death, did Claire’s memory get restored, or not?"

"Uh..."

Facing Duanmu Huai’s unconventional interpretation, the two were momentarily at a loss for words.

"Is that even possible?"

"Why not? It’s like wishing at a shrine for an unexpected fortune, then getting hit by a car and breaking all your bones, lying in the hospital, but because you bought insurance, the company paid you a large sum of money. Don’t ask how the money came about, just say whether it counts as an unexpected fortune."

"This..."

Hearing this, the two’s facial expressions became stiffer, while Hei Chuan Chi Yin chuckled quietly beside them.

"See, entrusting your fate to the unknown results in this, where they ensure your wish is fulfilled, but how it is fulfilled is not up to you."

Duanmu Huai pouted.

"It’s like someone wanting to marry but their family disagrees, then comes to make a wish. Then they find out their house caught fire and those opposing their marriage died in the fire, doesn’t that mean there’s no more resistance? Doesn’t that mean they can get married?"

"No, no, no, isn’t that sophistry?"

Tenpou Zou, breaking into a cold sweat, hastily refuted.

"What’s wrong with sophistry? That’s how wish fulfillment works, is there some law mandating how a wish must be fulfilled step by step? Or perhaps you think a wish should be fulfilled in a certain way, then how it is done is up to you? If you have the power to make your desires come true on your own, why even make a wish?"

Hei Chuan Chi Yin also found it understandable why Duanmu Huai would be so upset, as thereafter, a person named Fengming Xianshiling proposed conditions to the two of them.

Fengming Xianshiling’s organization would help them forge false identities, and they were to enroll in the Shengxiang Music Academy under the guise of transfer students.

Furthermore, due to the previous battles, Tenpou Zou and Feng Mingyi’s bodies had some issues that required medical rest. They too were students of Saint Soaring Music Academy, coincidentally set to perform this play. Therefore, he hoped the two could replace Tenpou Zou and Feng Mingyi in playing their roles in the performance.

That’s why Duanmu Huai was feeling very aggrieved here.

If this organization had asked him to kill some aliens or the like, Duanmu Huai would have taken on the challenge without hesitation.

But...but, damn it, how did it come to be that after traveling to another world, he had to perform in a play?

Besides...

"This is an opera, right? I don’t understand opera. I know a bit about drama, but opera is completely foreign to me."

Duanmu Huai shook his head. After learning about that system, he understood why the organization set up such a music academy. Clearly, to be a Magic Girl you need to sing, and sing well. Therefore, professional training via the system is essential, but......

Duanmu Huai truly can’t sing opera.

If it were something like Tokyo Blade’s 2.5 comic adaptation, Duanmu Huai would be fine.

But opera is a different matter altogether!

Anyway, as far as Duanmu Huai is concerned, opera is like Peking opera, going on stage without properly speaking human language, just bouncing around singing nonsense...... he truly can’t handle it.

"Or give me a non-singing role."

"But Xiao Ai, your hymn isn’t bad, I think opera and hymns are quite similar?"

However, you can guard against thousands of things, but not the thief at home.

Duanmu Huai never thought the enemy was not across the way, but right beside him!

"Hymn?"

Sure enough, Tenpou Zou and Feng Mingyi were immediately drawn in by Hei Chuan Chi Yin’s revelation.

"Yeah, you heard the music played from Xiao Ai’s armor before, that was Xiao Ai singing the hymn."

"Didn’t see that coming......."

Hearing this, the two of them looked at Duanmu Huai with much more surprise in their eyes. Strictly speaking, the tone and sound of a hymn in Tower Language is indeed similar to opera, but the problem is no one understands it.

But not understanding is good!

Not understanding means you won’t feel awkward singing it!

However, understanding is a whole different matter!

Let’s put it this way, when you hum an American country song, you don’t need your brain, or to know what the lyrics mean, as long as the tune fits.

But if you sing a Yunnan folk song, the lyrics can make you so embarrassed your toes could curl into a three-bedroom apartment.

However, in reality, American country lyrics are about as straightforward as Yunnan folk songs for Americans.

So it’s fine for Duanmu Huai to sing hymns in Tower Language, as no one but him understands.

But if you ask him to sing "Driver, Take Me Away," that’s a different story.

"In any case, I’d rather die, jump from here than perform!"

Duanmu Huai refused, saying he’s not dependent on performances for survival, in that world he has to act, and in this world, too? This is never-ending, right!

At the same time, Duanmu Huai increasingly believed the cursed state of this world might be tied to that shot he took at the Star Gods earlier. Though there’s a difference between understanding and not understanding, the tune of the songs sung by those girls and hymns are quite similar ...... although of no use to Mecha Spirits.

By this point, the atmosphere became a bit tense. Tenpou Zou scratched his head, unsure how to respond. Fengming Xianshiling, beside him, also seemed helpless. Just then, Hei Chuan Chi Yin stood up and took Duanmu Huai’s hand.

"Excuse me, may I talk to Xiao Ai alone?"

As she spoke, Hei Chuan Chi Yin pulled Duanmu Huai to a nearby corner.

"You aren’t thinking of having me perform, are you? I really don’t know a thing about opera."

"But don’t we need cooperation from this side right now? I think it’s better to collaborate."

"Hmph, others beg us Tribunal for collaboration; there’s never been a time we Tribunals had to listen to others! I don’t believe in this world the priority of eliminating those Noise can be lower than performing opera, right? Worst case, we all go separate ways and figure it out ourselves! If we aren’t welcomed here, we shall find another place! You really think I can’t do without collaborating with them?"

Duanmu Huai crossed his arms, full of disdain. Facing Duanmu Huai’s firm response, Hei Chuan Chi Yin couldn’t help but sigh, glancing around before lowering her voice.

"Xiao Ai, you haven’t studied at this kind of school, have you?"

"Of course, you know I attended Yangdong."

"Actually, body-shaping classes are quite important in this sort of school......"

"Oh, so?"

"I would love to perform with Xiao Ai, so........."

At this point, a blush spread across Hei Chuan Chi Yin’s face.

"If Xiao Ai agrees, I can strike even more embarrassing poses."

"Hmm?"

Hearing Hei Chuan Chi Yin’s response, Duanmu Huai looked at her in surprise.

Testing a leader with that?

Do you think I’m a fake Big Judge of the Tribunal, easily tempted?

What a joke!

My will is as firm as iron; I will definitely not be swayed by such trivial temptations!

"Then......whatever you wear has to be up to me."

It’s got to be paid extra!

".......Okay."

Hearing Duanmu Huai’s requirements, Hei Chuan Chi Yin lowered her head, her ears flush, and nodded slightly.

"Deal!"

Duanmu Huai has always been straightforward. Though he clearly was unwilling earlier, the situation had now changed. Although previously, his relationship with Hei Chuan Chi Yin was quite close, it was always natural. Duanmu Huai had thought about involving Hei Chuan Chi Yin in some interesting games but considering his current status if he suddenly made such a request to Hei Chuan Chi Yin it would be too odd, hence he never did.

But now unexpectedly, what he thought unachievable flourished naturally.

Hei Chuan Chi Yin came to him willingly!

How can he not seize the opportunity fiercely!