Overturned Tower

Russell's outstretched hand suddenly paused in the air.

He narrowed his eyes slightly and slowly took his hand back.

"His Holiness the Pope... doesn't seem very friendly."

"It's very simple. I can give many reasons..."

As he spoke, he slowly stood up from the chair.

The surrounding simulated environment was originally Russell's home... his cramped one-person room on Sogo Island. This was the environment that made him feel most relaxed.

But now... at this moment, it suddenly changed.

The room belonging to Russell suddenly collapsed and disintegrated, turning into a solemn temple.

There are huge stone statues of angels in two rows - wearing halos on their heads and wings of light behind them. Each angel has a completely different shape, and the one thing they have in common is that they all have no face.

The seat where Russell is sitting is a pure white throne like a throne.

In front of him, a red carpet spread out to the door. There is no one in this church, only the candlestick is bright.

The roar of thunderstorm could be heard outside.

Through the windows on both sides, lightning illuminates the church from time to time. The low and long rolling thunder coming from afar, the heavy rain outside the window, and the damp coolness made Russell unable to feel the slightest warmth from those candlelights.

And "Promoted" also put on the pure white full set of papal robes.

Russell sat in his seat while he stood on the ground. There are three steps between them, which makes Zhang Sheng look like Russell's courtier.

The old pope wore a triple crown studded with precious stones on his head, and two sacred golden shoulder straps. His hair was pale and slightly dry, and his emerald green pupils, which were very similar to Russell's, were full of calm.

"Because you also have the possibility of becoming Dusk. Because you have never had the need to save the world.

"——It's more because you haven't received much kindness from this world since you were born."

His voice was loud and clear, not like chatting, but like he was announcing something... or like a lonely man praying alone in a temple in the rain.

Russell maintained his posture of sitting on the Holy Seat, slowly leaning back and leaning on the backrest.

He looked at the old man and said to him word by word: "I see it very clearly, Russell. I have lived for more than a hundred years and have seen countless people, countless ugly people, and countless saints. I am very convinced that you are definitely not that kind of person." A fool who is willing to sacrifice himself to save the world... You are not a born saint, a savior who has grown through countless hardships, and you are not a madman willing to risk everything for your mission.

"In the end, the first thing you care about is yourself. You are not a selfless person... Even if you really want to save the world, it's just because you do it easily. It's because you can do it easily, that's why you do it Do it this way; not that you have to do it this way, at all costs.”

"Ah, I don't deny it."

Russell nodded and admitted easily.

He chuckled: "But there is something wrong... If necessary, I will be willing to sacrifice myself for others.

"But I won't sacrifice for the world. I will only sacrifice for those who love me, those whom I love."

"Yes, that's why - I can't trust you."

The old pope said word for word: "Because you are too much like a mortal.

"You already have an extraordinary temperament, but you still lack divinity. A divinity that can convince me to believe in you, a purity stripped of selfish desires and personal will.

"It is true that there have been many saints in this world. Even if they have not received the kindness of others, they are still willing to sacrifice everything for others; even if they are betrayed by justice, they are still willing to break their bones to protect justice; even if they sacrifice themselves, or Even if he kills his relatives out of justice and kills those close to him with his own hands, he can also die for the vast majority of people.

"But, you are not this kind of person. And the world does not love you.

"You have no reason to protect the world, and you have no protective heart that can last for thousands of years. What is the wedge that fixes you as a Twilight Species to the ground? Is it love? Is it the little girl named Flotte? Or your mother Alice?

"——If this is the case, then you are not worthy of being a god. Because you are on the side of humans, just because they are on the side of humans.

"So, what if one day you get tired of Flotte? What if one day, you forget what Alice taught you? What if you change your heart and fall in love with the party that represents 'evil', or you simply fall in love with What about other 'Twilights'? Or even, what if Flotte herself has fallen?"

Theoretically speaking, the Pope who serves the "gods" said word for word: "If our god can be moved by the love of mortals and changed by human emotions... Such a god would be too dangerous. No. I would rather there be no God in this world."

"What about you, Andrew the God-Deceiver?"

Russell sat on the holy throne belonging to the Pope, and his clear and young voice echoed in the empty temple: "Do you think you can become such a god?"

"Of course I can't. But I don't think you can either... or anyone."

The old voice sounded without hesitation: "Even if it's possible for you to make this world a better place, in the best case scenario it would be much stronger than the plans of the named elves and dragons, and it would also be better than my plan. ; But you are also 'possible' to make the results worse, and this possibility is not low.

"You have no right to let everyone gamble their lives with you, Russell. People need the most secure and most successful solution, even if everyone will pay the price. But since everyone has paid the price, then it is still Fair.

"And since it is fair, safe, and reliable, then I must choose this choice. If mortals are rational enough, they will eventually choose this plan. In this case, all the sacrifices made in it are 'A necessary evil'."

“It’s true that I can’t ask everyone to risk their lives with me, but can you ask everyone to sacrifice their lives with you?”

Russell asked without hesitation: "There is no way back in mind uploading, and it will definitely be worn out; the great fusion is irreversible. Rather than saying that this is a human civilization that has abandoned the body, it is better to say that this is a civilization that has inherited human civilization... …a mechanical civilization with a hive mind.

"How many people are willing to give up everything about themselves as human beings, give up their names, lives, bodies, futures, death, descendants, and ideals, and give everything just for survival?"

"That's because they are not rational enough, lack cognition, take chances, and lack morality. Ordinary people cannot understand the end of the future, let alone dedicate themselves to the end for future generations. Even if the end has already arrived On their faces, they will also be thinking about waiting for a while, waiting for a while, hoping for a miracle to happen, or to delay it for a while."

"——Since you also know that they are expecting a miracle, why can't I give them a miracle?"

"No. The so-called 'miracle' becomes a miracle precisely because the possibility is too weak. From a data perspective, the only reference indicator for the plan is 'probability'."

The old man replied solemnly: "But mortals must not understand the mystery. Because more than 80% of the people in this world are ignorant people, and 80% of the remaining 20% ​​are still ignorant, and 20% of them are ignorant. There are still 80% who have their own disadvantages. If you repeat this, the final wise people must be very few.

"It is precisely because the vast majority of people are too stupid or too arrogant. They are trapped in the mortal body, and their rationality is constrained by private ownership and life span. That is why they are short-sighted and unable to make the right choice. They will My own meaningless life is too important - and the fact is that everyone is so insignificant that it has no meaning. If you look at the breadth of the world, no one's life is necessary."

"You are the one who is arrogant, Andrew."

Russell sighed in disappointment, closed his eyes, and softened his voice: "Forget it, different ways do not work together.

"Perhaps it was the uploading of thoughts that made your heart become cold... Now you are actually not much different from the dragon."

"Then, next time we meet, we will be enemies, Russell."

"It's what I asked for."

Russell closed his eyes and replied in a low voice.

Update sent!

Asking for a monthly ticket!

Cat sleeps!