The diffusion of responsibility, coupled with herd mentality—once immoral behavior became a group's choice, the guilt borne by each individual was greatly reduced. Even conduct that violated public order and common decency would be granted legitimacy.
But if everyone did it, did that make it right?
Lin Chen walked down the stairs. By the time he reached the first-floor hall, Tang Yu was sitting at the table, pouring himself bowl after bowl of wine.
When he saw Lin Chen come down, he pointed to the seat across from him and said lightly, "The Instance is almost over. Want a drink?"
Lin Chen froze. He truly had not expected Tang Yu to be so open-minded, or to let go of his resentment so quickly.
He hesitated before sitting down and asking, "Brother Tang, don't you hate me?"
"Why would I hate you?" Tang Yu scoffed. "At first, I thought you were the mastermind behind everything. But now, it looks like you were just being yourself—you're a shield Lin Wen pushed out in front of him. You weren't the one who decided any of this. What good would hating you do me?"
Lin Chen fell silent for a moment before saying softly, "Brother Lin plotted against you so I could survive. If it hadn't been for me..."
"Stop! You're a grown man, don't hem and haw like some little girl." Tang Yu raised a hand in a stop gesture. "Without you, there would've been someone else. You were just one more available option.
"This Instance was designed that way. Sacrificing one person to help everyone complete the main quest was the optimal solution all the clues pointed to. If I didn't die, someone else would have had to."
He lifted his bowl and tipped back a mouthful of wine, laughing so hard