Successors of all mankind

"We're saved! We're saved!"

At that moment, Daimon felt that all the sacrifices were worthwhile.

Yu Le could only watch in despair as Settlement No. 386 drew ever closer.

At that moment, Yu Le felt that this was as absurd as asking a monkey to build a nuclear power plant.

Chapter 11 The Sin of Being Inhuman Yet Human

How could a monkey possibly build a nuclear power plant?

It's good enough if it doesn't blow up!

In despair, Yu Le arrived at the gate of their settlement, number 386.

It's not a big place, with the squalor befitting the inhabitants of the wasteland and the wildness of their savage appearance.

If you're a tourist, you might find these novel architectural styles very interesting.

But given that he is currently struggling to survive on the brink of life and death.

He lost all interest in looking at it any longer.

He just sat in the car, numb and calm.

Looking at the gate, they excitedly introduced themselves to their companions who had gathered around them.

"Come quickly, come quickly, quickly call everyone inside! This is a great sir, an extremely great sir!"

"Moreover, the benefactor has promised to repair our divine machine! Quick, kneel down and thank the benefactor for his kindness!"

At first, the men, women, and children in the settlement did not react to Yule's unremarkable appearance.

They just stared at the gate, which looked like it had yielded a 'quite rich harvest', with a strange expression.

At the same time, they wondered why there were so few people returning.

But when they heard that Yu Le was a noble person, this group of third-class people immediately knelt down in fear.

They actually stared directly at a nobleman with a scrutinizing gaze!

They deserve at least a few lashes!

However, they were overjoyed when they heard from the gatekeeper that a benefactor had agreed to fix their magic device.

They were all stirred up in silence.

However, no one dared to raise their head.

Looking at this group of people, Yu Le didn't pay much attention to them.

He kept thinking about what he would do if he couldn't fix it.

He knew that these people were not only afraid of his identity, but also needed his help.

If they find that they can't fix the magic device either, and can't give any other benefits...

It's hard to imagine what would happen to Yule.

One thing is certain: this group is probably even more terrifying than those brutes.

After all, they have their own 'home'!

Not to mention, so many people died trying to save themselves...

Yu Le sighed and said to the gate:

"Stop with all this nonsense, I don't care. So, where's the machine?"

Let's take it one step at a time.

Yu Le could only console himself with this thought.

The gatekeeper and the others were somewhat surprised that Yu Le would casually refer to Shenji as a machine.

That is, that is the heritage of humankind!

It's from a completely different world than what they usually use.

However, given that the other party was a noble family, they dared not say anything.

She simply lowered her head and led the way, saying, "It's inside, but... but shouldn't you rest for a bit first?"

"Let's see first!"

Yu Le also wanted to take a good rest, but as someone who had always been under immense pressure, he had no right to say such things.

He planned to assess the situation first, and then decide whether to take a break before making a decision.

After all, once you've rested enough, there's no excuse to continue resting.

"Oh, thank you, sir! It's right here. I'll take you there!"

The gatekeeper, with his back bent, practically jogged ahead to lead the way.

Yu Le followed behind him, passing through one low shack after another.

He noticed that the deeper he went into the settlement, the stranger the surrounding "decoration" became.

Symbols painted in red paint began to appear on the wall—gears and human skulls?

Yu Le stopped abruptly, staring blankly at the human skull painted on the wall.

Is this godforsaken place really not Warhammer?

"Sir, what's wrong? Is something amiss?"

The gatekeeper looked in the direction Yu Le was looking, somewhat puzzled.

It's perfectly normal. They drew human skulls on it to please the gods and to express their faith.

Could it be that the drawing was done in the wrong place, causing the divine machine to stop working?

So is it really our problem?

The gate trembled with fear.

"No, it's nothing, let's continue."

Yu Le was unaware of the situation in this world, and he dared not speak rashly.

The only requirement is to continue.

Then, Yu Le heard a voice.

It was a dull, rhythmic sound, like something repeatedly hitting the ground.

No, that's not right. The sound doesn't sound like it's hitting the ground.

It's more like a punch to the skin?

Yu Le frowned and quickened his pace.

After turning a corner, he saw it.

In front of him was a small square enclosed by thick metal plates.

In the very center of the square was an open iron gate, which must be the room where Shenji was located.

But what truly captured Yu Le's attention was not that door.

It was the people kneeling outside the door.

A dozen or so people, young and old, were all kneeling on the hard ground.

But that's not important. What's important is that each of them held a whip made of thin iron chains, lashing their backs again and again.

"Clap! Clap! Clap!"

Each blow left new bloodstains on their already battered backs.

Some wounds were still bleeding, while others had scabbed over, only to be reopened by a new lash.

But no one shouted, and no one cried.

They were just mechanically whipping themselves, one blow after another.

And kept muttering to himself:

"We beg for your forgiveness!"

"We pray to you!"

"We offer our pain, we offer our faith, we offer our flesh and blood! Please, turn it, turn it, turn it again!"

"Let humanity regain its glory!"

...

Yu Le stood at the edge of the square, watching this scene, unable to utter a single word.

He was an ordinary person from the 2K era. In his mind, if a machine broke, you repaired it, and if you couldn't repair it, you replaced it.

No one would kneel before a machine, and no one would whip themselves because the machine breaks down.

But now, all of this is happening right before his eyes.

"What are you doing?"

The gatekeeper grew increasingly terrified. Had they really made a mistake?

No, that can't be. Aren't other settlements like this too?

He explained tremblingly:

"My lord, we... we're trying to please the machine spirits, no, isn't that how it is?"

"Is this how it is?"

Yu Le was increasingly astonished.

Although he couldn't see the whole picture, he could clearly see just a small part of the sophisticated machinery coming from behind the iron gate.

That thing possessed the precision and science fiction qualities that futuristic creations should have.

Before this product representing the pinnacle of civilization lay utter ignorance and barbarity...

This stark contrast left Yu Le unsure how to begin or continue.

The gatekeeper, also sweating profusely, said:

"Sir, we are just a lowly bunch of creatures. This is the only way we can please the machine spirits."

They are not human; they do not have human identity or bloodline. They just look like humans.

Therefore, the human heritage cannot serve them.

Therefore, only by tormenting themselves can they bring joy to their machine souls. Because they are born with sin, a sin that resembles that of a human, despite being a lowly species!

Chapter 12 The Great Joy of the Machine Soul

Upon hearing this, Yu Le once again confirmed his judgment—the aristocracy of this world were playing the game of technological monopoly and religious control.

He couldn't refute any of this, because it was the very foundation of his status as a 'noble'.

However, he could not ignore the sound of flesh being whipped.

Yu Le never considered himself a saint, but he really couldn't ignore this situation.

In particular, there's something he can do.

That's just how people are; they don't really feel much about things they can't do.

Just as most people don't regret not winning the Nobel Prize, what truly lingers in people's minds is often—"Maybe I could?"

So, Yu Le couldn't help but wonder if there was anything she could do right now.

Not too much, just a little bit.

At least this way I can feel a little better, and convince myself that good deeds will be rewarded...

I felt an unprecedented sense of bewilderment about the world and my own situation, and I tried to find something ethereal to comfort my panicked heart.

The gatekeeper added cautiously: