Chapter 190 “Gone Like Yesterday”
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation
“The World’s Creation” was majestically displayed above in the dark heavens as a chilling breeze rustled across the vast and seemingly endless waters below. Minute waves, playing their rhythmic dance, made the diminutive boat beneath Alice undulate, much like a dream that’s on the brink of being interrupted just as day is about to break.
But Alice, in all her experiences, hadn’t truly grasped the human notion of “dreaming.” She felt as if she had been in slumber for an immeasurable span of time, yet she never experienced dreams as humans recounted them. To her, maybe dreaming resembled her present sensation—being suspended in an immeasurable void with her thoughts wandering without direction or intent.
She raised her eyes and was met with an endless view of the ocean. Far off, the soft luminescence from the Vanished seemed like minuscule specks of candles floating just above the water. It made her feel as though the entirety of the world had dissipated, leaving only her, the gentle cradle of the boat and the infinite embrace of the ocean.
And, not to forget, the trio of fanatics bound in her presence.
Turning her attention from the vast horizon, Alice’s curiosity was piqued by the restrained devotees before her. They were unmistakably human, but their nature was far from benevolent. Though she had limited encounters with mankind, she had discerned that there were commendable and malevolent humans. The noble ones performed praiseworthy actions and were often extolled and aided by Captain Duncan. In contrast, the sinister ones indulged in atrocious activities and faced Captain Duncan’s scorn and occasional reprimands. These three captives represented the latter, the kind the captain detested deeply.
Their allegiance was to a bizarre dimension known in this world as subspace. Their faith upheld a sinister doctrine that endorsed the killing of others in the name of fabricated beliefs. These zealots were so ruthless that they wouldn’t balk at the thought of attacking an innocent girl who had only a creature named Dog for companionship. In cities, guards would not think twice before shooting them, sailors would hang them as a warning, and even the fiercest pirates would confine these lunatics inside crates, casting them into the depths as tributes to appease the storm goddess.
However, in the present, they appeared placid and restrained. Alice recalled their crazed demeanor when they had initially invaded the ship, acting as if intoxicated by some drug or fervor. But as hours ticked by, a noticeable change overtook them, turning them more docile.
Breaking the silence, Alice asked, “Aren’t you terrified?” Her own unease was palpable, being amidst this immense sea. Even if she understood that this was a crucial “safety assessment” for her future activities in human territories, the vastness of the ocean still left her disconcerted.
Suddenly, one of the fanatics, with a gaunt and emaciated visage, slowly lifted his head and met her gaze, “Naive creature, encased in that fragile form… your essence seems so insipid and devoid. Subspace wouldn’t even desire you…”
Taken aback, Alice hesitated for a split second before snapping back, “What’s your problem? Why are you being so rude?”
Directly opposite her, the group known as the Enders responded with harsh, abrasive laughter that echoed like a saw scraping metal. Although the entity referred to as “Anomaly 099” invoked dread and panic in countless souls, these individuals seemed to bear no hint of apprehension in her presence.
Perhaps their claims held some truth: they had supposedly evolved beyond the rudimentary understanding of existence and demise, making them impervious to the looming threat of death in the tangible realm.
Alice attempted to hold back her growing irritation, but after enduring their laughter, she exhaled deeply, admitting, “I’m not upset anymore.”
Another member, whom she recognized as one of their Enders, shot her a quick glance but didn’t voice any thoughts.
In a tone that felt more introspective than conversational, Alice mused aloud, “I should not hold a grudge. In all fairness, you folks have reasons to be angry. It’s you who are bound, not me. And it’s your heads that are in jeopardy, not mine. Captain once said, ‘Refrain from hubris when fortune favors you, for a mighty surge can overturn a vessel, and those swollen with pride may meet their demise.’ Considering your current state, I’ll generously allow you some venting.”
The Enders, gathered in the boat’s enclosed space, appeared to pay her no heed, immersing themselves in a silent camaraderie. However, after a spell, Alice detected subtle actions among them. They were stealthily inspecting one another, adjusting their postures, and occasionally darting cautious eyes towards her, reflecting puzzlement.
Upon contemplation, Alice surmised they might be perplexed as to why their heads remained firmly on their shoulders. These disciples were evidently acquainted with her perilous nature of being Anomaly 099. Even if they genuinely felt indifference towards their own demise, their curiosity remained, especially after being exposed to her own presence for so long.
“You know, I do harbor some fear,” Alice admitted suddenly. “I dread the notion that one of your heads might spontaneously sever. The captain intimated that I possess a latent power to decapitate. The revelation sent shivers down my spine. Unlike me, humans face a grim reality; a detached head spells irreversible doom.”
Just then, the gentle beat of wings resonated from the skies. Lifting her gaze, Alice spotted Ai, which momentarily disappeared towards the direction of the Vanished, only to reappear engulfed in ethereal green flames.
As the bird circled overhead, Ai generated a majestic tornado of greenish fire, culminating in a splendid wooden box manifesting, only to descend into the waters alongside.
“That’s my box!” Alice blurted, taken aback. The phrase “cast overboard” flashed in her cognition, evoking a surreal sensation of her head loosening. However, she soon spotted a message fastened to the box. Swiftly reaching out, she grasped the note and skimmed its content: “The decapitation attribute might be tethered to your coffin. Dispatching it for examination as well. P.S.: I wager you’re entertaining the idea that I might desire to discard you into the depths — refrain from such wild thoughts. Report back immediately post evaluation.”
Upon retrieving the note, Alice scrutinized it meticulously, flipping it multiple times in hopes of deciphering its content. Yet, it dawned on her that she lacked a fundamental skill: the ability to read.
However, as she flipped to the note’s rear side, her eyes caught a crude illustration. It showcased her diligently rowing back to the ship known as the Vanished. Concluding the simplistic drawing was an emoji with a broad grin.
Though Alice, a puppet-like being, couldn’t discern the textual message, the sketch’s intent was apparent. Despite the note’s ambiguous front content, the captain did not have plans to abandon her.
With a surge of relief washing over her, she meticulously pocketed the note and hoisted the submerged wooden chest from the waters. With a pronounced “thud”, she heaved the surprisingly weighty box aboard using a single hand. Shifting her attention to the captive cultists, she inquired, “Would any of you like some food?”
The group, known as the Enders, gave no reply. Nonetheless, she persisted, “Even if the captain perceives you all as deserving of a grim fate, he also articulated that if you endure these tests and come out unscathed, he’ll spare your lives. His intention is to transport you back to the city to… um, how did he phrase it?”
Racking her brain, Alice finally recollected the captain’s words, “Ah, to demonstrate the public’s vested interest in city safety. He equated your collective value to roughly seven bicycles. I’m puzzled, though — what exactly is a bicycle?”
As if stirred by her words, one of the Enders began, “Subspace shall nourish us… it promises tranquility… it showers blessings upon those who depart, once all cataclysms have transpired…” The Ender’s voice was half responsive to Alice and half engrossed in some unholy chant. “In these final days, we denounce our accursed corporal forms. Our consciousnesses shall breach barriers, transitioning into the subsequent realm…”
Puzzled, Alice responded, “What on earth are you droning on about?”
From that point on, the Enders maintained a haunting silence, resuming their cryptic murmurs only intermittently.
Throughout the night and into the wee hours, they bowed their heads, repetitively whispering of subspace, a prolonged temporal river, and a forthcoming doomsday. Their chants were only occasionally interrupted by the gentle cadence of waves kissing the boat’s exterior.
To a commoner, the ambiance aboard could send chills down the spine, and the prayers’ content might terrorize the faint-hearted, possibly opening portals to darker realities. But for Alice, it was mere background chatter.
Her anchor in this disorienting drift was the captain’s note, eliminating any lingering trepidation. She was merely grappling with monotony.
However, her tedious ordeal neared its conclusion.
In the distance, a glimmer of dawn made its presence known. As the pioneer beams of the sun painted the world, the night’s starry canvas waned. The sun, ensnared by mystic runes, embarked on its upward journey, steadily climbing the heavens.
Daylight had broken through, and not a single head had been severed by Alice’s hand.
With a heart brimming with elation, Miss Doll, a dainty and delicate figure, beheld the splendor of the sunrise. Rising gracefully from her seated position adjacent to the ornate wooden chest, she turned enthusiastically to the cluster of cultists and proclaimed, “Look there! The sun is bringing a new day! Rejoice, for you all remain amongst the living! It’s time to return!”
However, the trio, known as the doomsday Enders, seemed ensnared in their own world. They persisted in their hunched postures within the confines of the cabin, heads tilted downwards, lips silently moving in what appeared to be a hallowed chant. In the twilight moments preceding the sun’s full embrace, their whispers seemed to be reaching out, perhaps, in a final entreaty to the mysterious “subspace” they so reverently mentioned.
Only when Alice tried to engage them once more did one of the Enders deign to acknowledge the external world. His gaze, initially lost in shadowy thoughts, was caught by the advancing golden rays of the dawn. For a fleeting moment, he appeared bewildered, but then, chillingly, his expression morphed, revealing a smile that was a disconcerting amalgam of lunacy and serenity.
“Behold,” he murmured, his voice tinged with an eerie calm, “another chapter closes for our kind.” He then shifted his focus to Alice, locking onto her resplendent, crystal-clear eyes. “Dear Doll, our paths shall cross again in another dance.”
Baffled, Alice responded, “What do you suggest? It’s not as if you can simply evaporate into the cosmos…”
As the sun’s rays began to dominate the horizon, a spectacle unfolded.
The defined forms of the three doomsday Enders began to blur and dissipate, gradually merging with the radiant embrace of dawn, much like ancient specters being reclaimed by time.
“They didn’t just elude me, did they…” Alice murmured, more to herself than anyone, before the full weight of the scenario struck her, causing her to exclaim in astonishment, “They’ve truly disappeared into thin air?!”
Yay, will be waiting for the chapter to open up!!
MC has become much braver with the exchanges in the city. To bring them here and talk that much. The best way to indirectly show your self is by expressing honest assumptions. It reeks with your baseline, clearly contorting your often hidden roots. Different people will make different assumptions. He exposed his true self so much, and I am surprised he even considered giving those people back to the city, as they would then recount this all. Well, not that it matter much given his power, but perhaps we will eventually see him hitting the edge.