Chapter 531 - Questions (Patreon)

“What is your name?”

“Nathaniel Gwyn.”

“Do you have family and what are their names?”

“Sister Victoria and mother Thalia.”

“Your father?”

“His name was Robert. He’s dead.”

“I’ve noticed your mood shifting and your body tensing when you talk about him. Did you have a bad relationship with him? Also, you can refuse to answer these questions.”

“There’s no need. And yes, our relationship was bad most of the time.”

“Do you hate him?”

“I probably do, but recently I’ve been thinking about it, and I can understand him—at least partially. It doesn’t excuse anything, and I wouldn’t change what happened to him, but I can see how he ended up that way.”

“What did you come to understand?”

“He and my mother were both minors when they had my sister. They were in love back then and decided to keep her instead of going for another option. It’s crazy to think they were younger than me—actually younger than some of my group members now.”

“Do you blame them?”

“Not really. I’ve learned by watching my group that people are illogical at times, and even the best intentions can end in a terrible way. One of my group members killed her friend back on the 1st floor by mistake. She still hasn’t forgiven herself, and I’ve noticed it holds her back from training one of her skills.”

“Any other examples you’ve noticed?”

“There’s another member who could have gotten our group killed because she was desperate for us to have a strong bond. Another one would sacrifice others just to keep her sister safe. The brothers would do something similar, relying only on each other. I saw another one who bullied others, and I could sense his satisfaction at confirming he was stronger than the people around him. There’s also a really young girl who killed real people, attendees just like us, on the third floor when her sister manipulated her mind and blocked her fear.”

“I’ll count that as five answers.”

“Thank you.”

“You’ve opened up a lot and answered my questions easily. Is that because of the vow I made?”

“Yes. I also find it surprisingly calming to tell you this, knowing that you don’t care about me personally—only about my behavior as a human being and my answers.”

“That makes me sound like a really cold person.”

“You never said I was wrong.”

“Yes, you’re correct. When you reach a certain age, it becomes… harder to truly feel for someone. At least in my case. Now, let me ask: How did all that experience change how you see your parents?”

“I think my father really did love us and my mother at first, but he was very young. His ‘best’ years passed while he had to look after kids. He lost his job multiple times. His parents died. Our first apartment burned down. I think all of that broke him, leading him to seek relief in alcohol and someone to blame.”

“And your mother?”

“I think she got stuck in the past. Like me—or you—she is also the main character of her own story, and in her story, she fell deeply in love with my father. She… she is a person who is very faithful to the people she once loves, even if those people change or hurt her. It was tough on her, too—her mother disowned her and other bad things happened. I believe she wanted to live in the past and try to take everything on herself to keep us safe.”

“But she failed?”

“She did.”

“Do you hate her?”

“No. I love her.”

“Even after all that happened to you and your sibling?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t you find it fascinating how, no matter the race, we can think so irrationally at times?”

“I do. That was your hundredth question.”

“It was. Please ask yours.”

“Tell me about yourself.”

“That doesn’t even sound like a question, but I’ll humor you and answer. I was born a long, long time ago. It was so long ago I wasn’t even a Absolute yet when Lissandra Hawthorne and her disciple Ruby raged through the system, killing Absolutes and Rulers in their path. I belong to a bloodline that carries Parallax Eyes, and ever since I was young, it was expected that they’d awaken in me once my father died. I hated my father and that responsibility, but I also understood it. Sometime later, I even welcomed it. Now, after all these millennia, I’m thankful for that trait—though I had to survive so many attempts in my life. So many people tried to claim the Eyes: The Last Elf, the Magi himself, the Ruler of Envy, and many more. I’ve had my share of adventures.”

“Do you like to answer in ways that make me want to ask more and more questions?”

“That itself could be considered a question, but I’ll let it pass. And yes, I find it satisfying to see that frustration and curiosity in people—the same curiosity I’ve dealt with my entire life.”

“On Earth, we call people like that assholes.”

“Please only say that in your mind unless you want to be thrown out of the tower.”

“Will do from now on.”

“As for more about me... What else is there to say? I fought. I was betrayed. I gained friends, I lost friends. I outlived my bloodline. I was hunted. I visited planets you can only dream of. I fought wars that destroyed entire worlds. I spoke to Rulers and beings even older than them. I witnessed items I still can’t fully comprehend. I’ve lived a beautiful life.”

“That sounds... nice.”

“Indeed. So, once again, here we are at question number one out of another set of hundred. Up to now, you’ve only asked to satisfy your curiosity. Many attendees before you didn’t care—they only wanted ways to improve their abilities or gain riches, things like that.”

“I know I probably should be asking for that, but I can’t help myself. Besides, I will become strong without your help.”

“Ah, such pride in someone who is only a Champion candidate. Did you ever come close to dying before the tutorial?”

“I don’t think so. I almost got hit by a car a few times, and when I was younger I fell from a tree I’d climbed—that might have killed me if I’d hit my head.”

“So how are you dealing with the constant threat of death inside the tutorial?”

“At first, I used a skill to help me handle it, to block my emotions so I could think logically.”

“You don’t do that anymore?”

“No, I don’t.”

“Why not?”

“If I kept doing that, I'd stay the same forever. But I want to grow, to keep changing. One day, I want to look back and compare myself to who I used to be.”

“Do you dislike who you used to be?”

“No.”

“Are you sometimes answering briefly just so I’ll ask you more questions?”

“Yes.”

“Smart. Do you dislike being asked so many questions?”

“They’re all pretty simple, and it’s often fun to think about them. So I wouldn’t say I dislike it, but it does drain my energy, and as time goes on, I can feel myself getting frustrated.”

“I see. So, do you dislike your past self and that’s why you want to change? Please don’t answer yes or no.”

“Maybe.”

“Haha. I guess I deserved that. So what is the real answer? I’ll count it as two questions this time.”

“There are things I’ve done, for which it wouldn’t surprise me if someone wanted to punish or even kill me. But I think I’ll continue behaving in the same way and deal with the consequences.”

“Wouldn’t you rather avoid creating such consequences?”

“Nothing is ever perfect, and there’s always a price to pay. It’s the struggles that make happiness feel meaningful.”

“Did you come up with that yourself?”

“I read it somewhere.”

“I see. What is your favorite color?”

“I’d say gray or black.”

“If you could spend a day doing anything you wanted before the tutorial, what would it be?”

“I’d sleep as long as possible, take a morning shower, and have a good breakfast. Then I’d go out for a run or exercise. After coming back, I’d take another shower, maybe pet a few cute animals on the way home, eat something good while watching a movie, and spend hours on the Internet learning useless facts that fascinate me. Finally, I’d stay up late while everyone else is asleep, enjoying the quiet streets, maybe even taking a short walk through the sleeping city.”

“What would you do if you became an Absolute?”

“That’s pretty random.”

“Yes, it is.”

“I have no idea. I’m not even sure what that position really means—it probably means different things to different people. I’ll need to learn and experience more before I can understand it.”

“Would you stop if you ever did reach that title?”

“I don’t know. Probably not.”

“Why?”

“On Earth, things are often really unfair. You can try your hardest, yet someone else gets rewarded more. People with better looks often have advantages. Someone might be born with a stronger body, or into a wealthy family. Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, someone else beats you because they have better information or resources. Even the country or city you’re born into, or the color of your skin—these things can affect your entire life.”

“That’s true.”

“But with the system, those things matter less.”

“The First Generation is getting a huge advantage—something no one else from Earth will ever experience.”

“Yes.”

“It’s also the same with skills. Some people are better at handling them, or they awaken more powerful ones.”

“That’s also true. But I don’t think there will ever be a fully fair system. You’d need everyone to be identical.”

“There was an elf who said something very similar.”

“You’re making me curious again. Anyway, what we’re talking about is that I don’t consider myself the most talented. I’ve seen plenty of people who need only a fraction of the time I do to learn something. And yeah, people trained by Champions or Absolutes will have an advantage. It’s similar to what we have on Earth, but I still think if you put in the effort, you get rewarded. You can see the results of that effort in your status or skill levels. And the system is something nobody can truly control or exploit. Well, maybe only the Rulers can influence it a bit... and someone else?”

“You can try to ask that next time you get to ask a question, but I won’t answer it. So what does all of that have to do with you not stopping if you ever reach the rank of Absolute?”

“Why would I stop halfway?”

“...”

“Don’t call me weird. Enough people have done that already.”

“I won’t, Nathaniel. Another question: What’s your favorite food?”

“Pizza.”

“Oh, that round bread with toppings. I see. Are there people you would die for?”

“Probably. I’d need to be in the situation to know for sure. You seem to enjoy switching between silly and serious questions.”

“Do I? Does death scare you?”

“Dying itself doesn’t, but I feel sad thinking about my life ending and not getting to live longer—missing out on all the things there are to experience. There’s so much I want to see.”

“You said Earth has four seasons. Which is your favorite?”

“Either the end of summer or autumn.”

“If you could steal my Spatial Cache storage and face no consequences for it—neither to you nor anyone you care about—would you do it?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“You’ve treated me kindly so far and haven’t shown any ill will toward me. I have no reason to betray your trust.”

“Do you dislike betrayal?”

“I think it’s disgusting and one of the worst things you can do.”

“Have you ever betrayed someone?”

“Yes.”

“Do you hate betrayal because of the way you grew up—because of your father?”

“Very likely.”

“If you were told you would die unless you betrayed someone, what would you do?”

“I would die.”

“Do you hate it that much? Imagine all the things you would miss. All your friends and family would have to live without you.”

“My answer doesn’t change.”

***

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