Chapter 241
by post_apiChapter 241: The Blissful Memory
Everything feels so familiar.
A gentle breeze, brilliant sunlight, and the earthy scent filled Scarlet Moon’s mind, surrounding her endlessly. The light piercing through the dawn compelled the girl to squint her eyes.
It was a scene identical to the hometown she remembered, untouched, unchanged. Yet deep down, Scarlet Moon was certain—this was no real world, only an illusion created by her mind.
The beauty before her eyes had long been destroyed by the crimson stone. She was irrevocably bound to it, inseparable even in death.
The past was irretrievable.
What was lost could never return.
She shook her head softly, turning to leave.
“Scarlet.”
A voice stopped her.
It was her mother’s voice.
Scarlet Moon froze, confusion welling up. Why, despite knowing the falsehood of this world, did she feel an unshakable urge rising within her?
“Ah…” she replied softly, turning to see her mother.
Under the sunlight, her mother’s warm smile radiated a familiar tenderness.
And then Scarlet Moon realized something shocking—her own body had changed.
Her form had reverted to that of a child, stripped of her proud and domineering dark aura. She was clothed in the simple, rustic garments of a country girl.
But to Scarlet Moon, this contrast meant little.
She followed her mother home, passing villagers along the way. At their house, her father appeared, returning from his daily tasks.
Scarlet Moon said nothing. The villagers remained oblivious to the illusion surrounding them, living their lives as though it were all real.
Her mother’s voice interrupted her thoughts.
“Are you hungry? Here, have an egg. The hens laid two eggs today—just enough for you and your father to share.”
Scarlet Moon stared at the warm egg in her mother’s hand, recognizing its value to their humble household. She shook her head calmly.
“You and Father eat. I’m not hungry.”
She stepped outside, gazing at the village and its people, lost in deep thought.
“This world is false,” she whispered.
Yet she could not bring herself to leave.
Day after day, Scarlet Moon lived in the illusion, initially seeking escape but soon realizing the futility of her efforts.
If she could not leave, she thought, why not savor these fleeting memories?
Time passed—days turned into months, months into years. Scarlet Moon slowly stopped pondering the real world, cherishing the illusion’s quiet joys.
Until the fateful day arrived.
The day her parents discovered the crimson stone outside the village.
This day had haunted Scarlet Moon for centuries.
Following her parents as they foraged for wild fruits, Scarlet Moon knew what was coming. She waited silently for the stone’s appearance.
And then she saw it—the crimson stone.
It hovered like a molten fragment of fresh blood, glowing ominously, its radiant allure impossible to resist. Her parents stood captivated, hands reaching out instinctively.
Scarlet Moon acted swiftly, seizing their hands.
“No,” she whispered.
For the first time, she changed the course of fate.
She chose to remain ordinary, embracing the happiness she found in simplicity.
Scarlet Moon awoke.
The dream dissolved, and she returned to Noah’s world.
She was back in her lavish yet lonely room in Tatsumi City. Or perhaps not so lonely—Lan Lan lay sprawled on the bed, softly snoring, its little paws twitching occasionally.
Sitting on the bed, Scarlet Moon wrestled with her emotions. The illusion had felt so real, forcing her to confront many truths.
Despite everything, she silently thanked the “Savior” for granting her that fleeting peace.
But kindness did not erase her animosity.
Scarlet Moon resolved that,
while she would no longer
treat Babel Tower members as
enemies, it was only
temporary. She knew she
remained a slave, bound by
control rather than loyalty.
Once the debt of gratitude was
repaid, her hostility would
resurface.
With a heavy sigh, Scarlet
Moon reflected on her
vulnerability—something she
had denied for years.
“Once, I understood this truth,”
she murmured, “but I lost sight
of it.”
Fate’s transient cruelty
rendered all struggles
insignificant.
Bai Yan lowered his phone,
noting Scarlet Moon’s
improved stats—her mood had
reached 8, and her loyalty had
risen to 5.
While not fully loyal to Babel
Tower, Scarlet Moon was
committed to her role as a
Core Operator. Her newfound
stability would ensure Mu
Ling’s safety.
Musing aloud, Bai Yan said,
“Now, on to the next matter.”
The foundational research
facilities had finally delivered
results.
In the world of Babel Tower,
each discovery brought them
closer to unlocking power. Yet
amidst plans, strategies, and
fleeting alliances, Bai Yan
found himself drawn into
something unexpected—an
invitation to Sylve’s birthday
celebration.
Accepting with a calm smile,
he realized how much time he
had spent in her company.
The fleeting thought crossed
his mind—what would it feel
like to embrace simplicity, even
if just for a while?