Hope and Despair

###Log Entry: Day 03

Still, everything remains the same. I can't hear, see, or talk. Sometimes it feels like having hope is meaningless in this situation. But I can't give up, can I?

Hey, Hope… Can you raise the volume? I want to distract myself from these thoughts.

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Hey, Hope, if I can't eat, how am I surviving? You don't know? Aren't you stupid? You don't know anything!

Ah! Don't apologize, you stupid AI.

Just do what you do best. Continue reading the story from where you left off.

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Hope? Did you turn on the light? You didn't? Then why is it brighter now? Wait, did you hear that? I can hear something. It's very faint. Ugh! I can't understand. Hope, did you do something to me? Obviously, you can't. Then it started. It surely started. Hehe, I'm hallucinating, it's hallucination, the first stage of insanity. Hehehe...

###Log Entry: Day 04

I don't care whether I'm hallucinating or not. As it brings a new flavor to this eternal darkness. Why do I say dark instead of bright? Because it's still dark, though slightly brighter than the first two days. I also hear something indistinct. Although I can't understand the head or tail of those sounds. As a bonus symptom, I feel like I am moving. Am I imagining it? There, I moved—slightly, almost negligible, but I'm sure I moved. Is it my head, hand, or leg? I can't tell. Let's try again. Move. Move. Mooove!

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Maybe I was just imagining things. Ah, Yes… Of course! There was a novel or manga I read many years ago. What was its name? I forgot. But that's not the point. If I remember correctly, the main character was a cultivator from a renowned family in China. He was the top genius of his generation. Some unfortunate events occurred, and he lost his cultivation. Seeking revenge, he killed almost all the main family members and himself. Lunatic!

Then, he reincarnated in another world. With his knowledge from his previous life, he realized he was in his new mother's womb and started cultivating from within.

Am I also in someone's womb? Is this my new mother? How can I become certain? I don't know any techniques like that main character. What should I do?

Maybe I just need to concentrate. I recall that those cultivators in novels, always sit in the lotus position, close their eyes, and focus on sensing their surroundings.

Let me try that.

But, how do I get into the lotus position?

Just forget it and try to concentrate. Focus, breathe, do I breathe? Don't distract me. Just focus, focus, focus…

###Log Entry: Day 06

It's not as simple as it seems. If it were, people wouldn't be so drawn to superhero movies or spend their time engrossed in lengthy novels. Would they? As normal individuals on Earth, it's natural for us to indulge ourselves in unattainable fantasies.

But is it possible for me to sense my surroundings with my mind? Cultivators dedicate themselves to constant concentration day after day, even months or years without any break or distraction. but for me, it's difficult. Because I am finding myself struggling against sleepiness. Despite my efforts to sense my surrounding over the past two days, I've likely lost consciousness 5-6 times in the meantime. But on the bright side, this only strengthens my hypothesis. I recall reading in a journal that babies spend most of their time asleep in their mother's womb. Perhaps… my hunch is true.

Ah! I miss my mom's cooking, my old mom actually, not the new one. It's been 6 or 7 years since I last tasted her food. The hardest part of those lonely years was the absence of good food. My sister is terrible at singing, and I am terrible at cooking. What a combination we were! But my sister inherited my mother's culinary skills, not to the same level but she cooks well. Sometimes, she would secretly visit my apartment, and every time she did, she would cook for me. Those days were like heaven.

Are they living well? Will they miss me? I miss you, Mom, Dad...

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Let's try again. Focus, focus, focus.

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Did it work?! No, I can sense my surrounding but it seems my condition improved. The darkness seems on the brighter side, and I can hear more clearly now. Let me concentrate. HMM! HMM! I think I can hear heartbeats. Badum! Badum! yes, it's heartbeats. Are they mine, or are they coming from my new mother?

Now the question is, can my movement improve? Let's give it a try.

Hush! Hush! Hush!

I moved! I moved! I really moved! Was it my hand or leg? Let's try again. Punch! Kick! Punch! Kick! Did I punch or kick? I believe I only punched. I didn't feel any sensation of touching anything—it was more like punching into the air, though it felt sluggish and heavy. Perhaps it's because my hands are still developing. I'm not entirely certain about punching, as I heard babies always kick inside their mother's wombs. Who cares? It's still progress, isn't it?

I think it's a huge improvement.

Hey, Hope, I can move my body now. Let's do it together. You can't? So what! With me, say it out loud, together. Punch! Kick! Punch! Kick! Dance...

###Log Entry: Day 07

My hunch is telling me that today something good will happen. Hope, play some music in the background—something that will fire us. Not actual fire, Hope. I mean play something like, like some famous heavy metal songs.

And let's synchronize our movements:

Punch! Kick! Punch! Kick! Dance!

Kick! Punch! Kick! Punch! Dance!

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Before going to sleep, last time, I think I opened my eyes slightly. That's why, I want to try it, now. But, I'm afraid. Afraid to see the truth. Will I still be in my mother's womb or cradled in her embrace? Or perhaps I'll awaken from this darkness, and the conversations with Hope will prove to be a nightmare, just a bad dream.

Ah! Hope is telling me that everything I've experienced so far is real. Thank you, Hope. You truly are my beacon of hope, guiding me forward in these situations.

Okay, Osim.

Gather your courage and give it a try. You are a gamer, and gamers face the unknown head-on to conquer it.

Hey, Hope, play the war drums tune in the background.

Alright. Now, with me, say, "To conquer! To conquer! To conquer!"

With those words echoing in my mind, I cautiously open my eyes. However...

It's blurry. Everything appears bright, reddish, and distorted. It's painful to move my eyes, but I won't stop here. Let's try moving my head.

Leeeeeft, riiiiiiight... my vision is slowly improving.

Again. Uuuuuup, doooowwn... I'm getting closer to unraveling the mystery. One more time.

Hope, play the drums faster.

Leeeeeft, riiiiiiight... there, just a little bit more.

Uuuuuup, doooowwn...

Yes, I can see it.

But...

What is this?

Focus, Focus, focus.

Ahhhhhhh! Why is it so small?!