NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 265:
Chapter 265: Krisha Smelled Something:
[You have completed a long simulation.]
[Your small step was a great leap for humanity.]
[In the post-apocalyptic world where all of humanity perished, you were the only survivor. Everything you did paved the way for human history, and your experiences became its continuation.]
[From rising from obscurity, to dominating the wasteland, and venturing into the starry seas…]
[When you met your end, so did human history.]
[You possess an incredible talent, comprehending countless technological principles despite being a mere mortal. The knowledge you accumulated alone is comparable to an entire advanced civilization.]
[You mastered the art of exterminating the insect race and enjoyed communicating with them by blowing their heads off.]
[You are an eccentric creator who named a household AI and nurtured her humanity. You succeeded, achieving a miracle once thought impossible.]
[You passed away with peace of mind, leaving your machine companion with a final warmth, as your soul faded into oblivion.]
[Simulation complete. Calculating highlights.]
[Simulation rating in progress…]
[Generating rewards…]
The golden sunlight gently fell on Xu Xi’s nose, dispelling the emptiness of his fading soul and awakening the immortality within him.
In the silent tranquility, Xu Xi opened his eyes.
The simulation had ended.
Before him was the familiar courtyard of reality, with two girls waiting nearby—Krisha, standing quietly, and Wu Yingxue, chewing on grilled dragon meat.
They were following his earlier instructions before he entered the simulation, observing any anomalies related to the simulator’s activation.
“…Master?”
Xu Xi was about to speak, planning to ask if they had noticed anything unusual about the simulator.
However, before he could, the witch moved first.
With a puzzled expression, Krisha took a few steps closer to Xu Xi, her small nose twitching as she sniffed him curiously.
Her action was rather adorable, resembling a cautious little animal sensing danger.
“Is something wrong, Krisha?” Xu Xi asked, confused.
“There’s a strange smell on you… it feels ominous.”
Krisha tilted her head blankly, her hollow eyes reflecting deep bewilderment. Her silver-gray hair followed her movement, cascading over Xu Xi’s neck.
“Really?”
Wu Yingxue, intrigued, leaned in and took a sniff as well, but she smelled nothing unusual.
Xu Xi thought for a moment. Perhaps the witch’s heightened instincts had detected the presence of the life simulator.
With a smile, he reassured Krisha, telling her not to worry.
“Krisha, Yingxue, can you tell me if you noticed anything during the process?”
While the simulator was still calculating results, Xu Xi decided to ask the two girls if they had discovered any clues about its true nature.
At the same time, he couldn’t help but worry about Ailei’s future.
The cold and desolate universe had no other life to accompany her. The thought of Ailei being so alone made him anxious.
The good news was that, due to her unique existence, Ailei would have no problem surviving in the perilous universe.
…
The sun set.
The night breeze carried a chilling cold, one that seeped through, cooling even overheated mechanical cores.
Silver-blue eyes dulled, and the once delicate face turned lifeless and empty.
Her trembling hands repeated the same motion over and over again—trying to grasp that burnt-out hand and place it against her cheek, longing for its familiar touch once more.
Finally, the mechanical maid succeeded in her arduous task.
In the pale confines of the pod, she grasped the lifeless hand, guiding the withered fingertips to gently touch her face.
“…Master.”
“…Welcome back. This is your AI assistant, Ailei. I am always at your service.”
“Please… use me… once more…”
A sad smile formed on the delicate face touched by the cold hand.
There were no tears, but the sorrow within the mechanical body far surpassed any that could be expressed with simple tears.
There was no response.
Compared to the machine filled with overwhelming emotion, the man on the bed had long become nothing more than an empty shell.
He would never wake up again, never teach her how to be human, never wipe away the sadness on her face.
Yes.
Never again…
“Ailei is… very unhappy to serve you,” the mechanical maid whispered, overwhelmed by grief.
She held Xu Xi’s cold, lifeless hand tightly, hoping to prolong its presence against her cheek.
As if by doing so, the scattered ashes would gather again…
As if it could reignite the warmth he once had.
But that was impossible.
And so, the loyal machine could only mourn her helplessness in the flow of time, regretting being unable to save the one who mattered most.
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry… Master… I’m so sorry.”
The words of regret echoed throughout the pod.
Time became eternal.
No matter how the outside world changed, Ailei continued to hold Xu Xi’s hand tightly.
Until even his genetically modified body could no longer withstand the passage of time and began to decay.
Only then did Ailei finally stand up.
With just the right amount of strength, she carried his empty body outside the escape pod.
She didn’t attempt to preserve it forever, nor did she consider cloning or artificial replication.
In the quiet melancholy of autumn, she simply buried him.
All the attempts she had made before, all the efforts to preserve him, had only imprisoned him in pain.
Now, she no longer wished to create another cage that would confine the warmth he once had.
“Master…”
“What is… love…?”
Under the influence of nutrient agents, the barren ground outside bloomed into a sea of dazzling blue and purple flowers.
In the gentle breeze, Ailei stood in silence, gazing at the small grave mound. Her silver-blue eyes turned solemn, devoid of the brilliance they once held.
Whoosh…
Whoosh…
The wind grew stronger.
The flowers swayed, scattering petals that shimmered like falling stars.
Ailei reached out her hand, catching a few in her palm—delicate petals of stellar bloom.
Loyalty, freedom, and eternal love.
These were the meanings behind the flower’s name.
By now, Ailei had her own understanding of love, yet it was incomplete—limited only to Xu Xi.
“Master, I… love… you…”
There was no response.
Only the howling wind replied.
Ailei waited patiently, trusting Xu Xi’s words—believing he would eventually revive, even if it took a long time.
Until then, blind waiting wouldn’t help.
She leaned forward, plucking a full bouquet of the stellar blooms, arranging them neatly around the grave.
“Master, any threats to your safety…”
“I will eliminate them all.”
“Everything, completely, without hesitation.”
She whispered softly, lifting her gaze to the vast, endless starry sky.