20demayo Chapter 43 Cinderella 2
Chapter 43 Cinderella 2
Mayor Lucas led the Middle Continent team with precise strides to a remarkably clean and beautiful two-story wooden house situated on the edge of town. The house was a striking bright yellow, with pristine white lace curtains hanging in the windows. In the small garden by the door, roses, lilies, and marigolds, all displaying vibrant colors, were blooming simultaneously, out of season, releasing a mixed, cloyingly sweet fragrance.
"Please come in, distinguished guests. This is the 'House of Marigolds' prepared for you. May you enjoy three pleasant days here until the ball begins." Mayor Lucas pushed open the oak door, polished so smooth it reflected his image, and once again revealed that standard smile. He bowed slightly, then turned and, with the same steps, disappeared around the brightly colored street corner, as if he had never been there.
The group stepped into the cabin. The interior was equally exquisite, with brand-new furniture, gleaming floors, and a fake flame flickering in the fireplace, warm but emitting no heat. The air was filled with the pleasant scent of wood and wax, but mixed with the rich floral fragrance drifting in from outside, it created a suffocatingly sweet aroma.
Closing the door shut out the false tranquility outside. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, but their vigilance remained undiminished.
"Inspect the house, look for anything unusual. Set up basic security and partitions," Chu Xuan ordered in a low voice, while simultaneously activating his portable terminal to attempt to connect to any signal or energy network that might exist in this world. Ling Dian, Zhao Yingkong, and Ming Yanwei quickly dispersed, checking each room, corner, fireplace, and vent. Ba Wang and Li Shuaixi stood guard at the door and windows. Zheng Zha stayed close to Chu Xuan and Wang Lin.
Wang Lin's mental matrix operated at its lowest power, like an invisible spider web covering the entire wooden house. He could sense that the interior of the house was also filled with that viscous, pinkish mental energy field, but the concentration was slightly lower than outside. The house structure was normal, with no secret passages or hidden energy nodes; it was as clean as... a newly erected stage set.
"No physical or energy traps detected. Very 'clean'." Zhao Yingkong's voice rang out coldly in the matrix.
"Outside the window... those flowers... something's not right." Ming Yanwei stood by the window, her eagle-eye ability allowing her to see extremely fine details. "The veins on the petals... resemble some kind of fine blood vessels, and the center of the flower's stamen... is black, pulsating slightly."
"The scan shows that the floral fragrance contains trace amounts of neuroactive substances with weak numbing and mood-inducing properties," Chu Xuan's detector provided cold data. "Long-term inhalation, combined with an external mental field, is enough to make ordinary people completely addicted to this 'wonderful' illusion, losing their will to resist. It won't have much impact on us for now, but we need to be careful."
Just then, the cold, emotionless notification from the Supreme God finally rang in the minds of all the reincarnators:
[Enter the World: Cinderella (Dark Fairy Tale Twisted Version)]
[Main Mission 1: Survive in Sweet Dream Town until the Prince's Ball ends. Mission successful: Each survivor receives 3000 reward points and one C-rank side quest. Mission failed: Elimination.]
[Main Quest Two: Before the ball ends, uncover the truth behind the "Sweet Dream Town Happiness Law" and obtain at least one key "Contamination" or "Curse" source artifact. Success grants the entire party one B-rank side quest and 5000 reward points. Failure results in the entire party randomly losing one C-rank or higher enhancement or skill and being forced to remain in this world until the next quest triggers.]
[Main Quest 3 (Optional): Prevent the "Prince's" final selection ceremony, or ensure that "Cinderella's" soul is not completely devoured/corrupted by the ceremony. Successful completion of the quest rewards each participant with one A-rank side quest and 8000 reward points. Failure of the quest incurs no penalty.]
[WARNING: This world is governed by highly structured "storytelling" and "ritualistic" underlying rules. Any violation of the "Sweet Dream Town Happiness Laws" (including but not limited to: expressing negative emotions, questioning appearances, going out at night, approaching the Forbidden Forest, attempting to escape the town, and disrespecting the "Prince" and "Fairy Godmother") will, depending on its severity, trigger a "law backlash" or attract the attention of the "Rules Keepers." Please act with caution.]
[Hint: The key figure "Cinderella" or someone connected to her may know part of the truth. The ball is both a selection process and a sacrifice.]
The mission is issued, cold and clear. Survival, decryption, and an optional high-risk, high-reward stop mission. And, of course, that omnipresent, inescapable "Law of Happiness."
"Survive for three days, uncover the truth, and choose to save someone." Zheng Zha pondered the mission. "This 'Law of Happiness'... is just an enhanced version of the rules the mayor mentioned. Expressing negative emotions or questioning the good things will trigger a backlash? Damn it, this godforsaken place..."
"It's more like a large-scale, forced 'role-playing' game, or rather... a cult ritual." Chu Xuan pushed up his glasses, data streams flashing in his eyes. "We have to play the role of guests who are 'well-intentioned, rule-abiding, and looking forward to the ball' in order to move around safely and gather information. But at the same time, we also have to investigate secretly and break the rules. It's contradictory, but we have to balance it. The optional missions of the main god usually point to the core conflict of this world and high reward points. 'Cinderella' is the key."
"First, assign roles and formulate a preliminary action plan." Wang Lin rubbed his temples. The continuous maintenance of the mental matrix and the consumption of psychic vision still left him feeling tired, but the newly awakened nascent form of the Light of the Mind provided a resilient sense of support. "Chu Xuan, Zhan Lan, and I will be responsible for contacting the townspeople and trying to gather information about Cinderella, the prince, the fairy godmother, and past balls without triggering the laws. Pay special attention to any 'abnormalities' and 'inconsistencies.' Zheng Zha, you take Ling Dian and Ming Yanwei and try to observe the forest edge from a distance without 'approaching' it, collecting energy and biological data. Ba Wang, Li Shuaixi, and Zhao Yingkong will stay at the cabin, establish defenses, and try to find any hidden clues or loopholes in the rules by examining the items and decorations inside. O'Connor, Evelyn, and Jonathan, you will follow Zheng Zha's group, observe carefully, but do not act on your own."
"Note," Chu Xuan added, "In any communication, try to maintain a positive, expectant, and grateful tone. Use phrases like 'How wonderful,' 'Exciting,' and 'The Fairy Godmother is so kind.' Keep your doubts and probing to yourself and communicate through the matrix. Zhan Lan, when you use your mental power to interact with the townspeople, you can try the most subtle, non-malicious emotional perception, but absolutely do not attempt mind control or in-depth probing, lest you trigger an alarm."
"Understood," everyone replied in unison.
With the plan set, everyone immediately got to work. Wang Lin, Chu Xuan, and Zhan Lan tidied themselves up a bit (their clothes had been automatically cleaned during the God's repair), and tried their best to put on expressions of moderate curiosity and joy befitting "guests looking forward to the ball," before pushing open the door and stepping out of the "House of Marigolds."
The streets remained eerily quiet. A few townspeople walked by with precise steps; upon seeing them, they immediately flashed standard smiles, nodded in greeting, and continued on their way, showing no desire to speak.
"Let's go to the town center first and see if there's a market, a bulletin board, or a place with more people," Wang Lin said in the matrix, maintaining a natural smile on his face while curiously looking at the overly brightly colored houses around him.
They soon arrived at the town's central square. In the center of the square stood a dried-up fountain decorated with colorful pony sculptures. Beside the fountain was a small stall displaying several baskets of brightly colored fruit (also distorted in color), behind which sat an elderly woman in an apron, with gray hair and a perfectly standard smile. On the other side of the square stood a huge, smooth black stone slab, on which were engraved in gold, cursive script the "Sweet Dream Town Happiness Rules (Revised Edition)".
The three approached the stone slab. The rules were numerous, beautifully worded, yet filled with an undeniable force of will:
"The first rule: Always keep a smile on your face and be grateful and kind; this is the foundation of happiness."
"Article 2: Any form of arguing, crying, complaining, anger, or other negative emotions is strictly prohibited. If mediation is needed, you may apply for 'happiness counseling' from the mayor or the person in charge of the rules."
Article 3: Do not leave your residence after sunset. Nighttime is for peaceful sleep and sweet dreams; those who go out will be considered a disruption of the peace.
Article 4: The forest outside the town is a forbidden area, full of danger and uncleanliness. No townspeople or visitors are allowed to approach it.
Article 5: The favor of the Fairy Godmother and the prince's affection are the highest honors. No questioning, slander, or disrespectful words or actions are permitted.
"Article Six: His Highness's ball is a wonderful opportunity to showcase beauty and reap happiness. All eligible individuals should actively participate and prepare carefully."
"Seventh: The story of Cinderella serves as a warning. The lazy, slovenly, and resentful do not deserve happiness. Please take heed."
Article 8: Happiness requires joint efforts to maintain. Anyone who discovers a violation has an obligation to report it to the person in charge of the rules. Those who conceal violations will be punished as well.
……
Each of these rules exudes a distorted sense of extremes and violence regarding "beauty" and "obedience." The seventh rule, in particular, directly nails "Cinderella" to the pillar of shame, serving as a negative example.
"It seems that in this distorted version, Cinderella's 'virtues' have been completely reversed." Chu Xuan calmly analyzed within the matrix, his face bearing an expression of admiration as if appreciating a stone carving. "'Laziness, slovenliness, resentment'... these are her resistance against oppression, twisted into original sins. The 'Fairy Godmother' and the 'Prince' have become objects of absolute correctness and must be worshipped. The 'truth' of this world may very well be hidden behind this inverted interpretation of the Cinderella story."
"Let's go ask that old woman who sells fruit," Wang Lin suggested. The three of them, with friendly smiles on their faces, walked towards the stall.
"Good afternoon, madam. The apples look really fresh today." Wang Lin picked up a bright red apple, his tone light and cheerful.
The old woman looked up and gave a standard smile: "Good afternoon, distinguished guest. Yes, the Fairy Godmother's grace ensures our orchard never withers, and our fruit is always plump and sweet. Would you like some? Just one silver coin."
Her voice was gentle, but her eyes were vacant, as if she were reciting lines.
"Of course, a few, please." Chu Xuan handed over a silver coin he had exchanged from the Main God, one that matched the style of this world. "We're new here, and everything in Sweet Dream Town is new and exciting. Especially the upcoming ball, it's truly something to look forward to. Madam, the ball in previous years must have been spectacular, right?"
The old woman took the silver coin and meticulously placed the apple into an exquisite little basket, her smile unwavering. "Yes, it's wonderful. His Highness the Prince is handsome and kind, and the girls chosen by him are the happiest people in the world. They will all live in the castle and enjoy eternal happiness." Her words sounded like an official speech that had been rehearsed countless times.
"Have you... heard of any girl who, for certain... reasons, didn't find happiness?" Zhan Lan asked cautiously, her face showing a mixture of sympathy and curiosity. "For example, like the Cinderella mentioned in the law?"
Upon hearing the words "Cinderella," the old woman's standard smile froze almost imperceptibly for a fleeting moment. Her eyes remained vacant, but the hand that handed over the basket trembled slightly.
"Cinderella..." she repeated, her voice lowering, "that was...an unfortunate example. She didn't follow the rules, she wasn't grateful, so...she received her due punishment. The Fairy Godmother is just. Guests, please don't talk too much about unpleasant things; it's not good for maintaining a happy mood." She finished quickly, then lowered her head and began arranging her already impeccably neatly arranged fruit, no longer looking at them, gesturing to see them off.
"Of course, of course, I'm sorry to have reminded you of something unpleasant." Wang Lin quickly apologized, took the basket, and the three of them politely said goodbye and left.
After walking a little further away, Zhan Lan whispered in the matrix: "When she heard 'Cinderella,' there was an extremely brief but real... fear. Although it was forcibly suppressed by the 'Law of Happiness,' it was there. Cinderella in this town is definitely not just a 'story' or a 'negative example.' She may really exist, or her 'punishment' may be some kind of real, terrifying event."
"Hmm. Moreover, from her words, 'the chosen girls' are plural, and 'they will all live in the castle and enjoy eternal happiness.' But the prince can only have one bride," Chu Xuan analyzed. "What about the other chosen girls? The so-called 'eternal happiness' is very likely what the quest hints refer to as 'soul devouring/contamination.' The ball is a process of selection and sacrifice."
"We need to find someone who knows more about the inside story, or... find Cinderella herself, or people or things related to her," Wang Lin pondered. "The townspeople are under mind control, and directly questioning them is too risky. Perhaps we can start with the 'violators' or 'marginalized individuals.' For example... those who might be dissatisfied with the 'Law of Happiness,' or those who have a past connection with Cinderella."
Just then, at the edge of the mental matrix, a faint mental fluctuation, completely different from the surrounding viscous pink force field, was detected—filled with pain, repression, and a trace of barely perceptible… resentment. The fluctuation originated from a secluded corner on the edge of the town, near the forest.
"I've found something." Wang Lin immediately focused his attention on it and shared his perception with Chu Xuan and Zhan Lan.
It was a low, dilapidated wooden cabin, a stark contrast to the brightly colored houses around it. The cabin was a dull grayish-brown, its windows broken and haphazardly nailed together. Weeds grew rampant outside, a stark contrast to the meticulously manicured, distorted gardens. The faint, unusual spiritual fluctuations emanated from this cabin.
More importantly, under his psychic vision, Wang Lin saw that the pink psychic field enveloping the town became thin and distorted around the dilapidated wooden house, as if it were being repelled or eroded by something. The wooden house itself also emitted an extremely faint, grayish-black energy field with an old, bloody, and painful aura, which was somewhat similar to the dark and crazy aura from the direction of the forest, but was more restrained and heavy.
"That place... might be the residence of the 'violator,' or... a place related to Cinderella," Wang Lin whispered. "Let's go take a look, but be careful."
The three maintained their smiles, pretending to take a casual stroll, as they walked towards the dilapidated wooden house. The closer they got, the more pronounced the oppressive, painful mental fluctuations became, and the surrounding environment grew increasingly "abnormal." The nearby houses were noticeably older, their colors dull, and withered, blackened grass stems could even be seen in the cracks of the cobblestones on the road. Occasionally, townspeople would pass by, and upon seeing the wooden house, they would detour around it, their standard smiles becoming somewhat forced, a fleeting, barely concealed look of...disgust and fear flashing in their eyes, before they quickened their pace and left.
When they were about twenty meters away from the dilapidated wooden hut, the hut's crooked wooden door suddenly creaked open from the inside.
A pair of cloudy, bloodshot eyes, filled with exhaustion and pain, yet burning with a faint, indomitable flame deep within, stared intently at them through the crack in the door.