Chapter 501. Change

March 3, Year 807

I came down from the surface. Or rather, I am aboard an airship and descending from the surface.

The Light God, who almost annihilated humanity in the Subterranean Sea, had died on the surface. Only a more formidable being would be capable of such a feat.

I had pondered what sort of entity it could be. Could it be a more powerful Divinity? Or something totally different?

But at that moment, I gained clarity. What does any of that have to do with me? The surface is not the surface, at least, not the one I know of.

Regardless if the current surface world is the aftermath of a calamity or an entirely different world, it has nothing to do with me. I am no longer concerned over who had killed the Light God.

After years of persistence, I've arrived at the answer that wasn't what I had expected. Now, I keep wondering why I was so obsessed in the past.

When I finally decided to let go of my goal and purpose that pushed me along for the past fourteen years, I found my heart more at peace than I could have imagined. Perhaps, the missing 30% of my memories played a crucial role and diminished my lingering attachment to the surface world.

Even without me, my family still lives on as a unit of three. We weren't wealthy, but neither were we poor. They can still live well in that world even if I don't return.

Yet, I cannot dismiss all my past actions as mistakes. If not for these experiences, I wouldn't have met many who became family, people worth dying and living for.

On Hope Island, I have my love, my child, and my family. Now, they're in trouble, and I've changed my goal. I no longer long for the surface world. They are my lingering attachments. I must find a way to cure their insanity.

I know that it will be hard. Many in the Subterranean Sea had perished as well, but I refuse to outright give up. It was my fault that they became, so I have to fix them.

And there's also my gunner, Lily. She has been resurrected by the Light God, but she remains trapped in a mouse's body. I must also find a way to restore her to her human form. These are the tasks ahead of me.

Once I have settled these two challenges, perhaps I can finally rest. And I mean, a proper,

true

rest. When that time comes, I can live a tranquil life on Hope Island with Anna and Sparkle.

My mental and emotional condition has changed after many years of wandering. I will struggle to adapt to a mundane, normal life, but that's okay. For my family, I'm willing to learn.

After penning the last line, Charles lifted his pen from the diary page and closed it. Then, he capped the pen and tucked it away into his inner coat pocket.

After snapping the diary shut, Charles glanced toward Anna, who had her chin propped up in one hand.

Seemingly in a good mood, a soft smile appeared on Anna's face as she asked, "Are you really giving up, hubby?"

"Yeah, it's all over now. I'll never leave the Subterranean Sea," Charles said as he rose from his seat to walk out of the cabin. He had barely taken two steps when ink-black tentacles swiftly reached out from behind him.

They coiled themselves around Charles' waist and flung him upward.

Mid-air, Charles executed a quick flip and landed deftly upside down on the ceiling. With his brows furrowed, he looked down at Anna. "What are you doing? We're on an airship."

A dozen tentacles surged upward and yanked Charles down into Anna's embrace. Excitedly, she showered his face with kisses like a downpour.

"Gao Zhiming, you've finally come around!" she exclaimed.

"Let me go," Charles implored as he wriggled in her grasp. "We'll be back in the Subterranean Sea soon. I need to go check on the situation on the island with 010."

Overwhelmed by excitement, Anna leaned in even closer and extended her tongue to tease his ear.

"How about I bear you another child in celebration?" Anna whispered suggestively.

"Stop playing around. Quickly let go of me," Charles protested.

Anna let out a peal of laughter. "You can't run! Let's spice things up a bit!"

***

Lily opened her eyes in a daze. She slowly uncurled herself from a fluffy ball and sat up from Charles's pillow. The first thing she did upon being fully awake was to leap toward the telescope mounted near the window. Its lens was aimed directly at the dock. The moment Charles returned, she would immediately know about it.

However, her perky little ears drooped upon seeing an empty dock through the telescope's lens.

"Mr. Charles is still not back yet? It has been so long..." Lily muttered to herself. Letting out a sigh, she dragged herself to the washroom. Dabbing her paws on the faucet to moisten them, she then began to wash her fuzzy little face.

Why didn't Mr. Charles bring me with him this time? Ever since that monster sister started being by his side, he started caring less about me. I still miss the old Mr. Charles. Last time, he would do anything to get me what I wanted.

Lily vigorously shook off the water from her face and also the thoughts in her mind. She then slid down the handle onto the floor and headed toward the dining hall.

The chefs had long since figured out Lily's waking time. By the time she arrived in the dining hall, a sumptuous, piping-hot breakfast spread had already been laid out on the floor.

"Thank you," Lily said sweetly to the maid who seemed eager to pet her. Lily then picked up the small white napkin prepared for her and tied it around her neck before indulging in her food.

It was a comforting meal that consisted of soft buttered bread, warm milk with sugar, and a slightly charred fried egg.

Trade was only just beginning to recover, so the prices of agricultural products were sky-high; they were beyond what typical commoners could afford.

Just as Lily bit down into a strip of meat, a thought entered her mind. She turned to the maid beside her and asked, "Are the animals that produce these things okay? Did the sunlight harm them?"

The maid with a neat ponytail quickly averted her gaze from Lily's shiny gold fur and answered, "They are not the least bit harmed. In fact, the cows, sheep, and chickens seem even more lively under the sun. Even the fish and mushrooms are thriving better."

Lily let out a sigh of relief at the answer. "That's good to hear. It would be a problem if we couldn't have these delicious things anymore," she remarked as a smile spread across her face.

Just as she was about to bite into the meat, another thought struck her. Her ears drooped down as sorrow gleaned her features.

The sight of the distressed little mouse broke the maid's heart, and her eyes swiftly darted around to make sure that the strict head maid wasn't watching. Then, she crouched down and gently stroked Lily's soft fur. With a pained voice, she asked, "Lil' Lily, what's wrong? Why are you unhappy?"

"At the thought that so many people died... it makes me very sad. I've died once, and it didn't feel good at all..."

Just as the maid pondered over how she was supposed to comfort the adorable little mouse, Sparkle suddenly manifested before them with a bright light.

The three of them exchanged gazes with each other for a few seconds before Sparkle broke the silence.

Looking at Lily, Sparkle said, "The light on you is really beautiful. I really like it."

Then, Sparkle swept up the hearty breakfast on the ground and vanished from sight.