Chapter 9: Sound of the Eclipse
"Yo, Prophet, you're back?"
"Mm…"
"There are some freshly made apple pies here, want some?"
"Wait a moment…"
"Oh! Prophet! You're in good shape now, right! Let's go to the training ground downstairs for some rehabilitation exercises! I won't hit you too hard!"
"No need…"
"Li Lin , are you not feeling well?"
"It's nothing, let me be alone for a bit…"
"…???"
What's wrong with this guy?
Croissant, Exusiai, Lappland, and the others exchanged glances, looking at Li Lin, who seemed to have lost his mind, with puzzled expressions. He was perfectly fine when he went out just now; how did he come back looking like he encountered something that shattered his worldview (- destroying one's three views: world view, values, life view), completely listless?
However, although everyone present was puzzled, they didn't say anything, just letting Li Lin walk into the dormitory alone and close the main door. Texas, however, seemed to vaguely understand something, looking at that bedroom with a somewhat worried expression. But seeing Lappland muttering about not bringing her bedroom key and casually walking towards the bedroom, she still had to step out and stop Lappland, allowing Li Lin some space to think by himself.
And inside the bedroom, Li Lin threw himself onto the bed, staring blankly at the bed board above, feeling like nothing was right since he woke up.
How peaceful and happy life was before that attack.
Delivering packages with several beautiful girls, sometimes shooting the breeze with them, and even getting to see some eye-pleasing benefits. The girls, once familiar, didn't have many defenses, allowing Li Lin to feast his eyes while also couldn't help but thank the world for its kindness to him.
But such a stable and peaceful daily life was shattered by one delivery. He was seriously injured, had to be sent to the hospital to have a new body reconstructed. After it was done, just a few days after coming out, his mind was still stuck on delivering packages and daily routines, yet various major events had already arrived one after another, making Li Lin feel overwhelmed . Just like an AFK mobile game player logging back in after a year, looking at the completely changed game with a blank expression.
Talulah is the leader of the Reunion Movement?
That bear-man uncle encountered that time was the Chairman of Chernobog?
They need to artificially create a huge rift, separate the Oripathy patients, and set off in their own mobile cities into exile?
What is all this?
Is it because I made a choice, and this world has entered the DLC? So the original ** friends (word obscured in original) and other familiar people will reveal inside stories one after another? Or is it because my body has become normal, so the world difficulty has also evolved from the original novice difficulty to the current difficulty?
The head of the Reunion Movement, the young lady who chatted with him about future ideals and life under the moon; these two roles were completely separate in Li Lin's impression. And the iron-fisted, iron-blooded leader and that bear-man uncle who liked looking at scenery, especially extreme landforms, also couldn't be connected in Li Lin's mind. And when the things they were collaborating on were completely presented before Li Lin, he didn't even feel a hint of reality, just boundless bewilderment.
My few words fooled the leader of a large organization? I did a few things and messed with the whole world?
In the original world, I strived for nothing and got nothing, but in this world, even if I don't deliberately strive, these things just come to me?
In this world full of beast-eared moe girls, all he wanted was a peaceful life, without the baptism of war, wanting to do things he liked. But everything happening now had interrupted his original thoughts, original pace, original rhythm.
Just like being inexplicably drawn into a vortex. Every move of his was unconsciously amplified, just like the initial current of the vortex was merely the collision of some currents, yet a single small movement turned into an abnormal distortion through continuous collisions. Li Lin looked at the bed board above his head, his mind full of messy, unsystematic thoughts. Wanting to write something, do something, yet couldn't think of a reason for doing so.
You think you haven't changed anything, you think everything you've done is acceptable, no problems, but this thought itself is wrong.
People living in the world will always affect others because of something.
And someone like him, who can survive through intuition alone, how could the ones he affects be ordinary people?
With a certain realization, Li Lin opened his phone, flipped to the black chatroom APP, and sent a question to Talulah, who seemed to have stopped talking inside.
'Talulah, you lead the Reunion Movement, right?'
'Yes.'
'Why are you doing things the way they are now?'
'In such a long period of work, I have actually realized a key point. Hatred can only breed more hatred. I can retaliate at any time now; my former enemies, everything I hated, were once all I had. But as you said, after deeply understanding everyone, knowing their thoughts, knowing their ideals, I finally know what the Reunion Movement, which I once thought was just an excuse, truly is.'
'Originium, the foundation that triggers technological leaps in this world. But this Originium is built upon the suffering of many people. Its strong toxicity, infectivity, and powerful corrosive ability; some innocent people, deceived people, people framed by conspiracies, pay the price for this era of Originium.'
'Rhodes Island and we have seen too much suffering, yet all this is covered up in the current prosperous age.'
'I have given up hatred, but I will not give up resistance. Someone eventually has to realize that everything they have is built upon the suffering of others. And this suffering absolutely cannot dissipate. It will be Terra's brand, Terra's current phenomenon. I cannot let these sacrifices of the era shed tears while bleeding. My suffering is merely a reflection of this era, and what should I do about all this suffering? Perhaps I will never give up my hatred in this lifetime, but right now, I want to do more.'
'At least the first step, they must face this suffering world. We will not carry out those cruel massacres, our strength is still insufficient, but at least, we should find a homeland. And the one to build our homeland should be your Eden.'
"…"
What the hell is this?
Looking at the instant reply, as if she had been waiting by the phone all along, Li Lin scratched his scalp.
Can't say it's excitement, nor can it be said it's annoyance; this whole affair, exceeding the scope of logical thought, could only bring bewilderment and a strange headache.
Right, didn't that Kal'tsit say that Originium could give him answers?
Li Lin annoyedly tossed his phone aside, took out that inexplicable piece of Originium from his pocket, and looked at the crystal-clear small object. And the moment he looked at the Originium, Li Lin felt a stream of thoughts, an inexplicable idea, surge into his mind.
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I know I haven't been posting as many chapters as I used to. I hope you can forgive me—things have been a bit busy lately. But I'm doing my best to post whenever I can!