Seeing the somewhat cluelessly cute Eriri ask if he was interested in painting, Ryuya laughed and said, "Didn't I tell you when we first met, Sawamura? I don't understand painting, but I know how to look."
Pointing at the sea of people, Ryuya continued, "Simply put, painting serves the masses. What the audience finds pleasing is what's good. If the audience doesn't like something, no matter how advanced your technique or how rich the artistic level, the result is still meaningless."
"Painters like Van Gogh weren't appreciated during their lifetime but were elevated to divine status after death. Isn't that a kind of irony in itself?"
Listening to Ryuya's explanation, Eriri nodded, seeming to understand partially, "So, only what readers like matters? That sounds quite reasonable."
Recalling her own creative journey, Eriri suddenly realized that she wasn't actually pursuing the kind of painting she had imagined.
What she truly wanted was the smile, the satisfaction on readers' faces when they saw her paintings, her work.
"Ryuya, you're right. What an author most wants to see is the readers' acknowledgment. I also feel that the books those publishing house guys write don't quite match my painting style, and the readers' feedback doesn't seem great either. Should I change who I collaborate with?"
"That's up to you. Don't you want to draw manga? If you want to, then just do it."
Buying two milk teas and two ice creams from a nearby shop, Ryuya usually almost never drank milk tea, but since he was here today, leisurely experiencing it wasn't a problem.
"Draw manga? No, no, I'm not ready yet."
Hearing Ryuya suggest she draw manga, Eriri's face instantly flushed bright red.
Her hesitant demeanor made one marvel that this girl could also be shy. Eriri clearly wanted to but didn't dare take that first step.
"What is there to prepare? Your technique is already very good… it's just about linking the narrative."
"Here, let me tell you a story. I'm sure you can get some good inspiration from it."
Just like that, pulling Eriri to sit down casually in the milk tea shop, Ryuya began telling a story to her.
…
Listening to Ryuya tell the story, Eriri's eyes were filled with brilliance.
"So thrilling! What happened to the MC after that?"
"As for what happens later... I'll write out the plot for you another time, help you with the character designs, and you can just start serializing it according to what I say."
After ascending to Star God, Ryuya's brain had undergone unprecedented development, allowing him to recall all the memories from his long life.
Memories from before his transmigration, which had become somewhat blurry and unclear, were now fully accessible.
He could perfectly remember every word, every chapter he had ever read, and thus could help Eriri write the complete plot.
"Wow, thank you so much then! Ryuya, you're really quite nice, you know."
With Ryuya's down-to-earth storytelling, Eriri gradually emerged from the shadow of the Cursed Spirit battle. Recalling her first meeting with Ryuya and Yukino, she felt that maybe she had been overly worried.
"Speaking of which, Ryuya, are Arcueid and Altrouge... really your daughters?"
No matter what, she couldn't understand why the two Princesses of Brunestud would call Ryuya 'Papa'. Confused from start to finish, Eriri's initial thought had been of certain forbidden 18+ Doujinshi.
But now it seemed, the relationship between Ryuya and those two young ladies wasn't that simple.
"Arcueid and Altrouge? They are my daughters, mine and Crimson Moon's daughters."
Thinking of Crimson Moon, of the Moon King under the lunar civilization, of that lonely True Ancestor, of that Crimson Moon who called him Earth King and bestowed upon him the name Brunestud, Ryuya's voice became somewhat heavy.
"Crimson Moon? What a strange name."
Noticing the heavy atmosphere around Ryuya, Eriri felt she might have touched on a topic she shouldn't have.
"What about dreams? Ryuya, what is your dream?"
Attempting to change the subject, Eriri was terrible at it, but she was sincere.
"My dream?"
Stumped by Eriri's question, Ryuya started wondering what his dream is.
Was it to prolong, continue the glory of Britain, carrying his father, Vortigern's hopes to the ends of the world?
Was it to save Uruk from its apocalypse, letting the brilliance of humanity reach the eternal shore?
Was it to save everything in the Eternal Night Empire, then completely obliterate the existence of the Machine Gods?
Or was it to return to the Date A Live World and fulfill his promise to Mio and the others?
World, King, People… there were three different choices. The Ryuya of the past might have been decisive, but now, with more bonds, he didn't dare make any guarantees.
"My dream... I suppose it's to complete the Kingdom of the End."
Hesitating for a moment, Ryuya gave Eriri this answer.
"Kingdom of the End?"
Feeling more and more that she seemed to accurately step on Ryuya's emotional landmines every time, Eriri didn't know what to say to lighten the heavy atmosphere this time.
"Speaking of which, what about your dream, Sawamura? Your family background is good, you're very pretty, what is your dream?"
Stretching lazily, Ryuya sucked up the last bit of coconut jelly from his milk tea; he thought this grape flavor was pretty good.
"My dream? Actually, my dream is a bit silly."
Her face slightly flushed, Eriri hesitated before continuing, "Actually, my dream is quite simple. It's to become the best manga artist in the world, so that everyone can see my work."
Taking a deep breath, Eriri finally voiced that dream that sounded both laughable and arrogant.
The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted it.
'Oh no, Ryuya won't laugh at me, will he? Really, stupid Eriri, why can't you control your big mouth?'
Feeling inexplicably relaxed around Ryuya, saying whatever came to mind, Eriri suddenly wondered what was wrong with her today, why she was being so foolish.
"The best artist in the world? That's a good dream."
Under Eriri's somewhat apprehensive expression, Ryuya nodded, giving Eriri his support.
Watching the changes in the girl's expression, he looked at the gradually rising sun, pointed towards it, and continued, "Sawamura, march forward for your dream. In this world, no one has the right to laugh at another person's dream. No one."
Under the sun, the early spring breeze was slightly cool. Hearing Ryuya's words, Eriri felt every word the man spoke strike a chord within her heart.
"Become the best manga artist in the world, Eriri. I will help you."
"I really look forward to the day you become the best artist."
"Ryuya, you..."
Looking surprised at Ryuya sitting on the chair, Eriri stood up. As the faint scent of flowers drifted from behind Ryuya, that swaying, heavenly sound dyed Eriri's heart a fiery, blazing crimson.
Not knowing what expression to make, in the end, she could only smile in resignation. Eriri suddenly extended her pinky finger, "Then it's settled, Ryuya. You go complete your Kingdom of the End, and I will become the best manga artist in the world."
"Pinky promise? What kind of childish behavior is that?"
Finding Eriri's childishness somewhat adorable, Ryuya also extended his finger to link pinkies with Eriri.
And so, with the gentle touch of their little fingers, Ryuya didn't know that his words today had bestowed a new dream upon a girl.
And simultaneously, they had also taken her heart.