Volume 4 - CH 69.4

As Mu Jiashi announces another information organising session, the viewers in the stream have followed suit, asking Xü Beijin, who has been quieter than usual in this Nightmare, to analyse the Nightmare for them.

Mu Jiashi might be clever in their eyes, but obviously, their favourite is still Xü Beijin, their very own streaming host.

Xü Beijin isn’t really good at saying ‘no’──Lin Qin’s invitations to brawl notwithstanding.

So while still nominally listening to Mu Jiashi, he says, “one thing in this Nightmare has been bugging me the entire time, actually – who is the owner of this Nightmare?”

“oh right, the owner of the nightmare is still unknown”

“more notable npcs so far include: the man in the fog, the dead person, the killer, black robe guy, and thats it I think?”

“the missiontakers might want to add Beibei to that list”

“(whispers) but Beibei never lets people into the nightmare he owns right?”

“… kuhum, anyway, that’s the four of them!”

Xü Beijin, amused, smiles and says, “so which one of the four do you think is it?”

“got it Beibei, we’ll investigate!”

“imma prove ma IQ!”

“time for me to show off my brain skillz!”

“one vote for the man in the fog, because like he’s the character based on that someone from real life right? makes sense to be frightened”

Xü Beijin was watching the discussion unfold quietly the whole time, but now that someone’s asked, he responses, “what I said was all that you needed to know.”

He read the novel before, back in the Tower, true. When Lin Qin was picking his novel, he was picking from the shelf which Xü Beijin has went through already, which was why he allowed Lin Qin to pick as he likes.

It was really long ago when he read the book, though, so he actually couldn’t remember much of it by now. In fact, the description of the contents of that book was provided verbatim by the Server.

So that means, according to the Server, only those information was required to resolve this Nightmare.

The viewers are shocked to hear the answer, and shortly after, the comment barrage starts up with an entire screen of “Beibei! help us with the analysis!”

Xü Beijin rubs his nose, feeling slightly bashful.

He slowly lays out his thoughts, “I’ve had many guesses myself, and considered all the people you mentioned just now, but they all seem to fall short of actually embodying the image of this Nightmare owner we know so far.

So in the end, I recalled another clue – the fact that both runs of the Nightmare, death does not cause the Nightmare to start over.”

He pauses appropriately, allowing time for the viewers to react.

Then he continues speaking, without paying much attention to the comments, “why would it be the case that the complete loss of memory, rather than life, would become the condition for the Nightmare to restart?”

At the same time, Mu Jiashi is also talking about this exact question over at the other side of the ruins.

He also has his arm holding the book raised in the air.

So both the Missiontakers and the audience of the stream figure it out almost simultaneously, yelling and typing, “the Nightmare is the book?!”

Xü Beijin corrects them, “more accurately, the Nightmare is based on the plot of this book.”

The viewers then ask him, “so the fog?”

Xü Beijin has his own explanation, “the fog surrounding the area may actually be what demarcates the extent of the locations and scenes in the plot. So when the Missiontakers figure out the fact that this is a novel and it exists in this Nightmare, the fog naturally disappears.

“oh i got it! a dimensional upgrade!”

“they turned from 2d chars into 3d char models!”

Xü Beijin “…”

Uh… figuratively, yes?

Not sure how to respond to that, he just says, “well, you’re right, I guess.”

He pauses to watch with a smile as the viewers cheer.

Then he continues his explanation, “so basically, as this Nightmare is based upon this novel, it can explain why the condition for restart is based on memories, because that must be how the novel’s setting was; the Nightmare has arranged for the novel’s setting to become the fundamental rule in this Nightmare.”

The viewers confidently type, “I see!”

Xü Beijin nods, then falls into thought for a moment and adds, “although I’m still not sure about one thing… assuming this Nightmare is based on this novel, then who would the owner of the Nightmare even be?”

The audience “…”

“i dont see anymore!”

“so… so what if I don’t get it! not even Beibei knows!”

“nor do the dum-dum missiontakers it seems”

“you, why are you even comparing with the missiontakers! we even have gods eye view here [pain emoji]”

Xü Beijin is trying hard to hold his laughter in, covering his mouth with his hand quietly so that the viewers don’t notice.

Yes, he is a good streamer. He would take care of the viewers’ fragile little pride.

Then, his attention turns back onto the Missiontakers in the screen of the stream, who have already reached the southwest corner of the ruins.

The man would walk directly into the fog previously, but now that the fog is gone, they can see what it looks like beyond.

Well, not that it is any less desolate from the ruins in the fog. The same abandoned rubble, rebar and bricks with a dreary backdrop. It looks like the scene extends as far as the eye can see.

They could even spy from afar, a collapsed lighthouse, dark, still seas, and Missiontakers by the shore, digging up dead fish and rotten shrimps for food.

Fei’s heart sinks even further. Even if she has already promised not to talk about the conspiracies anymore in this Nightmare, but she still can’t help but question once again, what the apocalypse could have been in this Nightmare.

What did this world ultimately become, after that apocalypse?

She cannot control her thoughts from digressing, but as she continues thinking, suddenly, her mind goes blank.