“‘You’ve seen right through us... *We* just want to know... Aglaia, what are you really thinking?’”

Aglaea spoke truthfully, “...My original plan was to use 【Exile】 as a threat to test those two's resolve and will. But I sensed Castorice's unease. She trusts them and even contacted Phainon privately, thinking I didn't know... So, I played along and changed Exile to Execution, using the most extreme scenario to measure their will.”

“At the same time, it will foster a deeper relationship between them, Phainon, and Castorice.”

Tribbie frowned, “...Is it necessary to go to such lengths for the battle of Nicadori? But doing this will make it harder than ever for them to trust you again...”

Aglaea shook her head calmly, “...That is not important.”

“You and I will one day exit this stage, and the fate of Amphoreus will be handed to others... That is the future you saw, isn't it?”

Tribbie took a deep breath and nodded with a solemn expression, “...Yes.”

Speaking of this, a hint of anger appeared on Aglaea's usually calm face: “That oracle of Salvation is murky. It instigates us to challenge the gods, yet never reveals what the prophesied 【Tomorrow】 looks like.”

“Currently, people are willing to believe the oracle, so they unite around the Chrysos Heirs. But one day, if the world's faith wavers... everything will collapse. Therefore, we must be prepared. What does it matter if you and I are dressed in rags? We should focus on weaving the battle attire for the the Savior.”

“Aglaia... have you noticed... you always say you don't believe in human selflessness, but you're becoming a living counterexample yourself.”

Aglaea shook her head gently, “Perhaps it's because the 'human' part is leaving me.”

“Another endless dawn; how bright the day, how long the eternal night. The golden thread are exceptionally calm today; the sky, earth, and ocean have all held their breath. Are they mourning the destined passing of a Nautilus...”

“I really want to bathe for a moment... Will you accompany me?”

Tribbie smiled gracefully, “Let's go, Aglaia. It's been hundreds of years; when have *we* ever refused your invitation?”

——

Aotu World.

“Hun... hundreds of years old...?? So they’re all that old?”

Jin looked incredulous, while Kelly had an expression as if it were nothing unusual. Sitting on her Star-Moon Blade with one hand on her cheek, she glanced down at Xing: “Jin, there's no need to be so shocked. They are demigods; it's quite common for demigods to live for hundreds of years, isn't it?”

“It just feels a bit alien...”

Kelly sighed helplessly, too lazy to bother with him further. She looked up at the two demigods in the Celestial Screen, a flash of confusion in her blue eyes.

“However, the states of these two demigods seem a bit strange. Tribbie went from an ordinary person back to the mind and appearance of a child, while Aglaea is gradually losing her 'humanity'... Could it be that once a Chrysos Heir merges with a Nautilus, the human heart also changes?”

“This might be the price of becoming a demigod,” Zitang Huan speculated. “While possessing a long life, humanity is gradually eroded by the continuous accumulation of knowledge and experience. Moreover, the Nautilus's spark should also contain the knowledge of gods. If someone carries the spark of 'Strife,' they might become extremely bellicose...”

“A bellicose version of Phainon... that feels like he would become a quite dangerous person...”

“He’d probably become someone like Godrose,” Dan Heng muttered, getting a headache just at the mention of that guy's name.

“Wait! I have an idea!” Jin raised his hand. “Since Chrysos Heirs can be used to carry sparks, why not let Miss Castorice carry 'Strife'? Miss Castorice is pretty, quiet, and very kind. Even if she becomes a bit bellicose, she'd be the safest among the Chrysos Heirs, right?”

“You're overthinking it, Jin. No Chrysos Heir is safe. Why do you think Aglaea chose Castorice instead of Mydei to be the executioner?” Kelly corrected him. “That woman's aura is terrifyingly lethal. Don't be fooled by her harmless appearance; people like her are the most ruthless when they kill.”

——

【...】

【In the darkness, a familiar voice rang in Xing's ear again.】

【“...Mimi?”】

【Xing rubbed her eyes, “Hmm... what was that sound?”】

【A blurry hallucination seemed to appear before her eyes. Xing tried to reach out but touched nothing. Only the cry of “Mimi” echoed in her ears, as if some animal were flickering in and out of the mist.】

【“...Sound? Who? That? Which one?”】

【“Who's speaking...?”】

【“Is it you, Stellaron?”】

【The voice seemed very confused: “...Core? Star? Who? You... I... Who am I?”】

【“...Broken. Lost. Want... whole.”】

【“...Sleep. Go to sleep. Disturb... shouldn't.”】

【Xing felt her head was full of the “Mimi” sounds. Although they were only simple syllables throughout, strangely, she found she could actually understand them.】

【Xing rubbed her head and sat up from the bed.】

【(Was I... dreaming? There was a voice in my head that felt like it lasted all night... I should tell Dan Heng about this too.)】

【Xing went to the balcony and found Dan Heng gazing at the rolling mountains in the distance, lost in thought.】

【“Have you been up for a long time?”】

【Dan Heng nodded, “For a while. It's too bright outside; I can't sleep soundly... Since we arrived at the Holy City, the sky has been this bright. How did you rest?”】

【“There was a voice in my dream the whole time.”】

【“A voice? Was it the voice of the Stellaron again, or...”】

【Xing tried to recall, “It... was quite cute, not like the Stellaron.”】

【“It seems it wasn't a nightmare. But be careful; it could also be a means of bewitching you. Try to record as much of the content as you can remember. Perhaps this strange dream is related to the rules of this world.”】

——

Kaguya-sama: Love Is War.

“This voice... it's that pink rabbit that first appeared in Amphoreus, right?”

Fujiwara Chika suddenly recalled that when the carriage first passed through Amphoreus's atmosphere, they were briefly plunged into darkness, and this animal that kept making “Mimi” cries had appeared.

Looking at this, could it be that this mysterious creature is related to “dreams”?

“It should be that rabbit.” Ishigami frowned, feeling very confused. “But strangely, even though both Dan Heng and Xing could see it, why did this voice only appear in Xing's dream? Is there some connection between Xing and that rabbit?”