After drawing cards, the evil god became my source of吐槽 (tu cao, a form of humorous commentary/criti

Chapter 84 Silent Forest (8)

Standing by the window, her gaze fixed on the leaves swaying in the wind, she murmured, "System, all of this feels so real."

Her voice was as soft as a feather, drowned out by the afternoon cicada chirping outside the window, but the system still heard it and immediately became excited.

[It's fake! It's all fake! How could it be real!]

It was as if its sore spot had been touched; it spoke rapidly, and even its tone became several octaves higher.

This is an illusion, an illusion! Whatever you see, smell, or feel is fake!

An Jing did not respond immediately, but simply raised her hand, extended her fingertips, and slowly pointed to the tall sycamore tree outside the window.

“That tree…” she said calmly, as if she were talking about someone else, “A month before my college entrance exam, the municipal construction cut it down, saying that the roots were rotten and it would collapse. But now, it’s still there, with lush branches and leaves, without even a crack.”

The system paused for a moment, then quickly offered an explanation:

That's an illusion reconstructed based on your memories; of course that brat could create these things. Don't be fooled!

An Jing quietly looked out the window.

The wind rustled the trees, casting dappled sunlight on the ground. The old lady downstairs in the apartment complex, who used to keep cats, was sitting in a wicker chair, fanning herself with a palm leaf fan, chatting with her neighbors while pouring cat food into a plastic bowl.

The orange cat was still alive, not poisoned. Its fur was as glossy as she remembered, and it was slowly rubbing against the old lady's leg.

[An Jing.] The system's voice was lower, tinged with anxiety and unease.

Are you really smitten? Do you really want to spend the rest of your life here?

"I do not know."

An Jing remained motionless, her eyes filled with complex emotions, a mixture of struggle and exhaustion.

The system panicked, and its tone suddenly rose:
"You can't be serious! You don't just want to live a meaningless life here forever! You wanted to be a detective, right? You can't..."

"Can't you get tired?"

She spoke softly, interrupting the system.

The system was speechless for half a second.

Yes, she gets tired.

No matter how strong she tries to be, she's still just a girl who misses home and longs for freedom.

The next moment, the air suddenly trembled slightly, and a figure of light appeared out of thin air.

Rose appeared before her without warning, still wearing that white robe that looked like a bed sheet, his expression indifferent.

“You’re right.” He looked calmly at An Jing. “Everything here is real.”

An Jing was slightly taken aback and turned to look at him: "What did you say?"

Rose remained expressionless, her tone as irritating yet firm as ever:

"My master has transported you to a parallel world. Here, there are no mysteries, no 404 Special Service, no destiny you are to bear, and no Primal Carriers caught in power struggles who can only be dominated by them."

He walked to the window and glanced at the tree.

"Here, you can retake the college entrance exam, apply to the schools and majors you like, and live like an ordinary person. Your parents will not leave you, and you will no longer need to experience betrayal, sacrifice, blood and fire."

He paused, looked at An Jing, and then added:

"Of course, the entity within you that doesn't belong to this world will also be stripped away."

The system instantly exploded: [What do you mean by "stripping off"?! You dare touch me?!]

Rose ignored it and said coldly, "This is the choice my master gave you. If you want to stay, we will arrange everything for you. You just need to forget all the pain and sacrifices in the previous world. If you want to go back, that's fine too. Continue to be your agent, continue to face the mystery, face death, face the uncertain future."

"Choose."

The system's voice was almost hysterical as soon as the words were spoken:
[An Jing! You can't choose to stay here! Have you forgotten that 001 and the others died for you?!]

Have you forgotten the significance of their sacrifice?!

You are hope! You carry the hopes of others! Think of He Lin? Remember your new friends? They all believe in you, help you, and stay by your side...

【And me! Aren't we friends already?】

It was rambling incoherently, as if it were about to collapse, but its voice was becoming increasingly muffled.

Rose waved.

The next second, a blade of light flashed, and the system's voice abruptly stopped.

An Jing's eyes widened suddenly, as if something behind her had been lost in an instant.

The system... has been stripped away.

A translucent cube, floating with patterns of light, slowly levitated in Rose's palm. Inside, a slightly distorted image struggled painfully, but no sound could be heard. "It's too noisy," Rose said calmly.

"You have to choose for yourself, don't listen to its noise."

An Jing stood motionless, as if her whole body had been frozen.

The world around me has become quiet.

The cicadas still chirped outside the window, and the aroma of pork rib soup still wafted from the pot.

The life she once longed for was right before her eyes, within easy reach.

But she felt an unprecedented silence.

Even the system's mocking and nagging voice was gone.

She looked down at her homework book lying on the table.

The first page has a line of text, which is her motto from back then.

"Either burn or go out."

She was silent for a long time.

a long time.

She finally looked up.

"Rose, I chose the comfortable life here, but what about the peace and tranquility that this place originally offered?"

Seemingly surprised by her question, Rose paused for a moment before replying, "You will disappear, you will replace her, and the traces of your existence in the other world will be erased."

"Then I choose to go back."

The voice wasn't loud, but it carried an indescribable power.

Rose raised an eyebrow slightly.

“I really, really want to stay here. Your master, Chichen, knows very well what I yearn for. Yes, I yearn to go home, to return to a normal life, but I can't abandon everyone. I can't replace An Jing, who is another happy person in this world, nor can I abandon my own responsibilities. When I chose to confess to He Lin and the Special Service, I was already prepared to lose my freedom.”

Therefore, I will not regret it, and I will not go back on my word.

I will walk the path I have chosen without hesitation until I can no longer walk it.

"So now, please give it back to me."

"Have you made your choice?"

“Yes.” Anjing nodded, her eyes more determined than ever. “This world is too beautiful, and I feel uneasy.”

"Also, I hate exams, so I'd rather not take the college entrance exam again."

Rose: "..."

He didn't speak, nor did he stop her. He raised his hand and tossed the sealed system towards her, transforming it into a beam of light that instantly merged into her chest.

【Aww!!! I'm back!!! I knew you wouldn't abandon me!!! I'm crying so hard! That brat almost shut me down, you know?】

　【small theater】

　　Xin, formerly known as 018, spends her days observing others as a way to relieve stress.

　　001 is her idol, the strongest member of the Special Agents, who has solved countless mysterious magnetic field problems.

　　Her mentor 002 would often complain about 001 in front of them.

　　"I just love to show off in front of you guys. If I hadn't been on my period, who would be 001? I was always showing off with my 001 badge on me."

　　So Xin started recording it in his notebook.

　　The master disliked idols because they were rivals, and the master narrowly lost.

　　Later, she discovered that every time her mentor complained about her idol, the idol would laugh and ask if she really said that. Then she would bring her mentor her favorite spicy snacks to appease him.

　　So Xin continued to write in the small notebook.

　　The master dislikes the idol, but the idol has a crush on the master.

　　Later, Xin discovered that her master would be the first to rush to the hospital when he heard that her idol was injured, and would even personally cook chicken soup, but would ask her to deliver it to him.

　　So a new notebook was compiled for the third time.

　　[The master doesn't dislike the idol, and the idol has a crush on the master, but the two of them have a problem: they like to use us as a part of their play.]

　　(End of this chapter)