A mother and daughter's nighttime talk

After Nightless Sky Fire Apricot fell silent again in the archives room.

Nightless Sky Yong Lian City remained silent for a long time afterward, not responding to Nightless Sky Fire Apricot's words.

Since becoming the Family Head the Nightless Sky Family, Nightless Sky Yong Lian often keeps silent, which is a very effective conversational strategy.

As the person in a superior position and the highest-ranking person in the City That Never Sleeps, her silence can put enormous pressure on the person she is talking to, thus effectively advancing the conversation.

But...

Nightless Sky Yong Lian's silence this time was clearly not due to any "strategy" or "tactical" use.

She remained silent, as if she didn't know how to answer.

Meanwhile, Huo Xing of the Nightless Sky Fire Apricot remained silent.

Because she also knew...

I realize that what I just said was somewhat "out of line" and "Crossing the Line".

Although that was her true thought, it wasn't a topic suitable to discuss with her mother at this moment.

After a long while, just as Nightless Sky Fire Apricot was about to blurt out, "I'm sorry, Mother, please pretend I didn't say that..."

Nightless Sky Yong Lian finally spoke.

"Fire Apricot... You have already inherited the part about the 'Chosen of Wisdom,' so why are you still so fixated on the 'Creator'?"

"For me... this part is just a 'role-playing' from a long time ago."

"Nightless Sky Yong Lian said in a low voice."

Nightless Sky Fire Apricot was stunned; she clearly hadn't expected her mother to actually respond.

Then she spoke.

"I do feel that 'Chosen of Wisdom' and 'Creator' have different meanings for you... Whether it's 'Chosen of Wisdom' or the Family Head of the Nightless Sky Family, these are identities passed down from generation to generation," Nightless Sky Fire Apricot said thoughtfully, "But... 'Creator' is different. This is an identity that you, Mother, created from scratch. How should I put it... this identity has a feeling that belongs only to you."

Nightless Sky Yong Lian Love sighed softly, "It's just a product of some kind of 'expedient measure.' The actions, thoughts, and other settings of this identity don't actually reflect my true thoughts... Rather, the identity of 'Creator' is actually quite different from the real me."

Nightless Sky Fire Apricot pursed her lips. "I don't think this identity represents your true thoughts, Mother, but it is, after all, something you created... Even if it's something you're pretending for, it's still meaningful for me to explore why you would pretend like this."

"Besides... I'm not staying just to find something; the continued existence of the 'Creator' is meaningful to me in itself."

Upon hearing what Nightless Sky Fire Apricot said, Nightless Sky Yong Lian looked at her, her expression softening once more, her eyes drooping slightly.

"You... the identity of 'Creator' is very dangerous. If you stay, don't let this identity cause you trouble."

"Although the Remnants of 'Supreme Evolution' have been reduced to less than one-tenth due to my deliberate suppression,... as long as this 'brand' exists, it will always be an unstable bomb."

"Even I can't say I have complete control, so you must be extremely careful."

Hearing Nightless Sky Fire Apricot's instructions, Nightless Sky Yong Lian understood that her mother had relented.

A hint of joy appeared on her face.

"Thank you, Mother... I will."

"Don't worry, I'm doing just fine as the 'Fairy Queen'!"

Nightless Sky Yong Lian sighed, "While you are certainly quite capable as a 'Fairy Queen,' the risks involved are completely different from those of a 'Creator'... they are not even in the same sense."

"It is precisely because of your actions while wielding the identity of 'Fairy Queen' that I have reservations about you taking over the identity of 'Creator'..."

Nightless Sky Fire Apricot pursed her lips. "I'm definitely not that stupid, Mother. How could I possibly treat the identity of 'Creator' the way the 'Fairy Queen' does?"

"The main function of the Fairy Queen is to allow me to vent the pressures of life and relieve my emotions... When operating this identity, I didn't consider any interests at all—that's why I hang out with gangs and guilds in the Outer City. After all, when dealing with those scumbags, I won't feel any psychological burden doing anything as the 'Fairy Queen'!"

"If it were the 'Creator,' I definitely wouldn't do that."

Nightless Sky Fire Apricot made a promise, but this statement gave Nightless Sky Yong Lian a clue.

She looked at her daughter, her eyes sharp. "So... you mean you were very repressed at the Nightless Sky Family, accumulating a lot of pressure and negative emotions?"

Nightless Sky Fire Apricot's expression changed slightly, and she said, "I absolutely did not mean that, Mother, it's just that all sorts of things always happen in life..."

Nightless Sky Yong Lian stared at Nightless Sky Fire Apricot's hasty explanation and couldn't help but chuckle.

"Look at you... I never said you couldn't complain—do you think I don't know what the atmosphere is like in the Nightless Sky Family?"

"However... even if I become the Family Head, this atmosphere is indeed difficult to change," sighed Nightless Sky Yong Lian. "Even if I could kill all those annoying guys in the Nightless Sky Family now, I still can't change this oppressive atmosphere rooted in this world—I'm sorry, I'm somewhat incompetent."

Nightless Sky Fire Apricot was startled by Nightless Sky Yong Lian City's words.

"Please don't say that, Mother."

Nightless Sky Yong Lian laughed, "Don't be nervous... this is indeed my true thought."

"Actually, I should have told you this from the beginning—after all, at this moment, I have already laid down my burdens and shed my identity."

"This should have been the most carefree and liberating time of my life... It's a pity that I've been the Family Head for too long, like a jar of cured meat, already thoroughly pickled."

She spoke softly, Nightless Sky Fire Apricot opened her mouth, wanting to add a witty remark to capitalize on her mother's rare moment of ease.

But the words stuck in my throat, I couldn't say them.

Instead, Nightless Sky Yong Lian changed the subject and continued talking.

"Oh, right... Fire Apricot, you want to inherit the title of 'Creator,' probably because you feel that my role as the 'Creator' and your role as the 'Fairy Queen' are somewhat similar, right?"

Nightless Sky Fire Apricot shook her head.

"That's different... Mother, you yourself said that the 'Creator' title was just a stopgap measure, an identity you designed to gain benefits..."

But then, Nightless Sky Fire Apricot hesitated for a moment, and then nodded.

"Okay, actually I do think they're somewhat similar... Regardless of the starting point, the final result looks very similar..."

At this point, Nightless Sky Fire Apricot felt a little embarrassed, but she overcame her shyness and spoke her mind.

"The existence of the 'Creator' makes me feel... that I really am your daughter."

Nightless Sky Yong Lian laughed.

"I think so too—when I first heard about the 'Fairy Queen,' I thought the same thing... 'She truly is my daughter...' hehe."

"Not only are their talents in Alchemy so similar, but their styles of doing things and their thought processes are exactly the same."

Seeing the upturned corners of Nightless Sky Yong Lian's mouth, Nightless Sky Fire Apricot spread her arms wide, fingers interlaced, and said with a bright smile, "Mother, if you praise me like this, I'll become a little complacent, okay?"

Nightless Sky Yong Lian Love chuckled, "It's fine to let you be complacent for a bit—or rather, I've always felt that both you and Huo Le are somewhat lacking in self-confidence."

"However, perhaps this is also my own responsibility... I have indeed given you less encouragement and support, let alone companionship."

Nightless Sky Fire Apricot thought for a moment, then looked at Nightless Sky Yong Lian: "Actually, I think... this is pretty good, it's very free."

"If you had always cared for me and paid attention to me since I was a child, just thinking about it makes me feel a little... uh, a little disgusted."

Nightless Sky Fire Apricot said earnestly.

Nightless Sky Yong Lian sighed helplessly, "I only gave you a friendly look for less than three seconds, and you already dare to speak like that!"

"This should have been within your expectations, right?"

"Nightless Sky Fire Apricot asked in return."

Nightless Sky Yong Lian nodded. "That's true..."

She paused for a moment, then added, "You're really good at it; talented people should be like that."

"You've always kept a low profile and suppressed your true nature since you were little... which makes me uncomfortable—no wonder you said you felt repressed at the Nightless Sky Family."

"You're not like I was back then, where showing talent meant risking immediate suppression... I really don't understand why you're hiding your abilities."

Nightless Sky Fire Apricot looked at Nightless Sky Yong Lian.

"Although there's no danger to my life, I'm not sure if showing my talent is a good thing... Maybe I'm just not naturally very responsible."

Then, as if realizing something, Nightless Sky Fire Apricot seemed to say something in surprise.

"Wait a minute, Mother... do you mean you've always known I was hiding myself?"

Nightless Sky Yong Lian retorted matter-of-factly, "Otherwise what? Although I didn't know what your talents were, or what you were secretly preparing and planning... I could at least tell that something was off about you."

"Otherwise, I wouldn't have planned your birthday party like that—although Arthur's visit was an unexpected surprise and certainly made things better, without Arthur, your birthday party wouldn't have gone so smoothly."

Nightless Sky Fire Apricot touched her nose.

"You're really a bit scary, Mother."

Nightless Sky Yong Lian raised an eyebrow. "This is nothing, my dear daughter... Besides, do you perhaps prefer a conventional, dreamlike coming-of-age ceremony for a Noble girl?"

Nightless Sky Fire Apricot imagined it for a moment, then felt a chill run down her spine and shivered slightly.

"Wow... I really have to thank you, Mother—thank you for sending Arthur to wreak havoc on my coming-of-age ceremony."