Silverwolf wasn't a stranger with doppelgangers. The universe is extremely vast. There would be people bearing the same appearance as one, living different lives and having unknown companions. There have been times when Silverwolf intervened in a script, to which she saw people whose appearance was similar to hers. However, they could not compare to the "Silverwolf" right in front of her. The amount of sorrow and agony her heavy mood carried almost suffocated Silverwolf. As someone who has traversed the vast cosmos, she was all too familiar with the look the other Silverwolf sported.
The face of someone who has lost her loved ones.
"You—"
Her words were quickly cut off as she found herself back in the dark space. The other Silverwolf was gone along with the ruined city. This time, however, she found herself standing behind a purple-haired man. Being looked upon by his bright golden irises felt like a massive burden on her back. The space around her crackled like fireworks, shattering continuously like broken glass. The empty space beneath her feet was replaced with green plains. This sight did not last long as it shifted into a block of pale blue ice, and then a volcanic crust.
The gaze was brief, yet by the time Silverwolf got back to herself, it felt like she traversed countless worlds throughout her lifetime.
'That man's eyes…' She mulled over that bizarre and mind-numbing experience. '...carries countless worlds within.'
She could not even fathom how someone could have such power. It was so vast and immense that in her eyes, it seemed infinite; even though it was not.
"What did you see with those silver eyes?"
His words formed a law. Golden scriptures arose from the void, revolving around the two of them. The next instant, it vanished without a trace. Before Silverwolf could think, she blurted out what she had seen.
"An angel of sin. Someone who looks like me."
The man did not speak. His gaze paused for a few seconds before it left her. The laws born out of his mouth dispersed. The monumental pressure Silverwolf experienced did the same. He placed both his hands behind his back, staring at the rift formed out of the intersection of three worlds.
"Keep this in mind. What goes beyond level 99,999 is…"
…
…
…
"Ffu..!"
Silverwolf jolted from her seat. She stood up and found her feet grounded to the floor. The familiar hotel room they booked entered her sight. The dim light coming off from the computer screen became her only source of light. Her roommate, Firefly, had long been asleep on one of the beds.
Silverwolf's frantic scanning stopped when she met a pair of cat eyes. The black cat habitually licked one of its paws, looking cozy and relaxed. It looked at Silverwolf for a second before continuing on its sleep. Only then did Silverwolf calm down.
'How am I so sweaty..?!'
The cold sweat all over her body became the testament of her dream-like experience. She was inclined to believe it was an illusion, but her long-time experience as a Stellaron Hunter says so otherwise. There are all kinds of creepy things and cosmic horrors throughout the vast cosmos.
Just as she was wiping her sweaty back with her right hand, she felt something sticking out on her back pocket. When she pulled it out, she saw it was a full-on gaming cartridge. Putting aside how it fitted on her shallow pockets, the cartridge took her interest.
Unlike the cartridge from before which resembled a thick floppy disk, it took the design of a hard disk. Its back was transparent, allowing her to see through the disk inside the white container. Silverwolf made out the illustration and texts plastered on the disk:
Honkai Star Rail.
It was then did she finally recall the man's words. A surge of annoyance came from her heart.
'Why couldn't he finish speaking…?!'
*****
"How many girls did you kiss?"
"...Seven."
"Oh..?"
Dozens of cups later, Shi Tian found himself being pressed to the ground by Himeko. Her graceful curves pressed against his body. Her curvy buttocks, which were once concealed by her knee-length shorts, pressed against his torso. Ironically enough, both the teacher and the principal ended in the exact same way.
'She's too drunk…'
Though he was also drunk, he could still maintain a shred of rationality. Yes, while there might be dizziness, reduced range of one's mind, and being debuffed compared to the normal, Shi Tian could think. And sure as heck, he could put Himeko to rest the same way he did to Theresa. Yet he did not. He wanted to understand where these feelings are coming from.
Shi Tian could not lie to himself. He feels as if he does not deserve all the affection thrown at him… that an overwhelming majority of his partners fell because it was dictated by the karma he imposed on them. That was why he never initiated any partner contract with the women outside the solar system.
Knowing he could not shy away from the responsibility this time, he asked:
"Why do you find me attractive, Miss Himeko? The others, too…"
For a moment, her clouded eyes regained their sharpness. The clueless look in his face further cemented the rabbit impression she had in mind.
"Most of the men I have met put up a front to make themselves look attractive. A false bravado made up to capture others' hearts." She paused while licking her lips. "You never did it once. You never hesitate to show your genuine self. Your strengths and weaknesses. You want others to understand your truest side…"
The list of things Himeko said went on. Shi Tian snapped out of his daze when Himeko finished speaking.
'The things I did…'
All of it points towards him being direct. Shi Tian's idea of love is that of mutual understanding. The matter of having a harem did not make him comfortable. Instead, it only pushed him to be more open about himself. Inadvertently, it was this exact attitude that earned others' affection even more.
Looking at the crimson irises shining in the dimly-lit living room, Shi Tian felt her gaze growing heavier.
"Miss Himeko…"