After integrating Okhema once again, Amos continued as he had in the previous cycle, turning alchemy into alchemical creations to strengthen the city’s defenses.
This time, with Aglaea’s command abilities and Cipher’s scouting abilities helping, they would definitely be able to protect Okhema.
That was what Khaslana thought.
Amos also felt this cycle would certainly last longer than the previous one.
Maybe they could even force Laokis to reveal some hidden cards.
Then Khaslana called Amos along, and the two went to the Dawn Device to study it in advance and prepare for replacing the burden-bearing process with the Authority of the World-Bearing in the future.
Then they ran into a cat.
“What a coincidence.
You two are going to the Dawn Device too.” Cipher deliberately acted casual, looking as though she was just passing by.
“So it’s Miss Cipher.
Could it be that the Dawn Device contains some treasure that interests you?” “Of course it does.
That giant sun, isn’t that the most important treasure in the world?
If I could steal it away…
hehehe…” Khaslana suspected nothing and casually chatted with Cipher.
But midway through the conversation, Cipher’s expression suddenly changed.
Then the ever-burning Dawn Device slowly dimmed.
A ring of light spread out from it, like a truth potion that dispelled illusions, tearing apart the lie of the clear blue sky and revealing a blood-red dusk.
“How…
how can this be…” Cipher’s face instantly turned pale.
Eyes wide, she ran around in confusion.
Suddenly, she seemed to understand something and turned to stare at Amos.
Khaslana also turned toward him, his eyes full of confusion.
Facing their sharp gazes, Amos spread his hands helplessly.
“The authority of the Demigod of Trickery is certainly related to deception.
So I was just thinking, if history itself could be deceived, then what kind of lie would be the most shocking?” Khaslana muttered, “There was never any oracle of the World-Bearer.
Only a thief’s trick kept the world evergreen.” Cipher also fell silent.
It wasn’t that she had never considered the possibility of the Dawn Device’s lie being exposed.
She just never imagined that someone could look at her and the Dawn Device and immediately figure out the nature of Trickery’s authority.
“I hate smart people like you…” The tide of memories surged up once more.
In the third Eternal Cycle, Amos once again stood before the Lost Realm.
Likewise, not long after Amos finished exploring it, the black-robed Khaslana appeared in the grove.
Meeting again, Khaslana did not remove his mask.
He simply looked at Amos.
After a long while, he finally said, “You look very tired.” “I read too many memories at once.
That’s normal.” “But what about you?
Going through cycle after cycle, your memories only become heavier.
Aren’t you tired?” Khaslana replied, “I’m fine.” It was an ordinary answer.
But Amos suddenly stopped walking.
Because that was Khaslana’s answer.
Not Phainon’s answer.
If it had been Phainon, the Phainon from before the Eternal Cycles, he would never have spoken so politely.
Amos’s first reaction was that Khaslana was too tired.
Too tired to think, casually speaking out of habit.
Not only was that a person’s first reaction, it should have been the only reaction.
But Amos happened to have a second possibility.
No matter how the history of Amphoreus changed, the Chrysos Heirs would always be born at the appropriate time.
Then…
what about the ordinary people of Amphoreus?
If the world entered another cycle before the time the system had arranged for them to be born, because Khaslana had already gathered all the Coreflamess…
Wouldn’t those ordinary people simply never be born?
Amos recalled the three cycles he had experienced and quickly deduced what Khaslana had been thinking near the end of the previous cycle, as well as what he most wanted to do in the next one.
The first life, also the final simulation cycle, Amphoreus was destroyed normally.
In that timeline, although Cifera was the Demigod of Trickery, it was unclear whether she had manipulated the Dawn Device.
Because the Black Tide directly swallowed all of Amphoreus.
There was no need for the Demigod of Trickery to fall.
The second life, the first Eternal Cycle, Phainon carried the Coreflame of Trickery, and the Dawn Device burned as usual.
The third life, the second Eternal Cycle, Cipher carried the Coreflame of Trickery and used trickery to impersonate the Dawn Device.
Although there were not enough examples, it was easy to infer that the Dawn Device’s burning time was not fixed.
In some cycles, it went out shortly after the first Flame-Chasing Journey.
In others, it continued burning until Year 4933 without weakening at all.
Perhaps in some cycles Kefale’s faith was firm, while in others Kefale’s power was weak.
In any case, from an observer’s perspective, it was almost completely random.
Then after restarting the world in the previous cycle, the thing Khaslana most wanted to do should have been uncovering the truth of the Dawn Device.
Whether by learning Cipher’s trickery to deceive the world, or studying how to support the world through the Authority of the World-Bearing, he would prioritize obtaining the Coreflame of Trickery.
If the Dawn Device in that cycle went out early, then Khaslana would have needed to find a way to relight the world.
The best solution was the Coreflame of Trickery.
But judging from the game story, across Khaslana’s thirty million cycles, he never once mentioned becoming the Dawn Device himself.
That suggested that trickery differed from trickery.
The one capable of deceiving all of Amphoreus and making even the previous Titan of Trickery acknowledge her superiority was perhaps only the greatest Demigod of Trickery, Cifera.
The second choice was the Coreflame of World-Bearing.
This act of burning oneself as a torch would undoubtedly consume a great deal of one’s humanity.
More importantly, no matter which option Khaslana chose, there was a high chance the Dawn Device would go out before Year 4890.
That was roughly the year Amos was born.
Other Chrysos Heirs could perhaps have their births adjusted earlier by the Scepter.
But Amos was just an ordinary electrical signal.
There was no reason for the Scepter to spend extra processing power on him.
So was the reason this Khaslana sounded so distant because he had already gone through another iteration?
Amos could not help recalling that smiling young man.
After who knew how many cycles, he had finally found a way to relight the Dawn Device.
But becoming the Dawn Device consumed too much humanity.
So in the end, the eternal land he had envisioned never came to be.
Nor could he continue the great work of recreating the world.
He could only pass the baton to the next Phainon.
As for himself, he would remain an ordinary electrical signal, waiting for the system to arrange his rebirth.
He would never witness the Chrysos Heirs’s triumph.
The grand epic of world recreation had nothing to do with him.
Across countless cycles, the world continued operating perfectly well without him.
All his efforts were insignificant.
In the story called Amphoreus, he could not even leave behind a footnote.
Thinking of this, Amos looked at his own hand.
Thin and frail.
Within it flowed lowly crimson blood rather than noble gold.
Amos suddenly asked, “What cycle is this?” Khaslana paused before replying, “The third.” Amos looked at Khaslana’s mask.
“Phainon, look into my eyes and answer again.
What cycle is this?” Khaslana remained silent for a long time before answering, “The…
sixteenth…” “The Dawn Device in this life is very stable?” “That’s right.” “Being the Dawn Device consumes a lot of humanity, doesn’t it?” “…That’s right.” “It seems we’ll have to find another way to save the world.” Khaslana looked at Amos, who brushed aside the matter so lightly, and could not help asking, “Don’t you want to know?
About those worlds where you were never born?” Amos smiled.
“What you really want to ask is whether I blame you.
We agreed to save the world together, yet you greatly moved up the timing of world recreation, leaving me, an ordinary person, without even the chance to be born.” “…” “I’ll only ask you one question.
If you truly succeeded and found a way to keep Amphoreus going forever without sacrificing anyone, would you forget me?” Khaslana looked at this “close friend” who did not exist in his memories, yet occupied such an important place in the previous him’s heart.
Without hesitation, he answered, “Of course not.” “Then what else is there to say?
Let’s go.
I may not be Chrysos Heirs, but everyone has a responsibility to save Amphoreus.” Amos walked forward freely.
Khaslana still wanted to say something, but another version of himself shouted from outside the grove.
“Amos!
Look, I found some wheat seeds.
Can the little fairies plant them?” “They can.
But I’d suggest grabbing some fertilizer too.
We don’t know what the soil is like inside the Lost Realm.
Better to be safe.” “No problem!” “And farming tools.
The little fairies can’t use large ones, but you can at least bring some over so they can see what they’re supposed to look like.” “Okay.” “And baskets for moving soil, wicker containers for carrying materials, and a few scarecrows.
Though I don’t know whether there are birds in the Lost Realm.” “Okay…” “And…” “Wait, why am I the one doing all this?
What are you two doing?” “I’m planning to eat freshly baked flower cakes made by Cipher and listen to stories while enjoying the breeze.” “What do you mean by that?!” “Don’t get excited, Phainon.
Think of it this way.
You may have lost your free time, but you gained work.” “What kind of logic is that?!
I want flower cakes too!
I want to hear stories too!” “Fine, fine.
I’ll bring you two later.
Now go get the farming tools.” “I want thin pastry and lots of filling.
And fruit tea too…” “Go, go!” Phainon ran out of the grove in a hurry.
He even forgot to put down the wheat seeds and would have to carry them back again later.
Khaslana slowly revealed himself.
“Why does he feel like an idiot?” “He is an idiot.” Khaslana, “…” “He’s a kid.
Why think so much?” “Oh right.
Have you ever eaten flower cakes?” Khaslana thought about it and realized he hadn’t.
In his memories, in worlds where Amos did not exist, Cipher was still that gentle girl.
But she was much steadier.
The things she liked were also more abstract, delicate, beautiful, and mostly useless little trinkets.
But in worlds where Amos existed, things were different.
Cipher became much livelier, and her hobbies were more practical.
Cooking.
Taking photos everywhere with Hyacine.
Making dolls with Khaslana.
Feeding Teacher Tribbie.
Sometimes even asking Aglaea for advice on making clothes.
Thinking carefully, he himself was the same.
The responsibilities of the Chrysos Heirs were too heavy.
He never dared relax, as though his life had no meaning beyond fighting and protecting.
But in worlds where Amos existed, Phainon did not need to think so much.
He could become Okhema’s guardian of law.
He could peacefully study under Teacher Anaxa.
Help Teacher Tribbie develop new toys.
Or take Aglaea’s place in dealing with the Senate so she could rest properly.
Compete with Mydei in underwater breath-holding contests in the hot baths.
Recover treasures stolen by Miss Cipher.
Help Hyacine persuade patients who refused to stay still.
Watch Khaslana enter arm-wrestling competitions.
And finally find the two people responsible for all of it in the crowd, eat snacks together, and laugh loudly while watching Mydei’s bitter expression.
Amos smiled.
“It seems my existence wasn’t meaningless after all.” The breeze moved through the wheat fields.
In eternal Amphoreus, it was another peaceful day.
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