A glimpse of the past

"The fear came so fiercely that all the fears I had in this Absurd Game combined did not compare to this one."

I often ask myself: Why me?

And now, it seems I've found the answer.

Ha.

Sometimes, the truth is separated from you by only a thin veil. Once you break through it, you will find that the truth is actually very simple. It has always been around you, you just didn't see it.

I saw it, so I started revising my Experiment design.

Since I don't have much time left, I don't need to wait for the Experiment Cheng Shi fail before resetting the entire Experiment. I can create more identical Experiment, using parallel processing instead of serial processing to speed up the traversal process!

I have enough Raw Materials to support all of this, and these materials are not simply consumed; failed Experiment can recycle the materials and use them again as material for the next Experiment...

I don't need to restrict the time context of the Experiment so strictly. Perhaps if we go back a little further, to the advent of the [Faith Game] or the [Nothingness] era, the resulting Change might also alter the course of the Experiment's evolution.

After all, as the Experiment leader, I was just collecting inspiration during the Experiment. Since it's inspiration, it should be allowed to have infinite possibilities.

However, too many Change are not allowed. My ultimate goal is to find a path to the future. If all the answers are 'behind' me, then this Experiment loses its original meaning.

Therefore, Experiment that Wrong Path should be accelerated to collapse, while Experiment that lead to the Predestination goal should be protected.

To protect these potentially fruitful Experiment, I must ensure that the entire Experiment environment remains completely Change and undisturbed. Any internal or external variables that attempt to disrupt the Experiment will be eliminated until I obtain the answers I seek from the Experiment...

Does it look familiar?

Do these things sound familiar?

You may not be familiar with it, but I am very familiar with it.

Almost everything I've experienced and witnessed in the past is within the Experiment steps I've described. Admittedly, it was my experience that guided me to complete this Experiment design. However, when there are enough alarming coincidences, I'm forced to ponder a question that terrifies me:

Predestination... is it about becoming the 'Origin,' or is it already the 'Origin'!?

Cheng Shi suddenly looked up, his bloodshot eyes staring straight at Wei Mu. He wanted to find an answer on Puppet's face, yet he was also afraid of finding that answer there.

Wei Mu remained silent. He handled the situation well, offering neither affirmation nor denial, neither comfort nor encouragement.

At this moment, his eyes lost their liveliness, and he stared blankly at Cheng Shi like a real Puppet, as if his "soul had left his body and traveled far away."

Cheng Shi was trembling all over. He suppressed his trembling and continued in a hoarse voice:

"It's so similar, it's really so similar."

When I stopped 'pitying' the Cheng Shi in the Experiment for the sake of my own future, I realized that I had, in some way, approached [*He].

Close yet distant, harmonious yet unified.

Whenever I think I understand what [Time] is saying, reality always tells me that the truth it refers to is far more than that.

So what am I doing...?

Constantly creating new Experiment, constantly distorting the present moment, using self-ruthlessness and the fall of all beings to search for an answer that will never be found!?

But I already knew the answer.

Cheng Shi slumped down, letting out a bitter laugh. "[Folly] is the Wise One in the Cosmos. He is right; there are no answers in this world."

I thought I could foresee the future, but now it feels like I'm glimpsing the past.

Of course, this wasn't the most helpless part. What left me feeling helpless was that [the Deception] might have already guessed everything.

He knows far more and in greater detail than I do; countless pieces of evidence point to the [Origin] being very likely the Predestination prototype, even if He had never previously suspected it. But the Audience Assembly...

I already had the idea of Experiment Audience Assembly.

He, with His true insight into my heart through [Destiny], will surely be able to connect everything and then realize that the so-called Predestination is nothing more than the ruthless sacrifice made by [the Origin] in order to find a way out.

How will He see me? How will the Fear Faction see me? And how will my friends who have supported me and stood by me until now, still full of hope for the future, see me?

How can I tell them that I, Cheng Shi, am very likely the [Origin] they despise?

It was I who created all of this!

It's all my fault!

All the downfall and departures are because of me!

How should I tell them!?

How should I put it...?

Cheng Shi burst into tears. Even though he had succeeded as the Proxy the Covenant and become the most influential person in the Cosmos, at this moment, he was still as helpless as a child.

Wei Mu should have remained silent, but in this situation, even someone as intelligent and rational as him was moved.

He knew he had to say something to Predestination the Cosmos back from the brink of destruction; otherwise, if it continued to collapse, all the efforts of this era would be in vain.

They will become the petri dish that Wrong Path in the Creator's Experiment, even if the Experiment is just one step away from the result.

The Cosmos may not have the answer, but the living beings beneath Cosmos do.

Their most resolute answer was to let out a cry from within the inescapable cage.

The Little Puppet approached Cheng Shi, patted Cheng Shi's head with its Puppet arm, and said with a smile:

What follows is a Foolish Deed.

[Folly] I hate Foolish Deed, but I am not [Folly].

I can't offer advice based on your situation, so let me talk about my own experience instead.

If the world were to learn the truth about the Divine Authority of [Folly], the halo of Wei Mu would likely shatter in their eyes.

They would think that Wei Mu was able to reach such heights simply by relying on the power of [Folly] Divine Authority, rather than by the wisdom of Mortals.

Regarding this...

I have no objection.

I cannot decide whether I possess the Divine Authority [Folly]. I can only say that before knowing these truths, every conjecture, every deduction, and every choice I made came from my heart.

This has nothing to do with whether I possess the Divine Authority of [Folly], but is solely because I am Wei Mu.

Admittedly, I cannot deny that the Divine Authority [Folly] may have indeed influenced many aspects of my life, bringing me numerous benefits and assistance without my knowledge, but I would like to say:

Using something you don't know is not a sin; knowing it and not using it is Foolish Deed.

[Folly] The identity of Divine Authority may be my 'stain', but it is also my 'weapon'.

True wisdom lies in making full use of all available means.

Without all of this, at least today, here, I would not have met a Lord Foolish Play who is full of affection for this world.

Although this relationship has few anchors, it is very strong.

After saying this, the Puppet withdrew its hand, took two steps back, and said with a hint of emotion:

Courage will not be obscured by confusion, for confusion is temporary, but courage is eternal.

[Deception] It protects you very well, but unfortunately, it doesn't treat itself so well.

"..."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Shi trembled and clenched his fists tightly.

Yes, if there are no answers in the Cosmos, then what answers is [Deception] looking for in the True Universe?

Wei Mu wasn't sure if the other person understood him, but he knew they needed some time to calm down, so he fell silent again.

Cheng Shi remained silent for a long time, breathing heavily. After a while, the trembling in his body gradually subsided.

He clenched his fists and stood up again, a flash of determination crossing his eyes. Looking at the Little Puppet before him, his face a complex mix of emotions, he said:

"Sorry..."

Wei Mu smiled.

Perhaps this is Predestination him so captivating: he always manages to connect with everything and accompany it.

But unfortunately, there's no place for me on the road ahead.

"You don't need to apologize to me. The curtain has always been a barrier separating the Stage from the audience, not one of the actors on the Stage."

When needed, the curtain falls; when not needed, it rises.

Now, I have committed Foolish Deed and should bear the same sin as Him.

Goodbye, Lord Foolish Play.

Don't regret my departure; I will be waiting for your answer in Another World.

As he spoke, the Little Puppet closed his eyes. His mechanical body stiffened for a second, and almost simultaneously, a pure white light emerged from the Puppet's heart, slowly drifting towards Cheng Shi and hovering above his head.

[Folly] The Divine Authority has returned.

Unfortunately, there are no answers even within the Divine Authority.

Last day, hang in there!

Yesterday's vote results were An the Chosen's. An Mingyu, who predicted at the beginning of the game that his Lord of Grace would lose his sight, won the "resurrection round" (just kidding). The current queue order is (Li Jingming - Zhang Jizu - Wei Mu - Long Jing - Katarro - An Mingyu). Judging from the vote count, it seems like everyone can unlock them. Regardless of whether he comes in second or not, at least he's gained something from the side story. Today's review begins, and the seventh and last character Candidate the side story vote.

By the way, I'd like to let you all know about the side stories. The characters that are unlocked will be arranged as soon as possible. It's not that there's no chance for the characters that aren't unlocked yet; I might write some more later, but the timing is uncertain.

The number of votes we received is a testament to everyone's love and support. Not being able to add more is entirely my fault; the ending phase was indeed difficult to write, but the epilogue won't be delayed for too long. Finally, thank you all again. Every vote you cast is the greatest encouragement for "Fool's Game" and Cheng Shi. I am extremely grateful.