"Clearly… he was the more outstanding one…"
One day later, Garvipidam came to visit his good friend at the hospital as usual.
The two of them felt idle and decided to doodle on some cards.
Gradually, as the rules were perfected, it became the Genius Invokation TCG we know today.
Lumine couldn't help but echo, "So it was a game born from friendship…"
Garvipidam looked very proud when talking about this.
He felt it was more than just a game.
When inventing it, the two of them had also incorporated related elements and theoretical knowledge.
"We originally planned to research topics together after he recovered, but…"
[It turned out to be such a pure friendship. I misunderstood, I thought there would be a twist.]
[This person is a good man. He doesn't envy his talented friend and doesn't abandon him even when he's sick.]
[There aren't many people Mu Yang would open up and chat with.]
Paimon comforted him, saying that Genius Invokation TCG was the result of both their research.
Now this achievement was loved by so many, many people.
Although Paimon's comforting words were a bit childish.
Garvipidam still felt somewhat comforted listening to them.
However, after Gulab passed away, every time he tried playing Genius Invokation TCG with others.
When he looked up from the card table.
What appeared before his eyes was always Gulab's figure.
As if he had never left…
"But I know that's not real…"
At this point, his eyes had already misted over…
Paimon pouted. "Mmm… I understand."
"If one day Lumine and I were separated, I definitely wouldn't be able to get used to it… I might even talk to myself in the air…"
Lumine pulled the little one over and vigorously rubbed her small head.
[Trust me, Paimon has been with us the longest, so she'll definitely get stabbed the hardest!]
[I'll bet a pack of spicy strips on that.]
[I just want to advise miHoYo to be human.]
[It shouldn't be, right? If Paimon is gone, how are we supposed to enter the main interface to draw cards?]
Garvipidam watched the relationship between the two and gave a faint smile.
"Yes, everyone I know told me to look on the bright side and enjoy the fun of Genius Invokation TCG. They said I was one of the inventors…"
Garvipidam shook his head. "But if you ask me…"
"Without Gulab, what meaning does Genius Invokation TCG still have…"
His tone grew more and more downcast.
No one knew how to respond.
Mu Yang's character setting wasn't suited for giving such advice anyway.
He himself was deeply immersed in it, so how could he have the heart to advise others?
Kirara remembered the delivery package.
Since this group couldn't comfort him, let Mr. Gulab try instead.
"…Mr. Garvipidam, why don't you first see what your friend sent you?"
"Mm… that's true."
Garvipidam opened the package. Inside was a letter:
[Dear cherished friend, you must be wondering why I left you a letter in this manner, right? It's simply because…]
In the animated short that the players saw.
Gulab's letter was only halfway written when Garvipidam appeared with Genius Invokation TCG cards.
The two played cards together to perfect the rules.
Gulab advised him as usual, "You don't have to come every day. The work at the Akademiya must be very tiring."
"How can I not? I'll keep coming until you're fully recovered. Besides, those people at the Akademiya are so boring…"
They hadn't played more than a few rounds.
Gulab started coughing.
He knew his own physical condition.
Garvipidam also knew but simply didn't want to admit it.
[It's precisely because you've never been able to accept the fact that I don't have much time left.]
"You know? Genius Invokation TCG has recently become popular in the hospital."
"Oh, isn't that a good thing?"
"Yes, so I made a tool that lets everyone find nearby players."
Gulab handed the Codex Box to Garvipidam.
"Here, this is for you. That way, even if I'm not here, you can still find new…"
Upon hearing this, Garvipidam slapped the Codex Box away.
"I already said you'll recover. I don't want this thing!"
With that, he turned and left. He simply didn't want to face this reality.
Gulab continued writing the letter.
[That Codex Box I gave you back then was probably thrown by you into some corner long ago.]
[So please forgive me for only delivering this final gift to you now.]
[Damn, why couldn't he hold on for a few more days? The Traveler is about to arrive aaaah.]
[This is regret. It's very realistic.]
Gulab continued speaking.
Do you still remember when we first met?
As long as you were willing to be friends with a child who had Eleazar.
This time, it's my turn to take you to make new friends.
"Cherished friend… let me continue accompanying you in this way."
In Gulab's hand was the final gift—
A card depicting the two of them when they were young.
Even on the verge of death, Gulab remained that kind and gentle…
[Tears, 555.]
[This part is so relatable.]
[This friendship is deeply moving.]
The letter in Garvipidam's hands had long been soaked with tears.
"Gulab… you guy… even at a time like this you're still the same…"
Kirara: "I haven't played Genius Invokation TCG much, but I know it has brought a lot of joy to everyone."
Charlotte: "Mm, to borrow the words of one card player, it allows many people to meet and get to know each other, sharing the joy of duels together."
Lumine and Paimon also expressed that along their journey, they had witnessed many stories related to Genius Invokation TCG.
"If you're interested, I can tell them to you one by one."
Lumine comforted him, "Friends don't truly leave forever. They accompany us in another form."
Mu Yang had been silent since earlier, continuously fiddling with something with his head down.
At this moment, he finally finished.
It was a newly made card back. From different angles.
One could see the process of the two cherished friends meeting and getting to know each other.
Mu Yang handed the card back to Garvipidam. "Let's call it 'Eternal Friendship'."
Garvipidam felt everyone's kindness. Now that he had spoken about it, his mood had improved considerably.
"Haha… Gulab, when you wrote this letter, did you already anticipate all of this?"
"I've always kept that Codex Box of yours with me."
"It's rare that you drew such a card for me. It would be such a waste not to use it once…"
Garvipidam cleared his throat. "I think, if he were here, he would definitely say this."
He imitated Gulab's manner and stretched out his hand.
"Friends, would you like to play a game of Genius Invokation TCG?"
"With pleasure!"
Lumine accepted the challenge.
At the card table, everyone knew Garvipidam had begun to find closure.
Because he had started enjoying the fun of Genius Invokation TCG once again.
It might take some time to completely walk out of grief, but this was a very good beginning.
Kirara stretched lazily.
When her boss decided to dispose of these retained packages, she had felt a voice in the dark telling her.
It shouldn't be done.
Whether it was a youkai's intuition or simply not wanting the other party's feelings to disappear in vain.
She herself couldn't say clearly.
In any case, she was very satisfied with this outcome.
Charlotte was also very satisfied. She patted her camera and bid farewell to everyone.
The Summoning King Grand Prix had already concluded.
In the end, they had unexpectedly gained such a valuable story. Just the news article alone could let her write for many days.
After taking a group photo with everyone present, she headed toward the wharf.
Kirara had originally planned to leave as well.
But when she heard Mu Yang say he would make a big meal on the spot for Paimon and Lumine using local ingredients.
She shamelessly stayed one more night.
What's the point of face when there's a sashimi platter? Don't you agree?
[Mission Complete — Curtain Falls! Joyful Talk Like a Dream]