Chapter 292: Song Weisheng
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After we walked behind the Heavenly Empress, following her alongside the Heavenly Demon behind us, a new series of texts appeared in front of us, letters made out of bright white and golden light.
[You have discovered Floor 3’s Mission]: {Find the Truth about the Spatial Distortions and Stop Whatever is Coming from Them!}
[Your group has found themselves inside the Heavenly Court in the middle of a heated conversation. The Heavenly Demon warns everyone there’s something threatening approaching through the skies! You have decided to trust his words and investigate it by yourself with the Heavenly Empress aid.]
[Whatever is on the other side, it’s dangerous and a threat to the World of Bestia; investigate what it is, then prepare to stop it before it invades the world. Depending on how you do it, and if you can stop whatever is coming, the rewards will vary greatly, and so will the next Floor’s Trial.]
[Time Limit: 24 Hours.]
The mission had finally begun, and it encompassed both finding what they were and also stopping whatever they were.
It seemed simple enough, so I assume that the true challenge is the invasion of mechanical lifeforms themselves.
The foes I’ve fought so far were all new, weaker models made from lesser materials and even from recycled materials.
However, the older ones were strong enough to kill immortals, so they’re on a completely different level.
And they also had Avatars, didn’t they? Avatars led by the Constellations that sponsored and guided the army of machines.
“Stopping the invasion then?” Fang Shuan said. “Interesting! It might be a good place to test our abilities against countless foes.”
“So that’s it…” Yin Sheng nodded. “Seems simple, but I can’t possibly imagine how hard it could get if we… really need to fight the machines.”
“Hmm, I suppose that’s why it only lasts 24 hours, huh? Just stop the invasion…” Wai Tian said. “But even if it seems simple, don’t let it get over your head; it could still be a big challenge, and our lives are on the line. Fang Shuan, Yin Sheng, don’t relax.”
“A-Ah, yeah…” Yin Sheng nodded apologetically.
“You’re right, my bad,” Fang Shuan nodded.
“…” I noticed Zero One remained mostly silent as everyone talked.
Because I grew worried about her, I decided to talk to her.
“What’s wrong?” I asked Zero One. “You’ve been awfully silent…”
“Hmm… I just… I am nervous, fighting my own kind from the past…” Zero One muttered. “Can I really face them?”
I guess it makes sense she feels that way, especially in these times; even if she considers them the evil ones compared to her "faction,” it still must be strange and slightly uncomfortable to face them.
However…
“You shouldn’t worry too much though, Zero One,” I said. “They might resemble them, but at the end of the day they’re recreations of this entire tower that our master made. Don’t hold hard feelings! Also, this could be a good opportunity for you to be able to grow used to facing other machines… Because there might be those that would oppose you and might not change how they are even if you try to convince them otherwise.”
“…Right,” Zero One sighed, nodding slightly. “You’re not wrong, Anna… I should… But still, it’s…”
“Well, if you don’t want to fight, that’s fine too,” I patted her shoulders. “You could just support us from afar. We’ll take care of things for you.”
And maybe once she sees these machines are just purely evil compared to the latter-generation ones that have begun to grow more complex, she might become braver and fight with us.
But for now, there is no point in forcing her to do anything she doesn’t want to.
“Ahh, no, wait! I will fight! I-I didn’t mean it in such a way; I don’t want to let you guys down!” Zero One said. “I understand; my logical processing tells me they’re all an illusion. So… I’ll do it.”
“Are you sure?” I sighed.
“Yes, it’s fine… trust me!” she nodded.
“Fine…” I shrugged, petting her head. “But if you change your mind, don’t hesitate to come behind us.”
“I-I won’t hesitate, geez!” Zero One pouted, looking a bit embarrassed.
As we discussed things that the Empress and the Demon didn’t seem to pay attention to somehow, we reached her palace, a beautiful golden pagoda floating above an already floating island, surrounded by smaller floating islands covered with beautiful gardens of flowers.
“We’re here; come in,” she said. “Han, behave while you’re inside my palace, alright?”
“Yes, yes~” the Heavenly Demon sighed, walking inside. “Been a while since I’ve been back home~”
He suddenly walked inside as if he had been living here for a hundred years or something…
We were left speechless at how nice the heavenly empress became when she invited him inside.
She even referred him by his name?!
We looked at one another in confusion but didn’t say a word.
As we entered the palace, we were greeted by a beautiful pagoda’s interior, a combination of ancient Chinese architecture and also of fantasy Xianxia elements.
There was a lot of gold, but the floor was of a nice brown wood, and there were colorful carpets showing dragons, cranes, crows, and more.
“What a beautiful place this is!” said Zero One. “Very well decorated, master!”
“Why, thank you, Zero One,” said the Empress. “Now come in, let’s have a quick meal before departing… I hope what you’re saying is the truth, though… Song! Come downstairs! There are guests, my son.”
S-Son?!
“Coming mama!”
Suddenly, the voice of a little boy reverberated from above the second floor as a little boy ran downstairs, walking down barefoot.
His appearance by itself left us speechless, only watching in silence at the sudden revelations. I did have some sort of… theory, but seeing it actually being true, and like this…
It’s shocking.
The child’s appearance was also different than his parents yet similar; it was as if he had the small head and long neck of a crane but the black feathers of his father and also his larger, sharper beak.
He had one red and one golden eye, and a crown of black and white feathers above his head. He looked a bit different, if not slightly funny.
He only had one arm wing though, a black and white feathered wing. There weren’t any signs of a scar on the other side.
Seeing how he’s a hybrid, perhaps some sort of genetic mutation caused him to be born with only a single wing? Poor boy…
But oh my gosh, is he cute!
“Woah! So many guests! Heheh! Hi!” He ran towards us adorably, barely reaching the height of my hips. “So many people! T-This is the first time I see so many gathered here! Is it okay for them to see me, mama?!”
"Yes, it is fine; they have come here before after all,” said her mother. “It has been a couple of years since their last visit, so you were a baby back then, son, but they’re Anna and her friends, good old friends of us. You called her Auntie Anna once.”
“Auntie… Auntie!” Song said, hugging me. “Welcome back!”
I was literally dying.
He was too cute…
“Aww, well, if you insist, you can call me Auntie! I don’t care, hehe!” I giggled, petting his head. His feathers were very soft. “Y-Your son has grown up so much since… the last time, right, guys?” I looked at my friends, winking at them.
Let’s just pretend we know and play along, please… I know it’s shocking, but we can talk about it later.
“Y-Yeeaah!” Wai Tian nodded. “Song… was his name? Yes! Very, very cute boy! He has the beautiful white feathers and golden eye of his mother, and—wait a second, black feathers?”
“H-He has grown to be a healthy boy, that’s for sure…” Fang Shuan nodded, trying to stay calm and composed.
“I can’t believe it…” Yin Sheng wasn’t even trying to act!
“So cute!” Zero One said. “Can’t you hug Auntie Zero One too, little Song?”
“Ok!” Song ran towards her and hugged her. “Hmm, Auntie Zero one is very hard like metal and cold… I don’t like.”
But he quickly walked away.
“Eeeh?! And I thought I was quite soft for a… Oh well,” she sighed.
Children can be cruel sometimes, I suppose.
“Hahaha! Song, be nicer with the guests,” laughed the heavenly empress very carefreely.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen her laugh in such a way, so carefreely and… happy, fulfilled.
She’s a happy mother, isn’t she?
Just… where is her son though?
I don’t remember Song even being mentioned or being anywhere…
“Um, who is the father though?” wondered Fang Shuan.
“Why are you even asking that?!” Suddenly the Heavenly Demon walked back from the kitchen while eating a golden-colored apple. “Isn’t it obvious the moment you see my son? He has his father’s black feathers and that mighty beak of a crowman! Also look at that red eye, mine without a doubt!”
"Papa, you’re back?!” Song got excited, his little wing flapping. “Daddyyy!”
He ran towards the Heavenly Demon, jumping over his stomach and making him give a step back.
Wow.
Was he strong enough to push him a bit?!
Also, it’s really his son!
“Hah, Song, you need to learn to better control your emotions, my son; you can’t just jump over your own father like that,” sighed the Heavenly Demon, but then he lifted him up and hugged him. “I missed you; sorry for being away for a while.”
“Don’t go away again!” Song was in tears, rubbing his neck with his father’s neck feathers. “I missed you, daddy… I want to learn more martial arts and… eat together…”
“…You know I can’t stay for too long,” sighed the Heavenly Demon. “I… your mother and I, we live different lives… And…”
“But why do you need to live different lives?! Live the same lives!” said the boy. “Why Mama has to do what those old men say?! Why do I have to be hidden all the time? I want to go outside… I want to be with mom and dad!”
“…”
“…”
Her father and her mother remained in silence, looking down in shame. They knew he was right; they wanted to live together too, but the world wouldn’t let them.
The factions were enormous, encompassing the entire world. To live together and forget everything the other had done would create tremendous ripples across the world.
The factions might even begin waging war again after seeing how their leaders left to live on their own, and the world might be plunged into chaos again.
Forgiving is hard, even more when each other has done unthinkable things to the other’s faction. The heavenly demon might be trying to be a father now, but he was a criminal too; he has definitely killed many, even innocents.
And he knows it; he feels… He looks guilty; he feels shame when he sees his son, because he knows his sins, and he can’t bear looking at the son who doesn’t know how much of a demon he truly is.
“I’m sorry… But for now, let’s stay together, okay?” The Heavenly Demon smiled. “I-I… Maybe one day we’ll live together, okay? One day when… when things are different.”
“Promise?” Song wondered.
“…” he hesitated for a bit, but then nodded. “Yes, that’s a promise.”
“You can’t just promise him that; we don’t know what will happen if they know he…!” muttered the empress, but then stopped talking. “Never mind. Let us just have a meal for now. Thank you, Anna and friends, for being here. You’re the only people in the entire world we could trust with such a secret. I hope you can entertain my son for a bit; he loves anything regarding the outside world.”
“Eh? Sure…” I nodded. “Alright little Song! What do you want to know? Come with Auntie!”
“Okay!” He jumped off his father’s arms and quickly landed on my legs. “Auntie! I want to know about the outside world again! Please tell me about the sea! I heard it’s a big pool of water, and its salty?! Is that true?!”
Poor boy, has he been living in isolation this entire time?
Okay, at the very least…
Even if this is all an illusion.
I want to make this version of him a little bit happier.
While it lasts.
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