Genshin Impact, I'm Slime

"The Ritual of Returning Souls...The Lost Souls..."

The traveler murmured absentmindedly, as if in a dream. The next moment, she suddenly raised her head, her amber eyes seemingly unfocused yet filled with horror, staring straight at Famas.

Fragments of long-forgotten memories surged forth in an instant.

Famas had described to her in detail the resurrection ceremony that Munata regarded as a miracle.

With unparalleled alchemy, the original material of gold was extracted and meticulously sculpted into a new body that could perfectly accommodate the soul. Then, the god of wisdom, Buyer, used his supreme power to forcibly extract the scattered fragments of the soul from the veins of the World Tree. Finally, with the authority of the god of fire, the fire of fusion was ignited, completing the ultimate fusion of spirit and flesh, and achieving the great feat of resurrection.

After that, the Munata people regarded death as nothing, and even foreigners could enjoy eternal life if they could gather the materials required for the ritual.

But this seemingly perfect miracle, in the end, revealed its pale and pathetic nature under the insight of "Pope" Anssenio and the "School of Truth" he led.

The material sculpted from the original substance is merely an exquisitely crafted shell, a replica of the deceased's appearance. What is taken from the World Tree is not the true soul, but rather the echoes and imprints of the deceased's memories from their lifetime.

All the authority of FAMAS did was accelerate the fusion of these cold memory data with that soulless body.

No one has ever come back to life from the dead.

All they did was use their unparalleled skills to create a lifelike replacement that carried all the memories of the deceased.

At this moment, Famas's nonchalant return from the "Land of Death" was like a cold, venomous snake, instantly coiling around the traveler's heart. An ominous premonition from the depths of her soul made her feel as if she had fallen into an ice cave, and all the blood in her body seemed to freeze at this moment.

"You guessed right."

Famas's voice was calm and even carried a hint of approval, as if he were affirming the result of an insignificant little test. He even gave the traveler a bright smile, as dazzling as the sun, which contrasted sharply with the cruel truth.

"Based on my existing memories, I have been reborn through the Resurrection Ritual at least forty times."

FAMAS spoke as casually as if he were talking about the weather, but his cheerful smile and seemingly insignificant numbers struck the traveler hard.

The girl's face turned deathly pale instantly, and her body swayed uncontrollably.

Every detail that Famas recounted about Ansenio's discovery now felt like a cold thorn, piercing her mind, especially the "divine factor" that the "Pope" discovered, which was enough to shake the very foundation of the world's laws, and the conclusion that overturned all beliefs.

All humans who are resurrected through the resurrection ceremony have nothing inside their bodies!
They lack the essence of self, emotion, will, and existence as universally understood—the soul.

Famas's jokingly threatening words to Paimon, like the most vicious curse, once again resounded in the traveler's ears.

"It's as if a monster silently devoured their souls and then walked the world wearing their former skin."

If Famas herself had also undergone this ritual, if these forty-odd rebirths were all through that soul-stealing ceremony that created empty shells… then the being before the traveler, displaying a familiar smile to her…

This powerful, mysterious Famas, with whom she had countless ties, also had no soul.

"Then... what exactly are you?"

The traveler's voice was dry and hoarse, each word seemingly squeezed out with difficulty from between his teeth.

Almost instinctively, she slowly took two steps back. The stone brick ground beneath her feet seemed to turn into cold quicksand. Her empty hand clenched into a fist, her fingertips trembling slightly. The dull yet solid metal outline of the bladeless sword had already taken shape in her palm, and the cold touch pierced her nerves through her skin.

Paimon's face turned pale with fright at the sudden tension. Although she hadn't quite grasped the profound conversation about souls and resurrection, the traveler's undisguised wariness and the weapon that had materialized in his hand spoke volumes.

Little Paimon let out a short scream and flew behind the traveler in a flash, grabbing her hem tightly, revealing only a pair of terrified eyes as he anxiously peered at Famas.

“Of course I am Famas.” The boy looked at the traveler’s tense expression, and even saw the sword hilt gathering in her palm. He just smiled helplessly, as if he were looking at a child throwing a tantrum because he didn’t understand the story. He was completely unaware of the impact and fear caused by the traveler’s words.

“During my years of rule over Munata, there were countless conspiracies and schemes against me. Although most of those conspiracies were easily thwarted, there was always a chance of something going wrong. In order to prevent Munata from immediately collapsing if I were to die by accident one day, I asked Rhein-Dort to make many backups for me.”

Famas shrugged, speaking as casually as if he were talking about someone else's funny story, then extended his index finger and gestured casually.

"Considering the need for security and long-term preservation, the bases storing these copies are mostly built beneath ley lines, protected by the fluidity of the ley lines. Therefore, theoretically, deep within some ley line on the continent of Teyvat, there may still be many unactivated 'Famas' slumbering."

The boy slightly raised his chin, his hair dancing in the dim light, his face displaying a completely carefree and nonchalant expression.

Seeing Famas's completely indifferent expression, the traveler's doubts not only did not dissipate, but grew stronger. She stared intently into his eyes, her voice trembling slightly:

"Then... how can you be so sure that the person standing in front of me right now isn't one of those copies buried deep underground?"

"Are you really the original Famas?"

Yingmei stared at the boy in front of her in disbelief.

Does this really matter?

Famas's question was light and indifferent, filled with a deep-seated apathy. He didn't even think about it before casually shaking his head.

"Whether it's the original body or a replica made of gold using primordial materials, as long as it continues on the path to the ultimate goal of the Golden Alliance, it doesn't matter which FAMAS is walking this path."

These remarks, which denied the uniqueness of her own existence, struck the traveler like a thunderbolt, and she suddenly remembered a question that she had previously overlooked.

That is, when FAMAS explained the Golden Alliance, he only elaborated on their action plan for uniting against the false heavens, but never mentioned what kind of new world they wanted to build after the rebellion was successful.

"So... what is the Golden Alliance ultimately trying to achieve? After overthrowing the skies? What kind of Teyvat do you want to build?"

The traveler's voice carried a hint of urgency that she herself was unaware of.

This question caused FAMAS, who had always seemed nonchalant, to fall silent—a rare occurrence.

The air in the waiting room seemed to freeze again, with only Paimon's tense breathing remaining.

A few seconds later, Famas slowly raised his eyelids. In the depths of his eyes, a kind of pure light that had been suppressed for a long time seemed to leap briefly in the silent void.

The boy's voice was no longer frivolous and indifferent, but carried a resolute clarity:

"We hope to build a world where everyone can enjoy happiness and peace."

"A world in which the destiny of humankind is chosen and created by humankind's own hands and will."

"A world where lies and scheming are completely buried, and trust and sincerity become the cornerstone."

Famas paused slightly, as if to imprint this ultimate ideal onto the void, each word clear and distinct:

"A world community free from class oppression, free from unjust exploitation, where all resources are distributed according to need, and where all members contribute according to their ability and receive according to their ability."

These unheard-of terms crashed against the traveler's cognitive barriers.

The ideal vision it represents forms a most absurd and chilling contradiction and contrast with FAMAS's previous ruthless methods, nihilism, and disregard for individual existence. (End of Chapter)