Chapter 1281
The Path of Lies, The River of Hope
Even though the Grey Heavenly Envoy’s words sounded frivolous and cheerful, as if he were brainwashing new employees with empty promises, both Lily and Hassan, and even Haina, easily grasped the Grey Heavenly Envoy’s unspoken meaning.
Hidden within the jest was seriousness; concealed in the jokes was solemnity.
Whether it was defeating a Heavenly Envoy, saving the world, or becoming a Pillar God in a new world, it all had one common prerequisite: the complete sacrifice of their lives at this very moment.
Regardless of whether they could defeat Calamity Red, the pretender from Supreme Heaven, or whether Eivass could defeat the Void, they would all die today.
It was like a group of people joking about meeting again in twenty years, drinking wine and smashing their cups. Behind that heroic and passionate revelry lay an unconcealable sorrow.
“…Is this also, premature death?” Lily murmured.
She subconsciously recalled the philosophy repeatedly mentioned by Old Moriarty and deeply influenced even Eivass: Since they were going to die eventually, why not die at a more useful time?
“No,” the Grey Heavenly Envoy, as if having heard this theory, turned back and denied it with utmost seriousness. “Rather, it’s the opposite.
It’s not that we’ll die eventually, so we might as well die early; rather, it’s that we are destined to be saved in the future, because our cause is bound to be completed in the future, because our deaths will undoubtedly have value, that we can face death head-on with our chests held high!
It’s not despair, but faith—even if this is just a lie, it brings hope, doesn’t it?”
Though it was the Path of Lies…
It was the Principle of Hope.
It was like spreading a false faith in an era filled with chaos and sin. The gods were fake, faith was non-existent, but the hope born from it was real.
Just like entertainment, games, and other pastimes with little meaning… even kind lies like “You’re great,” or “I believe you can do it,” could help people genuinely get through another day of despair.
—Is that true?
—Of course not.
For the Holder of the Origin River of Truth, true is true and false is false. They firmly believed that what was false could not become true, and what was true could not become false.
But for most people, in most situations, it was not the case.
People yearned for the future, they craved hope, and even if… it was just a lie, it was better than facing it alone, with nothing around and nothing but emptiness ahead.
Lies might not be able to fight the Void, because lies themselves could not provide genuine meaning. But after finding meaning, they could help people persevere a little longer, take one more step forward.
One more step, another day, another year.
Relying on one lie after another, they gradually endured those difficult days. When life gradually improved, they would look back… and realize that without that gentle lie of “You’re good” back then, those brief moments of laughter that numbed the soul, those empty promises that convinced them there would be a chance in the future, they might not have persevered.
And if they hadn’t persevered then, everything would have turned into meaningless emptiness.
After the turning point known as “Miracle,” the inevitable consequence was an era of great chaos.
If one were to name the twelfth Origin River, it would undoubtedly be—
The River of Hope.
“It’s like… the Fool on the Tarot Card?” Hassan murmured softly.
Fire ignited in his eyes as he whispered as if in sudden realization.
To this day, Hassan finally understood the meaning of his existence.
What he had done was not a futile cycle of rebellion, but the ultimate sacrifice that could end all suffering.
He was not the only king in the kingdom of fools who had not drunk the water of foolishness, but a pioneer who would offer his life at the opportune moment.
The Fool—
This was the first card in the Tarot.
Sometimes, seemingly reckless and foolish people were, in fact, more likely to forge a career and create miracles. When the adventure began, and the sun rose, the future held infinite possibilities.
Hassan was undoubtedly the Fool.
Alone, estranged from his home, he was willing to accept a dangerous deal from a villain and travel to a mysterious and unknown Mage Tower, all for a tiny chance.
When the time was right and peace returned, he did not choose to stay in Narcissus, where he was bound to forge a great career, to compete for the noble position of Mage Tower Master… Instead, to change his homeland, Anxi, he took the Fire Fragment and returned to Anxi, fighting for a slim possibility.
Destroying the slave rule of the Lord, annihilating the corrupt old Anxi—before he actually did these things, he himself dared not believe he could go this far.
—But he did it.
Did he think he was sure to win?
And similarly…
Hassan looked at Haina and the Grey Heavenly Envoy.
He did not know what experiences they had, but that carefree yet firm gaze could not be faked.
—They must be similar people.
Discarding their existing happiness to pursue a great cause that was almost impossible to achieve…
“This is indeed the Fool,” Hassan said with a self-deprecating smile, looking at the Grey Heavenly Envoy with a determined gaze, “Tell us what to do.”
“I am also ready,” Haina said firmly.
“It seems you two have understood,” the Grey Heavenly Envoy smiled. “Then add me to your ranks.
I’m not very good at rituals of this scale… After all, only a wisp of my soul remains. Besides extraordinary beings with strong perceptions like you, normally only Hassan should be able to see me.
—However, I have a friend who can help.”
As the Grey Heavenly Envoy’s words fell, Morgan moved aside, allowing a spirit to manifest from the light.
It was the “Angel Eivass” that Eivass had just met in Rock Cell City!
A slender humanoid figure, as if forged from countless crushed stars, an angel exuding sacred radiance.
It had no skin, but was condensed from a ball of light. It looked like a block of ice shimmering with milky radiance.
It seemed both male and female. Majestic and solemn like an ancient sage, yet pure and curled like a newborn infant.
Before the sacred spirit, lines of light intertwined, weaving out of thin air a handsome blonde youth wearing a white suit and monocle.
Upon seeing him, Haina froze for a moment, her eyes suddenly widening.
The blonde youth pushed up his monocle slightly, revealing a gentle smile.
“Hello everyone, allow me to introduce myself. I am Jacob, Jacob Alexander. I am a Disciple of the Ring Heavenly Envoy, and Eivass’s grandfather.”
He looked at Haina and smiled gently, “Long time no see, little Haina. Ever since you went off to school, I haven’t had a chance to tell you stories anymore. I missed that chance outside Rock Cell City before, which was quite a pity.”
“Grandpa Jacob?!” Haina blurted out.
“That’s right,” Jacob nodded. “It’s me.
—I’ll be handling your ritual.”
