【Interstellar Contract Magician】Ruyuanke

Chapter 349 [Empire] Ordinary men... have a limited lifespan

Suddenly, an idea struck me, and with a slight smile on my lips, I posed a question: "Nightingale, what would happen if I were really a woman?"

Nightingale was stunned for a moment, clearly not expecting me to ask him this out of the blue. He paused for a moment, as if considering my question, then replied, "It depends on whether you're a woman or a New Woman... New Women can only awaken healing abilities, and will most likely be recruited by the Holy Rose Academy or the Healing Institute. As for ordinary women, there's no need to rush to adulthood. The Empire has no restrictions on ordinary people; once they reach that age, they're free."

His tone was calm, as if this was a matter of course. However, the flash of surprise in his eyes did not escape my attention, as if he himself realized that the topic had turned in a different direction.

I raised my eyebrows slightly and continued to observe Nightingale's reaction, with a sense of excited anticipation in my heart - this question was obviously not that simple, I didn't expect him to answer it so naturally.

"Oh? If I were really an ordinary woman," I asked casually, "what would you think of me?"

Nightingale's expression changed a little, but he still maintained that half-smile attitude and raised his eyebrows slightly: "You are not an ordinary woman."

"What if I really am?" I couldn't wait to continue testing the waters, wanting to see Nightingale's true attitude towards this topic.

Nightingale didn't seem to want to delve into the issue further. She simply shrugged lightly, revealing a playful smile. "How could you be an ordinary woman with this look on your face? The fact that you can endure such a shameless person like me for so long shows that you are very strong. How could an ordinary woman be so resilient?"

Hearing his words, I suddenly felt a little uncomfortable, as if he'd seen through me. Although his tone was playful, there seemed to be something more to it. Was he provoking me? Or was he trying to get to the bottom of something?

"Oh? So you think women should be weaker and more docile?" I lowered my head, my tone became cold, but a vague sense of vigilance arose in my heart.

Nightingale obviously noticed my mood change. He smiled gently and didn't seem to intend to confront me head-on: "I'm only talking about you, don't get me wrong." His tone was still calm, but the meaningful look in his eyes made me a little confused.

"So, in your eyes, is there a big difference between 'ordinary women' and 'new women'?" I asked provocatively.

Nightingale was silent for a moment, as if pondering the deeper meaning of my words. Finally, she shook her head slightly and said, "The difference isn't that big. The most crucial thing is your personal choice. Once you decide on something, you'll go in that direction."

I raised an eyebrow and said nothing more. Nightingale's response sounded calm, but I couldn't help but feel like there was something unspoken within him. This man, always calm and rational, always stirred a sense of unease in me whenever he spoke to me.

I turned back to the bed, feeling mixed emotions. For me, the topic of women was also filled with helplessness.

"Alright, stop dwelling on these boring things." Nightingale suddenly broke the silence. "Haven't you been saying you want to become an adult quickly? You still need mission points, so don't let these trivial matters get you stuck."

I didn't respond to him, but just sat down silently, feeling a little confused and irritated. Nightingale glanced at me and didn't seem to want to say anything else. He just turned his eyes to the window.

I suddenly asked, "Nightingale, are you a new male? What are your special abilities? I've never seen them before."

Nightingale was slightly taken aback, clearly not expecting me to ask this question. He was silent for a moment, seemingly pondering his response, before saying calmly, "New male? Perhaps you misunderstood. I'm not a new male. As for superpowers... I don't have any." His tone was calm, but a hint of complexity lingered in his eyes.

I was a little surprised, and my voice unconsciously rose a little. "No special abilities? Then why are you doing these missions with me and commanding me? What do you rely on?"

Nightingale smiled slightly, didn't answer my question, and just raised her eyebrows slightly: "Don't you think I'm a bit mysterious? There are some things you don't need to know."

I was stunned. His evasive answer only raised more questions. "Are you really an ordinary person?" I asked, a little unconvinced. My eyes fell on his usual calm face. "Don't you have any special abilities?"

"Not all strength requires superpowers." Nightingale responded calmly, with another half-smile on her face. "You should know that superpowers are not the only power, or rather, not the only thing that can make a person strong."

I was speechless. His words were truly thought-provoking. Nightingale's strength wasn't solely based on those obvious powers. Perhaps his power lay in other, lesser-known areas.

He glanced at me gently, his eyes deep: "Some things are not understood by everyone. Since you asked, then you should know that some people in this world can go very far without relying on supernatural powers."

I lowered my head slightly, and said in a low voice: "But, ordinary men... have a limited lifespan." This sentence was accompanied by a barely perceptible sigh.

The lifespan of the new humans generally reaches hundreds, even thousands of years, while for ordinary humans, a hundred years is the limit. This gap is too vast, an unbridgeable chasm. I can't help but feel pity. For ordinary men like Nightingale, time will eventually take everything away, no matter how strong or wise he may be.

Nightingale listened to me and was silent for a moment. Then he looked up at me, his eyes still indifferent, but with a hint of gentleness. "You're thinking too far ahead." He spoke in a steady tone, even with a hint of calm strength. "The length of life is not the only criterion for measuring a person's value. Living a wonderful and meaningful life is what matters most."

I looked up and met his eyes, seeing the calm, deep depth in them. I understood that Nightingale cared nothing for the limitations of his lifespan. He lived in the present, in control of his own destiny. Even if the future held only a few decades, or even less, he was not afraid.

"But you will still grow old." I couldn't help but whisper again, as if that secret worry still bothered me.

Nightingale smiled lightly, seemingly unconcerned. "Everyone will grow old and die, whether they are new humans or ordinary people. What matters is what we did and what we left behind while we were alive."

Nightingale's philosophy has never been about "living long" but about "how to live". He seems to have long transcended the ordinary people's inherent understanding of life.

It’s a long-lost Nightingale philosophy.

I was silent for a while, and finally nodded slightly, "You're right."

Nightingale didn't say much, his gaze remaining calm and composed. Only this time, I caught a glimpse of a vulnerability he didn't want others to notice—perhaps, no matter how calm and strong he seemed, deep down, something was still quietly struggling, resisting the passage of time.