The Weight of Life

"Motive, now that the Truth has been uncovered... shouldn't you know why I did this?"

"Didn't those children tell you why I did this?"

Carrot spoke, Lin Yu shrugged.

"They did mention it, but it was nothing more than a backup plan after failing to reach the 'Tier 4,' or something about the 'Player Mutual Aid Society' organization..."

Lin Yu paused for a moment after saying this.

Unfortunately, Comrade Li Hua did not believe these claims.

Grandpa Radish sighed, "I see. That young man Li Hua is indeed meticulous and cautious; no wonder he holds a high position within 'Order'."

"And since we sent you... it seems you don't really believe those claims."

Lin Yu nodded slightly.

"Yes, because it's completely unnecessary—even if, in the end, the 'news' that you died, that you were murdered, might lead to some changes in the 'Player Mutual Aid Society' that you hope for, it's not a certainty."

"An uncertain plan isn't really worth risking your life for, is it?"

Lin Yu asked, Grandpa Radish laughed.

"No wonder Li Hua sent you to do this."

"Yes, for us 'Player,' our 'life' is a very important thing."

"Grandpa Radish said with a sigh."

After all, someone who doesn't value their life and desperately want to survive would never join a "Death game."

For a "Player," it's impossible to make their own life a part of a "plan" without a specific reason.

Admittedly, Player in a "Death game" might be willing to sacrifice their own lives, but to get a "Player" to sacrifice themselves...

What he seeks must be something of immense importance.

The mere desire for change within the "Player Mutual Aid Society" is not enough to justify someone risking their life.

Even though this organization was founded by Grandpa Radish, it still doesn't have enough weight.

"So, what exactly is your purpose?"

Lin Yu asked sincerely.

Upon hearing Lin Yu's question, Grandpa Radish chuckled.

"Actually, the reasons they gave you are all there is... I didn't lie to them, nor did I intend to lie to you through them."

Grandpa Radish spoke, Lin Yu was stunned.

"What?"

He subconsciously thought that Grandpa Radish was still hiding something, even in the scene constructed by the [Ancient Notebook], the last trace of consciousness in the remaining Soul Fragment was trying to continue to hide what he had hidden in his previous life.

But...

Lin Yu could tell that Grandpa Radish was very sincere.

The old man stood up, brushed the dirt off his clothes, looked at the tomato seedlings in the vegetable patch, and said leisurely, "I know this sounds a little hard to believe, but... it really is true."

"Of course, it's only natural that you 'Order' would have doubts and reservations... After all, you bear too many responsibilities and cannot afford the slightest mistake."

"You guessed right, I did indeed withhold some information from you... Since you've already resorted to this method to ask me, I might as well tell you, so you'll have less to worry about."

Grandpa Radish said, then paused, "Because I'm no longer like most 'Player,' so eager to survive."

"Perhaps when the 'Death game' first chose me, I did have a strong desire to live, but... now, the biggest reason that allowed me to live has disappeared."

Grandpa Radish smiled and looked back at the house outside the greenhouse.

He recalled that when he entered the Game —there was nothing special about it.

It was a very cold winter. His wife said she had a chest pain in the middle of the night, so he drove his three-wheeled motorcycle to take her to the emergency room of the hospital in the city. However, the road was icy and the three-wheeled motorcycle slipped. On an uphill section, Grandpa Radish decided to get off and push the motorcycle.

Because he was in a hurry and it was dark, he accidentally fell and hit the back of his head, losing consciousness.

On his deathbed, Grandpa Radish had only one thought...

He didn't want to die; he had to live!

He still needed to take his wife to the hospital!

No, that's not all... After returning from the hospital, he still has to go on with his life—he just rented two more greenhouses, which can be used to grow vegetables, and any unsold produce can be sent to the children in the city.

I've heard that vegetables in the city are expensive and of poor quality, while vegetables grown in the countryside are now called "all-natural," "green," and "organic," and are in high demand.

So he didn't want to die; he wanted to live.

Then...

When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in a strange world—the blood-written words before him told him that this was the "Death game."

As an elderly person, he didn't surf as much as the young people, so Grandpa Radish was a bit clumsy at first.

Fortunately, his first [Instance] was a survival-type dungeon. Relying on the "farmer" class's advantage in survival Profession, he eventually rallied several Player to successfully complete that difficult Instance.

However, even though Carrot had done his best, several Player still died in that [Instance] —Carrot always remembered them.

The two young men were both college students, and the woman was a mother of two. Carrot knew they both had the same reason he absolutely couldn't die, but...

They still died.

Back in reality, he took his wife to the hospital, and she survived— the Doctor kept saying that the timely arrival at the hospital was crucial.

Carrot was happy, but he couldn't help but wonder... what about those three people who were truly dead forever?

What will happen to their parents and children?

From that moment on, this simple and kind farmer, who had spent most of his life farming, suddenly felt that he had to do something.

He wanted to live, and he wanted more people to live.

So... Carrot tried to start a "mutual aid association"—a good idea. Although "Order" had been established at that time, it had not yet been truly unshakeable. Therefore, many kind and friendly Player chose to build the "mutual Carrot Order.

That period was the most fulfilling time for Carrot, although things didn't always go smoothly, and "dying" in the "Death game" was a common occurrence... Friends who were laughing and joking with you last week might now only have the bad news of not surviving the [Instance] this week.

But for Carrot, everything is moving in a positive direction—he can't save everyone, but more and more "Player" are gaining more room to survive because of the organizations they've built—they are all very grateful to themselves and the organizations they've established.

And Carrot's life was getting better and better... Just as Carrot had predicted, his vegetable greenhouse was a great success, and the first year was also a bumper harvest.

That year, during the harvest season, he and his wife ate the vegetables they had grown themselves. Their children, who rarely come from the city, came back together. The family was happy and harmonious, which made Carrot sigh with emotion...

"It's good to be alive."

But that was also the last time Grandpa Radish exclaimed, "It's so good to be alive."