It was about the size of a grain that couldn't play sound by itself. She needed to insert it into a special reader to hear its recorded content.

After transferring the data into her laptop, she found the sound file recorded at the time closest to when Valkries left the arena and pressed play.

Bzzt... Bzzt...

"We meet once more, Miss Valkries." Roland's voice could be heard.

Here it comes.

Fei Yuhan upturned the corner of her mouth and boiled herself a cup of hot tea.

She was going to thoroughly enjoy the results of her long planning.

...

Before the owner managed to take a sip, the steaming tea slowly cooled down until it was ice-cold once more.

Even though she had a premonition ages ago, the things that she heard still far exceeded her expectations!

When she pressed the stop b.u.t.ton, Fei Yuhan's discovered that even her fingertip was trembling slightly.

For a long-time famous martial artist, this could be counted as a loss of control over her body!

She finally knew why a hunter like Roland had cracked his wine gla.s.s that evening at the party—if this involved the secrets of G.o.d, it would have been unusual if he hadn't been perturbed.

The idea that the Dream World was created, civilizations battling for their survival, the continuity and connection between the two worlds, a guardian traversing the Realm of Mind... Could there be anything more unbelievable than this?

Originally, Roland's and Valkries' choice to discuss in a cafe disappointed Fei Yuhan a little, but the contents of their discussion were so shocking that after she finished listening she realized that even if the things they said were stated formally and seriously, others would still view it as nonsense.

Even so, Fei Yuhan didn't think what the two talked about was false. If Roland started putting on an act the day after she began secretly observing him, then that would have been too much of a stretch.

If this world was really manufactured by humans then she was most likely the first to discover the truth behind the scenes—

"Ha..." Fei Yuhan laughed softly.

This feeling was... so satisfying!

As for the Oracle's question of "fiction or reality", it did not concern her at all. n.o.body knew better than herself that she was definitely a living, breathing being. Whether it was her gestures and actions, or every idea that emerged in her mind—everything came from her own will. It was the same this time, with her taking the initiative to pry into the outsiders' secrets.

So what if Roland was one of the creators of the world? If planets were created by cosmic energy and elementary particles, it would make little difference if the former was replaced with a person.

Fei Yuhan leaned back into her chair, letting her body quiver as she enjoyed this feeling of pleasure which she had not felt for a while.

Only after a long time did her excitement slowly ease back into calmness.

In theory, she should report to the Martialist a.s.sociation regarding the intel about the G.o.ds seeking to destroy the world and the nature of the Fallen Evils. However, due to the immense scope and how it could basically rewrite history, she decided to observe for a bit longer.

After all, apart from the discussion between the two, she didn't have a single piece of solid evidence in her hands. She could also not rule out the possibility that they were both severely hysterical drug addicts. She had heard of urban legends that from the second year of junior high, people had the potential to gain telepathy and resonate with others of their kind. Even though the likelihood of such situations was very low, it wouldn't be bad to guard against it.

It was a good thing that Valkries had already formally established a communication method with Roland, that way the chances of spying on their secrets would increase.

Currently the thing that interested Fei Yuhan the most was the world that the two originally came from.

For example, the women who referred to Roland as "His Majesty".

If they could enter the Dream World, could she take a look at what the world was like on their side too?

...Take a look at the supposed... reality.

...

"Where did you run off to?" Garcia glared discontentedly at Roland. "What about your promise to watch the game with Zero?"

"Sorry... I had to report some things to the a.s.sociation, I didn't have a choice either." Roland rubbed the back of his head. He was in the wrong in this matter, so he capitulated very readily. In order for him and Valkries to return at different times, he intentionally dawdled at the restaurant for a little longer and, when he left, it was already evening rush hour. This resulted in causing the two to wait at the arena's gate for half an hour longer.

"If it wasn't because I still have patrolling work to do, I would have ditched you ages ago," Garcia said angrily. "Take the little girl out to a nice meal to make it up to her."

She patted Zero's head. Zero nodded and trotted to Roland's side. When she reached there, she even gave Garcia a bow and said, "Thank you, Big Sister!"

"If he mistreats you, you must tell me."

"Okay."

This brat, pretending to be so docile in front of outsiders. Roland couldn't help but curse her inwardly. Yet, on the surface, he said enthusiastically, "Relax, leave it all to me. Oh yeah, do you want me to bring you some as well?"

"There's no need," Garcia waved her hand magnanimously. "You guys go first, I'm going back to the arena now."

"Sorry to trouble you today." After he bade farewell to Garcia, he shrugged his shoulders at Zero. "Let's go, there's a shopping mall ahead; you can eat whatever you want today."

"'Kay," Zero said unenthusiastically.

Strange, wouldn't she usually leap at this opportunity to eat her fill? Roland was baffled. Why did she suddenly become so silent?

"What's wrong? Was today's compet.i.tion boring?"

"No, it was a lot better than watching it on TV..."

"That's good then. Once you come back from the holidays, I'll take you to watch a few more live compet.i.tions. I am a member of the a.s.sociation after all, it shouldn't be too difficult to get tickets."

They crossed the road along the sidewalk and walked side by side on the streets. The snow beneath their feet had already melted from all the people walking over it, their only presence was the small crackling noises under their shoes. But more snow floated down from the night sky, and it was dyed into brilliant colors by the ceaselessly flas.h.i.+ng neon lights. If this continued, the city tomorrow morning was likely to become a plain of whiteness once more.

Slowly, Zero fell a step behind him.

Roland felt the corner of his clothes catch onto something.

He stopped walking and looked back in surprise.

The little girl was pulling at the corner of his clothes with her head lowered. She didn't say a single word.

"What's wrong..." Roland was stunned for a moment. "Uh, I was wrong for not accompanying you, but work..."

Zero shook her head. "I... don't want to go back."

"What?"

"I don't want to go back to my hometown, Uncle." She raised her head, bit her lip and said, "Can I continue living at your place for the two-month holiday? I'll find a way to pay the rent, I've sc.r.a.ped together money for buying groceries before, I'll definitely be faster this time, I promise I will pay you on time every time. I..."

Looking at the the small girl who seemed to had just mustered up her courage, Roland couldn't speak for a moment.

The memory of peeking at the writing in her diary emerged in his mind. He suddenly felt that he was in the wrong.

It was no secret that Zero's family was estranged. He could tell from her daily mannerisms and spendings on food and clothing that her family was very likely extremely harsh and strict to her. But Roland never intervened or intentionally tried to maintain their current relations.h.i.+p either.

Because she was the other creator of this world.

In order to let the Dream World keep functioning as it always had, maintaining inertia was undoubtedly the most stable method.

This was also why he didn't immediately get Zero to join the a.s.sociation after she awoke.

Will changing the current situation increase the chances of awakening her other side? If she turned back into a Pure Witch, what changes will occur to this world?

He had always been guarding against something like that from happening.

But Roland had overlooked the feelings of Zero, a fifteen year-old girl.

"Do you really believe that this world is fictional?"

When Lan asked him this, he gave a negative answer. But his treatment of Zero contradicted his words.

"I... I can't...?" The courage the little girl managed to muster slowly faded away and her voice became smaller and smaller.

"You should know that I'm not actually your legal guardian. If I let you stay in the apartment, it would be fine for one or two days, but after a period of time your family will definitely come knocking on the door. When that time comes, no matter how unwilling you are, it would be impossible for you to continue living here. I would get into quite a bit of trouble too."

The light in Zero's eyes dimmed.

"But there is a way that we can get around this." Roland said as he squatted down and brushed away the snow on her shoulders.

"Really?" She abruptly swung her head up.

"All you have to do is join the Martialist a.s.sociation. The a.s.sociation is an Awakened's legal hosting facility at all times; as long as you decide to stay, n.o.body can force you to change your mind, even if you are underage," Roland said with a smile. "This is the privilege of a martial artist... so, do you want to become a martial artist?"

"I..."

"But even if you do join the a.s.sociation, you still have to attend school—don't think you can just drop out of school because of this." He raised his eyebrows. "Don't worry about compet.i.tions and stuff. If you don't like fighting, it's okay if you don't partic.i.p.ate."

His last words seemed to lift a burden off Zero's shoulders. She breathed in deeply and nodded her head with vigor. "Then I'll join."

"Okay, when we get back I'll fill out an application form for you. After that, you can live wherever you want."

"Can I live in 0825?"

Roland extended a hand to her. "Of course."

The inertia had been broken.

What happened next may be unknown...

...but it would be a result of a decision made out of free will.

Under the snowflakes, the two blended into the sea of pedestrians and walked towards the city square which was alit under the night sky.