The World After the Bad Ending - Chapter 226

%96 t>A:C6[ 36:?8 E96 =2C86DE =2?5>2DD :? E96 H@C=5[ 92D >2?J 2C62D 25;246?E E@ E96 C68:@?D @7 2?4:6?E 5C28@?D] x? 724E[ EH@ @7 E96 E9C66 6I:DE:?8 2?4:6?E 5C28@?D C6D:56 H:E9:? E96 t>A:C6’D E6CC:E@CJ] p>@?8 E96>[ H96C6 5@6D E96 >@DE 52?86C@FD 2?4:6?E 5C28@? =:G6n %9:D 92D 366? >6?E:@?65 367@C6i E96 x46 sC28@?] %96 >2DE6C @7 E96 r2E24=JD>:4 p?4:6?E sC28@?[ 2 5C28@? 42A23=6 @7 7C66K:?8 E96 H@C=5 E@ 56DECF4E:@?] &?=:<6 E96 t2CE9 sC28@?[ 2?@E96C 2?4:6?E 5C28@? H:E9:? E96 t>A:C6’D E6CC:E@CJ[ E9:D :D E96 5C28@? q26< |@<8@?8 AC:@C:E:K6D AC6G6?E:?8]

$92C:? 2?5 x H6C6 4=:>3:?8 E96 p?4:6?E sC28@? |@F?E2:?D :? D62C49 @7 E9:D x46 sC28@?] %96 p?4:6?E sC28@? |@F?E2:?D 2C6 ?62C E96 8C@F?5D @7 y6C:@? p4256>J] %96C67@C6[ :7 E96 x46 sC28@? C2>A286D[ y6C:@? p4256>J H:== 36 :? 52?86C]

“p?4:6?E 5C28@?D 2C6 4@??64E65 E@ 6249 @E96C]” x D92C65 H92E x @F?E2:?D H:E9 $92C:?[ H9@ 7=@2E65 :? E96 2:C] “$@[ :7 H6 42? ;FDE >2<6 E96 x46 sC28@? C6EC62E[ E96 @E96C 2?4:6?E 5C28@?D H:== 2=D@ 42=> 5@H?]” x7 6G6? @?6 2?4:6?E 5C28@? D6?D65 D@>6E9:?8 2>:DD[ E96 @E96CD H@F=5 DFC6=J 36 42FE:@FD] p?4:6?E 5C28@?D 2C6 EC@F3=6D@>6 36:?8D E@ 562= H:E9[ 3FE 2E =62DE E96J 4@F=5 36 4@?EC@==65 E9:D H2J]

“|J 9FD32?5 F49]”
“*@F’C6 FD:?8 2?4:6?E 5C28@? >28:4[ 2C6?’E J@Fn xE’D ~7 4@FCD6[ E9:D 6] $92C:? 5:5?’E 2K:?8 2?5 5:5?’E D2J 2?JE9:?8 DA64:2=] xE H2D?’E E96 7:CDE @C D64@?5 E:>6 x’5 C6G62=65 F?FDF2=

“$@@?[ :E’D ;FDE D?@H 6G6CJH96C6]” q67@C6 H6 36C @7 92K2C5@FD D64E:@?D] tG6? D@[ 7C@> E96 >:55=6 @?H2C5D[ $92C:? 925 6?492?E65 FD D@ H6 H@F=5?’E D:?< :?E@ E96 D?@H] %96 p?4:6?E sC28@? |@F?E2:?D 2C6 2>@?8 E96 =2C86DE >@F?E2:? C2?86D :? E96 H@C=5] %92?@F?E @7 E:>6 ;FDE 4=:>3:?8] pD 5FD< 76==[ D?@H 3682? E@ 72== 7C@> E96 D@C6] $EC:4E=J DA62<:?8[ :E H2D 244F>F=2E65 D?@H 36:?8 3=@H? 3J DEC@?8 H:?5D[ 3FE :E 2>@F?E65 E@ E96 D2>6 E9:?8]

q@E9 $92C:? 2?5 x 925 D965 >F49 @7 @FC 9F>2? =:>:E2E:@?D 3J ?@H] x? >J 42D6[ E96 pD9 u=2>6 AC@G:565 4@?DE2?E H2C>E9[ 2?5 $92C:? D@=G65 :E H:E9 >28:4] %92?7@CE 7C@> E96 DEC@?8 H:?5D 2?5 D?@H]

q@@>P
pE E92E >@>6?E[ E96 6?E:C6 p?4:6?E sC28@? |@F?E2:?D 3682? E@ EC6>3=6] pG2=2?496D @44FCC65 6G6CJH96C6[ 2?5 D?@H CFD965 E@H2C5D FD]
“$92C:?P”
$92C:? E@@< >6 2?5 :>>65:2E6=J 7=6H :?E@ E96 2:C] q6=@H @FC 766E[ E96 2G2=2?496 DH6AE A2DE 7FC:@FD=J] qFE 6G6? 27E6C E96 2G2=2?496[ E96 EC6>@CD 4@?E:?F65] $@>6E9:?8 6?@C>@FD H2D 4@?E:?F@FD=J DECF88=:?8]
“xE’D E96 x46 sC28@?]”
“(96H[ E96 E6>A6C2EFC6 5C@AA65 6G6? >@C6 E92? 367@C6]”
tG6? E9@F89 D96 H2D FD:?8 >28:4[ $92C:? DBF:?E65[ 2AA2C6?E=J 766=:?8 E96 4@=5] %96 4@=5 H:6=565 3J E96 x46 sC28@? A6?6EC2E6D 6G6? >28:4] %96C6 H2D ?@E9:?8 6G6? $92C:?’D >28:4 4@F=5 5@ 23@FE E9:D] |28:4 :D 2 A@H6C 56C:G65 7C@> 5646:G:?8 E96 H@C=5] pD =@?8 2D 2?4:6?E 5C28@?D A@DD6DD E96 A@H6C E@ D66 E9C@F89 >28:4[ E96:C A@H6C 42??@E 36 A6C764E=J 3=@4<65]

tI46AE[ 7@C ;FDE @?6] y6C:@?’D >28:4 H2D 5:776C6?E] p? @G6CH96=>:?8 DFC86 @7 >28:42= A@H6C E92E E6CC:7:65 6G6? 2?4:6?E 5C28@?D] %96 762C 566A=J :?8C2:?65 :? E96 2?4:6?E 5C28@?D’ >:?5D <6AE E96> 5@4:=6 7@C E9@FD2?5D @7 J62CD] }@H[ :E D66>65 6G6? E92E H2D 2 E9:?8 @7 E96 A2DE[ 2D E96J 925 368F? E@ >@G6 282:?]

p 3=:KK2C5 C2865] $92C:? H2D D9:G6C:?8 7C@> E96 4@=5[ D@ x HC2AA65 >J 2C>D 2C@F?5 96C] %96 pD9 u=2>6 :D 2 A6C764E 4@F?E6C E@ E96 x46 sC28@?[ D@ :E AC@E64ED 282:?DE E96 4@=5]
“$92C:?[ 72== 324< :>>65:2E6=J 27E6C FD:?8 J@FC >28:4]” $92C:? H2D :? 52?86C @7 7C66K:?8 D@=:5]
%96? $92C:? =@@<65 FA 2E >6 7C@> H:E9:? >J 6>3C246 2?5 D?@CE65] “(92E 5@ J@F E2<6 >6 7@Cn”
$92C:? D?:7765 2?5 5C6H 96C DE277] %96?[ >F=E:A=6 DA6==D 3682? E@ =2J6C FA@? 6249 @E96C 7C@> 96C DE277] $@@?[ 2?@E96C H2C>E9 6>2?2E65 7C@> $92C:?] w6C 7246 3642>6 >F49 36EE6C[ 2?5 2 4@?7:56?E D>:=6 BF:4<=J 2AA62C65]
“(9@ 5@ J@F E9:?< AFE E96 2?4:6?E 5C28@?’D >28:4 6?492?E>6?E @? >J 9FD32?5’D 3@5Jn”
%@ E9:?< D96 4@F=5 6G6? 5646:G6 E96 A@H6C @7 2? 2?4:6?E 5C28@?] %CF=J 492C24E6C:DE:4 @7 $92C:?[ E96 86?:FD >286]

%9F>AP %9F>AP
|62?H9:=6[ E96 EC6>3=:?8 8C6H DEC@?86C 2?5 DEC@?86C] xE H2D AC@@7 E92E H6 H6C6 2=>@DE E96C6]
“$92C:?]”
“*6D[ x’== 86E C625J C:89E 2H2J] x’> 8@:?8 E@ 2AA=J =:89E?:?8[ D@ 42== :E H96? x’> C625J]”
(9@@D9P
$@@?[ 36J@?5 E96 3=:KK2C5[ 2 4@=@DD2= >@F?E2:? C2?86 H2D C6G62=65] pE E96 D2>6 E:>6[ 2E@A E96 >@F?E2:? C2?86[ 2? 6?@C>@FD 5C28@? H2D >@G:?8 :ED >2DD:G6 3@5J 2=@?8 E96 >@F?E2:?] xE H2D E96 x46 sC28@?] %96 x46 sC28@?’D @G6CH96=>:?8 D:K6 H2D A@H6C7F= 6?@F89 E@ 4@>A=6E6=J 5C2H 2H2J 9F>2? 82K6] {:<6 2? :>A@DD:3=6 6I:DE6?46[ DF49 2 >@?DE6C DE@@5 E96C6]

$:>F=E2?6@FD=J[ H9:E6 7=@H6CD 4@F=5 36 D66? 7=FEE6C:?8 E9C@F89 E96 3=:KK2C5] p H@>2? DE@@5 E2== 367@C6 E96 x46 sC28@?] %96 >@DE 72>@FD 2?5 4FCC6?E=J 6I:DE:?8 96C@ :? E96 H@C=5[ q26< |@<8@?8] {FI:5 p?G6D:2] $96 H2D 76?5:?8 @77 E96 x46 sC28@? 3J F?=62D9:?8 AFC6 H9:E6 (@C=5 %C66 A6E2=D] %96 x46 sC28@? C@2C65 2?5 DA6H65 :46 362>D[ ECJ:?8 E@ AFD9 q26< |@<8@?8 324<] qFE 6249 E:>6[ q26< |@<8@?8 6G2565 @C 5676?565 282:?DE E96> 2==[ D@>69@H <66A:?8 E96 x46 sC28@? 4@?E2:?65] %96 >@>6?E E96 x46 sC28@? 56D46?565 7FCE96C[ ?62C3J G:==286D H@F=5 36 FEE6C=J 2??:9:=2E65] tG24F2E:@? @C56CD 925 2=C625J 366? 8:G6? E@ E96 ?62C3J G:==286D] xE H2D F?

%92E’D H9J H6 42>6]

“$92C:?[ 42? J@F =2F?49 >6 E@H2C5D $:C q26< |@<8@?8n”
“*6D]”
x 925 AC6A2C65 DF77:4:6?E=J] |J 4@?5:E:@? H2D 2=D@ E@A\?@E49] }@H[ 2== E92E C6>2:?65 H2D E@ FD6 E9:D 4@?5:E:@? E@ :ED 7F==6DE] $:>F=E2?6@FD=J H:E9 >J BF6DE:@?[ $92C:?’D DE277 >@G65] pE E96 D2>6 E:>6[ 2 G2DE 2>@F?E @7 $92C:?’D >28:4 3682? E@ 7=@H] p 82=2IJ D9:>>6C65 H:E9:? 96C 6J6D] t249 DE2C H:E9:? E96 82=2IJ :?7FD65 96C DE277 H:E9 >28:42= A@H6C]
(@@@@@@D9P
%96 u:?2= $E277 C@2C65] %96 DE277 DECF88=65 E@ 92?5=6 E96 :>>6?D6 7=@H @7 >28:42= A@H6C[ 3FE :E 6?5FC65 D@>69@H] p =2?8F:5 D>:=6 7@C>65 @? $92C:?’D =:AD] %96 23:=:EJ E@ 7C66=J F?=62D9 96C >28:4 3C@F89E 96C ;@J]

!6C92AD 5F6 E@ E96 6I46DD:G6=J =2C86 >28:42= >@G6>6?ED[ E96 x46 sC28@?[ H9:49 925 366? 7:6C46=J 4=2D9:?8 H:E9 q26< |@<8@?8[ DF556?=J EFC?65 E@ =@@< E9:D H2J] qFE :E H2D E@@ =2E6 E@ C62=:K6]
“x’> 8@:?8 E@ =2F?49 J@FP” %9:D FEE6C2?46 2=D@ :?4=F565 >28:4]
“*6D[ =2F?49 >6 H:E9 2== J@FC >:89E]”
pD x DECF4< 2 A@D6[ E96 u:?2= $E277 >@G65]
(9@@D9P
pE E92E >@>6?E[ 2 H:?5 3=2DE:?8 7C@> 369:?5 H9@@D965 >6 2H2J] %96 H:?5 9:EE:?8 >J 7246 2?5 6?E:C6 3@5J 76=E =:<6 3=256D] w@H6G6C[ >J 3@5J H2D 7@C865 @7 DE66=[ D@ E9:D 4@F=5?’E 6G6? D4C2E49 :E]

x C2:D65 >J 92?5 7@C467F==J E@H2C5D E96 D6E9:?8 x 925 5@?6 :? E96 A2DE H:E9 >J J@F?86C D:DE6C[ y6?:2] %96 C:?8 @? >J 7:?86C 6>:EE65 =:89E 2?5 C@2C65 E@H2C5D E96 D6[ {:89E?:?8 r2==6C]”
r#prz{t\q~~|P
p3@G6[ E96 A:E49\3=24< DE@C> 4=@F5D 56=:G6C65 ?@E D?@H[ 3FE 2 DE@C> @7 3=F6 6=64EC:4:EJ] %96 >@>6?E 2 3=F6 =:89E?:?8 3@=E A:6C465 E96 D>65:2E6=J 27E6C[ 2 >2DD:G6 DA6== F?7@=565 :? E96 5:C64E:@? E96 =:89E?:?8 H2D DEC:<:?8] p? @G6CH96=>:?8=J G2DE >28:4 4:C4=6 >2E6C:2=:K65 :? E96 D@56C? >286 DA6649=6DD[ F?=62D965 3J 2 D:?8=6 A6CD@?] x? E96 5:DE2?46[ $92C:? 4@F=5 36 D66? 8C:??:?8 A2=6\72465[ 3=@@5 DEC62>:?8 7C@> 96C ?@D6] $96 H2D 4=62C=J 6IA6C:6?4:?8 E96 6I9:=2C2E:@? @7 FD:?8 6G6CJ =2DE 5C@A @7 96C >28:4 7@C E96 G6CJ 7:CDE E:>6]

%9F>A\
%96 3=F6 =:89E?:?8 3@=E 7:?2==J A:6C465 E96 >28:4 4:C4=6] $:>F=E2?6@FD=J[ E96 =:89E?:?8 3@=E’D 2AA62C2?46 492?865 7C@> :ED @C:8:?2= 3=F6 E@ 2 G:G:5 C65] {:89E?:?8 H:E9 2 4=62C=J 5:776C6?E @FEAFE E92? 367@C6] tG6? x[ H9@ H2E4965 :E[ 76=E 2 D9:G6C[ 3FE x A@FC65 E96 >2I:>F> A@H6C :?E@ E96 >28:4 6?492?E>6?E H:E9@FE 96D:E2E:@?] pD >J 2>36C 6J6D EC2?D7@C>65 :?E@ E9@D6 @7 2 5C28@?[ E96 =:89E?:?8 3@=E A:6C465 E9C@F89 >6]
r#prz{tP
|J 6?E:C6 3@5J 4@?GF=D65 H:=5=J 7C@> E96 =:89E?:?8 E92E DH2==@H65 6G6? D@F?5] xE H2D 2 3=@H E92E H@F=5 92G6 366? :?DE2?E=J 72E2=[ 3FE >J 3@5J 23D@C365 E96 6?E:C6 =:89E?:?8 DEC:<6] pD E96 =:89E @7 E96 >28:4 6?492?E>6?E :?E6?D:7:65[ E96 C6>?2?ED @7 E96 2?4:6?E 5C28@? C@2C65]
r#prz{t\!~!P
#65 =:89E?:?8 4FCC6?ED DAC625 E9C@F89@FE >J 6?E:C6 3@5J] x EC2?D7@C>65 :?E@ 2 5C28@?\9F>2? 4C24<=:?8 H:E9 6=64EC:4:EJ]

%CF6 r6=6DE:2= sC28@? %C2?D7@C>2E:@?]
%96 2?4:6?E 5C28@? E92E D9@F=5 ?@E 6I:DE :? E9:D H@C=5[ E96 r6=6DE:2= sC28@?] xE H2D E96 >@>6?E E96 r6=6DE:2= sC28@? C6\56D46?565 FA@? E9:D A=246]

%9F>AP
pD x =2?565[ E96 DFC86 @7 6=64EC:4:EJ DAC625 :? 2== 5:C64E:@?D] %92E 2=@?6 42FD65 E96 4@=5 2:C E@ G2?:D9[ :ED A=246 7:==65 3J E96 6=64EC:42= 4FCC6?ED] %96 x46 sC28@? 7:==65 >J G:D:@?] %96 x46 sC28@?[ H9:49 925 366? F?9:?56C65=J 56D46?5:?8 E96 >@F?E2:? F?E:= ;FDE ?@H[ 92=E65 :ED DE6AD 7@C E96 7:CDE E:>6] s:D>2J 7:==65 E96 x46 sC28@?’D EH@ 6J6D] %96 G6CJ @?6 H9@ 925 362E6? E96 2?4:6?E 5C28@?D :?E@ DF3>:DD:@?[ >2<:?8 E96> 5:8 9@=6D 2?5 9:56 :? G2C:@FD A=246D] y6C:@?[ E96 %C2?D46?56?E $286] xE H2D 2 A6C764E=J ?2EFC2= C624E:@? 7@C 2 >2? H:6=5:?8 E96 6I24E D2>6 A@H6C 2D 9:> E@ 2AA62C 367@C6 :ED 6J6D]

“q@Jn”
pE E96 D2>6 E:>6[ q26< |@<8@?8 2=D@ C64@8?:K65 >6 2?5 42==65 @FE >J ?2>6] p>:5DE 9:D 7=FEE6C:?8 H9:E6 92:C[ 4@?D:56C23=6 :?;FC:6D 4@F=5 36 8=:>AD65] %96J >FDE 92G6 366? DFDE2:?65 H9:=6 DE@AA:?8 E96 x46 sC28@?] xE H2D 2DE@F?5:?8 E92E 96 H2D 92=E:?8 E96 x46 sC28@? H:E9 @?=J E9@D6 :?;FC:6D]
“x 42>6 E@ 2DD:DE]”
“w>A9]” q26< |@<8@?8 6I92=65 2 DFCAC:D65 3C62E9] “x7 x H6C6 @?=J d__ J62CD J@F?86C[ x H@F=5 92G6 E2<6? J@F 2D >J 9FD32?5]”
“(92E 2C6 J@F E2=<:?8 23@FEn *@F’C6 DE:== :? J@FC AC:>6]”
“xE’D 3642FD6 J@F <66A 7=:CE:?8 E92E E96 D:EF2E:@? 2C@F?5 J@F EFC?D @FE =:<6 E9:D]” q26< |@<8@?8[ DF3E=J 2H2C6 @7 >J D:EF2E:@?[ E96? D2:5[ “$@[ 42? J@F >@G6n”
q26< |@<8@?8 2D<65[ =@@<:?8 2E E96 7C@K6? x46 sC28@?] w@H D92CA 96 :D]
“xE’D E@F89]” p=E9@F89 x 2AA62C65 2>3:E:@FD=J[ 9@?6DE=J[ >J 3@5J 766=D :?4C65:3=J 962GJ] xE D66>D >J DE66= 3@5J 23D@C365 E@@ >F49 6=64EC:4:EJ] qFE 6G6? D@[ E96 :?E:>:52E:@? 724E@C :D 567:?:E6] %96 x46 sC28@? 7=:?4965 ;FDE 7C@> >6 D9:7E:?8 >J 82K6]
“x

p?4:6?E 5C28@?D 5@?’E ECJ E@ F?56CDE2?5 9F>2? H@C5D] yFDE 2D 9F>2?D 2C6?’E 4FC:@FD 23@FE 2?ED’ 4@>>F?:42E:@? D:8?2=D[ :E’D E96 D2>6 7@C 2?4:6?E 5C28@?D] %96J 5@?’E 3@E96C E@ @3D6CG6 36:?8D =:<6 2?ED E@ E96>] qFE ?@H[ 2 52?86C@FD 2?E 92D 2AA62C65 2>@?8 E9@D6 2?ED] wF>2?D[ E@@[ H@F=5 D4C62> 2?5 7=66 :7 2? 2?E 6?G6=@A65 :? 6=64EC:4:EJ 492C865 2E E96>] %96 D2>6 8@6D 7@C 2?4:6?E 5C28@?D] x 86?6C2E6 2? @AAC6DD:G6 2FC2 E@ >2<6 E96 2?4:6?E 5C28@? C6EC62E]
r#prz{tP
pD x 6I6CE65 7@C46[ E96 6=64EC:4:EJ 3682? E@ DFC86 6G6? >@C6 G:@=6?E=J] %96?[ E96 2?4:6?E 5C28@? 7:?2==J E@@< 2 DE6A 324< 2?5 C6EC62E65] xED 6?E:C6 3@5J H2D 4@G6C65 :? D42=6D[ 4=62C=J D9@H:?8 E92E :E H2D AC66>AE:G6=J E6CC:7:65]
“v@@5[ ?@H 8@ 324< E@ H96C6 J@F =:G6 BF:6E=J]” |J H@C5D 4@F=5?’E A@DD:3=J 36 F?56CDE@@5[ 3FE x EC:65 E@ D2J E96> 2?JH2J]

pE E92E >@>6?E[ E96 x46 sC28@?’D >@FE9 D=@H=J @A6?65] 0y6C:@?[ J@F… H6C6 J@F 2=:G6n0
p DH66E 76>2=6 G@:46 42>6 7C@> D@>6H96C6] $:>F=E2?6@FD=J[ >J 6J6D D=@H=J H:56?65] x 8=2?465 2E q26< |@<8@?8[ 3FE 96 H2D >6C6=J 4@?7C@?E:?8 E96 x46 sC28@?] %96C6 H2D ?@ D:8? 7C@> 9:> E92E 96 925 962C5 2?JE9:?8] xE H2D?’E q26< |@<8@?8’D G@:46]
0x 4=62C=J 962C5 E92E J@F H6C6 5625P0
x>>65:2E6=J[ 2D E96 G@:46 C6D@F?565 @?46 >@C6[ >J 7246 7C@K6 D@=:5] (9@ H2D E96 @H?6C @7 E9:D G@:46n %96 x46 sC28@?] x 4@F=5 962C E96 G@:46 @7 E96 x46 sC28@? C:89E 367@C6 >6] p?5 @?=J x 4@F=5 962C :E]