The sequel to OE that "we" are looking forward to (19)
After staying in Maomi Town for three days, when the side effects of the Meowth Flower wore off, Dragonite turned back into Dratini, and Maine Coon Z01 also became a human again.
The two little ones in cat form appeared in every corner of the town, successfully checking in on every cat's territory. While the cat gangs were confronting each other, there was often a pair of weirdos leisurely passing by and asking for directions politely but inconsiderately.
The cat was speechless, but pointed the way, and then the opposing gangs started a new round of fighting based on the direction of the path, and Jiang Yuanshi and Z01, who were wandering around, were nowhere to be seen.
Jiang Yuanshi, who relies entirely on visiting restaurants to remember his route, would sometimes get lost and stand there with his head raised in a daze, even though he had only changed direction. However, Jiang Yuanshi would only restart his phone after confirming a familiar store, and it was rare for him to look so dazed. Therefore, usually when Jiang Yuanshi didn't ask, Z01 would silently guard him and take photos to record the journey.
But occasionally, he would encounter some cat-loving NPCs who would kiss Cat Dragon and try to touch it. Whenever this happened, the quiet Z01 would enter defense mode, holding the little dragon in his mouth coldly to avoid human hands. The most hateful thing about this Maine Coon was not only this. He would not let others touch Cat Dragon, nor would he let others touch himself. His dodging posture was elegant and fast, and he never missed.
In the end, the NPC was completely defeated and waved the white flag, and Z01 left with Jiang Yuanshi in his mouth in complete victory.
After Jiang Yuanshi and Z01's behavior was once again exposed in reality, the two were no longer as vigilant as before, but instead felt that this was normal.
I have almost finished exploring Maomi Town. I have eaten what I should eat and fought what I should fight.
They started a new journey. This time, their flying tool was a cat basin. Jiang Yuanshi, who had expanded his backpack to pack up Huadu and take it away, sat in the crook of Z01's legs, with his face resting on the edge of the basin, squeezing out a small piece of cheek flesh, and quietly enjoying the scenery along the way.
"Z01, is this the last stop?"
"Yes."
"So, can I complete the quest by staying in the Novice Village for a few days?"
"I'm not sure. It depends on when the last mission results are settled." Z01 rested his hand lightly on Xiaolong's side, to prevent him from falling asleep and slipping away. "Are you feeling regretful? You can apply to stay in this world a little longer."
Jiang Yuanshi shook his head. "No, I'm just curious about how miserable the next world will be. After all, life in this world is too good. As the saying goes, everything will turn against itself when it reaches its extreme. The next world will definitely not be easy. I'm already starting to worry about my sleep and brain cells."
Regarding this, the once career-oriented Z01 offered no reassuring words, stating bluntly, "Your concerns are justified. The difficulty of world quests will increase gradually, but if something unexpected happens, the next world will be your last."
Something seemed amiss. Jiang Yuanshi looked up at Z01 and said, "What if there's an accident? You sound like it's bound to happen."
Z01 nodded. "According to the analysis from the day before yesterday, the probability of an accident is as high as 99.9%."
"..." Jiang Yuanshi was speechless, "Then it's not an accident, it's bound to happen, but why did you think of analyzing it?"
Jiang Yuanshi's focus was odd, but he always caught on to Z01 quickly. Z01 answered without hesitation, "Because analyzing probabilities is a daily task for the system, just like clocking in at work, but the analyzed events can't be repeated more than three times."
Jiang Yuanshi was curious: "Besides analyzing the world, what else did you analyze?"
Z01: "Sorry, this is a confidentiality matter under the contract."
Jiang Yuanshi said "Oh" and didn't ask any more questions. He just continued with the previous topic: "Then you don't know when the accident will happen?"
Z01: "Yes."
Jiang Yuanshi sat up, scratched the marks on his face from the basin, took out a cat head biscuit and handed it to Z01. After Z01 took it, he stuffed a piece for himself and said vaguely with the biscuit in his mouth: "There's nothing we can do. Let's take it one step at a time."
Z01 looked at Xiaolong and bit off the tip of the biscuit and said "hmm".
"By the way, what do you think the setting of the last world will be?"
“…”
Z01 didn't answer. Jiang Yuanshi looked off into the distance. After finishing his biscuit, he patted his hands with his paws to clear the crumbs. He said calmly, "If I die in the next world, don't save me."
“…”
"After all, Yun Qing and I are different. The fate of humans in reality cannot be easily changed, and I don't want to change it."
It seems that Jiang Yuanshi already knew what the last world would be like. After all, Yun Qing was an example in the previous world. Yun Qing's final mission was to return to the world where he was first born. Then Jiang Yuanshi should be the same, or must be, because he had experienced real death in that world. Those main gods would not give up. Even if they could not wipe out Z01, they would settle for the next best thing and kill the "accomplice" Jiang Yuanshi.
"I know you're very powerful, but I don't really want to change my original ending. After all, I can't imagine a future where I'm still alive."
Jiang Yuanshi's eyes were indifferent, and when he talked about himself, he was always negative and pessimistic.
"But then your mission will fail."
Jiang Yuanshi smiled and said, "We don't even know what the mission is? What if the mission is to completely wipe out Jiang Yuanshi?"
Z01 affirmed, "That won't happen. The unfinished and discontinued system's quests are designed to be positive and optimistic, and they only operate to make up for regrets. Furthermore, the final world each host experiences is constructed from their own experiences and memories. You can choose a new life and do what you want."
"But you forget that the Lord Gods will intervene."
"I will kill them." Z01's tone was calm and natural, but Jiang Yuanshi could inexplicably sense his determination and seriousness.
"Then you won't be any better. I don't want you to get hurt because of something like this. I don't like owing favors to people."
Z01 and Jiang Yuanshi sat face to face, both with serious expressions. Z01 peered through the dragon into Jiang Yuanshi's soul. The host's brow furrowed. He understood the human's seriousness, but Z01 said, "I'm not human. And regarding the debt, you do owe me an answer. But no matter what your answer is, as a system, I will lead you to success."
Jiang Yuanshi's hand was held by Z01. The cold-hearted system official meticulously lowered his head and kissed the back of the host's hand. "Host, you know that we can no longer be separated. Unless you abandon me yourself."
As his lips touched the back of his hand, his eyes were fixed on Jiang Yuanshi. The black abyss in his dark red pupils was reaching out towards Jiang Yuanshi, intending to pull him down together.
Anyone else might have been horrified, and Jiang Yuanshi was no exception. The moment the cold lips touched his skin, his body trembled inexplicably. While Z01's appearance was reflected in his pupils, he saw himself in the other's eyes. In a trance, he seemed to see his own face as a human being, with an unprecedented... smile on that face.
The moment Z01 looked up, he pulled the collar that had appeared on his neck and said with a smile, "If that's the case, why don't we die together?"
Z01 blinked. "With pleasure. It's my pleasure."
Jiang Yuanshi raised his head and hummed lightly, frivolously and casually, as if he was very satisfied. Z01 saw that the other person's hands were struggling to grab him, so he simply lay down on the ground and put Xiaolong on top of him. This way, it would not be easy for Jiang Yuanshi to be crushed, and it would also be convenient for Jiang Yuanshi to exert force.
Z01: "But before I die, I hope you can give me an answer. This is my long-cherished wish. Please fulfill it."
Has it risen to this level? Jiang Yuanshi snorted, tugged at his collar, and said, "I've already replied, but it seems you didn't understand."
"You didn't give a clear answer."
"But I did answer it my way. You still need to study more anthropology."
A question mark popped up above Z01's head. Not long after, smoke started coming out of his brain, clearly starting to burn out his CPU. Jiang Yuanshi sighed, plopped down on Z01's chest, scratched his chin, and said, "So until you understand, you have to stay alive. What a pity, you can't die."
Z01 frowned and looked up at the sky, his tone serious, "Yes, unfortunately, my understanding of humans is less than one ten-thousandth of what they actually are, especially you."
“…”
Jiang Yuanshi rolled his eyes, sighed, and simply closed his eyes and lay down to sleep.
When he woke up, they had already arrived at the doorstep of the Novice Village, the home of the hero at the beginning of the game. According to Z01, the NPCs they met along the way all greeted the hero and said, "Long time no see."
It seems to be a game setting. After the player leaves the village for a certain period of time as a hero, he will be left by default. After returning, all NPCs will think that the hero is back. However, it is different from the feeling of playing games through the screen on the device. The sense of immersion after experiencing it in person is very strong, especially when the NPC gives the hero a return gift and prepares for the welcoming banquet that night.
Jiang Yuanshi and Z01, who were surrounded by NPCs and dancing in circles, felt an unfamiliar sense of belonging.
They drank and ate meat together, danced around the campfire, with garlands on their heads and the village chief chanting blessing spells. All the people and demons here welcomed their return and offered them good wishes. It was a sense of intimacy, as if they were really part of the village and were deeply loved.
The brave man's new home was very clean and spotless, and the fields outside the house were also well tended. The NPCs seemed to have been waiting for their return.
Jiang Yuanshi and Z01 felt something was wrong, but they couldn't refuse, so they settled down in the village, farming and planting trees every day, socializing with the villagers, and sharing the food they cooked with everyone.
Every day when I wake up from bed, there is always a knock on the door. Who in the village is it today?
They opened the door and saw an old man in front of them, bringing them the village's new blessing wreath. Jiang Yuanshi and Z01 thanked him and took it. When they took out their return gifts, the village chief repeated the blessing spell he had said on the first night they met, but this time their expressions changed drastically.
This time, the words that Jiang Yuanshi had complained about as being like talking in a dream and being completely inaudible now reached their ears with incredible clarity:
[Due to a recent malfunction at the Transmigration Bookstore, rewards cannot be distributed. Please return to the lobby through System Z01 to claim your previous world's settlement power. Deadline: today.]
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