Chapter 65: Greetings to Lord Ghost Witch

Chapter 65: Greetings to Lord Ghost Witch

With the ghosts' score dwindling to single digits, Su Bai and his companions felt no urgency. Navigating the nightmare game was akin to a language comprehension test, occasionally yielding solutions beyond the expected answers.

Although the sarcastic administrator at the game's outset had mandated a 48-hour survival period in "Bliss Neighborhood," the neighborhood itself had since reverted to a desolate cemetery. With the spectral faction's score nearing zero, there was no logical impediment to their victory.

As for Lan Xingchen...

The true extent of Fang Xiujie and Ning Yan's influence on Lan Xingchen remained uncertain, yet Su Bai could already discern a shift in his gaze. Before his worldview shattered, even with Ning Yan and Fang Xiujie before him, his eyes had held a numb, self-reproaching guilt.

Now, however, Lan Xingchen's eyes were filled with confusion.

"Both Fang Xiujie and Ning Yan are still too kind," Su Bai remarked. He and Feng Ling had just dispatched a persistent ghost attempting an ambush and now stood at the cemetery's edge, observing Sister Yao's relentless verbal chastisement of Lan Xingchen, who quietly endured the scolding.

"Hmm?" Feng Ling inquired, a hint of bewilderment in her voice.

"Actually, there's a more direct path to their freedom than waiting for Lan Xingchen to let go," Su Bai said, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. "If Lan Xingchen dies, they'll be free."

"..."

"They must be well aware of this, and I'm sure Miss Yao would gladly assist. Yet, they still chose to grant Lan Xingchen another chance at life. Truly good people," Su Bai sighed, "Such kindness is rare in the nightmare world."

"But ultimately, their choices are their own. As mere passersby, we can only observe." Had Su Bai not acquired a substantial amount of supplies in this wretched place, he might have felt utterly drained and uneasy.

In the real world, there's a saying: "Don't hit a smiling face." But in the nightmare world, "good people" are far scarcer than "smiling faces." Deceitful ghosts and humans with hidden agendas are ubiquitous, while genuinely selfless individuals are as rare as endangered species.

Even Su Bai, with his usual twisted sense of humor, found little opportunity to indulge in this game, which left him feeling somewhat unsettled.

"Just between us," Feng Ling whispered, her demeanor relaxed, perhaps due to the rare chance to shed her leader's persona or sensing that Su Bai didn't hold her in high regard. "Though the organization always touts Lan Xingchen's abilities as beneficial, and he's a permanent fixture in the nightmare world, they constantly urge me to invite him to join. But I don't like him."

"He constantly labels himself a sinner, always helping others, always speaking of atonement. Yet, I've always suspected he remains as selfish as he was three years ago. Perhaps he'll genuinely change after this, but in my opinion... you, Su Bai, are a much better fit for us." Feng Ling gazed intently at Su Bai. "Won't you reconsider?"

"I don't meet your membership requirements," Su Bai replied, waving his hand and turning away.

In his previous life, Su Bai had indeed grown accustomed to the nightmare world, having no lingering ties in the real one. But in this life, he had a mother to care for and yearned to bask in the real world's sunlight and admire its scenery.

In his previous life, Su Bai had declined Feng Ling's invitation.

In this life, even more so.

"Ding-ding!"

As a hand emerged from a grave, seizing Su Bai's ankle and attempting to drag him into the earth, a black long-handled umbrella plunged deep into the tomb. The moment a muffled grunt emanated from within, the familiar, sarcastic "ding-ding" echoed in Su Bai's ears.

Su Bai released the black umbrella. Though it had served him well, its dilapidated state suggested it was ready for retirement in the cemetery.

"The game is about to end."

"Lucky human, dear temporary dweller of the nightmare world, as the non-human residents' total score has reached zero in this mini-game and the human residents' score has won by a landslide, congratulations on successfully beating this game. You may continue to enjoy the blessings of the red moon."

"You may choose to remain in the nightmare world or return to the real world immediately. Dear resident, if you choose to stay in the nightmare world, you will be transported to a relatively safe area. If you choose to return to the real world, you will be sent back to the location you were at before the game started."

"Please state your choice clearly."

"The real world," Su Bai declared without hesitation.

"Dear resident..."

The sarcastic administrator continued with similar pronouncements. Players occasionally pondered whether this "administrator" was a program or an actual entity. If the latter, how did it simultaneously manage so many players entering and exiting the game?

The "administrator" was one of the nightmare world's most enigmatic figures for human players, second only to the red moon in the sky. Even Su Bai, reborn with past life memories, knew nothing of its origins.

However... Su Bai, who had been awaiting the sarcastic voice's next words, realized the "administrator" seemed to have stalled mid-sentence. It neither continued speaking nor initiated the post-game countdown.

Even Feng Ling and Lan Xingchen had vanished from the cemetery, leaving Su Bai alone in the empty graveyard. The situation felt eerily unsettling.

"Dear resident," the sarcastic voice resumed after several minutes of silence, "As a visitor, did you have fun?"

In this game, "Bliss Neighborhood" had assigned Su Bai the identity of a "visitor."

But what truly astonished Su Bai was the "administrator's" altered manner of speech. Previously, no matter how sarcastic the "administrator" sounded, it always felt like a pre-programmed message.

Now, however, the "administrator" sounded as if it were conversing with Su Bai face-to-face.

"Adding characters not in the script into the game is a violation of the rules, but since we've already let two in, one more won't hurt." Although the "administrator's" delivery had changed, its tone remained familiarly sarcastic.

"Was it you who brought Ning Yan and Fang Xiujie into Bliss Neighborhood?" Su Bai seized the opportunity to press for answers. "What exactly happens to players who die in the nightmare world? Why couldn't anyone see or hear them before they entered Bliss Neighborhood?"

"Everyone is the same—just residents of the nightmare world blessed by the red moon. Why would you think newly formed spirits, only three years old, could be seen or heard? Such insignificant existences would need another twenty or thirty years to possibly manifest under the red moon."

The "administrator's" words carried an air of self-evidence, yet they took Su Bai by surprise.

So players who died in the game truly became ghosts? In his previous life, over ten years, the scarcity of player-turned-ghosts, relegated to mere rumors, was simply because they were too weak? Too weak to possess form, to be seen, or to be heard?

The answer was simple, yet sent chills down his spine.

"Since I've helped you out here and answered your questions, I can't walk away empty-handed." The administrator, referring to itself as "I," seemed to imply to Su Bai that it differed from the usual "administrator"—more like a live customer service representative suddenly taking over the system's robot?

"After the next game begins, I'd like to ask you for a small favor. Although there will be some additional conditions, it will be easy for you, and I will also provide extra rewards." The voice, which was and wasn't the administrator, continued.

"Conditions?"

"A small matter. I just hope you won't enter the next game as a human. The extra reward is... as long as you complete my task, you can do anything you want in that game."

Not enter as a human? Enter as a ghost instead? And complete the "administrator's" task?

Su Bai believed this matter was far more perilous than the "administrator's" casual description suggested. Moreover, the so-called extra reward held little significance for Su Bai. Even if the "administrator" hadn't mentioned it, he wouldn't have held back in the game.

"Can I refuse?"

"Sorry, I'm only telling you as a courtesy."

In other words, whether Su Bai agreed or not, his next game's script had already been arranged.

"Why me?" Su Bai stood alone in the empty cemetery, talking to himself—a rather peculiar sight.

"It doesn't necessarily have to be you, but you are certainly a suitable candidate." The administrator said no more. "Dear resident of the nightmare world, your next game may begin very soon. Please get ready to enter the nightmare world ahead of time."

"Now, I will send you back to the real world. Over there, in your home, hope you find real happiness." Though the voice hadn't changed, Su Bai sensed that the previous "administrator" had departed, and the one speaking now was the same "program" as before.

"Ten... Nine... Eight... Seven..."

"Special reminder: The white side is currently at a disadvantage."

"Have a safe trip back."

"Also..."

"Say hello to Lord Ghost Witch for me." The presence of the special "administrator" returned once again at this moment.