Starting from the Collapse World, I became the behind-the-scenes boss

Walking towards the sofa where Eden was, Shihen answered with a matter-of-fact expression.

He didn't think he was slacking off.

Although he hasn't encountered any new Yingjie since meeting Hua half a month ago, and even Su, who is usually a kind-hearted person, hasn't shown up, and the little cat girl doesn't seem to have realized that her cat is missing and hasn't come looking for it.

He only has four customs clearance certificates!

Thinking about Mei's eventual completion of the game with all achievements, Shihen couldn't help but feel a little sad.

This paradise really didn't give him any face.

"You know that's not what I meant."

Eden shook his head.

"You mean the imprint?" Shihen sat down a seat away from Eden, a cup of milk tea appearing in his hand. "I don't need that kind of power."

To be precise, he simply did not have the qualifications to bear the mark.

Of course, as long as he actively refuses to have the mark engraved, no one will discover this.

Except for Alicia.

The other party knew this even before he set foot in Paradise.

The laws of origin are just like that, utterly unreasonable.

"..." Hearing Shihen's direct words, Eden paused for a moment before speaking, "To use Mebius's words, the mark is not something foreign."

This is a power that exists within every visitor; we simply help you unleash it.

According to Möbius's calculations, every human being in this era is qualified to bear the imprint, but there will be some differences in aptitude at the individual level.

However, those who can gain the approval of the World Serpent and enter this paradise of the past must be among the most outstanding in terms of their qualifications.

"I know, but I don't need it."

While sipping the milk tea summoned from his memories, Shihen spoke in a calm yet firm tone.

He has no hidden power that allows the mark to be activated.

"But for exploring the paradise of the past, the imprint is an essential key."

Eden tried to persuade him.

She didn't understand why the boy was so resistant to the marking.

"But how do you know this isn't a uniquely my way of exploring?"

Shihen smiled and asked in return.

Normally, the imprint not only helps visitors unleash their power, but also allows them to glimpse a corner of the memories of heroes and thus appreciate a glimpse of the brilliance of that glorious pre-civilization era.

In this sense, the number of imprints a visitor possesses is the only indicator of their exploration of the Paradise of the Past, and it is also the selection criterion for cadres recognized by the world snakes.

Those who receive gifts but do not receive an imprint, like Shihen, will not be recognized by the World Serpent.

According to the usual procedure, heroes usually exchange imprints upon meeting, and then give more imprints depending on the compatibility, only considering gifts after deepening the relationship.

Who would be like Shihen, taking only the gift but not a single engraving?

Even the phrase "buying the casket and returning the pearl" is insufficient to describe this shortsightedness.

"But without the inscription, what can you gain in Paradise?"

Eden still couldn't understand the boy in front of him.

Truth, power... whatever visitors want to gain from Paradise, imprinting is an essential medium.

Furthermore, without the imprint, the boy would only be able to linger in the shallow areas of the Paradise, which is why the other party could not see more heroes.

Although there is no strict distinction between shallow and deep realms in the Pure Land of the Past, there are always some things that are hidden and protected, and people are not allowed to easily come into contact with them.

Having enough engravings is proof that you are qualified to go there.

"Why should I want anything from Paradise?" Shihen shook his head and asked with a smile, "I have already found my own path, and I don't need anyone else to prove anything to me."

He didn't care about either the power of Yingjie's imprint or the final primordial inheritance.

He had already firmly grasped what he wanted.

"I took the liberty."

Eden bowed his head slightly.

She could tell that this was not just the boy's stubbornness; he truly possessed an incredibly firm will.

Perhaps this is why the other party can possess the power to project memories like Ying Jie in Paradise.

Eden couldn't help but think to himself.

Faced with such a powerful figure who already has his own path, she only needs to wish him well.

Young people do not need them to guide them.

"Being able to meet you all here and chat for a while is already the greatest reward for me."

After finishing his milk tea, Shihen shoved the empty cup into the ground and then smiled at the red-haired older sister in front of him.

He didn't care what the Paradise of the Past could give him, as long as it made him happy during this time.

At least in this respect, he was quite satisfied with the paradise of the afterlife.

After all, no matter what Shihen thought, Alicia wouldn't let him leave.

He had to stay in the amusement park until the girl's gift was ready.

There's a saying that goes something like this: since you can't resist it, just enjoy it all.

"It's an honor."

Eden smiled.

This might be another reason why heroes exist here, although only this young man has come up with this idea yet.

But it feels pretty good.

"By the way, Eden, have you seen Pado recently?"

As he stroked the canned food that had jumped onto the sofa and was lying there, Shihen asked a question.

He felt that Pado was really being lazy; the can of food had been missing for half a month!

“She seems to be helping Ellie look for something,” Eden explained. “What, do you need her for something?”

"I also want her to help me find something."

Time Trace answered.

Without the mark, it would be difficult for him to penetrate the paradise; he would need someone to guide him.

“I see.” Eden nodded, then kindly asked, “Is there anything I can do to help? Although I’m not as good at finding things as Phyllis, I am still one of the heroes.”

"No need, I'll just wait for her. I'm not in a hurry anyway."

Shihen shook his head.

Is it something you can tell others about seeking out Gretchen?

He also wants to lose face.

"Ok."

Eden felt a little disappointed.

Although she agreed with the boy's point of view, she still hoped that she could help as much as possible and fulfill her duty as a hero.

"But didn't you already see the canned food? Phyllis wasn't with it?"

Looking at the brown fat cat lying quietly to the side, Eden asked with some curiosity.

“I picked it up by the roadside and it’s been clinging to me ever since.”

Shihen remained unfazed and made no mention of his threat to the canned goods.

"Meow~"

The canned food also chimed in.

Compared to the red-haired older sister, it still felt that the black-haired boy next to it had thicker thighs.

This is the intuition of a long-lived cat.

Moreover, the other party can also provide it with new flavors of cat food, which is something even Pado can't get her hands on.

Eden: "..."

She felt that the truth was probably not like that.

But since Phyllis hasn't come looking for me, then there shouldn't be any problem... right?

At this very moment, somewhere deep within Paradise.

Looking at the empty stall in front of her, the catgirl blinked, her face full of confusion:

Where's my canned food? Where's my huge can?

It was just a matter of sending canned goods to pick up some stock; how could they just be thrown away like that?

Chapter Fifty-Eight: Journey to the Deepest Abyss

In the paradise of the past, a human and a cat are walking in this vast, desolate city.

"Meow~"

Walking ahead on its four round, disc-shaped paws, the canned food would occasionally turn back and call out softly, as if urging something.

Is this fat cat finally going to be of some use?

Seeing this scene, Shihen couldn't help but feel a little excited.

Having raised the canned food for over half a month, this was the first time the other party had led the way with such a purpose.

Generally speaking, this is often a precursor to triggering a task.

Following the canned goods forward, Shihen soon sensed an atmosphere different from that of the public areas of Paradise.

It has the flavor of another hero.

Turning a corner, a wooden stall with cat paw prints came into Shihen's view.

"The truck? Where's Pado?"

Looking at the empty stall in front of him, Shihen glanced around and soon spotted a small snake hanging down from a crooked tree.

Following the small snake swaying in the wind upwards, a scantily clad catgirl entered Shihen's field of vision.

"Hehe~ Coins, so many coins..."

The catgirl chuckled, making muffled sounds in her throat, and a thin, glistening tear slid down her cheek.

Click——

Shihen didn't hesitate to take a picture to commemorate the occasion.

Presumably, once Paddy wakes up, she will be willing to pay a high price to redeem this photo, right?

Poor little kitten, you certainly wouldn't want the other heroes to see you like this, would you?

"Meow~"

The canned food, which had already jumped onto the stall, called out softly, while pointing at the stall with its paw.

As one of only two cats left in the shop, it has to take charge of the business while the other cat sleeps in.

"Okay, I'll take a look first."

Nodding, Shihen agreed to the canned goods promotion.

Since we're already here, buying something won't hurt; he has no use for the things in Paradise anyway.

Aside from the power of imprinting, nothing from the Paradise of the Past can be brought into reality.

Shihen's gaze swept across the stalls, and he noticed that most of the items were small trinkets and ornaments, and... they were all very old, clearly items that the heroes had long since forgotten and abandoned.