Broadcasting Live From Inside An Eldritch Horror Game

Chapter 89: Calm Before The Storm. Part-2.

"Now that we are at rest and have some free time, it would be better to start thinking about our next moves."

"You tend to get careless too fast, instead of talking about things that do not matter, it would be better to talk about a proper plan to deal with our troubles."

An angry pout appeared on Xinran’s face instantly as she realized that Zephyr was trying to change the topic again,

"Well, if you want to change the topic that badly, I don’t care either... but let me make one thing clear."

"Just like you hold sentiments for your past, I am the same; every creature yearns for something, and there’s nothing wrong with it."

"But keep your mental defenses up at all times; miasma is extremely good at using those yearnings for the past as a weapon against us... it happened to me before and I barely managed to survive..."

"So don’t let our guard down... also... if you want, you can talk to me about that heavy burden you are carrying..."

As if noticing that her own words were a bit too unusual, a small hint of awkward embarrassment appeared on Xinran’s face as she hurriedly turned away her face and clarified,

"It’s not like I care about you or anything; I just hope that you won’t become a dead weight in this mission, Hmph!"

Hearing those words, Zephyr could only smile wryly.

’Man, it’s really difficult understanding a woman’s mood swings. One moment she’s all flirty and aggressive, the other moment she’s all reserved and tsundere...’

’Sigh, the old sages weren’t wrong; understanding a woman’s heart is more complex than comprehending the truth of the world itself.’

Just when Zephyr was thinking that only he was feeling sentimental about the past, Xinran suddenly went silent for a while and then suddenly asked in an oddly quiet voice,

"Hey... assume if someone close to you... turned into a corrupted monstrosity. What would you do? Kill them? Try to save them?"

"What would be the right course of action?"

Hearing those words, Zephyr’s hands trembled a bit as he realized the weight those words carried behind them.

Zephyr once had close friends in the past, but he knew the feeling of those friends slowly turning into different people and becoming completely unrecognizable.

Time, environment, and circumstances are powerful forces of nature; they can change even the kindest person into a ruthless killer.

Even Zephyr did not know what he would feel if someone close to him suddenly turned into an unrecognizable monstrosity.

"I do not know."

"I... sigh... perhaps my hands will falter and I will not be able to kill them. Or perhaps my hands will move with newfound strength to free them from their pain and dread."

"There are no correct answers to the question you are asking Princess Yan Xinran."

"In that kind of crucial moment, all you can do is just follow the voice of your heart and let it decide the outcome."

Zephyr looked straight in Xinran’s eyes and declared,

"If I turned into a monster, I would want you to put me to rest so that I don’t bring harm to others."

"That is what I believe and want to believe in."

Hearing those words, a smile returned to Xinran’s face as she replied.

"Hehe, you have a way with words, Zephyr Ried."

"You have a heart that can impress others quite easily and make them believe in you and your strength."

"If not for the fact that my kingdom has already collapsed, I would have offered you the position of my ’Personal Knight’..."

Zephyr smiled and replied in his usual calm voice,

"I am flattered to hear that, Princess, but I prefer to remain a free spirit; a knight is bound to a master by duty and oath."

"That kind of lifestyle would not suit me."

Shaking his head, Zephyr pushed the plate of food towards Xinran and spoke,

"I cannot offer you my pledge of loyalty like a knight, but I can offer you my strength in times of need, just like now."

"Here, your dinner is ready."

For the first time a genuine smile appeared on Xinran’s face.

This time, the smile had no trace of seduction or attempt to charm others; it was a smile from the bottom of the heart.

For the first time in decades since the destruction of her hometown, Xinran had finally found a genuine reason to smile today.

Zephyr’s promise to lend his strength to her in times of need was no small matter.

In this destroyed land where not even insects could survive and cosmic horrors beyond the comprehension of ordinary minds roamed everywhere, this fragile promise carried immense weight.

For the first time in decades, someone was willing to believe in her and someone was willing to cooperate with her.

This was the light of ’Hope’ that Xinran had been searching for all these years, and unknowingly, Zephyr had brought new hope to her.

"You are really something, Zephyr Ried, hehe~"

Seeing that smile, even Zephyr could not remain indifferent, and he could feel a strange feeling of warmth envelop his heart.

’D*mn, as I though, getting close to this woman is dangerous... If you keep smiling at me like that... even I would...’

Shaking his head, Zephyr stopped himself from making wrong assumptions and handed the food to Xinran before turning his face away and eating his own fill.

"I will take your advice to heart. Tomorrow, no matter what comes in our way, we will not stop."

"Even if I have to confront my past, I will not back down this time and will definitely settle the score."

"A mere ’Vessel of Corrosion’, heh! Even Layla managed to kill one, there’s no way I can’t do the same too!"

It was as if a newfound sense of hope had appeared in Xinran’s usually lifeless eyes.

Compared to before, her eyes now shone brightly as if she had found a new reason to keep going.

She immediately gulped down the food and went back to meditating to adjust her body’s state even further!