Welcome to Rewind World Game-Chapter 1551: Interlude: After Shaking Hands with Noel (Part 1)
"Have you ever heard the story of One Thousand and One Nights?"
"In order to appease the tyrannical king, the young woman told him a story each night."
"With so many stories, it’s impossible for each to stem from the girl’s imagination alone. Thus, she based the characters on people around her, crafting one story after another on this foundation."
"In some stories, she is a minstrel, and the king is the prime minister she praises."
"In some stories, she is a guard, and the king is the earl she serves."
"In some stories, she is a travelling doctor, and the king is the knight she meets while treating."
"People call this... an IF route, right?"
"And in our concept, we call it... a possibility, don’t we?"
"Before you transform into the World Tree, I would like to show you the path I’m attempting to follow... a path that seems freer and full of infinite possibilities. You may not be able to glimpse its entirety, but through this brief journey, you might understand some of my ideas."
"I know I can’t change your ’this time’ outcome, but."
"Let’s shake hands."
"I hope this brief journey will imprint an indelible impression, so in the ’next time’, and ’next next time’... you can bring an end to this One Thousand and One Nights story."
...
Su Ming’an shook that hand.
Most of his life force had already flowed into the small world, leaving behind just an insignificant shell, not even Noel’s conspiracies could frighten him.
Sensing Noel had more to say, Su Ming’an cautiously shook Noel’s hand.
At the moment of contact, the scene before him suddenly transformed.
He opened his eyes, finding himself standing amidst wind and snow, facing an imposing ancient castle.
... Where is this?
He calmly observed, and a gentle tap landed on his shoulder.
"Noel, isn’t it cold standing at the door? Come inside quickly." It was a dignified, elegant female voice. The girl’s blue eyes were like the sea, her appearance as pure and lovely as a crystal clear lily, dressed in a plain gown, passing by Su Ming’an.
Su Ming’an paused, looking down at himself.
Falling golden hair, a ruby bow-tie at his chest, a cloak resembling dove wings... So, this should be a memory of Noel’s? Or a story?
He suddenly found the beautiful girl who passed by looked familiar...
His heart raced as he pushed the door open and entered.
"Creak——!"
The heavy door of the ancient castle opened. Old walls, spiral carved staircases, tables and chairs standing in all directions, endless wind and snow blowing outside the window, silent light flickering inside a glass-enclosed blue oil lamp.
Seven people sat on the sofa.
Seeing Su Ming’an push the door open and enter, someone waved a hand with a smile: "Finally, Noel, you’re here."
Su Ming’an looked closely.
A beautiful girl with golden hair hanging over her shoulders, dignified and elegant, blue eyes like the sea.
A man with gem-adorned ears, wearing a toy dragon t-shirt, hands in pockets, fingers full of rings.
A tall, pale-skinned woman doctor with curly purple hair, gloomy expression, haggard features.
A man wearing a checkered hat, dressed as a detective, with square glasses and a pipe, sharp-eyed.
A red-haired youth with ear studs, a leather jacket with rivets, high-heeled boots, sitting slouched with a lazy expression.
A gentle man with blue hair, draped in a deep purple scarf with a matching tie, black clothes to the knee, smiling at the corners of his lips.
A figure hidden under a black robe, revealing no features, slightly thin in build, sitting silently at the corner of the sofa.
Su Ming’an’s steps halted.
He seemed to know what Noel wanted to show him...
The gentle man with blue hair spoke first, placing his hands on his knees, crossing one leg, surveying the surroundings, speaking softly:
...
"Ladies and gentlemen, good evening, 2022’s snow is truly cold."
...
Among those present were Rank 2 Player Antetolia, Rank 5 Player Blake, Rank 6 Player Edith, Rank 9 Player Rock, Rank 10 Player Mao Lian, Rank 16 Player Lu Likalpos, and an unidentifiable player.
Su Ming’an summoned the system interface, displaying the date as: [May 31, 2022].
This is,
The first reincarnation of the World Game.
Or rather, the first reincarnation of the World Game within a ’certain’ universe loop.
"I didn’t expect we’d be matched together, it seems this round is extremely challenging, for balance, all the top-ranking players have gathered." Lu Han said with a smile.
"Tap tap tap." The red-haired youth tapped impatiently on the table: "Likalpos, less nonsense. Rock, quickly use your [Information Insight] skill, what is the situation with this instance?"
The detective-dressed man adjusted his glasses, replied unhurriedly: "Everyone should have realized the theme of this instance over the past few days——14th instance·[Liar’s Eighteen Trials]. Players ascend a tower from hell, experiencing escape rooms, snowstorm chalets, and life-or-death games, with elements of medieval, western fantasy, quick travel, and infinity stream."
"Oh~" The man with gem-adorned ears whistled: "A tower-climbing instance is indeed rare."
"Blake, quiet." The somber woman doctor with purple hair said coldly. The golden-haired man scratched his head immediately, like a mouse seeing a cat.
Rock coughed to draw everyone’s attention back: "My credibility is limited, so I suggest we let our Rank 2 Player, the beautiful gem of the Royal Family, Ms. Antetolia, convey the remaining information."
With these words, the crowd fell silent.
At the center of their gaze, a dignified and beautiful blonde woman, reminiscent of a Greek goddess, opened her blue eyes and spoke softly:
"You have all experienced the previous level of ’Escape Room,’ and that perplexing locked room left a deep impression on us. The next level is likely to be games similar to ’Box Girl Game,’ ’Russian Roulette,’ and ’Who’s the Mole.’ You climb the tower step by step, and only then can you clear this instance."
"As for the challenge on this level..." She gently moved her snowy neck and glanced at the snowstorm outside the window: "It should be called ’Snowstorm Manor.’ An isolated ancient castle, and once a murder occurs, the guests in the castle can only suspect each other until the murderer is found, or all are dead..."
Su Ming’an remained silent, observing his surroundings.
Among this crowd, what caught his attention the most was the Black Robed Man sitting in the corner of the sofa. This person had not said a word from beginning to end, isolated from the others, and the players who ranked high did not pay attention to him.
At this moment, a maid approached, pale-faced with neat braids. She distributed masks to everyone and then turned towards the stairs.
The crowd realized that they were meant to follow her up.
"It seems we are about to meet the owner of this castle," Mao Lian whistled.
The group entered the banquet hall, lavishly decorated with pearl curtains and jade, the carpet strewn with scarlet roses, hinting at a scent of red wine and decayed flowers.
Besides their group of eight, another group of eight players also arrived, all wearing masks.
At the very front, the castle’s owner finally revealed himself to the eager gazes of the crowd.
—A blue-haired young man.
He crossed his legs and leisurely swirled his wine glass. Next to him sat a doll-like girl, draped in black hair, eyes vacant, dressed in a flower-adorned luxurious gown, her skin lifeless—a corpse.
"Welcome, everyone, to my castle," the blue-haired youth said with a smile.
Rock’s eyes flashed blue as he employed his exploration skill, then his hands subtly moved as invisible blue threads pierced into each player’s ear, with his voice whispering to them: "The castle owner, Count Totax, is a formidable noble in this mysterious medieval civilization. Rumor has it that a girl’s corpse always sits beside him—that was his deceased lover. He’s been researching forbidden black magic to revive her, even going as far as to sacrifice everything."
"And we are a group of opportunists with varying intentions. Some seek the Count’s investment, some want medicine from him, some have come to investigate the Count for major news, some wish to cling to power. In short, we’ve gathered here with different aims, attending the Count’s banquet."
Su Ming’an looked around.
...Impressive, this is an information flow player. With brief observation, communication, and skill usage, one can gather so much information.
"How many groups of guests have there been?... It doesn’t matter! Since you’re here as guests, let’s play a game!" The blue-haired youth suddenly stood, waving his arms:
"I’ve decided! Today’s game is called ’The Last Supper!’"
...Play a game?
The players exchanged glances; they expected a game, but what game was this?
"If it’s a card game, I’m quite proficient," Antetolia said with a graceful smile.
"Oh, I hope it’s a betrayal-type game... I enjoy watching you scurry about without heads..." Edith said in a hoarse voice.
"Hahaha... Let’s keep it peaceful, exploration-type games are better, right?" Rock said helplessly.
"Shut up! Be quiet!" The blue-haired youth stomped: "The Count will announce the rules now!"
"Among you sixteen, there are four demons!" The blue-haired youth pointed at the crowd: "Hmm... The game includes two phases, ’Midnight Bell’ and ’Dining Time’!"
"In the ’Midnight Bell’ phase, you can move freely within the castle, and of course, demons can kill without restrictions!"
"During the ’Dining Time’ phase, when the banquet hall bell rings, you must return to the hall to vote and exile someone you suspect to be a demon!"
"Alright, the Count will distribute your identities now! Eat the food in front of you, if it tastes bitter, then you’re a demon! Come on, start eating!"
On the long table, the tablecloth slipped off, revealing the plates.
Su Ming’an controlled his expression.
—On the dining table, there wasn’t any delicious food but rather a human being!
A living person!
Slightly curled purple hair dangled over the white tablecloth, the person’s face obscured by fabric, exposing the dissected human body.
Su Ming’an had already identified the Count. The former divine envoy of the Ninth Thrones, Wu Yi. Lü Shu took away his divine envoy position.
In the first World Game, Wu Yi actually appeared in the fourteenth instance?
Indeed, Luowasha was not cleared until over four billion times, so during the first World Game, Luowasha wasn’t cleared, possibly not even appearing in the scope of the fifteen instances.
After a moment of silence, Antetolia was the first to move. She ate a fruit on the plate’s edge, then put down the silver fork. Her demonstration awakened the crowd, who all followed suit, only eating the edge fruits.
Su Ming’an took a bite of the fruit, and a bitter taste emerged.
...His identity is "demon."
After eating, the free movement phase began, candle flames suddenly snuffed out with a "whump," and vision became pitch black.
"Ah!" Screams echoed, and some "demon" already began to act.
Just as Su Ming’an was about to move, he suddenly felt someone hold his hand and drag him away from the banquet hall, running until the chaotic noise behind him gradually faded. The person spoke in a hoarse voice:
"Be careful, that piano in the banquet hall looked dangerous."
Su Ming’an paused in surprise, then suddenly had an epiphany. Appearing to check for injuries, he gently hugged the other person.
Like connecting to radio waves, he felt the other immediately relax a little.
The person took off the hood.
—Revealing a face with black hair, black eyes, serious dark circles, gentle facial lines, and a somewhat gloomy expression.
"Su Ming’an," Su Ming’an said.
"Mm." The Su Ming’an from the first World Game said: "I am a demon, and you?"
"Me too," Su Ming’an replied.
"That’s good," the other person said. "I don’t trust anyone else, not even the Demon. Losing the game in this instance will only drop us to the next level, not cause real Death. We can kill everyone else."
...Wow, what a gloomy self.
Su Ming’an sensed a trace of darkness. As expected, because he was tainted with dark aura, other top-ranked Players seemed to keep their distance from him.
"My [Eye of Reconnaissance] has found something interesting, follow me." Shadow Su pulled Su Ming’an forward, arriving at a library where voices could be heard.
"...Mr. Blake, I invite you."
Su Ming’an peeked quietly, seeing the blond man Blake standing with a youth in traditional Chinese clothing, talking to each other.
"...Oh? If I recall correctly, aren’t you a clone of Rank 11 Player Su Ming’an?" Blake crossed his arms and laughed, "That gloomy guy is full of dark aura, and hardly anyone gets close to him. Only you, his clone, remain loyal to him."
The youth in traditional clothing showed a bright smile, placing a hand over his chest: "But who likes their Destiny being controlled? Although Lord treats me well, I can’t be satisfied with the role of ’cloning.’ Don’t I also desire an independent Life?"
Su Ming’an suddenly thought, if the Su Ming’an from the first World Game was the base for the "Shadow Clone," then who were the clones of Su Ming’an in the first World Game?
"What are the names of your clones?" Su Ming’an asked quietly.
Shadow Su raised an eyebrow, puzzled by what he thought to be a silly question. He thought for a moment and then replied accurately: "Su Jingtang, Su Qing."
The bright clone corresponds to Su Jingtang.
The shadow clone corresponds to Su Qing.
These two people were cards Su Ming’an drew from Luowasha in the World Game more than four billion times. But in the first World Game, they were Su Ming’an’s clones.
Interesting.
It seems that the two probably betrayed and left Su Ming’an because they didn’t want to be clones and entered Luowasha, becoming independent lives. In the end, they were drawn back by Su Ming’an.
Blake stroked his chin and shook his head: "Even though I don’t like that gloomy guy Su Ming’an, I also dislike traitors! I wouldn’t dare agree to your cooperation."
"How would I dare to hope that a great top-ranking Player would cooperate with a humble person like me?" Su Jingtang said humbly: "I only invite you to witness the [truth of the world] with me. This is already the penultimate instance."
"Not interested, get lost." Blake didn’t put on a friendly face, as he always detested treachery.
"Oh?" Su Jingtang smiled: "What if I told you, I come at the invitation of the owner of the Ancient Castle?"
Blake’s expression changed. If it involved an important NPC, he had to hear what this kid had to say, even if it ended up with no cooperation. With a sullen face, he snorted: "I’d like to see what [truth of the world], lead the way!"
The figures of the two gradually faded into the distance.
"Your clones betrayed you," Su Ming’an said.
It was meant as a joke, but Shadow Su responded calmly:
"...I’m used to it."
Used to too much betrayal.
Used to too many cold gazes.
Su Ming’an’s expression stiffened, and he sighed. He had been through such a difficult past...fortunately, this time he was lucky enough.
"Let’s go, follow them." Shadow Su said, raising his arm as a dark veil covered their heads like an Invisibility Cloak.
Su Ming’an recalled that in Su Wenjun’s room, many photos had been taken of his life in the world game reincarnation. Sometimes he was a Priest, sometimes a Mage, and sometimes even a Minstrel... This time, was his occupation similar to a Shadow Assassin?
"Someone else is following them too." Shadow Su closed his eyes to sense: "Ahead is Hui Bai and Antetolia."
"Number One Player, Hui Bai," Su Ming’an said.
"Hmm." Shadow Su snorted through his nose, with an expression of "How come you’re so dull today": "Didn’t see him in the hall before, this guy’s pretty good at hiding... Let’s go, find a chance and kill them, otherwise, we’ll risk being exiled by them."
"Rank 11 killing Rank 1," Su Ming’an said.
"I even dare to kill Rank Zero," Shadow Su said bluntly.
In the distance, Blake and Su Jingtang ascended to the rooftop of the Ancient Castle.
Through the distant wind and snow, three suns could faintly be seen beyond the mountains.
Many thick vines grew across the rooftop, wide enough for several people to walk side by side. Su Jingtang first stepped onto one, and Blake, frowning, followed.
Hui Bai and Antetolia stealthily followed closely, and further back, like a mantis stalking a cicada unbeknownst to the oriole behind, were Su Ming’an and Shadow Su.
The six walked along the vines, and Su Jingtang looked up and said: "Mr. Blake, look up at the sky. In this world, we’ve got three suns in the sky, and the heavens are round while the earth is square because the world’s boundaries actually are square-shaped."
"To have the concept of a round sky and square earth, we have to thank a scientist from the past. Back then, it was generally believed that the world revolved around the sun, but he insisted on the round sky and square earth idea, and he was later burned to death miserably."
"Later, people grasped another natural law: in this world, at eight in the morning, noon, and six in the evening, food falls from the sky. If someone continuously crashes against the world’s edges, food will also fall."
"Nonsense!" Blake couldn’t help but say: "Do you think I haven’t heard of the ’Turkey Scientist’ incident? A Farmer feeds turkeys every noon, and the turkey scientists believe that ’food falls from the sky at noon daily’ is a natural law. They even work out to be in the best physical shape at noon. That was until one day the Farmer changed his schedule to feeding at six PM, which caused the turkey’s science assumptions to collapse completely, rendering their workout schedule useless, and all their scientific research vanished."
"So, it’s merely because there’s a ’farmer,’ a higher-dimensional being above us, feeding us. The world we’re traversing now is a turkey farm, hence the situation of food falling from the sky."
"As for your argument that crashing into the world’s edges leads to food appearing, it’s because the ’farmer’ noticed the turkeys’ resistance, and to appease us, he provided us with extra food. This doesn’t constitute any scientific law!"
"Oh, you’re very knowledgeable," Su Jingtang said with a smile.
"I may be straightforward, but I’m no fool!" Blake glared.
"Well, I have a question for you," Su Jingtang squinted his eyes.
"Shoot!"
"Mr. Blake," Su Jingtang smiled:
"— How do you know that Zhai XIng’s existing ’natural laws’ — such as [The Sun Rises in the East and Sets in the West], [Law of Conservation of Mass], [Newton’s First Law], [Second Law of Thermodynamics], [Fermat’s Principle]... aren’t deliberately created results by the high-dimensional ’Farmer’?"
Blake’s eyes widened, his mouth quivered, yet no words came out.
"You mentioned that the Farmer changed his routine from feeding at noon to six PM," Su Jingtang said. "So what if I told you, that before humans appeared, Zhai XIng was [Sun and Moon in the Sky] and not [Rising in the East and Setting in the West]. The Sun was crimson, and the Moon was deep blue, it should have been [Red Sun and Blue Moon] instead of [Red Sun and White Moon]. Wouldn’t you think that’s possible?"
Blake’s pupils trembled.
How could it be impossible.
...Of course, it’s possible.
Although ’Sea Crossing Line’ and ’Guardian Shore Line’ are spoken of lightly, as if just switching a save in a game, in reality, every end signifies a Poincaré recurrence of the universe. The lifespan of the universe, compared to mankind, compared to Su Ming’an, is astronomical.
So, if the High Dimensions really were once "farmers"...
"Genesis..." Su Ming’an murmured slowly.
The clearest example is Luowasha. Olivius and other creators are actually equivalent to "farmers." They altered scientific rules, making colds turn into cancer, and cancer into colds. As long as enough time passes, people will only remember that a cold is cancer, that this is the truth.
Thus, since the Sea Crossing Line and Guardian Shore Line have already cycled so many times... Since so much time, so much time has passed... How many changes have appeared since the beginning?
How many things have been silently altered and become truth in people’s minds?
"—What if I said, long ago, Zhai Xing was always the sun and moon both in the sky, always the Red Sun and the Blue Moon, and even had Olivius in its ancestry, would you believe?" Su Jingtang crossed his arms, smiling slightly:
"What if I said, Su Ming’an was once an organizer long ago, would you believe?"
"What if I said, the Boss Rabbit is actually the world consciousness of Zhai Xing, would you believe?"
"Do you believe?"
"Do you not believe?"
Su Ming’an felt his sleeve being tightly gripped, Ying Su lowered his head, his gaze fixed on the ground.
"I..." Blake opened his mouth.
"—Of course, none of this is important." Hui Bai suddenly appeared.
He stood in front of Blake, speaking to Su Jingtang: "No matter how it was before, what does it matter? We will also become ’farmers’ one day, also return to redeem these ’turkeys.’ By then, it will be a war among ’farmers,’ and what meaning is there in dwelling on how many ’turkeys’ were altered before?"
"Indeed, only fools would dwell on these past matters." Su Jingtang smiled slightly: "But the premise is... the ’farmers’ do not threaten us ’turkeys’."
"What do you mean?" Hui Bai raised an eyebrow.
"Now, above our heads are some ’farmers’." Su Jingtang pointed to the sky: "Everything beneath our feet is built on the limited knowledge of those people. Once their ideas change, everything beneath our feet will collapse."
"The scariest part is, our thousands of years of history, figures, past, society, order, future... all are built on the limited knowledge of that group. Once they lack certain common sense, we will also lack this common sense before us."
"For example, once they think: ’Strawberries grow on the ground,’ then from now on strawberries grow on the ground, and the concept of a ’strawberry tree’ no longer exists."
"But from ancient times to now, common sense has always told us, even a six-year-old child knows, strawberries grow on trees."
Upon hearing this, Su Ming’an felt a sudden moment of doubt, furrowing his brow.
Do strawberries grow on the ground, or do they grow on trees?
It seems... they grow on trees.
Yes, they’ve always grown on trees. In the past in the Ruined World, Beili Sier planted many strawberry trees for Ya Sa.
...
[Even if Beili Sier plants more strawberry trees, and waits for longer years, it will never happen again.]
[—Fragment 773 of Memory Clip · "Lü Shu, Ya Sa"]
...
Could it be... this natural law was altered long ago?
"But—oh God!" Su Jingtang opened his arms, laughing in the wind and snow:
"If all fixed scientific laws have been erased, if everything we understand is only built on certain people’s common sense and worldview."
"If as long as they wish, our destiny will be altered."
"Then."
He turned his head, slowly looking in a direction.
In a trance, Su Ming’an’s ears seemed to echo Noel’s voice—
...
"—Shouldn’t we kill ’them’?"
...
"Boom—!!"
Suddenly, the sky turned pure white.
Some white, square thing pressed down, pressing toward the vines.
Upon contact with that thing, Su Jingtang’s form shattered instantly, turning into drifting snowflakes. Next was Blake, then it pressed backward...
When Su Ming’an opened his eyes again, he was standing in the library, Su Ying standing beside him. Blake and Su Jingtang were chatting.
...A rollback occurred.
It wasn’t his own death rollback; it should be Su Ying’s death rollback. That suddenly appeared white thing killed them, causing a death rollback.
Su Ming’an furrowed his brow, but a voice sounded next to him:
"Noel, Su Ming’an."
It was Hui Bai.
The blond young man stood in the darkness, looking at them.
