Chapter 264 I Became Your Prisoner

Recalling the past.

Xu Xi was recounting his and Ai Lei's unique experiences.

It is the struggle for survival in the wasteland, the mutual reliance at the end of the world, and the intertwined dependence on the vast sea of ​​stars. Hundreds of years of time condense into a moment, creating a dreamlike splendor.

The memories are beautiful.

It is also very precious.

It is an irreplaceable treasure.

"Ellie, I'm glad to meet you."

Xu Xi's breathing gradually became weaker and weaker, and he had difficulty breathing. The weakness and silence from his soul made him rely entirely on oxygen production equipment to survive.

Such a painful look made Ailei tremble even more.

Both the steel bodies and the unpredictable machine spirits echoed in unison.

"Master, please take a rest..."

Elle's voice was no longer pleasant.

It seems to have returned to the earliest electronic synthesis, noisy and chaotic.

That is the sad echo of the mood.

But Xu Xi shook his head, gently took Ai Lei's hand, and faced the hideous and damaged face closely: "Ai Lei, listen to me first."

"Is it okay?"

The request came from Xu Xi, and the robot servant could not refuse it at all.

"If it's your opinion, I can." The sad emotion completely broke through the cold machinery and echoed in every corner of the escape cabin.

Then continue.

It was Xu Xi's voice that sounded gently.

"Ailei, my idea has always been to train you and make you grow better."

"Even though you always deny it, I think that you, with your emotions, are no different from other people."

"I want to watch you grow."

"I want you to live safely."

"Am I a dictator? Because I am so self-righteous and always want to take you out of the cage."

"Escape from the cage called machinery, escape from the cage that destroys civilization."

"As a result, until now, I, who always wanted to set you free, have unknowingly become a new cage, restricting your future."

"I really am not very suitable for teaching others."

Xu Xi looked at Ai Lei tenderly, holding the mechanical hand that had lost its pseudo-skin and exposed its alloy nature.

Guilt.

Regret.

The voice was filled with many emotions, enough to tear the servant's heart apart, with invisible pain reaching the soul.

That's not the case. That's not the case.

"You don't restrict my future," Ailei denied with a trembling voice. All the sadness was revealed through her eyes, which were trembling and dim.

"My birth, my existence, my everything."

"It's all because of you..."

"Master, you are my future."

"I don't need freedom, I just need you."

The sorrow that surged in his heart was like a tide that could not be stopped, drowning the servitor's absolute mind.

Nothing is needed.

Nothing makes sense.

Just you, just you.

"You didn't become my prison... It was me, I bound you." The robot servant trembled and was speechless, like a drowning person struggling in the water, and could only hold tightly to the object of support in front of him.

That is the palm of Xu's hand.

That familiar warmth is no longer there.

All I felt when I held it was cold ashes.

The mechanical servant realized that compared to Xu Xi, who had always been worried about her and cared about her, her actions were the real bondage, imprisoning Xu Xi, who was becoming increasingly miserable.

The despairing heartstrings broke at this moment.

The cabin was silent but the lights were bright, clearly illuminating Xu's exhausted and haggard face.

The robot servant could no longer convince himself to believe in that false hope, and watched Xu Xi suffer while receiving meaningless treatments again and again.

"Owner……"

"Please... command me."

Amid Xu Xi's stunned surprise, Ai Lei slowly raised her face and spoke the words of request with a sad expression that she forced a smile.

No direct orders were given.

But maybe the department can understand that meaning.

First there was astonishment, then surprise, and then a gentle look of relief.

"Can I, Ellie?"

"……Can."

The sound module was completely destroyed. Although there was no external force attacking it, the inside was burning and some parts were emitting burnt smoke.

Ai Lei's voice was hoarse and distorted as she reaffirmed her answer.

"Then I'm counting on you, Elle."

Not an order, nor a request.

But please.

Under that gentle gaze, the robot stood up with an even more trembling posture and walked towards the treatment machines.

Close apps, flip a button, turn everything off.

Things that should have been closed with just a thought.

The robot servant chose to do it manually, shutting down all the machines one by one in order, as if it was a delayed farewell.

“Boom—”

soon.

As all the machines were shut down, the tubes on Xu Xi's body automatically detached.

The last bit of fuel keeping the flame going is gone.

Life is beginning to come to its proper end.

But Xu Xi's expression was more relaxed than ever before. His body, which had been tired for many days, was finally able to move to the next step.

"I didn't expect that..."

"There comes a day when I think death is a good thing."

A surge of sleepiness came over me.

Without the treatment machine, the feeling of nothingness became more and more obvious. Xu Xi felt that his vision became more blurred and even began to turn dark.

Burnt out torch.

About to fall into eternal sleep.

"Elle..."

"Yes, I'm here."

After turning off all the machines, Ailei returned to the bed again, and stared at Xu Xi who was about to leave her with her silver-blue eyes full of sadness.

That was the first light in her life.

It is also the only light.

He personally ended the continuation of light, making it impossible for the robot servant to forgive him anymore.

"Don't feel sad for me, Ellie."

"This time, just like before, I will be resurrected after my death, but... it will take longer."

On the bed,

Xu Xi gradually lost his strength.

The blinking of eyes, the opening and closing of lips, the movement of fingers.

Things that were once easy to do are now extremely difficult to accomplish.

He smiled at the valet beside the bed.

That was the last smile.

The burned-out torch wants to use its last remaining warmth to do something for its loyal servants, to make that light and heat useful.

So he asked softly, "Ellie, can I touch your face?"

“…Yes, Master.”

In the quiet escape chamber, surrounded by silver-white walls, Ai Lei nodded sadly, gently held up Xu Xi's right hand, and placed the weak palm on his broken cheek.

Next second.

A faint glow burst out from the palm of the hand.

It's mechanical force.

Xu Xi mobilized his body and used his mechanical force for the last time.

Using the closed treatment machines around her as materials, she repaired Elle's damaged body, restoring her delicate face and shattered body.

"It looks much better this way..."

The fingertips fell on the face of the robot, no longer able to touch it, and the continuously burning torch now faced eternal darkness.

You are dead

[Simulation ends]