Merlin knew that his existence was not normal.

Someone, some indescribable bastard, had gambled with his fate to decide something important.

Merlin didn't know why he had the honor of being chosen by the big shots.

But he doesn't have the power to say no.

But after so many years, no matter how dull Merlin was, he could still feel something was wrong.

This game does not seem to be completely controlled by those higher wills, and unexpected things will appear from time to time.

For example, my piece of parchment.

Another example, the Supreme Sorcerer who seems to know a lot.

If this world is false, then the Supreme Mage, who was born in the illusion like Merlin, shouldn't know something outside of the game.

It is also impossible for the parchment obtained by Merlin to secretly tell Merlin some secrets about the game itself.

Just like a pure program running on a computer, it is difficult to affect the reality of the three-dimensional world anyway.

But they did.

It's like the program in the computer is actively talking to the user, and it's like the pattern drawn on the paper comes alive.

It's not normal, obviously.

The two players of the game do not fully control some factors in this world.

After realizing this, Merlin saw a slight possibility of a comeback.

And now, the Phantom Stranger who appeared for the third time responded positively to Merlin's guess.

really...

From the beginning of this game, other forces outside the game are intervening.

And from the looks of it, they seemed to have deceived the participants of the two games.

Of course, this is not an important matter at present.

Correct question?

In the hall of the mysterious house, Merlin was sitting on the sofa savoring the hints from The Phantom Stranger.

When he was still young, when he and the Stranger met for the second time.

He had had a chance to see everything ahead of time, but he asked a completely irrelevant question.

This may be the evil taste of the Phantom Stranger.

But in fact, that time was indeed because Merlin himself was not rational. He had experienced too little and was too naive.

Hold on.

Merlin gestured to The Phantom Stranger, stood up, and took the parchment from the wooden shelf by the fireplace.

The parchment was in tatters.

Perhaps because of entering the finale, external forces have increasingly restricted it.

Make parchment less magical than before.

Well, it's about to break.

The Phantom Stranger looked at the parchment in Merlin's hand, rubbed his chin, and said to Merlin in a regretful tone:

At most one more time...

It came from the same place as you?

Merlin raised his head, looked at the Phantom Stranger, and added:

Of course, if this counts as a question, then you don't need to answer...

That doesn't count.

Stranger waved his hand, and said in a relaxed tone:

It's not a big secret anyway.

The parchment in your hand is a very strange thing, it can contact the 'observers'.

Observer?

Merlin said suspiciously:

That big silent bald man on the moon who appears and disappears, always avoids everyone, and quietly records everything?

No, not him.

The Shadow Stranger explained:

Watu and his people call themselves Observers for a reason, but what I call 'Observers' is not the same as them.

That is an extremely mysterious force in the multiverse, and it is related to many major events.

They will suddenly appear and change some disasters that make people sigh;

They will also destroy an innocent civilization in the sound of silence of all things;

Nobody knows what they're trying to do, or why they're doing it...

Many powerful figures have tried to find them, but no one really knows what they represent.

Um.

Rubbing his chin, Stranger guessed and said:

There are rumors that those 'observers' live outside the wall of origin and are higher-dimensional creatures, and the Oneiroi, which represents the memories of all living beings, has some relationship with them, but this is just a legend...

Only 'that person' has entered the wall of origin and returned from outside the wall.

But he will definitely not reveal the secrets outside the wall of origin to the public.

But you can get this kind of thing, and it also proves that you are being watched by the observers...and they are willing to help you.

Stranger glanced at the broken parchment in Merlin's hand with emotion, and said:

How many big men don't get this kind of honor, you are really a lucky guy.

However, if you are also noticed by the observers, then I probably know why they must choose you as the protagonist of this game.

Um?

Merlin spread out the parchment on the table, picked up a pen, looked at the Phantom Stranger, and said:

Don't always say half and leave half of what you say, okay? Say the whole thing if you want to say it.

All right.

The Phantom Stranger shrugged, and he replied:

As far as I know, the two manipulators of the game, as well as the friend of my master Voice of Heaven, the three of them have been watched and helped by the observers.

And you are the fourth, there must be some connection between you.

Light, power, death...and you...

The Stranger looked at Merlin, and said in a low voice:

shadow.

I don't understand what you're saying.

Merlin glanced at the Stranger, then picked up his pen and wrote one last question on the parchment.

What's the right question?

swish

When Merlin wrote this question, the four corners of the already torn parchment seemed to be on fire.

It started to burn as if it had done its job.

Under Merlin's gaze, a sentence emerged on the parchment.

It's the one in your heart!

And after the red handwriting dissipated, in the burning of a mass of flames, the last wicked smile like a stick figure appeared on the parchment.

The smile faded quickly in that.

Among the last burning remains of the parchment is a question composed of the light of the flames.

This was probably the first time Parchment asked Merlin a question.

Merlin, did you like your story?

The flames were dancing, and the ashes were rolling in the flames.

The parchment had been completely burned, but the flame was still burning, as if it was waiting for Merlin's answer.

Merlin stared at the question emerging from the flames in front of him.

He recalled his past experience, now it is the end of 2008, he is 39 years old...

From the perspective of ordinary people, half of his life has already passed, and it is extremely exciting.

Even though Merlin has always thought that this is just an illusory past, a life that has been shaped.

But at this moment, facing the final question from the parchment, Merlin remained silent.

Did he like his past life?

He had just been stabbed severely in the back by his most trusted friend.

He was beaten up by his insane companions and almost died on a deserted island in the Pacific Ocean.

Everything he had held on to in life was shattered by rebellion.

He wanted to protect the world, but he realized that he was the biggest source of disaster in the world.

The best way to protect the world...

Just erase him so that he never appeared.

But, does he hate his past experiences?

Will he hate his sisters and brothers, his sister and brother-in-law, his nephews, his lovers who are separated from each other?

Would he hate his friends who had just rescued him from doom and were willing to fight strong enemies for him?

Once the bond has been formed, it cannot be easily cut off.

After ten seconds of silence, he took a deep breath.

Looking at the dancing flame in front of him, he whispered:

Yes, I like my story...

Although it is a bit unsatisfactory, I still want it to continue, all the way to the end, I want it to be true...

I want to be the real Merlin Riley.

boom

The flames before Merlin's eyes exploded, and those dancing sparks did not dissipate in the air, but circled around Merlin.

Just like the dancing flame elves in the story.

A gentle, magnetic, faint voice sounded in Merlin's ears.

Then please remember...

Only in this story, you are Merlin Riley...

This sentence is like a reminder, but also like a warning.

But it was difficult for Merlin to understand it, let alone where the voice in his head came from.

But seeing the calm expression on the face of Phantom Stranger in front of him, he probably didn't hear that voice either.

This incidates that...

Does that sound also come from outside the game?

wow so many people...

Are you all following him?

I'm ready.

Merlin calmed himself down, raised his head, and said to the Phantom Stranger in front of him:

I'm ready to ask questions.

The Stranger also straightened up, looked at Merlin, and said:

Then I'll be all ears.

my question is...

Merlin says:

I want to win! How can I win?

Wow, what a great question.

The corner of Phantom Stranger's mouth twitched, and he said:

I can't answer you because I don't know...

Shouldn't you control your own destiny?

But I can answer your question from another angle. I don't know how you can win, but I can tell you what you have to do so that you don't lose...

listen!

Stranger clasped his fingers tightly, and the weird pocket watch in his hand was crushed, time stopped at this moment.

Not a suspension in the conventional sense.

It's a real standstill in time, not just the Mystery House, the whole world, and even this pocket universe.

Even the gambling center at the end of the stars...

Time stood still, completely still.

I've prepared a lot for this cheating moment.

Stranger smiled and said:

The overlord's victory condition is: you will accept all acceptable forces to save the already precarious order and protect the people you want to protect.

Reaper's victory condition is: you have witnessed the weakness and unbearability of the order you guard, and you finally decide to destroy it all and rebuild the real powerful order in the ruins.

But besides that, you have a third option...

He stretched out his hand and gestured a three in front of Merlin's eyes. He said:

Supreme Mage, er, I mean the real Supreme Mage, not the imitation derived from this game, she gave you a third choice...

quit!

You can't take it all, you realize that your existence is just a source of endless disaster for this world.

Only when you really disappear, will the world embark on the path of becoming a reality in the collision of chaos and order.

So you decided to quit.

The Phantom Stranger narrowed his eyes, and he said to Merlin:

Those are the three choices you can make at the moment...but you should also understand that if you want to win...

I just can't choose between them.

Merlin sighed and said:

As long as I choose any one, it means I lose...

No, no, you didn't understand me.

Stranger said softly:

It's hard if you want to win.

But if you want two gambling dogs who have been manipulating and interfering with your destiny and life to taste the painful feeling of losing, then you can choose the third...

If you quit, they both lose!

The best part is, if they lose, then this gestating universe will be truly free.

Everyone you care about, everyone you care about, and everyone you want to protect will be truly free!

They will become real!

Although their real and free existence time may only be from now to the short decades when the cosmic furnace is ignited, burns out the short first era, and ushers in the awakened second era...

But with your current situation, I don't think you can expect too much.

The Stranger stood up, and he said to Merlin:

I heard what you said to that chick just now.

You want them to become a real existence, not a fantasy like a dream, no longer a victim in the process of the evolution of all things, then maybe you should choose to quit...

Yes, you will lose if you do this, but again, no one wins!

In my opinion, that's the best choice you can make.

Well, of course, it's just a personal opinion, Merlin, the choice is yours.

The effect of time stillness dissipated at this moment, and the Stranger stretched out his hand to straighten his collar, and he said to Merlin:

At least at this moment, your fate is back in your hands.

Make a choice!

After speaking, the Stranger turned around, as if he was about to leave, but at the moment he left, Merlin stopped him again.

Wait, Mr. Stranger.

Merlin says:

You just said that you came to help me at the request of a friend of your master's... Then may I know the name of that friend?

Does it make sense?

The Phantom Stranger turned, looked at Merlin, and said:

What's the use of knowing it?

You may not even be able to get through the difficulties in front of you... Do you think that what you experienced in the past few days is the end? Don't be stupid, this is just the beginning.

I always have some hope.

Merlin shrugged. He said to the Stranger:

In case a miracle happens, I must know the name of the benefactor, right?

Well, you are really optimistic.

The Stranger curled his lips. He put his hand on his top hat and said to Merlin:

His name is Dick.

The person forged by the endless holy light is the friend my master, Voice of Heaven, met when he was traveling in foreign lands...

He was furious that he wasn't invited to the game.

So he wants to create some damage for his two brothers. Of course, he also hopes that you can create a miracle.

Stranger pulled out a smile and said:

Of course, I really hope you can make it to the end, my friend.

If you fail, don't worry, there are many people who will protect you, even if you leave this world, you can still live well...

You know what you should know, you know what you shouldn't know.

So, let's see you at the end!

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