Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Against Destiny

After telling her life story, Iris sighed. It was reckless to deluge her origin to others, but alcohol and wistful nostalgia had already clouded her mind. At least Quasi was a native of the Legacy Ground and would not leak anything. She was also a bartender, who was naturally a good listener to her customer's complaints. When Iris peeked at Quasi, she found that the bartender had stopped wiping the counter, falling into her deep thoughts.

The retrospection had burnt away all desire for drinks and dessert. Iris only wanted to vent her frustration, both because of her powerlessness and because of her apparent personality change.

She used to be cold, but the strange new world had changed her. Though she didn't reject the change, for she had gained with it a family, she still harboured resentment for the Lord, who imbued a mysterious mark on her forehead.

Iris had already told one of her dark secrets; she felt like she should just tell them all. When she was about to speak, Quasi leant forwards and placed her fingers on Iris's lips, gently touching and rubbing yet firmly stopping her speech.

"Dear Iris, there is no need to tell me your story," Quasi said. "I didn't expect your experience to eclipse my expectation. I have nothing to exchange for this story."

"If not for your Remembrance Cake, I wouldn't realise my feeling has changed so much. As the Lord said, there is indeed a depthless void in my heart." Iris stood up from her seat, preparing to leave. "Miss Quasi, I'm sorry for forcing you to listen to my breakdown. I have nothing of monetary value to compensate for your drink and your time, so we're even."

As Iris turned around and trotted away, Quasi softly coughed. Cold air manifested and permeated the Merrily Isolated Bar, refreshing the atmosphere and tickling Iris, who paused, her heart racing. Though the temperature was achievable by a simple air-conditioner or magic, Iris couldn't detect any ripples of power, and there was no sign of any machinery at work.

Despite the peaceful air, a grand presence lingered around Iris, probing her fragile body, threatening to invade and play with her sensitive membrane. The Shadow Heart Core quivered, telling Iris that a friendly yet powerful aura was locking onto her. The abrupt display of power sobered up Iris, who slowly turned back to the smiling Quasi.

"What have I done wrong, Miss Quasi?" Iris said. "How can I compensate you? Will you accept my body if I were to offer it?"

"Iris, you're a cunning one," Quasi said. "We aren't even at all. You might not know it, but the story you told me is too dangerous. You've just doomed me with such knowledge."

Quasi faked a pout and beckoned for Iris to sit down. Despite her forceful gesture, she didn't pressure Iris. While waiting, she also prepared another pack of cookies and light drinks as if they were going to have a long party through the night.

"Is that the reason you want me to stay, or is it just an excuse?" Iris said as she returned to Quasi. "No matter. It's my fault for recklessly speaking about my secret, but I hope you won't tell anyone."

"Because you've shared with me such a wonderful destiny, I'll tell you my secret too. It is only fair that we know each other intimately." Quasi picked up a piece of cookie and bit a part of it, chewing on it, savouring the sugary taste. "I am indeed an automaton and the owner of this bar, but I wasn't always alone."

"My condolence, Miss Quasi. Though my experience couldn't rival your long history, I too have lost something precious to me." Iris drank the wine Quasi had prepared for her. The bitter taste burnt her throat, yet the pain lightened her chest. "It feels unbearable, yet it will get better, right?"

"Unfortunately, it does get better with time." Quasi looked at Iris's melancholy expression. "Your loss must be greater than mine, Iris. While I lost my only friend through time, you seem to lose yours through other means."

"You like to listen to other's stories, so let me take advantage of you and vent once more."

As Iris was about to narrate her life again, Quasi quickly took a cookie and stuffed it into Iris's mouth. Though Iris knew Quasi didn't have any bad intentions, she still felt embarrassed as she nibbled on the cookie, trying to eat it all quickly.

"I don't want to hear your stories anymore, Iris. If you tell me anything too significant again, I won't be able to repay you anymore. You will force me to repay with my body," Quasi said.

"Then why do you want me to stay? I want to help you, but I can't stay here forever."

"Your family will miss you dearly if you're gone, but what if you can stay here with them?"

Quasi grasped the air. Blue light flowed out of her fingers, congregating in front of her palms, forming a mirror-like sphere. Inside, multiple black silhouettes emerged, shaping into various Monster Girls, whose demeanour reminded Iris of her family. Though Iris didn't know if the vision was the real version of an illusion, she still shivered as her eyes lingered on their body, almost tearing up.

"Miss Quasi, if you want me to stay, I'll stay, but please don't involve them in this," Iris said. Despite the disparity in power, she still attempted to channel her Corruption Power, looking angry yet cute. "If anything were to befall them, I would end this life, and you shall never hear from me again my extraordinary journey."

"I'm glad I didn't have to bring them here, Iris, for the Deities will undoubtedly strike me down if I were to come out of the Legacy Ground."

"You didn't want to take them as hostages?"

"Why should I do that to my only friend?"

Iris couldn't figure out what Quasi wanted. In the end, she just sank into her seat and fell into her own thoughts. Quasi giggled and fed Iris more cookies, which she happily accepted. They gave her a pleasant flavour and even soothed her confused heart.

"Iris, I've said that my story is boring, but I lied. I have one thing you might find interesting, or even beneficial, so please bear with me as I tell you about myself," Quasi said.

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"Wait, Miss Quasi, let me help you."

Iris leant on the counter and stretched her arm forwards, extending her quivering slime towards the strongest wine bottle Quasi poured for her, then she took her glass and gently wiped it before pouring the wine. Though she had only seen the attempts a few times, Iris effortlessly imitated the professional air and the elegant demeanour, which instilled her appearance with the confidence of an experienced bartender.

"How did you imitate my technique so clearly?" Quasi said, her eyes flashing with delight. "Iris, are you perhaps a bartender in your past life?"

Though Quasi revealed only a graceful smile, her mind was in a tremor. If not for her artificial body and the dullness cultivated from countless years of solitude, she might have reached out to Iris, hoping to see closely the fleeting silhouette of her best friend, which overlapped with Iris. Back then, she also poured wine like this.

As Iris imitated Quasi, she felt a sorrowful longing emerging from her heart, which became one with her movement, impersonating the pouring technique. The crimson wine flowed from the bottle and rested gently inside the glass, shimmering like the stars during the moonless night.

"Here to your last, Dear Quasi," Iris absentmindedly said. "May you forget me; may we forget us."

"Nanina?" Quasi mumbled before she quickly seized the glass and drank all the wine. "I'm sorry, but I can't forget you. It doesn't hurt anymore, but I wish it still hurts. I wish, I really wish."

Iris had already regained her clarity, but she remained silent and let Quasi murmured to herself as she drank more and more wine, which Iris faithfully refilled until the bottle was empty. Despite being an automaton, Quasi still mourned. Her melancholy air permeated the bar, influencing Iris, who sat with a dejected expression, not knowing what to do.

The two remained motionless, immersed in their thoughts, struggling against their regrets. Though Quasi's grief was overwhelming, the current of history was unstoppable. The once-unbearable pain became a numbing dullness, which could disappear at any moment.

"Thank you, Iris, for giving me one last chance to see Nanina again," Quasi said. Her voice was serene, her expression sorrowful, yet a hint of acceptance flowed. "As she said, I think it's time for me to move on. The world is quite cruel, isn't it?"

"Miss Quasi, will I be as resolute as you if I were to face your circumstance?"

"Your determination is commendable, Iris, but I don't think you will make the same choice as I do. I hope you won't make the same choice."

"What do you mean?"

"You have the potential, Iris. You will soar above the sky and achieve things no mortals could ever hope. Though the obstacles in your path will be deadly, more deadly than you could ever imagine, I'm sure you'll be able to overcome it."

"How do you know I have the potential? I'm weak, so weak that I couldn't even hope to challenge you. How can I succeed where you fail?"

"Because you have the most important thing I could ever want: Hope. Though I don't know how or why, many have placed their faith in you." Quasi grabbed Iris's hand and forced Iris to stare into her eyes. "I shall now answer your question: this is the place called the Merrily Isolated Bar, stationed at the Crossroad of Destiny. I am Quasi, a remnant of our lost civilisation."

"If I choose wrong, my journey will come to an end, right?" Iris said. Her determination overflowed from her manner. "Please tell me where I must go. I can't fall here."

"Unfortunately, no. The Crossroad of Destiny isn't a part of the journey. It's the end. It is the graveyard of our civilisation, a sacred place."

"Then, who are you, Miss Quasi? If you're one of the last of your kind, you must be someone important. Should I address you as Your Highness, or perhaps Your Majesty?"

Quasi heartily laughed. Her voice almost sounded like music, but the faint hint of listlessness ruined the harmonious melody. Faster than Iris could react, Quasi stood up and kissed Iris's forehead, placing her cold lips on the invisible mark of the Lord, licking it, devouring the hidden energy inside.

The instant the mark disappeared, Iris shivered as if she had just lost a part of her. Strong chill rushed through her body, clashing with a rupturing heat, which exploded inside her chest. Her body boiled and turned red, but Quasi's grip was too strong for her to break away.

"Miss Quasi, what did you just do?" Iris said, trembling. "I feel like I've lost something, but I don't know what. It's uncomfortable, unnerving."

"I am not a royalty or someone of such class, but I have a special ability, the ability that brought calamity to my civilisation, the ability that even the Deities fear!" Quasi smiled. Her expression turned dreary as her memory flashed. "I'm the last Destiny Devourer. I've just erased the mark of your Lord as well as the mark of my ruler. What I just did violates the sacred constitution of my civilisation, but I'm willing to bet everything on you, Iris."

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