Alice in the Land of Steam

Chapter 1000 Are You Also a Girl King?

The control center at this moment was filled with a more prolonged depression than before, as if it would never end.

All because of a seemingly untimely question.

Themis's sight passed through the countless virtual light screens and fixed on Metien's face. She had no expression on her face, and it was unknown what she was thinking. Metien pursed her lips tightly, her eyes did not evade, and she looked stubborn and determined to get an answer. Neither of the two girls was a flamboyant person, but the stare at this time was somewhat tense.

Facing this situation, people had different reactions. Some looked at Metien with concern, thinking she was too impulsive; others looked at Linger with inquiring eyes, hoping that he could step forward to stop the conflict; others were observing Saint Shallia's reaction, but strangely, she didn't look unhappy after Metien interrupted her questioning, nor was she surprised by this sudden incident. She just gently lowered her eyelids, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, hiding a deep thought. Even though she didn't say a word, everyone could feel a sense of helplessness and relief.

The atmosphere became a little strange. Even Alice knew that this was not the right time to speak, so she quietly retreated to the back. The only person who could break the situation was Lingge, because he was Metien's brother. As long as he spoke, even if Metien was dissatisfied, he might have to obey. However, Lingge, who wanted to stop Metien just now, did not say anything at this moment. He just looked at Themis in silence, waiting for her answer. It seemed that the young man had the same idea as his sister, and they both wanted to know the answer to this question.

Even though he betrayed his adoptive father's expectations, even though he closed the church without authorization, even though he no longer needed to fulfill his duties as a pastor... he was still a believer in the Holy Goddess after all, so it was normal for him to care about the whereabouts of the Goddess, right?

So, how will Themis of the celestial world answer?

"Judgment: reasonable."

It was as if the silence was finally broken after a long wait of a century. When Themis said this, her tone was still cold, but to Metien, it was like the most beautiful music, which melted the stubborn expression on her tightly taut little face, and then she smiled with joy and expectation. The girl's mood at this moment was probably the same as when she assisted her brother in holding the Seven Days Ceremony for the first time after her adoptive father passed away, and personally delivered bread and milk to the hungry and cold believers. After hearing their weak words of thanks, her originally melancholy and sad little face unconsciously had a smile.

At that time she didn't understand what faith was, and maybe she still doesn't understand it now, but she had a mood that was more pious, cleaner, and purer than that.

Lingge saw his sister's smile, but suddenly felt a little reluctant, and at a certain moment, for the first time, he regretted why he embarked on this journey. This was an emotion he had not had for many days and nights in the past. For this journey, he may have resisted, doubted, and kept his distance, but with the character of a young man, once he made a decision, he would not easily regret it.

Only this time is an exception.

Themis in the heavens would not change her decision just because of the young man's regret. Time and fate were originally not allowed to be regretted by living beings, and this was also true for the young royal power. The blue starlight in her eyes flickered again, and the countless virtual light screens surrounding her began to disappear. After each light screen disappeared, a new light screen would form. However, on these new light screens, there was no longer a dazzling data stream, but dense garbled codes that seemed meaningless, reflected in the depths of the silver-haired girl's eyes.

"The current status of the goddess is a core secret of the database, and can only be unlocked with the highest authority of the main system. The highest authority of the main system of the control center of the Holy Temple of Heaven can only be unlocked with the following permissions: 1. The permission of the main system authority agent, that is, the permission of this body; 2. The permission of the control center administrator, that is, the permission of the girl's royal power."

“Now start getting certified.”

"The main system authority agent, Celestial Themis, do you agree to unlock the highest authority?"

"Agreed."

After answering her own question, she looked past Metien and fell on Saint Shallia again, asking coldly: "Control Center Administrator, Saint Shallia, the King of Destiny, do you agree to unlock the highest authority?"

Saint Shalia opened her eyes, looked up to meet the gaze of Celestial Themis, and said softly, "I agree."

Themis of the Celestial Realm looked back and met the eyes of the white-haired, red-eyed girl knight in the crowd: "Control Center Administrator, Victory Kingship Xino, do you agree to unlock the highest authority?"

Xinuo wanted to laugh to ease the serious atmosphere, but she suddenly found that she couldn't laugh, as if something was blocking her chest, heavy. Was it some kind of premonition of the future, or an existing mood? She was not sure, so she could only nod seriously and replied, "I agree."

"Control Center Administrator, Mysterious King Avra, do you agree to unlock the highest authority?"

The sentimental literary girl hugged the heavy book and sighed softly. At this moment, she seemed to recall the plots of some famous literary works, those embarrassing and tangled choices: "If you don't know the answer, you will be anxious, but when faced with the answer, you will hesitate. Maybe this is human nature... So, I agree."

"Control Center Administrator, Creation King Lorena, do you agree to unlock the highest authority?"

Rorona casually played with a strand of hair on her chest with her fingers, as if she was not affected by the serious atmosphere, and said with a smile: "I agree."

"Control Center Administrator, Freedom King Yieta, do you agree to unlock the highest authority?"

When Miss Angel was called by her name, she looked around in panic, as if she wanted to get some advice from others. But on this matter, obviously no one could give her advice, so after hesitating for a while and failing to get help, she still told her thoughts truthfully: "Since, since Sister Xiaoxia and everyone agrees, then I agree too."

"Control Center Administrator, Gloria, the King of Mind, do you agree to unlock the permissions?"

Captain Gloria blinked and did not answer immediately. Instead, she lowered her head and moved her mouth silently under the brim of her hat. When she raised her head again, the expression on her face had become more serious than ever before, and it even made people suspect that this was not her, but someone else: "There is no need to hesitate. I agree."

"Control Center Administrator, Eternal Royal Authority Leticia, do you agree to unlock the highest authority?"

Leticia subconsciously turned back to look at her grandmother, but Nevelle just shook her head and let her make her own decision. In that case, what else is there to say? This is not only the duty of the young queen, but also the request of her good friend Metien. The little bat felt that there was really no reason to refuse: "I agree." The seven young queens present unanimously passed this resolution. In that case, it should be possible to unlock the so-called highest authority, right?
However, Themis's gaze did not stop, but moved away from the little bat, slowly moving forward, sweeping across the crowd, and finally, under the astonished gaze of everyone, it fell on someone. Her cold voice, at this moment, felt like a bolt from the blue -

"Control Center Administrator, Fantasy Kingship Alice, do you agree to unlock the highest authority?"

……

I created you and gave you the meaning of reality and fantasy.

Souls who long for the meaning of reality, from now on, your name is Tiantis. You will replace my gaze, look at this new world, and take charge of the kingship of reality. What is reality? The creation and end of matter, the prosperity and extinction of nature, the birth and death of life, and even the rise and fall of civilization are all under your kingship. When all things are born, they love you; when all things wither, they hate you. However, in the cycle of birth and withering, the world continues to grow. This is the meaning of reality, and it is also my expectation of you.

Soul that longs for the meaning of fantasy, from now on, your name is Alice, you will replace my will, walk in this new world, and take charge of the kingship of fantasy. What is fantasy? The passion and imagination of the soul, the unknown and mysterious fate, the magnificence and romance of miracles, and the fantasy about all things that have never been seen before are all above your kingship. When fantasy becomes true, they follow you; when fantasy is indulged, they leave you. However, within the boundaries of fantasy, the world will find a new path. This is the meaning of fantasy, and it is also my expectation for you.

Twins of reality and fantasy, I entrust this world to you. If you can understand your own responsibilities and fulfill them honestly, then even without my guidance, the world will still be able to move towards our ideal state, right?
If that day comes, I will be happy for you, because——

……

Why?

It had been so long that Tiandis could not remember clearly. She only remembered that her mother's eyes were very gentle that day, and she placed high expectations on them. This twin pair of fantasy and reality also tried hard to respond to her expectations, although the final result was the opposite. Not only did the world not become better, but it was heading towards the abyss of destruction.

But who should be blamed for this?
Should I blame Alice for being too naive? Should I blame myself for being too harsh? Or should I blame my mother for taking the wrong path from the beginning?

There was no one to blame, and there was no point in blaming anyone. The only thing she had to do was to correct the mistakes and change this already terminally ill world, even if it meant paying a cruel price for it.

It's so cruel that even I can't bear it...

When Tiantis came back to her senses, she found that she was in a daze. This had never happened before. It seemed that here, she was easily lost in memories of the past. In addition, it was also because the other side was too slow. They had clearly awakened Themis, so why didn't they ask the most critical question? Or... were they also afraid?
Tiantis raised his head and looked at the cold and precise creation barrier, the circular mountain range surrounding the sky and the earth, and the familiar scenes constantly projected in the dark blue crystal. The corners of his mouth slowly curled up into a sarcastic arc, but he was not mocking those who were afraid, but himself.

No matter how long the time passed, she always felt that it was too quiet here.

It was so quiet that even the heartbeat could be heard clearly.

……

Looking back on the past, the lonely witch of reality would think that this was the quietest place in the world. However, also in the control center, the silence of the dark blue sea of ​​stars was broken by an unbelievable voice: "Eh hey hey!!?"

This voice, which was a mixture of astonishment, doubt, ecstasy, and anxiety, was so penetrating that the people closest to it could not help but cover their ears to prevent irritation to the eardrums. However, the person concerned ignored it, opened his eyes wide and stared at Themis floating in the air, pointed at himself and asked, "What did you say I was? Can you say it again? Hurry up!"

"Apply for authentication and repeat the command to confirm." Celestial Themis repeated her words expressionlessly: "Control Center Administrator, Fantasy Kingship Alice, do you agree to unlock the highest authority?"

"Snapped!"

Alice slapped her thigh suddenly, "That's it! Hey, did you hear that? She said I'm the Maiden Kingship, or the so-called Fantasy Kingship! That sounds very powerful, much better than the so-called Mystery and Eternity! Oh, I've said it before, as the protagonist, how can I not have some special treatment? The Maiden Kingship is such a powerful profession, so I should have a part of it. Although it's a little late, it doesn't matter. The new profession that can only be transferred in the final chapter is obviously more powerful! What do you think?"

Everyone was at a loss for words. They looked at each other, all with a sense of unreality: Alice had become the young queen, how could I have such a strange dream? Because it was so unreal, their moods were calm, not the slightest bit surprised, they always felt that they would wake up in the next second, still lying on the bed in the Fairy Deep Sleep Hotel, with the familiar ceiling in front of them.

Only Linger took a step forward and questioned Themis in a calm tone, without even thinking, as if similar doubts had been brewing in his heart for a long time: "This doesn't make sense. Alice is an Earthling, why did she become the Maiden Kingship of the Mirror Star World? If she is really the Maiden Kingship, why has she never appeared in the memories of Saint Xia Liya and others? Why does she have no impression of you, the Maiden Kingship, or even the Mirror Star? If these questions cannot be explained, I'm afraid we can't believe this."

"Inference: It cannot be explained for now. Because the answer you want to know is also the answer to the question just now. You need to unlock the highest authority before you are qualified to read it."

Themis looked down at Alice, who was looking excited. Her star-blue eyes seemed cold, but a complex thought flashed through her. She asked, "Then, let me confirm again: Control Center Administrator, Fantasy Kingship Alice, do you agree to unlock the highest authority?"

Is the mystery of Alice's life closely related to the goddess' current state? The mysteries seem to be increasing, making it confusing.

Everyone looked at Alice, and the golden-haired maid nodded without hesitation: "Of course I agree! As the King of Fantasy, I agree! Hahahaha!"

Laughing wildly.

Give me some meow