"You're short on time, right?"

That's what Elquit said. The truth she said, there is no doubt about it. It's true that humans spend too much time on useless things, but—

"It's human nature. Perhaps it is because of this that we are called primates and can become masters of the earth. ”

“…… I can't understand it, I can understand every word, but I just don't understand it when it comes together. ”

Elquit looked at Shinji in bewilderment, her confusion might also be the confusion of the planet that gave birth to humans.

Shinji sighed softly: "To be honest, I don't really understand what I'm talking about, but I just have this feeling - it's true that the knowledge we learn now will basically not be used in the future, but there will be times when it can be used." For example, I don't think I'm going to go abroad, but what if I do? Won't I use English? No one can say anything about this kind of thing in the future, right? ”

"Seems so, yes. ”

"And wasting time is really such a bad thing? Who defines waste? Is it someone else? Or is it yourself? Different angles of looking at the problem get different answers. Proceeding from biological instincts, humans are inefficient creatures and spend most of their lives wasted. But from the perspective of the individual, it is different. You think school life is meaningless, and maybe Gaia thinks that our date today doesn't make any sense. ”

"Eh, why do you say that?" said Elquit.

"Gaia asked you to follow me to explore the world of Reiko. But where are we now? Is it the Spirit Son World?"

"No, it's Earth, ah-"

"It's not just dating, everything you do on earth is a waste of time. Eating is a waste of time, and you don't need to get energy from food. Sleep wastes time, you have unlimited energy. Watching movies, shopping, playing games, including sneaking into the school and sitting in the classroom with me playing teacher-student plays, were all wasted time. ”

Hearing Shinji's words, Elquette showed that quiet and empty eyes and whispered.

"yes, it's all a waste of time, so why should I do it?"

The answer is simple, because it makes you happy, and that's enough. Even unnecessary things have meaning as long as they are enjoyable and not a waste of time. ”

"Is it—is that?"

Eyes that were redder than blood stared at Shinji quietly, just watching, watching.

"I ...... Still don't understand. I haven't done anything meaningless before, and I don't feel interested in unnecessary things. However, after meeting you, I seem to have changed and become very strange. ”

"There's nothing wrong with being weird. ”

Shinji left the podium and walked up to her, reflecting his smile in her pupils.

"Don't think about how you used to be, don't think about right or wrong. Answer me, Elquette Bronstad, are you happy with me, and can you get pleasure from those meaningless things?"

"I'm happy. Very happy. To be so happy to be alive like this is something I have never imagined so far—pleasure...... I'm broken, isn't it? It's been going on for so long—really, a long time ago, just looking at my own dreams—"

Erquit's figure became like a phantom projector, so unclear.

Eight hundred years of wandering, a mirage-like dream.

The silhouette of a white princess, dimly emerging in the night light.

"Although it seems that it has not changed on the surface, it is ...... on the inside Happy, painful, those superfluous feelings are now more. I can't ignore things that I used to ignore, so I'm broken, right?"

"Who knows, I'm a human being and not a true ancestor, and I can't answer the question. However, you should be able to find the answer, from the memories of the planet - as far as I know, the other True Ancestors are not as obsessed with necessity as you used to be, and they will also do meaningless things to get pleasure and pass the long life. ”

"Like bloodsucking?"

Shen Er's smile stiffened, which pot is not opened.

"I don't deny it. But there is more than just bloodsucking, and not every True Ancestor will suck blood. As long as you don't cause trouble to others, it doesn't matter what you do. ”

"Including bloodsucking?"

This bar is fine.

"Of course. Aren't humans obligated to donate blood? Blood transfusion through a hose is no different from drinking it. There is a proper blood supply channel, the amount of intake is controlled, and there is no problem with simply sucking blood. That's why I've always admired Van Feim and he did a great job. He's one of the few dead apostles I don't want to be an enemy of, so please don't crusade against him if you can, even if he's standing in front of you. ”

"Because he didn't cause trouble to humanity?"

"Yes, not only is there no trouble, but there are also benefits, for humanity and for the planet. Elquite, too, I've been thinking about you, and I've come to the conclusion that it doesn't matter what, you're not causing any trouble to the others—so let her go if it's bad or not. ”

"Really, but, Shinji, you often yell at me and beat me on the head, is that different?"

Elquit's vision was still gray, and that kind of vision was really distressing.

"Of course it's different, because I'm no one else. As I said, we're friends, we're family, we're partners, and that's it. You cause me trouble, I knock you on the head, the so-called family is to tolerate each other. And, I like you more now than you who are looking for meaning. ”

"Really?" there was a slight glimmer in the gray.

"Really. ”

"No lies. ”

"No lies. ”

"Can I continue like this? continue to eat good food, play fun games, watch good movies, continue to do meaningless things, continue to cause you trouble?"

"Yes. However, I will also continue to impose 'iron fist sanctions' on Her Royal Highness the willful and reckless princess! ”

“…… It's too much! Is it really that capricious?"

Elquit pursed his lips, but his eyes were no longer gray.

Shinji breathed a sigh of relief, and then laughed: "Poof, ahhahahaha! What are you talking about, why are you so awkward to hear the word willfulness from you, no, I laughed to death." ”

“……！！”

Ah, angry.

"Shen Er is a big fool! People are talking to you seriously, but you are laughing at me. Hmph, you just said you liked me. ”

"Did I say that?" Shinji pretended to be stupid.

"Yes, you said you like me now. "Elquit is unrelenting.

"Oh, you must have misheard. Shinji continued to play dumb.

"That's right. ”

"I heard it wrong. ”

"You heard it right!"

"Misheard!"

"Shh~ Don't talk, it seems that someone is coming?"

"Where's anyone? I don't feel ......"

Erquit looked sideways into the hallway, but found nothing, and when he looked back, Shinji jumped out of the window, and immediately reacted.

"You actually sneaked away! Stop!"

How could Shinji listen to Erquit, he ran faster, and while running, he didn't forget to turn his head and say.

"Come and chase me, if you catch me, I'll let you hehehe...... Phew, I'll take you to a better restaurant. ”

"Hmph, you can't run. ”

Erquit clasped his hands to his chest, full of confidence.

Such a chase is still meaningless, but she will not dwell on it anymore.

Somewhere in the deepest part of the chest is being dominated by a strange emotion.

This kind of emotion easily overwhelmed the time of the past 800 years, and overwhelmed the teachings of the true ancestors that he had received since childhood.

This emotion is called pleasure.

As the red sunset fades, the princess, bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun, raises her head to welcome the arrival of night.

Overhead, the moon is rising.