Father and hero, after all, are not the same roles, perhaps it is the child's expectations that have changed.
At this moment, the guidance Wen Xishu received turned out to be "Please play the part of the hero."
This child's expectation is so pure. It's not that she doesn't feel sorrow; she's just afraid of this world, always hesitant to feel sad.
Wen Xishu suddenly remembered that the last time he encountered such a peaceful and beautiful scene of people sunbathing on the streets was also in an extremely distorted world, one without "children."
In the apocalypse, seeing the broken city might still be light compared to this, the most terrifying thing is such a seemingly normal city.
Nini nodded seriously:
"Then let's make a pinky promise. You'll come back to see me, won't you?"
Wen Xishu smiled:
"Yes, let's make a pinky promise! A hero will never deceive you."
Big hand and small hand made a pinky promise, and Wen Xishu made a solemn vow.
...
...
To play the role of a father, one must meet the daughter's requirements, which also led to when the daughter's requirement was for the hero to return—
Wen Xishu became that hero.
And at the moment he became a hero, in this twisted city, many images and information flooded into his mind.
Those are the burdens a hero must bear.
And they are the awareness needed to fire that arrow.
...
...
Balance City, West District.
The stench-filled house made Nico want to vomit uncontrollably.
"New here?" The man's voice carried a hint of sarcasm.
Nico nodded:
"Sorry... Can you tell me what is going on here? Why am I here?"
The man's legs were already broken, sitting in a wheelchair, his lower body soaked in urine, the stench emanating from his body.
As a disabled person, his hatred for this world is imaginable.
Once there was someone willing to take care of him, but that person has been replaced.
In response to Nico's request, the man briefly explained the situation of Balance City.
Soon, Nico's expression changed.
She was frightened by the rules of this city. How twisted must this city be?
She wanted to leave, but guidance appeared in her sight—
"Please play the part of the man's wife, or you will be replaced."
The stench, filth, and unfamiliarity made it impossible for her to accept being this man's wife.
The man, too, was no exception:
"Someone like me, no one will love, ha, get out! Get out!"
He was mocking himself earlier, but the next second he erupted into fury, shouting at Nico.
But lacking legs, his anger seemed extremely... comical.
"Get out! You're not welcome here! I don't want such a wife!"
In fact, the man also had guidance, his guidance was "Please treat your wife gently."
After experiencing several rounds of replacement, he already recognized a fact, in this world, no one will love him.
His lover has long entered the Netherworld.
He shouldn't still be alive, shouldn't linger in this world, maybe rather than waiting for the next person to look at him with the same eyes of disgust, it's better to leave on his own.
So he started cursing. He threw all sorts of foul language at Nico.
Initially, Nico was a bit uncomfortable, but as the guidance appeared, Nico suddenly understood.
"Detection shows your husband is severely unqualified, replace him?"
At this moment, Nico refused.
She suddenly started singing, her singing wasn't particularly pleasant, but it carried a calming power.
The man's rage was, in essence, a kind-hearted facade.
Gradually, his anger began to subside. Confusion appeared in his eyes:
"Why? Why... am I still here?"
Nico endured the stenchy air, squeezing out a smile:
"I don't know how long I'll be here, but during this time, please take care of me."
As she spoke, she approached the man, trying to play the part of a wife, cleaning the filth off his wheelchair.
The man was startled:
"No... don't come near me! Don't come near me!"
He was so filthy that he even felt disgusted by himself.
In the past, others couldn't endure the stench and didn't play the role of the wife.
But as someone genuinely approached, attempting to help him, that kind of inferiority made him panic.
"Replace me! I beg you, replace me! Don't come near me!"
Sometimes human dignity is laughable; they'd rather die than expose their filthy, fragile side.
Nico suddenly cried:
"I'm sorry... I can't replace you, I come from the cursed land, all my family have been taken away by curses!"
The man was stunned:
"You... come from outside?"
Nico nodded:
"I'm a useless person, on this journey, others have taken care of me, and I've been separated from my team."
"I'm sorry, I can't possibly fall in love with you, playing the part of your wife..."
"But I absolutely don't want to replace you either, or... just leave and be replaced by the rules."
The man initially didn't understand, but gradually, he started to comprehend since she came from outside:
"Because we have all experienced curses."
Nico nodded:
"Yes, we have all experienced curses, we know the helpless feeling when curses take away loved ones."
The man remained silent, those who've truly experienced the apocalypse won't easily abandon formerly living companions.
He understood this feeling.
Nico continued:
"I am the most useless member of our team, the only thing I can do is sing. I don't know how I can help my commander..."
"But he refused to abandon someone as useless as me, and I can't let his efforts be in vain."