Something's wrong, they're not NPCs?

Chapter 370 If you have to wait, you should wait at the gate of life

1 month 29 day.

early morning.

The passenger ship continued to move forward steadily without encountering any obstacles. No one appeared.

If Tokugawa Airi was still awake, she might be very happy... After all, although they had not reached land, the route showed that they had left the waters of Izu Province.

We can get there before dawn.

The medium-difficulty mission, the one with Skylark... maybe the game knew the relationship between me and Skylark first, and then gave the level of difficulty.

If I am heartless, does that mean that no matter what the task is, the difficulty will be average?

The so-called high difficulty is probably not too difficult if you don't have to pay attention to Tokugawa Airi.

"Big brother."

"Ok?"

I turned my head towards the sound, but saw nothing.

She was behind the stool where Su Ming was sitting, separated by a cabin board that was more than ten centimeters thick.

"I can't think of a way for Big Brother to survive after being eaten. Even if he can endure in my stomach for a few minutes, he will be digested because I can't endure it anymore."

The slightly childish voice did not conceal the confusion.

"You don't have to figure it out. Just know that I'm not going to die. Trust me."

"...Hmm. So, big brother would be willing to sacrifice his life for my kind?"

"Why wouldn't I want to? You know whether the water is hot or cold, but rather than someone giving their life, I hope everyone can live in good health."

"...I know whether it's hot or cold. I feel the same no matter what kind of water I drink."

"..."

Is that right?

Uh.

Xiaoye should be the same, right?
She is a bit picky about cooked food, disliking that it is not as nutritious as raw meat. But I have never seen her express an opinion about hot or cold water, and I have seen her and steaming water... completely unaffected.

"The saying 'one knows the cold and the warmth' means..."

"I know."

Just as Su Ming was about to speak, she interrupted him.

"I think I understand what big brother means. It feels really good."

"I also understand why my kind would exclude big brother from other humans and treat him as an individual. Well...big brother treats her as an individual, so she will respond in the same way."

"..."

Do you really understand?
I always felt like she interpreted it in a way that wasn't quite right.

"It is said in the human book that the eye is an organ unknown to the immune system."

"We have a similar relationship with our original bodies, but the responsibility I was given is to eat. If I have eyes or hearing like my kind, maybe I can try to gain freedom."

"I'll do what my big brother says."

"Eat it."

"I will also...try to protect mom in the future. If I can't do it, I will leave here. Well, without big brother here, I can strive for this degree of freedom."

"Although I can't understand what big brother said, that he can definitely survive in my stomach, but I hope I can see him again."

"...Can you let me meet my kind?"

"……no problem."

If it really existed in reality, and appeared as not an enemy, but an ally, there would be no reason to refuse.

"I'm sorry, I let Big Brother and I do it, to reproduce. I can feel the emotions transmitted by my own kind, and she doesn't like it."

"..."

When did you do it?
Just enough.

Ok.

In a sense, it's even more shameful than the last step, and more serious than cheating?
But my spirit is clean.

Forget it, nothing in my body, including my mind, is clean.

"Well."

Occasionally you could hear her utter strange syllables.

Looks uncomfortable.

"Can't bear it? How about... eating one of your hands first? Just leave me a breath."

Su Ming didn't care.

As long as you can keep your last breath until the mission is completed, it will be a success.

As for how difficult and painful the process was, I will talk about it after I succeed.

"Goo-poo."

"?"

what sound?
"It's okay. I can bear it."

"I'm learning, the images transmitted by my own kind. She doesn't like her big brother being with other humans, and it will cut off some of her nerves. I can do that, too."

"..."

never heard of that.

"We recover quickly. It's also hard for us to get angry, sad, or jealous like humans."

"If there is, this method would be great. No matter what time it is, she can keep thinking. I envy her that she can think so freely. She can come up with a way to be calm."

"I was frustrated that my breasts were small but would return to their original size no matter how I modified them. I couldn't taste the flavor of cooked food, but I wanted to feel the same taste as my big brother anyway, so I chose my big brother's saliva. Although I was scolded... I was happy. I felt like I had found a good way to have the same feeling."

“There are many, many things I can’t do, but I can understand.”

"Ugh."

Why are you crying?

"I'm sorry, if that's the case, I'm not a mouthpiece."

"It would be nice to have more freedom, it would be nice to be able to hold back."

"I don't know where my real body is, nor what it looks like, but I can't think and act freely. I can't be considered a human being."

"..."

"Calculated."

Also can only face the cabin board.

Why doesn't it count?
Xiaoye had also gone through a period of losing control. Now there was just no better way to suppress the loss of control.

Maybe it's not just because of Xiaoye's feelings, but also because she doesn't have as many "viruses" and is not affected that much.

The girl in front of him might be even more powerful than Xia You.

The greater the ability, the greater the influence.

Take a human being as an example. How can a human mouth go against the human will? Either it loses consciousness or has facial paralysis.

Obviously, she could lose consciousness, but that consciousness was unnecessary. If she died, she would just become a mouthpart without consciousness and controlled by others.

Where is the entity and what does it look like?
Probably very far away.

I don't need to think about what will happen in a thousand or hundreds of years, but I can think about it now. Being eaten will also make the so-called "original body afraid of itself" disappear. There is no need to be afraid of the self that has disappeared.

It's not that I can't understand. Fear or something...

Since its several parts, such as Xia You and Xia Ye, can exist in different worlds and at different times, it is not impossible that it can predict the future and know that its future self will be difficult to resolve.

Take another ten thousand steps back.

Just because you have a save file, it doesn't mean that all monsters don't have it, nor does it mean that they don't have similar abilities.

Ok.

Loading a save... maybe it's just a presumption. It's just a trump card that gives you more chances to change. It's not invincible.

"..."

Tokugawa Airi was lying on the blanket at Su Ming's feet, her body well covered. Her breathing was steady.

But her occasional frown meant that her pressure was not as light as it seemed.

I touched her face. It was slightly warm.

The originally smooth blonde hair is now a little frizzy... split ends. Maybe she doesn't eat enough nutrition, lacks vitamins or something. No matter how healthy she is, she is not that healthy. She can't compare with me.

Stay alive.

If I can show up in the Snow Country alive and figure out what happened... I can sit down and talk at home.

No matter what grudge you have, it doesn't matter even if a few pieces of flesh are bitten off.

“…6 o’clock?”

Staring at the numbers on his phone, Su Ming stood up again and subconsciously straightened the hem of his jacket.

Pause for a second.

I took out two hairpins from my pocket. They were bow hairpins. They were the same color, pink.

The blonde hair and pink really give them a childhood sweetheart vibe. Very peaceful.

Then walk outside the cabin.

Ye Ye was there, still in her pure white dress…and barefoot.

But this time, her clothes were dirty. There were some stains on her collar, and her small, white hands were also contaminated. Maybe some nerves had been cut as she said, but there was no visible injury on her body.

"Big brother?"

Put the hairpin on her, pin it a little above the hair next to her ear.

Green and pink... well, most people can't be so cute, but she has a face and body like a little wife, so it can only be said that clothes are set off by people. Even the simplest clothes can become cute.

"Do you remember my home address? Snow Country, Winter City, Ping'an Avenue... Ah, if it's hard to find, then go to syxx company. It should be well-known in Winter City. If that doesn't work, go to the police station and tell them my name and ID number."

Gently stroking her hair, Su Ming smiled again.

"Eat."

"Don't feel any psychological burden. This is what I proposed."

"If you could share Xiaoye's emotions, you would know...she trusts me very much."

That should be right, right?
Xiaoye wouldn't distrust me, would he? Apart from the opposite sex around me, I couldn't hide anything like that. I knew I couldn't hide it.

"..."

She didn't say anything, but something very familiar to Su Ming swayed behind the drum.

bud.

It can bloom petals, and the color is pure green. With Xiaoye as a prerequisite, Su Ming didn't feel disgusted at all.

On the contrary, I miss it a bit.

At that time, Xiaoye dragged me into the play, and I thought I could do whatever I wanted to her since she didn't react... But I almost crawled out because my body couldn't get enough nutrition and I was too weak.

The same strong aroma was also present inside, which was completely different from the sour smell of gastric juice that Su Ming had imagined.

What's the big deal if it's just a short-term meal?
"……Big brother."

"Ok?"

The petals had closed. Su Ming could no longer see outside, nor the cabin.

"I will come. Remember the smell."

what.

You signed up for so many opportunities to find your own way, but you chose to be a puppy?
This is the same as Xiaoye.

[Unfortunately, you are dead]

[Current time node: 1778.0129, 06:36]

"Be patient a little longer."

"not enough time."

Counting from last night, it should be around 7 o'clock? Or maybe o'clock. Su Ming was not precise enough about where to start counting outside the Izu Sea.

It can only stay in her stomach in advance.

It might be hard for her too.

[Unfortunately, you are dead]

[Current time node: 1778.0129, 06:36]

"……sorry."

"It's okay, just bear with it for a few more minutes."

You don't have to tell her that she needs to be patient for an hour or two at once. Just take your time. She won't die.

1 month 29 day.

morning.

It's daybreak.

The boat's engine had some problems, I checked it out... it was just too hot from long hours of driving. Maybe some cooling device was damaged, it will restart after a while. The dashboard error message disappeared.

So, where did Ming go?
The 13th District, the closest to Izu, can already be seen. It is no different from Izu. It is also in ruins. There are no people. There are also some upside-down escape hovercrafts on the sea surface.

There was some oil on the water, probably because a large ship had capsized. Maybe hundreds of ships had sunk.

It's hard to survive in a world like this, right?
Anyway, I can't do it alone. I don't have the motivation to survive as a lone wolf anymore.

"……Mother."

"..."

I have another cute bow hairpin on the side of my ear.

When did you put it on?
I would be very happy if it was given to me in person and I put it on myself.

Even if you give it while doing that kind of thing, it's the same.

"Brother, I ate it. I'm sorry."

"..."

Read the error-free version at 69shuba! 6=9+shu_ba is the first to publish this novel.

I have read the details in the message.

I come from a place you may not be able to imagine

【…】

[In short, Ye Ye is not as simple as she appeared before, and she is not a monster. ]

[Even if I leave Izu, I can survive, but you can't. I think... if Ye Ye can protect you. ]

【…】

I crumpled the paper into a ball, held it in my palm, and squeezed it tighter and tighter until my knuckles turned white.

I saw that it had the same hairpin as mine in its hair.

Sure enough, it is true.

It lay beside Ming docilely, not caring about being exposed. Bewitched...eaten.

These messages are so ridiculous.

Willing to be eaten and not die?

Is this possible?
Even if you use it to fool a three-year-old child, no one will believe it. Cake... will be digested when eaten. If you keep it in the refrigerator for too long and eat it directly, you will get a stomachache.

But it is impossible to spit out the whole cake again.

I understand.

On my own, I can't protect my family or Ming.

I just… shouldn’t be alive.

If I hadn't been there, Ming wouldn't have believed the monster's words, nor would he have been bewitched by the monster. With his strength, he might have been able to survive there. Maybe someone could have killed the monster, and he was bringing the woman who also liked him, Nogizaka, or someone else. But not me.

I have lost my emotions long ago. How can I want a normal life now? Do I want to be a woman? Doesn't my infertility prove that? I am no longer a human being. I am just an empty shell.

"Mom... I still have some left by my older brother."

"I'm not."

"..."

"I don't have a daughter, and I've never been a mother."

"..."

"Those who bewitched Ming and left behind these things...did they really think that I would be deceived? In this world, he was the only one who could deceive me. Now there is no one left. No one, no monster can bewitch me. Even if you bring Ming back, it will be impossible for me to dream again."

I was holding onto boring expectations. Compared to killing the girl in front of me, would the illusion be acceptable?
Being eaten in a hallucination.

"...I won't do such a thing. Big brother, this is not what I want."

At this point, why do you still have to pretend to be so pitiful?

With such a small body, it can eat an adult without showing any signs of swallowing.

I picked up the samurai sword.

"Mom, I'm not lying."

"Although I don't know and don't understand how my big brother is going to live again."

"But I believe it. I will also... do as my big brother said and try my best to protect mom."

"…I've already told you! I don't have a daughter! I've never been a mother!"

Why can't you understand?

How can a woman who doesn't even have a husband have a daughter? How can she have a mother?

To shut up!

"Pfft!"

I clearly cut its neck with the knife, but there was not a drop of blood even though the cut was so big.

"Mom, you hate me?"

"…It's disgusting. Just eat it if you want. It doesn't matter anymore."

We should have understood long ago that a monster like it cannot be killed.

It's not a parasite like my father, but a real...genuine monster.

On a scale of 1-100, it might be 101. Haha.

If I could be so useful, I should have stood in front of Ming before. Instead of being in the house, and not picking up the knife now.

Self-knowledge...what's the point?
I believe that even if what Ming said was true, I would still be an idiot if I could get out and find a place to hide. A real idiot.

It was doomed from the beginning. There was only one choice, to die together.

1 month 29 day.

Night.

I didn't drink a drop of water. My lips were chapped.

I stared at the sea level which was once again covered by the night. I didn't understand why they didn't eat me.

I had no thoughts about the now-unseen District 13, nor did I pay attention to whether there was any exciting news on the radio.

I can't take revenge.

"..."

A certain moment.

I rummaged frantically and retrieved the crumpled paper from the corner of the cabin.

[Ellie, believe me]

[You must live no matter what. I will wait for you. 】

Deceiving.

I couldn't hold back my tears.

Deceiving.

What do you think I am?

If you obey everything, does that make you look easy to deceive?
It's not like I don't know what I'm doing with the monster. I'm trying to please the monster in that way just to keep myself alive.

You don't eat me now just because you satisfied the monster's curiosity?
This kind of thing...

fraud.

I've said it before, I'm afraid of dying at the back. If possible, I hope to either be together or in front. I don't want to be a lone wolf anymore.

Even if you seek revenge to the end... you won't be able to survive.

Dad won’t, and neither will you.

What was the revenge for before? And now you want me to pick it up again?
Do I look that obedient?
What if I choose to commit suicide for love and die together?

2 month 2 day.

In Izu, according to tradition, the New Year celebrations last only one week.

I remained in the cabin, eating only the bare minimum of food, and still did not start the boat.

"..."

"Huh? Is there anyone?"

I heard a familiar voice.

"Ah, Airi-chan?! How did you become like this? Where's your uncle?"

In conclusion, I am not dead.

Every time I picked up the knife, I would think of what Ming wrote in the message. Was he really bewitched? Wasn't he willing to be eaten because he wanted me to live?
Make up that kind of lie. Nothing will die after death, it will wait and watch in another world. Is there a hell where Yamata no Orochi exists?
I might look miserable.

He was unkempt, hadn't slept, and hadn't eaten anything.

Nogizaka and the others weren't much better off. It looked like they suffered a lot before they escaped.

very nice.

To be alive. To show a caring expression, to show the kind of sadness that is hard to conceal for Ming, the uncle she mentioned.

2 month 3 day.

Even though I didn't mention it, they probably all knew.

"Aili-chan, look, this is what we found in the ruins."

"O Tao-sensei's work seems to be a famous illustrator in the hentai world. Does Airi-chan know about it?"

"..."

I don't know, I just tried to draw it out of curiosity before. That was a long time ago.

I started eating and drinking water.

"..."

They also breathed a sigh of relief.

At first, they talked about where they were hiding and how they found something wrong with the port. It was not until now that they felt that the sea was calm and the food and water were almost gone that they thought they had to come out to save their lives.

I have no interest in that part.

Even though they may have received Ming's favor, I would not ask them to repay him.

I no longer want to die. Maybe I never intended to do this.

Guessed it.

I am an obedient person. If you tell me to live, I will live. But if you ask me to hide somewhere and die of old age... I am not that obedient.

"Uncle, is he dead?"

Just as I was about to row the hovercraft away from the passenger ship, Nogizaka appeared.

"……Um."

I ignored her and continued pulling the rope, pulling it closer to the originally overturned hovercraft, which seemed to have blood stains on it.

"Can you take me with you?"

"……cannot."

"I know Airi-chan despises me for not having any skills, but I also want to be liked by my uncle."

"…He is dead."

"So what? Can't I watch from heaven after I die? It's the same if I see it and am touched. My body is a cook, but my soul is not. I was loved and was a lover. Could it be that Airi-chan would be jealous?"

"..."

I looked at her and a smile appeared on her face.

"So, take me with you. At the very least, I can help you sharpen your knife, do laundry and cook. And you can teach me how to practice with the knife occasionally."

"Just think of it as taking care of the younger generation."

Although I was smiling, some shiny stuff was sliding down my cheeks. I tried to wipe it off.

"How could he die?"

"I'm still a cook... I also said that if you escape and find me again, there's no way you'll reject me."

2 month 5 day.

I had a companion. Even though he was totally useless.

"…There's no need to wear combat uniforms all the time, right? Skirts are so pretty, and if you have safety pants, you don't have to worry about exposing yourself."

I'm not stupid.

You know, she doesn't intend to go on a revenge mission with me.

Can feel it.

That kind of…taking care of the widow to repay Ming’s feelings. Treat me as a widow.

Am I not the same?

I just wondered if Ming would care about Nogizaka and the others' lives. If he did, would it count as something if he sent them to a safe place?

Do the little things you can.

Then, I would die after taking revenge, or die on the way to revenge. My life was already doomed.

Waiting for me in another world, the snow country of the underworld? What if I end up in heaven? I should say it's waiting for me at the gate of life. What a fool.

(End of this chapter)