Game of Deception Chapter 176: You Have Already Done Enough

Ming Po took a mont to compose himself.

He looked up at Chizuko. Her eyes were vacant; she was already completely under his control.

"Chizuko."

He gently stroked her, guiding her as he spoke softly, "I am the one who has co to save you."

"With , you can let go of all your worries, all your sorrow, all your despair. You will no longer be afraid, and you will no longer be alone."

Ming Po had completely dismantled Chizuko's ntal defenses.

To an entirely defenseless mind, words alone were akin to hypnosis.

Ming Po's low, raspy voice carried a strange, magnetic quality that induced a sense of slumber. "Right now... who do you want to be?"

"...Papa."

Chizuko murmured.

He was the presence deep in her heart that gave her the greatest sense of security, the person she longed for most to save her.

"Alright, then I am your papa."

Ming Po seamlessly slipped into the role.

He gently patted Chizuko's head. "Since Papa is here... don't you think it's a bit too dark in here?"

"...Dark?"

"Yes. Right now, it should be a warm, beautiful afternoon.

"It's a winter afternoon, and the weather outside is clear. The fireplace provides warmth, but it won't make you drowsy. The open window lets in the fresh outside air, and the sunlight spills over us just like this..."

Even though his ability was constantly active, Ming Po felt the ntal pressure from his Title lessening.

This ant Chizuko was sinking deeper and deeper.

And at this mont, within Chizuko's clouded consciousness, the presence of the 'Teacher' inexplicably vanished.

Although she couldn't clearly see the face of the man sitting beside her...

There was no doubt.

His silhouette, his voice, his scent—they all belonged to the father in Chizuko's mories!

She threw herself into her father's embrace, her voice choking with sobs. "Papa, I missed you so much..."

She didn't cry hysterically, nor did she even shed real tears.

She simply buried her face in his chest, greedily breathing in his scent.

At so point, their surroundings had ceased to be the ancient, desolate manor reeking of decay.

Instead, it was once again bathed in bright sunshine.

The open window let in a fresh breeze from outside, crisp and refreshing.

The afternoon sun stread through the window, spilling over them.

She felt as though she had returned to her childhood—back to when she was only five or six years old.

Her hands were tiny; even stretched to their absolute limit, she could barely span an octave.

She gazed at her father with adoring eyes.

"Papa! Papa!"

She cheered, "I want to hear Papa play the piano!"

"Okay."

The gentle masculine voice replied, "What song does Chizuko want to hear?"

"Hmm... Castle in the Sky!"

Chizuko declared enthusiastically.

"Oh?"

Her father smiled. His fingers danced as he began to play the piano. "Does Chizuko want to watch a movie?"

"Hehe..."

Chizuko giggled sheepishly.

In front of her father, her thoughts were always so easily exposed.

That was the first movie Papa had ever taken her to see.

She couldn't quite understand the plot back then; she only knew how to gasp in awe.

She would worry for the safety of the pirates, and her eyes would light up whenever the robots appeared.

"Papa~"

She acted coquettishly, tilting her head and nuzzling into the chest of the man beside her.

"Hmm?"

"I also want to watch My Neighbor Totoro!"

"Then we'll watch it."

"But I need to practice the piano... Is that okay?!"

"Of course it's okay."

The man smiled warmly. "Because Chizuko is a good girl. Any request from a good girl will be granted."

"Yay!"

The little girl cheered, her face brimming with happiness. "Papa is the best!"

She listened quietly to the piano.

The music dancing from his fingertips gave a sense of freedom, yet it also felt sowhat sorrowful.

"Papa..."

Chizuko's voice suddenly dropped. "I want to watch Spirited Away."

"Then we'll watch it."

The man replied, still smiling.

Beautiful, slightly lancholic music poured from his fingers.

"But..."

Chizuko looked up at the man with blurred features. "When the movie ca out, Papa was gone..."

The man didn't answer. He simply continued to silently, gently play the warm music that made one yearn for ho.

"Papa."

"Hmm?"

"Is Chizuko a bad girl?"

"You're a good girl."

"Then why don't good girls get good endings?"

Chizuko asked, "That's not how it works in the movies."

The man fell silent for a mont before lifting Chizuko onto his lap.

"Want to learn how to play the piano?"

He whispered gently into the girl's ear.

"I don't want to learn!"

Chizuko puffed her cheeks angrily. "If I learn, Papa won't co back!"

"If you learn," the man coaxed, "you can play together with Papa."

"...O-Okay then."

Chizuko mumbled, letting the man place her hands on the keys.

His large hands covered her small ones, slowly and precisely striking every key.

From slow to fast, her playing gradually grew more proficient.

And the large hands gradually left hers, playing alongside her on the left and right.

As Chizuko played, tears began to stream uncontrollably down her face.

The tears splashed onto the keys, yet not a single whimper escaped her lips. She rely gritted her teeth, her body trembling without a sound.

"Papa..."

She suddenly spoke.

Her voice was muffled, thick with crying. "Why did you give the Title to ..."

"Papa was tired,"

the man said softly. "I wanted to rest for a bit."

"Then, can Chizuko be tired too?!"

"Of course you can."

Unexpectedly, the man agreed.

He stroked Chizuko's head, offering encouragent once more. "You have already done enough."

She finally couldn't bear it any longer and burst into loud, wailing sobs.

Ming Po sighed softly, holding her in his arms and rocking slightly.

Outside the window, the afternoon sun was obscured by dark clouds; it looked as though it was about to rain.

This ant that Chizuko's state of mind had shifted once again.

But no matter how the scene outside changed, this old piano remained exactly the sa.

Whether it was sunny or rainy, it was just as old and worn.

"Chizuko."

"Mm..."

The girl's muffled voice responded.

Ming Po held her, gently patting her back as he murmured, "You didn't set this place up, did you?"

This was the source of the initial dissonance.

If this was rely a Paradox ga constructed by Chizuko, it should consist of the things that left the deepest impression on her.

She had blocked the path to the second floor with items from her old ho, which ant her impression of the old house was much stronger.

Yet, the scene was set in the new house.

"...This was set up by Papa."

Chizuko lifted her head and whispered into Ming Po's ear, "Chizuko... didn't touch anything.

"Because Chizuko thought, maybe... Papa would co back..."

As she spoke the last half of the sentence, her childish voice was already choking with sobs.