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People are divided into three types:
The lowest type goes with the flow;
The middle type leverages the situation;
The highest type creates the situation.
What kind of person is Allen?
Allen is a three-tiered person.
And an overworked ox.
Scumbags are usually evenly divided into several parts.
But only an overworked ox would exhaust themselves mentally.
Is Human God an overworked ox?
He isn't, because He never has to exhaust Himself mentally. Amidst the constantly emerging variables, after continuously updated information, He makes the most suitable judgments about future events to choose the most appropriate path for the current situation.
He has a simulator, so He certainly has no brain.
Because He doesn't need to deduce, plan, or judge based on existing information to choose His path.
A line connecting the past and the future is right there.
You see, I just need to hold the future end, and then hold the present end.
Hey, if I stretch it, I can see all the traces on the line...
Um...
Wait...
Huh?
Where's my head?
Whether Human God has a head or not is irrelevant for now.
And He can't see future sight, so He doesn't care whether His currently bewildered head exists or not.
For Allen.
Planning should be like an overworked ox:
"When the plan is thoroughly considered and the matter is settled, every action will yield results. If it's not yet feasible, how can one act easily?"
When strategy is deconstructed, it's essentially a continuous process of refining information. Turning the unknown into the known, transforming uncontrollable variables into known, controllable outcomes.
Ultimately, strategy leads to success.
Therefore, Allen didn't have all his subsequent plans set in stone in Buena Village.
As a person, planning is a continuous process of refining existing information amidst constantly emerging variables, making the most suitable judgments about future events, and choosing the most appropriate path for the current situation.
Constantly correcting, constantly guiding the direction of events towards a future that perfectly aligns with his intentions, based on existing information, usable information, and the propulsion of himself as a variable.
This is true planning.
So, when he saw Ariel in Flowing Falls City, Allen made a plan.
The future changed.
On the ship, upon learning that Pilemon was also involved, Allen adjusted his plan.
The future changed once again.
At the Water God Style Main Dojo, the moment Allen saw Sinos, he immediately changed his plan.
The future changed yet again.
And after Eris's match ended, Allen, on a whim, decided to try his luck at Ariel's mansion entrance. When he confirmed Pilemon was at Ariel's mansion, the plan was refined once more.
The future changed yet again.
And throughout this journey, information was constantly updated in Allen's mind. Today, in the carriage, Allen silently ironed out all his plans, finalizing the itinerary for the next few days.
The future changed yet again, and again, and again.
Human God, who could clearly see the future constantly changing along this journey, couldn't pinpoint the source of the changes. So He was like someone riding a roller coaster blindfolded, only able to follow Allen's speed as he plunged up and down.
This was an unprecedented experience, a kind of 'first time' in its own way.
And then Allen ruined the first time for Him.
But He couldn't even go berserk and question Allen: "You bastard, the information you give me every day is either Roxy, Sylphy, or Isolte."
How can I imagine women always changing in the future?
How many are you planning to have, damn it?
(...) The impish Human God was getting impatient.
Now, Allen was still mocking Him.
'Then your system is a bit trashy.'
[...]
[...After a few days, your mouth is foul again. Threatening the system? Be careful, I might increase the difficulty of your youth quests.]
He no longer mentioned anything about 'erasing' him.
Allen's previous exasperated retort, 'If you can erase me, then do it,' was still vivid in His memory.
If He could truly erase Allen, Allen would have died long ago.
Would He have waited until now?
Damn.
Allen scoffed.
'Let's live for today, for tomorrow we die. Maybe I'll be gone after the Great Teleportation. What 'youth' period are you talking about?'
The smoky words tightened, as if clenching teeth in anger.
[But you're already in the royal capital, aren't you?]
'Oh, right.'
[...]
Seeing the system's ellipsis, Allen chuckled inwardly, but didn't relax. Instead, he heightened his vigilance once more.
His hand movements remained relaxed as he casually tossed the dipper into the bathtub.
Staring at the dipper bobbing up and down in the tub, he spoke.
'Enough of that. Seriously. [Persuasion] is inherently a Human-God-provided human-friendly BUFF. Currently, the effect difference is still quite significant. In the assassinations along the way, after I shattered my opponent's mental fortitude, it worked wonders. They did whatever I told them, like a piece of meat... um, like a dog.'
'But today...'
Allen paused. It was already past midnight, so he corrected himself.
'But yesterday afternoon, when I faced Reida, I found that [Persuasion] had no effect whatsoever. Most likely, it only produced some positive effect of appearing sincere. That's not right, is it? Logically, Reida should have been charmed by that bastard Human God, right?'
[...]
After a moment of silence, the system's words appeared, seemingly reluctant.
[Didn't you already make a judgment before? Persuasion... simply put, requires a will check. If you can shatter Reida's mental fortitude, or focus the conversation on something she cares deeply about, it will naturally be very effective.]
Allen nodded, giving an exaggerated 'Oh~.'
'So, if the other party has an extremely strong current motivation, it's very difficult to change that motivation itself through [Persuasion]. At most, it can only be a step-by-step infiltration, inducement, a gradual change in their perception, and finally, after a long detour, wearing them down over time to achieve one's goal? Like Human God's messed-up approach with Rudy in the original, right?'
[...Correct.]
'Then that's perfectly right.'
Smoky words rapidly floated up: [You want to wear down James?]
A faint, imperceptible smile curved Allen's lips. It was similar to his usual expression when speaking, yet held a hint of almost imperceptible mockery.
His inner thoughts were concise.
'Yes.'
[...I generally understand what you want to do, but if you want to kill James, why take such a huge detour? Why not just lure him out of the royal palace and kill him?]
[You say you're not interested in power, but I see you enjoying it, don't you?]
Allen laughed.
'Of course I'm enjoying it. After all, future confrontations with Human God will still rely on power. Like Rudy's entire investigation team, if they could pinpoint where Human God's forces were during the decisive battle and proactively eliminate the threats, that would be a good thing. What North God III, what Ghost Gods, just cut them down with one strike.'
[...Is that why you went to the Sword Sanctuary? You want to cut down Garl?]
Allen looked at the system panel that had appeared below his waist, leaning forward in a bow. 'Why not?'
[Six. I'm out. Goodbye.]
The smoky words instantly dispersed into the steam. Allen froze, unsure what new trick Human God was pulling now.
Just then.
Creak.
The bathroom door opened. His pupils suddenly constricted. Tonight was supposed to be very safe, so he hadn't activated Sense Flow at all; it was just too tiring.
At this moment, he quickly glanced sideways.
No need to activate Sense Flow anymore.
In his line of sight.
The hazy mist was stirred by the opening of the bathroom door.
Two heads, one large and one small, peered in.
—Sylphy had been instigated by Isolte to come help Allen scrub his back. Because in noble society, maids serving during baths was normal. Isolte had simply used a small trick, deceiving Sylphy into believing that when Allen was in the royal capital, he always had someone assisting him during baths.
She was already his official girlfriend, wasn't she? What's wrong with scrubbing his back?
So she had been instigated to come.
The problem was, the timing was a little off.
The water was already heated for him, yet he wasn't in the bathtub. Why was he sitting outside?
At this very moment.
Allen was dumbfounded.
However, Isolte and Sylphy, the instigators, were also dumbfounded.
The bathroom mist was so thick it was almost dripping, but from their perspective, they could still see a grayish-white figure with a brownish outline, swaying amidst the mist.
—Looking down at his 'little fellow' from a high angle.
The steam seemed to freeze for an instant.
Then Isolte's voice faintly drifted in.
"...Senior Brother, do you need help?"
"No!"
"Then Sylphy can do it..."
"∑°д°), Th-th-th-th-this..."
"Isolte!? What are you telling Sylphy to do?!"
"...What happens next? I... I'm not very good at this..."
Allen's half-spoken words choked in his mouth. After a long moment, only one word burst out.
"Grass."
The conclusion was, no grass could be had at all.
Allen immediately shooed them out.
However, after finishing his wash, he walked down the long corridor, crushing moonlight on the floor, passing by door after door, until he finally stopped outside his own guest room.
He reached out, opened the door, and pushed it inward.
Creak.
Moonlight streamed in through the window. The shy, white-haired, long-eared girl with reddish-brown eyes and the generous junior sister with black hair and a smiling face.
Were sitting on the bed, waiting.
Allen opened his mouth, then closed it, then opened it again.
Finally, he just sighed.
He closed the door behind him with a click, firmly securing it.
Then, under Sylphy's and Isolte's gazes.
Step by step.
Step by step.
He walked before them.
And so, the three of them, bathed in moonlight, looked at each other.
Silence. After a long moment, Allen glanced at their clothes, and said with a wry smile.
"I've noticed you two seem to really like sleeping beside me in the carriage. Is it because you feel safe?"
Isolte smiled, looking at Allen. This time, she wasn't wearing that high-slit, low-cut nightgown. She wore a simple, plain silk nightgown, looking simple and domestic. She smiled but said nothing.
Sylphy also wasn't wearing that cat-girl outfit. She wore a white slip nightgown. The moonlight cast a hazy white glow over her favored white. Sylphy blinked, looking at Allen.
She also didn't answer him.
But her body language told Allen.
—So, tonight, should we sleep together?
Allen shook his head at the sight. He stroked both their heads, one with each hand.
"Alright, one leg each. Don't move around too much tonight. Late spring isn't too cold, but the blanket..."
Before he could finish, Sylphy stood up on the bed. In the moonlight, her reddish-brown eyes sparkled with a gentle smile. She looked down at Allen—in this posture, Sylphy was actually a head taller than Allen.
Under Allen's surprised gaze, she reached out and, just as Allen usually ruffled her hair, she ruffled Allen's head.
And pulled him into her embrace.
Though the size in front of his face was small.
But... coupled with her body temperature, it was overly soft.
Allen's old face flushed slightly. He hadn't expected the usually shy Sylphy to be so forward. He was about to react.
When he heard her soft, sweet voice, like the summer wind, drift into his ear.
"Those things don't matter, Allen. Although it was Isolte's idea in the bathroom earlier, now it's my idea because..."
At this moment, her reddish-brown eyes and his dark gray pupils intertwined. Isolte, beside them, rested her chin in her hand, watching the two with a wide, gentle smile.
Sylphy continued.
"...I want to ask, Allen, have you been sleeping well lately?"
Allen froze. Then he felt Sylphy gently stroking his hair again.
Her movements were very gentle, as if stroking a fragile porcelain piece she carefully held in her heart.
"No~ I found out. But, I'm sorry, I think I found out a little late."
"No..."
Allen was about to say something, but Sylphy covered his mouth with her finger, then pulled him onto the bed, resting Allen's head on her lap.
Her usual shyness vanished. She seriously and gently placed her hand over Allen's eyes.
"Allen, just close your eyes and rest. Listen to me. No need to speak. No need to expend any more mental energy."
With her other hand, she cast Wind Magic, slowly massaging Allen's scalp with her fingertips through his damp hair, simultaneously drying it.
"I think Allen is a bit tired."
Allen's body suddenly stiffened.
Sylphy seemed oblivious, slowly continuing, her tone growing even gentler.
"Because... it seems Allen never rests. It was like that in Mortalit, and in the carriage all along the way, and in Flowing Falls City. I thought Allen could get a good night's sleep on the ship last night. I went there with that purpose too, but I accidentally made things worse..."
"Isolte told me that Allen didn't seem to get much rest last night either..."
"I guess, Allen, are you trying to protect us? You did it, you know. Through all the assassinations, not one of us was hurt. You're really amazing."
Isolte, hearing this, showed a helpless smile. She remembered how she had tried to persuade herself about the night raid, and then the process of being persuaded by Sylphy. A hint of shame and annoyance showed in her eyes, but looking at Sylphy.
She felt lucky again.
'If it were me, I might consider myself more, but Sylphy is very good at putting herself in others' shoes.'
'Isolte, you lost very thoroughly.'
'Indeed, Senior Brother's judgment has never been wrong. If I were Senior Brother, I would also prioritize Miss Sylphy.'
'Because... she...'
In her line of sight, Sylphy felt the tightening muscles in Allen's legs gradually relax. She smiled gently.
"Actually, I've wanted to say this for a long time, but I never found a good opportunity."
"I don't know why, but I always feel Allen... is in a hurry, as if some beast is chasing him from behind, making him unable to rest properly. I've known you for over two years, you know, but in just two short years, Allen has gone from Buena Village, then to Roa, and now to the royal capital. You've never stopped."
"Isolte told me that Allen is a very goal-oriented person, and he works very hard at swordsmanship, always trying to do everything perfectly."
"I truly admire Allen; he can do everything so wonderfully by himself."
"But..."
"Just relax a little tonight."
"Let us..."
Sylphy leaned close to Allen's ear and whispered softly.
"...protect Allen."
What answered her
Was even breathing.
Allen held Sylphy's hand, sinking into a dreamless sleep.
Whispers, faint and tender.
"Sylphy is so perceptive. Senior Brother looks outwardly tireless, but he's really tired, just as Sylphy said."
"No, no, I've just been watching him."
"Doesn't Senior Brother Allen's sleeping face look like a child's?"
"Mm, it really does."
"Speaking of children, Isolte, do you think if we have children in the future, they'll look like Allen?"
"I think they'll look more like Sylphy."
"Is that... is that so?"
Amidst their words.
Moonlight like water.
That was the gentlest white.
'Because...'
'She, Sylphiette.'
'Is even softer than moonlight.'
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