CHAPTER 976: CHAPTER 973: "YOUTH ONLINE NETWORK SYSTEM.

Alice’s bewildered gaze caught in Su Ming’an’s eyes.

She stood helpless under the radiance of the statue, the white-haired Bishop and the nuns devoutly kneeling before her. In that moment, she resembled Su Ming’an, who as the Number One Player was admired by all.

...

"Ding dong!"

[Triggered Side Story: Road of the Goddess]

[Hint: You can agree to let Alice become the Goddess, or refuse. Different choices will lead to different story directions.]

...

Alice has already been chosen as the Savior of this era. Does she really have the power to say "no"?

Su Ming’an, at that time, also did not have the power to say "no." Not because he couldn’t, but because he didn’t want to, he couldn’t ignore his responsibility.

"Detective sir..." In the quiet church, Alice reached out her hand to Su Ming’an. But as she took a half-step forward, she ultimately did not approach him, instead staying under the statue’s glow, amidst the crowd’s embrace. She did not flee.

Her gaze quivered, and finally, she smiled.

"Detective sir, do you know what I’m thinking?"

"Hmm...?" Su Ming’an looked up.

"I’m thinking... Yixi loved playing the violin since childhood; he wasn’t in good health and didn’t like learning swordsmanship. Every time he gave me an instrument, I’d break the strings by pulling too hard. Others called me a violent girl, but he thought my hands that gripped the sword were also beautiful. I’m thinking... one day, I can use these violent hands to protect him," Alice said:

"Diff is a quiet guy, hunting in the woods all day. But whenever he comes to see me, he tries to wash away the bloodlust from his body. He teaches me archery, though I lack talent and always scare the rabbits away."

"Wendell is a shy knight, and every time I go to the Royal City to talk to him, he blushes. He always addresses me with honorifics, even when I tell him to call me by my name, he solemnly adds the honorific. Over the years, I’ve always seen him helping people eliminate Exotic Species, even patiently returning lost children home. He is a very good person, and I don’t want him to die in war."

"And Pat... he grew up with me in the slums. He cheats and deceives, but sometimes he’s very principled, using all his money to aid the slum. Others call him a wild child because he’s like a wolf. If war reaches the town, the slum he desperately tries to protect will also cease to exist, right."

"Neighbor Mei Mi, the florist, has always accompanied me. When you weren’t here, Detective sir, it was she who taught me how to braid my hair and choose dresses. The lily garden that Grandpa Maxey asked me to take care of, she’s been helping me cultivate it. I don’t want those flowers to be destroyed."

"And... a minstrel I’ve recently met. His name is Little Black, always holding a stringed instrument, playing songs in the square. Whenever I feel lost, I somehow meet him, and he shares with me life’s philosophies."

"These people, these things... I cherish them all. The past three years have been the happiest days of my life. You took me from the slums and made me from a ’child without a name’ into ’Alice.’"

"Now, to protect these people, I can also let ’Alice’ become ’Taslyche’."

Alice lowered her head and smiled:

"It’s okay... Detective sir."

"Children who refuse to grow up will someday be forced to by the world... I should grow up."

Su Ming’an said, "You won’t run, will you?"

Alice said, "Yes."

Alice accepted this destiny.

Even though she herself didn’t understand why someone as ordinary as her would become this era’s Goddess. She had no idea how to save this era.

Bishop Grandpa said that when she’s sixteen, she can formally become a Goddess at the church. She still had one last year of freedom.

Su Ming’an and Alice left the church, the priest and nuns constantly bidding them farewell. Alice tried to greet the sister nuns as usual, but was met only with their fearful and reverent gazes.

"Lady Taslyche... please stop treating us this way; we are not worthy of such treatment from you, you are already a Goddess!"

Thus Alice fell silent.

This night marked the last day of the year, and the town used to hold festivals. But now under curfew, the streets were very quiet.

On the way home, Su Ming’an heard the sound of a stringed instrument. By the fountain in the square sat a handsome black-haired youth. The youth strummed the beautiful instrument in his hand, humming a song softly, a voice as enchanting as the holiest music.

"Little Black!" Alice said.

This youth named Little Black was her friend, a minstrel. He was always elusive, giving her a mysterious feeling.

Alice had just called his name, and Little Black gave a slight smile, turned, and swiftly departed.

Alice said, "Little Black seems unwilling to chat with us... by the way, Detective sir."

"What’s the matter?" Su Ming’an said.

Alice took out two wooden tokens: "Today is the festival day; by custom, everyone writes their wish on a peace charm. I bought two peace charms earlier, let’s write together."

Su Ming’an took the peace charm and wrote down his wish.

Under the dim light, their shadows mirrored in the fountain’s water, gently swaying with the ripples. In the bottom right corner of Su Ming’an’s vision, characters silently jumped.

...

[Girl: What did you write?]

[Detective: I wish for you to live well, to remain as Alice, not Taslyche.]

[Girl: I guessed you would write that.]

[Detective: What did you write?]

[Girl: Can you guess?]

[Detective: You wish for me to live well and always stay by your side.]

[Girl: Correct, now can you guess what wish I made for last year’s birthday?]

[Detective: It should be the same. You wished for me to live well.]

[Girl (sighing): So, why are we both wishing for the other to live well instead of thinking for ourselves?]

[Detective (startled): ...]

[Girl: ...because we both know, wishes for ourselves seem somewhat unrealistic. We don’t believe we can live well but wholeheartedly hope and pray for the other to live a long life.]

[Girl: For ourselves, we are always rational, but for each other, we instinctively consider from an emotional perspective, offering our most sincere wishes.]

[Detective: ...]

[Girl: But why don’t you wish for yourself to live a long life?]

[Girl: Why don’t you wish for us both to live long lives? Is it because you fear that adding an unrealistic wish will render it infeasible?]

[Detective: Alice...]

[Girl: In recent years, I have inquired about you. It’s said that you, too, became the Savior in people’s eyes suddenly one day, just as I am tonight. At that time, you must have been overwhelmed with so many eyes on you. I think you must have come here to nurture me in order to save your own world.]

[Girl: You are truly wonderful.]

[Girl: You are saving two worlds at the same time.]

[Detective: ...]

[Girl: Tonight’s blue full moon is really beautiful... The moon has always been beautiful.]

[Girl: Just like I hope you’ll always be Detective, and I’ll always be Alice.]

...

Alice’s slightly bright eyes rendered Su Ming’an speechless.

He clutched the peace charm tightly in his palm, then, following Alice’s actions, hung the peace charm on the grand banyan tree.

She clasped her hands, making a devout wish. As her eyes closed, her beautiful purple gemstones were hidden beneath her eyelids, leaving only her eyelashes trembling slightly.

"Detective, starting next year, may I make a wish to you as my birthday gift? I want to save up this wish, accumulating one each year. When I turn eighteen, you’ll help me fulfill them together."

"Yes."

The breeze on the street tousled his fringe.

The girl smiled, her hands no longer delicate, marred with Sword Cocoon, pulled him along. His fingertips brushed against her raised Sword Cocoon, able to feel even the fine lines.

He tightened the felt hat on his head, holding her hand, and gradually walked back. Along the way, he encountered Old Man Morgan Maxey. The old man was still patrolling the Exotic Species at midnight and greeted Su Ming’an.

"It’s been three years since I first met you, young man," said Morgan: "Back then, you liked sticking around people, but now you’ve become much more normal. You look like you never age; your appearance hasn’t changed."

"Thank you for taking care of Alice all these years," Su Ming’an still remembered the old man.

"When you grow old, you must do something meaningful," Morgan chuckled, "When I was young, those were the days of legend..."

After chatting, they bid farewell. Su Ming’an escorted Alice home. When he wanted to taste the Spring Heart Cookies she had made, he suddenly felt his vision begin to fluctuate violently.

"Detective, what’s wrong, Detective, Detective...!!" Alice shouted anxiously. Yet Su Ming’an’s five senses gradually faded...

Su Ming’an opened his eyes.

The Deity, holding the Dream Patrol Helmet, stood by the bed looking at him. The demeanor was akin to a mother seizing a child’s game console.

Su Ming’an touched his head, realizing it was the Deity who forcibly removed his Dream Patrol Helmet, resulting in a forced game exit.

"You’ve been playing for over five hours; it’s time to rest," said the Deity.

"...Are you moonlighting as the anti-addiction system for teenagers?" Su Ming’an said.

"These days, your average sleep time doesn’t exceed three hours," said the Deity, "You will feel lethargic, and I still need you. If humans stay up late, overnight, their brains become dull, and their memory worsens."

Su Ming’an remained silent. Was the Deity concerned for him? This method was too forceful.

"The Sweetheart Cookies I made for you, you didn’t take a bite. The tea I brewed for you, you didn’t drink a sip either," the Deity said coldly, "Yet, you ate quite happily in the game."

Su Ming’an: "..."

He glanced at the already cold tea and Sweetheart Cookies on the table.

The Deity said somewhat sternly, "You rest for an hour, then proceed with the ceremony of becoming an Angel. Goodbye."

The Deity left, holding the Dream Patrol Helmet.

Su Ming’an finally realized——The Deity indeed held a very complex sentiment towards him. The Deity seemed both a friend and an enemy, harboring both a hopeful goodwill and a readiness to undertake actions against him.

He lay on the bed. Since he couldn’t play the game, sleeping was the only option.

After he fell asleep, Chang Ge opened his eyes. On Chang Ge’s face was an extremely complex expression, seemingly having learned something special. As a Nighttime Player, the system would occasionally relay useful information to him, allowing him the discretion to inform Su Ming’an.

But Chang Ge pondered for a long time, maintaining silence, and lay back in bed.

One hour passed, Su Ming’an awoke, got off the bed to stretch his body.

As he was donning his coat, the Deity suddenly appeared before him.

"Come, it’s time for the ceremony," the Deity said, holding Su Ming’an’s hand.

"Does becoming an Angel require a ceremony? Just tell me, isn’t that enough?" Su Ming’an said.

The Deity led him out of the room. In the scarlet hallway, fifty oil paintings hung quietly, and the flickering candlelight cast on their clasped hands made Su Ming’an feel dizzy.

They reached a chapel. The dim morning light filtered through the stained glass, and the walls depicted myths of Angels slaying serpents. Gazing at these murals, Su Ming’an suddenly recalled the religious texts he had read earlier.

...

[In ancient times, there existed an "Old God" who provided blessings for humanity, but the Old God has vanished for a millennium; today’s Deity is called the "Supreme God."]

[Some say it’s the Supreme God who banished and killed the Old God and seized the Old God’s followers—three Archangels and two Followers.]

[The Judgment Angel who fell to The Mortal World is named "Bilu." The Order Angel in charge of rules is named "Light." The Slaughter Angel in charge of punishment is named "Umbra." The all-white Follower spirit is named "Bastet." The all-black Follower spirit is named "La."]

...

Now Su Ming’an already knows that the "Old God" is himself, which is yet to be verified. The "Supreme God" is the current Deity. Then who corresponds to the three Archangels and the two Followers?

People often subconsciously overlook the issue of language translation. After all, all the languages he contacts are translated by the system; there are no language barriers. Just look at the text, and you’ll understand what it means.

But he had always overlooked one situation——

Whether the system would phonetically transliterate certain names according to the Zhai Star people’s common language?

For someone like Su Ming’an from the Dragon Country, what he sees is the translation of Dragon Country-style names with Dragon Country characters’ semantics, while foreign-style names are transliterated according to the common language.

Suddenly, Su Ming’an realized this point. He had never thought about this issue before.

If indeed it’s phonetic translation, then——

The Order Angel "Light"——L-I-G-H-T?

The Slaughter Angel "Umbra"——U-M-B-R-A?

...

Light——Ming.

Umbra——Shadow.