Another World: My life is on the hook!

Chapter 2709 A Goodbye That Isn't a Goodbye (The End)

She knew that this was just another dream of hers.

Always.

Always been this way.

No?

Again and again, endlessly, just as she had thought more than once during that long period of time, fantasizing about the moment when this dream would end and you would open your eyes.

He has already appeared before you.

But reality remains cold and cruel, and everything is just a pipe dream. When you wake up from your dream, what lies before you is always the endless chill. The vast darkness sweeps in, so cold that it almost freezes your heart and makes you forget your life.

But you are powerless to do anything about it.

You can only guard that cold grave, huddled up in your arms, wandering day after day, waiting year after year, until time forgets you, until... the day you can no longer hold on.

And often, she would think of the painter, of that girl, and of her suffering.

She didn't know if she would become like her, if one day she would also fall into madness in that eternity, or if even if you tried your best, you would never see the person you wanted to wait for.

numbness.

Hollow.

Like falling into hell...

A tear slowly dripped from her tightly closed eyelashes.

boom----!

"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!! Who! Who dared to hit me on the head!!"

Zuo Zuo, who was lying on the bed, suddenly jumped up, tears streaming down her face. She covered the huge bump on her head, woke up with a start, and her whole body was in a state of panic.

She instantly assumed a fighting stance, her eyes brimming with tears, ready to fight to the death.

Beside the bed, she saw a group of boys with dead fish eyes, carrying frying pans, adjusting their monocles as they looked at her.

The tone was unfriendly.

"I should be asking you the same thing, you useless Zuo Zuo! What happened to what I asked you to do? All you did was go to Black Night City to buy some supplies, and you got yourself completely drunk! Did you secretly use public funds to buy alcohol again? You useless left hand!"

He closed his eyes and raised his fist in the shape of a "╬".

Zuo Zuo froze, and the scene before her gradually became clearer, with the boy gradually overlapping from the blurry double image.

It was like a fleeting moment, like a dream.

It was as if breathing had stopped.

She sat down blankly, staring at his face and into his eyes, as if she had suddenly lost all her strength.

"Your head... really is yours..."

"Zuo Zuo, is this really not a dream...?"

The boy hesitated, then leaned closer to look at her and shook her shoulder forcefully.

"what?"

I wonder if I've made myself stupid by knocking on the phone.

In an instant, as if she had finally found the most precious treasure in her life, she threw herself into his arms and burst into tears, unable to hold back her sobs, as if she wanted to cry out all the tears she had in her life.

She clenched and pulled desperately, as if trying to merge her entire body into his chest. The endless waiting seemed to have finally come to a real conclusion at this moment.

"You're real, aren't you?"

"You weren't just a dream, you really are back. You said you weren't lying to me, but you still didn't see me one last time. I've been waiting so long, Zuo Zuo has been waiting so hard!"

"You're back! You're back, aren't you!"

At that moment, those cries seemed like an eternal destiny.

That hand was originally trying to lift her up.

But in the end, he placed it on her back, patted the crying girl in his arms, and spoke to her softly.

"I've been back for a while now."

"Zuo Zuo, have you forgotten? That was a long, long time ago. If I had known that Zuo Zuo would wait for me forever, how could I have let you keep waiting like this?"

“We’ve always been accomplices.”

……

……

As it turns out, he was indeed completely drunk.

Of course, it could also be Alzheimer's disease, post-dream syndrome, or simply an excuse made up because he forgot to buy something.

Zuo Zuo stared wide-eyed as Lynn placed her on a small stool with a thermometer in her mouth. After checking her repeatedly, it was finally confirmed that there was nothing wrong with her left hand, or rather, that she was still the same as before, often unable to distinguish between reality and dreams. This could be considered a lingering effect she had since then.

"so……"

Zuo Zuo pulled out the thermometer and stared at Lin En in front of her.

"Is this really happening? This isn't Zuo Zuo's dream. Her mind has returned and won't just disappear again. It's real, genuine reality, isn't it?"

Lynn ignored her.

She reached out and pinched Lynn's waist as she was mixing the medicine.

hiss--

(?o ?o?)

Ouch! It really hurts!

It seems this time it's real, and not just Zuo Zuo's fantasy! If that's really the case...

boom--

Zuo Zuo, covering her head with her hand and holding the thermometer in her mouth, said:

"Sorry……"

Finally, Lynn, feeling utterly helpless, lifted her up and placed her on his lap. Then he reached out and took her small hand, placing it on his chest so she could feel his strong heartbeat.

As the throbbing continued, Zuo Zuo's still uncontrollably trembling body gradually calmed down.

"I wasn't lying to you, was I?"

Lynn held her cold little hand, which was pressed against his chest, as if coaxing a child.

“It’s true, it’s true. Although you never believed it, thinking that all of this might vanish in an instant, your mind has indeed returned. Have you forgotten? When I finally returned from that final moment, I had forgotten everything and didn’t know what had happened…”

"It was Zuo Zuo who found me."

“You gave me those memories, let me know my past, let me know who I am... And I have never felt whether any of it is real or not, because the moment you cried when you saw me, I knew that those feelings could not be faked.”

Zuo Zuo felt empty, feeling his heartbeat and body temperature, and the tear in the corner of her eye finally slid down her cheek once again.

Lynn lifted her up and smiled.

"and……"

“I will definitely find back the feelings I lost little by little, instead of pretending like before.”

"Though that calamity destroyed so much, it didn't come to an end. In this ancient dream, many things remain—those marks, those shadows. Though I find it hard to judge which are real and which are distorted, thankfully you are here. I believe that as long as you are here, I can rebuild our shared past, and then..."

"And then we'll make them our shared future."

So you'll stay with me, right?

Zuo Zuo bit her lip tightly, her eyes filled with sorrow, and tears fell to the ground with a pattering sound.

She said that.

this life.

Every lifetime.

She will definitely stay with him until the very end, even in death, even in eternity, even if they forget everything.

"I will, Zuo Zuo definitely will... definitely!"

……

……

A raven soars through the vast sky, flying over patches of pitch-black void.

That night, she slept soundly, though she wasn't sure how long this peace of mind would last. Just like her head had told her, she had always had a hard time distinguishing between reality and fantasy. He had asked her how long she had been waiting alone in that void, but she always shook her head.

She would always tell her head with a smile that she couldn't remember anymore, because the past was the past.

She was already content with that result.

Because his mind has truly returned, and she hasn't become a second Nanako; she has finally, finally waited for the person she loves.

So, you still need to remember that.

“If you’re sick, you need to get treatment. If you still can’t distinguish between dreams and reality and secretly try to cut your wrists, I’ll beat you to death. It’s happened so many times already, you know? Don’t make me give you a long lecture every time.”

"Okay, okay! (*￣︶￣) As long as you find Zuo Zuo with your head and give her a hug, even if it's fake, Zuo Zuo will think it's real!"

"(molar)"

This idiot!

However, it's not without its advantages. Although it does relapse frequently, each time it relapses, it turns into a very clingy little girl, and usually stays with you for many days before reverting to its original nature. During this phase, it seems that no matter what it is... Zuo Zuo can accept it.

Ok……

Lynn couldn't help but touch her chin.

And if that's the case.

It seems like I've suddenly had a really nasty idea...

For example, his mind really struggled to wake up, so he desperately needed a loving little girl to give him warmth in body and soul (crying loudly). And because he didn't have much strength, he needed her to move on her own, and only in this way could he truly regain his rationality and clarity.

It seems like it's definitely worth a try! (o?▽?)o!

"What are you thinking? Why are you so emotionally turbulent?"

"nothing."

"Really nothing?"

"It's really nothing ︿(￣︶￣)︿."

"..."

He flapped his wings, carrying her soaring through the vast universe.

"So, you still haven't told me, did we win this war? Did you really defeat that calamity and stop the awakening of the Lord of the End... is that right?"

"How should I put it? It's not exactly a victory, because if I had truly achieved the reversal, what awaited us would truly be eternity. But I wasn't truly devoured by it either. It's more accurate to say that after we merged into one, I successfully brought myself to a new life in the end, allowing my orderly side to suppress its chaos."

"Perhaps we may have to wait like this forever, until the dream master spoke of it, until this endless cycle of reincarnation shows even the slightest sign of loosening."

Zuo Zuo listened intently.

But in that spiritual world, she still closed her eyes and hugged him tightly.

"Well, no matter what, Zuo Zuo doesn't care."

If you journey towards eternity, then I will accompany you to eternity; if you return to the end, then Zuo Zuo will accompany you to the end.

She didn't know how long the future was, nor how far forever was.

She only cares about this moment.

because……

"As long as you're here, that's enough."

"Hey! I'm still flying! Don't just throw around sentimentalities and declarations of love like that. It's so cheesy! It's giving me goosebumps! You idiot!"

"No! I want it! Zuo Zuo will always, always love to peek in!!"

"I love you the most!!"

The joyful shouts echoed in the void for a very long time.

Because of what Zuo Zuo said.

But forever.

……

……

(Complete the book.)

(No, there's more.)

……

……

A few minutes later, outside a snow-covered valley, the soaring raven transformed into a human.

Zuo Zuo jumped out, looking around in a daze. Feeling something was familiar, she asked curiously:

"Huh? Come on in, what are we doing here? Didn't you just say..."

When she turned to look at Lynn, she was instantly stunned. She didn't know when, but Lynn had changed into a respectable black tailcoat, wearing a top hat, adjusting his monocle, and sporting that lewd smile. He elegantly adjusted his bow tie and then grabbed Zuo Zuo's hand.

"Of course I'm going to the wedding."

With a broad smile, he dragged the bewildered Zuo Zuo by the hand and strode towards the snow-covered valley.

"Hurry up, or you'll miss it!"

Above the snow-covered valley, countless fireworks burst forth in a dazzling display, like a shower of flowers.

It's like a blessing.

……

May all lovers be united in marriage.

May all readers who are content with their lot find a place to belong.

This book is finished.