There Was No Such Thing as Unprovoked Kindness in This World

After realizing he was beyond saving, Cheng Shi calmed down and let himself fall into an endless Sea of Memories, his mind flashing back to various thoughts.

This wasn't a revolving lantern; it was his final struggle.

He didn't want to die, so he was thinking about how to get his Memory to forgive him.

Yes, forgiveness.

Since he can't borrow any external forces for the time being, he can only beg the gods before him to survive. It's not shameful to lower his stance to survive. The problem is that he's currently lacking an opportunity, an opportunity to make the [Memory] temporarily stop.

This opportunity cannot be obtained through sophistry alone; it must have some practical basis, or at least something that can move Him.

But what could a Believer in Nothingness possibly possess that could move existence...?

Etc!

Yes, there really is!

Cheng Shi's eyes widened suddenly, and he struggled to raise his hand to his eyes, looking at the [Eternal Prisoner of Time] between his fingers!

!!

So that's how it is!

Cheng Shi realized that everything before him was not a punishment, and falling into the Sea of Memories was not a retribution. It seemed that the [Memory] had never intended to imprison him. Otherwise, how could a True God have made him waste so much time on the road to the "prison"?

He only needed a single thought to sink himself to the bottom of the Sea of Memories forever.

So He did it so that He could see the ring?

But this is my ring, the ring of time, and you are Memory. What use is it for me to see this ring?

How to see the true nature of existence?

Who can see the true nature of existence?

If I could see this clearly, how could I still be a player?

If I could really see clearly, wouldn't I arrest all sixteen of you and make you players?

Cheng Shi was completely baffled, but he also confirmed one thing: he had not lost consciousness during such a long period of thinking, which meant that the other party had definitely not intended to kill him.

But what exactly is the purpose of this ring?

Cheng Shi began to recall, and he wondered if it was just his imagination, but he felt that his Memory were becoming clearer as he fell into the Sea of Memories. He carefully recalled everything in the past related to [Memory], and repeatedly savored every word He said during the audience, hoping to find something that [Memory] wanted to express or wanted him to know.

But he gained nothing.

Long, long afterward, after recalling for what felt like the umpteenth time the scene of his first summons by the [Memory] flashed through Cheng Shi's mind, and he suddenly connected a sentence that He had said with the present moment.

He remembered that [Memory] had told him, "Time will give you the answer."

At first, Cheng Shi thought the "time" in that sentence was just ordinary time, but now it seems that this "time" might actually refer to [time]!?

So what does that mean?

Time has provided the answer? What answer? What is the answer?

If "Memory" means that "time" has already provided the answer, then the Cheng Shi can think of is the ring on his hand, the one specifically designed to counter Believer in "time"—the "Eternal Prisoner of Time"!

What kind of answer is that?

Does it mean the death of all Believer in "time," or does it point to Afros?

Cheng Shi was stunned. He had never hated the riddler as much as he did now. You can make people solve riddles, but don't do it when I'm about to die!

However, he was determined to try anything, even if he didn't understand the answer to "time," he had to try this ring to see if it was the answer to "Memory."

So he touched the ring of time and shouted, "I've found it! I've found the answer!"

His body had long since fallen silent, without uttering a sound, yet the cry of his consciousness still carried out, allowing people to hear his call.

And so, in the next second, Cheng Shi was pulled out of the sea like a fish that had taken a bite, and returned to reality.

He suddenly opened his eyes and gasped for breath, only to find that he hadn't even changed his position. He was still standing on the rooftop, and in front of him was still a boss who was looking him over with a blank expression.

Grass.

Cheng Shi wanted to curse, but he held back, suppressing his fear, and raised his hand, gritting his teeth as he angrily said:

"The answer, I've found the answer."

[Memory] She glanced at the ring in his hand, nodded, and then shook her head.

"You are very smart."

But that's not the answer.

You are very active, just as active as your Lord of Grace. I don't know what deal He made with Time, nor can I guess what He wants to do, but I can tell you that Time's answer may not be suitable for you.

I know you learned something from the Gate of Joyful Desire. Yes, the Covenant is indeed related to Him, but He is not a monster and is not worth their wariness.

Of course, your Lord of Grace may not be wary of Him, but if I were to say... He is trying to please Him, that's not impossible.

As for how to please, well, that's quite intriguing.

[Existence] has never been seen through, and no one has ever seen through Him.

Including me, and including you.

"!!??"

For a moment, Cheng Shi's mind went blank. He wasn't sure what the [Memory] was trying to do, but the fact that a True God had mentioned [*Him] to his face was a huge shock to Cheng Shi.

There is no good without a reason, nor is there bad without a reason.

Perhaps in your view, as the opposite of Faith, "existence" is "bad," but some things cannot be judged by appearances alone.

Deception is also a symptom.

Think of your other Lord of Grace. I think "Destiny" is good, at least better than "Deception".

That's all I have to say; things shouldn't be done more than three times.

I hope that next time we meet, you won't be another instigator who defiles my Memory Archive.

As he spoke, this [Memory] that seemed to have come to punish Cheng Shi actually prepared to leave.

He left behind a bunch of Cheng Shi couldn't understand before he departed.

But just then, Cheng Shi gritted his teeth and called out to [Memory]!

"Why me?"

Yes, he was bold enough to stop a departing rival True God, and then, with a complicated expression, asked the question he had long wanted to know but could never figure out:

"Why me?"

This question is impossible to answer without considering the real-world context, because no one would know the questioner's intention. However, [Memory] seemed to have seen through Cheng Shi's thoughts. It chuckled twice and said:

Good question.

As the saying goes, no one can see through Deception, just as no one can see through Destiny.

As for the "Nothingness," I don't know why they chose you.

But for others...

Cheng Shi, this is the era of "Nothingness". As the Dominion of this era, what they value will interest others.

For example, me; for example, time; for example, death; for example... them.

After saying that, the boss disappeared, vanishing into thin air before Cheng Shi's eyes.

Upon seeing [Memory] leave, Cheng Shi instantly lost all his strength and collapsed onto the rooftop.

His heart pounded, cold sweat poured down his body, and a wave of fear washed over his consciousness. A nameless dread surged into his heart, as if an invisible claw was gently gripping his heart.

He seemed to have thought of something terrifying, but he quickly forced himself to shake his head and get rid of these absurd thoughts.

Cheng Shi suddenly guessed the meaning of "Memory".

He is sowing discord!

There is no such thing as good without a reason in this world!

What a chilling statement!

But the problem is...

Why do they indulge themselves like this?

Why is it that I am the darling of Nothingness?

Just because of sophistry? Because one's silver tongue aligns with the will of [Nothingness]?

No...

Cheng Shi himself didn't believe what he said.

There must be a reason, but Cheng Shi never looked for it.

It's not that he doesn't want to, but that he doesn't dare.

He wasn't entitled to know the answer before it was "served at the table," so does the answer regarding "time" refer to this?

Eternal Prisoner of Time, did He mean that He was a prisoner?

Whose prisoner?

A prisoner of Deception, a prisoner of Destiny, or... a prisoner of Nothingness?

So tired.

A sudden wave of exhaustion enveloped Cheng Shi; the mental effort he had just put into recalling and thinking seemed to have drained his spirit.

He stared blankly at the sky, watching countless stars hang and sway in the firmament, then slowly closed his eyes and fell asleep.