When the plot-skips players into the game world

Chapter 778: Chapter 159 Aiwass: “Then come with me.

Chapter 778: Chapter 159 Aiwass: “Then come with me.

Seeing this scene, Aiwass’s eyes widened slightly.

When he saw the Elven Harp, the clues finally connected in Aiwass’s mind into a single thread.

“…So that’s what it was.”

Aiwass muttered softly to himself.

In the original history, Yunus handled the matter of Anastasia on his own because he never managed to contact Sherlock.

Clearly, he botched the task in the end.

One piece of evidence was that when the players returned here following Yunus, they never saw Maxim and Lady Grace—the couple might have left, or perhaps they refused to open their door.

In any case, Yunus brought the players to a tree and told the tale of the “ghost girl” he had seen there, and showed them the “harp given to him by the ghost,” hoping the players could check for any ghostly reactions.

In the end, it was found that there were indeed no signs of Undead, and what he had seen might have just been illusions or hallucinations.

So, without finding answers, Yunus played a nostalgic tune and sang a sorrowful song.

After that mission was over, the players received a replica of this harp as their main-hand Weapon enchantment “Instrument.” Like how melee weapon skins can affect hitting sounds, instrument enchantments can also change the skill’s timbre.

And the sound of this harp was exceptionally clear, as if cold spring water was flowing.

The harp, it seemed, was made from Anastasia herself.

…Clearly, Anastasia did not enjoy being left in the Fairy Kingdom by her parents.

Although that allowed her life to continue, such a forced existence was too painful.

Just “surviving” or “holding on until adulthood”—what meaning did that have for Anastasia herself?

That’s why she was so fixated on Yunus, wanting him to come to her home to find her.

With this as a pretext, Anastasia could use the excuse of “wanting to see Yunus one more time” to leave the Fairy Kingdom.

Once she came into contact with the Material Realm again, her treelike plague acted up far quicker than Aiwass or her parents had anticipated, and also with greater speed—she grew tired of this painful existence but didn’t want to reject her parents’ kindness.

Thus, she chose this way to end her life in the Material Realm.

As a final gift, she turned her own body into a harp and gave it to Yunus.

Because Maxim and Grace claimed that Anastasia had long been dead, Yunus only believed the girl who appeared before him was a ghost.

To avoid causing her parents any trouble, Anastasia didn’t reveal the whole truth and didn’t show Yunus her true form.

Yunus, thus unclear about the truth, took the Elven Harp and was firmly denied any further access by the sorrowful parents of Anastasia—”losing the possibility to continue the investigation” and cutting off the subsequent quest line.

Only the parents of Anastasia knew what had happened.

But they probably didn’t realize that Anastasia’s insistence on leaving the Fairy Kingdom wasn’t merely to be rescued.

—It was because, during her fall outside, she caught a glimpse of “the world outside.”

It was that one experience that made her treelike disease so severe; without it, Anastasia’s heart wouldn’t have become so troubled.

After all, Anastasia, shortly after her birth, only lived at home and in the Fairy Kingdom—she hadn’t even been exposed to foreigners in many years, let alone traveled abroad.

She had never met people of other races or been exposed to the cultures of other countries and races.

A person who has never seen the Sun since birth does not yearn for sunlight with anxiety.

—It was in that accident that she encountered Yunus.

Yunus likely wanted to comfort the startled girl, so he tried hard to make Anastasia smile.

Anastasia had just mentioned Gryphon of Avalon, the desert, and flowing springs…

For her, who hadn’t left the Fairy Kingdom in decades, she could only know of these things because Yunus must have told her the stories back then.@@novelbin@@

From that moment on, the girl’s heart soared to the heavens.

The land of the Fairy Kingdom could no longer bind her soul.

At this point, even looking at Yunus’s trembling gaze was enough to sense the shock and impact he was experiencing.

“…Miss Anastasia.”

Yunus’s lips moved, but in the end, he couldn’t say anything—only stuttering and muttering her name.

He didn’t know if he had done something wrong.

He watched Anastasia as she gradually became more treelike, rational understanding filling his mind about what was happening now but emotionally, his mind was in chaos.

“Mr.

Yunus…”

Unlike the hesitant Yunus,

Anastasia’s voice grew weary and deep yet she appeared firm and calm.

This girl, who in terms of human lifespan, was older than a long-lived elder, but for an Elf was still too young to be of age, already possessed a mature soul unknown to her parents: “I know what you’re worried about…”

“But you haven’t done anything wrong…”

“— I’m very grateful to you.”

The girl expressed her feelings in three breaths.

Mr.

Yunus cautiously held the Elven Harp, taking stiff steps as he slowly approached.

Maxim’s originally scrutinizing and icy gaze gradually softened and regained warmth.

However, it turned sad, and he took off his glasses, silently wiping his eyes.

Obviously, he knew his daughter very well.

Of course, it is also possible that a few years ago when he visited Anastasia in Fairy Kingdom, he learned about this and thus knew of today’s conclusion.

So, when Mr.

Yunus came to find him, he was very enthusiastic in his hospitality; but when he requested to see Anastasia, his attitude cooled down.

However, it was clear that both husband and wife did not know that Anastasia’s transformation into a tree had already approached the critical point—once she left the Fairy Kingdom, the final stage would begin immediately.

If they had known about this, they certainly would not have let Anastasia leave the Fairy Kingdom.

But Aiwass had a different view.

Yet, Aiwass said nothing.

Instead, it was Sherlock—who had witnessed it all—speaking at his leisure from the side, his voice as calm as it was cold, “Miss Anastasia already crossed her limits long ago.

She just wanted to wait for Mr.

Yunus to arrive, to deliver that gift, and to say her final thanks.”

“…She just didn’t want to break her promise…

to miss the appointment, that’s all.”

Aiwass shook his head softly, adding in a low voice.

Perhaps this was also why Anastasia had become close to him so quickly after hearing Aiwass’s story.

Clearly, her pure soul, committed to the path of Dedication, had longed to do this already.

But no one had ever taught her whether this was right, which is why she fell into such a dilemma.

She did not only hear stories from Aiwass, feel kindness—she also affirmed her own bold intention.

Under the silent scrutiny of the others, Anastasia, no longer suppressing her strength, grew at a rate visible to the naked eye.

Having released all her stored power, the pain ceased, and her expression immediately became peaceful.

Obviously, she had not revealed her condition before.

Even Lady Grace had seen only the illusion of Anastasia and rarely her true form.

“…Did I do something wrong, Mr.

Aiwass?”

Lady Grace murmured.

Aiwass shook his head slightly: “No.”

Without a doubt, Mr.

and Mrs.

Grace had not erred; they simply wished for their daughter to live longer in the human world; Mr.

Yunus had not erred, he merely told stories to a naive and lonely young girl; Anastasia had not erred because she did not wish to live on like this but was curious about the world she had never foreseen or had the chance to encounter; The Great Tree certainly had not erred either, for this transformation was an elevation of life form—Anastasia would enter the Dream Realm earlier than her parents and achieve true immortality, a sort of “early graduation” from another perspective.

“— No one is at fault,”

Aiwass answered.

“…But nobody is smiling.”

Fairy Nilim, holding Aiwass’s collar, whispered cautiously, “Why is that?”

To a fairy, the heavy and serious atmosphere seemed unduly painful.

“Because they don’t know,”

Aiwass said softly: “They only know themselves, and not others.

“Not knowing the past of others, the pain of others, the abilities of others.

Nor the wishes of others.

“If one doesn’t speak up, nobody can know that the other is already suffering immensely…”

As he spoke, he suddenly stepped forward.

Including Anastasia, the others shifted their gazes toward him.

“Miss Anastasia,” Aiwass said, “I actually have a better way.

A way where there’s no need for parting, no need for Sleep, and no one would be saddened by it…”

As he spoke, he pulled out a box of Tarot Cards, much emptier than normal.

In that instant, Sherlock’s expression changed.

He remembered something.

Months ago, Aiwass had showcased these Mystical Skills before him as well…

Aiwass looked at the girl transforming into a tree: “You only need to make a choice here…

to ascend to the Dream Realm, to fall into Sleep.

Until awakened by the song of the next ‘Hero’.

“— Or would you follow me, and see the world with your own eyes?”