MGSFV?! Chapter 542: Becoming a Numb Adult; Escape May Be Shameful, but...
Wishing to make everything different—a very common desire.
It is through that desire that people often break limits, stepping into territories others had never dared imagine.
Thought, after all, is the freest thing in the world—and therefore, also the most dangerous.
Birds wanted to fly to the skies, and so they gave themselves wings.
Thinking about why birds can fly isn't just for debating the question—it allows everyone involved to form their own perspective.
That, perhaps, is more precious than arriving at any one conclusion.
But wanting to overturn the Stigmata Project—that's far from enough.
Even with the spark, the intention to change, whether humanity can truly break free of the dream remains unknown.
"Do you really believe that these ordinary people have the ability—and the will—to change the world?"
[They're taking enormous risks right now precisely because they believe.]
As earlier story scenes showed, Theresa and her group had already grappled with this question.
A very real one.
If your actions don't guarantee the outcome you want—would you still risk everything just for the chance?
The result is uncertain.
But Theresa and the others still chose...
Even if the chance of success seems faint—
As long as it's not zero, they're willing to try.
[Honestly, if I were inside the Stigmata Project, I think I'd probably disappoint Theresa. I'm too realistic... Too many problems in real life. I'd rather stay inside the dream, even if that means giving up. But maybe, because I am realistic, when I look at human history... I start to think that in real crises, people do make different choices. Maybe, just maybe, when survival is really on the line, I wouldn't think the way I do now?]
[...Uh, should I hope you never get to that point? (bitter laugh) I really don't want to live through any extinction-level crisis.]
...
Back to the story.
After Kevin turned and left—
The system once again prompted the player to switch characters.
Elysia followed the prompt and tapped.
The perspective returned to Theresa, who had just left the previous dream—and, luckily, narrowly avoided bumping into Kevin.
She had already found her next target dreamscape.
But before entering it...
Silver lights floated in the dark void.
Following the drifting trails of dreams, Theresa spotted a familiar figure.
"—Seele? What are you doing here?"
Theresa was genuinely surprised to see Seele suddenly appear in front of her.
Seele quickly explained: "I heard about your plan from Dr. Einstein, and I thought maybe I could help too."
"According to the doctor, my ability to perceive the Sea of Quanta might also have some effect on the dream convergence."
"So... I volunteered to come try."
[All Seele commentary is mine to claim!!]
[No way! I'm the one claiming Seele's lines!（）]
"...I won't be a burden, right?" Seele added nervously.
Theresa shook her head at once: "Of course not."
Being able to sense the Sea of Quanta meant Seele could detect which dreams were more fragile—or had greater influence on the convergence.
Clearly a major asset.
"That's amazing. It's like we gained an all-knowing guide!"
This would greatly improve both the safety and efficiency of their mission.
[One? It's clearly two of them!]
[Even if only two people are present, it's still a three-member squad.]
[Now that I think about it—maybe they brought Seele in because she's good with kids?]
[Or maybe it's a chance for Veliona to 'shine'?]
[Veliona shining? Her strategy is probably just "punch the problem."]
Everyone knew by now that the two Seele personalities were completely different.
When faced with someone "beyond reasoning," Seele would probably try again and again, patiently.
Veliona, on the other hand, was far more direct. Her solution would be a swift knockout.
After all, in Veliona's heart, Seele is the only one that matters—
Why should she waste time soothing strangers when Seele barely gets that much?
Who do you people think you are, to deserve that treatment from her?
...
Anyway—
With Theresa and Seele (and Veliona), their three-person team officially stepped into the next dreamscape.
The setting: a neon-lit city street at night.
But it was... eerie.
Despite the setting being a place that should be bustling with life—
Though people were everywhere, everyone was completely silent.
Lifeless men, stumbling men, distracted men. Zoning-out women, sky-gazing women, ground-staring men...
Men and women alike—none of them spoke a word.
"This is strange... The atmosphere here is really off. Everyone looks like they've lost their spirit—either dazed or totally uninterested in others. What kind of dream is this?"
[This dream's on the verge of collapse, isn't it?]
[Aren't dreams supposed to be warm and pleasant? Why is this one...]
[Feels like a collective burnout. Group-wide emotional shutdown?]
[Looking closely—every model here's an adult. Based on that earlier theory, this second dreamscape probably represents adults.]
[So... this must be the dream of a bunch of corporate drones?]
[...] *N
The more players talked, the more the realization hit.
[I get it now. Work's too exhausting—so in dreams, you don't want anyone to talk to you. (suddenly hits home)]
[Honestly, if I entered a dream, this is exactly how I'd act. Think nothing, do nothing. Temporary burnout feels good. Permanent burnout? Even better.]
[I just want to sleep in peace. I'm tired.]
[Welp. I've become one of those numb adults (lol)]
The player who sent that line had originally wanted to end it with "(sad),"
But somehow typed "(lol)" instead.
That laugh... didn't feel very real.
[You there—what are you saying?! I won't give in! (troll face)]
Though the players began to understand what was going on—
Theresa hadn't figured it out yet.
So she decided to check on Seele.
Maybe she'd found something different.
Theresa passed through the dazed crowd, quickly crossing the street—
And after a few turns, found Seele.
But just as she got close...
An angry female voice rang out.
"Get away from me! Leave me alone!"
"But if you keep going like this—" Seele began gently.
"It's none of your business!"
The woman cut her off mid-sentence.
What just happened?
Theresa—and the players—asked themselves simultaneously.
But... the scene felt strangely familiar.
Of course it did.
Who hasn't had a moment when they just wanted to be left alone?
If someone approached and started spouting advice—even if it was sound—you'd still get annoyed.
You don't understand me, and now you want to help? What a joke.
Who do you think you are? I'm an adult. You think I don't know what I'm doing?
Just leave me alone, okay?
GTFO.
Some players quickly grasped the woman's emotional state.
It wasn't incomprehensible—in fact, it was entirely relatable.
...
[...You guys get it now?]
[Got it. This is tough. I don't think she can be convinced.]
[Actually, I might've thought of a way...]
[Huh? What way?]
As chat continued—
While Seele endured the shouting in silence, Veliona had no such patience.
She burst out.
"So annoying! Why tiptoe around it? Just tell her—this is all a dream! None of it is real!"
Veliona: Can't hold it in anymore. Time to snap.
But...
The woman didn't look shocked. Instead, she remained indifferent.
"Is that so? I see."
"Hey! Do you not understand what I'm saying?! This is your dream! Not reality! You're trapped here—we came to wake you up!"
Veliona thought something was seriously wrong with this woman.
This is a dream, just a dream—and she reacts like that?
"Why?"
The woman's tone had calmed slightly—but her attitude remained.
"Even if what you say is true—why... must I wake up?"
She paused, then suddenly raised her voice:
"Reality is already so painful...!"
"Why would you strip away my right to dream?!"
Theresa: "..."
Now Theresa understood.
Why this woman reacted the way she did.
And with that understanding came the realization of how difficult the situation was.
"So that's it... this is that kind of dream."
"When we grow up and realize the world isn't the fairytale we once believed... when reality is filled with powerlessness and injustice, when we can't breathe from the pain, no matter how hard we try to change anything..."
"This dream is suffocating and quiet—because its owner no longer believes there's any hope ahead. They've fallen into endless stagnation."
"For someone disillusioned by reality... this is the only place that feels like home."
[...] *N
[Damn. Another reality check. Honestly, I have no words. It's so true—when reality hurts that much, even if you know the dream is fake... don't I have the right to stay in it? You really can't say no to that.]
[Didn't someone say they had a solution earlier? Let's hear it.]
[...Just make the dream worse than reality. If adults value "realism" so much, then tell them the real rules now: whoever has the bigger fists gets to decide. Don't want to wake up? Say that again while staring at my fists the size of sandbags.]
[???]
That... solution didn't sound very legit.
And calling it "not very legit" was being generous.
However—
A character in the game actually matched that player's logic.
Yup. Our dear Veliona.
"So you're saying... we can't wake them up? Then how about solving it physically?"
Her thought process wasn't just similar to that player's.
It was identical.
[Theresa definitely won't go that route, right?]
[Exactly. If she were the type to do that, she wouldn't have risked entering the Stigmata Project like this.]
[What will Theresa do? What can she do?]
[Maybe just tell the woman... Sleeping too long is bad for your skin? That might actually work. Women care about beauty.]
[...Thanks. I'm wide awake now (serious.jpg)]
...
The livestream chat was as colorful as ever, but one thing was on point—
This person wasn't truly giving up, only... burned out.
Deep down, they probably still longed for something beautiful.
They just didn't show it—not because they didn't want to—
But because they knew how hard it was to grasp.
Not everyone is lucky enough to meet someone like Durandal.
Not everyone is born into a town full of kind people like Elysia.
That's why...
Adults are complicated (lol).
They understand too much.
And it's precisely because they "see reality clearly" that they're the hardest to move.
Yes.
And the hardest-to-move person appeared in only the second dream.
Theresa fell silent for a moment—
Then slowly began to speak.
She understood the woman's pain.
And knew that no words right now would truly reach her.
Because she herself had once felt the same.
Which is why—emotionally and logically—she had to do something.
She took her time.
Telling her story.
Telling others' stories.
One by one.
Not hoping for a reaction.
Not hoping she'd change her mind.
Just to say—
Beauty really does exist.
It's not just wishful thinking.
"All right, Seele. Let's go."
"Huh? We're done? But... she didn't even respond."
"For adults... that's enough."
"..."
Veliona didn't understand.
But someday, she probably would.
For now, she simply turned and silently followed Theresa out of the dream.
[Beauty really does exist. Maybe, if we try again outside... we might reach it. Maybe we might catch it.]
[Just... maybe.]
[Stay here, and nothing will get worse—but nothing will get better either. Step out, and things might improve—or might grow more chaotic.]
[What would I choose? What would you choose?]
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