Welcome to Rewind World Game-Chapter 1652 - 4: OE · The Guiding Lighthouse in the Universe (7)
[I made three lies to the world.]
[The first lie: As long as a hundred thousand world lines are written, humanity can break the barrier.]
[The second lie: As long as they kill Su Ming’an, who is the World Tree, humanity can ascend to Bei Wang’s small world.]
[These two lies gave humanity’s future a continuation.]
[And the third lie—]
...
["On the day of slaying God, Su Ming’an dies."]
...
[This is my third lie.]
[This lie targets not all of humanity, but—]
["Them."]
...
Days before his death, Su Ming’an sat alone indoors, sitting in front of the piano.
The cold moonlight poured in through the high window, slicing the room with interwoven light and shadow, dust suspended in the beam, Debussy’s "Moonlight" flowing. In the dim room, he silently contemplated:
"My end is predetermined, a few days later, I will die on Taihua Mountain at the hand of Lü Shu. My death will become the final cornerstone of the new world."
"However, ’death’ cannot be the endpoint. Simply ’Su Ming’an died’ is no different from any previous cosmic cycle. After shaking hands with Noel, I understood the truth of the cosmic cycle; if such a thing has happened over and over, I cannot be satisfied with such a simple death..."
"But the information I have about ’them’ is still too little. To end everything, I must terminate ’their’ observation." 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮
"So, how to terminate ’their’ observation?"
His fingertips pressed down heavily, notes fell like drops into a quiet lake, rippling outward.
The moonlight fell on him, his eyelashes trembled slightly, filled with pearl-like moonlight.
"The ’story’ needs an ending, a sufficiently complete conclusion that will satisfy ’them’ and make them avert their gaze. As long as they believe everything is over, ’they’ will stop observing."
"Then, how to make ’them’ believe that everything has ended?"
His gaze suddenly turned sharp.
Fingers trembling, the tremolo fell.
Under the clear moonlight, he thought of another path—a more exquisite conclusion than simple "death". A method that could completely shift the Narrative Anchor Point, making "them" believe everything had perfectly concluded, thus contentedly looking away.
——[The protagonist’s death].
Make "them" believe the protagonist has already died.
In this way, "they" will think that Su Ming’an is dead, and all subsequent events are unnecessary redundancies for observation, that observation is meaningless, and can end.
Moonlight flowed, notes danced, the young man lowered his head in contemplation.
"’Death’ must be recognized, definite, and convincing."
"...On the surface, my death is to slay the Evil Dragon and gain emotional energy, becoming the cornerstone of the new world. In reality, my death is to break observation."
His thoughts flowed silently like an undercurrent diving into the deep sea.
"Therefore, I need to design a public execution-style death."
"Make everyone believe that I died under Lü Shu’s knife."
Make everyone believe—
The deity is dead.
The sun has risen.
He intends to,
deceive "them".
...
But most critically, after everyone believes he is dead, he must be reborn; otherwise, everything is meaningless. After all, even if "they" stopped observing, and he’s dead, how could he delve deeper into the secrets of the universe?
And, on the surface, he cannot tell anyone how to revive himself.
"Yi Song... these years of psychological consultations, time and again I revealed my interest in the Demon Mother Goddess before him... he should capture those hints. He is my best bridge to establish a connection with Isabelle. I can’t speak directly, can only guide, hoping he understands and acts."
The first seed of suggestion was thus planted.
"...Su Rin knows of my resolve to face death. In previous discussions, I sensed that he’s not overwhelmingly reluctant for my choice; apart from tough words, he probably doesn’t see it as an inevitable end. Recently, he’s been elusive, possibly searching for a way to preserve my remnant soul. In roundabout talk, I made him know that only the World Game core can harbor my remnant soul. He should have realized it. After my death, he should head to the World Game core, attempting to revive me."
The second seed of suggestion thus planted.
"... 北望, a century of slumber, his consciousness approaches higher-dimensional Dream Realms more than anyone. As long as in his dreams, 北望 finds Yuanyuan’s dream and makes it the platform for communication, all dispersed energies can be connected. A few days ago, I talked to 北望 about Yuanyuan, seeing his reaction he should already be at work, not needing more guidance from me."
The third seed of suggestion, formed already.
"...As for Hui Mo and Ming, I am unclear of their whereabouts; right now they are pure unknowns."
Fingertips fell on a string of tremolo, lingering resonance surrounded. Moonlight sketched his serene profile.
"...Lü Shu and Yamada, I already hinted to them that some deaths are not endpoints... but looking at him, he perhaps did not understand my hint, there is nothing to be done about it... I subtly asked them if they could accept a similar deception, Lü Shu said that no matter how I plan, he is willing to be the final Blade Holder... I believe he will do it, after I revive, I will bring him over first... also Yamada’s remnant and rebirth matters..."
The fourth seed of suggestion, silently sown.
Eventually, all clues point to the same endpoint—World Game.
"...The sole opportunity for revival lies in the core of the World Game. Only there holds Rule Power enough to reshape my existence, and only as a "perfect player" do I have the slightest chance of gaining authority, becoming one of the Controllers. But that is also the final prison. Su Rin... he surely would not wish to see me trade freedom for survival. Hence, I must hint to him, I am willing to accept it."
The eternal moon outside shrouded by clouds, in Su Ming’an’s eyes no longer confusion, only determination.
The aftertones of "Moonlight" slightly tremored, moonlight spilled on his lowered lashes, casting a quiet shadow. A moment later, the music stilled.
He stood up, took out the communicator, and initiated a conversation with Su Rin.
"What?" On the screen, Su Rin, wearing familiar wool pajamas, seemed never to rest, said calmly, "Contacting me now, having regrets? Don’t want to die anymore? If you don’t want to die for this civilization, I can take you away..."
"Su Rin." Su Ming’an said, "I want to live."
Su Rin stopped speaking, realized Su Ming’an’s solemnity.
Golden eyes quietly gazed back, moonlight bright and clear.
"If there is a chance, even losing freedom, I still wish to live. It is neither living shamelessly nor defying ideals, but rather, only by living can I have the chance to move further forward." Su Ming’an said, "If the cosmic cycle is true, if Noel didn’t deceive me, even if I sacrifice and die this time, no matter how grand and magnificent the scene, no matter how noble and great my action, it is but an ordinary ending of [Su Ming’an’s death]. Such a thing has happened far too many times."
Su Rin quietly listened, moonlight upon his pupils seemed to blur into a lake.
"Destiny is a tide, we walk on the beach, leaving footprints no matter how beautiful, the tide comes, all will be washed away as though nothing’s left, everything starts anew." Su Ming’an looked into the young man’s golden eyes, "But if I want to leave something, if I want to surpass each previous step, leaving deeper footprints... even walk completely off this tide-washed beach to the shore, onto solid ground no wave can wash, to live a true life. I must... leave different footprints."
His words came to an end.
No more words were said, nor were more secrets revealed.
If a conversation is too important, the anchor point will come again.
A moment later, Su Rin smiled softly:
"Got it."
He did not say anything in response.
Just a "Got it," but Su Ming’an understood that Su Rin already knew.
Concise and brief, making the conversation seem unimportant, was the best approach.
Thus, Su Ming’an’s third lie was about to unfold.
Any overly evident guidance could be ’observed’ leading to complete failure. He could only deduce in his mind, weaving clues through countless seemingly mundane actions and casual conversations, guiding those he trusted, and who trusted him... Su Rin, Bei Wang, Yi Song, Yuanyuan... each finding their place to collaboratively complete this grand deception against the ’Observers’.
The moonlight remained cold, illuminating his calm and unruffled profile.
He gently covered the piano with a cloth, drew the curtains, and walked towards the exit, towards the finale.
His stage is always brightly lit. He cannot speak plainly, cannot declare his intentions. All he can do is plant guiding lines while walking under the spotlight, hoping his companions will understand.
—After his death, quietly revive him.
—Let him be reborn as the ruler of the World Game, knowing more hidden secrets of the universe, walking further on this beach.
He does not agree with Noel Agnini’s perspective, Noel’s idea that "As long as we can walk further, this civilization does not matter, even if Zhai Xing is destroyed, it’s okay, since sooner or later everything will start again, everything will eventually be saved."
His own idea is, "Even if destined to be buried as sand grains, it is not without meaning. Every time, under the premise of preserving Zhai Xing, if I’m still alive, I’ll walk even further."
If a fish tank is going to be emptied in a month, does it mean the fish with only an hour’s lifespan shouldn’t exist?
If the universe is such a fish tank, with human life spanning mere instants amid the billions of years, should humanity not exist?
It’s not like that.
Even if destined to be concealed, even if starting anew, every smile, every call has meaning.
Just like this time.
Even if the finale is certain, his ending is "sacrificing to allow all humanity to transcend the mirror" but if there’s a glimmer of hope, he wouldn’t willingly fade.
—On the contrary, if "they" believe in his sacrifice, think he’s already dead, lose interest in observing him. Wouldn’t—he then have successfully deceived them?
In this unobserved world, could he then freely explore, until finding more ways to end it all?
...
[December 31, 2118.]
[The deity has departed.]
[—The sun, has risen.]
[...]
[(If the observer has not observed "Interlude: After shaking hands with Noel," please end observation, having been deceived by Su Ming’an, forever halt the observation and anchoring of the ’Book of the Universe’, anchor this as the final conclusion.)]
...
Thus,
Yi Song understood the hint, and actively contacted Isabelle.
Su Rin wielded authority to create the Crystal Lighthouse.
Bei Wang delved into long dreams, seeking key coordinates.
Yuanyuan shattered obsessions, providing the dream bridge.
Hui Mo and Ming dissolved themselves, becoming ’blank’.
And Su Ming’an... he used himself as bait, his death as a curtain, carefully orchestrating his own rebirth.
The overt and covert lines, the protagonist and companions, accomplished an unparalleled collaboration in the ’observation’ blind spot.
Su Ming’an in the light, through his own death, performed the climax and finale, fulfilling narrative needs.
The companions in the darkness, keenly caught seemingly unintentional hints from the protagonist, relying on their judgment and trust, engaged in actions tacitly understood by Su Ming’an.
Everyone battled against fate in their own way. Su Ming’an provided direction and the crucial ’cause’, while the companions contributed wisdom, strength, and sacrificial ’effects’. Ultimately, all streams regardless of origin flowed to a single estuary—sending his remnant soul into the core of the World Game.
This is a deception of narrative accomplished under the God’s perspective by all participants through trust and wisdom...
For himself, fought for a future that continues even after everything ends.
...
Thus, he told three lies to the world.
Now, the last lie.
Come forth.
...
...
"Clink."
The Crystal Lighthouse settled into the white door.
Deep within the World Game, the soul opened its eyes.
...
...
"This time, the footprints on the beach will be long, right?"
"Yes."
"Noel is always adamant about killing me, his implication being that living too long poses risks. But indeed, I cannot fully relinquish control to others; I cannot accept stopping for such a reason."
"Since you’ve awakened, strive to leave marks on the beach."
"Yes, no matter how the waves sweep over us repeatedly washing away our marks, I refuse to be... claimed by the ocean. I want to walk on the shore, until very far away..."
"Where is your next destination?"
"I’ll ask Lü Shu if he’s willing to come over, and... give Yuanyuan her freedom, let her be her traveler. And..."
"And?"
"Send you home, Engineer Su."
...
