Arcanum: Chaos Path

Chapter 287 Funeral and Rebirth

The funeral went smoothly, and Zhou Mingrui participated in the entire process under the pseudonym "German Sparrow" and as a friend of "Klein".

——"German Sparrow" is another identity that Klein will use in the rebel army, different from the identity of "Medici".

The reason Zhou Mingrui chose to use this pseudonym to attend the funeral was simple—he could no longer carry the image of "Klein," as this would be disastrous to Benson and Melissa, and could easily scare unrelated people.

The vest "German Sparrow" was modified based on his appearance before he traveled through time at the suggestion of Mr. Lucifer. In a sense, Zhou Mingrui using this vest to attend the funeral was equivalent to attending the funeral himself.

It was not until the tombstone was erected and the coffin was completely buried in the soil that Zhou Mingrui vaguely realized that from today on, "Klein Moretti" was completely dead.

From today on, he could be Zhou Mingrui, he could be "Sherlock Moriarty", he could be the "German Sparrow" of the rebels, but he would no longer be "Klein Moretti".

Even though he actually belongs partly to "Klein".

"Are you okay?" A gentle but worried voice sounded beside him. Zhou Mingrui looked up and found that it was Mr. Azik.

He also attended the funeral of "Klein Moretti".

"I'm very sorry, Mr. Azik, for hiding our true identities from you and me." Zhou Mingrui sighed. During the period of preparing for the funeral, he also wrote a letter to inform Azik of the truth.

After all, the person Azik first knew was not him, but the real "Klein".

"You don't have to apologize to me. You have done nothing wrong to me." Azik shook his head. He tilted his head to look at the tombstone and sighed as well.

To Azik, "Klein" was just an ordinary student. While their relationship was good, it wasn't particularly close. It was only after Zhou Mingrui replaced "Klein" that Azik and his relationship grew closer, developing into the current relationship of teacher and friend, like family and father and son.

That's why after learning the truth, Azik didn't find it as difficult to accept reality as Benson and Melissa did. He just sighed - a sigh for this damn fate.

Zhou Mingrui forced a smile upon hearing Azik's words, then looked at the tombstone and said, "Sometimes I wonder: which would be a better outcome for me, surviving in this strange era or dying in the apocalypse back then?"

Azik didn't say anything when he heard this, but just looked at him quietly.

"But it's better to be alive. At least this way I can still do what I can, whether it's saving the world or..." Zhou Mingrui turned his head to glance at Benson and Melissa beside him, and didn't say the rest of the words.

But Azik understood what he meant. He understood that Zhou Mingrui wanted to take care of Benson and Melissa, no matter how they viewed him now.

Azik suddenly said, "A long time ago, I did something similar to you. I also lived under someone else's identity..."

Zhou Mingrui was stunned for a moment and turned his head to look at him.

"At first, I didn't think it was wrong, but later, I took the initiative to throw away that mask, the mask that allowed me to transform into someone else and live for someone else." Azik lowered his eyes, as if reminiscing, and continued:

"Zhou Mingrui, you don't have to live in anyone else's place, nor do you have to take on any responsibilities that don't belong to you... You can take care of them, but don't think of yourself as a substitute. This will only bring pain to you and them."

"I know. Thank you, Mr. Azik." Zhou Mingrui smiled, and the smile finally became less forced. He said:
"I don't see myself as a replacement. I'm very clear that I'm Zhou Mingrui, a fusion of some of Klein's emotions and memories. Because of Klein's emotions and memories, and because of the time we've spent together, I consider them family. But my core is still Zhou Mingrui. I won't be anyone's replacement."

"That's good." Azik looked away, feeling relieved.

He was well aware of the pain of such a situation, and therefore worried that Zhou Mingrui would get too hung up on it. But the situation Azik feared most clearly hadn't occurred, and he had to admit, that made him feel relieved.

After the funeral, Zhou Mingrui sent Benson and Melissa back home.

"Thank you for your help during this period. You must have your own things to do, right?" After thanking him, Benson looked at Zhou Mingrui and asked.

"I do have some things to do." Zhou Mingrui nodded without hiding anything.

"Then go and focus on your own work. Melissa and I can take care of ourselves," Benson continued. Then, as if remembering something, he asked, "If I want to write to you, it should still be the same address, right?"

"Yes." Zhou Mingrui nodded.

Although he would be in a border city for the next while, if Benson and Melissa wrote him a letter, someone would naturally deliver it to him after sending it to the villa.

"That's good." Benson paused here. He looked at the young man in front of him, whose face was unfamiliar but whose expression was extremely familiar. He suddenly sighed and reached out to rub the other person's head.

Zhou Mingrui was obviously stunned. He didn't expect the other party to do this suddenly.

"Don't be sad. Whether as a friend or as a new family member, I hope you can be happy." Benson spoke seriously, "What happened to Klein...is irreversible. We will live with Klein's legacy, but we will also move on, and so will you."

Melissa stared at Zhou Mingrui for a moment, then said, "If Klein saw how heartbroken we were all because of him, he'd probably be sad too."

"I'm sorry, and I let you comfort me..." Zhou Mingrui apologized instinctively. Then he looked at the two people in front of him and finally couldn't help but said:

"Can I hug you guys?"

"……Can."

Benson and Melissa looked at each other and nodded.

Then the three of them hugged each other. It was a very light hug, but very warm.

"Go, Zhou Mingrui, live your life well. Don't worry too much about us. This is not your responsibility. You are free."

Benson said this, his expression as if he were advising a family member about to go on a long journey. "We held a funeral for Klein. This is the end for him, but it shouldn't be the end for you. I hope you will see it as a new beginning."

Melissa said softly, "Goodbye, Zhou Mingrui."

"Goodbye, Benson! Goodbye, Melissa!" Zhou Mingrui let go of them. He seemed to have gained strength from this hug, and also seemed to have confirmed something from Benson and Melissa's actions. He finally smiled with relief, turned around and walked into the crowd.

After his figure disappeared, Benson whispered, "We lost a family member, but we also gained a new one. He's not Klein, but he loves us, just as we can't let go of our feelings for him."

Melissa also looked in the direction Zhou Mingrui left. She did not refute Benson's words, but just said:
"If Klein were still alive, they might have become really good friends."

(End of this chapter)