"But before watching the video, there's a question I want to ask you."
Guinaifen narrowed her eyes and looked mysteriously at group of three. She suddenly lowered her voice and slowly spoke in a ghostly tone like a cold wind blowing out a candle, "Do you believe ghosts and spirits really exist?"
"I... I guess they do?" March said uncertainly.
Stelle shook her head instead, "Probably not. I've already seen at least three creatures close to ghosts, but whether it's the Fright Maze, the Wuwubo, or the Suiyang, none of them match the kind of real ghosts from stories."
"They definitely exist," Nero suddenly said.
Even though he had also seen the Fright Maze, the Wuwubo, and the Suiyang, the boy gave a completely opposite answer from Stelle. But he did not stop there and instead gave what sounded like a very reasonable explanation,
"By definition, I think the Fright Maze, the Wuwubo, the Suiyang, and even the people from Garden of Recollection who turned themselves into memetic creatures can all be treated as part of the General Normality."
"But General Normality is a term based on the knowledge and understanding currently possessed by intelligent life in the universe."
"Under those conditions, there's one fact that can't be denied. Even in the universe's current state, the number of people who understand General Normality actually isn't that large."
"Lifeforms in Basic Normality are still the most common foundation of life in the universe."
"But to lifeforms in Basic Normality, things like the Fright Maze, the Wuwubo, the Suiyang, and Garden of Recollection's memetic creatures can all be viewed as ghosts and monsters."
"On the other hand, even when viewed from the perspective of General Normality, incomprehensible beings like Aeons still contain mysteries beyond intelligent life. Their abnormal nature can still be treated as a kind of ghost or monster."
"Speaking of that, it reminds me of Herta. Researching Aeons really is useful. I support her a lot on that point."
"Huh? Huh... huhhh?" Listening to Nero's words, March's expression kept changing. General Normality, Basic Normality, she did not understand any of it.
Still, she more or less understood what Nero meant. The understanding and definition of ghosts and monsters depended on intelligent individuals themselves.
And with enough people involved, creatures like the Wuwubo and Suiyang, as well as intelligent curios, Pathstriders, and even Aeons, could all be considered demons and ghosts.
For the current universe, this was obviously a very fresh way of thinking, but it was also completely in line with Nero's style.
From beginning to end, this kid had always lacked what people called "normal respect" toward others and even gods.
Whenever he interacted with any lifeform, he treated them as equals. He would not look down on someone because they were lowly, nor flatter someone because they were noble.
But at the same time, his decisive personality that made him do whatever came to mind also gave people the feeling that he did not really see anything as human.
He would give outward respect where it was due, but in the end, his own thoughts and opinions always came first.
After hearing Nero's words, Stelle showed a thoughtful expression. Instinctively, she felt Nero was right, but at the same time there seemed to be something subtly strange about it.
Simply put, the idea sounded scientific, but after thinking about it, it also did not seem very scientific.
But when talking about ghosts and monsters, why even care about science? Yet somehow, his explanation still carried a bit of scientific logic.
Guinaifen stood there stiffly. She had not expected such an answer from a simple question.
But she also realized something else. Maybe this was why Nero feared nothing.
This child believed that everything should have a reasonable explanation and cause. "Existence is reasonable" was his indestructible shell.
"I think, therefore I am" was his unwavering axis. "The observer effect" was the core filling his framework. In the world of "me," "my" consciousness stood above everything else.
To folk religion and religious belief, this kind of worldview, scientific on the outside and mystical on the inside, was obviously extremely impactful.
The more a religion's teachings clearly pointed toward and relied on "gods," the stronger the impact became.
Because put in simpler terms, this worldview meant, I say gods exist, therefore gods exist. I say gods are useful, therefore gods are useful. I say there should be light, therefore gods say there should be light.
To put it even more directly, Humans do not need to fear gods. Gods should fear their creators, humans.
This was obviously an extremely blasphemous idea. In the eyes of fanatics, both in the past and the present, someone holding such beliefs deserved to be burned alive even more than witches in the Middle Ages.
To sum it up, The world is vast, let me roam freely. Cages bind themselves. The heart breaks the restraints.
But among the four people present, none of them were the type to seriously think about this and take action over it.
If members of the Intelligentsia Guild or the Genius Society were here, they might have found this philosophical conclusion deeply interesting.
At this moment, the attention of the four was still focused on Guinaifen's haunted livestream.
Guinaifen raised her hand and rubbed her nose. "After hearing Nero explain it like that, ghosts suddenly don't seem that scary anymore..."
"Probably because Nero is scarier than ghosts. I personally witnessed how he scared a horror maze that creates ghosts into crying," Stelle quietly complained.
"Enough chatting. Let's first watch the strange thing that happened during my livestream in the Sui Garden yesterday."
Guinaifen lowered her head and fiddled with her phone while talking. She pulled up the edited video and handed the phone to group.
Very soon, Guinaifen appeared on the screen. Under the dim lighting, the fiery girl looked somewhat nervous.
"Everyone, right now little Guizi is in the most terrifying paranormal hotspot on the Luofu, the Sui Garden. Please like, follow, and share to give little Guizi some courage!"
As soon as Guinaifen finished speaking, a trembling voice followed, "I heard... a lot of strange things have been happening here lately..."
Then Sushang poked her head out with an even more panicked expression. The young Cloud Knight's face was actually a little pale at the moment, completely unlike the courage she showed that day when directly opposing the IPC staff.
"You're this scared... and you said you'd protect me!" Guinaifen complained at once, both scared and annoyed.
"How can Cloud Knight swordsmanship kill shapeless things?!" Sushang shot back powerfully.
Right then, a streak of cyan light suddenly flashed past behind them, leaving behind a dazzling tail that quickly disappeared.
In an instant, both of them went silent and nervously looked around in fear.
"J-just now, was there something..." Guinaifen unconsciously shrank back a little.
"D-d-d-don't panic... I'm here..." Sushang encouraged her while raising her sword and moving beside Guinaifen.
At that moment, the two seemed to hear something. They turned around, then immediately let out piercing screams!
Amid their screams, the camera flipped over, and the screen turned static.
Then a faint voice slowly echoed around them, "Wuwuwu... died so miserably..."
Along with the eerie voice, there were also floating ghostly green flames burning on their own in the air.