I am the emotional sustenance of your deceased

"Well, every time I squat here, beetles crawl all over me."

"Then I really am treating you like a stake."

"possible."

"Pfft… idiot."

In the uncontrollable laughter, Takamatsu Chitose lost all his strength and means.

"Don't move, Xiao Sui, I hear them."

"Okay."

Chitose moved towards the light and chose to squat behind the other person's butt.

She saw a leaf shaking from the branch of the tree closest to them, and she saw an old tree farther away that was so big that it required a ladder to climb up.

There seemed to be a ladder leaning against the tree?

Qiansui's thoughts were wandering until something cold crawled onto the small white socks on her ankles.

"Ah! Xiao-xiao Deng! There's something! On my foot!"

What a nasty feeling.

"It's a beetle! Xiaosui is amazing. He succeeded in disguising himself as a wooden man on his first try."

This kind of praise is too redundant...and is it really a compliment?

Chitose mechanically lowered her head and looked at the large beetle climbing up along her muscles on the lower side of her calf.

"This one is bigger than the one we released yesterday, Xiao Deng."

"Yes!"

Deng was not afraid of the strange little bugs and just caught them.

The pitiful beetle, whose shell reflected colorful light, kept struggling in the small hand of the lamp.

But it is obvious that Master Xiaodeng, who has many years of experience, is better in the game.

"The beetle was captured by the terrifying upright ape Takamatsu Deng Deng. How powerful!"

"Terrible Homo erectus? What is that?" Deng tilted his head, puzzled by the unfamiliar words that often came out of Qiansui's mouth.

As expected of her sister who loves reading, what she says is profound and unfathomable.

"Ahem, it's a compliment anyway."

The beetle was handed to Qiansui. This beetle was definitely the largest bug she had ever seen in her life.

But, this beetle's eyes...are so blood red that it's a little scary.

[You haven't taken action for too long, my host]

"!!!"

Is it, is it the beetle talking?

This voice, this name...

system? !

[Are you still hesitating? I know it's difficult for a good person like the host to be a bad woman, so do you need my help?]

"..."

"Xiao Sui? Does the beetle look good?"

The light was talking, but Qiansui's brain was too confused to respond.

She tried to open her mouth, but her throat was hoarse and no sound came out.

Qiansui subconsciously avoided the pomegranate-colored eyes of Deng, her gaze was erratic, and finally she said in her heart what she wanted to say to the system.

Help...this...

The critical illness notice from the hospital and the pitiful appearance of my sister in reality flashed through my mind.

It’s been six years, six years of enduring in simulation.

In fact, she was anxious about dying every day, but she couldn't bring herself to do it.

[It's normal for a newbie, I don't want to stab you]

"..."

[System, I... need your help.]

Regrets will last forever, but these things are all fake anyway! Don't put any pressure on yourself!

Swallowing hard, Chitose stroked the beetle's back with trembling fingers. His gaze shifted to the lamp, and he finally spoke slowly:

"Oh, sorry, this is so lovely, I got distracted for a moment."

Before he finished speaking, the insect in his hand spread its wings and flew away. Red halos flashed in the beetle's eyes. It circled around the two of them and flew towards a big tree in the distance.

“Flew away!”

He tried to intercept, but Deng's arms were too short and he almost fell down.

"Be careful! It flew into the big tree over there!"

Qiansui held the lamp and pointed at the big tree in the distance that could only be climbed with a ladder.

This is what the system says, help?

[Yes, there is a ladder below, climb up]

"..."

"Xiao Deng, let's go quickly and catch the bug!"

"But, it's so high..."

"Oh, but that's a gift from the lamp, I can't bear to give it away..."

"Then I'll go! Xiaosui, just wait here for me."

"No need...it's really not possible..."

Qiansui seemed to understand the meaning of the system's words, and although he was very hesitant, he still said that sentence.

"Let's go together. I'll climb up and grab it, and Deng will help me hold the ladder."

"I-I will work hard!"

Still a child, Takamatsu Deng raised his left hand, putting on a cute and serious look.

"Then it's settled."

Chitose felt something shaking inside her. She put her hands behind her back and pressed her nails hard on her palms, leaving purple-red marks.

Ch7. We are so close to death

The beetle with a strange appearance was taking a nap on a tree about four meters high.

It enjoys the winter sun and basks in it happily.

Until a tender little hand reached out to the branch.

"Xiao Deng! Hold on tight! I'm going to climb up!"

So high, so deadly, so scary.

Qiansui's legs were shaking faster and faster. She could clearly feel the vibrations in her legs causing her whole body to tremble. This was her fear of falling.

According to Freud's theory, fear may originate from experiences in infancy. For example, babies may fall many times when learning to crawl and walk. This early experience may leave a deep impression in the subconscious, thus forming a fear of falling.

But Qiansui still gritted his teeth and forced himself to suppress the fear of falling, which was due to a greater fear.

"You can't have a short life. You don't want to die. You want to live...so you can't be afraid..."

In fact, she couldn't hear what Gao Songdeng was saying below. The tinnitus and the long distance blocked her hearing.

[Don't be afraid, you've already made it up, all you have to do next is...]

What I need!

[You need to climb up to the branch, then pretend to accidentally kick the ladder down... The rest of the process is up to the host to decide.]

hiss.

So fast.

I didn't expect that the opportunity I could take advantage of would appear like this.

Chitose hugged the thick tree trunk and held the beetle firmly.

The view from the tree was exceptionally good; she seemed to be able to see the small home where she had lived for many years in the simulation.

"How should I use this opportunity...how should I use it?"

She kept telling herself that it was all fake and not to worry, but Qiansui's eyes still began to turn red.

"Little Light...me."

After glaring at the squeaking bug, Chitose made up his mind and poked his head out to call out to the light under the tree:

"Little Light! I found it! It's not hurt!"

"Ah, Xiaosui, come down quickly!"

Qiansui hugged the tree trunk with tears in her eyes. She really wanted to cry.

If you don't want to hurt anyone, you will end up hurting yourself.

If it weren't for the fact that he had a younger sister to take care of, it wouldn't matter even if he died.

I'm so sorry...ah, this is terrible. I can't tell my sister about this and have to keep it to myself. I have to be a good role model...I can't do such a bad thing, but...

The system prompt flashed before his eyes, and the huge life countdown made Qiansui want to scream all the time.

Ending up, simulation.

We can't delay any longer.

Deng has grown old enough, Chitose. You have taken good care of her and made her happy. She is also old enough to think and feel sad. It's time, Chitose... take action, even if it's just acting.

"..."

Finally, Noshiro Chitose closed her eyes and kicked the ladder.

"Woooooo, Sister Deng!"

Lying on the tree and covering his eyes, Qiansui called out to Deng with all his might.

The ladder made a soft sound when it hit the grass, and at the same time, Gao Songdeng's faint cry was heard.

"Ah? Xiao Sui! Don't be afraid, I'll hold the ladder and you can climb down quickly!"

"But! But!"

A complete plan has already appeared in Qiansui's mind. Now, if she says one more word, the progress of this simulation will be greatly improved.

"But the light! I'm scared, I don't dare anymore... Woohoo, can you climb up and pick me up?"

"Okay! Xiaosui, um," Deng lifted the ladder with great effort, panting, and began to climb without hesitation, "Wait for me! Don't move!"

"Okay..." Qiansui's last words trembled, with a thin cry in his voice.

Simulation... it sucks.

She watched the ladder being put up again, watched it shake, and soon a small light climbed up.

The lamp was covered in dust and dirt, perhaps it was hit by the fallen ladder.

But there was no time left for Qiansui to worry, as there were only a few steps left for her to take.

She wanted the lamp to help her go down.

On the way... let their ladder fall down.

She wanted to shock the little brat the old-fashioned way.

Just... hold her in your arms and let her fall down together, protected by your sister.