Ch 3 – Not a greedy robot

Yu Xi was a quick learner. Even though Kersz was his only source of reference material, after quickly comprehending the vocabulary and correcting any errors, he was able to unilaterally communicate with Kersz in the human’s own language.

Kersz was shocked to learn that Yu Xi was an android – a combat android in particular.

Yu Xi felt that the term ‘android’ was insufficient to describe him, because he was much more ancient than androids. He had been wandering around human homes before androids were even created.

He had started as a robot vacuum cleaner, but the family’s children treated him like a pet, and when the cat and dog at home died of old age, the young children stayed by his side every day.

After that, the homeowners installed a more comprehensive language system for him. He experienced his share of malfunctions, but the homeowners never abandoned him.

Then the couple grew old. Their children grew up, and Yu Xi became evidence of their parents’ love.

Thus, he gradually drifted away from his original mission. New functions were continuously added to him, and he was given many new emotions.

In the end, humanity decided to join hands and run toward “true eternity.” They took everything they had created with them, and when they finally landed on this planet again, they were puzzled by its backward architecture.

They soon discovered Yu Xi, who still maintained the appearance of an ancient human.

“Ancient humans?” Kersz felt that this was all too fantastical.

“You’re just like one. You still live in a body with a limited lifespan, and still have to worry about eating, drinking, and getting injured,” Yu Xi explained.

“Then what did the new humans look like?” Kersz asked.

“It’s very hard to describe. They were no longer made out of flesh and blood, and were instead tall, white beams of light.” Yu Xi said, “They probably couldn’t even be called living beings anymore. They had no gender and did not reproduce. They were simply ancient souls, all-knowing and all-seeing. I have absolutely no idea what their hearts were like.”

Kersz let out a hiss: “Then what exactly were they?”

“They were still humans.”

The last group of humans communicated with Yu Xi for a long time. They sat beside him, listening to him recount his long and somewhat boring experiences, as well as his criticisms of their current appearance and aesthetics.

Yu Xi was actually prepared to disappear along with humanity. But then humanity gave him this galaxy, patted him on the head, and left. Yu Xi never saw them again.

Kersz touched his arm and felt the goosebumps there.

So it turned out that Yu Xi was indeed something created by humans, but those “humans” were clearly different from the ones he knew.

Yu Xi held the same opinion: “Humans like you are from the other side of the universe, and your evolution perfectly replicates the path of humanity as I understand it.”

“This is simply a miracle.” Yu Xi sighed with emotion. So many years had passed. He had thought he would entertain himself on this planet forever, until the end of his life.

But by sheer coincidence, a completely new “old friend” had suddenly appeared and landed here.

Kersz fell deep into thought.

Yu Xi must have some kind of obsession with humanity, otherwise he wouldn’t have maintained his appearance as an “ancient human.”

“Do you want me to stay here?” Kersz asked Yu Xi.

Yu Xi leaned back slightly: “There’s no way for you to leave.”

“I’m not a good person,” said Kersz.

Yu Xi nodded: “I’ve discovered that you are a human who’s very good at disguising yourself.”

“Then you collect people without consideration for their moral fiber?” Kersz continued to sound him out, “There’s something wrong with my fiber.”

“All of the humans from here are dead. Morality has no purpose.” There were no laws here anymore.

“You are a very complex human…..” Yu Xi paused at this point, realizing that he couldn’t state his purpose directly. He needed to present it in a more appealing way.

Before Yu Xi could modify his approach, Kersz said frankly: “Then I’ll sell myself to you.”

Yu Xi: “Ah?”

“If you have no objections, I’ll sell myself to you.” Kersz rested his arms on the table, leaning forward slightly. “Would you like my detailed information?”

“Give it to me, thank you.” Yu Xi moved a semi-transparent panel in front of Kersz.

After handing over the panel, Yu Xi wondered if he had been too direct: “You don’t mind?”

“I don’t mind,” Kersz said as he filled out his information. “Honestly, I thought I was done for this time. I never expected to encounter such a miracle.” 

And this truly was a miracle.

In the vast, uncharted universe outside the star map, there existed such a “ruin” belonging to ancient humans. This place was definitely full of treasures, and Yu Xi was a treasure himself. One could glimpse the development of those ancient humans through him.

Kersz didn’t feel that he was losing out by giving himself to Yu Xi.

“Perhaps I can help you abduct more humans.” Kersz looked toward Yu Xi.

Yu Xi: “Is this you indirectly asking to return to your world?”

Kersz gave him a brilliant smile.

Yu Xi also raised the corners of his mouth, though his smile was very standard.

“I was just thinking that in my world, there are many people without parents. I’m one of them too, of course, but I seem to be too old.” Kersz seemed to be taking Yu Xi’s best interests into account. “Developing feelings for you would be very difficult.”

Yu Xi looked at him.

“Naturally, I’m aware of this. But even if I don’t develop feelings for you right away, there’s nothing I’m unwilling to do.” Kersz had never possessed a bottom line. “Don’t mention just cuddling me in my sleep. Even if you were a human with physiological functions, I would still…..”

“I have them,” Yu Xi cut in.

Kersz: “What?”

“If you are referring to the pleasure that humans once derived from reproduction, I have that function too,” Yu Xi explained.

Kersz leaned back slightly: “May I ask what you did for a living before?”

“I served as a family heirloom. But this function is something I developed myself after humankind went extinct.” Yu Xi had wanted to experience sleep, and also wanted to experience that kind of pleasure.

Kersz thought for a moment, then pulled open his jacket: “Then do you require any special services from me?”

Yu Xi: …..

“You must harbor resentment toward those humans who abandoned you. Now, you can pin one of those heartless people beneath you.” Kersz reached out and pressed a hand to Yu Xi’s chest. “To be honest, quite a few people have complimented me on my physique.”

Yu Xi: “…..May I ask what you did for a living before?”

“I was a respectable space pirate.” Kersz let out a sigh. “But that might not be the case in the future.”

“You mean you can’t be a space pirate anymore?” Yu Xi asked.

“I can’t be respectable anymore.” Kersz continued to write down his work history and background.

So that meant he still wanted to be a space pirate?

Feeling somewhat helpless, Yu Xi covered the back of Kersz’s hand with his own.

“Ah? You want to get started now?” Kersz was very shocked.

Yu Xi noticed that his other hand had already undone the first button on his shirt, and spoke faster: “What I mean to say is that being a space pirate is dangerous.”

Kersz put down his hand: “Is that so? True, it was really dangerous. I almost died.”

“Do you like men?” Yu Xi withdrew his own hand.

“I don’t know. I’ve never liked anyone.” Kersz smiled. “My career has kept me busy.”

His career as a space pirate? Yu Xi tilted his head slightly: “Then are you perhaps a bit mentally unstable?” Otherwise, why would he have fallen into corruption so smoothly?

“Some people have accused me of that, but I haven’t been able to find a problem with my brain,” Kersz said earnestly.

Yu Xi mentally labeled Kersz as someone who really enjoyed talking nonsense.

“With me, you can have everything a human being at this stage in development could want.” Yu Xi stood up, bracing himself against the table. “You will no longer have to worry about money in the future, and the entertainment facilities here are more than enough to keep you happy for the rest of your life.”

Kersz looked at Yu Xi and said: “This place is simply paradise.”

Treacherous human. Yu Xi smiled again and said in his own language: “Unfortunately, it won’t satisfy you.”

Kersz: “What did you say?”

“My language system malfunctioned,” Yu Xi explained. “I said that you are a human who is good at expressing yourself.”

“Thank you for the compliment.” Kersz finished filling out the form.

“By the way, I don’t know if you’ve realized, but you’re actually not that much like an android.” With his hands resting on his thighs, he appeared exceptionally honest.

“I was never an android.” Yu Xi was born long before there were androids.

“What I mean is that you don’t look stiff and inflexible. You look very human.” Kersz’s smile widened. “Greedy, like me.”

Yu Xi’s feelings toward humans must be very complex. His desire to possess humans stemmed more from emotion than reason.

“Thank you. Is your mouth always so sweet?” Yu Xi found Kersz to be increasingly slick.

Kersz: …..

Did Yu Xi misunderstand the meaning of ‘greedy’ in his language?

Yu Xi’s understanding was correct. He simply felt that the word “greedy” could, in a sense, represent vitality.

Greedy people were always so lively. 

So lively that they gave him a headache.

Yu Xi was definitely not greedy. He wouldn’t try to possess all of the new humans.

He had only picked up one, and it seemed to be one that no one else wanted.

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Chapter 2 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 4