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Page 57
Orange explained with a sigh, "It's embarrassing to say, but my counterpart in another world investigated your interpersonal relationships—"
Orange paused here, needing to carefully organize her thoughts to consider the feelings of the person in her arms.
"In that world, you must have nothing left to hold you back, right? Your loved ones are all gone, and you probably don't have a single friend left. Moreover, after learning about your situation, Fuabro Loween also contacted me. He told me about what happened between you and him, and he said he regretted it."
"What does the uncle regret?" Yue Zhengling asked in a low voice.
"Although it sounds incredible, the 27th Dead Apostle said that if he hadn't gone to your shop in the first place, things might not have turned out this way."
Babies feel safe when they hear a person's heartbeat, so the correct way to hold a baby is with the baby's head facing the person's heart.
As Chengzi said these words, she pressed Le Zhengling's head against her heart, letting him listen to her heartbeat, treating him completely like a baby.
"Now I know that your soul from that world came here. Originally, I wanted you to choose whether to stay in this world or return to your own. If you chose the latter, I would do my best to help you with a smile. Of course, people are selfish, so I kept it from you. Even though Aoko also gained memories of another world, I wanted her to help me hide this truth so that you could choose this world."
Chengzi frankly revealed her intentions, partly because the matter had already been exposed, and partly because she didn't want Yue Zhengling to overthink things.
"Both Aozaki Touko treat you like a younger brother. The other one isn't mature enough yet, which is why I don't want to hand you over to her. But Aozaki Touko is Aozaki Touko, and her feelings for you will never change..."
“Lingjun, you can try to believe me or King Arthur. Just as he said, as long as there is life, things will not always go as you expect. Just like the proverb in your hometown, life is full of disappointments, but you can only tell others one or two of them.”
"As long as you're alive, there will be many unpleasant things, and even fewer trustworthy people. But I want you to try to believe that there are always some people who are good to you for no reason at all."
Orange's tone contained an indescribable emotion. Le Zheng couldn't discern her true feelings as she spoke, but he was certain of one thing: he had been too hasty in his judgment. Whether it was Arthur or Orange, his heart had never truly accepted them.
Whether it was out of goodwill or malice, from the very beginning he had been rejecting her, viewing Arthur with a completely subjective mindset. When he discovered that Orange had a problem, he didn't choose to ask her why, but instead directly refused to communicate.
Arthur said he only lived in his own world, and now he realizes that this statement is absolutely true.
As the saying goes, you can never wake someone who's pretending to be asleep unless they wake up on their own. But they remain lost in their dreams, fantasizing about them coming true. When they wake up, they find themselves far behind others and think they were still faking it. But will their pretense really come true?
Arthur, who lives in a dream world, wants to pull himself back to reality; Orange, who sees through his own thoughts; Merlin, who knows but never does anything; and Mary, who knows but is actively planning something—who is right?
Chapter 133 A Difficult Choice
"Reality and dreams actually exist at the same time, but dreams are very short, while realization seems so long. Ling, your life has just begun, and you can't see the end yet. You want to live, but you can't achieve it by doing nothing."
Arthur, supported by Mary, walked over and said, “These words are my most genuine feelings after experiencing so much.”
“I think you know that I have reached Avalon, which is my final destination. However, even though I have stepped into that golden grassland, even though my beloved Mary still drove me out. Because I have left traces of my existence in this world, and there are some ties and responsibilities that have not yet been fulfilled.”
"You see, even someone as powerful as me is still not in control of my own destiny. So, knowing so much, can you really avoid being manipulated by the world?"
Arthur bent down, knelt on one knee in front of Yue Zhengling, and then gently placed his fist on Yue Zhengling's heart.
"You said you were terrified of death, but you still died, so you no longer want to struggle for survival or drift with the tide. But is this the happiness you're looking for?"
"Close your eyes, cover your ears, and reject everything. Indeed, you will never experience pain again, but you will also never experience pleasure."
"You are a contradictory individual, and also an ordinary individual. Beneath your heart that seeks stability, you have never given up on pursuing change. Just like you humbly appear before me, yet a hint of arrogance shines through your eyes."
"Knowledge and experience unconsciously cultivate a person's unique temperament, and what you know will inevitably lead you to trouble wherever you go. This is also the reason for your past suffering."
Le Zhengling opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything to refute it. He seemed to be just like Arthur said, often doing things that put him in a predicament.
Whether it's the first meeting with those people, or the seemingly cautious communication with those dangerous entities, yet unable to resist revealing the information they know, they are actually constantly probing with a detached attitude.
"People's individual wills are like puzzle pieces, piecing together the world. Everyone should have an irreplaceable wish and pursue vibrant colors."
"Some people collect ways to survive in this world, those distorted truths with a beautiful appearance, while others walk their own bumpy road with strength. The former will eventually be abandoned by the world because their shape cannot be compatible with the world, while the latter, even if they are peeled away one day, will never be buried."
Arthur looked at Yue Zhengling, who had lowered his head and avoided looking at him, and wondered if Yue Zhengling had even heard what he was saying. The soul in front of him was constantly confused between self-redemption and self-destruction, which was why Arthur couldn't bear to watch.
What was lost unintentionally in the past has come at an astonishing price. When he tries to get it back, no matter how anxiously he reaches out, it is already too late.
He had seen such souls ultimately plunge into an abyss of no return, and therefore, no matter the cost, he was determined to pull this person out.
"Arthur, have you ever hated your fate, or rather, have you ever hated the world that has made such a mess of your life?" Yue Zhengling felt something struggling to emerge from within her.
"It would be a lie to say I didn't. I not only hated it, but I also wanted to destroy the world. But in the end, I found that I love this world more than I hate it. I have no right to deny it, whether it has happened or not. Even if I want to change this fate every moment, I only want to avoid the misfortunes of the past, not destroy it."
Upon hearing him admit it himself, Yue Zhengling was somewhat stunned. He had thought Arthur's answer was that he was forever great and righteous.
“I have the courage to step out, and that’s why I keep moving forward, because the road ahead represents the unknown and hope… I want you to muster up the courage to go out, instead of trapping yourself in your own heart.”
Arthur withdrew his fist and instead extended his hand to him, his emerald green eyes filled with expectation.
Looking at that hand, Yue Zhengling suddenly felt an unprecedented terror, like the fear of waiting for death in the arms of Fuabulu, like the feeling of waiting for annihilation in utter loneliness while looking at her own body in a hospital.
Everyone was watching Arthur and Yue Zhengling, and everyone except Chengzi hoped that Yue Zhengling would hold Arthur's hand at this moment.
Orange pursed her lips, her mind preoccupied with another consideration. To her, Le Zhengling accepting that hand meant he was moving forward—was that a good thing? She didn't think so.
From Yue Zhengling's perspective, Chengzi doesn't think there's anything wrong with him maintaining this state. What he lacks isn't courage, but rather a protector willing to stay by his side.
Undeniably, King Arthur was indeed thinking about Yue Zhengling's future, but he overlooked one crucial point: what Yue Zhengling truly needed.
If Yue Zhengling wants a stable and peaceful life, shouldn't others create such an environment for him? This isn't spoiling him; it's the most normal thing to do, isn't it?
Only by doing this, and then slowly planning for the future, is the normal choice. After all, in Orange's eyes, Yue Zhengling is still just a child.
“Miss Orange, I advise you not to underestimate the child in your arms. Indeed, he is just a child in our eyes, but it is precisely because he is a child that Arthur wants him to come out of his shell.” Mary suddenly spoke up from behind Arthur.
“If good children are always allowed to run wild, they will eventually become brats. And although the way they behave is a little different, the one in your arms is already the king of brats.”
"If we let him continue like this, both you and we will only suffer unimaginable consequences. Now is the best time to teach him. In this world full of crises, everything that can cause great destruction will affect each other. And now that this planet is sealed off, we can so easily strip away what affects Ling."
Meryl looked up at the sky. "Whether it's someone's rationality evaporating, the influence of an alien god on their rationality, the mental regression caused by the loss of one's own soul, or the external influences brought about by the absence of a physical body, in this world full of loopholes, these problems have all been temporarily resolved."
"Rationality evaporated and was shielded by the protection of the alien god, and the influence of the alien god was also stripped away by himself. Although the loss of his soul cannot be made up, this world full of soul power can support him so that he will not make reckless choices due to willfulness. In addition, the lost physical body has been temporarily filled by Arthur's spirit origin. This is the most appropriate time."
Right now, Yue Zhengling hasn't heard what Mei Li said. He's trapped in a huge mental black hole, and when he wakes up again, it will be time for a decision.
Chapter 133 Meryl Exits
What represents the form of "living"? The answer is thinking.
If a person loses the ability to think, no matter how normal their body is, they cannot be said to be alive; at most, they are just a walking corpse.
In order to protect themselves, people are very likely to spontaneously shut down the memory after experiencing something unacceptable, in order to continue to live a normal life.
Not everyone is a strong person in this world, and not everyone can overcome extreme hardships.
Ascetics don't initially endure torment that seems impossible to ordinary people. They gradually increase their limits, ultimately achieving spiritual elevation while slowly adding more suffering.
But for Yue Zhengling, the initial suffering came too suddenly, and this suffering should have been the last to appear in his life. But fate seemed to be playing a joke, and after he discovered what kind of world he was in, it put the thing that most people fear and are powerless against, death, in front of him.
As the saying goes, there is great terror between life and death, which arises in the heart and manifests in the body.
Because he was born in the world of Type-Moon, his spirit remained even after his death, and he began another journey.
Actually, now that I've come this far, all my struggles seem futile and childish. He thought to himself, his defenses broken down by Arthur, Orange, and Merry's words.
As Arthur said, as long as a person exists in this world, whether you like it or not, other things will always come your way, and there is no logic to it.
How ironic. That person told me to believe in the world's goodwill, but to me, the world only shows me overflowing malice.
When he first arrived in this apocalyptic world, he was somewhat indifferent, because it didn't matter where he slacked off. However, because of Orange's appearance, he thought this was his world.
At the time, I didn't expect that I would still care, and feel heartbroken and angry for this malicious world. Although it was mostly out of conscience, this conscience was ultimately just a hindrance.
Since I've already shared all the information I know, shouldn't we all just do our own thing?
Orange wanted to keep herself, but it backfired. In her state at the time, she was completely deaf to human speech and too decisively confiscated everything that might discover her true identity.
He escaped the whispers of the alien god, misunderstood Orange's wishes, and rejected Arthur's kindness. Now, his only choices are to submit to reality or spend the rest of his life constantly running away.
I don't form connections with people, I don't need to think, and I no longer stay anywhere.
But no matter which choice you make, you'll be cut off from stability.
"Why...why is my heart always so tired?" Yue Zhengling, nestled in Orange's arms, uttered these words under everyone's gaze.
His gaze fell on the void, and he looked as helpless as a child. "When did it start to become like this?"
"Oh no!" Arthur's expression suddenly changed drastically. "Wake up! Listen! Stop thinking about it! Mary! Help me!"
Before Arthur could even speak, Meryl had already taken action. As Yue Zhengling spoke again, she discovered that the spirit foundation Arthur had severed for him was beginning to collapse, as if it had been subjected to continuous high-intensity pressure, causing the spirit foundation to overload and disintegrate.
“This is more perplexing than I imagined.” Merlin placed her hand on Yue Zhengling’s forehead. “Merlin said you have unlimited potential, and I’m starting to believe it now. But your heart is too fragile.”
"Ah... How strong do you expect someone's mind to be?" Although Orange was very dissatisfied with Meryl, she knew this was not the time to cause trouble.
"You're saying he's an ordinary person?" Meryl's voice was full of confusion. "Knowing so much, wasn't he, in his original world, a figure who sat high in the palace, born with endless glory and the love of his subjects, someone who would always discipline him no matter how willful he was, and whose every word and action was treated as an absolute command?"
Orange was stunned by what Meryl said. "Are you talking about the emperor of that country? Lingjun is just an ordinary person who runs his own restaurant to make a living. And I can guarantee that apart from knowing some special things, he has never been exposed to magic in the past, and his mind is completely that of an ordinary person."
Upon hearing Orange's answer, Mary's mind went blank for a moment. "How is that possible? Their fates could be so different?! This kind of thing..."
She never imagined that Yue Zhengling's past life would be so ordinary. She had assumed that he was like Ji Ling, showered with love and affection, and that the world would give him whatever he wanted.
“Arthur, I may have been too presumptuous.” Mary turned her head and extended her hand to Arthur. “It’s too late, but at least let’s try to salvage the situation. Help me.”
Although Arthur didn't know exactly what Meryl meant, he understood what she was trying to say, so he took Meryl's hand.
“No wonder Merlin always loved watching the show; it turns out that once you get involved, you have to pay such a high price for making mistakes,” Merlin said in a bitter tone.
"I regret not heeding your advice earlier. A wise person shouldn't be too calculating. Now I finally understand what karma is."
A massive amount of magic was drawn from Arthur, and Mary's body first slowly solidified, then rapidly became ethereal.
Orange, who was closest to the scene, witnessed this and said with a mix of surprise and schadenfreude, "Now, it's not your turn to strip away your spirit core, is it?"
"Ah, yes! I'm peeling away my own spirit origin to repair Ling's current one! Who told me to trap myself like this before!" Melly answered Orange's question in a self-deprecating tone.
“Arthur gave him a part of his spirit foundation. If this part of the spirit foundation is damaged, Ling’s existence will be irreparably destroyed because of this damage. His soul is already very problematic. If the spirit foundation is damaged this time, the consequence may be that he will lose the possibility of returning to oneness in the future.”
While repairing Ling's spirit foundation, Meili explained to Chengzi, "I didn't expect his heart to be so fragile. Logically speaking, even if his life can't compare to Ji Ling's, as an ordinary person, it shouldn't be this bad!"
Orange, who also had a deep understanding of the soul, took Meryl's words to heart.
"Heh~" Orange let out a laugh that indicated contempt.
"Although I admit that this was my mistake, don't be too smug. The problems of your world still depend on the person in your arms. If anything happens to him, I think there is no way to save your world."
Meryl's voice became very weak, "Alright, there's no problem now. But this child is really lucky. The spirit origin formed by Arthur and me can be considered one of the world's top spirit origins, right? Well, although the volume is a bit small."
"So, what exactly is your purpose in tormenting Lingjun like this?" Although Orange despised Meryl's character because she knew that this person was too calculating, she had to admit that her magical skills were extremely high. She could even perform extraordinary operations such as separating and implanting a spirit base with ease, which was a level that Orange could not understand at all.
"Purpose? My purpose is to follow His Highness's wishes and also for our own world. This Ji Ling can serve as insurance, nothing more. For me, it's a matter of luck if I gain her and fate if I lose her."
Mary stood up again, and Arthur and she intertwined their hands. "Before I was a magician, I was a woman. Two selfishnesses piled together make up an even greater selfishness. For Arthur's wishes and the stability of our world line, I would not hesitate to sacrifice others."
At this point, Mei Li pointed at Yue Zhengling and said to Chengzi, "Although it has upset you, you know that doing something is better than doing nothing. Doing something means change, and whether the outcome is good or bad, all we need is change. Change represents possibility, and it is the key to the continuation of the world."
"So you're using this as an excuse to ignore the other party's wishes?" Orange gave a cold smile.
“Yes, why not? Don’t forget, there is always competition for survival in every world. Isn’t it common for the strong to disregard the will of the weak?” Melly said to Orange in a nonchalant tone.
"Merry!" Before Orange could object, Arthur spoke first. Although he only called her name, Merry seemed to already know what Arthur wanted to say.
"My prince, many times, kindness alone cannot save anyone, and hesitation is a fatal weakness. Past lessons are proof of this. I like your kindness, but I hate your hesitation."
After saying this, Mary's body began to slowly disappear. "I have done what I could. Whether I did it right or wrong before, let the future be the judge."
After hearing Meryl's words and seeing Meryl about to disappear, Orange's expression calmed down: "Don't you feel any remorse doing this?"
“You humans always like to judge others by your own morality. Have you forgotten that I am not human? I am not on the side of humans, but on the side of the world. Although the story always says that we aliens are helping humans, that is just your imagination. We have always acted according to our own will. Whether the world is destroyed or becomes better, as long as it does not involve us, then it is fine.”
"...You really taught me a lesson." Orange nodded slightly, seemingly thanking Meryl sincerely.
Then, she stretched out her finger and quickly drew three runes in the air. These three runes formed a declaration of expulsion, and in an instant, Mary's disappearance accelerated to a level visible to the naked eye.
“What you’re doing doesn’t really make much sense.” Meryl looked down at her own ghostly reflection.
"No, at least it will make me feel better." Orange shrugged. "Besides, doing this can at least represent Lingjun in collecting some small interest from you, since you won't be able to come back to this world after this."
"If you want that child to take revenge on me, I'd be more than happy to oblige." The white figure had faded to the point of being invisible, but Meryl's voice, though soft, was still clear.
Chengzi ignored her and picked up Yue Zhengling, then turned and left.
"The rest is up to you, Arthur... Well, although I know you will still disappoint me, whatever choice you make, I will support you unconditionally, my prince."
After saying this, Mary's figure completely disappeared from this world.
"Aozaki, what are your plans next?" Barthemello couldn't help but ask as the verbal exchange between Touko and Merry came to an end.
“I’m taking Rin-kun back to Japan. I should be able to find my silly little sister there,” Aozaki Touko said without turning her head.
However, as she walked toward the door, Grey was already blocking her way, and Barthezello was also annoyed and blocked Orange's retreat.
"Grey, what do you want to do?" Orange squinted, her leisurely manner showing no sign that she was in the best state of preparation.
Grey didn't speak, but instead looked at Weber with a questioning look.