"Well, I don't know, all adults are like this, worrying and sighing every day, afraid of this and that."
Pepe said, "But we kids won't. We kids are never afraid of anything, let alone Shannuya, a kind and playful alien race in the starry sky!"
"Perhaps, your race is too weak."
It thought for a long time, and came to a conclusion, "You are floating in the universe, just like dust floating in the air, everything around you is stronger than you, and all living and non-living things can swallow you in one bite, no wonder you all live Panicked, scared to death.
"But now you don't have to be afraid, now that you have me, I will protect you, I... In your words, I am 'powerful', even the most terrifying storm in the four-dimensional space cannot hurt me, nor can I protect you For you, we can live happily together forever, just like those people in the story."
Pepe opened his mouth, wanting to tell Shannuya that the truth is not the case—even with the protection of the Void Hunter and the development of brand-new starship and shield technology, many people will still roll when jumping in four dimensions. Into the storm, torn to pieces, annihilated in the void.
However, despite telling so many stories, Shannuya still has difficulty understanding the concepts of "individual" and "group". For most of its long life, it is a loner, itself a continuous cycle As far as it is concerned, as long as the main body of the group is preserved, the lost individuals will be continued in other individuals, so there is no need for pain and sadness—just as it will not feel sad for losing hundreds of tentacles , Tentacles can grow again when they are broken, and people can regenerate after death. What does it matter
"yes!"
Pepe gave up the explanation, followed its meaning, and smiled sweetly, "At that time, my ancestors wandered in the sea of stars and suffered a lot along the way. They didn't live a stable life until they encountered the previous generation of void hunters. Days, now with Shannuya's protection, we don't have to be afraid of anything.
"It's just that, after all, we are a small carbon-based life that has not yet fully evolved. During the dark years of wandering in the star sea, the gene of fear has been deeply stored in our cells, so the adults will be nervous. , afraid of this and that, doing things that children can't understand all day long, it's quite pitiful to think about it!"
"maybe."
It was noncommittal, hesitated for a while, and finally asked the most incomprehensible question, "Pepe, can you tell me why you call me 'Shannuya'?"
"Hey?"
Pepe froze for a moment.
"'Void Hunter' is the name you use to define my race. Although it is a bit strange, it is barely understandable."
It said, "But why is my name 'Shannuya'? You know what 'Shannuya' means?"
Of course Pepe knew.
"Shannuya" is the protagonist of the story collection "Arabian Nights". He is an extremely cruel king on a certain island in the ancient earth. Because he was betrayed by the queen, he deeply hated all the women in the world. After killing the queen, He always married a bride every day and killed her in the morning. In more than three years, more than a thousand innocent girls died tragically under the wrath of King Shannuya.
Later, Shan Ruzod, the prime minister's daughter, voluntarily married the king in order to save the innocent girl, and told the king a story every night. , using this method to attract the king, so that the king was reluctant to kill her. In this way, the story was told for a thousand and one nights, and the king was finally moved by her, gave up his cruel evil deeds, and lived together with Shan Ruzod.
"'Shannuya' is the name of a... 'tyrant', very cruel."
It said, "But I am not a cruel tyrant, I am your guardian, why do you call me 'Shannuya'?"
"Well, I really don't know."
Pepe had no choice but to raise his hands in surrender again, "This is a name that has been handed down a long time ago, before I was born, no, before my parents' parents' parents were born, they called you like this—you know, compared to As far as your life is concerned, our life is too short, so I don't know why people a long time ago called you 'Shannuya'."
"I don't like the name."
It murmured, "I used to be in a daze, and I never felt that there was anything wrong with this name, but after listening to Pepe's story, I suddenly had a feeling, I don't know how to say it, I don't want to call it anymore. 'Sannuya', I don't want to be a tyrant."
"Then what do you want to be called?"
Pepe asked.
"'The Happy Prince.'"
It said, "Pepe, do you know what the 'Happy Prince' is?"
"Of course, I told you the story of "The Happy Prince"!"
Pepe couldn't help laughing, "The Happy Prince is a very beautiful statue. Its body is decorated with gems and gold leaf, and it has the kindest heart. Everyone boasts and praises it. Winter is coming, and the poor are here. Shivering in the biting cold wind and enduring the torment of frost, snow and rain, the Happy Prince couldn't bear to see this scene, so he let the little swallows passing by take away the gold leaf and gems from him to help the poor, and he became ugly. It ended up being pushed down by people and remelted—the end of the story, not very well.”
"But I still like the story, I like "The Happy Prince" more than "Alibaba and the Forty Thieves."
It said, "Also, the ending of this story is also very good. In the end, didn't the Happy Prince and the little swallow were both sent to the garden of the gods, and lived happily together forever?"
"Hey?"
Pepe's eyes widened again, "Shannuya, do you actually believe in the existence of God?"
"If 'god' refers to a heterogeneous life form beyond the cognition range of small primate carbon-based intelligent life like 'human', then of course it exists. When I traveled through the four-dimensional space, I have perceived many 'gods' ' has existed, as for whether there is a garden in their domain that can accommodate the Happy Prince and the Little Swallow, I don't know, hope there is?"
It said, "Also, I don't like it when you call me 'Shannuya', can you call me 'Happy Prince'?"
"This is not allowed. The 'Dream Making Manual' does not say that I can change your name at will. If I do this, Dad and the others will make a fuss and teach me a solid lesson, but I can ask Dad and them for you. , Ask them why they called you 'Shannuya' in the first place, can you change your name."
Pepe said, "Before then, I can call you 'Prince Shannuya', ha, this name is also very nice, is it okay, my Highness Prince Shannuya?"