Something's wrong, they're not NPCs?

Chapter 216 What about me now?

1 month 5 day.

early.

When Su Ming woke up, there was no one around him.

"..."

Outside the bedroom, she was cutting something in front of the simple stove.

【Character: An Xiaoxi】

【Favourability: 123】

[Description: A girl who has a high degree of trust in you and loves you. You can trust that she will not do anything to harm you.]

The translucent entry box was floating above her head.

"..."

Perhaps An Xiaoxi noticed Su Ming coming out, and she turned around subconsciously.

look at each other.

"Get up so early?"

"……Um."

She murmured a response and immediately looked away, her cheeks completely red.

That wasn't the case last night after the lights were turned off.

1 month 5 day.

noon.

"Why are you so far away from me?"

Su Ming was a little confused.

Logically speaking, shouldn't people be more casual after intimate communication?

"Brother-in-law..."

"Ok?"

"Um... can you just write it on the back?"

"There's nothing good about the back, and it can't help me strengthen my memory."

“…But, but!”

An Xiaoxi covered her front, "...This is super embarrassing."

"..."

"Is it possible that the more ashamed you are, the more I will remember?"

"what?"

An Xiaoxi was at a loss.

"It won't work if you change it to No. 72. This is your achievement alone, understand?"

Su Ming glanced at the bionic man who was sitting quietly beside him. He always had a calm expression. It was a dream to expect her to show a shy expression.

"I always feel like my brother-in-law is controlling me..."

"Don't worry about whether it's CPU or ICU, I can remember it anyway, right?"

"...My brother-in-law's memory is so weird. He can't remember anything for a long time if he doesn't see it."

"This just shows that you are very attractive and a very powerful woman."

"..."

In the end, An Xiaoxi gave it.

1 month 5 day.

Night.

"Brother-in-law... aren't you going to do anything?"

"You probably haven't recovered yet, right?"

"..."

"The goal has been achieved. There's no need to rush to tell me what to do. I'll do it without you telling me."

"……Um."

She no longer insisted on hugging Su Ming tightly as she did before.

"Brother-in-law."

Maybe after a few minutes of silence, she suddenly spoke in a low voice.

"Actually... I don't just want to seduce my brother-in-law."

"What do you mean?"

"That is... that is, if my brother-in-law is provoked by me and has any idea..."

"Ok?"

"nothing!"

"..."

It seemed that Su Ming knew what she meant without her having to continue talking.

Is it not just a hint, but the psychological satisfaction after getting a response from yourself?
hiss.

Why are the two sisters' XP more abstract than each other? Even more abstract than myself.

1 month 8 day.

Su Ming didn't go out at all these two days.

"In other words, the core technology is that it cannot be detected by anything and can be used instantly?"

"Yes."

I am asking No. 72 what the gun she holds is made of and what technical difficulties it has.

"The future direction of light weapons research in major countries is to be more portable, more functional, and more effective in terms of lethality and effective range than traditional weapons."

"Developers envision developing weapons that can remotely detonate gases or materials around a target, but this will remain a concept until 2065. Or perhaps the information is not entered into Database 72."

"Okay. Draw the diagram of the gun in your hand."

"……Well."

It's An Xiaoxi's turn to play the drum.

Looking at composition No. 72.

"Clap."

Su Ming lit a cigarette and also felt it was a bit abstract.

Previously, I just thought that I had asked Xia Ye to help me with my body when I was learning a foreign language. But now I realize that I can really remember it. It is easy to remember it together with the drum after watching it several times.

Is this a hidden bonus in the game or an innate alternative liberal arts physique?
"Xiao Xi, don't shake, I'm watching carefully."

"..."

"I can't see clearly when you move like that."

"No. 72, look at where you have drawn this to."

"Sorry, No. 72 thinks a 1:3 ratio is best. Any smaller and the master won't be able to see clearly."

"Okay, I'll take her back to her room and remember it slowly. You go do what you need to do."

"..."

After returning to the bedroom.

"...Brother-in-law?"

Let An Xiaoxi lie down.

"I think you're feeling very uncomfortable and need a sedative."

"..."

"The words are all blurred, but luckily I remember them clearly."

"..."

"I didn't remember the ones I ordered outside, so don't mess them up."

"Oh, it's obviously because of my brother-in-law..."

1 month 9 day.

early.

Su Ming plans to go back to the surface to take a look.

"Master, the surface temperature continues to drop. It has now reached a record high of -55 degrees."

"..."

For Su Ming, temperature is just a matter of how much time he has free time outside.

"If you want Miss An to be able to move freely on the surface, you'll need a suit similar to an aerospace-grade space suit. The necessary materials are as follows..."

There wasn’t much for Su Ming to find.

No. 72 meant that most of the core materials could be made from discarded robot bodies or remaining materials in the laboratory. The main thing was to go out and find something that could store oxygen in a portable way so that An Xiaoxi could use it immediately if she felt unwell.

The bionic man who was brought back and looked very similar to Xia Ye could also be disassembled. The material was better than what Su Ming had tried his best to find outside.

"Brother-in-law, I will prepare dinner for you."

"Besides cooking?"

"..."

"Ok?"

"That... will also happen."

1 month 9 day.

morning.

Su Ming has already gone out.

An Xiaoxi knew about it last night. Since he had accompanied her for several days as agreed, she had no objection.

I know I can’t stay in the lab forever.

"No. 72, did you see that just now?"

"What do you mean?"

"Brother-in-law... took the initiative to kiss me."

"According to the long-standing social unspoken rules of the Snow Country, kissing in public is immoral."

"The day before yesterday, I was still feeling a little uncomfortable, so I just slept normally. Yesterday... I felt better, so I didn't do anything and started."

"According to the long-standing social unwritten rules of the Snow Country, telling others about one's behavior in public can be charged with criminal harassment at the highest level."

"But, no matter what clothes you change into, your brother-in-law seems to have no interest in you."

"...Can No. 72 think that Miss An is mocking No. 72 for being unattractive?"

"hey-hey."

An Xiaoxi couldn't help but smile as she recalled her experiences over the past few days.

Whether it was using him as a knee pillow, bathing him, rubbing his back, etc., there was no need for her to take the initiative to hint.

but……

It was too embarrassing to paint on a drum, especially to be watched for more than 20 minutes without moving. During this time, I had to be teased in various ways.

"No. 72, you said..."

"Is it possible that my brother-in-law actually likes me a little bit?"

"Miss An, humans usually have three major illusions."

"My brother-in-law must like me at least a little bit, otherwise he wouldn't let me do so much so naturally... and he seems to be in a good mood. It's definitely not that good if he just responds to me reluctantly."

"Miss An, question, are you really talking to No. 72?"

"Brother-in-law... likes me."

"..."

"Really? Even if you have the ability, you can't go out wearing so little. Aren't there clothes that are more cold-proof than military coats? It would be better to take a thermos with hot water. It's so windy outside, can an ordinary lighter light it? It's time to quit smoking... Although I can get used to the smell, it's not good for my health."

"..."

Until here.

No. 72 seemed to finally understand what Su Ming meant when he said "You will become like me" a few days ago.

That's it, right?
1 month 9 day.

in the afternoon.

The snow on the ground had completely covered Su Ming's ankles and reached his calves.

The so-called ruins are not something you can get just by hearing about them. You have to actually see the stones that are several times larger than an adult right in front of you, pressing down on all kinds of daily necessities, to get a real feel for them.

"..."

Number 72 missed one thing.

The surface temperature continued to drop, and the light was dim, almost as dark as when it was almost dark.

1 month 9 day.

Night.

"Brother-in-law is back?"

"Well, no results."

Su Ming worked hard for a whole day, but he neither found a suitable place to make a portable gas tank nor encountered a monster with a bionic human in its body.

"Do you want to take a shower or eat first?"

"Take a shower first?"

"..."

Enter the bathroom.

"You can also...first..."

While An Xiaoxi was rubbing Su Ming's back, he stammered in the back, "...eat Xiaoxi."

"..."

"Why is my brother-in-law silent?"

“Isn’t it too late to say this?”

"How can I say it so quickly in front of someone..."

“Isn’t this also said?”

"..."

She was just as happy even though she didn't gain anything.

Is it because the lack of gains means I have to stay here for a few more days, or is it simply because I came back for my own good?
Maybe both.

I felt An Xiaoxi wiping my back carefully with a towel.

"Wow."

Su Ming stood up directly.

"Okay, it's not that troublesome for a man to take a bath."

"I'll help you wash it next."

"what?"

"But I've already washed. Just...everything is ready, waiting for my brother-in-law to come back."

"Has anyone ever stipulated that you can't eat again after you've eaten, or can't sleep again after you've slept? Similarly, you can take a shower again after you've taken a shower."

"..."

"No one will... help me take a bath like this."

"dislike?"

"……No."

1 month 10 day.

When Su Ming got up again, he found that An Xiaoxi had helped him prepare a lot of equipment.

A thermos with hot water.

A warm lining that is warmer than just wearing a military coat, a cold-proof suit... and a folded lucky charm. A handwritten "Bon voyage" in a very delicate font. The sisters' handwriting is very beautiful, much better than my own handwriting which is only passable after practicing hard and signing.

To be honest, it is a little inconvenient to move around wearing such thick clothes.

"Will I be safe if I write 'Have a safe journey'?"

"Of course. Don't look at me like that. I often win four or five times in a row when I buy drinks or something. I have good luck."

"Can you say it smoothly today?"

"?"

"Shower first or what?"

"..."

Will she still feel ashamed?

But the more this happened, the more Su Ming wanted to do something. He didn't have to just look for materials when he went out, he could also bring back interesting things.

1 month 10 day.

Night.

Based on the map provided by No. 72, Su Ming successfully found the ruins of the hospital and found some potentially useful materials inside. He also found a lot of unopened hoses.

1 month 10 day.

late at night.

The laboratory only has a bedroom of about ten square meters.

"No. 72 clearly said that my brother-in-law went out to look for materials..."

"Isn't nurse uniform one of the materials?"

"…Why would you cut such a long skirt off a nice nurse's uniform?"

"I hope you can cosplay. But I don't want you to be too normal."

"...Now I understand why my brother-in-law always gave me and my sister clothes when he went out to look for things in Haidao City."

"Ok?"

"Of course! It's not normal to give it to my sister. I can't let me see it at that time."

"more or less."

"This, your sister also wore it?"

An Xiaoxi raised the white coat in his hand.

"No, but the bunny girls and the like have changed." "So... I'm the first one, right?"

"Yes."

"High heels...do you want to wear them?"

"In real life, nurses don't wear high heels to work. They all wear flat heels, right?"

"I'm not a real nurse. And... I don't have to take care of many patients. Should I wear it?"

1 month 11 day.

Something happened.

"Master, oxygen supply device No. 72 will take two days to make. As long as there is kinetic energy, it can continue to provide Miss An with normal oxygen, so that she will not be directly exposed to the cold air on the surface and cause hypothermia and shock."

"There is another matter that No. 72 thinks he should tell you."

"In addition to the temperature continuing to drop, No. 72 observed that the oxygen content on the laboratory surface was decreasing abnormally. The original oxygen concentration was 20%, and before the owner was found, the altitude only changed by 0.01%-0.03%. Until now, the decline has been getting faster and faster. The current surface oxygen concentration has shrunk to 18%."

"The reason, No. 72 cannot understand for the time being."

"..."

It certainly can't be good news.

Before, we were in a stable environment. The biggest danger we faced was actually monsters.

And now in this chaotic season... the oxygen level has been decreasing, what will happen?
Return to the bedroom.

"Brother-in-law."

"Ok?"

"Um...I have a question that might be a little weird."

"But it doesn't matter."

"That's right! Sister...what does it feel like to get into the state?"

"Her? She will cry."

"what?"

"Didn't you say that at the beginning? She cried when she heard me next door."

“…I’m not a child now.”

"She would want to keep it like this. She was shy at first, but later she wanted me to keep looking at her."

"You won't be embarrassed?"

"Maybe he was ashamed but wanted me to watch."

"it's wired……"

"..."

"How about...look at me too?"

"You're even weirder."

"I... I think I know why my sister does this... Hmm. I want to try it too..."

Didn't tell An Xiaoxi anything negative.

After all, we're leaving here soon.

1 month 12 day.

Su Ming encountered a monster again.

"..."

But unlike before, their movements were at least half as slow. Su Ming took out the humanoids from their bodies without even having to reload the save file.

Some have been completely transformed into humanoid forms entangled by vines, while others remain relatively intact.

It is indeed different from a real summer night.

Now relax and observe, reach out and feel it yourself.

Ok.

I see. Although Xiaoye often speaks in a joking tone, she may really care about the baby cafeteria of A. The smallest of these dolls is B. The dolls that were carried back earlier are probably also at the level of B-, and none of them are Xiaye.

In order to prepare for an emergency, Su Ming went out to prepare spare oxygen storage. An Xiaoxi didn't have to carry much, but he could carry more. The technology of No. 72 can provide ten times more oxygen than traditional tanks.

What if the oxygen content really suddenly becomes much lower?

I also need to prepare some medicine to prevent various hypoxia. And I didn't take any safety measures in the past few days, it was all based on willpower.

Safety measures should also be taken back with you.

Getting pregnant in this environment is not difficult enough.

1 month 13 day.

noon.

No. 72 has modified the oxygen mask.

As long as An Xiaoxi wears it, she can breathe air at normal temperature without having to come into direct contact with the surface environment.

The clothes that ensure the body's constant temperature are completely different from what Su Ming imagined. He just disassembled the humanoid he brought back and combined it with discarded robot parts to make a pure blue leather coat that is even more ordinary than what Su Ming is wearing.

"No. 72 has added a light and wind energy conversion device. As long as there is wind and light, it can always provide Miss An with a constant temperature."

"If you don't have enough energy, you need to lower the limit and tolerate some cold or heat."

"In case of emergency, only the master can provide the material. No. 72 will be converted and provided to Miss An."

"..."

An Xiaoxi seems to be talking?

But after opening his mouth, Su Ming heard no sound, only saw a layer of mist rising from the mask.

“You need to flip the switch on the side of the mask to transmit and hear external sounds normally.”

No. 72 helps An Xiaoxi slide the switch.

“…Brother-in-law, I’m scared to death.”

"I couldn't hear anything just now."

"How do you feel now?"

"..."

An Xiaoxi tried to move her wrist and tilted her head again.

"It's lighter than I thought, eh? It's just a little heavy on the head. The things I'm carrying are also a little..."

"That's the conversion device."

"...I'm sure I can do it, brother-in-law, don't worry. This is much better than before."

1 month 14 day.

"call……"

Moving too slowly, An Xiaoxi would be out of breath after walking only a few kilometers.

Su Ming was holding a weapon and wearing the same leather jacket as An Xiaoxi, so his physical energy consumption was very small. But... the oxygen has indeed become scarce, right? He could clearly feel his breathing speed increase.

How long would it take to get to Sea Island City at this speed? Winter City is at least 2,000 kilometers away from the seaside.

Transportation……

Forget about driving. Not to mention the rubble and obstacles everywhere. The snow is so deep that you can't even drive.

airplane?

The evening of July 1.

There was a small earthquake. An Xiaoxi could hardly stand and had to rely on Su Ming to support her.

"..."

Her face looked very ugly inside the mask.

An hour ago, I took a break and asked No. 72 about the current oxygen concentration. It was about 17%, which was an absurd drop.

If it falls below 18%, hypoxia symptoms will appear. An Xiaoxi should have started to feel chest tightness and shortness of breath.

"Just rest here. We'll leave tomorrow."

Try to find a sled. It's not as fast as a plane, but it's definitely faster than hiking and takes less energy.

1 month 14 day.

late at night.

The ground was shaking violently.

"Owner."

"This is not an earthquake caused by plate movement."

"?"

Seeing No. 72 suddenly standing in front of him, the back of his body suddenly stretched out enough to accommodate Su Ming and An Xiaoxi.

Su Ming seemed to have seen this scene before. Flower bud?
"Such as the unconventional energy fluctuations that No. 72 automatically recorded while in hibernation. They carry substances that are not recorded in the database, have astonishing destructive power, and are likely to bring about various abnormal disasters."

so?
"According to No. 72's forecast, this fluctuation is not weaker than the last automatically recorded data. No. 72 will automatically initiate the emergency protection order."

"Master, No. 72 hopes that you will make the best possible preparations for protection. No. 72's body cannot withstand such high-intensity fluctuations like the laboratory. We can only reduce the damage suffered by the master."

Wrapped in the bud. Nothing can be seen, only the ground is shaking more and more violently.

"Brother-in-law?"

An Xiaoxi grabbed Su Ming's hand.

"..."

He wanted to say that there was no problem. But No. 72 was not the person that Su Ming could confidently say was fine.

"I told you I'm a lucky star... I've won seven bottles of drinks in a row at most."

"It's definitely fine."

Where does she get the confidence from?
"..."

Su Ming's ears were buzzing. Even though he was equipped with weapons and enjoyed the bonus, he began to feel obvious difficulty breathing. He could no longer easily stabilize his body and kept hitting the soft wall of No. 72's bud.

What is An Xiaoxi's experience?
1 month 15 day.

The watch hands showed that it was 0:3.

How deep is it buried?

Why is it so bright outside?

Staying in the hard shell of No. 72, Su Ming struggled to get up and pried open the bud where there was light. It was very hot, completely different from before the earthquake, neither night nor snow. The scorching sun made Su Ming's arm ache slightly.

Number 72 didn't lie.

Her body structure is indeed not comparable to that of a robot, but it is definitely different from that of a human. A human has a heart, while hers is an arc-shaped crystal fixed by metal.

Now Su Ming knew.

Why do we see mummies at the beginning? Isn't that what happened to No. 72? He died in an instant and was roasted.

"……cough."

I want to summon the blade of philosophy, but I can't.

He took out a knife from his trouser pocket, and the pain from the burning sensation was relieved a lot.

There were some cracks on An Xiaoxi's mask in the shell made of flower buds. It was no longer transparent and was covered with blood. She was still alive.

"..."

Drag her out.

Is he opening his mouth to say something? I can't hear clearly. Only his eyes are wide open.

I got closer and still couldn't hear it.

Lip shape... When I was working as a killer with Xia Ye, I learned a little bit of lip reading.

Brother-in-law?

Do not bother me?

Continue going?
Only brother-in-law was someone Su Ming could tell apart because she read his lips or because she often called him that. The rest were all guesses.

There was no resentment on her face. She just held Su Ming's hand slightly and forced a smile.

Her breathing was getting weaker and weaker. The device that No. 72 had made for her was completely broken, or rather, this environment was completely different from the ice and snow she had imagined. Many things and parameters had changed. It couldn't function normally.

The surrounding ruins seemed to have been plowed over again, and all the debris and concrete fragments were buried a little deeper. It was as if no one had ever built any houses nearby, and no one had ever lived in this world.

[Unfortunately, the target is dead]

[Current time: 20670114, 20.31]

Back to last night.

They were preparing to set up camp and rest in a building that was relatively intact with only one floor buried.

"Let's go back."

"Eh?"

An Xiaoxi was obviously stunned.

"It's because of me...Brother-in-law, I'm really not that tired. I can still walk."

"No."

Even if he tried his best to use his body to offset the impact on An Xiaoxi, the impact was an invisible pressure... All Su Ming could do was to prevent something from burying An Xiaoxi underground after the impact.

"Brother-in-law?"

"Don't ask anything, just listen."

"..."

After Su Ming said this, An Xiaoxi stopped talking. She was carried by Su Ming and hugged tightly. They only went less than ten kilometers away, and they rushed back at full speed without considering any follow-up. Su Ming could do it even if he was carrying An Xiaoxi.

1 month 14 day.

late at night.

Back in the laboratory, An Xiaoxi wanted to ask, but seeing Su Ming's stern expression, she didn't say a word.

"..."

Until I couldn't even sit on the ground and the lights flickered on and off... snapped, and went out completely. There was no light at all.

"Master, you predicted the energy fluctuations similar to those during the hibernation period of No. 72, so you turned back?"

"..."

"If the owner hadn't returned, No. 72 and Miss An would have most likely died."

"..."

Su Ming did not answer, but asked calmly, "What is the oxygen concentration now?"

"Surface oxygen concentration is 15.23%."

“After the fluctuation, did it decrease again?”

"Yes, No. 72 can only speculate that the unknown energy fluctuations have changed the conventional parameters on the surface. It is impossible to analyze deeper information."

"..."

"Master, the laboratory energy converter has failed. No. 72 requests to wait until the fluctuation ends before conducting inspections. No. 72 will temporarily supply the necessary energy."

"……Um."

"..."

The lights came on again, but only the smallest one.

"It's okay, don't worry. It's all within my expectations."

"..."

An Xiaoxi laughed when she saw Su Mingyang.

Suddenly I understood.

It was because of her that Su Ming could not move forward. No. 72 said that he and she could not resist the changes on the surface of the earth. But he did not say that Su Ming could not resist either.

It is a memory that makes me happy when I think back on it.

In fact... they are all a burden?
How did my sister do it?
I remembered.

My sister endured loneliness and fear alone. She took care of herself and suppressed all negative emotions, so that my brother-in-law could go out and do what he wanted without any worries. Instead of clinging to my brother-in-law like me.

You're saying that you don't have to take responsibility, right? In fact, my brother-in-law has been in charge since the beginning, right?
"Xiao Xi?"

"what……"

"Afraid?"

"……No."

An indescribable emotion kept growing.

Before I got it, before I was accepted and resisted, I always thought it would be nice if I could just look at myself a little more.

I’m already looking at myself and caring about my own mood.

Does that mean...

At this time, dying should be a satisfying death. It's just a dream anyway, I will go back anyway, right? But my brother-in-law never really said it was just a dream. If it was just a dream... he wouldn't be so sad because of his wife in the dream.

You don't have to find the people you want to see.

If you die, you will really die.

Let my brother-in-law go. Winter City is thousands of kilometers away from Haidao City. He will have to endure it for a longer time than my sister... one month, two months? Or three months?

In such a small place, you can't see outside and no one talks.

An Xiaoxi couldn't say it.

All I could see was Su Ming lighting a cigarette and talking about how he felt something was wrong with the recent climate change, so he turned back. He said his five senses were very sharp. He never complained about having a burden.

Seeing No. 72 sitting in the corner, he had already inserted part of the wire into her skin to provide electricity.

If it were my sister, she would definitely say to her brother-in-law without hesitation: "It's okay, Mr. Su Ming can do whatever he wants, I will wait for you here."

wrong.

My sister was very scared at the end and it took her a long time to go out.

Own……

"?"

"..."

After taking off the mask, I leaned close to my brother-in-law's arm and took a deep breath. There was a slight smell of sweat.

"The first thing you do when you get back to this is smell?"

"……Um."

"So, both of you have weird XP."

"I just... like to smell my brother-in-law's scent."

"is it?"

Thinking.