Staring at the scene in the sky, Ning Feng, who had not changed his posture for a long time, reacted to the joking voice and turned his head to look over his shoulder.
[Why is it that you look like you want to cry? Is it a bit sad? 】
Sad?
Ning Feng turned around and continued to watch the end of the world in the sky. Ning Feng was silent for a moment.
Perhaps because his mood was really wrong, Ning Feng did not argue with Ariana. He sighed tiredly and said softly:
"Actually... there are some."
Ning Feng understood Reinhardt's thoughts.
Reinhardt really has no strength to continue living. After achieving his goal, there is no point in continuing to work hard.
As a king, he lost all his subjects and the country was already destroyed.
As a person, his wife has died, his friends have died for him, and his relatives have left early.
There is nothing attractive about this world for him.
His death also became natural and should not be an accident.
The too straightforward answer made Ariana, who was already prepared to pull, a little strange. The black cat tilted his head and asked:
[Why? Wouldn’t it be nice if the hero died well? 】
[In the end, it also ushered in an epic ending, isn’t it pretty good? 】
Can this situation be good?
Maybe.
The hero who carried everything did not fall in the end and successfully destroyed the evil gods.
It seems to be a happy ending.
but……
"Even if I understand this, I'm still a little sad."
The world in front of us returned to its original dilapidated appearance, with only decaying ruins and broken walls, but no life.
Is this kind of world really what they expect?
After the hero saved the world, he did not receive the thanks he deserved.
Peace is destined for heroes, but there are no heroes to enjoy peace.
There was no way Ning Feng could accept such an ending with complete peace of mind.
Moreover, in this story, is there really anyone responsible for all this tragedy?
That false god?
He is indeed responsible for more than 90% of this tragedy. He is the one who caused it all.
But, is He really an unpardonable sinner?
Was it his own desire to become a god that forced him to take the path of a god?
No.
It's a world where no one can see hope at all.
It was the terrible era when the gods were sitting high in the sky and the eyes of the gods were all over the world, which caused all these tragedies.
"They are all pioneers, but later due to some reasons, they became what they are today, resulting in tragedies over the past thousand years."
Previously, at the Stargazer, Ning Feng had already learned the true identity of the false god in this world.
An ascensionist who died due to special reasons.
Like the other earliest pioneers, he was also a person who made sacrifices and efforts to resist the gods, and gave everything he had to explore the road.
But in the end, he turned into a fallen false god and an evil dragon in the eyes of the brave who needed to be destroyed.
In this world, the most sober and confused existence is Himself.
Gently gritting his teeth, Ning Feng slowly exhaled and retracted his gaze from the sky.
This damn fate.
Damn it!
The anger in his heart dissipated as soon as it arose, and Ning Feng's mentality returned to calm.
Anger is of no use, at least not in a world that will never change again.
Just when he calmed down, Ning Feng noticed the gaze on his shoulder and turned his head to look.
Looking into his jewel-like scarlet eyes, he spoke softly:
"Are you going to laugh at my weakness?"
【How could it be~】
【You are quite cute like this.】
At least, now you seem like a living person, not a cold machine with only pros and cons in its eyes.
[Speaking of which, why didn’t you take action in the end? With the authority of the gods, you have the ability to change everything. 】
"No, that's enough. I respect Reinhardt's choice."
"We have interfered enough in this world, let it end the way we want."
Gently supporting Toxilin's waist, Ning Feng picked her up again like a princess.
"Besides, there's no way I'm going to stop here."
"There are still people waiting for me, and there are other things to do."
This should not be the place where he stops, this is just a small part of his journey.
[Now, have you had enough of the realm of gods? 】
【What are your views on gods?】
【Disgusted? Or what?】
What do you think of this almost omnipotent feeling?
Are you addicted to it and embarking on the path of chasing the footsteps of gods?
Or are you afraid of it and never dare to get involved again?
She was looking forward to his answer.
Lowering his head, he looked at Shirin, whose face had turned rosy because he had been using his divine power to repair her body, and said softly:
"For the future I want, this kind of power... is not enough."
After seeing the power of the gods, and even experiencing that power personally.
Ning Feng showed no cowardice or fear, and never felt powerless against such a huge gap.
While feeling the pressure personally, he revealed his greed, or ambition.
In order to prevent the gods from bringing disaster to this world again, in order to not be without the ability to fight back at that time.
The authority of a mere false god...
not enough!
Ning Feng needs more strength.
more and more!
After hearing Ning Feng's answer, Ariana's expression remained unchanged.
【What a good answer!】
[My sister likes children like you who work hard~]
In the tone of a rich woman who has a lot of money and is qualified to spend money wantonly in the male model club, Ariana said playfully:
【So this experience ends here? 】
Ning Feng was silent for a while, then shook his head slightly and said:
"Wait a moment, there is one last thing to deal with."
This story still lacks a final ending.
The scale of space became clear and easy to understand in Ning Feng's eyes. With one step, he crossed half the distance of the kingdom.
Greywater Town.
This town is no longer as busy as what Ningfeng saw before, and the original villagers have disappeared along with the others.
But in this dying town, there is still one soul left.
"Sure enough, you are still insisting..."
Nodding with some understanding, Ning Feng came to the last soul and entered the house that he had been invited to before.
The furnishings in the room still looked cold and shabby, but Bishop Charlie, who originally looked like a mummy, had now changed his appearance.
His appearance changed back to that of a human being, and there was no trace of death on his body, exuding a faint illusory golden color.
But he did not disappear with the others, but persisted and did not give up.
He is waiting for someone.
Someone who brings them ultimate relief.
As if he sensed the person coming, Charlie opened his eyes with difficulty.
"Sir, you are indeed back..."
After getting up with difficulty, Charlie staggered towards Ning Feng, but on the way his legs shattered and turned into golden light, and he fell down in front of Ning Feng.
Holding Xilin in his arms, Ning Feng made no other reaction and spoke calmly:
"I have fulfilled my promise."
"All of you have been saved."
The world has not returned to its original state, but they have gained a freedom they never had.
Charlie saluted Ning Feng solemnly, lowered his head and said:
"Thank you, I already know."
Charlie felt the disappearance of the villagers and watched them turn into light points and merge into the sky as they bowed to him.
At that time, he held back, forcibly changed his will, and tried hard to fight against death.
He just wanted to personally thank the benefactor who saved himself and the world.
"Thank you for saving us and allowing us to rest in peace..."
"You are a real hero, thank you again!"
But now, he doesn't have to insist anymore.
Starting with his broken legs, Charlie gradually joined the dissipating team.
"However, there is something I need to tell you again."
Ning Feng's calm voice made Charlie stunned for a moment, and he raised his head blankly.
Facing the puzzled gaze, Ning Feng was silent for a moment, but finally decided to tell Charlie the truth.
"...the god you believe in has not actually abandoned you."
Charlie's movements instantly stiffened, his eyes widened in disbelief, and even the dissipation of his body slowed down a lot.
Since he decided to tell the truth, Ning Feng had no intention of becoming the Riddler. He slowly explained:
"He had some accidents and fell into a special state. The changes that happened to you all came from his crazy and fallen self."
"He has not given up on you, but has been working hard to fight with that dark and corrupt self for a whole thousand years."
"The intersection of day and night, the change of truth and falsehood, every time He is fighting against his own evil thoughts."
"Sorry, I said before that it was my fault that He gave up on you."
Lowering his head, Ning Feng said softly:
"He..."
"I never gave up on you until the end."
Click.
There was a broken sound in the room.
That was Charlie's body that was gradually fragmenting and dying, and it was also the final shackle that imprisoned his body.
The end of the story.
The lonely priest who insists on believing in the gods, and the gods who silently protect the believers.
A story like this shouldn't end like that.
"Ahhhh..."
Golden teardrops fell from the old man's eyes and dissipated in mid-air.
In front of Ning Feng, the old man kneeling on the ground was crying like a child who had done something wrong.
Do you feel aggrieved because you have endured thousands of years of torture?
Or was he moved by the discovery that he had not been abandoned by the gods?
Or do you feel ashamed that your beliefs are not religious enough?
perhaps……
All of these are available.
It turns out that the Lord does not care.
It turned out that the Lord had been watching him all along.
"Oh God!"
"I'm guilty!"
"I'm guilty ahhhhh!!!"
The words in Charlie's mouth were intermittent, and even Ning Feng could not hear them clearly, but he did not delve into them.
He didn't lean over to help him, nor did he say any words of comfort.
He just lowered his head quietly, watching the poor old man shed tears with calm and pitiful eyes.
This story no longer needs his intervention.
And after crying, Charlie's disappearance did not stop, but the speed of disappearance became faster and faster.
It was like there was nothing binding him in the end.
He can already return to the embrace of the Lord.
Just before dissipating, Charlie looked at Ning Feng and bowed his head sincerely to him:
"Thanks you!"
"Thanks you!!!"
In his last sincere gratitude, Ning Feng turned around and left, never to be seen again.
…
…
Returning to the palace, Ning Feng looked at the throne that was broken due to the battle and nodded silently.
[Why did you clear his name at the end? If you don’t tell Charlie, he won’t know the answer, right? 】
The black cat swung its tail on its shoulder, tilted its head and asked:
[Giving him a perfect dream, isn’t it also a kind of tenderness? 】
Ning Feng shook his head and walked slowly to the throne.
"First of all, he has the qualifications to know all this."
A devout believer can still maintain his own existence in this world.
Don’t such people have the qualifications to know the truth?
"Secondly, the person who ascended to God was also a human being before he became a false god."
"No, even if he becomes a god and has the authority of a god... he is still a human being."
He sacrificed for mankind, explored for the future of mankind, and died for the freedom of mankind.
Isn't this kind of existence human?
He is qualified.
He did not die as a false god, but as a human being.
[That's it...then I'll take back your experience card~]
As Ning Feng nodded, the power in his body that did not belong to him quickly passed away as if he was discouraged, and then he felt a strong sense of fatigue and weakness.
Emptiness, like the emptiness of losing something precious, filled my mind.
It was an unreal feeling caused by having touched the realm of gods but falling again.
"…………"
Ning Feng knew that it was not his own power, at least not yet, and he could not indulge in that kind of imaginary power.
The black cat jumped off the shoulder and landed on the ground.
[Speaking of which, how was your game? How do you plan to explain all this to them? 】
"No matter what, I have no interest in the outcome."
Those little things are fine no matter what, I'm not in the mood to think about them right now.
There are too many things to consider, and there is still a lot of uncertainty in the future.
Enough is enough, the world would be fine as it is.
Knowing that his mood was wrong, Ariana did not ask any more questions, but asked softly:
【Now, what else do you want to do?】
"go home."
Holding back the emptiness in his body, Ning Feng sighed feebly and said softly:
"Right now, I just want to go home."
I just want to go back to my family and have a good rest.
With his back against the broken throne, he hugged Shirin tightly in his arms and slowly closed his eyes in the rising sun.
The black cat with enchanting eyes turned into a girl at this moment, and the illusory figure came behind Ning Feng with gentle footsteps.
She sat lightly on the handle of the throne, stretched her arms lazily, and then closed her eyes with Ning Feng.
Enjoy this moment of peace together.
(Volume 3, "The Observed", end.)
－－－－－－Digression－－－－－
The third volume is finally finished. I feel like I have to wait until tomorrow to write the summary. I’m so tired now, hahahaha.