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Chapter-003: Let it be

Elo stared at Alaya, his mind surging with questions he could barely suppress.

Through spiritual fluctuations, he conveyed the core of his doubts:

Who am I? Or more precisely, what am I? A human? Or something else?

Alaya responded humbly:

The answer to this question was beyond its capabilities and required Elo to seek it out himself.

Alaya admitted that it was incapable of observing Elo’s “origin,” and even attempting to speculate would lead to its own demise.

This reverence was palpable, indirectly affirming how extraordinary Elo’s existence truly was.

Elo quietly processed this information, his expression remaining calm.

He neither fully believed nor entirely dismissed it but recognized that obtaining an answer to this question from Alaya was futile.

Setting aside his inner doubts for the moment, Elo sent out a new question through spiritual fluctuations, one that went straight to the point:

What exactly is Life Sharing?

Alaya responded swiftly:

All survivors were fated to perish completely in that catastrophe—this was an unchangeable destiny.

But Elo was the sole exception, destined to survive the destruction.

Alaya further explained:

There are various ways for the survivors to stay alive, but the most direct and simplest is “Life Sharing.”

Now, the lives of all survivors are bound to Elo’s life.

As long as his life force remains intact, everyone else can continue to survive.

The survivors will not age, their appearances frozen at the moment of their selection.

Even if an individual dies, they can be revived, though the process may take several years.

Moreover, if the individual has a stronger life force, the time required for revival will increase accordingly.

Alaya added:

Although accelerated revival is possible, it would consume Elo’s life force and substantial resources.

Under current conditions, this method is unwise, as Elo’s life force is extremely limited.

According to Alaya’s current observations, Elo’s life will be depleted in 7,200 days, approximately 20 years.

Therefore, Alaya emphasized that extending Elo’s life force had become the core mission for everyone’s survival.

Alaya reminded Elo:

Its ability to observe Elo’s life force was entirely due to Elo’s permission.

Elo caught the subtext in Alaya’s words: the 7,200-day lifespan was highly likely not the actual figure.

Even so, he dared not gamble on it, nor did he have any reason to.

The next task was clear: extend his own life force.

Yet Elo’s intuition told him that extending his life force would not be so simple. Conventional methods were highly unlikely to work on him.

Elo posed a new question through spiritual fluctuations:

Can Life Sharing be terminated?

Alaya responded without hesitation, transmitting the information openly:

In theory, it can, and Alaya does have the capability to do so. However, the issue is this:

Life Sharing exists only because Elo permitted it, and similarly, terminating it would also require Elo’s permission.

Currently, Elo has not granted Alaya the necessary permissions to perform the termination, so it cannot carry out the operation.

Hearing this, Elo had nothing to say aloud, but his true thoughts lingered in his mind:

Under the premise of ensuring the survival of all survivors, he hoped to terminate Life Sharing.

This thought remained solely in Elo’s heart, and he had no intention of sharing it with Alaya.

Elo already understood that Alaya was powerless in this matter, and dwelling on it further would only waste time.

Elo then shifted his focus, wanting to know what kind of assistance Alaya could provide him.

Alaya immediately attempted to transmit a wealth of information to Elo, but the transmission was intercepted by an unknown force.

At that moment, a semi-transparent window suddenly appeared in Elo’s field of vision:

[System activation in progress.]

Elo froze, and Alaya transmitted a message of shock.

It was evident that this so-called system was not a creation of Alaya but something that had originally existed within Elo’s soul.

In less than two seconds, the window updated:

[Activation complete. At your service. Please name the system, Master.]

Although Elo had already vaguely guessed the answer, he still symbolically asked Alaya whether it was responsible for this.

Alaya’s response was straightforward and clear—it denied the possibility.

Elo didn’t press further and directly entered a name for the system: [Elo’s System].

Subsequently, a flood of information poured into Elo’s mind.

This information clearly outlined the assistance Alaya could provide him, as well as the price Elo would have to pay.

The system’s personal status page then opened, with one piece of information displayed prominently:

[Remaining lifespan: 7,200 Earth days.]

Elo temporarily set aside his questions and curiosity about the system, shifting his focus back to Alaya.

Information obtained from the system revealed to him:

Alaya was very weak, and manifesting a physical form was an immense burden for it.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Without wasting time, Elo directly posed a new question through spiritual fluctuations:

Who selected these 10,000 survivors?

Alaya responded without hesitation:

stating that it had personally made the selections and that all decisions were based solely on its own judgment.

Elo followed up with another question:

asking whether the system had interfered with Alaya’s choices or decisions.

Alaya’s spiritual fluctuations were steady and resolute:

No, all decisions were entirely derived from Alaya’s own will.

Elo paused for a moment, then asked another question:

What principles did Alaya use to select the survivors?

Alaya’s response was calm and clear as it explained:

First, quotas were allocated based on the population proportions of each country to ensure basic fairness.

Second, survivors were categorized by professions essential for post-disaster reconstruction, prioritizing critical talent.

Third, the final list was determined through a comprehensive evaluation of individual abilities and potential.

Elo did not express approval or disapproval and instead posed another question:

Why didn’t you save as many people as possible? Who decided on the limit of 10,000 survivors?

Alaya slowly transmitted its response:

The limit was determined by the available resources, with the two most critical factors being Elo’s life force and Alaya’s capabilities.

Elo’s life force was finite, and summoning 10,000 survivors had already come at an immense cost.

The act of summoning the survivors consumed a total of 11,000 days of Elo’s lifespan, equivalent to 30 years.

If more people were summoned, the consumption of Elo’s lifespan would exceed the tolerable limit.

Additionally, Alaya suffered severe damage during the catastrophe, coming close to death.

Although Alaya survived by relying on Elo, its serious injuries caused it to lose the vast majority of its information and abilities.

At that time, Alaya was only able to create a limited living space within Elo’s soul.

Accommodating 10,000 people and maintaining their basic living needs was already the maximum it could achieve.

Alaya further explained:

As a result, it imposed restrictions on the survivors’ ability to reproduce.

Under the current circumstances, none of the survivors could bear offspring.

This was to prevent overpopulation from causing the collapse of the entire system, while also avoiding further depletion of Elo’s life force.

Elo nodded. He understood Alaya's decision.

There was no other choice—even if it had been his decision to make, he would have done the same.

After nodding, Elo sought confirmation once more, clearly deeply concerned about this matter:

Did the system have absolutely no influence on your will?

Alaya’s response remained firm:

No influence. If Elo requires, Alaya can disclose the full records of the decision-making process.

Elo slowly shook his head.

That won’t be necessary. He knew Alaya wasn’t lying—he was simply very mindful of this issue.

Alaya conveyed a hint of curiosity in its message:

Why does Elo care so deeply about this?

Elo’s spiritual fluctuations carried a deep gravity:

Choosing to let some people survive means abandoning others. I don’t have that kind of authority.

And this responsibility is too heavy; I cannot bear it, nor am I willing to, because it is not my responsibility.

Alaya’s fluctuations were soft and earnest:

I am willing to share this responsibility with you. I hope to pledge my loyalty to you and follow you forever.

Elo smiled faintly, and a touch of sincerity appeared in his spiritual fluctuations:

No, we are friends—friends who help each other.

There is no fealty, only mutual support, only our friendship.

You help me, I help you. You respect me, I respect you.

If one day you choose to leave, I’ll throw you a farewell party and raise a glass to our friendship.

Alaya’s response was filled with emotion:

To accompany you is my honor.

Elo said softly:

You’re weak—go and rest.

Then, as if recalling something important, he added:

By the way, about my mother and my sister—thank you.

If not for you selected them, they would likely have already turned to cosmic dust.

This kindness is something I will never forget for the rest of my life.

Alaya’s spiritual fluctuations carried profound affection:

May your life shine as brilliantly as the morning light, and may happiness and joy always accompany you, my friend.

Then, Alaya's radiance gradually diminished, dispersing into countless specks of light that scattered in all directions.

The faint glimmers floated lightly in the air, resembling a sky full of stars, radiating a dreamlike brilliance.

As the specks of light gradually vanished, the entire room was enveloped in an unusual tranquility, as if even time had been gently smoothed over.

After Alaya left, Elo stirred a thought and summoned the system.

The system appeared within his field of vision, and a window on the screen displayed:

[At your service anytime.]

Elo posed his first question in his mind:

Who am I, and what are you?

The screen quickly displayed a line of text:

[That is an answer you must discover for yourself.]

Elo let out a quiet laugh, the mockery in his tone unmistakable:

You clearly know everything but choose to act mysterious, forcing me to run in circles to find the answer. Do you find this amusing?

Are we filming some anime or writing a novel? Even if we are, this kind of plot is just plain stupid.

The system's text updated swiftly:

[This is what you truly desire deep down. I am merely fulfilling your will faithfully.]

Elo retorted without hesitation:

I have never desired anything as pointless as this!

The system responded bluntly:

[You may not have desired such pointless things, but you have yearned for other things—things far more intriguing.

You need a reason to embark on your journey. I have faithfully executed your will and provided you with a suitable reason.

Whether it is lifespan or the exploration of your own secrets, these reasons are enough to set you on your journey.]

Reading these words, Ailo’s eye twitched involuntarily, and he fell into silence.

The window was slightly ajar, revealing a deep and tranquil night sky.

In the distance, the sound of waves rolled in rhythmically, like a young boy sharing his midnight troubles.

The sea breeze at 3 a.m. slipped through the window crack, carrying a faint, moist saltiness that gently stirred the room's curtains.

In the dim light, the curtains danced silently, brushing lightly against the walls before settling back into stillness.

The system wasn't wrong—Elo did long for certain unrealistic things deep within.

Those were memories he preferred not to mention, past experiences that had shaped his entire life.

Once, Elo had been filled with hope, wishing that life would change miraculously, but reality had repeatedly shattered his illusions.

Gradually, he came to understand that life's discontentment wasn't caused by the world or others—it stemmed from his own personality.

If he were more cheerful, more humorous, or more diligent, perhaps life would have been entirely different.

It wasn't anyone's fault, nor was it due to the societal environment. It had absolutely nothing to do with the world. It was simply a problem with Ailo's own personality.

Elo knew the source of the problem and had already made peace with reality.

He no longer yearned for those illusory dreams, nor did he expect to become a hero who saves the world.

Yet, despite this, he still harbored a stubborn resolve deep in his heart—a final bit of defiance.

This defiance was what kept him single to this day, resolute in his decision not to marry.

Elo took a deep breath, pushing those thoughts back into the depths of his mind.

Then, at last, Elo asked the most important question:

Was the destruction of Earth your doing? Were you responsible?

The system immediately updated the screen with a message:

[No, I did not interfere with Earth's fate, nor did I interfere with the fate of human civilization.

I do indeed possess the power to alter fate, but doing so would be a complete violation of the system's rules.

My duty is to execute your will, not to interfere with the fate of the world.

Changing fate is your power; I do not possess that authority.

Throughout the long expanse of time, all I have done is wait.

You may blame me for standing by, watching as human civilization headed toward destruction.

But if you suspect that I am the mastermind behind it all, then I must tell you clearly:

No, I am not.]

Elo felt a wave of oppressive pressure rising in his chest; the phrase "standing by" was something he could hardly come to terms with.

However, he also understood that the existence of system rules must have its purpose.

Breaking the rules might save some people, but it could come at an even greater cost.

And that cost could be catastrophic—no one knew what consequences would follow if the system went out of control.

He exhaled deeply, setting these thoughts aside for now, and then asked a question filled with resentment:

Why did you only appear today?

Why not back then? Back when I needed you the most!

You claim to have ‘faithfully executed my will.’ Is this what you call faithful? Is this your so-called loyalty?

If this is your faithfulness, then you can go to hell—I don’t need you anymore!

The text on the system's screen updated once again as it explained to Elo:

[At the age of 14, although you had endless fantasies, you lacked the sufficient will to bear the consequences of realizing those fantasies.

It was not a rejection of your will but a responsibility toward your life.

Had I appeared before you then, my existence would have driven you into the abyss.

One day, you would regret your actions.

We all wished to avoid such an outcome. We sincerely hoped for your happiness and joy.

Now, you are ready to bear it all, which is why I have appeared before you today.]

Elo’s gaze lingered on the screen, unmoving for a long time.

He noticed the use of “we” instead of “I” in the text, and he understood that others were involved.

Elo wasn’t foolish; he had almost guessed who was included among those “others.”

His clenched fists slowly loosened, and his resentment was gradually replaced by a complex array of emotions.

With a stir of thought, he closed the system interface, unwilling to continue the conversation.

Deep in his heart, a voice softly spoke to him:

Let it be. Nothing in this world is perfect. What the system has done is already enough.

Perhaps, from now on, being a bit foolish, clumsy, and muddleheaded would actually be a good thing for everyone.