Chapter 637: Nahida’s Inner Voice

Alhaitham's plan seems very risky at first glance—for example, someone might ask: What if the Grand Sage doesn't cooperate?

But this plan will only be thrilling without real danger, because it's not about whether the Grand Sage cooperates or not—the Grand Sage has already been completely read by Alhaitham.

If the Grand Sage really wouldn't act this way, Alhaitham would switch to another plan.

He has more than one plan in mind—this one simply fits the current situation best.

It's practically like Fyodor Dostoevsky entering Kamui's camp (BSD refernce)—his grasp of human nature is terrifying.

Now everything is proceeding exactly as Alhaitham predicted, and even the Akasha terminal the Traveler is wearing hasn't been confiscated.

This Akasha is the key for the Traveler to connect to Nahida's consciousness—it's one modified by Alhaitham.

The Grand Sage isn't blind; he naturally saw it, but he didn't care at all. Anyway, the Akasha is under his control—didn't you see that even in the scene where Alhaitham was exiled, he was still wearing the Akasha?

In the Grand Sage's view, the other side wearing the Akasha actually makes it easier for him to control their information.

The Grand Sage thought he had seen through Alhaitham and understood Alhaitham's plan completely, but in reality, it was the opposite—Alhaitham had predicted the Grand Sage's prediction.

Now it's Alhaitham's turn! First, he summons the monster card "Traveler · Paimon" in attack position, declaring an attack on the Grand Sage's "weakest point."

Gods, the Akasha's server—without a doubt, Nahida is the Grand Sage's weakest point.

If he truly lost Nahida, the Grand Sage's ruling position would become unstable.

In the story, the Traveler and Paimon are searching everywhere for the place with the strongest WiFi signal to establish a "local network" with Nahida.

Right now, Nahida is in a shutdown state—offline—so the "internet" can't be found; only a "local network" for offline connection.

It must be said, this segment is probably the most difficult part of the entire plan.

In the animation, the Traveler circled the solitary confinement room for a long time, actually giving the audience a full view of the room's appearance.

This place is called solitary confinement, but it's more like an abandoned library, filled with many books, only long neglected with tree roots growing everywhere.

The Traveler was like someone holding a phone searching for signal, circling around and around, and finally found a suitable spot to successfully establish the "local network."

Unfortunately, the "local network" connection wasn't very good—there was actually an "air wall." Nahida was right on the other side of the wall, but no matter how the Traveler called out, the other side couldn't hear.

In fact, this air wall was set up by Nahida herself to prevent external contact with her consciousness.

The camera shifted to Nahida's perspective—here was Nahida's "Serenitea Pot," a pitch-black space.

Nahida sat on the ground, curled up into a ball, looking so adorable it evoked pity.

With her back to the Traveler, she couldn't hear the Traveler's calls. She huddled in this darkness, tightly hugging herself, craving even a sliver of security.

[Nahida's inner voice: "When did it start…?"]

["…Oh, right—it started from the moment I was born."]

When did the darkness envelop her and loneliness "erode" her? From the moment of her birth.

To dispel the "gloom" and gain recognition, Nahida constantly learned how to become a qualified god.

Learning knowledge, protecting the people, searching for ways to save the Irminsul.

But in the end, she was still locked here—no one acknowledged her.

This was a voiced movie. Nahida's voice reached everyone's ears, filled with grievance and doubt that made hearts ache.

["I longed to catch up to that figure. To catch up to Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's figure."]

That was her goal, and the only existence she could reference.

No one taught her how to be a qualified god—everything had to be explored on her own.

This moment reminded everyone of Cyno's story—wasn't Murtada just like that?

"Elders" provide shelter, but also burden.

When an "elder" is too outstanding, others have high expectations of you—but the problem was that Nahida had only just been born back then.

Nahida had no chance to perform. She could only try her best to show herself, but no one cared.

The current Nahida was like someone who scored second on a test—the first place gets all the attention, while she faces endless doubt: Why couldn't you get first?

Are you not trying hard enough?

This is PUA rhetoric, but Nahida was truly PUA'd—she was still doubting herself.

["Yet I was confined in the Sanctuary of Surasthana… yet the sages created a new god to replace me… yet I had to seal my consciousness in boundless darkness."]

A series of self-interrogations—such fragile inner thoughts were heard by everyone. Nahida felt a bit shy.

As an insecure god, this is how she was—Nahida easily felt embarrassed.

Look at Ei beside her—she had no embarrassment about her past being watched by everyone.

The Plane of Euthymia was her inner voice—all her joys, angers, sorrows, and joys were there. It could be said she was seen completely naked, but she didn't care—whoever wants to look can look.

But for her confident attitude, one really wants to grab her and say, "You're the one who should be most embarrassed!"

The same five hundred years, the same baring of inner voices—yet two completely different mindsets.

The root cause was just two words: confidence.

Nahida hadn't received much recognition, so she cared more about others' opinions. Seeing her inner voice made public, she worried about what others thought.

Do they pity her? Think she's pretentious? Weak? Affected? Nahida didn't know, so she cared—she cared a lot about others' views.

Ei was different. Go ask anyone in Inazuma—who wouldn't acknowledge the Raiden Shogun?

Even those who don't acknowledge the Raiden Shogun's governance can't refute her martial prowess—Musou no Hitotachi is that confident.

So Ei didn't care at all what others thought seeing her inner voice. Is what others think important?

So Nahida's current state is due to lacking confidence, but it's okay—after she fights Scaramouche, she'll gain some confidence.

By then, Nahida will realize her combat power isn't low at all.

But that time hasn't come yet. The current Nahida is still insecure, so she continues her self-deprecating murmurs.

[Nahida: "Come to think of it, it seems I've never properly listened to my own voice…"]

["Do gods have inner voices too? Should gods have inner voices? Is everything I've done correct?"]

All sorts of doubts filled Nahida's heart. She wanted to become a qualified god, but she didn't know what a qualified god looked like.

No one had ever told her—just like no one told Furina. They could only explore on their own.

The difference was that Furina had one chance to perform; Nahida had none.