Durin's Diary

Chapter 5 Start over
What kind of life is considered wasted?

Du Lin has always had this question, and it has been in his mind ever since his mentor asked it.

Ever since he could remember, Du Lin had been living in an orphanage. His life was neither good nor bad. It was bad because he had no real family, and it was not bad because everyone was like a family. The director's wife always found ways to make delicious food for the children.

Until something bad happened, he and his good friend escaped from the dilapidated orphanage, struggling to survive in the cold and dilapidated city. Fortunately, he was rescued by his mentor and had a different life and future.

After studying in the tower for many years, Du Lin graduated. In that era, only the most talented and hardworking children were qualified to become the psychic swordsman of the tower.

But Du Lin had hard work but no talent, so he eventually became an assassin.

There is nothing wrong with being an assassin, at least Du Lin thinks it is nothing, because society is a huge melting pot and the world is a huge market. Assassins are not lonely ghosts wandering in the night in this world of feasting and drinking. Like all professions created by humans, assassins are mortals who use their own hands to create their own wealth.

Creating wealth with one's own hands is true. The profession of assassin is a little special, but compared to those man-eating devils, assassins at least know what hard work and rewards mean.

Even when Du Lin was an assassin, he would report his income to the tax bureau in southern Thailand, after all, the tax bureau in southern Thailand would punish all tax evaders.

As an assassin, Du Lin does not kill good people. This is also the last reserve in Du Lin's heart. In his eyes, human life is a very puzzling wealth. Good people and bad people, poor people and rich people, they have different values ​​and identities in society, but in Du Lin's eyes, their lives have a unified value and a unified identity.

A life is equivalent to a bullet, and a bullet represents a harvest. Wealth and status are ultimately unable to withstand the ruthless penetration of the brain enclosed by the skull by a 10mm caliber steel core armor-piercing pistol bullet.

Thinking of this, the old man wrapped his hands around the oxygen tube.

My life is ultimately wasted, Du Lin hated himself, because until the end he could not muster up the courage to pursue his dream. He still remembered when he was young, he went to the cinema with his friends, and after watching the movie, he clearly wanted to make a good movie that the whole world could see... So, Du Lin, you, a lonely ghost from an orphanage, when you killed someone for the first time, you didn't expect that your last business would be to kill yourself.

Well, the killer's last business was to kill himself and use his last life to create wealth. The money would be transferred to the orphanage, which was looked after by the old director's granddaughter. Women with a kind face and heart like her became extremely rare in that era.

Thinking of this, looking at the tall buildings outside the window, this city of lights and wine and women made Du Lin feel so familiar and yet strange.

He took one last deep breath and, in a calm state, pulled off his oxygen mask.

In his dying moments, Du Lin asked himself: If I could live again, what kind of person would I become? Would I still waste my life?

...If there were "ifs" in life, would there still be so many regrets?

Or, if I live again, in another life, there won't be so many regrets?

Unfortunately, there is no regret medicine in the world.

Right, Du Lin.

………………

When he opened his eyes again, the first thing Du Lin saw was the familiar ceiling.

The story in the dream belonged to his past. It was an old man's confession on his deathbed. He didn't know whether the gods heard it or it was just luck that couldn't be stopped. In short, when Du Lin opened his eyes again, he saw such a bizarre world.

Is it to give yourself a chance to live again and make up for your regrets?

Du Lin sighed softly, reached out and touched his chest. The ribs that were shattered by the bricks and stones were healthy, but there was no reaction when Du Lin patted them.

It turns out I'm not dead.

It seems that fate has not forgotten Du Lin's obsession and has given him another precious opportunity.

Du Lin, we really need to think carefully about how to fulfill the dreams that we failed to fulfill in our previous life.

Du Lin thought so and then sat up.

He was about to lift the bed sheet when he suddenly stopped.

Because a silver sphere - about six centimeters in diameter - suddenly appeared in front of Du Lin.

Dear patient, we meet again and I have saved you again.

Du Lin subconsciously touched the back of his neck - he would remember this voice even if he turned into ashes. Isn't this the personal life-sustaining terminal that the hospital installed in the electronic slot on the back of his neck when he was last admitted to the hospital due to heart failure?

There is no artificial slot, and the small hand reminds its owner that he is still a grassland elf.

Mr. Du Lin, I am very surprised that you have changed your body. After all, based on my understanding of you, you probably can't afford such an exquisite prosthesis. Combined with what I learned after waking up, it seems that I have come to another world with you.

"Then why haven't you appeared before?" Thinking of this, Du Lin asked back, because he was a little confused.

Because before this, I was just a piece of data, living only in your body, but after you fell into that huge pit, I unexpectedly found this.

Then Du Lin watched as a sphere of energy separated from the metal sphere.

I needed a physical mechanical body, and I never found one until yesterday.

Du Lin sighed, and for the first time he felt how cute those guys were who insisted on formulating three principles for artificial AI.

Then he became very nervous: "You mean, the world is still..."

No, I can't contact any data network, whether it's the East, the Middle, or the West, and I can't find any trace of satellites. This doesn't seem like our hometown.

The personal life-support terminal denied Du Lin's guess and made him feel better.

At least, this place is not like that, which means that Du Lin’s hometown has not been ravaged by time... At least, he will not have the chance to see all that.

With this answer, Du Lin was silent for a while, and finally sighed: "What do you mean by you saved me again?"

I saved you once when you were still an old man lying in bed waiting to die of old age. You wanted to commit suicide, but I didn't stop you. And when you fell into a deep pit, because most of your ribs were broken, I could only use this life-sustaining personal terminal, whose manufacturing process far surpassed ours, to save you again. However, in order to save you, I had to swallow a strange thing to recharge my energy. This world seems to call it the power of origin.

This answer made Du Lin silent, but he knew that he was injured before he fell into a coma. His sternum was almost broken, and even his ribs were inserted into his lungs. Without timely divine treatment, this injury would be fatal.

"Thank you." Du Lin chose to express his gratitude.

As for the power of origin, Du Lin had never heard of it, but it didn't matter. There was still a long time to come and there would always be a chance.

Mr. Du Lin, you're too polite. Ultimately, the personal life support terminal is an AI that serves life. However, when I activated it, I made an interesting discovery. In its system, life types like yours are labeled as pets, and there are many types of humanoid pets. It seems that humans in this world have reached the limit of technology and are actually able to artificially create life.

"But in the end, they became the ancestors in the legends of this world, with only skeletons and life-support capsules without energy sources left." Du Lin said as he lifted up the soft and thick giant otter blanket.

After putting on his clothes, Du Lin looked at the personal life support terminal still floating in front of him and asked: "What should I call you?"

You can call me by my call sign: Big Orange.

If a life-support personal terminal had an expression, it would be smiling, a standard service industry benchmark. "Okay, Big Orange." Although he didn't know what Big Orange meant, Du Lin called it anyway.

By the way, Mr. Du Lin, please stand in front of the mirror and squint.

Since Daju said so, Du Lin walked to the mirror, squinted his eyes, and then could not take his eyes off the mirror.

Because in the mirror, there are two Dulin.

One of the Du Lin is the Du Lin who is now wearing a pajamas, and at this time he is staring at Du Lin.

Another Du Lin, also Du Lin, but he was wearing a gray hospital gown. He was sitting on the sofa in the back, looking sideways out the window.

White hair, old appearance, looks a little sick... Isn't this the me who died in bed?

Du Lin turned his head and saw that the sofa behind him was empty.

Du Lin subconsciously looked at himself in the mirror, only to see a curtain appear from the void, and all the data appeared in front of him.

Doolin Lily Ash
Old Class System: Warlock

Level: Third-level sorcerer (level 7)

Public experience pool: 20280
Warlock Experience Pool: 23755/23000
Attributes:
Power: 9
Agility: 16
Constitution: 14 (-4) (Injury is recovering)
Intelligence: 13
Perception: 21
Charisma: 24
Are you scared by your new side? I just like the look of you standing in front of the mirror with a helpless look on your face. Welcome to embrace your new life.

"This is..." There was even a comment below the attribute panel, and Du Lin was a little surprised.

The new function of the life support personal terminal can not only analyze your physical data, but also help you confirm the status of your target. However, if it is a powerful life like the one sitting on the sofa downstairs, I am a little helpless. But he can't find me, after all, I am a miracle of physics.

There was a hint of joy and pride in Daju's words.

Downstairs? He should be talking about Grandpa Old Ish. Thinking of this, Du Lin looked at his other self again—the sickly old Du Lin's attributes also appeared on the screen.

杜林
Universal prerequisite for the Extraordinary Path: Apprentice.

Public experience pool: 20280
Attributes:
Strength: 12 (Aging -2)

Agility: 15 (-2 for aging)

Constitution: 8 (Aging -8)

Intelligence: 15
Perception: 18 (Aging -2)

Charisma: 20
Welcome to the new world, Mr. Durin. You are an old hunter. In southern Thailand, in the Middle Earth, and in the Westland, you are a hunter who hunts for life. Now you are getting old. Are you ready to meet your end, or are you interested in pursuing the power you never had? Make a decision quickly.

Du Lin thought about it, and finally tried to look at himself in the mirror sitting on the sofa.

So, the prairie elf in pajamas took three steps back and jumped onto the high chair.

The old man stood up and took three steps forward. Du Lin found that his clothes had changed into his appearance and his height had also changed. Du Lin thought about it and unzipped his pants to take a look.

Wow, old buddy, it's been a while.

How about it? It’s genuine, right?

"Yes, but I'm hungry now and have to go downstairs to eat. Daju, what about you?" Du Lin, who once again chose to be a grassland elf and transformed back, turned his head and looked at Daju.

After just one switch, Du Lin suddenly felt hungry: "Is this switch at the expense of my own calories?"

You haven't eaten all day and are just feeling dizzy. Don't switch between them randomly. Switching too many times in a short period of time can cause various adverse reactions, including nausea, vomiting, and stomach upset. Severe reactions can even lead to coma. I'm going back to your body now, but don't assume it's completely healed. By the way, if possible, please help me find some more Root Power; it's needed to repair this thing and reactivate its functions.

As he finished speaking, the ball in front of him penetrated into Du Lin's chest.

Pulling open his pajamas, Du Lin looked at his smooth chest, patted it with his hand, and finally raised his eyebrows. After changing his clothes, he opened the door.

"Great, the young master is awake."

As soon as he reached the end of the corridor and stood in front of the stairs, Du Lin heard the cheers of a girl coming from downstairs. It was Xia Li, Du Lin's little maid.

Speaking of the name Xia Li, it was given by Du Lin to the little girl of the Shat orc race who was standing at the kitchen door. Xia Li had big, erect ears and a long tail, like a serval, so Du Lin gave her such a name.

"Miss Anta just returned home. She has stayed in the manor for a night and a day, and her family's carriage has been waiting for a day." Xia Li informed his little master of the situation. The little girl had long golden hair and beautiful red eyes, and she spoke quite fast.

Anta stayed in the manor for a day and a night before leaving, and Dulin had absolutely no objection - in this land and at this time, it was considered extremely unorthodox for an unmarried girl to stay overnight in the manor of her beloved boy. Dulin even thought that if the old guys in the Ayer family had not been unable to defeat his grandfather, Old Ish, they would have come here personally last night to take Anta back home.

But it’s okay, Du Lin can ask Hemer to send her a letter.

Thinking of this, Du Lin smiled and raised his left hand, and an eagle owl landed on Du Lin's left arm.

This is Hemer, who was found by Dulin in the woods a year ago. It was a morning after the rain. Dulin found Hemer on the ground. The little guy was soaked all over. There were two cubs from the same nest beside him, but they were already dead.

Dulin took her home and raised her. Now she has become Dulin's magical messenger and the biggest enemy of all the wild ducks and pigeons in the Lublin area - because Dulin would let her out to roam at night. The little girl would hunt pigeons and wild ducks at night, sometimes even bringing back a whole prey at dawn.

After stroking Hemer and putting the girl on the bird stand, Du Lin looked at his grandfather who was sitting on the sofa on the first floor.

Squinting his eyes, Du Lin saw his grandfather's profile on the screen system.

Ish 'Little Cutie' Farrah Elsh.

Ish is the name, 'cutie' should be a nickname, Farala is the name of my grandfather's mother, and Ai'ersh is the family surname.

Yes, Du Lin’s grandfather is a legend. Due to the suppression of his rank, Du Lin can only see this much.

Daju is really not wrong.

His grandfather, who was sitting on the sofa reading a newspaper, finally looked up at Du Lin. He smiled with satisfaction and said, "My eldest grandson, who was still trying to be brave, has finally woken up. He woke up a little late, though. If Anta were still here, he would definitely give you a warm hug."

Dulin felt a little embarrassed - he always felt that his relationship with Anta was more than friends but less than lovers, and he also felt that he and her still had a long way to go, but he couldn't resist the fact that all of Lublin regarded them as lovers.

I can only say that this era is really tolerant of the relationships between children.

"By the way, Du Lin, come here." Old Ish put down the newspaper in his hand and told the housekeeper to go and do his work. Then he stretched out his hand and called Du Lin over.

(End of this chapter)