"What's the meaning?"
"What I mean is—even though the god has been corrupted, it may still retain instincts, a self-preservation instinct. The dragons are exploiting it, extracting from it, using it as a tool."
Jibril's voice was very soft.
"Perhaps it didn't want to be used, so it instinctively summoned players capable of destroying dragons."
Higashino Makoto remained silent.
He stared at the ceiling, the light of the crystal chandelier reflected in his golden eyes.
"An interesting idea."
"Does Master think it's possible?"
"Worth considering."
Higashino Makoto's fingers tapped lightly on the bed sheet.
"If that's the case, then God isn't entirely without consciousness."
Is instinct considered consciousness?
"No, but instincts can evolve, just like single-celled organisms evolved into multicellular organisms, and then into humans. After all, going from 0 to 1 is the most troublesome."
Jibril looked up at him, her purple eyes meeting his.
"Master, do you wish for the evolution of God?"
"No, I don't want to. But if it really evolves, I won't stop it."
Higashino Makoto shook his head.
"I'll try a different approach and see if I can tame it."
Jibril stared at him for a long time.
"Master, you're very greedy. But I thought you'd try everything to prevent the world from developing its own consciousness."
Higashino Makoto was silent for a moment.
"It's impossible for a person to have everything. It's okay to have desires, but you also need to exercise restraint."
He turned his head and looked at Jibril.
"I don't want to be like the Dragon Emperor, destroying my own race for power."
Jibril's lips curled up slightly.
"Master, are you talking about yourself?"
I'm talking about the Dragon Emperor.
"But you and he have similarities."
Where are they similar?
"You all want power, you all want treasures, you all want more."
Higashino Makoto looked at her and did not deny it.
"Then what?"
"Then you stopped, but he didn't."
The room fell silent.
Higashino Makoto turned his head and looked at the ceiling again.
"You're right, I've stopped."
"Why?"
"Because I'm scared."
Jibril's eyebrows rose slightly.
"Fear?"
"Yes, I'm scared."
Higashino Makoto's voice was very soft.
"I'm afraid of becoming like him, afraid of becoming one of those madmen who will do anything for power."
He paused.
I don't want to become like that.
Jibril looked at him, a complex light flickering in her purple eyes.
"Master, do you know? What you said made me realize that you are truly a good person."
"I'm not a good person."
"I know, but he's not a bad person. You always like this kind of person."
Higashino Makoto chuckled softly.
Jibril leaned on his shoulder, her rainbow-colored hair cascading down his arm, tickling him.
"Owner."
"Um."
"Is what you just said about the wish-granting magic real?"
Higashino Makoto thought for a moment.
"I don't know, but it's possible."
"Why?"
"Because wish-granting magic is never free. You have to pay a price for what you want. If what you want exceeds your ability to pay, the world will make up for it for you in ways you don't know."
Jibril frowned slightly.
Higashino Makoto gave an example.
"For example, a mage wished for Wish Ring that could be used three times. He succeeded. But when he summoned the ring, he also summoned the Ancient Red Dragon that was playing with it."
"Then what?"
"Then he was eaten by the red dragon."
Jibril's lips twitched slightly.
"... Did you make up this story?"
"No, I saw it on a gaming forum before."
"Game forum?"
"Yes, a discussion thread about the worst ways to use the Wish spell."
Jibril looked at him, a complex light flickering in her purple eyes.
"Master, your life used to be very exciting."
"Not exciting."
Higashino Makoto shook his head.
"I'm bored, that's why I'm browsing the forum."
Jibril chuckled softly.
"Master, I find it very interesting."
What's interesting about it?
"Everywhere is interesting."
Higashino Makoto did not respond.
He simply reached out and ruffled her hair.
His rainbow-colored long hair slid through his fingers, refracting a dazzling light.
"Jibril."
"Exist."
"What do you think the Dragon Emperor's wish is? Is it really to obtain a treasure that can change the world?"
Jibril thought for a moment.
"Perhaps, or perhaps they want more power?"
"Perhaps, but more likely it's more than that."
Higashino Makoto's fingers gently combed through her hair.
"Perhaps, what he wants is not just power itself, but also a sense of security."
Jibril's eyebrows rose slightly.
"Sense of security?"
"Yes, a sense of security."
Higashino Makoto's voice was very soft.
"The dragon race is powerful, but power doesn't guarantee safety. Perhaps the Dragon Emperor has discovered that the essence of Wild Magic is to overdraw the world's power, which could lead to its destruction. Therefore, the Dragon Emperor desires more power, more treasures, and more security."
He paused.
"But what he didn't know was that it was more of a bottomless pit. You can never fill it. The more you try to fill it, the bigger the hole gets. The bigger it gets, the more afraid you become. The more afraid you are, the more you want to fill it."
Jibril looked at him, a certain light gleaming in her purple eyes.
"Master, are you referring to the Dragon Emperor or yourself?"
Higashino Makoto remained silent for a long time.
"Yes."
He closed his eyes.
"So, I'm taking a break for now."
Jibril did not speak.
She simply leaned on his shoulder, feeling his body temperature and listening to his heartbeat.
Outside the window, the man-made starry sky twinkles eternally.
Those stars don't twinkle, they don't move, they just hang there quietly, like a still painting.
But beneath this painting, in this world made of data, a being who was once human, now a god, is pondering—
What is enough?
"Owner."
"Um."
"What do you consider 'enough'?"
Higashino Makoto opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling.
"I don't know. But I feel like I've had enough."
"Is that enough?"
"Right."
Higashino Makoto's tone was flat.
"Power, wealth, women, longevity—I have all of that. I don't need anything more for now."
Jibril looked at him, a complex light flickering in her purple eyes.
"Master, are you truly satisfied?"
Higashino Makoto did not answer immediately.
He stared at the ceiling, at the crystal chandelier, at the dust motes dancing in the candlelight.
"Not satisfied."
He finally said.
But I have to tell myself that.
Jibril remained silent for a long time.
"Owner."
"Um."
"You know what? What you've said makes me feel that you are far more powerful than the Dragon Emperor."
"Maybe?"