[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-this-life-i-will-be-the-protagonist":3,"chapter-this-life-i-will-be-the-protagonist-this-life-i-will-be-the-protagonist-chapter-1394":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","This Life, I Will Be the Protagonist",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1533205,1991,"Chapter 1394 Wildfire, Gemstones, and Vine","this-life-i-will-be-the-protagonist-chapter-1394",1394,"\u003Cp>On the final day, Rita arrived at Undead Wildfire’s timeline and found the version of Wildfire who had already broken free from divine blessing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What’s your plan?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To gain something meant paying a price.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ever since BS Rita had appeared a hundred years ago and told her she was being given one hundred years, Undead Wildfire had already understood that whether Rita had a complete plan or not, she herself would inevitably become part of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Either as assistance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or as a fallback path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only way for her to break free from that fate was to become stronger than BS Rita within those hundred years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, merely exchanging a glance with BS Rita was enough for her to realize she had failed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment she heard:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Warning! Warning! The old order is beginning to awaken.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She already knew she had run out of time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your B80 disappeared too, didn’t it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita skipped directly to the point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Mechanoids are the true rulers behind the Order Clock. The authority and power I accumulated over a single epoch aren’t enough to defeat them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m going to bring everything from my timeline back to the First Epoch and find a way to break the deadlock.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ll carry my story into the past. Once I leave, your timeline will become the most Brilliant timeline.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’ll continue moving forward.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’ll become the uncontaminated sample, and the best archive I leave behind.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If we uncover the truth and resolve the source of everything, I’ll return with my story and continue walking beside you between light and shadow.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who was the light?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who was the shadow?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Undead Wildfire had obsessed over that question countless times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, she cared far more about something else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She frowned and stopped the other version of herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Have you ever considered this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The act of returning to the past may itself become the origin of all these disasters.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You want to change the ending by altering the origin.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The only way that works is if you yourselves become part of the story’s origin.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Undead Wildfire was right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even now that Rita possessed part of the authority, she still could not alter events that had already happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She could pause all timelines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She could stop the Order Clock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she could not restore shattered worlds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nor could she resurrect those who had truly died.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Returning to the past might itself be part of destiny.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Part of the very reason all later disasters existed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita understood this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so did every player who had received the information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet none of them objected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if they became sinners, it did not matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if they spent the rest of their lives drowning in regret, it did not matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had to go to the story’s beginning and ask one question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the suffering had lasted too long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because they could not see its end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because they could not see where it began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those gods had witnessed tragedy after tragedy being born.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just imagining themselves living through such days in future epochs was enough to make the players of this era shudder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every Lightchaser and every Cinders across every timeline had left Isolated Isle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were searching for their apprentices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they were also searching for the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Weren’t these Divine Game players themselves trapped inside a giant Isolated Isle?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Undead Wildfire released Rita’s wrist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You may summon me at any time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ll fight alongside you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not bothered about being summoned around anymore?\" Rita teased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So unless it’s a life or death battle, don’t call me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gemstone eye visible beneath Undead Wildfire’s hair curved slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she suddenly said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m honored too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honored that you are another possibility of me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at that gemstone eye, Rita finally failed to suppress her curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had wanted to ask this for ages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But back then, her relationship with Undead Wildfire had been terrible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that the atmosphere was finally decent, she immediately seized the chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Who gave you that gemstone eye?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Undead Wildfire raised a hand and lightly brushed across her right eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Reward for taking first place in Divine Game.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Teacher Foolishness helped me obtain it from QM Foolishness.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I permanently lost both eyes because of a skill. They couldn’t be restored.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Only gemstone eyes could let me see again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Was this gemstone eye the left eye or the right eye?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita did not ask why Foolishness had been so generous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, she asked that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Undead Wildfire looked surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But soon she smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So in your timeline too, your relationship with Foolishness is pretty good.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After learning Foolishness gave her the gemstone eye, everyone else’s first question had been:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why did she give it to you?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only BS Rita cared whether it was the left eye or the right eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A very pointless question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gemstone eyes were classified by quality and type.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who cared about left or right?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But only those who understood QM Foolishness and Starsea Foolishness knew it mattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back then in Graveyard of Bones, after the two of them dug out each other’s gemstone eyes to create the initial bullet of [Foolishness Game], QM Foolishness kept the right eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Starsea Foolishness kept the left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The right eye.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Undead Wildfire’s gaze drifted into the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She repeated softly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s the right eye.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Starsea Foolishness had dug out QM Foolishness’s eye and given it to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving QM Foolishness wearing Starsea Foolishness’s gemstone eye instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita had no words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sometimes she genuinely did not understand Foolishness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Either of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But Starsea Foolishness gave away her only remaining gemstone eye because she didn’t want two flawed gemstones existing in the world at the same time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She wanted both QM Foolishness and Starsea Foolishness to become flawless.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Exactly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Undead Wildfire nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But maybe at some point her thoughts changed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Perhaps she wanted me to see the world through QM Foolishness’s gemstone eye.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I promised both teachers that once everything is over, I’ll return the gemstone eye.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she spoke, she opened her right hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sapphire blue gemstone rested in her palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ve already cultivated my own gemstone eye.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I can return it at any time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But teacher told me to keep it a little longer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having satisfied her curiosity, Rita nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she shamelessly seized the chance to ask another question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And what’s with your Vine?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Also a reward for taking first place in a game.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Deceitful Bloom planted the seed in my left eye.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It grows into the Vine that best represents my soul.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You know Vineborne Vines can connect to all five senses.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It became my other eye.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After answering Rita’s questions, Undead Wildfire finally asked one she had long been curious about herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What about you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Was your Vine also given by Deceitful Bloom?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m not sure.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita explained:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My Vine was also a game reward.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But I don’t know whether Deceitful Bloom secretly influenced it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"On the surface it looks unrelated to her.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But I’m not certain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Undead Wildfire gave her a look that clearly said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You don’t need to explain anymore. I understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the first time the two of them had ever sat down and chatted peacefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps it would also be the last.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They talked about every person they knew, searching for every difference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an incredibly fascinating game.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only could they feel the strangeness of fate itself, they could also uncover hidden secrets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Foolishness was your etiquette teacher?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Didn’t Deceitful Bloom teach you anything?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She did.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Later during a certain game, she taught me painting.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wait.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She can paint?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All timelines branching from this epoch originated from different choices made by players of this era.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Deceitful Bloom of those timelines should not differ too drastically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But fearing some misunderstanding, Rita still pressed further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is she actually good at painting?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Undead Wildfire answered naturally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She paints better than Graffiti.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then there was absolutely no way she had only learned during this epoch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita raised a hand to her forehead and shut her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She took several deep breaths trying to calm herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally she simply fell backward onto the floor and slapped World Sigh over her face, muffling her frustrated groan beneath the book.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She tricked me again!!!\u003C\u002Fp>",1374,"2026-06-06T06:15:33.929Z",1,"novelbin.me","ed6dab0e63230298d587726740b0c96927e9278fb9b6da43acafaa767558e6e7","this-life-i-will-be-the-protagonist-chapter-1395","this-life-i-will-be-the-protagonist-chapter-1393",1404,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthis-life-i-will-be-the-protagonist-cover.jpg"]