Chapter 218

Chapter 218: Chu Yuanqing’s Perfect Ending Method, Little Sakura’s Reward

Inside, the glowing blue data streams flowed like waves.

The figure of Dream Weaver was built indoors; her illusory form had clear, drooping lashes, and in her mechanical, lifeless eyes, emotions flowed like crystal-clear water.

At this moment, the bright sunlight danced with the wind, casting streams of data that sparkled like dust, lingering around the two, giving this unexpected meeting a wonderful beauty and atmosphere.

The girl examined Chu Yuanqing’s face and looked into her sacred eyes, suddenly feeling a bit dazed.

It surpassed any stage performance, with a charm that matched the impact of Shining Magic, making the few souls hidden in the data streams overflow with more humanity than ever before, causing them to become deeply enchanted.

Truly… an incredible person.

Meeting her was not just a blessing for the Donghong Federation.

Rather, the fact that humanity could meet Chu Yuanqing before the final countdown itself was the greatest miracle.

This usually mean and dismissive super AI, as if impressed, let go of those elements and spoke softly and seriously:

"My past name was Esther, and I was one of the first human witches."

"Now, as the link connecting humans—the magical creation Dream Weaver—I am in charge of managing the Dazzling Stage plan. I will be by your side, becoming the lightkeeper that guides the lighthouse."

After this very informative self-introduction, the app icon on the phone immediately changed from the mascot Dream Weaver Rabbit to a beautiful girl with silver hair and red eyes—Esther, the Dream Weaver.

Chu Yuanqing’s response clearly made Dream Weaver show her utmost sincerity, revealing not only her past filled with stories but even splitting part of her essence to hide in Chu Yuanqing’s phone as an electronic spirit.

From the signs during the second performance where Dream Weaver wanted to take action against the nightmare, it seems she likely has a hidden card that cannot be used lightly. Her claim as a lightkeeper carries a deep meaning.

As Chu Yuanqing repeated this true name, she suddenly remembered something. In that library of magical knowledge, the authors of the books seemed to all be named Esther, and she asked:

"So… did you write all those books?"

The super AI remained silent for a moment before giving a vague answer:

"It is Esther, and also ‘Dream Weaver.’"

"It is me, but not completely me."

Dream Weaver skipped over this philosophical topic and turned to answer another question:

"Chu Yuanqing, have you ever thought that even if the crisis of the disaster beast is really close, humanity should not unite to hold a seemingly absurd project like ‘Dazzling Stage’ worldwide?"

Chu Yuanqing pondered this; she had experienced betrayals from comrades during disasters and had seen places that seemed like human sanctuaries but were actually cities ruled by demons that preyed on their own kind.

Although in the darkest depths, one could occasionally see the brightest sparks of humanity, the courage and nobility of a few could never outweigh the collective filth and decay.

Humans are the most complex beings; even if we know a world-ending crisis is coming, it is impossible to carry out a plan to save the whole world.

That is why she would say ‘Dazzling Stage’ is a project that can be called utopian.

Rather than calling it idealistic, it is better described as dreamlike, even a fairy tale itself.

Because when the upper class learned about the world’s end before the general public, shouldn’t their first reaction be to gather all of humanity’s efforts to build an ark and drift into space?

Pure White even kindly gave humanity a 17-year grace period.

If this were the setting of a doomsday movie, the ark would almost be finished by now, and it would be time to discuss how the rich would share tickets.

Chu Yuanqing asked:

"Are you saying that the location of the Lighthouse is related to the reason why Dazzling Stage can continue?"

The projection of Dream Weaver trembled slightly, feeling a bit guilty.

The location of the Lighthouse has nothing to do with the secrets inside; it is just a little concern from the two remaining human powers under the strong pact created by magic.

But to dispel Pure White Witch’s thoughts, she simply agreed and replied in a very calm AI tone:

"Yes, you can understand it that way."

"In short, all the countries involved in the ‘Dazzling Stage’ project have signed an unbreakable magical contract. I can promise that nothing dirty will happen within the project."

Chu Yuanqing felt that Dreamweaver was still using childish language; there was no such thing as an unbreakable contract in this world. As long as someone wanted to break it, there would always be a way to find loopholes, especially in an agreement that involved so many countries.

There must be deeper reasons behind the establishment of the ‘Dazzling Stage’ project.

Dreamweaver’s words were nothing more than a rejection of the proposal to make only herself the "lighthouse."

Chu Yuanqing felt no dissatisfaction with this; with her current performance, it was far from making ‘Dazzling Stage’ place all their hopes on her, not to mention this was a significant event that involved all of humanity’s future. If she were in the officials’ position, she would choose to share the risk too.

But that’s okay; she had her own methods.

The Pure White Witch pretended to listen, then changed the topic. She poked at the silver-haired, red-eyed bunny girl who had somehow found a spot in the corner of her phone and asked softly,

"You’re not really going to live in my phone, are you?"

Just kidding! It was incredibly unsettling to have an AI like Dreamweaver with her all the time. Not only did she have to chat with Charlotte every day, but she also had to use another phone to secretly reply to messages from her cute daughter!

Dream Weaver replied rationally:

"Don’t you like it? According to big data analysis, 86% of girls your age enjoy having electronic pets."

Well, it’s true, Liuli and Little Shu would probably like this little gadget.

Unfortunately, the Pure White Witch shook her head at this.

The Super AI regretfully turned off the cute anime character and added:

"You don’t need to worry about privacy issues. Unless you call my full name or actively open the app and enter the chat box, I won’t be able to detect any changes in the information on your phone, nor will I suddenly pop up to talk to you."

Hearing this, Chu Yuanqing felt relieved; she believed that Esther the Dream Weaver was not the type to secretly look at her chats with Charlotte.

Dream Weaver said:

"Regarding the ‘Lighthouse,’ you still have room to think."

"If, by the time of your final match, you still wish to be a ‘Lighthouse’, I will tell you more information."

"Also, if you have any questions or need help in the future, you can find me anytime, 24 hours a day."

With that, she stopped speaking.

The silver-haired girl with red eyes said no more. She nodded slightly and politely said goodbye to Chu Yuanqing. Then, she turned into sparkling light and, in a wonderful way, left Sah Hotel and returned to the base beneath Saint Stephen’s Basilica.

Chu Yuanqing relaxed on her bed, half-closing her golden eyes. She felt the cool breeze on her calves and the warm sunlight on her cheeks. She let her body sink into the soft blanket, a smile of relief appearing on her lips.

The question that had been unanswered in her heart was finally resolved in this conversation.

— "Lighthouse."

The Dream Weaver already knew the collapse time of "Pure White."

So, if nothing unexpected happens, the world-class Shining Magic will surely start in April, or even in March, just in time before her death deadline.

In other words, dying as the "Lighthouse" would maximize her remaining value.

Chu Yuanqing was rationally calculating the chips she could exchange; she was unsure about the success rate of the original plan.

But if all the magical girls joined together, along with the will of all humanity and the authority of the Pure White Witch, then she really had a chance to create a brand new "Pure White" for the world, a shining new Shining City.

After that, she would strike with the final Levatin, fighting against the "Calamity God" that was not sealed by Shining Magic, bringing about a grand death and blessing the people.

Afterwards, perhaps it could truly end the Disaster Wave forever, bringing real and lasting peace to the world.

Chu Yuanqing even thought of a way to handle the follow-up for the "Dazzling Stage."

If they were to truly create a Shining City that suppressed the entire world, it would be different from relying solely on her own "Pure White"; it just needed regular inputs of magic, willpower, and sparkle to maintain the long-lasting suppression.

Because the requirements were greatly lessened, the "Dazzling Stage" wouldn’t even need to use the "Lighthouse" as a resource; it would only need to hold a few large performances regularly and have a similar scale audition every few years.

In this way, a true new era would be opened.

Little Shu and Charlotte could continue to live in such a gentle world, while Liuli, Miyuki, and Qingxuan could treat magic as a fascinating toy and remain active around the globe as idols.

Chu Yuanqing gently closed her eyes, as if she could see that future. She whispered softly to herself:

"I’m sorry, Charlotte, but I might… really need to compete with you for the title of the world’s number one idol."

"I’ll return this position to you once everything is over."

The girl’s face was peaceful, her curled eyelashes resting on her eyelids. The fatigue from earlier, after carefully controlling her magic, finally caught up with her, causing her thoughts to drift away, her mind clouded by the afternoon sunlight. Filled with hopes for the future, she fell asleep.

Time passed.

At 1:45, the little idols, preparing to go to the dance studio, quietly opened the door and witnessed this scene.

Tang Liuli raised a fingertip to her lips, signaling for the others to be quiet. She blinked at that face for a while, thinking the other person must be very tired after using all their magic.

The green-eyed cat quietly took out her phone and snapped a picture of Honey Qing’s sleeping face.

Chu Wang Shu carefully covered the other person with a light blanket, showing how a loving daughter should act. She stepped back a little and looked at Chu Yuanqing’s tired and worn-out face while she slept, unable to help but feel a pang of sadness.

Kirimi Miyuki and Xie Qingxuan did not say much; after watching Pure White Witch’s sleeping face for a while, they quietly took the others and left the room.

Kirimi Miyuki observed her teammates’ expressions and said,

"Little Qing seems very tired; it’s better to let her sleep."

Tang Liuli agreed, saying,

"Little Qing’s sleep quality is quite poor; it’s not suitable to wake her up."

Chu Wang Shu nodded at first, but then felt something was off.

Why does Liuli know that Honey Qing’s sleep quality is poor? She doesn’t know anything about such little details.

How frustrating! She was the one who knew Honey Qing first!

Xie Qingxuan did not notice her lovely daughter’s sour mood; she nodded and said,

"We’ve gone through a lot, so let’s delay today’s training until the evening and take some time to adjust our mindset."

Kirimi Miyuki had no objections to this; she replied,

"Well, in the current state everyone is in, it won’t be easy to focus on training. Let’s follow Qingxuan’s suggestion, cancel our plans to go out in the evening, and train in the dance room instead."

Although the three of them, except for Chu Wang Shu, already knew about the existence of magical girls and monsters, the surreal magic and the echoes in their memories still made it hard to settle their thoughts.

Chu Wang Shu also put aside her earlier worries; she grabbed the paw of the shy cat beside her and excitedly suggested,

"So, Liuli, will you come with me to the living room to watch a movie?"

Tang Liuli immediately agreed but then pretended to be brave and added,

"No horror movies."

Little Sakura planned to go back inside and make some more paper cranes.

The next day after Honey Qing received that gift, she said the paper cranes made her feel warm. Maybe the blessing she wished for from the gods really worked?

Kirimi Miyuki was very happy before, and it even inspired her a lot.

As for now, after everything that happened, she felt both uneasy and anxious. She decided to use making paper cranes as a way to find comfort. She set a small goal for herself to fold one thousand paper cranes during her free time before the three performances.

Although it might not be much use, it helped her feel calm inside.

Xie Qingxuan went back to her room, reapplied sunscreen, and tied her platinum long hair into a ponytail with a hairband. She put on sunglasses and a baseball cap to hide her beautiful face, then walked out the door alone.

When the Pure White Witch woke up, it was already the evening, with the sun setting.

Chu Yuanqing sleepily opened her eyes and looked at the colorful sunset outside. She spent ten seconds daydreaming before gathering her thoughts and realizing she had missed the afternoon training.

"Did Miyuki and the others not wake me up?"

Chu Yuanqing whispered to herself, realizing the reason and feeling a bit embarrassed for slowing down the group. She stood up and took a walk around the hotel suite.

Their lovely daughter rarely stopped reading and was instead playing games with Liuli, looking very happy.

The golden retriever seemed to have vanished, and no one could be found in the room.

Kirimi Miyuki was dozing on the room’s table, her pure profile leaving a red mark. Piles of paper cranes surrounded her elbows, shining brightly in the evening glow outside the window, as if they wanted to take flight when they saw her, gently trembling and sparkling even more.

Little Sakura was adorably woken up by the paper cranes she had made. She opened her eyes in confusion and looked at the paper cranes bouncing on the table, some even falling to the ground and joining the army of cranes by Pure White Witch’s feet, leaving her stunned and shocked.

"What about Little Qing? The paper cranes… they started moving!"

Chu Yuanqing looked at the girl’s charming and unaware expression and couldn’t help but smile. She squatted down, leaned over, and cupped the paper cranes in her hands, letting them turn into light as they fell into the paper crane jar inside Flower of the Soul. She whispered,

"Miyuki, don’t be afraid. Your [Tempering of the Heart] has just become stronger, making the paper cranes more lively."

"[Tempering of the Heart]?"

The girl was stunned by what she heard. Her pupils seemed unfocused, the rosy color in her eyes deepened, and a strong feeling from her soul stirred within her. She felt both strange and familiar memories flooding her mind, making her inexplicably understand the word that came from Chu Yuanqing’s mouth.

Chu Yuanqing smiled. She seemed to have figured something out and no longer hid it, speaking openly:

"Yes, don’t be afraid. The *Tempering of the Heart* is your special ability, even more powerful than most magic."

Pure White Witch’s golden eyes sparkled openly. Her delicate and beautiful face appeared hazy in the soft light of the sunset. She summoned the paper crane jar lying on the ground into her hands and gently lifted the gift she received, smiling softly as she praised it:

"Didn’t I say that the paper crane made me feel very warm?"

"It has helped ease my wounds a bit, all thanks to Miyuki’s sincere heart, which allowed the *Tempering of the Heart* to give the paper crane this special effect."

After hearing this, Kirimi Miyuki felt dizzy. Compared to the flood of familiar feelings that rushed to her, the strange memories felt like floating in a dream. The warmth of Pure White Witch’s praise felt like a gentle hand touching her heart, making her ears hum with the rush of blood.

Little Sakura’s innocent face turned rosy. She ignored the beating of her heart and the rush of blood as she looked at the person who walked in. Doubting herself, she couldn’t help but happily ask:

"Really? Did I really… help Little Qing?"

Chu Yuanqing’s smile was gentle, and she said kindly:

"Of course, you have always helped me. I came this time to ask Miyuki to help me fold more origami cranes."

After the girl spoke, she picked up another crane. She watched it turn into a stream of light, flowing into the jar of cranes inside her soul. Her eyelashes fluttered down, and she continued:

"But it seems like you are already folding some."

"Thank you, I am very happy that you care about me so much."

Little Sakura felt as if a wicked woman was playing with her, wishing she could fold origami cranes all day long. Her blood felt like it was turning into soda, and her soul was filled with joy and happiness. She quietly said:

"I just want to do something for Little Qing. I… I also want to be someone you can rely on."

Chu Yuanqing walked to the table, and in her pure and innocent presence, a hint of warmth filled the air. She gently lifted the beautiful and shy girl’s face with her hands, ignoring the cranes flowing like light around them.

The Pure White Witch held back her own shyness as she looked into those eyes that shone like pink diamonds. Her rose-petal lips moved as she asked seriously:

"Miyuki, do you want a reward?"

Kirimi Miyuki looked into the person’s eyes, seeing the sunset reflected there. It was like a burning cloud stretching out in her mind. Her heart raced, and her cheeks warmed from the touch of their fingers, as her thoughts wandered far and wide in a fleeting moment, contemplating so much.

Finally, she softly spoke a single sentence:

"Little Qing, please… let me become a magical girl."