Being an Extra Actor in an Escape Game

Suddenly, that is when Lin Qin takes a deep breath and tells X Beijin, you cant do this.

X Beijin looks back at Lin Qin.

I might be blocked, and I cant follow you anymore to go see that damned NE, but you cant just give up on yourself like this. Before we entered your Nightmare, you promised me we will have a honeymoon.

X Beijins expression of sorrow almost broke apart entirely.

Lin Qin is certainly adept at breaking down any sombre mood.

He doesnt even seem to care about the MissiontakersWell, he might not even identify as human, at any rate.

Lin Qin continues his tirade, you cant give up right now. I wont let you We wont fail. We cant fail.

His tone is adamant.

Then he looks at X Beijin, brushing his lips gently, and asks, look, we still have such deep things waiting for us to do. Ill wait here then?

X Beijin

He calmly points out, not here.

Why not? Lin Qin looks shocked, is undressing not a feature in here?

X Beijin points out the obvious, we need to gather ten or more Missiontakers, and find the labyrinth if we even want to try getting here. Are you really going to go to all that length just because of that?

Lin Qin thinks and then says, sure, that sounds fine; weve already managed to reach here this time, right?

X Beijin

Out of patience, he says, dont even think about it!

So sadly, Lin Qin puts his delusions aside.

X Beijin doesnt even know how he should react to this.

Though the rather absurd interlude has managed to suppress X Beijins emotions tearing at him.

The accidental discovery that Lin Qin cannot go up to the top floor has certainly weakened X Beijins resolve with how sudden it was.

But he should have also known it would not go as smoothly as planned all the way, and they are pushing such a monumental task ahead, to boot.

He should have mentally prepared himself.

X Beijin has finally recovered his usual mental fortitude, with his emotions swept clean, like something has kindly but also firmly pushed them down.

The same way that Lin Qin gently but firmly reassured him that they will succeed.

Lin Qin has helped him convince himself.

He looks at Lin Qin, and his lips open a little; hesitant, he then quickly adds, not this place; but other places arent out of the question for now.

Lin Qins eyes seem to visibly glow.

Before Lin Qin can further mess with his mind, X Beijin quickly changes the topic, so Im going now. You make sure you wait here for me, alright?

Got it Lin Qin happily replies, when youre back

Then he takes a sloppy kiss from X Beijin before letting him go, seeing him off as he disappears into the screen of light.

After that, his smile fades and disappears entirely. He stands there quietly, expressionlessly, coldly, indomitably.

Darkness has him surrounded, but cannot seem to make any progress erasing him.

He waits there quietly.

And so are the Missiontakers like Mu Jiashi on the bottom floor.

After returning there, theyve met up with Ding Yi, Jiang Shuangmei, Dai Wu, Su Enya and others. With the notable exception of Mystic, who went back to her daughter.

A-One and A-Two arent in a hurry to go back up floors either, as they have decided to stay on the bottom floor to see this through.

They might have only joined in the middle of all this, but as part of the humanity whose freedom is at stake here, they also want to be able to receive the news as soon as possible.

Naturally, a topic of conversation that pops up relates to X Beijins Nightmare.

Jiang Shuangmei is utterly shocked, expressing her disbelief at the true nature of the grey fog outside the Tower.

During the conversation, they cant help but often peer outside the window, watching the rolling grey fog; theyre used to this scene already.

In the Tower, everywhere there is a window, they can see the grey fog outside.

They always thought it was merely a symbol of the terrible atmospheric conditions outside, since theyve never once seen the sun rise or fall as the day brightened up or darkened.

But now, they finally know, that each fine grain of dust within that fog, represented someone whose sense of self has been eroded entirely.

Ding Yi is watching the fog intently.

She cant help but wonder, is Jiang Shuangjie there too?

After the initial shock, another who wonders the same question is Jiang Shuangmei.

Then the conversation dies down, and it goes quiet.

The Missiontakers, and Tower residents present, too, all know a few friends and acquaintances whove ended up succumbing.

They knew theyd gone mad and then disappeared, never to be seen in the Tower again.

Where they went has always been a curious mystery, but there has never been a satisfying conclusion.

There are even strange rumours that they might have been exiled from the Tower

Not because they suspect something of the grey fog, but based on a simple logical deduction if they are not in the Tower, then by definition, they must beoutsidethe Tower.

Some people even suspect that, having gone mad, theyve been kicked from the Tower back into reality.

No one dares to test that out, of course.

Theyve all seen how those who go mad behave just before they snap entirely, and just after that, the horrible loss of self and possibly consciousness. It is enough to deter even those who most desperately sought freedom. Such a dangerous method would never be a viable way to leave the Tower.

Well, maybe there were some who did try; naturally, theyve all disappeared already.

All in all, all those that are still in the Tower right now, are the ones sane enough not to try such an insane method.

Look, even those Missiontakers who deliberately seek out thrill and meaning in death, would still have reservations about whether to go through with it in different Nightmares, no?

As for what Ding Yi and the others were requested to do, progress has been made;

To change the mood a little, theyve started talking about what X Beijin asked them to do instead.

Ding Yi tells them, Ive contacted everyone I could, but some more time might be needed.

She rubs the bridge of her nose, looking tired, and says, the biggest problem is the many Missiontakers on the upper floors who will need time before the news could spread to them.

Mu Jiashi cuts to the chase and asks, how long do you need?

Three days minimum, then Ding Yi carefully adds, this is only an estimate.

Meanwhile, the wheelchair-bound Dai Wu next to them chimes in, what if we get the Tower residents to also spread the news?

With NE having apparently relaxed what they can and cannot say, Dia Wu and Su Enya have been able to correspond with the Missiontakers with only some difficulty, even though neither of them really seem motivated to do so with the other, and they often still hung out far away from each other.

The others dont know what got the two of them so spiteful of each other.

As an aside, the fact that Dai Wu and Su Enya could come discuss key things with them has bolstered both sides confidence that NE is on their side.

If X Beijin knew how blindly optimistic theyve become, he would probably only smile bitterly.

The Missiontakers and Tower residents are even more confident than he is, huh.