Night World Players

Chapter 177 Even if Canaan is broken, I will definitely fall in love with you again (5k)

"...Then, Gray and I said our goodbyes on the beach."

"Using the Fool's Library, I passed on everything I knew... from the basics to my fantasies of the future world, all to that little gray-haired girl."

The morning air is very fresh.

The pale golden sunlight filtered through the glass window, leaving mottled shadows on the wooden table.

Rusty sat at the wooden table, eating breakfast and talking quietly.

Amys sat across the table, listening quietly to Last's story.

This girl has always been accustomed to having her breakfast in advance, and then watching him eat quietly beside him... After seeing that Rust had eaten up all the food she prepared, Amys would show a very satisfied expression.

The quiet time filled with golden colors passed by bit by bit.

"Although strictly speaking, what Leader Sissel and I did undoubtedly looks a bit like we're just being hands-off."

"Everything that followed was handed over to Gray, forcing her to bear the weight of human souls on her fragile shoulders."

"However, as Leader Cecil said, I also believe it from the bottom of my heart—"

"In that vast new world where legends no longer exist, Grey might truly be able to lead people and find a bright future for civilization."

Rast paused for a moment and drank the last half bowl of soup in his hand.

"above……"

"This is the final story of the shorekeeper, Last, in the Sixth Epoch."

And on the other side of the wooden table.

As Last stopped his story, a look of lingering satisfaction appeared on Amy's delicate white face.

"Leader Cecil..."

"And the mission he inherited, called 'Shore Keeper'?"

She blinked, a hint of heaviness still lingering in her sky-blue eyes.

It was as if she had come to that dark and depressing broken coast with Rast and was witnessing the tragic and fatal battle with her own eyes.

"That is indeed an ideal that glitters and shines like gold."

"But, precisely because that ideal is so brilliant and dazzling..."

"So much so that those who chase after the dazzling light are often blinded by it and ignore the happiness that belongs only to them beneath the light."

The blonde girl's whispers mixed with the morning sunlight, carrying a faint warmth.

"Just like you, Rast, in the past, you have never known what happiness is, and naturally, you have never thought about cherishing yourself."

"And at the end of that road lies the abyss of destruction."

Just as Amis herself said—

No matter what happens, no matter what Rast becomes, whether he is just or evil, brave or cowardly... Amys will always stand on Rast's side.

Therefore, Amis, who has been with Last from the beginning and knows very clearly his obsession with the "Shore Keeper", will never deny or try to change Last's paranoia.

All Amis could do was to stay by Rast's side, accompany him at all times, and keep a close eye on him - to ensure that even if Rast was trapped in the desperate time loop of Deep Blue Harbor, he would never degenerate and cross the final bottom line, and there would be no turning back.

If Last's past life was compared to a machine driven by gears, then Amis's existence was like a machine repair shop, patching up the damaged and dilapidated body time and time again.

Time and again, he used the warmth of his soul to warm Last's cold and broken heart, preventing him from falling into the abyss of self-destruction.

She knew that Rast had never been happy for her in his life, and therefore had never cherished herself... That was why Amys had taken so much trouble to research various kinds of dishes, because she wanted Rast to have his own happiness in her heart.

And now, Amy's efforts that have lasted for who knows how many years have finally paid off.

The young man who used to be like a machine, driven by gears and only knew how to act towards the preset goals in the program - now, in his heart like the core of a steam furnace, the yearning for his own happiness has finally been ignited.

"To be honest, I actually have very complicated feelings about Leader Sissel."

"Because if it weren't for his instructions, you, Rast, wouldn't have to take such a huge risk to sneak into the gravekeepers and fight against an ancient legendary powerful man."

"But I also have to thank him..."

A slight glint flickered in Amy's eyes. "Because, if it weren't for Cecil pulling you out of the abyss and teaching you a profound final lesson, Last."

"With your stubborn, stubborn mind, Rust... I wonder how long it will take before you truly understand the importance of cherishing yourself."

"But no matter what, the final result is finally good."

"If that's the case, that's enough."

The blonde girl's voice became lighter. She collected the tableware after Rast finished his meal with light movements and took it back to the kitchen.

"Yeah, thankfully it ended well."

Last lazily leaned back in the wooden chair, feeling the tiredness and warmth rising from his lower abdomen spreading throughout his limbs.

It was not until this moment that he felt for the first time that he had truly escaped from the tense combat state in the previous night world.

The air around him was no longer as oppressive and suffocating as it was during the Battle of Broken Coast, and the tense nerves in his heart slowly relaxed.

For him.

This border town called Canaan, and the blonde girl not far away who had tied her long hair into a side ponytail with a hairband and was washing dishes in the kitchen with light movements, was Rast's spiritual haven.

So no matter what happened in the night world, whether it was facing a legend or fighting a life-and-death battle with the remnant spirit of an ancient god in the spiritual world, Lust would never be confused or waver...

Because he knew that in a distant place, there was a girl sitting in a small wooden house in the town, quietly waiting for his return.

"In that case, I'm really lucky."

"The battle at Mingyuan was actually the first time the forbidden weapon, the Zenith Sword, was used in actual combat. Yet, it worked flawlessly, successfully killing a Legend instantly..."

"As expected of the Second Princess Ophelia, the most gifted mechanic in the entire empire? The mechanical constructs she produces are truly of guaranteed quality."

This was just a casual remark made by Rast while sitting on the sofa.

However, just as he finished speaking, he noticed some strange gazes coming towards him from the kitchen.

Rast looked in the direction of the gaze and saw that Amis had already put the washed dishes back into the closet and was looking at him with puffed cheeks.

Stare~~
"Ophelia...is she the half-sister of Miss Hiltina that you and I were talking about, Rust?"

She folded her arms, walked back from the kitchen to the living room, and sat down in the chair next to Luster.

"The princess sisters..."

"I didn't expect that classmate Laster is so lucky in love. He's only been enrolled in Fanxing University in another world for less than half a year, and he's already encountered such a development that's like the protagonist in a harem novel."

"That is, is there a possibility—"

Looking at the angry Xiao Ai beside him, Rast explained, "I actually haven't met Hiltina's sister yet."

"My relationship with Ophelia is currently still at the 'friends of friends' stage, with Dean Gin and Hiltina acting as intermediaries."

"And based on what Dean Yin said and my own guess, that little girl is probably a bit of a morbid sister complex... Maybe right now she's obsessed with how to get me away from her sister."

"Though that's true."

"However, given how Lust-san has progressed in his dream world, and the Night Blade properties of your "Fool's Library," I estimate that things will soon develop as I predicted."

Amis sighed softly, but the vigilance in her words did not diminish in the slightest. "Besides, I really don't like Princess Ophelia."

"Although there were reasons for this, if it weren't for her own initiative, Miss Axia wouldn't have entered the same night world as you, and wouldn't have been forced into the conspiracy against the resurrection of the dead due to the influence of the night world."

"If that weren't the case, then you, Rast, wouldn't have to take the immense risk of diving into the underworld to rescue Miss Axia and face the remnant spirit of a legend and ancient god."

"Furthermore, I would never let myself get so badly injured like this." The slight anger directed at someone in her beautiful sky-blue eyes quietly faded away.

What replaced it was an indescribable heartache.

Earlier, when Last had told her about his experiences in the underworld, such as the flower of flesh and blood that blossomed from his heart and how he had barely survived by relying on "desperate pleading", Amys had truly felt her heart empty as well.

It was as if the girl's own heart was also torn apart by the blooming flower of flesh and blood.

"If I could meet Miss Ophelia in another world, I would definitely give her a stern warning."

"Let her understand that even though she is the princess, you, Last, are not her property—"

"Not even an existence that can be manipulated or plotted against by her at will."

Listening to Amis's cold voice that did not hide her aggressiveness at all, Last was also a little surprised.

In his impression, Amys has always been gentle and kind, just like the scenery of Canaan, peaceful and beautiful.

But now it seems that perhaps the gentleness and beauty that Xiao Ai usually shows is not her normal state.

In other words, that is the side that only appears when facing oneself.

"Okay, let's not talk about these annoying things for now."

Amis clapped her hands lightly, and her voice changed from the previous coldness mixed with a hint of anger to a cheerful tone.

"Let's change our mood a bit and imagine what will happen next."

She stood up and pushed open the window in the living room near the balcony. The morning breeze, accompanied by fresh air, immediately blew up the curtains and blew towards the two of them.

Through the window, you can see the shimmering lake, the slowly rotating white windmill beside the lake, and the lush green forest next to it.

And at the end of the forest, there is the endless blue sky above the snow-capped mountains.

It was indeed a beautiful view. Even though Last had no idea how many times he had witnessed such scenery, he still couldn't help but immerse himself in it when he saw it again.

"Last, your current goal is to conquer the Night World and allow human civilization to survive the inevitable doomsday at the end of every era."

"Just as every shore keeper has done before."

Amy's sweet voice reminded Rust of soft moonlight.

"So, if one day, the Night World is truly successfully cleared... and the final catastrophe of this era is successfully overcome."

"After all crises that threaten human civilization are completely resolved and the Shore Guardians' historical mission is completely fulfilled, what are you going to do, Last?"

After clearing the Night World...what to do?

Rast couldn't help but be slightly startled.

This was indeed a question he had never thought about before.

After all, in his past life, he conquered the night world, cut off disasters, and pursued the ideal of being called "Shore Keeper"... This was the only meaning of his life. It was for this goal that he stubbornly survived in the world. Apart from this, his heart was empty.

However, the night world will eventually be cleared, and the fate of the era constantly restarting will eventually come to an end.

Just like after the big devil is killed, the hero loses the meaning of existence... If the night world is really cleared, then the shore guardian will naturally complete his historical mission and there is no need for him to continue to exist.

And then, what should he do?

"I don't know... I've never really thought about this question."

He smiled and said, "Perhaps I'll continue playing around with life by adopting various identities and professions, just like I did in Deep Blue Harbor... along with you, Xiao Ai, and the companions I've met along the way."

"But when I get tired of playing, I think I will eventually return to Canaan, just like a traveler always drags his tired body back home."

"Really? But in that case, our home would be too small to accommodate so many people."

Amys looked at the small two-story wooden house, her voice filled with a hint of distress. "Maybe we need to spend some time expanding it."

"but--"

She leaned towards the boy.

The next moment, Rast felt a soft body leaning gently in his arms, with warmth.

Amys gently closed her eyes, feeling the breeze coming from the lake, which made her light golden hair slightly messy.

“It’s so peaceful.”

The girl in his arms whispered softly, "If in the future..."

"I wish it could always be like today."

Listening to Amys' words, Rast's heart couldn't help but tremble slightly.

The hesitation and anxiety that had been slightly alleviated by the girl before once again surged into his heart.

Because he knew very well that the daily life that the girl in front of him hoped for was not real, and there was a high probability that it was a false thing built on lies.

Just like the morning bubbles, no matter how beautiful and brilliant they are, they will eventually burst.

"Xiao Ai..."

A hint of hesitation flashed in his eyes, and he spoke softly.

"Do you remember what I told you before about the relationship between virtual games, NPCs, and players?"

The girl leaning in his arms did not answer, but just nodded slightly.

"If, I mean if."

"If Canaan, and everything we are in right now, is just a false game, then one day the world will perish and be destroyed just like the end of the game."

"Then, can our relationship still exist? Or will it be like that between players and NPCs in a game, where all the bonds and emotions exist only for the game itself, and will cease to exist once the game is over..."

"Laster, I'm really getting angry."

Amys sat up again and spoke in a very serious, even slightly angry tone.

"I'm not the kind of girl who would just pick someone casually."

She stretched out her white hands and gently held Luster's face.

"Even if the world called Canaan is truly just a false lie, a dream, a game that could end at any moment."

"But there's only one thing I've learned in my life, and that's to never give up no matter what happens."

Amys gently opened her arms and embraced Luster.

"If this world were to collapse like a game, I don't know what we would lose, or what difficulties and obstacles we would encounter."

"But if that day ever comes, then no matter what happens to me..."

"Being separated by the vast distance of the universe, or having lost the memories of you and me in Canaan, or even being in different times and spaces, with you at one end of the long river of history and me at the other end, separated by tens of thousands of years—"

"Then I will definitely overcome all these obstacles and meet you again, Rust."

"Then……"

"Falling in love with yours again."

Feeling the softness of the girl's body in my arms, listening to the frank, serious and strong words without a trace of hesitation in my ears.

The last trace of hesitation in Rast's heart also dissipated.

He didn't say anything else, just emptied his mind and brain, quietly feeling -

The warmth conveyed by the two hearts leaning on each other.

(End of this chapter)