Magical Journey: The Other Shore Blooms on the Other Shore

"This is..." Qin looked at the person lying to one side and fell into deep thought. Was this person's face somewhat familiar...? I think I met him not long ago.

But the person in front of them was lying on the wall by the roadside, blood dripping from the corner of their mouth, their eyes wide open, and they had been dead for a long time...

This gruesome corpse lay there by the roadside, unnoticed by passersby.

He had only ever seen such a cruel scene in his own dark homeland. He had never seen anything like it anywhere else.

From this perspective, this place is quite similar to Beatrice.

However, Beatrice only values ​​your magical aptitude, while here, only your wealth and interests matter.

"Hey, are you also this person's friend?" Qin was still thinking about how to dispose of the corpse when she was stopped by the person behind her.

He was wearing a men's shirt, which appeared to be a uniform from some department.

“If he’s his friend, come with me to dispose of his body.” The person who came was clearly quite outgoing, easily striking up a conversation with Qin. “Oh, by the way, what’s your name?”

He had already assumed that Qin Mo was one of the corpse's friends in life; after all, how could the people here possibly stare at someone they had no connection with for so long?

"Qin." Qin did not deny it and went over to help the staff member carry the body to a stretcher.

“Oh my, what a nice name, quite unique indeed. My name is Maupassant, and as you might guess, I'm just a lowly government employee.” Maupassant chuckled. “How did you and Jules meet?”

Is the name of this corpse Jules?

"Just a brief encounter," Qin said succinctly.

“You are so kind, to have stared at him for so long after only one meeting. I met Jules because we came in the same carriage. What a coincidence! I was the first person he met when he came to this country, and now, I am the last person he sees when he leaves this country,” Maupassant said self-deprecatingly.

But there was no trace of sadness in his tone.

"Where are you taking him?" Qin asked.

"They were taken to a designated place for cremation, that's how they handle corpses on the roadside. After all, it's to give the eliminated a dignified end, isn't it?" Maupassant said. "Hey, speaking of which, Jules was pretty pitiful. If he hadn't been so arrogant and had been willing to be a slave to a rich man like me, he wouldn't be in this state."

"So, do you know how he died?"

"I only have a vague idea. The men below reported that he was kicked to death. I heard it was because of a dispute over a gold coin," Maupassant laughed. "Thanks for your help, brother. That's enough."

The two men carried Jules' stretcher to a corner where corpses of all sizes were piled up.

Because of a fight over a single gold coin...

Because of gold coins...

Because of me?

"See you later, brother. Hey, are you alright?" Maupassant patted Qin on the shoulder but found him standing there in a daze.

I……

Did I make a mistake again...?

Just like before...

"Hey—never mind." Maupassant waved his hand and left, after all, he still had work to do. Smiling at everyone was his survival skill, and feigned concern was his way of bullying others, not because he genuinely cared about this stranger he had just met.

Maupassant left, leaving Qin alone in the same spot, stunned.

Qin looked at Jules's unseeing eyes as he stared back at him, and he stared back intently.

"Was it because of me that he died? I clearly..." Qin muttered to herself.

All I wanted was for him to live a slightly better life... just a tiny bit more...

He deliberately dropped the gold coin on the roadside and left it for him.

But the truth is... it caused his death.

If he didn't have me, wouldn't he be better off—then why should I... help him...?

Qin stood there like a statue until late at night, and the passersby around her showed no particular interest in this motionless sculpture.

If... I hadn't helped him, would he still be alive?

If that's the case, what's the point of my so-called good deeds? Because of my existence, more people have died. So why should I live? Is it to let more people die?

Being abandoned by my parents—it means I have no magical value, and I have brought shame upon that high and mighty adult.

The subjects abandoned me—because I saw no value in continuing the experiment, and I disappointed everyone who had faith in me.

I had the chance to keep Teacher Ming, but I didn't.

Then what am I living for...? Since living is so painful...why not just die? What am I living for?

Was it because of a promise I made to my teacher? I've had enough of living. If my teacher could so casually break their promise and go to heaven alone, why can't I?

Yes—my life... was meaningless from beginning to end.

The excruciating pain returned as expected; the aftereffects of the initial experiment continued to torment him intermittently. Only this intense pain, along with the constant hunger he felt, made him feel alive.

Pain is what makes you feel alive...

Then why should I live...?

My life doesn't bring any better to those around me; instead, it brings death—so why should I live a life where I constantly feel hunger and intermittent, convulsing pain?

Qin convulsed in pain, and her entire vision spun around.

If it weren't for me, would my great mother have been ridiculed by her peers?

If it weren't for me, would Beatrice have one less laughingstock to be mocked?

If it weren't for me, would Ms. Alice have survived because of her incompetence?

What if... What if...

Would dying now bring about a belated but satisfying act of redemption? Let this farce end here—

I just want to live a more meaningful life. If others can live a better life because of me, then I have a reason to live. But if...

If others don't actually need you at all.

I was deluding myself from beginning to end—and because of this delusion, I was trapped in a predicament and forced to commit murder. For someone like me to live on is truly a disaster…

"Don't you want to live anymore? Then how about offering this body to me?" A murmur from the abyss echoed in my mind.

"Druid..."

"Yes, I've been waiting for this day. Qin, your life has always been a disaster, nothing but self-deception. I said these things back then—it was I who gave you the strength to save face for your teacher. Without me, what are you?"

"..."

"Heh heh... You should have died long ago, shouldn't you? Now you finally see things clearly, right? Without you, this world would be a better place. And you can enjoy the taste of liberation, a two-way journey. Your teacher has been waiting for you for a long time..."

What am I to you?

"It's a game we demons play over tea—but in this game, it looks like I've won. Isn't that right? My dear Jean—defeat isn't so embarrassing for you anymore. Besides, it's not really a defeat; at least you've won the relief you deserve."