Elegy from Another World

After hearing Xiao Bei's account, a chill mixed with a sense of absurdity washed over me. In my mind, I responded, my tone laced with disbelief and sarcasm: "Why would you think that after learning such a horrific truth, I would still be willing to stay in this place, becoming the energy source for your resurrected demon king?"

Xiao Bei's reply was unusually calm, even carrying a hint of matter-of-fact: "Because you have nowhere else to go, Liscia. Valencia is after you, the outside world is full of hostility towards you. This is a place that can take you in."

"Take them in?" I felt a surge of irritation. "Take them in by imprisoning them? Even if I have nowhere else to go, I don't want to become a tool to be exploited!"

"If you don't want to, you can just stay here." Xiao Pei changed the subject.

I was stunned: "...What do you mean? You went to so much trouble to modify this place and create that pleasure converter, wasn't it all just to resurrect the Demon King? How could I be just 'idling' here?"

"Resurrecting the Demon King is 'his' responsibility and obsession." Xiao Bei's voice remained calm. "As for me, I'm merely an auxiliary program responsible for maintaining the normal operation of this labyrinth system. As long as the labyrinth itself isn't destroyed, my core instructions are complete. The 'efficiency' of energy collection isn't my top priority."

I was speechless for a moment, then almost laughed. This artificial intelligence had actually found such a human-like "loophole" in the rigid program logic. It didn't seem to share its master's fanatical obsession with resurrecting the demon king.

To be honest, I laughed. I couldn't help but think to myself.

"I can sense it," Xiao Bei responded, a barely perceptible hint of amusement in her voice. She continued, "Actually, I'd like you to experience another possibility—the possibility of peaceful coexistence."

"Peace? In a place like this?" I expressed my skepticism.

Why are humans always filled with suspicion and conflict? Fundamentally, it's because everyone hides their own thoughts, causing misunderstandings and barriers. Xiao Bei said slowly, "Then, if everyone's thoughts became transparent, and their hearts could communicate directly, wouldn't things be different?"

As soon as I finished speaking, a torrent of images, sounds, and emotions suddenly flooded my mind uncontrollably! They were fragments of memories from vivid individuals: a lonely girl orphaned after losing her family, a soldier betrayed and disheartened by his comrades, a maid sacrificed in the power struggles of the nobility… They had all been scarred by the outside world, ultimately arriving here. I could clearly feel their initial fear and confusion, and their gradual acceptance of this strange environment, their peace, tranquility, and even… happiness. They had no secrets from each other; their emotions and thoughts flowed naturally like a clear stream, forming a warm and harmonious symbiotic network.

"They all stayed here voluntarily," Xiao Pei's voice rang out at the opportune moment. "Here, there's no suspicion, no backstabbing. Everyone shares their feelings and supports each other. They feel safe and happy."

To be honest, the warmth and sense of belonging I felt in that instant truly shook my weary heart. It was a kind of relaxation I had never experienced since I transmigrated—a relaxation after letting down all my defenses. I almost drowned in it.

but……

"I... I still can't stay here," I said, struggling to speak, a last vestige of stubbornness resisting. "This world may be cruel, but I still want... I still want to see more of it with my own eyes."

Xiao Bei didn't refute, but simply asked softly, "But, Liscia, does the outside world really make you happy? Are you truly happy right now?"

"This..." I was speechless. Happiness? Since coming into this world, fear, struggle, betrayal, killing... the word "happiness" seemed to have long since left me. "...To be honest, I don't know either."

"And," Xiaobei's voice softened further, as if carrying a strange, soothing power, "you've already tried so hard. You've helped so many people, and you've been trying so hard to survive. You've done enough. Just for yourself, stop for a while, take a good rest, okay?"

Just then, a soft tentacle slowly emerged from the flesh wall and gently, with a slightly clumsy tenderness, stroked my hair.

For some reason, this simple touch seemed to instantly shatter all my pretense of strength. The pent-up grievances, loneliness, and exhaustion burst forth like a flood.

Yes... after hearing it say that, I clearly realized that I am really... so tired. From body to mind, I am riddled with holes and on the verge of my limit.

Tears streamed silently down my face, mingling with the small amount of blood seeping from my ear canal. I choked back sobs, and with my last ounce of strength, I uttered a single sentence in my mind:

"...Then...please promise me one thing...please..."

Please speak.

"If one day... I change my mind and want to leave here... please don't stop me."

"I promise you." Xiao Pei answered without the slightest hesitation.

The last weight lifted from my heart. My tense nerves completely relaxed, and a feeling of immense exhaustion and a strange sense of peace enveloped me at the same time.

"Okay..." I closed my eyes, letting the tears flow, and whispered, "Then I'm willing to... stay here."

"...This is my new home."