The live bullet chat exploded as soon as the system’s words ended.
[What does that mean? Does this NPC mean that as long as the main task is completed, trainees can choose to stay forever in this instance? The trainees don’t need to return to the infinite flow. The system even gave its confirmation. I??? ]
[F**k. It means they can be an exception outside the trainee competition’s rules?]
[Yeah, I also think it means that. At the start, the competition said only one hundred people could survive. If you chose to stay in this instance, isn’t that considered dropping out in the middle of the competition? And the kind of dropping out without punishment/penalty?]
[Think about it. If the main task isn’t completed, they’ll be obliterated. However, if they complete the main task, staying in this instance seems to be a way out for trainees.]
The bullet chats were engaged in fierce discussion. In the end, the discussion topic even veered off into whether this competition was fair or not.
[There’s no need to discuss fairness, right? When the system brought you into the infinite flow, did it ask for your opinions and thoughts? Now the system has even spoken up. It means that staying in this instance is possible.]
[Indeed. This is similar to that S-rank reincarnation instance before. Entering it meant going through three reincarnations. They just randomly lived two extra lives. You can also call that unfair.]
Not only the bullet chat, but the trainees had also started to discuss quietly.
Anthony raised his voice, “So what if we stay? What you guys said was just sophistry. Are we not able to differentiate between real and fake?”
Although, having the same DNA, memories, and other important aspects made it hard for people to differentiate emotionally.
But no matter how the police officer danced around with his words, even if this instance disguised itself to be the same as the real world, fakes were still fakes in the end.
“You all can only be considered replicants at best.”
After that sentence, Anthony didn’t continue to talk, because the police officer expressed agreement with his words.
“Indeed so. Sigh, if it was you, you wouldn’t be able to survive Judgment Day.”
He looked at Anthony, sighing and shaking his head. His expression didn’t seem to be faked. “Vampires are a race abandoned by God. Your sins will be harder to cleanse than normal people. So if possible, for the entire team to pass, it would be better to choose the second main task.”
Vampires originated from legends in Eastern Europe. Although they weren’t recorded in the bible, they were indeed a member of the dark creatures. Thus, the black line on Anthony’s hand was darker than other trainees.
However, these words made the trainees once again stunned.
Didn’t the second main task mean to destroy the instance? It meant these people were encouraging them to destroy this instance???
“Yes. That’s what I’m implying. It’s merely because the second main task is much more difficult compared to the first main task. Our instance isn’t only a normal instance. Above the town..”
The police officer pointed towards the sky, “there’s still heaven.”
He then pointed to the ground, “Below the town, there’s hell.”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“Of course, if you can bring up a feasible plan, we are happy to assist you. We can even help you hide from the eyes and ears of the judgment.
“Ciatbeut kf jgf bcis gfqilmjcar lc sbeg fsfr, kf jirb tjnf atf offilcur atfs tjnf abkjgvr sbe. Pc beg fsfr, sbe jii jgf beg ojwlis jcv mtlivgfc.”
Ktf abkcrqfbqif jii cbvvfv, atflg ujhfr abkjgv atf agjlcffr oliifv klat kjgwat jcv afcvfgcfrr.
Zjcs kbwfc fnfc qeiifv bea alrrefr ab klqf atflg afjgr, “Zbw tbqfr sbe mjc ilnf kfii. Qtfatfg la’r rajslcu bg vfragbslcu atf lcrajcmf, kf klii tfiq sbe.”
“Yeah, we will do everything we can to help you complete the main task.”
“Please trust us. No matter what, we wouldn’t be able to harm our children!”
These piercing gazes on their back made them feel as if they were sitting on pins and needles.
Even Zong Jiu, who was very sensitive to the emotional changes of others, could feel it. Their gazes didn’t contain any ill will. On the contrary, their gazes were filled with goodwill.
The kind of goodwill that could be felt without needing to use tarot cards. It was as they said. These townspeople truly treated and saw the trainees as their own children/family/good friends…
They were genuinely discussing how they could better help the trainees to destroy the instance together, completely disregarding their own life and death.
The people surrounding them had familiar yet unfamiliar faces.
The streets surrounding the town gave people a feeling of familiarity. Some streets were indeed places they had lived in before. Even the houses and buildings were the same as in their memory.
An old church. A bus stop. The old man selling popsicles on that street corner.
Newsstands. Bakeries. An old and run-down school with a little stall in front.
A mother couldn’t hold back. While wiping her tears, she called out to Xu Shu, “My baby Shu, come back with mom and take a look. Your room is still the same as when you left. Not even your books were moved. Mom will never say anything about you idling away or playing games again. Just come take a look.”
Xu Su sniffed. Enduring the discomfort in his heart, he stayed silent.
……
Zong Jiu asked the townspeople to give them some time to consider. Thus, the townspeople considerately scattered, leaving only the police officer standing nearby.
The trainees grouped up into a circle. Silence permeated among them.
Zong Jiu spoke up in a timely fashion, “In this instance, let’s still place the first main task as our number one goal and aim to eliminate the black lines on our hand.”
Between the two main tasks, only one had to be completed. Hearing this, many trainees let out a breath of relief.
Everyone knew that destroying an instance, whether using physical means or otherwise, required all the NPCs to die first.
Rationally, everyone knew this was only an instance. However, emotionally, it was a bit too cruel and inhumane if everyone needed to kill their relatives like in First High School. Additionally, these were relatives they had deep feelings towards.
“As for after completing the main task, choosing whether to return to the dormitory or stay…”
Here, Zong Jiu paused for a moment, “That is everyone’s personal choice. I won’t interfere too much.”
“However, at least before completing the main task, I hope we can stand on the same side because we are a team.”
The trainees all nodded with red eyes.
Thankfully, everyone was veterans who had experienced countless instances. Between rationally and emotionally driven choices, they were able to unwaveringly choose the rational one, not to mention that many among them were teammates who experienced the hell-like exam shoulder to shoulder with Zong Jiu. It was impossible for them to easily waver over a fake imitation.
But believing was one thing. Staying or not was another.
Zong Jiu had only quickly glanced over them and knew that many people were moved by that proposal.
The Thriller Trainee Competition was incomparably cruel and harsh. In the end, only one hundred people could survive. Many here were B-rank and C-rank trainees. Their chances of living till the end were minuscule. Now that there was a chance to drop out, many people were moved.
They couldn’t be blamed for being moved. The conditions given by the system were too good.
If they stayed in this town, they didn’t have to stay forever. If one day they wanted to return, they could leave at any time.
At that time, the Thriller Trainee Competition would have long ended. They would return to the infinite loop world.
Of course, no one knew if those who stayed would be softened by the peaceful life and no longer have the courage to return to the infinite loop. Soaking for too long in a pot of honey would cause human bones to weaken.
“However, protecting our common interests comes first. We can’t put our eggs into one basket. Therefore, while preparing for the first main task, we also have to make adequate preparations to complete the second main task whenever necessary.”
The white-haired young man opened his mouth, his expression serious, “I hope everyone can make sufficient mental preparations.
[Actually, this arrangement is already very good. This instance’s premise is not being controlled by your emotions.]
[Talking about it is one thing, but being in the instance is probably another.]
[Indeed. When that golden retriever rushed over, it was the first time I saw Anthony with such a warm expression.]
[After thinking about it, I feel that while this instance is wonderful, it is also cruel. Personally destroying it is truly too difficult. Too difficult… Sigh. I hope the Magician’s team can complete the first main task. Then at least those in the team can decide for themselves whether they want to stay or return.]
On the other side, after the discussion finished, the team dispersed once again.
The police officer politely asked, “Have you all finished discussing?”
Zong Jiu nodded.
“Then let’s hurry. The little pope has already waited for a long time.”
Saying such, the police officer turned around and led the way in front.
They passed through the town’s neat and well-ordered streets.
Not far from them, an unknown religious song. Similar to the sun floating in the sky, it dyed the town in a hazy golden light.
The townspeople who had left the square spontaneously gathered and walked towards the cathedral in the center of the town, their heads bowed devoutly as they chanted.
This town was full of goodwill. Along the way, every house had its door open. Those who saw lost items left on the road didn’t try to take or steal them.
This atmosphere was extremely similar to Jerusalem, which Zong Jiu had visited in the past.
Jerusalem was like this, a holy city with many religions. Every day, on the dot, the sound of prayers could be heard all the way from outside the city.
The people there all had faith. Even when sleeping, they wouldn’t close or lock the door. The area was filled with a spiritual and divine atmosphere.
No wonder the police officer said that the entire town only had one police officer, him. Seeing this now, it was because it was not needed.
While walking, Zong Jiu pretended to casually ask, “Earlier, you said that other than confession, there’s also another way to clear your sins. What is it?”
“Oh, that. Once we’ve arrived at the cathedral, let the pope tell you.”
The police officer scratched his head, “Don’t use that gun carelessly. Put it into the system backpack. Aiya, anyway, you will know soon.”
Soon, the group arrived at the huge cathedral at the end of the road.
The design of this cathedral was different from the other buildings in the town.
Mannerism from the late renaissance period gave birth to the Baroque period. A cluster of white doves rested on the white dome.
The dome of the cathedral was painted with complex religious murals, and a huge chandelier hung down.
The pope, in a scarlet red robe, stood in front of the high altar.
His stature wasn’t tall. From the back, he seemed to be but a five or six-year-old child. The three-pointed coronet on his head sparkled.
He turned around, his youthful face finally exposed under the light.
That face. Zong Jiu couldn’t be more familiar with it.
Although it became smaller, it was still familiar. The kind of familiarity that made him clench his fist in anger.
Oh my god, who is it? I’m now very curious. Damn the cliffhanger.BTW, tnx for the chapter!!!
It’s the devil isn’t it number 1 trainee
Must be the younger version of No.1 🤔
Child version of who…. …
6 years old Devil? Just take all my money and show me
Thank you for your translation 🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡
».. she called Xu Shu, “My baby Shu..« Xu Su & baby Su (?)
»“I hope everyone can make sufficient mental preparations.« ” is missing at the end
»Not far from them, an unknown religious song.« Smth is missing here.
Oh? Who’s that?
Thx for the ch ٩(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )و
Baby no.1 ? Ahahajaja
Baby ver lmao