"Well, I don't know. All adults are the same. They're worried, moaning, and fearing everything," Pepe said.
"But we kids are different. We kids are never scared of anything, much less a kind-hearted and playful alien species like you, Shanua!"
"Perhaps your race is simply 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. All living things and non-living things can swallow you in one gulp. No wonder you are always panicking and 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 very 'strong'. Even the most terrible storm in the four-dimensional space cannot hurt me, nor can it hurt you who are under my protection. We can live happily together forever, just like the people in the stories."
Pep opened his mouth, wanting very much to tell Shanuya that the truth was not so. Even with the protection of the Void Hunters and the development of brand-new starships and shield technology, many people would still be caught in the storm during the four-dimensional warp, torn apart and obliterated in the Void.
However, despite all the stories it told, Shanua still found it hard to understand the concept of 'individual' and 'species'. In most of its long life, it had been a lone wolf, and it was an ecosystem that kept cycling. For it, it was fine as long as the main body of the species was preserved, and the deceased individuals would be continued on other individuals. Therefore, there was no need for pain or sadness, just as it would not be sad over the loss of hundreds of tentacles. Tentacles could be regrown if they were cut off, and people could be reborn if they were dead. So, what did it matter?
"Yes!"
Pep gave up on explaining and went along with it, smiling sweetly. "At that time, my ancestors were wandering in the sea of stars, suffering a lot along the way. It was only when they encountered the previous generation of Void Hunters that they could finally live a stable life. Now, with Shanuya's protection, we don't have to be afraid of anything.
"However, we are ultimately a small carbon-based life that hasn't fully evolved. In the dark years of wandering in the sea of stars, the genes of fear have been deeply embedded in our cells. That's why the adults are so paranoid and scared, doing things that children cannot understand. It's quite pitiful when you think about it!"
"Maybe."
It hesitated for a moment and finally raised the most incomprehensible question that it had pondered for a long time. "Pepe, can you tell me why you call me 'Shanua'?"
"Huh?"
Pepe was stunned for a moment.
"'Void Hunters' is the name that you use to define my species. It's a bit weird, but it's more or less understandable."
It said, "But why is my name 'Shanua'? You know the meaning of 'Shanua', don't you?"
Pepe, of course.
'Shanua' was the hero of the story collection "One Thousand and One Nights". He was the most brutal king on a certain island on ancient Earth. Because he was betrayed by the queen, he hated all the women in the world. After killing the queen, he always married a new bride every day and killed her in the morning. For more than three years, more than a thousand innocent girls died miserably under King Shanua's wrath.
Later, in order to save the innocent girls, Shaluzade, the prime minister's daughter, volunteered to marry the king and tell him a story every night. She grasped the rhythm perfectly, and when she reached the most exciting part of the story, it would be when the rooster crowed at dawn. She attracted the king in such a way so that the king would not kill her. Just like that, the story was told for one thousand and one nights. Finally, the king was moved by her and gave up his brutal and evil ways, living together with Shaluzade.
"'Shanua' is the name of a … tyrant. It's very cruel," it said.
"But I'm not a cruel tyrant. I'm your guardian. Why do you call me 'Shanua'?"
"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 passed down for a long time. Before I was born, no, before my parents' parents' parents were born, they called you that. You know, compared to your life, our lives are really too short. So, I don't know why people called you 'Shanua' a long time ago."
"I don't like this name," it muttered.
"I used to be muddle-headed and never felt that there was anything wrong with this name. But after listening to your story, Pepe, I suddenly had a kind of, a kind of feeling that I don't know how to describe. I don't want to be called 'Shanua' anymore. I don't want to be a tyrant."
"Then what do you want to be called?"
Pepe asked.
"'Happy Prince,'" it said.
"Pepe, you know what 'Happy Prince' is, don't you?"
"Of course. I was the one who told you the story of 'Happy Prince!'"
Pepe couldn't help but laugh. "The Happy Prince is a very beautiful statue. His body is decorated with gems and gold leaf, and he has the kindest heart. Everyone praises and praises him. When winter comes, the poor people shiver in the biting cold wind and suffer the torment of frost and snow. The Happy Prince can't bear to see this scene, so he let a passing swallow take away the gold leaf and gems on his body to help the poor. He himself becomes ugly and is finally pushed down by people and melted down again. The ending of this story is not very good."
"But I still like this story. I like 'Happy Prince' more than 'Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves,'" it said.
"And the ending of this story is very good. In the end, weren't the Happy Prince and the swallow sent to the garden of God and lived happily together forever?"
"Huh?"
Pepe's eyes widened again. "Shanua, you actually believe in the existence of God?"
"If 'God' refers to a foreign life form that is beyond the cognitive range of a small primate carbon-based intelligent life form like 'human beings,' then of course it exists. When I traveled through the four-dimensional space, I had sensed the existence of many 'Gods.' As for whether there is a garden in their domain that can accommodate the Happy Prince and the swallow, I don't know. I hope there is," it said.
"Also, I don't like you calling me 'Shanua.' Can you call me 'Happy Prince?'"
"That won't do. The 'Dream Maker' manual doesn't say that I can change your name at will. If I do that, Dad and the others will make a fuss again and teach me a lesson. But I can help you ask Dad and the others why they called you 'Shanua' in the first place. Can they help you change your name?"
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