Game World: I Can Share Talents

Next, Westheid was pulled along by the girl toward the bustling urban center of the Crimson Throne. Wan Qi acted just like a local... 'Oh, right, she *is* a local here. Never mind.'

In stark contrast to the true Xuli of ancient times, the Crimson Throne wasn't a hardened military fortress, but a metropolis of boundless luxury and pleasure.

Neon-drenched commercial streets were everywhere. As far as the eye could see, there was nothing but extreme prosperity, with megastructures so grand they left one speechless towering into the sky.

The girl, a singer in full disguise, led Westheid by the hand through the streets and alleys of the grand city, reveling in the lively, human warmth that washed over them.

She had him sample street food, sometimes feeding him little snacks, other times having him feed her.

"Ahh—open wide."

"The ice cream in this part of the city is especially good. Come on, try some!"

"The sparkling water at that shop is amazing! We've been there before."

Or she would suddenly stop in her tracks, her hands behind her back, and say mysteriously to Westheid:

"You're still wearing the bracelet I gave you. That means West has to give me a gift, too. Go pick something out up ahead. I'll wait here for you. No peeking, I promise."

Once Westheid returned with his gift, she pinned the simple hair accessory in her hair as if it were a priceless treasure, then linked her arm with his.

"Thank you. I'll treasure it forever."

The sweet curve of Wan Qi's smiling eyes, illuminated by the neon lights, made Westheid freeze for a moment.

It wasn't because he was moved. Rather, he suddenly felt a new memory surface in his mind.

It was the image of him receiving a gift from Wan Qi, of the two of them putting on bracelets that symbolized their connected hearts.

'A new, false memory has been created!'

"Okay, let's go to the amusement park! There's one that offers private bookings, so we can have the whole place to ourselves!"

The girl pulled the stunned Westheid to a small amusement park. With the entire place to themselves, they tried every single attraction.

As he and Wan Qi played with abandon at the amusement park, corresponding memory fragments continually surfaced in Westheid's mind. These weren't illusions forced upon him. Duke Qinghui was absolutely certain these things had truly happened.

He could still distinguish between the real and the illusory; the difference was simply too vast. Especially in this world defined by the conflict between Order and Chaos, failing to discern truth from falsehood was a fatal error. Although Westheid's Demigod power was sealed, his realm of existence remained. His True Soul could not be sealed.

Because Wan Qi said so, and because she believed it, Westheid had genuinely, verifiably done these things in the past. It was the real deal.

'This is making the effect the cause...' Westheid mused. As he did, he found himself laughing and joking with the girl with increasing ease.

The constantly surfacing memories also stirred an irrepressible fondness and intimacy within him. 'You're truly terrifying, Wan Qi.'

The two made their way from the city center to the outskirts. It was impossible to sense the passage of time amidst the perpetual nightscape. Westheid felt as if at least a full night had passed—maybe even three days and nights—yet the brilliant stars in the sky above remained completely unchanged.

But a trivial thing like the flow of time was probably altered without him even noticing. It was inconsequential.

Finally, when Wan Qi had her fill of fun, she led Westheid to the upper level of a wooded park. It was silent beneath the dim yellow lights. Wan Qi removed her disguise completely, taking off her mask, sunglasses, and windbreaker. The girl, clad only in a white shirt, leaned against a railing, took a deep breath, and sighed.

"Whew... Tonight was wonderful."

Westheid joined her at the railing. The wooded park they were in was already at the edge of the city. Looking out, the most conspicuous sight was a grand music hall built adjacent to the Crimson Throne. Compared to the towers in the city center, this music hall felt more like the true landmark.

"That music hall was just recently completed, wasn't it? I hear it was built especially for you. Even just replaying recordings of your past concerts, it's always a full house. You're the undisputed spiritual leader of all Xuli."

By now, Westheid's mind was filled with so many newly created memories that his familiarity with the city surpassed even Su Yue's.

At his words, a slight blush rose on Wan Qi's delicate, sweet face. She said:

"I'm not that incredible. I just... wanted to do things that made me happy, and it just sort of happened."

Westheid smiled. "But you have, in fact, become a spiritual anchor for the masses. Everyone is utterly infatuated with you."

Suddenly, Wan Qi looked up, her crimson eyes filled with tenderness and adoration.

"I know that feeling, because I've already met my one true love."

The girl clasped her hands behind her back and rose onto her tiptoes before Westheid, whispering:

"I know we've done this many times, but... may I have another kiss?"

Seeing no reason to refuse, Westheid instinctively lowered his head.

After a long, silent, fiery kiss, Wan Qi finally pulled back. She traced a finger lightly over her lips, her eyelids half-lowered as if savoring the moment, and murmured:

"I'm so happy right now. So happy it almost doesn't feel real."

"I wish time would stop right here, forever."

Westheid's heart skipped a beat when he heard that. 'You can't just say things like that! It would be one thing if someone else said it, but if *you* say it, you could actually make time freeze.'

Fortunately, Wan Qi immediately broke into a smile and said:

"But let's let it keep flowing. Say, West... have you ever looked forward to tomorrow?"

Before Westheid could answer, he felt everything he perceived begin to blur and distort. A white light, like a program reformatting the world, began to flicker at the horizon, rapidly converging toward the center.

'Again?!'

Duke Qinghui had no intention of resisting this time. He closed his eyes and let the white light engulf him.

Once again, Wan Qi's voice echoed in his ears.

"This is the Second Wish..."

"The Third Wish: To forge an eternal covenant with my beloved, complete with a solemn ceremony, profound traditions, and indelible memories."

「After an unknown amount of time had passed, Westheid once again opened his eyes.」

He found himself in a solemn and stately hall that seemed to be part of a Monastery. As the clock struck six in the morning, a melodious bell began to chime, its tolls echoing repeatedly.

"Prayers have ended. Please come this way."

One of the Celestial Vault People approached Westheid and spoke.

This time, Westheid knew to accept "reality." He no longer used his Demigod's True Soul to resist the influx of new memories, so he understood his current situation.

A wedding.

When Westheid was finally permitted to leave the room, he stepped out of the so-called "prayer room" into a heavenly glimmer of light. Straightening his collar, he saw that he was dressed in an incredibly elaborate formal suit. Its purplish-black fabric was decorated with fine gold and red thread and small, bordered engravings.

Inside the Crimson Throne, the very heart of the Celestial Vault Kingdom, even a simple garden possessed a suffocating beauty.

A sea of crimson flowers rippled across the verdant lawn. They weren't dense and lush from artificial cultivation, but grew in chaotic, uneven patches, like clusters of stirring embers.

A small stream flowed around the garden's perimeter. Formed from a current of liquid Magic Mithril, it encircled the inner court like a brilliant ring of starlight.

The starlight had not yet fully faded from the sky above the garden. At the center stood a pavilion, and it was there that the wedding would take place.