RUMBLE RUMBLE...
The carriage vibrated as Wang Xi leaned back against the wooden wall and closed his eyes.
Text poured out from the fissure in his mind:
[Projection Deployed]
[Current World: Fairy Tale]
[Exploration Level: 0.34%]
[Legend Level: 0]
[Do you wish to conclude this journey and retire permanently?]
'Legend Level? Retirement?'
Wang Xi stared at the new terms and prompts, quite surprised. He was also a little confused.
'None of this was here before...'
[Legend Level: The achievements, renown, influence, and legendary status of a projection in the Otherworld. It is only gained by guiding or participating in historical events, or by defeating powerful enemies (Legendary figures or creatures). When your Legend Level reaches a certain threshold, you will be awarded a "Legendary Treasure Chest" of a corresponding tier.]
[Retirement: A permanent transfer. A final score will be calculated based on your Exploration Level and Legend Level, awarding you a "Retirement Treasure Chest" of a corresponding tier. However, you will lose your permission to project. (Retirement is irreversible. Please choose carefully!)]
Wang Xi understood at once.
This "Retirement" was basically like the "End Early" option in some text-based games.
If you missed something during a playthrough or the plot veered away from a good ending, you could choose to "End Early." The game would then fast-forward the plot, simulating events until it presented you with the final outcome.
This simulation would contain plot clues, making it easier to achieve a good ending when you started over.
The difference here, however, was that once he chose Retirement, it was irreversible. He would permanently lose the ability to project again.
'Who retires right after leaving the tutorial area?!'
Wang Xi complained to himself.
Just then, as he focused his attention on the concept of Retirement, the fissure in his mind that represented Kaos opened slightly, bursting forth with a fantastic, seven-colored light.
In that instant—
A series of blurry images flashed before his eyes, one after another.
Wang Xi was suddenly taken aback.
[Retirement Preview: You take Goddalir to the Stag King's Capital, but the caravan is ambushed in the outskirts near the Royal Capital.]
[The guards suffer heavy casualties. You fight with all your might and survive, but you are also grievously wounded. During the chaos, Goddalir takes a fatal sword blow for you and collapses in your arms.]
[To your shock, you discover that Goddalir's eyes have turned gray, like a pair of dim jewels.]
[A passing Minstrel discovers the two of you. He takes Goddalir, promising to do everything he can to save her. He then turns into a whirlwind and vanishes before your eyes.]
[Because you protected the Spinning Wheel Commerce's important cargo, the surviving Steward White gives you a large sum of money. However, your injuries are too severe, leaving you disabled. You are forced to endure constant pain while searching the Royal Capital for a cure to your curse.]
[Months later, you have found nothing. You personally witness Queen Xianna's grand wedding, and you also witness a great fire falling from the sky like a meteor...]
[You die in the fire.]
[In your final moments, a familiar figure appears before you once more. Dressed in a gray gown, Goddalir cradles your body and weeps hysterically.]
[She charges toward the red-gowned girl who created the flames, intending to avenge you. But "Cinderella," having only just grasped Magic Power, is no match for the girl in red. In the end, she is burned to ash alongside you.]
Wang Xi snapped out of the vision of the future.
He was utterly stunned.
He would die in the Royal Capital?!
He would die in a great fire that fell from the sky!
And Goddalir would die trying to avenge him, following him in death!
'There's more to it! This Retirement Preview is like a prophecy, and it's hiding a lot of useful information!'
Wang Xi immediately began to pay close attention.
First, the Spinning Wheel Commerce caravan would be ambushed on the outskirts of the Royal Capital. The enemy had clearly planned this in advance and was powerful.
The guards would suffer heavy casualties, and even he would be unable to fight back effectively. Goddalir would nearly die in the incident, only to be saved by a passing Minstrel.
Second, Goddalir didn't seem to be an ordinary person. When she reappeared months later, she had already mastered Magic Power.
'Cinderella...'
Wang Xi mulled the name over in his mind.
Could she be the "Cinderella" he was familiar with?
After all, this was the Fairy Tale Otherworld.
But none of the signs or details allowed him to connect Goddalir with the familiar fairy-tale character. He couldn't even find any similarities.
Finally, who was the girl in the red gown who created that terrifying fire? Why would she attack during the Queen's wedding? And who was that Minstrel...
All sorts of questions swirled in Wang Xi's mind.
He took a deep breath.
'I refuse to Retire. Kaos, send me back for now.'
...
...
When Wang Xi returned from the Otherworld, it was already past three in the afternoon. The slightly dimming sunlight streamed into the living room, bathing everything in an orange-yellow hue.
"Hooo..."
He opened his eyes and let out a long breath, rubbing his temples as he sat on the sofa.
He had spent two and a half days in the Fairy Tale World as a projection, but only a little over seven hours had passed here in the Main World.
Even so, he felt mentally exhausted.
GROWL...
Just then, a hungry wail echoed from his stomach.
"Well, I guess the first thing to do is order some food."
Wang Xi chuckled and pulled out his phone. Just as he was about to open a food delivery app, he noticed a red exclamation mark in his messenger.
It was an unread message.
He tapped it open. The sender's profile picture was a cartoon of a silly-looking goose, and the contact name was "Xiao Nai."
"Brother Xi, long time no see! I'm back in Valley City. Do you want to meet up tomorrow? (cute smiley face)"
Xiao Nai?
Wang Xi's mind went blank.
But soon, the image of a girl's fair, delicate face surfaced in his mind. A single silver streak ran through her waterfall of black hair. When they were little, Wang Xi had often teased her by calling her "Naya Haze," which always left her feeling hurt and dejected.
A pair of light blue eyes came to mind; they were his most vivid memory of her. They were gentle, yet held a barely perceptible trace of both melancholy and resolve.
And the beauty mark at the corner of her eye.
"Chu Nai..."
Wang Xi murmured.
"She graduated and came back?"
Chu Nai was his honest-to-goodness childhood friend.
Both of their parents had been researchers at the Maze Research Institute, which was how they had known each other since they were children.
Tragically, both sets of parents had died in the same accident.
They became orphans, bonded by their shared tragedy.
Kindergarten, elementary school, middle school...
Chu Nai had always gone to the same schools as him.
But unlike the "dull" Wang Xi, his childhood friend had displayed an extraordinary gift for learning from a young age. Her grades were always top-tier, and she garnered a great deal of attention from the school.
Back then, Wang Xi had copied her homework more than a few times.
This continued until college. At the young age of fifteen, Chu Nai passed through numerous selections and exams and was scouted by East Continent University, which granted her early admission for advanced studies.
She moved thousands of kilometers away, and they lost touch.
For the past four years, there had been only silence between them.
"Okay. Where do you want to meet?"
Wang Xi pulled himself from his reverie and typed a message on his phone.
Almost the very second his message went through, a BEEP announced her reply:
"Took you long enough to reply?"
BEEP. Another vibration.
"Were you with your girlfriend?"
Wang Xi raised an eyebrow.
'An instant reply...'
He glanced at the timestamp on her first message. It was sent a little after one in the afternoon. He'd taken two hours to answer, yet she had replied instantly. That could only mean one thing—
Chu Nai had been waiting by her phone.
After all, in Wang Xi's memory, Chu Nai wasn't one to play on her phone. To her, the device was just a communication tool; she'd much rather spend her free time studying or reading a book.
"I was just taking a nap."
Wang Xi typed, telling a small lie.
BEEP.
Another reply popped up on his phone:
"Oh, okay."
A moment later.
BEEP.
"So, if you come out to meet me, will your girlfriend mind?"
Looking at his phone, Wang Xi couldn't help but smile.
'With his level of experience, how could he not see what she was getting at?'
"It's fine. I just won't tell her."
A playful impulse took over, and Wang Xi typed back his reply.
Then, he switched apps to order some takeout.
He ordered from the same nearby place, "Temperamental Sweetheart," but this time he didn't dare to be so extravagant, opting for a business lunch set that cost around 50 Credit Points.
Two meat dishes, one vegetable dish, and a soup, with a note to add an extra side of rice.
He wasn't sure if it was because of the Randall Body Refining Technique, but Wang Xi felt like his appetite had grown.
After placing his order, he switched back to the messenger app.
But there was still no reply from Chu Nai.
Wang Xi raised an eyebrow.
He thought for a moment, then initiated a video call.
BEEP—
Only a few seconds passed.
With a CLICK, the video connected.
Wang Xi stared at his phone screen, momentarily stunned.
He saw a girl with a full head of silver hair, staring back at him in a daze. Her light blue eyes were as gentle as he remembered, and even the hint of melancholy deep within them hadn't faded.
But right now, the rims of her eyes were red.
Wang Xi realized what had happened.
"Xiao Nai?" he ventured.
The silver-haired girl snapped out of her trance as if waking from a dream.
She let out a small gasp and quickly turned her head away.
"Brother Xi, you... you're still the same as before. You haven't changed a bit."
The girl's voice was soft and gentle, like a white cloud on a clear day.
It was like a mountain spring, clear and serene.
"Is that so?" Wang Xi smiled. "You've changed quite a bit, though. Your hair is completely silver now."
"Mm..."
Chu Nai said softly.
"It's because of the 'Holy Mark'."
"Holy Mark?" Wang Xi was puzzled. "What's that?"
"A Technique Universal Card."
Chu Nai discreetly wiped the corners of her eyes before turning back to face Wang Xi, explaining with a smile.
Wang Xi was surprised.
"Don't tell me you're a Professional Warrior now, are you?"
"I'll tell you tomorrow."
Chu Nai's voice held a trace of slyness as she spoke softly.
Wang Xi didn't press the issue, simply going along with it.
"Alright then, we'll see each other tomorrow."
"Let's meet at our old elementary school. There's an abandoned playground there, remember?"
"Of course I remember," Wang Xi said with a laugh.
"Then it's settled. Ten o'clock tomorrow morning. Don't be late."
"Okay."
The video call ended.
Wang Xi waited a moment, then sent a message:
"Xiao Nai, I was just kidding earlier."
About half a minute passed.
BEEP.
"I know."
Wang Xi paused.
BEEP.
"(feeling wronged)"
"But I'm still a little upset."
Reading her messages, Wang Xi felt that his joke really had been a bit out of line.
"Sorry."
Wang Xi sent the message.
BEEP.
"Bring me breakfast tomorrow, and I'll forgive you."
"Deal."
After Wang Xi sent his final message.
Chu Nai replied with a sticker of the silly goose spinning in place.
"(happy)"