Xyrin Empire-Chapter 675: A Joyful Interlude

The Void is boundless, the worlds vast and immeasurable, like the countless stars in the sky, and within these endless worlds, there’s an abundance of magical life beyond counting.

The Star Domain Divine Race Public College Creation Department is one of the most challenging disciplines in terms of creativity and imagination. Students who graduate from this department all possess breathtaking innovative spirits and a daring courage to try new things. Their energy is everlasting, their imagination never dries up—they always manage to create the most magnificent worlds and life forms with the most magical of techniques...

Of course, let us forget about that one who has retaken the exams tens of thousands of times, has gone through two generations of head teachers, and witnessed three revisions of the Creation Science textbook but still has not even passed the Junior Creation Certificate.

Uttering such a sigh doesn’t have any particular meaning, I just suddenly felt that creating a magical race like the Bieberus really does require a lot of imagination.

Fina was not someone who liked bustle. Her life of silent contemplation atop the Steel Throne, though it ground down her emotions, had also instilled in her the habit of enjoying solitude. Even when she whimsically decided to attend the Carnival, she would always seek out quiet places, find an empty bench to sit on, and quietly watch others revel. That was how Fina wanted it to be.

Therefore, we as a group made our way to Silvia’s little shop—the quiet realm created by the Silver-haired Mole’s lagging Halo was truly the cleanest spot suitable for such a boisterous season. Moreover, just opposite her shop was the Carnival square, separated only by a military-grade force field, which did not hinder Fina’s view of the festivities one bit.

Although I really don’t know what’s so exciting about watching a bunch of strange guests from other realms in a Night Parade of Hundred Demons while keeping company with a heavy iron ball that weighs several tons.

"Rumble rumble rumble," the heavy metal orb rolled down the main thoroughfare of Shadow City, which had been cast from reinforced alloy. However, the one pushing the sphere now was not Fina: Although it was quite amusing to watch the stoic girl push a hefty iron ball with grunts and groans, the child’s mother had taken over the task of moving Bieberu with fervor. A little loli just over a meter tall pushing a big iron ball also seemed quite comical.

"Say, Bieberu, if your people can’t move when they catch a cold, doesn’t that become a very serious issue for you?"

"That’s correct, Your Majesty," Bieberu answered with a muffled voice amidst the rumbling sounds, the "true" side tumbling back and forth in front of my eyes, "a cold would cause our race to lose the ability to move, but it doesn’t affect our use of electromagnetic and field effects to control things around us. Therefore, we also refer to a cold as ’confinement illness’. It’s a very troublesome disease, usually caused by the dormancy of our anti-gravity organ from not acclimating to the environment. Back in my homeland, there are specialized ’Shalarus,’ or Rolling Assistants, who help tribe members afflicted with a cold to move..."

Oh, oh, oh, should I decisively marvel at how wonderful the world is at this moment?

"Silvia! We’ve come to eat cake~~"

A few minutes later, four people and one sphere arrived at Little Xi Dessert Shop, located at the isolation line of the military control zone. Standing at the entrance, I called out with a voice that filled the room.

The door opened, and out dashed a tiny silver-haired Gothic girl. Mercury Lamp "thumped" into my chest and then skillfully climbed onto the throne on my shoulder, hugging my head and tugging it here and there.

Following the mischievous Mercury Lamp, several other lively doll girls bounced out, then Qianqian’s little head popped out from inside the shop, "Ah Jun~!~!"

"You’re all here?"

I was taken aback for a moment, then watched dumbfounded as one familiar face after another crawled out of Silvia’s little shop—turns out these guys were all seeking a quiet place here?

"Ah, it’s Chen—" Silvia’s voice was the last to ring out. The silver-haired girl, who appeared to be preparing desserts with an apron on, greeted us in her signature slow style, stepping out of the shop. She then caught sight of the large iron sphere that Bubbles was toying back and forth with, causing the ground to tremble slightly, "Does Mr. Iron Sphere want some coffee too?"

True to the title of Xyrin Emperor, she could tell at a glance that this was a living being, but what in the world was up with this dopey way of greeting?

"Uh, please don’t trouble yourself, I can just replenish solar energy here."

Bieberu replied in a muffled voice, while Bubbles "squeaked and creaked" a bit, spinning him halfway round and pointing to a large chunk of his already half-eroded red patch to introduce to everyone: "This is the front!"

"Oh." Silvia responded dizzily, pulling out a marker used for writing signs at the shop’s entrance. She stepped forward and wrote a large ’Front’, then after thinking for a bit, she tiptoed and wrote the character for ’Up’ on the honest and loyal Prime Minister’s head.

A Prime Minister of a generation, it was fortunate that Bieberu’s race was rather slow to catch on to certain sensitive matters, else he might be crying by now, right?

Because of his size, Bieberu could only stop at the entrance of the dessert shop, as Silvia’s little shop couldn’t accommodate such a big guy. However, he had no complaints about this, as his race’s favorite pastime during leisure time was to go outdoors and replenish solar energy. In Bieberu’s memory, "a silver plaza full of big and small iron spheres on a leisurely afternoon" had always been a beautiful scene...

"Wow, this is really lively!"

After following Silvia into the tiny Candy House, I couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise.

The small shop, originally only a dozen or so square meters of open space, was now packed with our big family. Qianqian, Big Sister, Sandora, myself, Anwina, Bubbles, those few were one thing, but there were also exactly five dolls hopping and skipping around everyone’s legs. Mercury Lamp sat on my shoulder, directing Golden Canary and Cui Xingshi in a game of hide-and-seek. Just watching them was like Toy Story, making the not-so-large shop seem extremely bustling. Beside them, Pandora sat quietly on a sofa chair, seemingly wanting to enter standby mode, but the mischievous Visca beside her kept trying to peel off the stickers from the window, requiring Pandora to be ready to "hand-chop" to calm her annoying little sister. Little Baobao had somehow climbed to the top of the candy display counter, the little guy apparently trying to steal a box of chocolates from there, the risky move terrifying Lady Shaning below. The unfortunate nanny, King, had no choice but to carry the Blazing Sky Covering Seven Circles filled with cotton and feathers, running back and forth below, naturally taking up a large space. In the middle, Gaia, watching the rambunctious antics of the no-morals Imperial high-level members, was probably Loading the entire time.

That group could be counted as one batch, while another batch consisted of the Divine Clan kids from the Star Domain, with Bingdisi at the helm, grandiosely occupying the largest round table set up for guests in the south, each devouring a pile of cakes and desserts, freeloading and blabbering about amusing stories of mortals from their worlds. As soon as Yelsen had just mentioned how simple and honest the social customs were and how hard-working the people were in the world he managed, Bingdisi snapped back: What’s the use of simple customs? In the world I rule, everyone over three years old can fight, and by the age of six they must join the children’s army. There was once a mortal called Kratos who ended up killing a bunch of fake gods in the area...

Then Kenser kept nodding: "Excellent, excellent."

Lin cowered on the sofa, looking like someone who had been bullied and didn’t dare to raise her head: considering this demeanor, she must have broken something in the last half hour.

"Everyone’s here," Silvia said leisurely, her face brimming with a warm, happy smile, "It’s so lively today. Ah, who wanted coffee just now?"

Far away, Big Sister raised her coffee cup: "We’ve already brewed our own..."

Although I didn’t know how all these people who had wandered off on their own early in the morning ended up together, it was a pleasant surprise to have everyone here. And how should I put it, it’s not easy for Silvia, that dummy, to have opened such a shop in a military-controlled area and experience such liveliness.

After returning to the indoor environment and the company of everyone, Anwina let out a sigh of relief and immediately reverted to work mode, busily helping Silvia prepare desserts and such. Fina was pulled by me to sit down with Big Sister and the others.

Upon meeting, we naturally first exchanged stories about our morning tour outside. I articulated my painful experience of encountering Miku and the Misaka quartet and being dragged to listen to a massive chorus, then optimistically noted that the likes of Bashen An should still be lost in the "Pi" ocean inside the auditorium, unable to extricate themselves. Qianqian started showing off her shopping haul to me, like those three-for-five-dollars flying swords and the dangerously enticing rainbow-glittering bread. Sandora cheerfully told me that she had found an untimed big eater contest—she had been eating from morning until noon when she met Big Sister and only then came to join us. Queen made me tear up by saying, "What a wonderfully invigorating competition, it’s just a shame the judges all ran off in the end."

I imagine those few unfortunate judges suddenly realized that there was no longer anything edible left at the contest except for themselves.

"Fina, what do you think? How was the celebration for you?"

Big Sister turned to the silent and attentive Fina, asking with a smile.

"A valuable learning opportunity," Fina thought for a moment and seriously answered, "At such celebrations, the Pan-Galactic Civilization Community initially felt at a loss. Apart from various weapons displays, we had no other celebratory activities prepared. For a long time, the Commonwealth’s people had no room for thought beyond survival and battle, leading to a severe deformity in our cultural system, with no achievements in arts or the spiritual realm, not to mention how to conduct festivals during times of peace. Most Commonwealth citizens have even forgotten all about the celebrations of their home worlds. After peace returned, we discovered that we no longer knew how to enjoy it, thus this festival represents an opportune learning moment, perhaps a chance to relearn long-forgotten traditions. Overall, this celebration has been worthwhile."

Fina’s candid response left us somewhat awkward, as it seemed somewhat ill-timed to discuss this topic, but we knew it was just Fina being sincere, so no one said much.

"Ah, how to be entertained," Sandora broke the silence, pondering, "in this regard, we are the same as you."

Fina turned her gaze to Sandora, her expression stoic and unreadable, but a trace of confusion must have flickered across her eyes.

"Xyrin Apostles also do not know what entertainment is," Sandora said with a smile, "The social activities of the Old Empire were even more straightforward than those of your Commonwealth: birth, command, obedience, combat, death—these five elements constitute the life of most Xyrin Apostles. We don’t engage in entertainment; our only celebrations are triumphant military parades. We lack an understanding of leisure, barring preparation for the next battle. Over ninety percent of Xyrin Apostles live like this, and thinking about it now, those truly were dull days. You have forgotten how to entertain yourselves over the long eras, while we never had such things to begin with."

"So, Bubbles was so intrigued by the human-created 2D realm," I picked up where Sandora left off, gently patting Bubbles on the head, "Despite the advanced technology of the Xyrin Apostles, they are completely lacking in the basics of entertainment and even found Tetris astonishing."

"Yes, yes!" Bubbles nodded emphatically, fully agreeing with my sentiment, "At the time, I thought it was incredibly magical. Although I had some memories of ordinary civilizations, truly delving into the things they created was a first for me, and I was instantly hooked~~~"

Then, could you explain to me how on earth you evolved from pure Tetris to being utterly corrupted, a complete mix of an otaku and a rotting aficionado?

"It was Ah Jun who changed everything." Sandora suddenly sighed in reflection, and I felt like I got shot from nowhere: I’m involved in this, too?

"Without a human like Ah Jun intervening at the highest level of Imperial authority, we would never have voluntarily explored what we once considered ’worthless and highly wasteful.’ The social structure and mindsets of Xyrin Apostles are so rigid. Aside from things meaningful to racial expansion, we reject any knowledge from common races. You wouldn’t understand such an exclusion unless you were in Xyrin’s privileged society."

"So Dad brought us all what we have now," Bubbles bounced straight into my lap, "That’s just the nature of Xyrin Apostles, where the thoughts of the Supreme Leader can almost determine the likes and dislikes of the entire race. So Dad brought us movies, anime, novels, games, galgames, and even ero content..."

I promptly threw her out.

We might overlook Bubbles’ wild storytelling, but Sandora’s words struck a deep chord with me.

The Xyrin Apostles, once cold, cruel, and only known for war and death, underwent such a drastic change after their Supreme Authority turned into a human. In the short term, it’s hard to judge whether this change is good or bad, but at present, the Xyrin Empire has managed to turn away from its former self – a civilization once so chilling that even its own citizens trembled at its tyranny. Possessing more humanity and vitality doesn’t change their inherent loyalty, efficiency, and toughness. Yet, it has indeed improved their affinity with other races – at the very least, in the Old Empire era, it would have been impossible to establish a vast network of influence like the Macro World, which relies not on iron-fisted rule but purely on the Empire’s cohesiveness: the Old Empire ruled over slaves, not citizens.

Perhaps this change is truly, as Bellavilla said, a compensation for the only racial flaw of the former Xyrin Apostles.

"Everyone, let’s have some cake~~"

Silvia’s cheerful but leisurely call interrupted my thoughts. The former Imperial Emperor, wearing an apron like a housewife, served us layabouts a cake she had made herself. Following behind her, Anwina, dressed as the World’s Number One Maid, demonstrated her unparalleled skill: how to carry twelve plates of cake stably to her master with the sash ties of her maid costume.

Such a pointless skill!

Despite being notoriously slow to react, Silvia had a few surprising specializations – making various candies and desserts being one of them.

Maybe it’s her slow-going nature that allows Silvia to immerse herself more than the average person when focusing on a task. I’ve witnessed her dedication to cake decorating: ignoring the Mass Production Machines, Bubbles, who came in to buy chocolate, for a full half-hour. Maybe Silvia isn’t slow to react after all, but usually too engrossed in her little world.

"These are very ordinary snacks~~~ But, they have my secret recipe~~ Not greasy at all~~" Silvia placed plates of tempting cakes and pastries on the table, and the fragrance lured over the Divine Clan’s "Tiaozi Five" who were at a distance. Led by the rogue Bingdisi, a gang of pranksters moved their table to join ours – well, Silvia didn’t mind.

A small head popped up beneath my arm – Visca sneakily tried to grab a piece of cake, only to be deflected by Pandora’s quick hand. Meanwhile, Little Baobao, with her maxed-out vanishing skills, already had a cream-covered strawberry cake in hand, smearing cream on her face as she ate, unaware that Lady Shining was still holding a flower petal shield, waiting for Little Baobao on the countertop to fall...

"Then, there’s this," Silvia introduced a specially prepared large plate before us. Unlike the other desserts, this one was covered with a metal lid, shielding our curious eyes – clearly, this was the main attraction. "It’s my proud creation~~ I’ve tried many times before, and today it finally succeeded~~"

Even the usually serene Silvia commended the pastry with such pride, and we all grew curious about this dish shrouded beneath the metal cover.

"I’ll open it, I’ll open it~!~!" Sandora was the first to place her hand on the lid, visibly excited, "I wonder what it looks like..."

Mercury Lamp seemed to have discovered something, leaping off my shoulder, scurrying across the table to press her ear against the cover, and then immediately shouting back at us, "Silly humans, I think there are sounds coming from inside."

Sandora paused, then quickly removed the lid.

Everyone: "..."

There were two things on the plate: a large cake that had been nibbled to look like Swiss cheese and a round-bellied Dingdang, covered in cream, stuffing a tidbit of dessert into its mouth. (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation and monthly votes; your support is my greatest motivation.)

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