Chapter 125: Chaos is Love

"The reason Chaos is terrifying is because a great light can only shine for an instant, while the drudgery of life continues on forever. Many call this the base nature of sentient beings, but I believe the foundation of Chaos is likely not something so cruel. We may have once used very beautiful words to describe them.

For example, love."

"..."

Watching the words spoken by the vibrant-looking man on the television, along with the greatness of the Star-Bearer they demonstrated in maps and recordings, and the Antarctic Pivot they built, the man turned off the TV in his rented room, feeling a tightness in his chest, and subconsciously walked out of the room to light a cigarette.

However, even after walking to the balcony, all that met his eyes were dense, grid-like layers. It was like a beehive feared by those with trypophobia, stacked layer upon layer, occasionally with different colors, like different kinds of mold spreading and rotting within this representative of Order. It filled one with an inexplicable fear upon seeing it. And then, there was a little... slight secret joy.

What exactly was he happy about? These people living in such a place, day after day, year after year, watching the beauty of the skyscrapers and flying villas outside, comforting their own hearts by saying that they could do it too? Were they thinking the same things as him, believing that if they kept going like this, they would eventually be able to walk out of this cage? Yet even this tiny pigeonhole was something countless people sought but could not obtain.

Looking at the colorful sky in the distance, rendered by the city's light pollution, the man slowly exhaled a puff of smoke.

And there were four or five others like him, visible from afar. Wearing similar plaid shirts, sporting the same black-rimmed glasses, even the confusion and bitterness in their hearts were similar. He was no different from anyone else.

Just realizing this, the man felt a sharp, intense tugging pain in his heart. It was an invisible pain, a pain rooted in everyone's heart. No matter how great the scene he saw, no matter how heart-stirring the landscape, as long as he returned to this tiny twenty-square-meter room, the pain would emerge.

He could only stand on the balcony, seemingly freely inhaling and exhaling that chaotic white smoke, looking blankly at the brilliant, golden city in the distance, as if all his dreams and tomorrows were lodged there.

"Hoo..."

Finally exhaling a puff of smoke, looking at the dark red cigarette butt glowing in his hand, he had an urge to set everything around him on fire.

If he could make everyone feel the same pain, if he could make those high-and-mighty guys who prided themselves on being excellent and kind fall into this boundless purgatory, perhaps he would feel a little better? But he couldn't even do that.

Because he knew even more clearly that even if he set this room, or even the entire building, on fire, so what? Those truly high-and-mighty guys wouldn't change in the slightest, and the people living here were all the poor residents and ordinary people without a future that he knew. Everyone was living ordinarily here; even if he hated them, he couldn't find anyone to vent on.

He hadn't reached the point where he wanted to make his already miserable colleagues even more miserable. So, he stared blankly at the dark red cigarette butt for a long time, then threw it into the toilet and flushed it away.

And listening to the sound of the flushing toilet, he could actually gain a tiny, unspeakable bit of happiness.

Perhaps this was the only place he could get a little happiness.

Looking at the communication on his phone, the man sighed, walked into the narrow room, sat on the bed, and pressed the call button.

"Boss? Is there something you need me for? I just got back from a construction site in another world and really apologize for not seeing your message. If there's work, just say the word; I'll definitely get it done."

"Hey? Ah, it's not a big deal. It's just, Xiao Zhang, the tasks on your end might get a bit heavier. News from the Star-Bearer side says they're going to give us more territory. When that time comes, our construction team will have to start working; if you can guarantee fifteen hours of work, try to do so. Work hard for this period, and everything will get better later."

"Yes, yes..."

"Oh, don't be so listless all the time, cheer up."

On the phone, the boss's voice was full of vitality and vigor, as well as expectation and longing for the future.

"That's the Star-Bearer's territory! When the time comes, if you're lucky, you might be able to get a few dozen Gold Coins or something inside, and when you come back here to exchange them for tens or hundreds of thousands, won't you be making big money too?"

"But, didn't they say recently that such Gold Coin transactions aren't allowed because they can't be monitored..."

"Hi! What 'can't be monitored'? I'll find you some intermediary platforms then; you go there and exchange for some Gold Coins directly, the commission is very low too. I can't run away, can I? Just go with a ten percent commission, how about that? I'll even help you handle the taxes and paperwork while I'm at it. If you work this month, you're a winner!"

"Um, thank you for the promotion, Boss."

"No problem. Last time it was just our bad luck, running right into those Chaos bitches from the Antarctic Pivot pulling a terrorist attack there. It's different now. We're going straight to the Norsca Peninsula to contract, with Elf escorts the whole way, what could possibly go wrong?"

So the money from the Antarctic Pivot is just going to be owed like that, is it?

Listening to the enthusiastic voice of the player on the phone, the man opened his mouth, wanting to question this bastard about why he still hadn't paid his wages.

But in the end, he didn't have the courage to explode, and could only timidly flatter him a few times to put the boss in a better mood. Then he remained silently in the room, staring blankly at the red power indicator light under the extinguished TV screen, waiting for the boss to finish describing his grand blueprint.

He said the current world was full of opportunities, and all sorts of things were happening.

He said the Star-Bearer was very good to every player, the care and treatment were excellent, and everyone who followed the team had a certain degree of bonus pay. Although he estimated that a lot would have to be spent back for the future, there was something to look forward to in life.

He said his own industrial plot had been reset, the plot at the Antarctic Pivot that had been burned clean had been taken over by a large company, and he had received a large sum of compensation, taking his so-called good brothers to the Norsca Peninsula to build their own travel villages and hunting villages.

The boss also said a lot more; his future seemed colorful, with countless choices.

He could go to the Hell Peaks to hunt monsters, he could seek secrets in the deep ocean, he could go into the Realm Ice Wall to explore space-time rifts, he could go to the Antarctic Pivot to have a real man's duel with demons.

But the man listened for a long time and felt that everything he said boiled down to one thing. That was, no matter where he went, he had to work for him. Other than that, the man didn't hear anything more. Because for the man, everything the boss said was his own behavior, and it had nothing to do with the man, this wage earner.

He was just a wage earner, following behind the boss, and he had no other choices.

Were there opportunities? He believed there were.

If he truly had the courage to fight demons, if he could truly fearlessly explore and investigate in the ice and snow without fearing the wind, frost, rain, or snow, and could optimistically stick up his middle finger even when facing the pain of being cut in half, he would live very well.

If he truly had that kind of strong will, could endure countless voices and advice, and directly engrave the Rune and Brand onto himself, piously believing in the words of the Star-Bearer Lord, then the glory of the Star-Bearer would certainly manifest on him. Just like those people in the Star-Bearer Sect.

Even, if he were evil and malicious enough, and had extremely cruel thoughts, Chaos could also open its doors to him.

But isn't the saddest part right here? He was like a replica produced by canning, with the most widespread pain, the most common appearance, the most vulgar thoughts, and the most boring spirit.

Even if he were immortal, he would still fear pain. Clearly, there were miracles, but he was still skeptical about the existence of the Star-Bearer. He might steal takeout or engage in petty theft, but he didn't dare to commit truly great evils. Living a life like this, neither up nor down, living his days in such a bland way—this was the life of a man.

About twenty minutes passed before the boss hung up the phone, feeling refreshed.

It was likely that for the next while, this little boss would be showing off his wise choices and his beautiful longing for future life to all his friends and relatives.

But for the man, the choices in the days ahead were extremely limited. In the black-and-white room customized as a set, he pulled open the pale yellow refrigerator door, looked at the remaining mouthful of Nutrient Paste inside, and sighed helplessly after estimating it.

"... Should go replenish some nutritional supplements." If he had to work next, he could only eat this kind of thing.

There was less than two hours until he had to start work; although the boss seemed easy to talk to, if he didn't arrive on time, he would still have money deducted.

Life had to go on; although this house was as narrow as a pigeonhole, it was still a house he had spent a lot of money and taken out a loan to buy. The man turned his numb brain and walked blankly toward the outside.

Slowly stepping out of the huge reinforced concrete building, the man squinted at the scenery outside. Although it had only been a week since he had come out, it felt as if decades had passed. Some men and women, also like walking corpses, walked out of their rooms numbly, heading toward the supermarket.

Even warm neighborly relations didn't exist; they just moved forward blandly, numbly choosing their respective needs, and then returned to their respective rooms.

The man even knew very clearly that beautiful single women lived above, below, to the left, and to the right of him, but so what? Could there be any opportunity for a romance story to unfold? There wasn't. Because everyone had the same dark circles under their eyes and the same numb expressions. Although this world was galloping forward, it had clearly forgotten them on the original ground. They could only follow, but they followed very reluctantly.

People without talent, people without ability, people without personality, but they were still people. They could only struggle like this in the abyss of endless pain and self-reproach. They wanted to escape this eternal cycle, but ultimately discovered that they were always spinning in that vortex.

Perhaps having other choices at the beginning might have been better, but under self-examination, he discovered with despair that they never had other choices. Because those choices were simply not things he could make.

If he could have made those kinds of choices, he would have been better off long ago.

"If only some supermarket murder case or something supernatural happened right now..."

Carrying a bag of near-expiry discounted Nutrient Capsules and Composite Jelly, the man stood in line, his mind filled with boundless fantasies. Even if it were just a little bit, he wanted to make this life more colorful.

But there was nothing.

He didn't see the magnificent wars released among the players. He didn't realize the slaughter on the battlefield, or the various wonderful adventure journeys.

And now, in reality, wanting to see those kinds of stimulating, extreme scenes is an even greater impossibility. Because those true villains have long since been hunted down, and those dangerous elements who might cause destruction have either voluntarily surrendered or have already been placed under strict surveillance.

This feels like it might be the best of worlds, but there is also nothing stimulating or surprising about it.

Games are also becoming increasingly homogenized, and culture and products seem to have nothing good to offer. Even if one wants to express their filial piety or other sentiments, the things that should be done and the things one dares to do have all been done already.

What else could there be? For a guy like him who has no particular interests and also no special traits, what other pleasures could there be? Perhaps being able to find a socket on the ground that provides a few Credit Points is the happiest moment for him. But apart from that, he cannot think of any unexpected possibilities in his life.

Until, on the tree-lined path home, amidst the crisscrossing white woodland lights, he vaguely saw a somewhat subtle shop starting to set up a booth and launching a promotion.

"Free distribution of Nutrient Instant Food! The Meditation Room for Love and Peace is now open!"

"As long as you participate in the trial and conversation, you can receive various food subsidies and living subsidies for free!"

"Save a large sum of money!"

"..."

To be honest, regarding anything about love and peace, the man truly does not care at all.

But looking at that one-dollar-a-bottle drink, and the three-dollars-for-two-packs of Nutrient Instant Food, the man truly felt his heart beating. Even though he had already bought enough food for a week, he still could not help but take a step forward, walking toward that shopfront that looked so brilliant and colorful.

However, just after this brief moment of hesitation, old men and women who appeared from nowhere had already surrounded the place tightly, layer upon layer.

Originally, the man wanted to just pull away and leave, but the number of those old women was simply too great, squeezing him directly into the very center. Those old men and women basically took things and left, listening to none of the promotions or theories. Even when the hosts shouted from above, they turned a completely deaf ear. Only the man and the trial staff member behind remained, staring at each other, then each revealing a somewhat awkward smile.

"Sorry, I also came here just to get some food."

"It's fine, it's fine, we prepared quite a lot; we had this intention from the start. But we didn't expect that everyone who came would be like this. This is our first time preparing like this, maybe we will do better next time."

Looking at the crowded old men and women in front of him, the man with green eyes squinted his eyes and sighed with a sense of helplessness.

In this world, there are many people with different pupils, and hair colors basically have no consistency either. It is just like how the man himself has a head of dry, black short hair, while the beauties next door have blue hair, purple hair, and even green hair, etc. Like this service staff member in front of him, who has a head of dark green seaweed hair.

Because they both looked like poor, struggling laborers, the man could not help but feel a slight sense of affinity for this seaweed-head, as well as a sense of shared misery as fellow sufferers.

"Working here isn't easy, right?"

Watching the surging crowd of people that might not disperse for a while, the man sat on a chair and asked the slacking staff member in a low voice:

"I see that you guys seem to be a big company. Is it really okay for you to just let things be like this here? If something goes wrong, won't you have to bear responsibility or something?"

"Ah? No, no. Although these old men and women look like their health isn't great, in reality, nothing will happen. Rather, we originally intended to use this method to promote ourselves, and to show a friendly attitude toward people and sustainable development..."

"... Huh?"

"Oh, it's just the thing our company is going to sell."

Seeing the man reveal a blank expression, the company employee realized belatedly and patted their head, then took out a machine from the back that looked a bit like a helmet.

"It is actually a Dream Sleep Apparatus; it can allow you to temporarily abandon the actions of a player, and sleeping for an hour can satisfy many needs. And if you think about some thoughts full of positive meaning before sleeping, you will even find this kind of beautiful dream within the dream. It is a newly born Psionic Technology product."

"Psionic Technology? Doesn't that cost a lot of money?"

"Actually, not really. The results are quite mature, and the application is very broad, it's just that we had a sudden whim and made this thing. The price... forget it, why don't you do a test, we'll give it to you for free?"

"This, this doesn't seem right..."

"Anyway, it's free for the first fifty people, and I see these old men and women won't want it. Might as well just give it away. Why don't you try it first? It won't take an hour."

The staff member with dark green short hair and a pair of emerald green eyes said with a gentle face and a simple, honest smile:

"You will feel the warmth of life and love, believe me. It is really effective."

(End of chapter)