Chapter 65: The Answer
[Yes, your destiny has been sealed.]
"What if I just don't give that bottle of medicine to Shoko Nishimiya?" Haruka sneered.
[Futile.]
The next second.
Countless images flashed across the simulation interface.
There were scenes where he didn't break the vial...
Scenes where he regretted it...
Scenes where he successfully broke it, only to recreate it later in life...
So many different scenes.
But the final outcome was always the same: bringing salvation to Shoko Nishimiya.
"Then doesn't that make me your puppet?"
[This was a choice made by the Host's own self. The Simulator follows the Host's will completely.]
"Is the 'me' in the simulation also my true self?!"
[Yes. That is your potential. A very likely version of you.]
"..."
"..."
Haruka fell silent.
The Simulator's answer... caught him completely off guard.
"Then, will Shoko Nishimiya really fall in love with me? Even if I do nothing?"
The Simulator didn't respond.
Clearly, it refused to answer that question.
Haruka's brain fell into chaos. Just one simulation, and he had gambled away his entire future?
What kind of scam was this?!
What should I do?
Can I give up the Simulator now?
'Calm down. Calm down.'
He reached down and pinched his waist hard.
Pain was the golden rule for clearing the mind.
'Wait!'
'I remember!'
'It mentioned something earlier—"Unless another Anchored Timeline is embedded"!'
"Does Fate Anchoring require a Perfect rating?"
[Yes.]
Then what if multiple Perfect ratings appear?
They would all be embedded into the timeline.
'In this anchor, I walked the path of redemption with Shoko. But next time, maybe I'll end up with someone else. Wouldn't my fate be different then?'
'Fate would be interfered with.'
'Break fate!'
Haruka's brain connected the dots in an instant.
He subconsciously clenched his fists.
But...
Would the Simulator not know this?
Multiple Perfect ratings.
The Simulator was designed this way from the start.
So, could the anchor really be broken?
"..."
Haruka's mind was a tangled mess.
[Fate Anchoring is unstoppable.]
This sentence appeared on the Simulator interface.
Haruka's expression returned to normal. "Next question. I don't want the simulation memories from this run. Wait, no, there wasn't a memory reward this time. But for future simulations, I don't want them either. I'm worried that absorbing them will turn me into a different person. Can you fix this?"
[No.]
Then, the Simulator fell silent for a moment.
[At the Host's request, simulation memories have been processed. They will be projected into your brain in a manner similar to a movie. You will receive minor influence, but personality alteration will not occur.]
Upon hearing this, Haruka, who had been tense all this time, finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Actually, starting from the third simulation, his biggest fear was having too many memories stuffed into his head.
If too many memories were forced in, he was afraid he would become like the version of himself in this simulation—tortured beyond endurance, mentally twisted, and denying his own past.
If forced memories changed his thoughts against his will, how was that any different from dying?
This way was fine.
Minor influence, no personality alteration.
Good.
He didn't need to give up the Simulator.
"Simulator, if I choose not to interact with Shoko Nishimiya from now on, what will happen?"
"Shoko Nishimiya's situation is obvious. She needs someone to help her, and for a long time. Otherwise, she'll probably run into a lot of problems."
The Simulator didn't answer.
Haruka felt uncomfortable. He didn't know how to treat Shoko Nishimiya moving forward.
He personally had no romantic thoughts about Shoko; at most, he felt some pity.
Asking him to act like he did in the simulation was impossible!
'What a headache...'
Haruka decided to put this question aside for now.
He looked at the next reward.
[Medicine (Perfect Simulation Level)]
"What does this mean?"
[Your peak medical ability at the time of death in this simulation.]
Haruka smiled.
Here it comes.
A true cheat has arrived!
Leaving aside his mindset, the "him" in this Perfect Simulation was insanely capable.
Turning the impossible into the possible.
The term "genius" wasn't enough to describe him.
Even on the international stage, Haruka at that time would have been an absolute leader in the field!
Of course, it was impossible to master all of medicine to the peak.
After all, learning is endless. Medicine and its various disciplines are vast and constantly changing, sometimes even being falsified. So, this likely referred to specific aspects of medicine.
With this, his path to becoming an elite was effectively paved in reality.
Maybe he wouldn't become one of the top dogs immediately, but the future was definitely promising!
This was the best news of the day.
Of course, this might be the price of using the Simulator...
The thought crossed Haruka's mind inexplicably.
But agonizing over this now was meaningless. He couldn't give up the Simulator.
He needed the Simulator to break fate. He needed the Simulator to reach the peak. Moreover, he had tasted the convenience it brought.
Easy knowledge infusion making him a top student.
Massive business experience.
Unrivaled medical technology.
A powerful body.
And other benefits...
So, even if the Simulator might be playing him.
Could he let it go? Or rather, put anyone in his shoes—could they let it go?
The fire of desire burning in Haruka's heart had already given him the answer. (That's why [Serene Mirror, Still Water] wasn't given as a reward.)
Subsequently, Haruka looked at the next reward.
This reward was the key item from the simulation: Auditory Nerve Regeneration Fluid.
Technology beyond the era.
Upon use, any level of ear damage, even congenital genetic defects, could be cured.
A true miracle item.
Unfortunately, it was limited to the ears. Otherwise, this might have been the biggest personal gain from this simulation.
As for who this cure belonged to...
Haruka's eyes flashed with conflict. But remembering what he said before checking the rewards...
'Yeah. Karma and all that bullshit. It's only right. This counts as having a conscience. Some things do need to change a little, as long as it's reasonable,' Haruka thought.
And so, the ownership of this miracle drug was decided.
'When the time is right, I'll give it to Shoko Nishimiya.' Haruka thought silently.
With complicated feelings, Haruka looked at the second to last reward.
[Physical Enhancement]
An old friend. Although unassuming, it appeared every time, and it was very practical.
Its help was undeniable.
If you don't have a body strong enough to support your ambitions, you'll probably fail at everything.
Like dying of sudden cardiac arrest...
So, this reward wasn't a loss. It was a safety net.
Finally, Haruka looked at the last reward of this simulation.
Another item with a cryptic name.
[Crystal of Dreams]
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So... Hand over all of your POWER STONES!!!
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