Burning Kindness
"Yes, this is indeed a problem."
Ximu found a chance when no one else was around to talk to Ruixia about this. The mechanic who was busy debugging everyone's weapons put down his work and sighed helplessly.
It is indeed not a pleasant thing to watch yourself clearly heading towards the end and even have to contribute to this process personally.
"But Sorens has been quite motivated recently..."
Unlike Vicia who just joined, Sorens has been with them through thick and thin for so long and obviously has a stronger sense of belonging to this team.
Since the training began, he had been either buried in books, writing, drawing, and pondering, or running to the workshop to engage in production, grinding various minerals and writing on various scrolls, and was extremely busy all day long.
"Look, a while ago he went off to study the properties of those space-time vortexes. He came back and wrote a long analytical paper based on the texts of space magic. Then he grabbed Morina and discussed all the bizarre situations that might arise in actual combat. He also wrote me this long analysis report..."
Ruixia was at a loss whether to laugh or cry when she unfolded a long roll of parchment in front of Ximu.
Those pages were pieced together by magic and rolled several times on the ground. Ximu glanced at the contents on them and found that they all made sense. They were indeed ideas that were summarized after much thought and they all had certain feasibility.
Judging from the momentum, it seems that we are really determined to make this happen together with them.
Did he really not realize what kind of future he was about to face?
Or has he already quietly let go of all this? Rather than being trapped in a corner and living in confusion, it would be better to get everything back on track so that he can return to the embrace of the gods and embrace a new life?
Ximu didn’t know.
She has always been indifferent to the thoughts and ideas of others, until recently when she showed some improvement.
Moreover, if she were given a choice, she would probably prefer to eliminate the danger directly rather than resort to unfamiliar methods such as persuasion, admonition, and influence. After all, in a team, the problems caused by unstable factors can be big or small. Instead of being on guard everywhere, it is better to eliminate the problem at its source.
"But your concerns are reasonable. When I have time later, I'll talk to Sorens and Vicia about this alone."
Ruixia sorted the spread out parchment into different categories and patted Ximu's shoulder, signaling her not to worry too much.
Since you want your teammates to work together, you naturally have to make it clear what matters. Anyway, the worst result is that these two "locals" find it difficult to make up their minds and thus quit the team.
As long as there is enough time, they can always find some way to make up for the lack of combat power - after all, they started out as a small team of three people, and Zhui Nei is also an "outsider", he will definitely act with them - it is much better than forcing others to get on the boat, only to have the other party waver and capsize the boat at the critical moment.
"You still have to make some plans."
Ximu looked at Ruixia, wanting to remind him that even if he trusted his teammates, he couldn't be completely defenseless.
But such words were too direct and seemed to destroy unity. She was afraid that Ruixia would think that she was still suspicious of the people around her at the end. She hesitated and couldn't organize any appropriate words for a while.
Seeing her hesitant to speak, Ruixia was stunned for a moment, then reacted. Smiling, she pulled her over to the weapons she was maintaining, and whispered in her ear, "I've thought of this a long time ago... I've left safety devices on all the weapons, don't worry."
Xi Mu was startled. He glanced at the young man with a frank smile on his face, then reached out and touched the dagger and staff on the table. He only saw that various runes were added on them according to the characteristics of each person, and there was nothing unusual.
This guy looks harmless, like a rich, simple-minded person, but I didn't expect him to be wary of others...
The girl suddenly fell silent in thought. Ruixia was worried that she might have some dark misunderstanding about herself. Her expression changed and she quickly explained, "Ah, it's not that I don't trust them. I'm just worried that if they are controlled by the enemy, they might harm their teammates. That's why I made some arrangements in advance..."
He leaned over to her ear and whispered something again.
After understanding what he meant by "insurance", Ximu's expression relaxed. Looking at his nervous expression, she suddenly felt inexplicably happy.
It turns out that he also cares about his image in her heart?
In fact, Ximu didn't think there was anything wrong with being on guard against the people around him.
When you give others the right to stand by your side, you are naturally exposing some of your flaws to them and giving them the opportunity to stab you in the back.
Although this doesn't happen most of the time, your enemies won't let go of such an opportunity.
"I think this is the proper arrangement. Even if I tell them in public, they won't be able to say anything. Strictly speaking, it can't be considered as scheming...right?"
Ruixia raised her eyes to observe Ximu's reaction. Although she felt open-minded, she was still worried that she would have a different opinion of her because of this.
Is this something to be upset about?
Ximu just thought that his nervous look was so silly and cute.
Is it considered scheming to make a backup plan on a weapon that won't hurt anyone?
What about her brother's character, who loves to sow discord among families for no reason, and creates hatred even when there is none, just to make everyone stir up trouble? Is he considered dedicated to his work, and does he not forget his original intention?
The boy's apprehensive drumming made the usually indifferent girl feel like teasing him. She stepped forward and asked with a smile, "Then why did you tell me this alone? Aren't you afraid I'll be offended and turn on you right then and there?"
A soft breath brushed against her cheek, and Ruixia realized that they had unknowingly gotten a little too close. She silently stepped back a little, but was blocked by a pile of messy books.
"Why are you turning against me? Are you going to just pick me up and strangle me to death?"
This was said with a smile, and it was obviously just a joke, but Ximu suddenly opened his eyes wide, obviously a little surprised.
"Why, isn't it?"
Having finally outmaneuvered the opponent, Ruixia raised her head and even smiled with some pride.
"When we first met, you kept giving me that 'where should I start?' look, and it would always end up fixed on my neck... Don't think I didn't know."
"Then why are you..."
——Why be so nice to someone who might kill you at any time?
The second half of the sentence got stuck in my throat and I couldn't ask it out smoothly.
Ke Ruixia seemed to know what she was wondering about. She lowered her head with a smile on her face. When she raised it again, her eyes were filled with smiles.
"But you didn't, did you?"
Something seemed to be blocking his heart. Ximu opened his mouth, but he could only look into Ruixia's eyes instinctively and could not speak.
The gold and red in those eyes were intertwined, strange yet a bit charming, so beautiful that people couldn't take their eyes off.
If he knew from the beginning that the people around him harbored such cold murderous intentions towards him, why did he remain so calm? Not only did he discuss everything with her as if nothing had happened, but he even lost his temper when she disregarded her own safety and insisted that she go along with him?
Why are there such people in this world?
"At that time, when I saw your wary look, I knew you must have had a very difficult life... You were so badly injured, but the moment you saw me, you focused all your attention on me, concentrating on assessing my danger, and paying no attention to yourself.
"I felt at the time that you were someone who hadn't been treated well."
Recalling the situation when they first met that day, Ruixia's expression was gloomy, and she didn't even want to think about Ximu's injuries at that time.
——How painful that must be.
A girl of the same age as him, with such severe burns, was shaking in pain with every movement, but the moment he spoke, she immediately locked onto his position and cast a look at him as sharp as a knife.
Even before she discovered him, she didn't cry out in pain or even whimper.
This is not what it's like to grow up in the normal world.
So... he was really afraid that she would die.
Such a person is too close to death, and will be snatched to another world if he is not careful. He finally meets a fellow human being with whom he can communicate, and he cannot just watch her die!
"Aren't you afraid... after you heal me, I'll take a fancy to the supplies on you and kill you?"
Such a development is not impossible. In fact, if it were anyone else in the Kellinglet family, the situation would most likely develop to this point.
If Ximu had not been in a strange dungeon, surrounded by monsters, and had not been greatly affected by the hidden injuries all over his body, it would have been impossible for her to agree to go with him just based on a scroll that Ruixia casually handed over.
Facing Ximu's questioning, Ruixia admitted it generously.
"I'm afraid, but I'm not that weak. Seriously, even though I can't compare to you, I can still handle the enemy, okay?"
Ruixia puffed out her chest and retorted, her pride hurt by Ximu's suspicious gaze. Then she smiled and said, "Besides, I soon discovered that your 'malice' didn't come from you, but more from the feedback from the outside world."
When receiving "malice", they will respond with "murderous intent". Otherwise, they will treat the other party like grass and ignore them without asking any questions.
"Since you only react to 'danger', then - can't I just treat you well? You won't kill me just because I'm so nice to you, right?"
Actually, there really was...
When they first met, Ximu had no idea that there were such things as "good people" in the world. He completely couldn't understand this always optimistic and positive young man. He even became inexplicably anxious because of this and wanted to kill him to calm down.
Suddenly realizing that Ruixia was blessed to be able to survive safely by her side until now, Ximu's face looked a little ugly, her head drooped slightly, and she looked a little unhappy.
"Ah, I'm not blaming you..."
Sensitively aware of the girl's emotional changes, Ruixia raised her hands and wanted to pat her shoulders, but was afraid that the action might be too intimate and abrupt, so she had to retract her hands helplessly.
"Actually, I've always been grateful to you. Without you, I wouldn't even be able to get here, let alone establish a base in a place full of monsters, find out the truth, or even find a way to leave here."
He looked at her with sincere eyes, without a trace of gloom.
"It's just that I've always wanted to tell you that while no one can decide where they're born, we can still decide how we'll live our lives. Born into a family like that, you're used to having people call the shots. It's not your fault... But don't be trapped by that past. Don't limit yourself. Let's leave here together and see the bigger world together, okay?"
This is the second time he has made such an invitation.
Ximu wanted to agree to him.
She felt like every cell in her body was clamoring for her to agree.
But the fragments that suddenly flashed before her eyes stopped her from speaking. The dome, the altar, the blood, the screams, and the ink-splattered abyss extinguished the eagerness that was faintly burning in her heart, and made her remember once again what she was.
"I will protect you."
She could only irrelevantly repeat the promise she made when they first met, gazing deeply into those beautiful golden-red eyes, as if to carve it into her heart.
"I will protect you until you leave here."
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