Chapter 1680 The Significance of the House of Hearts <TOC> Chapter 1682 Energy Composition of the Microscopic World
Translator: SumTLMan
Angel, of course, wouldn’t believe that a mere House of Hearts would allow Toby to overcome the Tribulation of Resentment.
However, the primary task at the moment is to let Toby confront the Tribulation of Resentment.
Only by directly facing the bleak outcome can one find the motivation to change the tragic trajectory.
In reality, once Toby confronts the Tribulation of Resentment, it’s equivalent to triggering the Tribulation of the Five Flavors. No one knows whether he can overcome this calamity. However, within the House of Hearts, confronting the Tribulation of Resentment doesn’t come with such risks.
This is also what makes the House of Hearts unique.
…
When Sharu snapped back from his trance, Angel and Freud had just finished discussing the issue of inner demon strength.
According to Angel’s calculations, the experiment had come to an end, and he had gathered all the information he needed. However, Angel didn’t leave immediately but looked at Sharu, whose eyes still appeared somewhat dazed.
“Up to now, it seems you haven’t provided a sufficient reason.”
Earlier, Sharu had made a request, hoping he could enter the House of Hearts for another trial in the future. Angel had said at the time that if Sharu could provide a compelling reason, he wouldn’t mind making an exception.
But so far, Sharu hasn’t given Angel a reason that he found convincing.
Sharu bowed his head, his voice turning slightly somber, “What I mentioned before was about what lies behind the third door. In fact, the first and second doors are more important to me than the third.”
Angel didn’t interrupt Sharu, signaling him to continue.
“I’ll tell a short story next. It might not be interesting, but it’s my experience and is related to the first two doors.” Sharu paused for a moment, then began to narrate.
As a child, Sharu lived in a small town called Cudor Town. He had never met his father and depended solely on his mother and elder brother, Lietz, for support. Those days in Cudor Town were the happiest times of his life.
Whenever Sharu spoke of his life in Cudor Town, his eyes would light up with joy. Their mother was loving and allowed the brothers to freely pursue their dreams. Lietz aspired to be an auditor, while Sharu dreamt of becoming a righteous knight.
From an early age, Sharu began working hard to achieve this dream.
Lietz and Sharu enjoyed a blissful childhood until the unexpected demise of their mother. Their world, once bright and sunny, was suddenly overshadowed by gloomy clouds.
Soon after, they were taken in by their uncle from a far-off place and began living in Saint Seim City.
Initially, life seemed fine. Although their aunt often ridiculed them, their uncle generally protected them. However, not long after, their uncle offended someone and lost his job, eventually resorting to working as a Gatekeeper to support the family.
From that point on, their uncle wallowed in alcohol and neglect, no longer caring for them. Their aunt and her son began a six-year-long torment on the brothers.
Sharu never delved into the specifics of those six years, but the anger, despair, and subtle fear in his eyes told a story of torment beyond mere mockery — perhaps physical abuse and even degradation of their very beings.
Their uncle was well aware of their maltreatment but chose to turn a blind eye.
During those six years, Sharu and Lietz transformed from innocent dream-chasing children into adults, understanding the complexities of human nature and recognizing the brutal realities of life.
At the age of seventeen, Lietz, with Sharu by his side, left their uncle’s home and began living in a dilapidated cabin in the woods. To provide for both of them, Lietz gave up his education and his dream of becoming an auditor, settling for a life of shepherding in a manor.
Having escaped the nightmarish environment of their uncle’s home, and even though they had to give up on their dreams, they believed they could start anew.
Regrettably, that period only lasted three years.
After a torrential downpour, a flash flood demolished their wooden home, burying their future with it. When they opened their eyes again, Freud had taken them to Initial Heart City.
At this point, Sharu finally got to the main topic.
“The first door was a wooden one. It led to the home of my childhood. There were two designs on it: a little horse and a book. My brother and I drew these designs with twigs when we were kids. Our mother scolded and punished us for this, but we were still overjoyed. To us, those two designs represented our dreams. The horse stood for being a knight, and the book symbolized an auditor.”
When Sharu spoke of the past, his eyes seemed to shimmer with a certain brightness. However, when he mentioned the second door, his eyes were filled with hatred and anger.
“The second door was to my uncle’s house, where my brother and I endured six years of nightmares.”
With just that statement, it was as if Sharu had exhausted all his strength.
After a long pause, he recovered, saying, “The reason I want to face the trial again is that I wish to open the first door once more.”
After finishing his tale, Sharu looked at Angel expectantly.
Angel, expressionless, responded coldly, “And then?”
Clearly, Sharu’s recounting might have moved him, but it didn’t seem to touch Angel’s heart.
To Angel, Sharu’s reasoning still wasn’t compelling enough.
Sharu remained silent for a moment, his gaze filled with hesitation.
Angel stated, “If that’s all you have to offer, I can’t make an exception for you.”
Upon hearing Angel’s words, Sharu finally made up his mind. He slowly half-knelt, and while Angel raised an eyebrow in curiosity, Sharu lowered his head, extending his crossed hands flatly against his chest.
Sharu didn’t utter a word, but his actions spoke volumes.
It was the gesture of a knight. It symbolized: “I entrust you with everything — my life, my future, and my honor.”
Angel remarked, “Rise, for you are not a knight.”
Lifting his head, Sharu replied with determination, “I will become one.”
Angel looked at Sharu quietly and said, “I don’t need a knight.”
Yet, Sharu’s gaze remained unwavering, seemingly unaffected by Angel’s words.
After a long pause, Angel continued, “While I might not need a knight, Initial Heart City probably wouldn’t mind having one more.”
A glint of joy flashed in Sharu’s eyes.
“Of course, that’s only if you qualify to be a knight. At least for now, you don’t qualify. It might be best for you to return to the library and reflect.”
Then, without waiting for Sharu’s response, Angel had Freud cover Sharu’s eyes and ordered him to be taken back to the library.
Once Sharu had left, Freud turned to Angel and said, “My lord, you still seem willing to give Sharu a chance.”
While Angel appeared resolute, he hadn’t truly extinguished Sharu’s hopes. Just because Sharu wasn’t qualified now didn’t mean he wouldn’t be in the future.
“Opportunities are not mine to give,” Angel whispered.
During the moment when Sharu performed the knightly ceremony, Angel actually couldn’t discern Sharu’s thoughts. Yet, at least in that very instant, Sharu’s gaze was unyieldingly steadfast.
Such a gaze, even if for a fleeting moment, moved Angel deeply.
However, the heart is fickle. Everyone has moments of determination to pursue something, but such resolve often doesn’t last long. It either gets thwarted by external circumstances or dwindles due to a lack of perseverance. So, while Sharu appeared resolute now, it doesn’t necessarily mean he will remain so in the future.
Precisely because of this, Angel refrained from offering a definitive response. Yet, in his words, he didn’t extinguish Sharu’s hopes either.
Having given hope, whether or not one seizes the opportunity becomes their own prerogative.
“After hearing Sharu’s story, I somewhat understand him,” Freud remarked pensively. “It’s the environment that shaped his defiant nature. Sometimes, people don’t intentionally grow into something they loathe; rather, they are victims of circumstance.”
Angel replied, “Lietz also faced the same environment, but he didn’t exile himself.”
Those who are happy share similarities, but every unhappy individual has their unique tale of misery. There are others in the world even more unfortunate than Sharu. For instance, the gifted individual that Angel brought back from Sea Wave——Guina. Her limbs had been entirely severed, her lips sewn shut, turning her into what one might call a mere matchstick of a human.
Yet, even in such a dire state, Guina did not surrender to her misfortunes. She might have committed numerous heinous acts, but the determination in her eyes was something rarely seen by Angel.
For Angel, if Sharu genuinely holds onto his beliefs to the very end, offering him an opportunity would be no harm. However, if it’s all just talk, then it doesn’t really matter.
Life, after all, is in one’s own hands.
Wanting to live up to one’s aspirations isn’t about reaching a final destination; it’s about the journey to get there.
And since it’s merely a journey, one shouldn’t abandon their goals simply because of changing circumstances or the relentless march of time.
Chapter 1680 The Significance of the House of Hearts <TOC> Chapter 1682 Energy Composition of the Microscopic World