VAP - Chapter 41
Chapter 41: The Sleeping Beauty Whose Words Are Law (End)
When the Main System issued the mission, Qi Jiu was still asleep, so she didn’t know its content. She didn’t even know that the ultimate mission was already upon her, a problem that had to be faced.
...So the young lady was as carefree and relaxed as ever.
Yue Du didn't plan on telling her host about this right away. She was still hesitating.
What was she hesitating about?
If she had to put it into words, she wasn't sure herself. Her thoughts were a mess; there was too much to consider.
Back when Yue Du thought the ultimate mission would be to become the leader of humanity, she had already begun making the relevant preparations:
She collected information on the post-disaster recovery status of various countries and all the powerful espers across the globe to get a handle on the current situation. Qi Jiu would do the talking, and she would teach Qi Jiu what to say—a clear division of labor.
At least back then, she had been hopeful. Yue Du knew that even if she unbinded from her host after the mission was completed, Qi Jiu would live a good life as the world's savior.
But what was this supposed to be?
From savior to world-destroyer—even if this was the original destiny of the villain "Qi Jiu," the difference was just too stark!
...It made it impossible for her to just let it be.
After leaving the mental space, Yue Du acted as if everything was normal. It wasn't until that night, just before bed, that she feigned nonchalance and started a casual chat with Qi Jiu.
At first, they just chatted about the original worldline, her tone light. She followed the thread of conversation to the original "Qi Jiu" and that Qi Jiu's ending.
"Ah Jiu, I just thought of something. In the original worldline, how exactly did Qi Jiu plan to destroy the world?" Yue Du asked, feigning confusion.
Qi Jiu chuckled lightly. "For a Word Spirit esper to achieve their goal, they just have to speak, don't they? Wish for the world to be destroyed, and be destroyed right along with it."
She thought for a moment, then added pensively, "Did your script mention how Xing Qingcang stopped 'me'?"
Yue Du replied, "It didn't go into detail. It was just an outline, after all. It only mentioned... that he seemed to have used energy to isolate 'Qi Jiu' in a small space, so in the end, she was the only one destroyed."
The Qi Jiu of the original worldline had a happy childhood, but then she lost her family and suffered unimaginable bullying in her youth. It was because of these experiences that she chose self-destruction after gaining power, intending to drag the entire world down with her.
Yue Du felt a sense of pity for her, but she also knew that in essence, the actions of "Qi Jiu" and Xin Licheng were two different methods to achieve the same end.
Yue Du closed her eyes and let out a soft sigh.
But Qi Jiu said, "Actually, even if Xing Qingcang had done nothing, the world wouldn't necessarily have been destroyed at Qi Jiu's hands." She paused, a cold glint flashing in her eyes. "Destroying a world isn't that simple. I'd guess that with her ability, the most she could have done was destroy a single region."
"Causing this small world to completely collapse was beyond her capabilities."
Yue Du heard her own voice ask, "What about you? Could you do it?"
Qi Jiu smiled. "Destruction is my specialty, you know that. Logically, it should be possible with my abilities, but I have a premonition—if I were to really destroy the world, the price would be my own eternal slumber."
"Ah, I see," Yue Du said.
Then she really would be a sleeping beauty. A sleeping beauty with no prince, accompanied only by the end of time.
Seeing the strange look on her system's face, Qi Jiu suddenly grew suspicious. "Why are you asking about this?"
"The topic just came up, so I asked. It's not like I'm actually going to have you destroy the world," Yue Du replied, her composure flawless.
But Qi Jiu still noticed something was off.
She fell silent for a moment. Her half-lidded, deep eyes opened fully, like black crystals unveiled. The profound, inky blackness seemed to obscure the very translucence of her eyes.
"Is it the mission?" Though phrased as a question, her tone was certain. Qi Jiu spoke slowly, "The final mission is to destroy the world, isn't it?"
There was no point in hiding it; the matter was already settled. Yue Du looked directly into her host's eyes and said seriously, "Yes. You're right about everything. The mission was issued while you were asleep, so only I knew about it."
Before Qi Jiu could respond, she added with a relaxed smile, "But it's fine. I've already decided to reject it. Who would do such a twisted mission? Don't worry."
Qi Jiu replied, "You saying that is what makes me truly worried."
Yue Du paused, almost thinking she'd misheard. "...What?"
Qi Jiu's gaze locked onto her, not wavering for an instant. Stared at by those eyes, for a moment Yue Du felt as if she were facing a boundless abyss—but the feeling quickly vanished.
"What are the consequences for you if you reject the mission?" Qi Jiu asked softly.
"Nothing at all. At most, I just won't get any points. That's a system's prerogative."
Yue Du subconsciously concealed the matter of her system level, but it didn't really matter. The level was useless; it just made one's record look good.
"And you call that no consequences!" Qi Jiu exclaimed.
Yue Du didn't expect her to make an issue out of that. "?"
"You need points, right? How many points do you get for destroying the world?"
"3000..."
"Is there anything else? For example, a point bonus for completing all the missions in this entire worldline."
"...Yes."
"There you have it." Miss Qi was exasperated. "All I have to do is destroy this place, and you'll get all those points. It's a deal with no investment and all profit. Why wouldn't you do it!"
Yue Du was a bit stunned. After understanding what Qi Jiu meant, she scowled at her host for the first time. "You—"
Qi Jiu looked innocent. "What about me?"
"Do you really think those points are more important to me than you are?" Yue Du was so angry she blurted out, "Are you an idiot? I can always earn more points, but if something happens to you because of this goddamn mission, can I get you back?!"
Qi Jiu didn't even seem to notice she was being yelled at. Her eyes slowly widened, her expression joyful. "Are you confessing to..."
Yue Du was so angry she could feel her liver ache. "No! Don't get the wrong idea!"
How could she get the wrong idea at a time like this!
Qi Jiu wilted. Now she remembered she had just been scolded and said plaintively, "You yelled at me."
"..." Yue Du fell back limply, covering her eyes with her arm.
They were supposed to be discussing a world-ending problem, and now the solemn atmosphere was completely gone.
It was quiet for about ten seconds.
Yue Du's heart suddenly began to pound. Qi Jiu wasn't saying anything. Was she really upset?
Just then.
"But... being so angry means you care about me, doesn't it, Yue Du?" Qi Jiu's unique, lazily smiling voice was right beside her.
Yue Du moved her arm.
Before her was Qi Jiu's smiling face, her features exquisite. The abyss that had seemed ready to devour someone just minutes ago was now a tranquil deep sea, gently beckoning one to sink into its depths.
She should have refuted it. She certainly had reasons to, because there were many things she cared about.
She wanted to say, You're only part of the reason.
This world was alive—Professor Xing, his father, the tough women at the dojo, even the Chaos Faction and scumbags like Qi Tianhe... They were all supposed to have their own life paths, for better or for worse. None of them should have their lives ended because of one person's selfish desires.
That's what she wanted to say. What she should have said.
But—
"Yes. I care about you. So don't treat yourself with such disregard."
In the end, those were the words that slipped out.
Qi Jiu said, "...Ah."
"Have I been treating myself with disregard?" she asked.
Yue Du said with a stony face, "You just said that you destroying the world and becoming a real sleeping beauty would be a 'deal with no investment and all profit' for me."
Saying something like that to a piece of system data that hadn't even reciprocated your feelings—what is that if not treating yourself with disregard?
"Oh, that." Qi Jiu seemed to realize. Facing her system's icy gaze, she smiled innocently. "I didn't explain it clearly, my bad. If I fall into a deep sleep, there are other 'me's, so it doesn't matter."
What do you mean, other 'you's???
"I can't really explain it. It's just a feeling," Qi Jiu said dismissively. "Let's not talk about it. It's not a big deal."
Wait a minute! If this isn't a big deal, then what is!
Yue Du's icy expression finally cracked. She shot up and questioned her host seriously.
But no matter how long she asked, Qi Jiu could only reply helplessly that she just couldn't explain it. She didn't remember the specifics; it was just a feeling she had.
Yue Du was speechless. "..."
She wanted to take back everything she'd just said about caring. All of it.
Sensing the conversation had veered in a strange direction, Yue Du tried to steer it back on course. "The mission deadline is in one month. I just have to unbind before the time is up."
Qi Jiu's attention was successfully diverted. "That's such a short time," she said, disappointed.
Yue Du said calmly, "It is. So, if you do the mission, I'll have to leave the moment the world is destroyed. On the other hand, if you don't do the mission, I'll still have to leave when the month is up."
"Comparing the two, it's a better deal for me to unbind voluntarily, right?"
Qi Jiu replied listlessly, "Right..."
With everything out in the open, the weight on Yue Du's heart seemed to lift completely.
One month left.
For their last month, the two returned to their home in Shengjing, planning to spend the time in simple peace.
Yue Du no longer avoided entering her host's mental space. They would lie shoulder to shoulder on the soft green grass, watching the light and shadows of the clouds drift across the sky.
Warm, bright light spilled down, and everything was just right.
In the outside world, they would lounge on the balcony, reading or watching movies, or sometimes just spacing out in silence, their two beanbag chairs pulled extremely close.
If they leaned just a little closer, the ends of their hair would touch.
Qi Jiu insisted on tying their hair together in a knot, which was a bit difficult since Yue Du's black hair was only shoulder-length.
It was probably a peculiarity of her system-generated body; her hair hadn't grown at all in the past year, just as her physical appearance hadn't changed.
"This is called 'tying the knot,' you know," Qi Jiu said.
Her long, wavy hair, ethereal as a cloud, was carefully tied with Yue Du's fine, straight black strands into a knot. It was, in a way, a promise.
Yue Du watched, wanting to stop her, but in the end, she said nothing.
They tied and played, chatting idly.
Time drifted by.
It was unbelievably peaceful.
One time, overcome with curiosity, Yue Du asked Qi Jiu what she really thought about destroying the world.
Qi Jiu answered nonchalantly, "I don't really have an opinion on it. But if I think about it carefully, I feel a subtle aversion to the idea."
But only a little.
"Oh..." Yue Du murmured.
Qi Jiu deliberately teased her. "What's with the 'oh'? I still think trading the world for points is a pretty good deal."
Yue Du was exasperated. She laid out her reasoning for Qi Jiu one more time, then said, "A person's core values are what they are. I can't go against my conscience."
Qi Jiu suddenly narrowed her eyes. "Aren't humans supposed to be a selfish species?"
Yue Du followed her train of thought. "Even selfishness has its limits. Besides, people are all different. Maybe some would choose the points, but I—"
She stopped mid-sentence, realizing. When she looked at Qi Jiu, her eyes were already curved into crescents from smiling.
"The cat's out of the bag, isn't it?" Qi Jiu said with a grin. "A 'person'? A little system well-versed in human psychology? Or just a little liar?"
Yue Du was silent. "..."
So much for her "rookie little system" persona.
Not that the persona was very convincing to begin with. Now that it had been exposed, Yue Du was just a little embarrassed.
The conversation then shifted to the twenty-odd years Yue Du had lived as a human. Yue Du shared a few things but kept most of it to herself.
Qi Jiu said, "Your need for points... it's related to a wish you had as a human, isn't it?"
Yue Du was quiet for a few seconds before replying, "Yes. I want to resurrect someone."
Qi Jiu's eyes opened warily. "Someone."
"What is it?" Yue Du asked. Then, suddenly realizing what her host was thinking, she didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Don't get the wrong idea. It's family. A very important family member."
Qi Jiu said thoughtfully, "In that case, why don't we just do the mission? We can contribute to the resurrection of our family member."
"You're joking again," Yue Du said.
"Hee hee," Qi Jiu giggled.
Now that her own cover was completely blown, it was Yue Du's turn to ask, "So, what are you?"
Qi Jiu mulled over the question, feeling the wording was a bit off.
Yue Du thought so too and quickly corrected herself. "What species are you?"
"I don't know either," Qi Jiu said.
Yue Du was speechless. "..."
Qi Jiu sounded helpless as well. "I really don't know. It's like I remember and I don't at the same time. I can only be sure that I'm not human."
Yue Du looked eager to guess, but Qi Jiu cut her off. "And I'm definitely not a koala or a fish. I'm not a species from this world."
Yue Du could only say, "Oh."
"Were you really going to guess koala?" Qi Jiu asked.
"Of course not. You're overthinking it."
"I've long since discovered that whenever you say I'm overthinking things, it means I'm right on the mark," Qi Jiu said, staring at her intently.
"Oh, come on. I'm about to leave. Why do you have to spell everything out?" Yue Du deflected.
Qi Jiu smiled, but the smile quickly faded, a hint of sadness clouding her beautiful features.
She slowly rested her cheek on her system's shoulder.
Yue Du closed her eyes. After a long moment, she raised a hand to smooth the long hair scattered across her shoulder.
"You know, I really want to make you stay. By any means necessary. If I really had to, I think I could do it. But I can't."
"Mm."
"I like you."
"Mm."
Late at night, the day before the mission deadline, Yue Du wasn't asleep. Her eyes were closed as she thought, but her breathing was steady and deep.
Suddenly, a warm, soft touch landed between her eyebrows, like a kiss.
After a moment.
"If you're awake, aren't you going to return my goodnight kiss?"
Yue Du silently played dead. ...I'm asleep.
The system's sleep program is engaged! Can't wake up until morning!
Qi Jiu sighed, a laugh mixed with helplessness and resignation in her voice. "Oh, you..."
Then, she reached out and pulled Yue Du into an embrace.
"Good night."
Good night.
Perhaps after tomorrow, they would never see each other again. But still, she wished her sweet dreams.
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