Marus, number 12, shivered slightly.

Even under the scorching light of the host star, he still felt a slight chill coming from behind him.

Especially when he thought of the proposal put forward by Marus No. 2, he couldn't help but hunch his back a little more as he walked in the middle of the road.

He glanced around furtively.

The towering Proxima Centauri lining both sides of the road clearly paid no attention to the Marus in the middle of the road.

As for the Marus in the middle of the road, under the scorching light of the main star, their faces were ashen, and they walked mechanically on the burning road, clearly having neither the mood nor the energy to pay attention to him.

"call……"

Marus, number 12, slightly opened his breathing hole and exhaled a deep, hot breath.

He then quickened his pace, following the route indicated on his wristwatch.

He doesn't have much time left.

If he couldn't finish purchasing those so-called daily necessities by evening, he estimated that he would be executed in front of a group of Marus, just like the previous No. 1 Marus.

...

Time passed second by second.

The road grew narrower and narrower, and the number of Proxima Centauri on both sides dwindled until only Marus, expressionless, remained in the very center of the road.

Marus, number 12, turned his head and glanced at it casually.

When he saw the number of Marus in the middle of the road, a hint of surprise appeared in his three pairs of visual organs.

so much? !

He looked up at the only dark black, round building in front of him and swallowed hard.

These Marus must be here to purchase supplies for the superior Proxima Centauri, right?

Before he could think any further, he was pushed and shoved by the Marus behind him into the disc-shaped building.

Following the directions on his wristwatch, he continued on his way.

Finally, we stopped in front of a clean and tidy shop.

Looking at the tall and spacious storefront in front of him, he couldn't help but stop in his tracks.

This was his first time going out to purchase supplies.

Therefore, he didn't know what to do next.

Should we just walk in?

Or should we wait at the door?

Or perhaps there is a small door specifically for Marus to walk through?

He knew nothing about it.

On the smooth skin at the top of Marus's thought organ number 12, wrinkles appeared continuously, revealing his tense and uneasy emotions.

"Hello!"

A loud shout came from the shop in front of them.

The slightly high-pitched voice startled Marus, number 12, so much that he trembled.

He quickly raised his head and looked in the direction from which the sound came.

A tall female Proxima Centauri looked at him, a smooth curve appearing on the skin at the top of her thought organ.

That was the smile of the Proxima Centauri.

Smile? !

He was at a loss for what to do.

Is this smile directed at himself or at someone behind him?

He subconsciously turned his head to look behind him.

There wasn't a soul in sight.

"Hey! It's you!"

The sound came again, and at the same time, footsteps approached.

Are you here to purchase supplies from the incubation center?

The female Proxima Centauri lowered her body slightly, making the curve of the top of her thought organ more pronounced.

She said softly, "If so, come in. Judging by the time, those adults should be sending people soon."

grown ups?

Marus, number 12, keenly noticed the way the female Proxima Centauri addressed her.

He quickly looked up and glanced at her clothes.

Hmm... the clothes aren't very good quality.

It seems that this female Proxima Centauri belongs to the lowest-ranking group among the normal Proxima Centauri, and also the largest group in terms of numbers.

In other words, ordinary people.

Even so, their statuses seemed worlds apart.

It is no exaggeration to say that these are two classes that are worlds apart.

No, to put it more precisely, they are equivalent to two species.

After all, Marus has no gender and cannot reproduce.

Therefore, a hint of doubt emanated from his three pairs of narrow visual organs.

He had never seen a Proxima Centauri who would smile at Mars.

Are you from the incubation center?

Seemingly because Marus 12 had not spoken, the curvature at the top of the female Proxima Centauri's thought organ gradually faded, and in its place, a few fine wrinkles appeared on the skin at the top of her thought organ.

“Ah, yes, I’m here to purchase supplies for the incubation center!” Marus, number 12, quickly replied without hesitation.

As he spoke, he swung his weak, short forelimbs and placed them on top of his thought organs to show respect to the Proxima Centauri in front of him.

"Come in," the female Proxima Centauri said softly as she turned around. "There's no need for such a grand gesture. I'm just an ordinary Proxima Centauri."

Marus, number 12, was slightly surprised. He then lowered his forelimbs and cautiously stepped into the somewhat upscale shop.

What supplies do the adults at the incubation center need this time?

The voice of a female Proxima Centauri came through.

Upon hearing the question, he quickly replied in a respectful voice, "I will send you the list right away."

As he spoke, he stretched out one forelimb and began operating his wristwatch.

A few seconds later, the female Proxima Centauri turned her head and glanced at the monitor next to her.

"Okay, I received it."

"There's a lot of stuff, so please sit down and wait a while."

After saying that, the female Proxima Centauri turned and walked towards the warehouse behind the shop.

In the huge shop, only the small and thin Marus remained.

He glanced at the clean chair beside him and gave up the idea of ​​sitting down.

He dared not.

After all, there are some things that these Marus are not meant to touch.

...

The waiting time felt exceptionally long.

Marus, number 12, raised his forelimbs, glanced at the time on his wristwatch, and a hint of worry appeared in his eyes.

Time is running out.

Suddenly, a conversation came from the warehouse behind the shop.

"Marus from the incubation center has come to purchase supplies again?"

"Yes, I'm waiting outside right now!"

"You left him outside alone?! That's Marus!"

"...What's wrong with Mars? Aren't they all Proxima Centauri?"

"You! How many times have I told you! The Marus are the lowest of the low, they don't even deserve to be called Proxima Centauri! Alright, you don't need to argue with me, go out and keep an eye on that Marus!"

"...Okay, fine."

The conversation abruptly stopped.

Then came a series of footsteps that grew closer and closer.

Marus, number 12, slightly opened his breathing hole and exhaled a breath of stale air.

Shouldn't they come and drive me away?

That's right.

How could he, as Marus, be treated like this?

As he thought about it, fine wrinkles appeared on the top of his mental organs.

"sorry."

A faint female Proxima Centauri voice came through: "You don't need to take my father's words to heart."

"If there was anything offensive, I apologize on his behalf."