Boothill sat in his seat, took a sip of malt juice, and crossed his legs.
Seeing the barrage, his mood gradually became more cheerful.
He said, "That's right, baby!"
"I just want to see what this mastermind is up to, then send them to meet Ena of Order with a single bullet!"
"This mission is that simple!"
Boothill whistled.
The screen began to blur.
It seemed that the so-called link was about to succeed.
Even March 7th couldn't help but exclaim, "Really? Does he actually have talent?"
The screen completely darkened.
Subtitles appeared.
[The sound faded away—]
[Unfortunately, the sensory isolation happened too quickly, and he didn't have time to hear the girl's question and reconsider his adventure.]
Then.
The voice of Assistant Banana 71 rang out.
"The answer is simple, miss, this gentleman..."
"Wishes to return to the past more than anyone else here."
As soon as these words were spoken,
Boothill, who had been calm and smiling, suddenly froze!
His smile solidified on his face!
Even.
His heart skipped a beat.
A small figure appeared in his mind.
She had just learned to walk.
She would vigorously strum a small wooden guitar, giggling at the chaotic sounds from the strings.
But this image.
Was soon drowned in the fire of the company's spaceship.
At this moment.
On the big screen.
The image began to show color.
Still at Dreamflux Reef.
But unlike before,
There were no other members around, no March 7th, and it was so quiet it felt like a dead zone.
Only a television set ahead.
To be precise,
It was called Assistana 71.
...
"Hmph. The shabbiest bar I've ever seen is more impressive than this. You call this a revelation?" Boothill sneered.
"Creating a beautiful yet false prospect is a clumsy tactic, completely opposite to the spirit the Slumbernana Monkeys want to convey to people."
"Many members have been here, trying to gain something—truth, happiness, peace... nothing more than that."
"Unfortunately, there are no answers here, only a question—Will you become even more unfortunate because of this?"
...
"???"
"Assistana 71 feels a bit different now."
"Damn it, are you giving a lecture now?"
"So this is what people experience before they turn into monkeys?"
"Is this the start of a psychological attack?"
"I don't believe any rhetoric could make someone like Boothill willingly turn into a monkey."
"If even Boothill can't hold out, there's no hope for anyone else."
"Let's see what tricks this dream has to make people voluntarily turn into monkeys?"
...
"If I asked you to quit malt juice, what would you think of first?"
"Of course, having a drink, right? That's what you're thinking right now, isn't it?"
Ahead,
Two thoughts appeared.
"Don't pull this classic trick."
"Can't say that, buddy, sometimes we need something new."
These were the fleeting thoughts in Boothill's mind.
"If the dependency on the drink didn't exist from the start, this problem wouldn't arise, and the two thoughts it generated would disappear along with it."
"May I ask—Will you become even more unfortunate because of this?"
As Assistana spoke,
The two thoughts vanished.
And Boothill was somewhat surprised.
"(...What the banana is going on? I really don't feel like drinking at all.)"
"(No wonder the Synesthesia Beacon turned into this mess. This piece of junk can't do this. Where's the bastard behind it?)"
So far,
Boothill's thoughts hadn't changed drastically; he was still determined to find and kill the mastermind.
But then,
Assistana shifted the topic.
"Next, let's turn our attention to some more complex issues."
"Such as your hatred, your hatred for the company."
As the words fell, company employees appeared ahead.
...
On the scene.
Boothill slammed the table hard.
He stood up abruptly!
"Ask me to give up my hatred for the company?"
"Damn it! What kind of joke is this?"
"If I don't shoot you dead next..."
Before he could finish.
Boothill suddenly froze!
Assistana asked, "Now, just like before, imagine a scenario that doesn't exist in reality—"
"What would happen to a person who lives for revenge if they lost their hatred?"
"Will you become even more unfortunate because of this?"
He replied, "What the banana are you talking about?"
The next moment,
He suddenly became cheerful!
"But... what's going on? I feel pretty good now. Yeah, who the banana cares?"
Assistana clapped in satisfaction.
"Very good, you truly have a keen understanding. Let's proceed to the next lesson..."
"Galaxy Rangers."
"Of course, I also understand that hatred is not something easily erased."
"This will be the most difficult lesson, so I will stay by your side. Next..."
[If all karma is severed, and you forget all your connections to this world...]
"Mr. Ranger, would you become even more unfortunate because of this?"
[This is the decisive moment, and the man named Boothill knows it well.]
[Or... the man who was once named Boothill.]
Seeing these subtitles.
Boothill's fists clenched tightly.
He was practically grinding his teeth!
If he were truly brainwashed,
forgot his hatred, abandoned everything...
and became a carefree cowboy... or a monkey.
Such an outcome,
would be worse than death for him!
He wished he could rush into the story and shoot his indecisive self!
But that was obviously unrealistic.
The plot of Honkai: Star Rail represented another kind of reality.
This was likely his original fate!
His eyes were glued to the screen.
He had to keep watching!
...
Facing Profnana's question.
Boothill looked up.
A look of confusion appeared on his face.
"I... don't quite understand what you're saying. But... you seem quite interesting."
As he spoke,
the tone that used to be so sharp it could kill someone with love gradually softened!
And the name field had turned into "???"
It seemed,
that the Boothill of this moment was no longer Boothill!
In fact,
he even warmly greeted Profnana in front of him!
"Nice to meet you, buddy. What should I call you?"
Profnana replied, "Though it's not our first meeting, you can call me Professor Monlip Profnana."
As soon as this name was mentioned.
The comments exploded!
...
"It's over!!"
"I knew there was something off about this Profnana. Turns out it's Professor Monlip pulling the strings from behind!"
"Boothill's name has turned into three question marks!"
"Nooo!!"
"His tone has become so innocent?"
"His memories are degrading..."
"Mr. Boothill's final episode [crying]"
"Are the Galaxy Rangers going to turn into monkeys too?"
"It's over, it's Professor Monlip. We're doomed!"