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

Page 56

“Aponia, why don’t you see it for yourself?” Shihen said softly, sitting down in front of the two girls, one big and one small, and looking at Gretchen. “Little painter, would you like to hear a story from me?”

"...Stay away from Gretsch."

Before the girl could answer, Kosmo, who was leaning against a pillar, spoke first, his tone calm as if it were just a simple statement.

"Kosmo, please rest assured, he means no harm."

Aponia persuaded him.

"..."

Kosmo covered his head, a look of disgust flashing across his face.

He hated dealing with Aponia.

"Kosmo, I want to hear a story."

Greta spoke up, her voice crisp and clear, like the first song of a nightingale, carrying the beauty and tenderness of spring.

“Then, I’ll tell you a story about the starry sky and the world.” Ruffling the girl’s head, Shihen said with a smile, “A long time ago, there were many worlds in the starry sky, as many as the stars in the sky, and each star was as big as the world we live in.”

But the distance between each world is also very far, just like the distance between us and the stars. People in different worlds can't even exchange a single word.

One day, a god who loved making friends saw this scene and built railway tracks between different stars, and invented a train that could travel on them.

Thus, different worlds were connected.

After telling the short story, Shihen smoothed Gretsch's hair behind her ear and asked softly, "So, did little Gretsch like the story?"

"like."

The girl nodded, a look of joy on her face.

She loves listening to stories, especially those about the starry sky.

"Then, I'll drive one of these trains to find you from now on, how about that?"

Shihen asked with a smile.

"Ok?"

Greta tilted her head.

She wasn't quick-witted and thought the boy was just telling an interesting story.

"It's nothing, it's just a promise. Is little Greta willing?"

Shihen didn't explain, but simply extended a little finger toward the girl.

"it is good."

Without offering any explanation, Greta nodded and extended her little finger in return.

In an instant, the two fingers, one big and one small, hooked together.

"In that case, we made a promise. Once I find such a train, I will use it to catch up with Gretchen's boat."

"Put your thumbs together," Shihen said with a smile and a serious expression.

"Ah."

She responded softly, a faint smile appearing on Gretchen's face.

Although she didn't understand what these words meant, she could see the colors on Shihen's body.

It was a cool, clear color, like moonlight.

Is this the truth about the starry sky?

"From the side," Aponia said with a sigh.

She doesn't think it's a simple story.

"It's just a story."

Shihen shook his head slightly.

He only came to see Gretchen and tell the girl a fairy tale, nothing more.

If we really have to assign it any meaning... there aren't that many meanings in life that absolutely must exist.

Just like when he learned to cook from Sakura, played games with Hua, and chatted with Eden, he simply thought it would be fun.

If Shihen regards these as salvation for the heroes, then he is overestimating himself and underestimating the will of the heroes.

As long as they can understand, when they look back on this period, that the meaning of Paradise is not just about passing on skills to future generations, that will be enough.

"Is that right?"

Upon hearing the boy's words, Aponia frowned.

She still didn't believe it.

That's all.

Shihen smiled slightly.

"That's right."

Looking at the smile on the boy's face, Aponia felt that she understood a little.

Giving up the ability to foresee the future and simply using her own eyes to see... she understood what the other person meant by their initial statement.

This boy really looks a lot like Alicia.

Aponia couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

"My name is Gretchen."

Gretchen suddenly interrupted, looking up at the black-haired boy in front of her, her eyes filled with a childlike stubbornness.

"..." Shi Hen was taken aback when the girl looked at him with her big, bright eyes. He then smiled and said, "My name is Hen."

"Then we're friends now, Hen."

Greta said with a serious expression.

"Yes, we're friends now."

Shihen answered in the same serious tone.

Being friends simply by exchanging names is probably an innocence that only children possess.

Suddenly, the air felt as if someone was approaching.

"Gresh, we should go back."

Looking up at the sky, Aponia smiled and whispered to the girl.

“Okay, Mommy Aponia.” Without being mischievous, Gretchen nodded obediently, then looked at the boy, “Goodbye, Hen.”

She had to greet her new friends before going home; it was a courtesy her mother had taught her.

"Well, goodbye, Gretchen."

Shihen waved back and said with a smile.

He also sensed the increasingly imminent approach.

"May your journey be successful, Hen."

Holding Gretchen's small hand, Aponia smiled and offered her blessings to the boy.

Although she couldn't see the other person's future, she understood the wishes that ordinary people shared.

This is useless, but... why does everything have to be useful?

"Thank you."

Shihen nodded slightly to the nun and watched the three of them walk toward a door.

Alicia has already arrived with gifts.

Suddenly, just before stepping through the door, Gretchen looked up at the silent, green-haired boy beside her and asked, "Kosmo, does it hurt when you sleep with your horns pressed against your chest?"

Kosmo: "..."

He turned his head and looked at the smiling person behind him, and he knew whose color this was.

"……Won't."

After a moment of silence, Kosmo simply said...

It's unclear whether the boy meant that he wouldn't press the corner, or that pressing the corner wouldn't hurt, or... that he doesn't sleep at night at all?

Chapter Sixty-One: Gifts and Dance

A gust of wind suddenly blew up, and cherry-pink petals fell from the sky, fluttering down like a heavy snowfall.

Amidst the snow-covered landscape, as rosy as clouds, a girl more delicate than any flower quietly appeared.

"Hi, did you miss me?"

Alicia, dressed in a white evening gown-like dress, said with a smile.

"..." Staring blankly at the girl in front of him, Shi Hen took three seconds to come back to his senses and said, "I don't want to."

"You're not being honest. You were clearly stunned."

Alicia said angrily.

"Oh."

Shihen responded softly without arguing.

It must be said that Alicia, dressed in her finest attire, possesses a breathtaking beauty.

The girl was naturally beautiful, and a gorgeous white dress made her beauty, which was originally in its budding stage, fully bloom.

It is no exaggeration to say that the girl at this moment was the most beautiful girl Shihen had ever seen, surpassing even Durandal and Kiana by a whole standard.

"So? Do you like me more now?"

With her hands behind her back, Alicia asked with a smile.

"No."

Shihen was indifferent and authentic.

He already likes Alicia very much.

"That kind of answer can really hurt a girl's feelings."

Alicia puffed out her cheeks as she spoke, trying to make the boy understand his mistake.

"It's okay, I know Alicia is a very strong girl."

Shihen said with certainty.

Even so, a girl's heart still needs to be carefully protected.

Alicia insisted.

"So, Miss Alicia, would you accept this gift from me?"