Chapter 248

It simply means that in the event of the Finality the world, there is one more possibility of preserving the Kindling Project.

Pardofelis: "I... I only found out about this today."

Chapter 402 Griseo Also Wants to Be a Hero

Vill-V: "There's no way around it. After all, the technological level of the Previous Era was what it was. It simply wasn't enough to build a spaceship capable of interstellar travel, or even storing the resources needed to sustain civilization."

There's no way around it. Putting aside the budget that the higher-ups at Fire Moth are willing to provide for Ark Project, even if the budget were sufficient, it would still be impossible to build it even if experts worked on it for several months.

Spaceships are not like unmanned combat aircraft; they cannot be built without an adequate average level of technology.

Griseo: "Cosmo, you selfish person, are you talking about yourself?"

Now, Griseo finally understood what Cosmo had said, though not necessarily completely. But she knew that Cosmo considered himself a selfish person.

That's clearly not the case.

Cosmo: "Yes, abandoning mission and responsibility to choose to become a hero is inherently a selfish act."

To become a hero, to abandon Ark Project, to abandon the Kindling Project and hope, and to hand this burden over to Griseo —this is what Cosmo considers a selfish act.

After all, that was a responsibility that should have been borne by him alone.

Griseo: "No, Cosmo is a hero, and heroes are not selfish."

Cosmo: "... Hmm."

Cosmo nodded, his nonchalant attitude suggesting he didn't take his words seriously.

A hero is not selfish, because a selfish person cannot become a hero, but his choice certainly makes him a deserter.

He felt like he was getting caught up in something again.

Himeko Murata: "Cosmo, you're just too indecisive. Sigh, if this were in my class, he'd definitely be another problem student."

Silent teenagers are prone to becoming withdrawn, and Teacher Himeko has certainly witnessed this firsthand.

Even Kiana wouldn't have such worries, but it's unexpected that Cosmo, Flame-Chasers, would actually reflect on such a strange thing.

Sue: "Perhaps the main problem lies in the 'choose one of two evils' argument, which caused Cosmo to hesitate in his decision."

Theresa: "I wonder who gave Cosmo those words."

The atmosphere in the Chat Group was fluctuating, and several mature adults seemed to feel exhausted from trying to comfort the silent teenager.

Cosmo: "If you have to choose one of two evils, what's wrong with that?"

Himeko Murata: "That's the problem. Every issue has multiple aspects, and the idea of choosing between two evils is only one-sided."

Cosmo: "..."

The silent boy fell silent again, seemingly not understanding how choosing one of two evils—which he had been trying to accept but couldn't accept—was considered one-sided.

Himeko Murata: "To give a simple example, take this invasion by the Herrscher of Corruption. You're prepared to use everything you have to replace Griseo's sacrifice."

Cosmo: "What's wrong?"

He thought it was great. He was destined to sacrifice himself anyway. If he became one of the two Cosmo, and only he had to sacrifice himself, he could take Griseo's place.

Choosing between two evils, Cosmo felt it was worthwhile.

Himeko Murata: "That's the problem. You only see yourself as the hero, sacrificing yourself in place of Griseo. But Cosmo, you've never considered what Griseo was thinking?"

"?!!"

At that moment, Cosmo thought of Ark Project.

I remember that some time after I expressed my unwillingness to carry out Ark Project, Griseo offered to take Cosmo's place in carrying out Ark Project.

Cosmo understood that Griseo might be doing this simply to help him achieve his dream of becoming a hero.

So, will Griseo make the same choice again this time?

Does she... also want to be a hero?!

Cosmo: "Griseo, you..."

Halfway through his sentence, Cosmo saw Griseo's clear eyes and felt a lump in his throat, then he couldn't say anything more.

Griseo: "I don't know. I only know that Cosmo is afraid of being alone, and I don't want Cosmo to be alone."

Griseo didn't know what she was thinking at the time, nor did Griseo know why she made that decision.

All she remembered was that at that time, she wanted to do it.

[Q&A begins.]

[After Cosmo disappeared, Griseo also approached the Herrscher of Corruption. Why was she there?]

[A: Because she can't leave.]

[B: Because she also wanted to slow down the Herrscher of Corruption.]

[C: Because of Griseo, she actually wanted to become a hero too.]

[D: The Herrscher of Corruption used her power to pull Griseo over.]

Griseo: "Should I also try to stop that person who really wants Little Sister Elysia?"

Little Griseo tilted her head and asked, not knowing what the Herrscher of Corruption had done wrong to cause all the Flame-Chasers to hate her, nor could she understand why everyone was disappearing one after another.

Cosmo: "Griseo, this isn't a responsibility you should bear. Leave it to us."

Griseo: "Why? Aren't we all family?"

Cosmo remained silent. Just as Griseo had said, the Thirteen Flame-Chasers were a whole, and the absence of any one of them would disrupt a certain default balance.

He presumptuously sacrificed himself in Griseo's place, but never asked Griseo's own thoughts.

Elysia: "Little Griseo is right, the Thirteen Flame-Chasers are a loving family."

Sakura: "... I hope so."

Apponia: "Just as Elysia said, I love each and every one of us deeply, I pray for you, and I grieve for you."

Chakravartin: "Pah! Disgusting! If it were you, it would be truly disgusting!"

Elysia: "Uh... maybe it's not that harmonious!"

Well, at least things on Apponia's side are definitely stagnant, and the more you stir them, the muddier they get.

Elysia decided to skip this topic and focus on the options in the question and answer section.

The Herrscher of Corruption wouldn't deliberately cause trouble for Griseo; that would only be a waste of time and delay her progress.

As for the other options...

Elysia: "Griseo, do you want to be a hero?"

Griseo: "A hero? I don't know, I just didn't want Cosmo to feel lonely."

Bronya: "This is troublesome."

Little Griseo's attitude is unclear, and there are too many interpretations of which option she cannot leave, leaving everyone unsure of what to do.

Kiana: "What's the trouble? I think Little Griseo also wants to be a hero, otherwise why would she stay?"

Just because she dared to confront the Herrscher of Corruption directly, Kiana could confirm that Griseo also wanted to become a hero!

Griseo: "Is that so?"

Kiana: "That's for sure! Kids can be heroes too, Griseo. I believe in you, C!"

[Incorrect answer.]

Chapter 403 The Herrscher of Corruption Incurred the wrath of the masses

Kiana: "How... how is this possible?!"

The Himeko looked completely bewildered upon seeing the message indicating an incorrect answer.

That shouldn't be the case. Griseo should possess all the inner qualities to become a hero; otherwise, how could she have faced the Herrscher of Corruption directly?

Facing death head-on, facing an invincible enemy—this is something countless people cannot do.

Those who can do such things and are willing to sacrifice themselves are heroes.

Kiana couldn't understand it; she shouldn't have misunderstood!

Raiden Mei: "Kiana, I understand how you feel, but have you thought about something?"

Kiana: "What is it?"

Raiden Mei: "Griseo is still so young, does she really understand what a hero is?"

Kiana: "..."

Tsk, she poured her heart and soul into this, but unexpectedly, she capsized in such a ditch.

Even adults can't clearly explain the definition of a hero, and have never seriously considered what a hero is, so how could Griseo possibly know?

Kiana is punished: to go hungry for three consecutive days.

Kiana: "W-what?!"

System, are you a monster? How could you make a Gluttony starve for three days straight!

Like a bolt from the blue, Kiana suddenly felt her life was bleak; was she going to starve to death?

Theresa: "It's alright, Kiana. You eat so much every day, you definitely won't starve to death."

Kiana: "Auntie, are you even speaking human language?"

Kiana rolled her eyes at Theresa, then pouted and lay down on the sofa.

She'd made up her mind. For the next three days, she would reduce her physical activity and rely on the energy stored in her body to survive.

In the scene, the Herrscher of Corruption is trapped in a cage, looking at her arm and carefully recalling the abnormality when she killed Cosmo.

The second appearance of Cosmo was not an illusion; the existence she deleted was real.

It was not a creation of genius; it possessed everything of Cosmo, as if it were a real entity projected from a mirror.

"Is that so?"

The Herrscher of Corruption lowered his head, lost in thought.

"Although it looks strange, that Cosmo just now, that was his true form. He even said he wasn't a hypocrite."

Although their progress was delayed, the Herrscher of Corruption felt no regret or remorse.

There's still time, and she should thank Cosmo for letting her witness such a good show.

Cosmo is not a selfish person; he has long since become the mature person he wanted to be.

Because of Griseo's capriciousness, she didn't use Cosmo's data to depict him, but instead used his original colors, which led to the current situation by a twist of fate. The real reason is probably Cosmo himself.

Because he never truly understood himself, he made a misjudgment.

Only when Griseo altered his image in the painting could he withstand the Hypermutation Overload and become the hero in his own eyes.

Little did they know that those who sacrifice themselves for others are themselves heroes!

"But Griseo, since you already know... why did you still appear before me?"

The Herrscher of Corruption lowered her head and stared at the small figure in front of her, asking a question.

"Aren't you worried about disappointing Cosmo? He stayed behind so that you wouldn't have to sacrifice yourself!"

"Because I can't leave."

When questioned by the Herrscher of Corruption, Griseo simply raised her head and answered with an innocent expression.

Standing here, facing the Herrscher of Corruption, Griseo showed no fear or timidity, simply standing opposite the Herrscher.

It wasn't bravery; she simply didn't understand what Herrscher was.

"Oh dear, if Cosmo could see this situation now, he'd probably be quite pleased."

The Herrscher of Corruption chuckled and said, "The Morning Light he received from the Scar, hasn't it already been passed down?"

After the first Morning Light of dawn, the Stars will surely follow.

The Herrscher of Corruption, unaware of the Flame-Chasers' so-called will, found their relentless acts of self-sacrifice utterly ridiculous and meaningless.