And so it ends.

Tired, unusually.

I've worked hard.

I thought to myself as I stood in this pool of blood with my wet knife in my hand.

On the smooth red mirror, my stiff shadow was reflected.

They were also once alive and vividly.

Now, I stand here as dead as I am.

It's as if I haven't been alive, or even alive.

I tried my best.

The sunset on the horizon looks incredible.

The girl who rushed to this side just a second ago was screaming so hysterically.

All the time trying to prick my heart that was becoming more and more numb.

At least you're alive.

It's the best ending ever done.

I stepped forward and held out my hand to you.

You didn't look at me, but you passed me and rushed towards the corpses that were no longer alive in the pool of blood.

Then, slump on the ground like a marionette, letting the blood spread to the corners of your clothes.

I barely pulled out a wry smile and crouched down to look at your sad face.

Great, you're still alive. It's good that you're alive.

I thought to myself, this is really the best result I can create so far.

But why are you crying?

It's so unbearable to cry, so tearful, so heartbroken.

It's more poignant than ever.

I knelt down, patted you gently, took hold of your weeping hands, and said as sincerely as I could:

"We're alive, that's fine. ”

But you didn't listen to me, and clung to your cheek uncontrollably. A few dark red furrows soon appear on your face.

"Where's the good thing? The good thing is that they're dead, but I'm alive?"

I was speechless.

"This knife belongs to Jiang Shuo, you killed him, didn't you?

I slowly raised my hand and looked silently at the sharp tip of the knife.

There is no denial, and there is no recognition. I don't know how to answer these two questions.

"Do you want to kill me too?"

I subconsciously let go, and the knife fell to the ground, splashing blood.

She picked up the knife and pointed it at me.

But, it doesn't matter, it really doesn't matter. This is a normal reaction when people are afraid, and sharp things always give people a sense of security. And, at least you're alive, you're not dead.

Death is the destination of life, and living is the best blessing of fortune.

"That's not the way you want it to end, is it?" I asked.

"Why do you think I'd want such an ending?"

I was at a loss for a moment when I was asked such a rhetorical question.

After a brief moment of surprise, I calmed down. Yes, you're just the first time you've experienced it.

However, I continue to swim upstream in the long river of time, witnessing the same tragic ocean in different divergences.

You're just one of the many possibilities.

I can't read your expression of panic, fear, or sadness.

But the reflection in those complicated eyes was clearly the wounded, desperate, my shadow.

The raging waves crashed against the shore.

All right.

With such lamentation, I put it this way:

"If you're not satisfied with this ending, let's change it. It doesn't matter, as many times as you want, okay? I'll go back in time and save you, save each of you. ”

Jokingly saying this, I had no hope of convincing her.

"So what should I do?"

I was stunned.

I saw that her expression was quickly covered with sadness, and I began to become extremely frightened in those clear eyes. It's as if our faces have been reversed.

"Where do you leave me? I'm alone. ”

You're alone.

I shuddered slightly.

Even if the knife in her hand stabbed me in anger and hatred the next second, I would not complain.

If I were killed by someone, the time would go back to a day I had recorded.

It's like reading a game's death archive. I am not afraid of death, and I am even used to it.

But no matter how many times, I was afraid that face would show any expression other than a smile.

Scared to the point of trembling.

Then, something even creepith happened.

You raise your head slightly, and two lines of tears flow down the trend, dripping onto the tip of the erected knife.

The icy tip of the knife touches the delicate skin of your neck.

I let out a hoarse scream.

A small hourglass hanging from his chest, glowing golden. Like a flood, the curtain came down on this once-in-a-million tragedy.

The light curtain was fleeting, and I quickly opened my eyes from the temporary darkness.

It's black outside the window, but it's a bright classroom.

Students sit quietly, some doing homework, others chatting quietly.

It's time for evening self-study. I flipped out my phone and looked at the date in the top right corner.

A transfer student named Ultramarine showed up in my life, the day before.

Flipped open the pencil case in a panic, and a business card appeared inside.

Anjo, who was sitting next to him, was frightened by my unnatural reaction.

The next second, he would frown and ask me if I was having a nightmare.

I ignored the question and held the nameless house business card in my hand.

"Ah, I guess my buddy sent you a little ad. ”

Well.

Thanks to your damn brother, you've sent me to the brink of death time and time again.

Of course, this sentence is just for thought.

I didn't make much mental preparation when the time was launched, I just ...... I don't want to see you die in front of me.

And I can't stop it.

So, I was randomly teleported to one of the countless saves by myself.

Follow the progress, and you'll be there at tomorrow's class meeting. At that time, I skipped class and went to the Nameless House, where we met for the first time in my dorm room at night.

If I stay for the meeting, you'll sit next to me and gag with me for the rest of the class meeting. The next day, we would appear together in front of the woman in Konai.

All in all, if I had been in direct contact with her, she would probably have noticed my abnormality.

She will definitely tell Jiang Shuo.

After that, it will be turned upside down by that guy.

"Are you...... How sleepy it is. Anseong stared at me.

This is the first time I have heard this sentence. I touched the corner of my eye, and there was a faint water stain.

"Yes. ”

In such a perfunctory way, my heart swelled with sourness.

All along, I never realized that I was alone in the torrent of time.

The countless you left behind are also alone.

No, or maybe I've been aware of it for a long time, but I don't want to admit it.

Now you have put on the table the facts that I am timid, and I am running away.

I can no longer face myself like this, and you like that.

The business card was held tightly in his hand.

Now is not the time to be sad, you have to think clearly about what to do.

After several reincarnations, I noticed something strange in my environment.

For some reason, I seem to have the ability to turn back time.

And that psychic has powers like telepathy or something.

These special abilities manifest themselves in a way that few are as obvious as we are.

Jiang Shuo's sense of existence is sometimes strong and sometimes weak, and he always seems to make people ignore him at critical times, or something else.

If Koney were to understand the root of her psychic powers, she would soon be able to use them with precision.

Then Jiang Shuo can too. They themselves are anomalous beings.

He is not a person who is as peaceful as he seems, which is very similar to Liu Xili. They are all dangerous.

Every single one of them is.

However, this danger is only potential. Like a swarm of unknown time bombs, whichever one ignites first will be like dominoes, triggering a chain reaction that will overwhelm the mountains.

Then Konai is undoubtedly the fuse.

Avoiding her is not a good way to dodge her, I tried. You'll always notice there, and I can't refuse an invitation from your peers.

Or rather, I've tried to say no a few times. However, the initial unfriendliness caused the origin of your initial alienation and distrust of me, and laid the foundation for future tragedies.

Just like the countless same mistakes I have made in my life path as I have grown up now.

But you alone, I can't tolerate my mistakes.

What am I going to do?

Turning his head and looking out the window, the starry sky was so bright that it was unreal.

The evening breeze blows on the cheeks, carrying the warmth of a summer night.

I suddenly looked up - maybe I wasn't completely alone.

Grabbing my backpack from my desk pocket, I left the classroom without looking back and ran downstairs to the study hall of the statistics class.

Standing at the back door, I saw Changsheng sitting in the last row. I walked straight over, patted her on the shoulder, and motioned for her to go out with me.

She glanced in the direction of a girl in a purple silk flower in the front row, and then came out with me.

I've learned a truth. That's me, I can't fight alone.

Maybe it's a bit abrupt, but that's okay. I've done a lot of incredible things so far, and Changsheng is the easiest one to trust me.

I quickly explained everything I had to tell her and made it clear that I needed help.

"I need the possibility of influencing probability. ”

My voice is soft, but fast. I've said these things countless times.

She won't refuse. With the personality of Changsheng, although he said that he needed to wait and see, he basically agreed.

I have reason to suspect that she was also investigating something behind everyone's back.

When I turned to leave. I paused, turned around, and asked a question that even I couldn't have thought I had.

"What is the probability that everyone will survive. ”

"You won't want to know. ”

I looked back and saw that there was no one there. With that, she went back to the classroom.

Probability, which is a measure that reflects the likelihood of a random event occurring.

The consequences of any one of these actions are unknown.

How can I do something that will affect the future when I am uncertain?

I need to do the unplanned things as much as possible to find more possibilities.

The next day, I just lay quietly in my dorm room. I didn't visit the nameless house or attend the class meeting.

I raised my phone and looked at it, it was time for the class meeting.

I've gotten enough information from the Nameless House in countless reincarnations, and it doesn't matter if I don't go this time.

But, I ask Changsheng to patronize there.

That store manager is an important part of activating her ability to control probability. We should not only know the likelihood of an event, but also intervene in it.

I know that Koney can't see in her what he can see in us...... It's probably hard to explain, because I can't figure it out myself. At the end of the day, it's because these kids are special.

Also special are the people of Nanxuan and Anseong.

However, it is too difficult to avoid these people from coming into contact with her at the same time.

In this world, some people pursue results, some people pursue ideas, and some people pursue truth.

But without exception, the necessary guarantee of these things is, first of all, the pursuit of life.

Stay alive.

There was a knock on the door of the dormitory.

Who could it be? Isn't it supposed to be on the way?

I got out of bed and opened the door.

"Ultramarine......

I look at your familiar face, overwhelmed.

"Why ...... You"

My gaze swept behind her, and she just dragged a suitcase.

Shouldn't it be so, didn't she attend the class meeting?

"Hello, you're my roommate, aren't you?"

Familiar sounds.

"I've been looking for you for a long time, but I didn't expect you to be here!"

You seem to be happy. I felt a chill.

You seem to know me well. So the timeline of this world......

"We're meeting for the first time, aren't we?"

I asked a stupid question, but there was nothing else to do.

"Hmm...... It should be, and it shouldn't be. ”

Such an ambiguous answer is very similar to your style. Then you should still be you in this world.

I just stood dumbfounded, watching you calmly make your bed.

The phone vibrated a little. I saw a message from Changsheng.

The store manager is not there.

In my memory, Koney never left the Nameless House.

I typed in and asked her if she was out of business. She replied to me that the door was open, but no one had come after a long wait.

I looked up at you, and you happened to be looking back at me too. You smiled softly.

I felt unnatural. Your eyes seem to see through everything.

During these days, you seem to be the same as every other you have been. The same expression and almost indistinguishable character.

And I quickly found out.

You're out and about a lot.

It's not that you often leave the dorm in front of me, but whenever I come back, I often find that you're not there.

I have quietly observed your stuff while you are away.

I always find some white dust on the soles of my shoes or on my suitcase. Like some kind of crystal.

For the most part, I'm out in contact with Changsheng.

Mere observable probabilities are not enough, and intervention is necessary to create a favorable situation. However, it is as if the nameless houses of this world do not exist.

In this way, how can the talent of immortality be activated?

I'm a little at a loss.

As a last resort, I went to the Nameless House myself. When I passed, the door was locked. There was a thick layer of ash in front of the door, and it looked like it had been closed for a long time.

It was night when I went back. Passing by the teaching building, I passed by Director Gu.

"Eh, are you...... Students of Celestial Objects Class 1. ”

I stopped and nodded in response.

"It's so late, don't hang out anymore, it's dangerous. Those classmates have not been contacted so far. ”

"Those?"

Is it because I never go to class meetings and miss out on information that is not available in other worlds?

I stepped forward and took a step. In the dim light, Gu Qiancheng looked at me sadly.

"You don't know, and I don't blame you. Don't go out and talk nonsense, the school is going to block the news. ”

"Teacher, I'...... Know. If it's convenient for you, can you tell me which of your classmates are missing?"

"Well, they're all students you don't know. All three are ...... of the School of Statistics"

The disappearance of the three people is not a trivial matter, but how did the school conceal it?

Faculty of Statistics...... Chongling, Shi Xue, and a classmate surnamed Liu?"

"Alas, it really can't be hidden among the students. ”

Gu Qiancheng sighed. It seems that I don't agree with the school's approach.

"Anyone else?"

I raced through my mind the names of all the people involved.

“...... There's also a student from the School of Biochemistry. ”

"Nan Xuan......?"

"Oh no. This one...... Don't you know? I think you had a pretty good relationship the other day. ”

The instructor seemed a little surprised, but I felt an even more indescribable fear.

It made me feel a chill in my back. In the heat of a summer night, everything became trance-like.

"Longevity, longevity?"

“...... Oh, yes. ”

"When ......?"

"Didn't you get in touch after that?"

How could that be, I thought to myself. I just came back from talking to her.

Who is the current immortal?

Where did the store manager go?

I didn't have time to say goodbye to my guide and ran back to the dormitory.

You're not, as expected.

Coming back so late, I don't know if I will encounter danger.

I sat on the edge of the bed in despair, scanning the empty room.

I remember the first time I met you, it was in the dormitory at night. You love to talk and talk to me about a lot of interesting things.

Every topic was so speculative that I felt the joy of communication as an introvert.

Now, it's like in the house, in space.

...... What about the chest?

I leaned down to look under the beds on either side, opened the lockers again, and rummaged through every corner of the dorm room.

Didn't she come with a big suitcase in tow?

A terrible speculation came over me.

It's better not to think so. I pushed the thought back.

After the lights went out, I lay quietly in bed and couldn't sleep.

I hear the door open and you walk in softly.

Even with your cautious steps, I still hear the wheels of the suitcase rubbing against the ground.

Bones, bones.

You tiptoe to wash up and stand by my bed for a while. Through my eyelids, I could feel the faint moonlight being blocked.

Then, you also go to rest.

We're just across the hallway.

But I felt so far away. More than any time before—

Early in the morning, Jiang Shuo suddenly contacted me. This is the first time he took the initiative to find me, saying that he asked Changsheng for my contact information.

I quickly arrived at the agreed place.

"Changsheng should have disappeared. ”

As I spoke, I paid close attention to his mood swings.

"Actually, it wasn't four people who went missing, but five. ”

"Five?"

"And the store manager who works part-time. Soon, it's going to be six. ”

I suddenly remembered the message that Changsheng had told me two weeks ago. I immediately reached out my phone and looked for the chat history at that time.

But strangely, I can't find any trace of immortality in my contact information.

It's like she never existed.

"You...... Why did you call me?" I asked him warily.

"Actually, I found your contact information from Anseong's mobile phone. You're classmates, and it's easy. ”

"Why ......?"

"Why do I have his phone? Quite simply, he was left in the dormitory. I couldn't reach him, so I went to the dormitory to look for him. His roommate said he didn't go back last night and didn't bring his mobile phone. ”

"Could it be something urgent?"

"That's what I thought. That was until I found a ransom message from his phone. ”

"What do you mean?"

"He may have been kidnapped. And his captors, knowing that I would find him. ”

"So did you see the phone's record?"

"Hehe, I'm afraid this part is what the hijackers want me to see. Except for his sister, who was long dead, there was nothing that could keep him from even having his phone. ”

I thought to myself, this is too risky, how can the hijacker insist that he won't bring his phone? Unless, even if Ancheng really doesn't bring it, he can contact Jiang Shuo.

Then, he must know him, even me.

Or right around us.

"What did that person say, and why did you contact me?"

I asked. Jiang Shuo stared at me for a few seconds and slowly spoke.

"He told me to go to the north pier of the city, alone. As for why I looked for you...... I think it might have something to do with your new roommate. ”

"What?"

Just now, the shadows of countless people flashed in my mind, even those who had criminal records in other worldlines...... Master Tao. But I never thought about Anseong going missing, because these are two completely different things.

Maybe it's going to be the same thing.

I granted the request of this former enemy.

Although, numerous failures are related to him. But...... It's your turn to feel the pain of losing your best friend.

I promised, but a cold emotion appeared in my heart.

Maybe that's ...... Not so good.

In the afternoon we got on the bus and were silent all the way.

None of us spoke, but our stomachs were all our own thoughts.

Still using the game as an example, it's like I'm re-reading the file and opening up a level I've never seen before.

Each NPC and teammate is obviously unchanged, but the plot is very different.

Why is that?

When I waited for the red light, I put my hands on the car window and looked at the bustling street.

A black butterfly fluttered past me.

I can't help but think of one word, and that's topological chain reaction.

In the development of anything, there are fixed numbers and variables, and in the process of development, its trajectory is always regular.

Naturally, there are unpredictable variables, even counterproductive.

Compared to actively going back in time, I have not experienced a passive rollback caused by my personal death. But this time was more special than the previous ones.

For example, in this world, I obviously don't have much intersection with you for other reasons. But you're still like my best friend - without any foreshadowing.

The end of the line has arrived.

The sky was getting darker, and the sunset was glowing uncomfortably on the horizon.

I got out of the car and turned around to find that Jiang Shuo was gone.

He didn't come down, but he wasn't in the car.

I know he may have used his power. It is a talent that hides oneself from the blind spot of others.

Similar to stealth.

I came to the place they had agreed upon, and sure enough, I saw you standing on the shore.

There was a large suitcase beside him.

The wind blows across your cheeks, looking at your long hair flowing back, like a lonely traveler.

- It would be nice to ignore the red water stains on the ground.

You look back and see me.

"Gee, it's beautiful, isn't it?"

I just nodded and didn't answer. Although you seem a little surprised, you don't ask me why I'm here.

Just taking in the information and then thinking about the countermeasures is your mindset.

Your clear eyes are still something I can't read.

Just as I did when I first met you in this world.

You take a small sack out of the box and throw it into the ocean.

"What are you doing......

I suppressed the trembling of words.

"Of course, do what you've done. ”

Once?

I don't remember anything out of the ordinary I've done in this world, and I've never killed anyone.

However, I am not inexperienced in the matter of throwing corpses.

I see, those white particles, it's salt.

Sea salt.

You dig out a white plastic bag from the box.

Or rather, it was originally white, but now it has been soaked in blood stains to resemble orange-pink.

That's a human head.

You raise your hand, and a knife flies precisely into your hand.

Gravity is your talent.

I turned my head and looked at where the knife had come from.

Jiang Shuo's face was very bad.

He rushed forward.

That's reckless. I had a freeze-frame scene in my mind and played it back.

I snatched a knife in the air. Even though I was fast, the blade scratched my hand.

Luckily, I caught it.

Well, I knew you would.

You smile confidently.

Then, the hand carrying the plastic bag stretched out of the protective fence of the cement table.

Jiang Shuo still rushed forward.

He's not meant for close-quarters combat. I thought to myself, clenching the knife in my hand.

Should I save him?

Shouldn't it?

Thinking so, when his fist was less than ten centimeters away from you, he was suddenly pulled backwards by a force.

Straighten your body and press it against the knife in my hand.

I couldn't let go of my hand.

The blade is inserted straight on the left side and slowly moved out.

One, two, three......

It was like a doll pinched by the neck, and it was pounded and pounded a fixed knife.

One, two, three......

Blood splattered out, blending with the dark red liquid on the ground.

Red soaked my face and placket. I couldn't move.

Then he collapsed in a pool of blood.

The autonomic nerve struggled a little, and soon went from being a life to an object.

Then, the knife returned to my hand.

"Well, then we're complicit. ”

“...... Why do you want to do this?"

"Why?"

You ruffled your hair and looked at me with an incredulous gaze.

"Does this need a reason? They're bad people, they all deserve to die. ”

I have no way to answer.

The sky was darkening.

So is my heart.

"That'...... What do you think of Shixue and Chongling?"

"At first, she just wanted to dispose of Liu Xili, didn't she ruin your good deeds? And she's not a good boy herself. Unexpectedly, Shi Xue actually came over. ”

"So you killed her too?"

"How so...... This is a necessary sacrifice. ”

"Is Chongling too?"

"He's too smart, his talent is bad for me, and I don't want to keep him for too long. ”

"The store manager and the ...... of Changsheng"

You stop answering my questions and talk about other things on your own.

Do you believe in fatalism? whether something will happen, and what is the probability of it happening, maybe it's fixed. If we already knew the probability and moved the event in this direction, would we be spared?"

Unassailable logic. It's not that I haven't thought about it...... However, as far as I am concerned, the moral bottom line is much stronger than this kind of thing.

I didn't respond to you, waiting for you to continue.

"Suppose that in this world, only one person can survive in the end, and everyone will think about killing others and making themselves the only lucky ones, right?"

"So you killed them?"

"So what? But I'm not going to let you die because you're important. ”

I don't get the slightest hint of sincerity in this sentence. But she shouldn't be lying.

"I need your abilities. ”

You laugh calmly again. This calmness made me creepy all the time.

I've never seen you like this, strange and familiar.

I realized that you are not of this world.

Just as you were about to end your life with this knife, I activated Time. It was at that delicate point in time, perhaps, that your thoughts in other worlds were swept up.

It's like the shape of each piece is the same, but the color of each piece does not belong to the same picture. That's how you are, a complex but complete puzzle pieced together by countless versions of pieces.

I'm reminded of the famous topological chain reaction – the butterfly effect.

I didn't understand the principle at the time. I didn't realize that you were the first misanthropic to commit suicide in the entire game.

But that's how it happened.

"I'm tired of this world, let's go find the next one. ”

You reach out to me.

I'm not sure what will happen to you, who are allowed to go against the law like this, go back and forth among countless possibilities.

But...... Aren't we the ones who live to the end?

Isn't this the end I have been asking for so much that you can accept?

Looking at your outstretched hand, what am I hesitating about?

I also reached out my hand.

Blood-stained knives are stabbed in the chest.

Shocked, surprised, trance?

The look on your face is still the last thing I want to see.

Now that you know all the possibilities of my backtracking, the surprise should be unexpected.

As it turned out, I was right.

However, there is no way.

You're just, taking advantage of my guilt.

Even so it was very successful.

At the very least, I have paid the price I once owed you, for abandoning you in every world.

That's my broken heart.

This is the punishment that is deserved as a coward, staggered and jumping in the torrent of countless times

You're not her. You're a synthetic, an imposter, a defective product.

In her body, which belongs to this world, she is instilled with memories that do not belong to this world.

Such a ......

Such a ......

I scratched open the plastic bag.

There is no one in it.

It was the corpse of a stray dog.

I couldn't hold back my tears, pearls scattered on the blood-colored plane.

I don't want to know who or what that box is in anymore.

This world is also time to say goodbye.

At the class meeting, I lay quietly on the table. After a brief introduction of yourself, you sat next to me.

"Hello, I'm ......"

"It's better not to come near me. ”

I said coldly, not glancing at your look of bewilderment.

"I'll kill you, really. ”

- End -