Night World Players

Chapter 229 Wherever You Are, That’s My Home (Two in One)

"Does Canaan mean something to me?"

Amys reached out and gently patted the cushion of the dining chair, then sat down opposite Rust.

This was a habit she had learned from Rust when she was little—patting the chair before sitting down…

To this day, some of the habits he had before the time travel have been forgotten even by Last himself, but have been inherited by Amis.

"Let me think... To me, Canaan is like a tree house."

"Tree house?"

"Ah."

Amys nodded gently and took a sip of the hot papaya milk in her cup. "Many people have had similar experiences as children...wanting to build their own 'secret base'."

“Build your own castle with pillows and blankets... or build a treetop hut in a sturdy tree with nails, planks and rope ladders.”

"Then, he hid his collection of marbles, glass balls, bottle caps, coins, or rocks that had special meanings because of their unique appearance... all in that secret base, just like the Pirate King buried all his treasures in the final island."

"Laster, you were also keen on this boy's hobby when you were a child. I still remember it clearly, the time when I followed you around and built a tree house on the big tree..."

"It's a pity that I was timid at that time and didn't dare to stay in a high place, so I could only stand on tiptoe under the tree to pass you things - nails, wooden boards, branches and so on for building the tree house..."

A faint smile appeared on the corner of Amy's mouth: "I still remember clearly the look on your face when you were on the tree branch, admiring the tree house you built..."

"So childish yet so proud, like a young lion with a newly grown mane patrolling its territory."

Listening to Amys' words, Rast paused slightly.

Although it is indeed quite a long time ago, the memories have been lost in the corner of the memory attic.

But when Amis mentioned it herself, Last still felt that those broken memories were reviving like melting ice and snow, gurgling down and flowing into his heart.

At noon on a sunny day, a half-grown little boy stood on a high branch, his hands on his hips, gazing at the completed tree house below, trying hard to straighten his childish face and put on a majestic look.

"Xiao Ai, from now on, this is our home."

"Although it's still a little shabby, I promise you... one day, we'll have a new home that's bigger, more spacious, and more luxurious. Even if we put down two double beds in the bedroom, it won't feel crowded."

"Ah."

Under the big tree, a little blonde girl was nervously pinching the hem of her skirt. Her sky-blue eyes showed both excitement about the completion of the tree house and worry about Rust standing so high up.

But after hearing Rast's passionate declaration, she nodded seriously, looking up at the young man on the treetop, with a hint of longing and hope on her delicate face.

"I'll be waiting—"

"The day you promised us a new home."

I clearly don’t know how many years ago this happened, but when the memories reappear at this moment, they are still as fresh as ever and have not faded at all with the passage of time.

……

"what the hell……"

Luster smiled, stretched out his fork, and put a piece of lamb that was stewed to a very soft and glutinous state into his mouth.

"I didn't expect that even after such a long time, you still remember it so clearly, Xiao Ai."

"Of course I remember..."

Amys just looked at Rast's profile quietly, with a slight curve at the corner of her mouth.

"In Canaan, and every little thing you experienced, Rast."

“Every dish, every travel experience, every conversation you have, every journey, every memory and detail…”

"I remember it all."

She just watched Rust eat silently from the side until Rust finished all the lamb dishes she cooked and exclaimed, "It's really delicious." Only then did Amys nod with satisfaction.

"These memories also happened after the destruction of Canaan..."

"That little girl who was caught in the collapse of time and space and arrived in a completely unfamiliar world in the Sixth Epoch... the only thing she possessed."

Amys paused for a moment.

"It was thanks to these memories that I was able to persevere through the pain of the aftermath of the space-time collapse... and the most difficult period of transformation during the 'Artificial Angel' project."

"It is precisely because of these treasured memories that I was able to defeat the tyrannical will of the world within the Judgment Star Cup, become an angel, and survive the changing of eras... a long, dark night that lasted for who knows whether thousands or tens of thousands of years."

"Just to prevent those memories from becoming mere memories..."

"Just to be able to meet you again at the end of time, Rast, and continue that golden dream of the past..."

She just looked at the red maple leaves filling the sky in the distance.

Through Amis's eyes, Rust could see the sunset.

"I said before that Canaan is like a 'tree house' to me, and that's true."

"Now that we're all grown up... we no longer have those childish thoughts of wanting to build our own 'secret base.'"

"But in our hearts, there will always be a tree house like that."

"Perhaps I don't notice it on a normal day, but whenever I feel tired, exhausted, want to give up on myself, want to abandon myself... give up that long, almost lightless watch, I will return to this tree house."

"As long as I stay in this simple tree house, I can find peace of mind... forget all my worries, all my tiredness, resentment and pain."

"Everything feels like returning to my childhood. As long as I build my own secret base, I can isolate myself from the rest of the world with just a wall... It's just like the isolated and idyllic utopia in the fairy tales you told me, Last."

"And the things left in this tree house—marbles, glass balls, toy soldiers, oddly shaped stones, and other treasures... From an adult's perspective, they might seem quite childish, but to me, they are like anchors."

"Those toys I treasured as a child, now seem like yellowed old photos when I see them again. Whenever I see them... I am reminded of my origins, my original aspirations."

"As long as this tree house still exists, the human named Amis will never be lost in the endless darkness."

Amys gently reached out and touched her thin chest. "I think, for you, Rust—"

"Canaan, it should be the same place, right?"

"Although before this, I couldn't accompany you to the outside world, to experience the despair and pursuits in the Deep Blue Harbor time loop with you, nor could I accompany you to Starry University to see the scenery of the real world two hundred years after we left."

"But, I guess...Last, you must be a very majestic and heroic figure in the world outside of Canaan."

"Just like when you were a kid, you were so small, but you always looked so erratic and mysterious."

"People like me who know you well know that you're just being brave and trying to look cool... But to others who meet you for the first time, your back must be quite profound and majestic."

"Just like the 'Last Brother' that Sister Gray mentioned."

The blonde girl leaned her head closer and stared into Rast's eyes from a very close distance.

A few strands of light golden hair fell along her forehead and brushed against the back of Rast's hand.

"But every time you, Rust, returned to Canaan from the historical echoes of Deep Blue Harbor, I could feel it... Rust, you let go of your burdens and took off the mask you always wore to protect yourself."

"Canaan is your very own 'tree house'... After a long day of toiling outside, only when you return to the tree house can you drop your disguise and face your own weaknesses."

"They'll recuperate in the tree house and lick their wounds."

“Only after the resentment is healed and the wounds are healed…will I leave the tree house again, suit up, and embark on a new journey.”

"As for what would happen if one day it turned out that the tree house was fake, or if a storm came and blew the tree house apart and it ceased to exist, it wouldn't matter."

She stared into Rast's eyes and spoke word by word.

“This tree house may be fake, but the details of our lives in it and the emotions we place on it are real.”

"No matter if it's a lie or a dream, no matter what happens in the future."

"However, this emotion is proof that we once existed."

"It is something that neither gods nor fate can take away from our hearts, nor can it be defiled."

"yes……"

"Xiao Ai, you are right."

Last gently closed his eyes, feeling the itchy sensation on the back of his hand caused by Amy's hair brushing against him.

"As expected, Xiao Ai, you are always so optimistic and strong, so dazzling... You will never regret your choices, and you will never waver in your doubts or deny the path you have taken."

"Much stronger than myself."

He laughed at himself, "If I tell you now, I'd actually rather keep deceiving myself and escaping..."

"If I want to bury my head in the sand like an ostrich, completely ignoring everything in the outside world, and continue this fantasy with you, Xiao Ai, in this Canaan town woven of lies until the end of time..."

"Then even if it's you, Xiao Ai, you will definitely laugh at my weakness, right?"

"will not."

Without any hesitation or thought, the negative answer rang directly in Rast's ears.

"I said, 'Amis'...will tolerate everything about 'Last'."

"If Rast wishes to become a messenger of justice, then I will be your most capable assistant and companion on your journey to uphold justice."

"If one day you become a ruthless criminal, a demon who destroys the world, then I will be the most vicious lackey beside the great villain... just like what you once told me, the Joker and Harley Quinn in Gotham City, Rust."

Amys pinched Luster's cheeks with both hands and spoke word by word.

"So, if you want to escape, Lust, and continue to live on this land of lies..."

"Then, I will definitely stay by your side, accompanying you in this illusory dream until the end of time... until death separates you and me."

"As for the future of this world, the Gravekeepers, the Shore Keepers, the end of the Night World and the Seventh Epoch, the Twilight Disaster... none of that matters. Even if my angelic self continues to sleep amidst the echoes of the Night World, it doesn't matter."

"For me... wherever you are, Rust, that is my 'tree house', my 'home'."

For Amis, it wasn't because of herself, but because Last inherited the "Library of Fools" and wanted to become a "Shore Keeper"...so she would also work hard to become an angel in order to keep up with Last's footsteps.

And if one day Rast chooses to give up this ideal and his mission to become a shore guardian... then for Amis, both his status as an angel and the Star Grail of Judgment will be completely discarded and worthless.

"if only……"

Her voice paused slightly:
"This is really your own wish, Rust."

Rast closed his eyes, feeling the softness and warmth on his face brought by the touch of skin.

He couldn't remember how many times he had been moved by Amy's strength and straightforwardness.

Perhaps this was because he was sometimes too weak, but even if he was weak, it didn't matter... After all, when he was lost, confused, and wavering, there were people he could rely on, people who were willing to unconditionally support all the choices he made, whether right or wrong -

This is such a joyful, happy thing.

In the warmth brought by the skin-to-skin contact, Rast felt that his mind had finally calmed down completely.

Put aside all distractions and abandon all unnecessary burdens and concerns.

For the first time, Rast began to examine his own heart.

The only fire that has been burning in this empty body that has been living like a machine.

It is also the driving force that has driven the human named "Last" to this day.

"Myself……"

"A sincere wish?"

(End of this chapter)