bookrandom Chapter 71: The story is beautiful, but it's also very fake.
Chapter 71: The story is beautiful, but it's also very fake.
After Marian finished speaking, everyone felt dizzy and lightheaded.
Upon regaining consciousness, the group found themselves in an unidentified cubicle.
In front of them was a transparent glass wall, and on the other side of the glass wall was Marianne, who was still repeating the same thing.
“No, this isn’t right,” Marian said, gently raising a finger to her lips.
"Shh, don't say anymore, Anne," Marian said with a melancholy expression. "I'm sorry, I couldn't hold onto your illusions."
"However, upon further reflection, perhaps this story is indeed a bit dry. A friend of mine once told me a story..."
"The hero rescues the princess trapped atop a high tower. When I first heard this story, I longed to be like that princess, wondering if I could become one of those beautiful characters."
"Or, to become the hero or knight in a story who saves the princess—I've also dreamt of myself becoming a brave little water sprite."
"I used to defeat the dragon and rescue the princess with my friends, but as time went by, I no longer felt the same longing and anticipation for this story as I did at the beginning."
At this point, Marianne gave a self-deprecating smile. "Looking back on this story now, it really does feel just as that child described."
"This story is just a beautiful fairy tale told to children, but I am no longer a child."
"I know that there are dragons, princesses, brave knights, and princes in this world, but there is one thing that is missing."
"The dragon won't kidnap the princess. In the dragon's heart, all it loves is destruction and annihilation, and those glittering treasures."
"In the eyes of the dragon, what difference is there between a beautiful princess and an ordinary human? Why would a dragon be interested in a princess?"
Like ants on the ground, they may be able to distinguish which is more beautiful in their own eyes, but to us, they all look the same.
The crowd simply watched and listened silently, unable to do anything. They knew the story was just a fairy tale for children.
But aren't they just a group of teenagers, around six or seven years old, who love stories? There are some things they might only understand when they're told them.
But when they understand, how many can accept it without any emotional turmoil? There's no princess, no knight, no hero, no dragon, and no holy sword.
There was only a beautiful but deceptive fairy tale. Hearing these words, Anzai felt only sadness and sorrow.
“So, my birth was completely meaningless, right?” Marian chimed in from the side.
"That's not how it is. An's birth was a beautiful accident. An's existence is far more meaningful than a fairy tale."
"An shouldn't exist for others, but for herself, to see, to enjoy, and to witness the beauty of the world."
"Do you understand now, Anne?" Just after Marian finished speaking, a large amount of water was suddenly poured into the cubicle where everyone was located from the ceiling.
Everyone became more alert after discovering this, and Tian Yaochen, seeing Lily sitting on the ground, immediately took off his clothes.
Without hesitation, he wrapped Lily's injured foot, then hurriedly picked her up. If the water soaked the medicine on her foot, it could be disastrous.
The sudden turn of events caught everyone off guard; none of them had diving equipment. As the water engulfed them, they all took a deep breath.
Meanwhile, Marianne, standing outside the glass wall, smiled at everyone and said, "Goodbye, children."
After Marian finished speaking, a very rapid current of water surged into the space where everyone was.
As the water flowed, the group discovered that the outlet was at the top of the space. When they were swept out through the outlet, they were transformed into a large water droplet.
Water droplets slowly fell from the sky, and when they landed, everyone returned to normal, lying on the ground coughing and gasping for breath.
After everyone had rested for a while, Qiuhe spoke up, "Sorry, I messed up." No one blamed him.
Everyone knew this wasn't Qiuhe's intention; at least this time he didn't say anything too hurtful, and merely revealed a beautiful story.
Everyone then looked at Anne beside them, and Claire spoke up, "Ann..." Anne paused for a moment before saying:
"Thank you everyone. I know you care about me, but I'm sorry, I still don't want to give up so soon."
"Because I know that Princess Lilith exists, that he is still somewhere, and that I must save him."
"I just know, even though I've never even seen what Princess Lilith looks like, I know she's a beautiful and kind princess."
"But I will not give up. I will definitely rescue Princess Lilith; that is the meaning of my existence."
"An, I support you!" Upon hearing this, Tian Yaochen stood up and spoke these words with righteous indignation.
"Don't forget what I said at the beginning: I won't stop until I help you rescue Princess Lilith."
"Since you've agreed to An's request, then this hero will definitely carry out this belief to the end and will absolutely not let you down."
After uttering these righteous and awe-inspiring words, An seemed to see an endless, dazzling white light behind Tian Yaochen.
Finally, deeply moved, An said, "Waaah, thank you, thank you, Brave One!" With An's matter now settled...
Everyone took a moment to gather their thoughts, and Kai Le shared her perspective on Qiu He's sudden loss of control.
Qiuhe then spoke up, looking shocked, "So, Kailu, you mean that I become extremely impatient when carrying out important missions?"
"And when someone does something time-wasting or procrastinating, I fall into a state of losing control."
Kyle then nodded. "That's right. Although this is just my speculation, I think that's why you lost control."
"Furthermore, I have a theory that you might also fall into that state of being out of control after doing something time-wasting and procrastinating."
"As for how to get you out of control, I only know one way right now: when you feel extreme self-blame and guilt, you will break free from the state of being out of control."
Everyone was incredulous upon hearing this, as nothing like this had ever happened during the time they had spent together.
No one knows when Qiuhe started to become like this; the thought of such an unstable element existing within him is truly unsettling.
Everyone was thinking that if there were any more adventures in the future, wouldn't it be very dangerous, especially if they encountered puzzles or something?
That would inevitably waste time, and the method to restore Qiuhe to normal was far too harsh.
He needs to experience extreme self-blame and guilt before he can return to normal.
Everyone was now at a loss, and unable to think of a solution, they decided to leave first.
Everyone who had successfully returned to land felt exhausted, but seeing that the sun was just about to set, Tian Yaochen said from the side:
"It seems we haven't been walking for too long; it's only afternoon now," they said, but despite saying that, everyone felt extremely tired and sleepy.
It was as if everyone hadn't slept well, and they couldn't help but yawn. Just then, someone suddenly appeared in everyone's sight.
Everyone turned to look and discovered that it was Carles, and standing next to him was Navelette.
When Kares saw Navia, his panicked face instantly relaxed and he smiled again.
When Navia saw it was Kares, she excitedly ran over, and Kares hugged her tightly.
"Navia, where have you been these past two days? Do you know how worried your father was?"
Everyone looked bewildered upon hearing Kares's words. At that moment, Kyle spoke up, "In underwater ruins, none of us can see the outside world."
"So everyone might be experiencing a time difference. You might feel like only a morning has passed, but judging from the situation, it's already the afternoon of the second day!"
Upon hearing this, everyone suddenly realized what was going on. Navia had initially been excitedly recounting her adventures to Kares, but her voice gradually grew softer and softer as she spoke.
Then she fell asleep in Carles' arms. Seeing this, Carles understood.
My daughter must have been taken out crazy by that little bastard named Qiuhe again.
And he hadn't slept all night. The more Kares thought about it, the angrier he became, and he angrily looked up at Qiuhe.
Seeing Kares' unfriendly gaze, Qiuhe lowered his head in guilt.
Although he had promised Navia he would take her out to play, repeatedly taking other people's daughters to dangerous places...
What father wouldn't be angry? While angry, Kares also remembered what Qiuhe had said that day.
"If you don't want Navia to get too close to me anymore, then you should be a good father."
"Spend more time with her. If you can't do that, don't blame me."
"I'm just doing what you can't do, fulfilling the promise I made."
Carles wasn't an unreasonable person; he was well aware of these principles. However, no matter how reasonable the words might be,
He also couldn't tolerate a fickle gigolo taking his daughter out for a whole day and night, and exhausting her to such an extent.