Chapter 127: The Final Chapter of Memories

"Don't ever appear in front of me again."

"You're really annoying. Get lost."

These were the words the Cameraman had spoken to Mantou the last time they met on the platform.

Yan Jing frowned the moment he heard them.

Ever since he started viewing the memories, Yan Jing hadn't experienced any major emotional fluctuations. Neither the Cameraman nor the girl named A Si had anything to do with him.

He was just watching a play.

Even if the play was a melodramatic, trashy mess, it mostly just made him want to mock it.

He had never felt any connection to the Cameraman.

He was himself, and the Cameraman was just a tamed dog.

And a dead one at that.

But hearing the Cameraman scold Mantou like that made him frown.

Because he considered Mantou one of his own.

This silly girl always responded to her fucked-up fate with a foolish smile. Even after being hurt, she would blame herself. She shouldn't be treated like this.

Yan Jing's gaze darkened, especially when he saw Mantou's blank, stunned expression after being yelled at in that final scene.

Perhaps Mantou's current timidity had something to do with this.

After a few seconds' pause, he pressed continue.

That man was already dead. What he needed to do now was take over everything he had as quickly as possible and make him disappear completely.

The Ghoulish Life Role-playing Game stated that fulfilling the dying wish would fully unlock the character. He hoped this 'fully' was absolute.

The memory continued.

After the Cameraman brought the girl named A Si to the ventilation duct, the two didn't rush to leave.

First, where to go after leaving was an issue. Additionally, the White House conducted headcounts every two hours in the morning and held random bed checks at night. How long it would take for their escape to be discovered, and how far they could run in that time, were also problems.

There was also the route to consider after exiting the duct—where they should go, and what identities they would assume to live in the outside world.

These were all problems.

However, the girl took charge of it all.

"Ah Ji, just stay put in the White House and leave everything to me," the girl said.

The Cameraman initially wanted to go with her, but the girl was resolute.

And so, the two plotted for a full year.

Every day, the girl would use the intervals between headcounts to slip out through the duct and quietly scout the route.

During this time, the Cameraman also asked her what the outside world was like, saying that if he ever had the chance, he would like to see it.

"It's terrifying, and extremely dangerous."

Whenever this topic came up, the girl's expression would turn incredibly serious, and she strictly warned him that he must never go out on his own.

"Otherwise, I will get angry, Ah Ji."

Hearing that she would get angry, the Cameraman immediately promised that he would never go out.

And the girl did indeed plan everything out methodically.

"After we get out, we'll go to this place mentioned in the book called Dandelion Manor."

The girl told the Cameraman, "Every year, they leave some of the untalented children at the bus stations of other Domains. When the children grow up, some choose to return, and the people there welcome them back."

"When that time comes, we will pretend to be children who were abandoned outside."

But she didn't elaborate on how they would pull off this disguise or whether they would be seen through.

Regardless, the Cameraman believed her.

He trusted that the girl in front of him could help him solve any problem, just as she always had.

Besides their destination, there was also the escape route. The girl said she had already found the perfect one.

But it was extremely dangerous outside. If the people out there discovered the Cameraman, they would definitely drag him back.

"When the time comes, Ah Ji, take off your outer robe, cover your head with something else, and follow me."

"Even I haven't seen your full appearance under that robe, Ah Ji. They won't recognize you."

"Okay."

The Cameraman nodded.

Finally, during their second year, the two set a date and prepared to leave.

Unexpectedly, as the date approached, something suddenly happened in the White House.

An old man with a white beard arrived.

He seemed to have some health issues; he looked exhausted and coughed constantly.

After the old man arrived at the White House, those 'teachers' who had just been coasting along all snapped to attention. Clearly, this old man was no simple figure.

The Cameraman vaguely heard the conversations between those 'teachers' mention the word 'Sleepland.'

He had seen this word in books; it was a Domain in the outside world.

Upon entering the White House, the old man first gave some instructions to the 'teachers,' then swept his gaze over the remaining thirty girls and the Cameraman. Finally, he looked at the girl named A Si as if she were a precious treasure.

After a careful inspection, he publicly announced that she was the most important existence among the thirty girls. He instructed the 'teachers' that it didn't matter what happened to the others, but this Number Zero girl and the Cameraman had to be strictly guarded and treated well.

He even gave the girl a title derived from her serial number—Subject Number Zero.

When this news broke, the Cameraman was very happy, but the girl felt the exact opposite.

She threw tantrums for days, and the Cameraman had to coax her for a long time before she finally calmed down a bit.

Moreover, even at this point, she still insisted on running away.

But the result of this incident was that the two were watched even more closely.

This made the escape plan extremely difficult.

Yet, refusing to give up, the two kept waiting.

During this time, to figure out the origins of this white-bearded old man who seemed to be the mastermind, the girl managed to smuggle in newspapers from the outside world.

The two read the news from various Domains, growing increasingly familiar with them.

Soon, they determined that the white-bearded old man must be one of the leaders of Sleepland.

The White House was likely backed by Sleepland.

One time, the girl pointed at the news about Sleepland.

"Ah Ji, Sleepland is not a good place."

"Look, there's even a serial killer there. How scary..."

"Yeah."

The Cameraman nodded, feeling even more certain that running away was the right choice.

Another year passed before they finally found their chance on a dark, windy night.

The girl brought nothing with her, but the Cameraman brought the apple tree. He harbored the naive thought that if they had nothing to eat, they could just kill people to water the tree with blood and eat its apples.

The 'teachers' drank heavily that day; as the Cameraman's twenty-second birthday approached, they were finally about to be liberated. It was while everyone was dizzy and drunk that the two crawled out of the ventilation duct.

The night was deep, obscuring the surrounding scenery. Just as the Cameraman was preparing to adjust his lens brightness, the girl unexpectedly told him to take off his black robe as they had discussed, and draped an article of her clothing over his head.

This immediately blocked the Cameraman's vision.

"Ah Ji, the path ahead will be terrifying. To keep you from getting scared, if you trust me, grab my hand and run with me."

"Okay."

The Cameraman nodded.

Then, as if to prove the girl right, a massive roar exploded right next to their ears.

The Cameraman, his vision covered, shuddered instantly. While sitting on the platform, he would occasionally hear this kind of noise, but it had never been nearly this loud.

The terror brought on by the deafening sound plunged him into horrifying imaginations, making him believe her words even more. He immediately gripped the girl's hand tight, clinging to the warmth of her palm as his sole anchor.

The two sprinted madly.

After what felt like an eternity, the Cameraman suddenly heard the furious roar of a Lion echo in his ears, accompanied by a foul, bloody wind.

There was actually a Lion here; his heart clenched tightly once more.

However, it seemed the two had already run past the Lion's location. The roar was quickly left far behind them.

A little while later, the Cameraman felt the girl come to a halt.

So, he stopped as well.

"A Si, can I take it off now?" the Cameraman asked uncertainly.

"You can," A Si's voice rang out.

Pulling the clothing off his head, the Cameraman smiled joyfully.

"This is wonderful, A Si."

But to his surprise, the girl suddenly began to cry.

This left him a bit flustered.

"What's wrong, A Si?"

"Nothing."

The girl wiped the tears from her eyes and smiled.

"Ah Ji, let's go our separate ways from here."

"Separate? Why?!" the Cameraman asked in disbelief.

"No one has seen your face, but they've all seen mine. If this continues, sooner or later we'll be caught by those people from Sleepland."

The girl smiled through her tears.

"Go, Ah Ji. Go to Dandelion Manor by yourself. I'll head in the opposite direction to buy you time."

"No."

The Cameraman immediately shook his head. He grabbed her shoulders and said earnestly, "Otherwise we'll just go back, A Si. Back to the White House. The outside world isn't that great anyway."

"That's impossible."

The girl shook her head as her tears poured down. She reached out to touch the Cameraman's lens and smiled.

"Ah Ji, do you remember why I got so angry at you that day three years ago? The day the 'teachers' suddenly changed their attitudes."

"Why?" the Cameraman asked blankly.

"Because after you told me what they said at the dinner table, I went to eavesdrop on their conversation that night. They said they had lost contact with the higher-ups, and that it was very likely because of your brother."

"My brother?"

"Yes, your brother."

The girl smiled tearfully. "They said your brother must have discovered the problem with the White House and fought with all those other people. Everyone got hurt, which is why they couldn't be reached."

"What's the problem with the White House? And where is my brother?"

As the Cameraman's voice trailed off, the girl laughed.

"The problem with the White House is that the last remaining girl and you will both die, Ah Ji."

Under the Cameraman's shocked gaze, the girl relayed what she had heard that day.

As soon as the Cameraman and that girl married and had a child, they would both die.

"I got angry with you because I didn't want you to keep burdening yourself with the fantasy of living together with me. But in the end, you fool, you just wouldn't let go. That's why I had to escape with you."

"As for where your brother is, Ah Ji, you'll have to find him yourself."

With tears in her eyes, the girl smiled. "Over the years, I made you read books and newspapers because I hoped you would familiarize yourself with this place. That way, you could survive on the outside and look for your brother. I know you've never been able to forget him..."

Listening to her words, the Cameraman's vision blurred as well.

Right at that moment, a dilapidated bus drove over from the distance. The girl hurriedly shoved her Eerie Coins into his hand.

"Quick, go, Ah Ji, hurry!! Don't worry about me! I'll head toward Sleepland to buy you time!"

Saying this, she reached out and touched the Cameraman's face.

"If you live well in Dandelion Manor, come find me in Rotten Vegetable Village. If I haven't been caught by then, I'll likely settle down there."

"I will never try to look for you, Ah Ji. As long as you're doing well."

"Don't worry, even if I get caught, I won't say a word about you."

"I'll do what you do and hide my memories."

With that, the girl suddenly flashed a playful smile, her tears scattering like crystal beads under the moonlight.

"Ah Ji, I love you."

"From childhood until now, you've always been my favorite."

Saying this, the girl stood on her tiptoes, pulled the Cameraman's head down, and planted a gentle kiss on his lips beneath his lens.

Tears fell upon their lips.

But just as the bus doors opened in front of them, the Cameraman did the unexpected. With a forceful shove, he pushed the girl onto the bus, ignoring her cries of alarm, and bolted toward the opposite platform.

He wiped the tears from his eyes, forcing himself not to look back.

Then, under the cover of night, he boarded the next bus heading toward Rotten Vegetable Village.

He was going to do exactly what the girl had intended to do for him.

And so, he arrived at Rotten Vegetable Village.

He rented a house using his Eerie Coins.

Then, he made a living by selling apples.

To attract the attention of the people from Sleepland, he went to Sleepland and mimicked the serial killer he had seen in the newspaper. He wanted not only to protect the one he loved, but also to avenge his brother.

Then, one day.

As he walked outside, he saw a girl sitting in the corner.

At first, he didn't recognize her as the girl he had seen a few times before. Those brief memories were just the tip of the iceberg in his mind; they barely made a ripple in his life, which revolved entirely around A Si.

But he still walked over.

Because he thought of a plan.

If he was ever caught, those people would definitely ask him where Subject Number Zero was.

He had to be able to produce a Subject Number Zero.

But that person couldn't be A Si.

So he walked over, intending to win the favor of this scavenging girl.

To his surprise, the moment she saw him, her expression shifted from pleasant surprise to a trace of fear.

Finally, the girl looked at the apple in his hand.

It was then that he finally recalled the girl from his memories.

Without any hesitation, he still handed over the apple.

The apple that the girl thought signaled the mending of their friendship was the very apple that marked his decision to 'kill' her.

Next, he went to Solitude Lane and hid his memories there.

Another period of time passed.

One night.

While walking down the streets of Rotten Vegetable Village, with moonlight spilling at his feet, he suddenly froze, staring at the figure at the alley entrance opposite him.

A figure that was inexplicably familiar.

Even though he had forgotten that figure's name and everything that had happened between them, his body still moved forward involuntarily.

Then, he felt a sudden pain in his neck.

Blood gushed out, staining his hands red.

He stared at the figure opposite him in shock.

He couldn't remember who the figure was, nor did he know why they were killing him.

At the end of his life, he only wanted to live. He wanted to take the figure opposite him.

Take that face.

And kill it.

[You have successfully discovered the role-playing character's dying wish: Kill the girl named A Si. Fulfill this dying wish to fully unlock the character and obtain everything he was meant to have.]

Good.

Yan Jing's eyes were calm.

Having such a dying wish was the best thing the Cameraman had ever done.