Still, although Lingchen had shown her that contact nickname before, and Firefly knew about it and had tacitly accepted it, having Silver Wolf see it now was embarrassing after all.
Especially since Silver Wolf loved teasing her.
[Wolf Baby: Firefly just finished fighting. She disengaged her armor and messaged you before her body had even recovered.]
Silver Wolf immediately sent Lingchen another message.
[Wolf Baby: Well? Touched? At this rate, you might win her over in just a few days.]
Was he at least a little touched? He certainly was.
Of course he knew about Firefly's health problems. Clearly, she already had feelings for him; she just had a few mental hurdles to work through first.
[A-Chen: It's fine. Rest comes first. Have Silver Wolf come over using Aether Editing. I'll send you something.]
Only after sending the message did Lingchen notice that the name displayed above was what Firefly called him.
[Firefly Baby: Ah, oh, okay.
Well-behaved Wubbaboo.jpg]
Although Firefly wondered what Lingchen wanted to send, she obediently passed the message along.
"What is it?"
Before long, Silver Wolf's projection appeared beside Lingchen. She had been here plenty of times and knew the way well.
"Huh? That little pink-haired Diviner isn't here? Working overtime again?"
"Babe, why do you ask whether Fu Xuan's here every time you come over? Don't tell me you want a job at the Divination Commission too?"
Lingchen poked Silver Wolf's projection.
"I'm a Stellaron Hunter. How would the Divination Commission ever hire me?
"And you're seriously ridiculous. You can even poke a projection."
Silver Wolf was a little speechless. Being able to poke a Memokeeper's body was understandable, but touching a virtual projection was a bit beyond her comprehension.
"Tell me, what did you call me over for? Doesn't look like you want to play games.
"Aether Editing uses a lot of energy, especially over this distance."
So playing games doesn't use energy, then?
Naturally, Lingchen wasn't going to say that aloud.
"Here, take this."
Lingchen combined the power of Purification with the power of [Elation] to form a candy.
"What's this?"
It was a red candy. Silver Wolf examined it closely and sniffed it, but couldn't smell anything.
Chapter 35: You... Stay Safe
"A little Strawberry Candy. It's for Firefly."
"Just one? And none for me?"
Silver Wolf was unhappy. You called me babe the first time we met and flirted with me, but now I don't even get a piece of candy?
Hah. Men.
"Of course there's some for you. You and Kafka both get one. I was just about to make them."
Lingchen was a little speechless. What was going on? Silver Wolf was so impatient today. Usually, she only got impatient while gaming-impatient enough to cheat when playing against him.
Those three were the first girls he had seen after arriving in this universe. They were also the girls who had given him the means to leave that world.
Even without them, he could have survived. After all, over these past few months, he had discovered that his body's so-called adaptability was anything but ordinary.
Without them, he probably would have adapted quickly to that extreme environment, then remained stranded for a while. But as his lifespan kept increasing and his Imaginary Energy slowly grew, he would eventually have had a chance to leave.
Besides, that planet had once had a civilization, meaning it was included in the Interastral Peace Corporation's star charts.
As long as he resolved the Stellaron problem and restored the planet's signal, the Interastral Peace Corporation would send people over sooner or later.
Only then, he might have ended up making his move on Jade and Topaz first.
"Here. One Blueberry Candy and one Lime Candy."
"So you had Firefly tell me to hurry over using Aether Editing just to pick up these three candies?"
Silver Wolf's eyes widened. Was this man treating her like a teleporter?
Firefly had looked so anxious, too.
"Say, little wolfie, can't you sense the Imaginary Energy in them?"
He did wield his power with precision, so it was normal not to notice. His body's adaptability and these past few months hadn't been for nothing.
But although the candies' energy was restrained, she should at least have sensed the faint traces of Imaginary Energy radiating from them.
"Don't tell me you're actually a combat noob. Strong at Aether Editing and hacking, but much worse when it comes to raw battle instincts?"
Lingchen looked Silver Wolf up and down. Her butt really was a treasure. That perky shape was impossible not to adore.
Good thing he wasn't a creep. Otherwise...
"I'm not a noob.
"I just wasn't paying close attention before. That doesn't count.
"So what are these three candies for? Don't tell me they're actually meant to..."
"Clear away your fatigue and cleanse your bodies. Well, that might be all they do for you and Kafka, but for Firefly, they can slow her Entropy Syndrome."
As for Blade, Lingchen hadn't added him yet. Everything else could wait until they met.
That was what he got for not being a girl.
"Looks like you really do worry about Firefly."
Silver Wolf tossed the candies up and caught them twice as she teased him.
As for why Lingchen didn't simply cure her, Silver Wolf thought that even she would feel disgusted asking him to do it for nothing.
If Firefly were his wife, curing her would be perfectly reasonable. After all, could a man who didn't cherish his own wife even call himself a man?
But completely resolving the problem when she hadn't agreed to anything... wouldn't that make him a sucker?
Silver Wolf wasn't an idiot. Entropy Syndrome wasn't exactly an incurable illness. It was only a genetic disease, after all. Even the Genius Society could probably cure it.
But Firefly would likely end up being studied inside and out, and even the Firefly Type-VI Sam Armor would have to be thoroughly researched and replicated. Only then might they offer treatment. Otherwise, why would they?
Because she was pretty?
Please. There were plenty of pretty people in this world.
Silver Wolf understood where they stood, and so did Firefly.
"Of course. You all know what I want, after all. It's bound to happen eventually, so there's nothing wrong with spoiling her a little now."
"You might be the only person who isn't afraid of us being Stellaron Hunters and actually wants to make a move."
Hearing Lingchen's candid answer, Silver Wolf couldn't help feeling a little conflicted.
This man made no attempt to hide his desire for them, or his desire to build a harem.
But when she considered getting angry enough to cut ties, she realized that she seemed to have already grown accustomed to Lingchen's presence in her life.
They played games together at night, and she complained to him about the "accidents" during her missions. Lingchen always gave her plenty of patience.
There didn't seem to be that many things when she listed them, but his name really had become a frequent topic in the three women's conversations. Sometimes, when they went somewhere on a mission, they would even use Aether Editing to send him local specialties.
The proportion of their conversations devoted to Lingchen seemed to be steadily increasing.
More and more, Lingchen was becoming the center of things.
"Come on. Just look at you three. Every one of you is exactly my type."
"Hmph. I'm heading back. Firefly still needs her candy."
Silver Wolf gave a light huff without arguing.
"Okay. Tell her to get some rest early. I still have something to take care of here, so you might not be able to reach me for a while."
Lingchen looked up toward the sky. At the moment, all he could see... was the ceiling.
Silver Wolf tilted her head, then finally nodded.
"All right. I'll tell her. You... stay safe."
Even without Lingchen explaining, all that time gaming together had built a good understanding between them. He had definitely encountered something serious.
Could it be an Aeon?
Silver Wolf's heart jolted. Following Lingchen's lead, she looked up too-and likewise saw the ceiling.
"...I'm off."
"Say, you're an Aeon. Surely you don't need to peep on me?"
[I was not spying thou canst see me]
"Yes, yes. Isn't that because you deliberately reveal yourself every time you appear? This is already the third time. What exactly do you want, Fuli, Aeon of [Remembrance]?"
P.S. Thanks to Lord Yin Quantao for the monthly ticket and the tip of 100 VIP points. Thank you for your support.
Chapter 36: Fuli, Let's Go
It seemed Fuli, the Aeon of [Remembrance], also knew he had come from another world.
That was only natural. If Aha knew, it would be strange if the surveillance camera didn't.
[Thy memories]
Fuli's voice was ethereal. It sounded as though it came from the heavens, yet when he listened closely, it seemed to come from every direction.
"Not happening."
Lingchen rejected the request outright.
Since this world was real, could some of the memories of other worlds in his mind actually be real as well?
For example, perhaps his original universe was special and had intercepted fluctuations from other universes, which were eventually turned into games and the like. Plenty of novels he had read before had offered that explanation.
Although Lingchen's previous life had only lasted twenty-odd years-and barely more than ten if he excluded the childhood years he had forgotten-there was no denying that if his guess was true, or even if some other explanation proved true, his memories were absolutely precious.
"The Aeons have become entwined with heaven and earth, and [Equilibrium] maintains the balance of all things. Although I don't care much for [Equilibrium], I'm very fond of equivalent exchange."
Lingchen had a system inside him. That sneaky Fuli had appeared before him repeatedly and even let him see the Aeon. Clearly, it was because Fuli couldn't obtain his memories.
Lingchen looked through the roof and saw a dazzling crystalline picture in the sky.
Aside from him, everyone else seemed unable to see anything.
[What dost thou desire equivalent exchange I agree]
Honestly, he wasn't used to Fuli's way of speaking. The Aeon didn't pause at all.
"That makes things easy, then. But aren't you going to prepare somewhere safe? Aha is very curious too."
Lingchen pointed at the owl-headed cat that had appeared beside him at some unknown point.
After receiving the mask bestowed by Aha's true form, his body had slowly begun adapting to it.
In other words, even if Aha had lied back then and hadn't completely severed that portion of [Elation] power, he could still gradually make it his own.
Along with that came an extremely keen sensitivity to the power of [Elation]. Especially after obtaining Aha's mask, he had become highly sensitive to Aha's presence.
Lingchen had a feeling that if he called Aha, the Aeon would probably come.
This mask was definitely among the highest-tier blessings Aha could bestow.
"Boohoo! Aha came to see Aha's Emanator for the first time, only to be rejected. You don't appreciate Aha's kindness. Poor Aha!
"Aha is going to give you an ugly nickname. You'll be Warp Trotter Hero."
The owl-headed cat instantly began sniffling and crying, with the occasional piglike squeal slipping out.
Lingchen burst out laughing and gave the owl-cat a couple of vigorous rubs. Honestly, it really did feel nice.
"Excellent. You're pretty good at naming things."
Warp Trotter it was, then. Next time, he would ask Topaz for a hug. Surely she wouldn't refuse a Warp Trotter-and this one was certified by an Aeon.