175. The City— Still Too Urbanized
Silence was the theme song of the day.
Everyone looked at each other, then their gazes finally settled on Houraiji Kyuushou, who had returned.
The Tarnished and Kevin stood on either side of Xiling, their eyes filled with a frenzied glint, as if to say:
It's time for you to shine. Isn't this what you're best at?
Xiling wanted to shout that he was innocent. How could he be good at this kind of thing?
Luo Tianyi wanted to step forward and ask Kyuushou what was wrong, but Kyuushou's current state gave off a very heavy feeling.
She could only look at Xiling with hopeful eyes.
A bead of cold sweat trickled down Xiling's forehead. He had already said he wasn't good at this kind of thing.
However, at this moment, everyone's hopeful eyes were focused on him, as if saying, "It's up to you, Hero."
Just as Xiling was about to ask Kyuushou what was wrong in a normal tone...
Kyuushou raised her head to meet the worried gazes of the crowd, a smile appearing on her previously somber face.
"What's wrong, everyone? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Because your state looks like something's happened!" everyone thought simultaneously.
Xiling coughed lightly.
"What happened, Kyuushou?"
"Um, well..." Kyuushou scratched her head, taking a deep breath under everyone's watchful eyes, then abruptly stood up.
"Everyone!"
Her voice was clear and resonant, without hesitation or concealment, echoing clearly in every corner like a pebble thrown into a still lake.
"I! Want to change this city!"
Her words stunned everyone!
The believers' faces were filled with astonishment and disbelief, staring blankly at the girl who had uttered such a startling statement—change The City? This thought, like a fool's dream, was a forbidden taboo that had never dared to sprout in the depths of their hearts!
Kyuushou continued:
"This shouldn't be happening, everyone! This world shouldn't be like this!" Her voice was filled with suppressed anger and pain.
"What right do they have?! What right do they have to treat human life like dirt! What right do they have to so easily and so cruelly plunder others' lives, dignity, and hope!"
Her gaze swept over familiar faces, as if trying to pierce through the cafeteria's roof and look directly into the core of that twisted city.
"Why? Why is this world like this?! Filled with coldness, violence, and despair! I don't agree! I absolutely don't agree!" Every word was like a spark erupting from the depths of her soul, carrying a scorching heat.
"I will—change all of this!"
"I know…I know this city is terminally ill! Its decay runs deep, its darkness is deeply rooted!" She clenched her fists, her knuckles turning slightly white from the force.
"But so what?!"
"Even if it means completely overthrowing this twisted, stagnant order! Even if the road ahead is an abyss! I will personally, bit by bit, completely change this terminally ill world!"
The resounding declaration echoed in the air, its resonance lingering long afterward.
The cafeteria fell into an even deeper, suffocating silence. Time seemed to stand still.
The believers exchanged bewildered glances, shock churning in their eyes like a turbulent current hidden beneath a calm sea. Change the world? For those struggling at the bottom of The City ladder, this was a luxury, a possibility they had never even imagined.
And in that breathtaking silence—
Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!
Eight crisp, powerful, and rhythmic claps, like torches lit in the darkness, suddenly rang out!
The chat group members—Tarnished, Kevin, Elaina, Dan Heng, Luo Tianyi, Xiling, Lemuen, and Kiana—smiled and offered their unwavering support to Kyuushou!
"Ha!" Xiling was the first to laugh, his earlier tension vanishing, replaced by pure satisfaction and teasing.
"If you have an idea, go for it! If you have a suggestion, just say it! How could we not support you?"
"To be honest, you said what I wanted to say," Kevin said with a smile.
"The same goes for me," Tarnished raised his hand.
"This messed-up world deserves a good dose of 'friendship-breaking punch'!"
Kevin glanced at him:
"That's why I told you to watch less anime!"
"Mind your own business!"
"Kyuushou! I support you too!" Luo Tianyi jumped up excitedly, raising her hands high, her face flushed with excitement.
"But where should we begin?" Elaina asked.
"The city's distortion has penetrated to its very core; changing it will be extremely difficult," Dan Heng stated his opinion.
Lemuen, who was listening to the believers' prayers in the church, nodded affirmatively.
"Indeed."
The City has developed extremely serious health problems; these aren't things that can be cured overnight.
Even if you want to start everything afresh, you must first understand where you want to begin your deduction and where you want to start over.
This isn't something that can be decided on a whim.
They want to change the entire city, not just defeat anyone.
Or perhaps, the one they were meant to defeat was the very entity called The City.
A powerful being, visible yet invisible.
Silence fell once more.
But then, Xiling smiled and extended his hand.
"I do have a plan, but I don't know if it'll work."
The group began discussing it in the dining hall.
They gathered around, watching Xiling.
Xiling explained.
"A plan called the Seed of Light."
"A group of idealists gathered together, like us, trying to save this sick world."
"They wanted to plant a seed in everyone's heart, waiting for it to sprout and grow into a tree."
"But...they failed."
"Their wings were broken, but...they left behind a possibility."
A slow smile appeared on Xiling's lips.
"A possibility that might allow us to achieve our goal."
The Seed of Light.
The creation of everything powered by the energy generated at Lobotomy Corporation headquarters is intended to break down the self-imposed isolation of city dwellers, allowing everyone to confront themselves and thereby change the city's ecosystem. Their idea was good.
But it wouldn't save The City, because it merely offered a choice.
Not only would it take too long, but the damage would be unimaginable.
So, Xiling decided to modify the original plan, perhaps by fertilizing the seed and subtly guiding it in the direction he wanted.
He didn't intend to tell the chat group members about these things. Seeing the joyful smiles on their faces as they realized they had a goal to start, Xiling laughed with them.
He told them the original plan, but… slightly modified the outcome, providing them with a direction.
And in the end…
He would enter the Seed of Light, scattering its light throughout The City while replacing a cybernetic ghost and someone else, and performing the seed catalysis they couldn't do.
Of course, he didn't intend to die.
After all, how could a hero die before saving the world?
He just wanted to dream.
He accompanies the entire city into a dream, until the seeds are sown, blossom, and bear fruit—that is when The City awakens from its dream.
But before that, they have much to do.
The City—it's still too urbanized.