Ch 43 – How Are You Such a Good Person?
That man’s gaze made Yu Xi feel very uncomfortable. He liked humans, but he also feared this broken sort of human.
[Why are you afraid of him?] Tau was also communicating with Yu Xi by softly tapping the side of his leg, just as Kersz had done moments ago.
Tau had requested that Kersz make food for his Xiao Konglong, which Kersz felt was ridiculous. It wasn’t like the dinosaur could die of starvation. Yu Xi tried to mediate, but he couldn’t physically pry the two apart. Though ultimately, the argument ended with Kersz agreeing to give Xiao Konglong something to eat each day.
Kersz could draw a tomato or cabbage on paper, but he wasn’t willing to do any more than that.
Yu Xi hadn’t expected Kersz to voluntarily give way. Although neither party was entirely satisfied with the final outcome, Yu Xi got the feeling that their relationship seemed to have grown a little closer.
Kersz went to speak with Yara after that, and Yu Xi began to privately chat with Tau out of boredom.
Tau didn’t find the space pirate captain to be particularly fearsome. He was nothing but a madman, whose combat power had nothing on Yu Xi’s.
[Just because I can beat him doesn’t mean he isn’t terrifying. I feel….I feel….oh! Are you familiar with those movies about creepy dolls?] Yu Xi asked Tau.
Tau: [I don’t dare watch those kinds of movies.]
Yu Xi: [And I don’t dare look at those kinds of humans.]
Broken humans were just like those creepy dolls in horror movies. Yu Xi was terrified of those humans, who seemed to have already rotted despite being alive.
[Do I scare you?] Tau asked out of nowhere.
[I feel like you and other people live in completely different worlds, don’t you?] Yu Xi didn’t think that Tau could be judged in the same way, because he had been born into a much harsher environment that suppressed his personality. [You and he are very different.]
Tau had not “rotted.” He had grown into something entirely different, following a completely different set of rules.
After being stripped of personality, Tau no longer possessed the autonomy to choose what to pursue and what to abandon. He was the Supreme Governor’s intermediary.
Tau didn’t believe that his life belonged to him. He had never felt the true weight of existence.
That man was different. That man proactively made numerous choices to ensure his survival, or at the very least, believed that those choices would improve his quality of life.
Tau didn’t even entertain the concept of “improving his life.”
Tau and that man were completely different.
Yu Xi didn’t like the look on that man’s face. It felt like being stared at by someone who was half dead.
[This space pirate is trying to force Yara to cooperate with him. He shouldn’t do anything to you.] Tau assured Yu Xi. [Hurting you wouldn’t be in the best interests of a collaboration.]
[How do you know?] Yu Xi was a little taken aback, but when he thought about it, it didn’t seem so strange that the Supreme Governor’s Illegitimate would be privy to the inside story.
Tau fell silent.
[Tau?] Yu Xi prompted him.
[Tau!!]
In the other room, Tau heaved a sigh.
He hadn’t originally intended to reveal that information, and just subconsciously blurted it out when he sensed how afraid Yu Xi was.
Yu Xi was still calling out to him.
There was nothing Tau could do. He had already been captured himself, and for Yu Xi, seizing the Supreme Governor’s entire family would be a piece of cake.
Tau: [He killed someone from Dawn of Life.]
[Dawn of Life? Oh! That strange alliance!] Yu Xi recalled that this group was passionate about human modification, and wanted to fuse humans with optical computers.
Yu Xi didn’t like them very much. They stirred up unpleasant memories.
[Yes. They had set their sights on a target, but were spotted. A bystander stepped in to intervene out of a sense of justice and died at their hands.] Tau said, [That person was the inventor of android microchips, and their death was a great loss for Dawn of Life.]
[Did he not have any bodyguards with him?] Yu Xi was astonished. [Someone that important would surely bring bodyguards everywhere with him, right?]
[Of course he did. He had an android bodyguard with him at the time, but it didn’t have the Dawn of Life insignia, so the pirates failed to recognize it,] Tau explained. [The space pirates were well-armed, and even the android bodyguard was blown to pieces in the end.]
[After that, Dawn of Life began a full-scale manhunt. It’s said that they raided many of the pirates’ hideouts, and even exposed their human trafficking operations to the public.]
[So what connection does the Supreme Governor have to those pirates?] Yu Xi asked.
Tau said nothing.
Yu Xi continued to press him.
[Space pirates have their uses] Tau continued. [There are certain things that Father and others like him are not at liberty to do.]
Yu Xi came to a realization: [Oh!! This pirate gang is in collusion with the Supreme Governor’s family! They’re able to operate within the Interstellar Alliance because of the Supreme Governor, right?]
[The Supreme Governor previously allowed Kersz to kill his rivals, but Kersz is too solitary by nature and difficult to control. That’s why an Illegitimate like you was sent out] Yu Xi analyzed. [He must have even an even deeper connection with this pirate gang, and for this pirate to come here and threaten Yara…..does he hold some kind of leverage over their family?]
Tau: …..
[Money transfers? Original communication records?] Yu Xi pondered as he went. [I figure that for them to have grown so large, the Supreme Governor’s family must have played a large role behind the scenes. They probably even helped the pirate gang suppress their competitors….in the name of eradicating space piracy.]
All was silent again on Tau’s end.
[Right now, it’s likely that the Supreme Governor is scrambling to get rid of the evidence. Something must have gone wrong within the ranks of the space pirates. Is there an Illegitimate hiding among them? Oh! He tried to get rid of the evidence, but got caught, right?]
[There’s just no guarantee that all of the evidence was destroyed. The Supreme Governor’s family isn’t entirely sure, are they? These space pirates are desperate. If the Supreme Governor doesn’t step in to help, they’re likely going to be destroyed by Dawn of Life. That’s why they set their sights on little guys like us. They moved against us to show the Supreme Governor that they’ve run out of patience.]
Yu Xi noticed Tau’s silence and gave a few more buzzes to prompt thim.
Tau: [I don’t want to chat with you anymore.]
[Why?! Did I offend you?] Yu Xi was very distressed. [But this is the only way I can deal with boredom. There’s absolutely nothing in here except for the one-per-day nutrient solution.]
Tau: [I don’t feel very good.]
Yu Xi: [Are you sick? Do you not have enough to eat, ah? I can sneak over today and help you. Don’t worry, the surveillance cameras won’t catch us.]
Tau really didn’t want to talk with Yu Xi anymore. He had begun to feel uneasy the moment Yu Xi started analyzing the space pirates.
But he couldn’t bring himself to completely ignore him. He tried to stop sending him messages, but his hand seemed to have a mind of its own.
If he really ignored Yu Xi, would this little robot with a pirate phobia be so upset that he actually burst into tears?
What was he supposed to do, ah?
Tau responded to Yu Xi in despair, then received a message that the pirate captain had appeared again.
Tau became vigilant, but as he looked around, he once more realized that there was nothing he could do.
What was he even so anxious for? It wasn’t as if Yu Xi couldn’t take that space pirate.
A couple of scares weren’t going to give Yu Xi lasting psychological damage.
But he was still a little worried.
Why?
Tau was even more conflicted.
Meanwhile, Yu Xi watched as the man pushed the door open. He had no idea what this human was up to now.
The man crouched down. His smile looked gentle at first glance, but those unblinking eyes stayed fixed on Yu Xi without ever looking away.
“Hungry?” The man asked Yu Xi.
“Not really.” Yu Xi rubbed his stomach. He didn’t even need to eat.
The man found this unreasonable: “You’re really not hungry?”
Yu Xi: “I’m not.”
The man: “It’s been four days already.”
Yu Xi let out a sigh.
Yes, it had been four days. Four days since he had seen Kersz. It felt like a lifetime.
He thought about Kersz every day. It was boring to sleep here alone at night, and he had to chat with Kersz for a long time before he was content. But then the bed would still feel empty after they were finished chatting, and he longed to hold Kersz in his arms.
Kersz had the body temperature of a human, as well as a heartbeat.
“Let me go,” Yu Xi said, putting his hands behind his back. “There’s no point in keeping me captive.”
“What do you mean there’s no point? I think it’s a very good idea,” said the man.
“As long as you’re happy,” said Yu Xi. He was debating whether he should just grab Tau and make a run for it tonight. But if they did just escape, it would be very difficult to come back.
Yara would certainly notice that something was amiss with them, and would only become more vigilant.
Yu Xi was very disappointed that he wouldn’t be able to see Kersz.
The man was not very satisfied with Yu Xi’s answer: “But your uncle is starving. He’s giving up.”
Yu Xi was puzzled: “How is he giving up?” Hadn’t he just been arguing with Kersz about arrangements for Xiao Konglong?
“He’s giving up on you, ah,” the man said to Yu Xi. “Cutting off one of your fingers will buy him a full meal, and he’s considering it.”
Yu Xi: …..
There was no change to Yu Xi’s expression. He knew that this man was just trying to trick him.
The man: “What? Aren’t you afraid?”
Yu Xi: “I’m scared stiff.”
The man: “Would someone who’s scared stiff proactively admit it?”
Yu Xi: “Well, humans are highly diverse. You should respect that diversity.”
The man found this child to be exceedingly strange.
Yu Xi contemplated the idea of briefly leaving this place, spending the night with Kersz, and then returning.
“Are you really not hungry?” the man pressed.
“I’m really not.” Yu Xi waved his hand. “Thanks, but you can eat it yourself.”
The man: ?
Yu Xi, whose head was completely filled with thoughts of sleeping with his human: ……
Ah, he hadn’t meant to say that.
Yu Xi glanced at the man, wondering whether he was suspicious of him.
An eerie smile appeared on the man’s face.
Yeah, this human was definitely starting to think that there was something wrong with him.
Yu Xi tensed up, but the man simply smiled and walked away.
And so, Yu Xi anxiously waited until nightfall. He didn’t receive his nutrient solution that day.
Meanwhile, Tau had been consumed by worry that Yu Xi would be terrified to the point of a mental breakdown.
Suddenly, Tau noticed the door opening. He didn’t move, but was inwardly on guard.
The door was slowly pushed open.
“Tau, are you hungry?” Yu Xi asked.
Tau: ? ?
His head jerked up, and he realized that the person at the door really was Yu Xi.
“Fortunately, humans rely on technology so much in these advanced times that there isn’t a single real guard standing watch.” Yu Xi had messed with the security system.
“Are you hungry?” Yu Xi entered the room and conscientiously shut the door behind him.
“A little bit….are you sure this is okay?” Tau was slightly worried.
“It’s fine. Those people are all off doing their own thing, and won’t be hanging around here. I’m keeping an eye on them.” Yu Xi took out the food and encouraged Tau to eat.
“You’re surveilling them?” Tau’s eyes widened.
“Yep, that pirate captain is talking with Yara’s subordinate. He won’t be able to get away anytime soon.” Yu Xi patted Tau on the shoulder. “Do you want to go back and see Xiao Konglong?”
Tau: “What?”
“We can go home temporarily. I miss Kersz a little.” Yu Xi put himself in Tau’s shoes. “You must miss Xiao Konglong too.”
Tau: …..
“It’s pretty boring here, isn’t it?” Yu Xi asked.
Tau hesitated for a moment, but still nodded.
“Do you think Xiao Konglong will be able to eat well while you’re gone?” Yu Xi asked again.
Tau pursed his lips and shook his head.
“Then let’s head back. After all, the pirate captain isn’t going to pay us a personal visit right now anyway.” Yu Xi gave him another pat on the shoulder. “It’s time to call it a day.”
*
*
Kersz copied all the records on Yara’s personal computer. Thankfully, the optical computer he was using had been created by Yu Xi, making it immune to all forms of surveillance. Otherwise, he might have had to figure out a way to leave this place before accessing them.
Kersz investigated for quite a while, feeling a slight throbbing in his temples.
He shook his head.
Yara didn’t seem to be taking Yu Xi and Tau to heart.
After all, Dawn of Life was hunting down this band of pirates, and Yara wasn’t going to risk the reputation of her entire family to protect the relatives of a small business partner like Kersz. The meager benefits Kersz offered her weren’t nearly enough to justify it.
He needed to hurry up and get Yu Xi out of there.
Kersz buoyed his spirits and continued to sift for evidence.
Suddenly, he felt something poke him in the back.
Kersz was immediately on guard, drawing his gun and aiming it behind him.
“Waaa!” Yu Xi raised his hands in surrender. “Don’t kill me!”
Kersz: …..
He rubbed his eyes.
Yu Xi looked pitiful.
Kersz reached out and pinched his cheek, giving it a light tug.
“Aiyo!” Yu Xi cried.
It didn’t actually hurt. Yu Xi knew that Kersz was having a hard time reacting, and had decided to tease him.
“Yu Xi?!” Kersz was elated. “You really came back! Good! Let’s get out of here!”
“Where are we going?” Yu Xi asked.
“Off this planet!” Kersz didn’t want Yu Xi to face any further danger.
“We can’t. I didn’t run away openly and honestly. I snuck out.” Yu Xi didn’t think they should just quit like this. “Nobody’s coming to check on us at this hour, so I decided to take Tau home to rest for the night. We have to go back tomorrow.”
Kersz: “Ah?”
“That space pirate captain will probably want to talk to me tomorrow.” Yu Xi had no desire to do so, but he had been captured by space pirates and there was really nothing to be done about it.
“You actually don’t have to go back,” said Kersz.
“If I don’t go back, won’t Yara realize something is wrong? That space pirate captain will set his sights on us too.” Yu Xi didn’t feel that it was worth the cost.
Yu Xi stroked Kersz’s wrist as he spoke, running his fingers up his arm: “It’s just that I miss you a little. I’ve been thinking about you every day, constantly dwelling on this thing between us.”
There was a loud roar in Kersz’s head, and he lost control of his expression as his face flushed red.
“The look in that space pirate’s eyes is terrifying.” Yu Xi’s tone softened. “He scares me a little. He’s a broken human.”
“Can you hug me?” Yu Xi asked him.
Kersz immediately wrapped his arms around Yu Xi, and even ran a hand up and down his back.
“Look at you! How do you manage to be a better space pirate than all the rest?” Kersz was truly warming his heart, and Yu Xi hugged Kersz back as he spoke.
Kersz felt Yu Xi breathe deeply against the side of his neck, and the movement of Yu Xi’s hands became increasingly bold.
Yu Xi was a robot, and it was only to be expected that a robot might lack a sense of proportion when touching a human…..but Yu Xi invariably lingered over certain specific “weak spots.”
Kersz realized that there might be something else mixed in with Yu Xi’s longing for him.
But Kersz’s longing for Yu Xi wasn’t exactly pure either.
“Do you want me to touch you?” Yu Xi asked as he caressed him.
Kersz: “…..En.” After realizing that Yu Xi wasn’t going to come to harm at the hands of those space pirates, he felt unbearably cheated. Yu Xi had been very enthusiastic before he was captured, to the point that it was more than Kersz could handle.
“I’ve had some very dark thoughts these past few days. I was very afraid at first, but everyone has dark thoughts, don’t they?” Yu Xi released Kersz and straightened up.
Kersz: “Right.”
“Yes, whenever I’m scared of that human, I remember your good qualities. And whenever I think of you, I feel that you’re the best human in existence, ah. Will you come to the bathroom with me?”
“And do what?” Kersz gulped.
“Nothing much.” Yu Xi seemed to have mentioned it casually, and quickly resumed the previous topic. “Just thinking about what a wonderful human you are makes my heart wrench. I don’t want to become human anymore, really. But I still want to abduct one. Wait a moment, let me close the bathroom door first – oh! There’s only one seat here. How about you sit in my lap?”
Yu Xi held Kersz around the waist as he went on: “I abducted you. I know these aren’t thoughts a good robot should have, and such actions could make a human dislike me. Do you dislike me?”
“I don’t.” Kersz sensed that something was off about this. His legs had landed on either side of Yu Xi’s. At first, Yu Xi was sitting with his legs pressed together, and since Kersz was about the same height as him, he felt somewhat awkward.
But when Yu Xi spread his legs, Kersz didn’t have the presence of mind to think about awkwardness, because his legs moved when Yu Xi’s did.
Yu Xi clutched Kersz’s waist tightly to keep him from slipping down.
And then…..
Yu Xi, who had long enjoyed observing from outside the bathroom door, was able to personally explore the thing he was so curious about.
Humans really were incredible. He was red from head to toe, his back arching as if he was trying to break free from Yu Xi’s grasp.
But when the robot really did tactfully pause his research, the human gazed at him beseechingly.
Yu Xi opened his eyes wide and asked him innocently: “Is something wrong?”
Kersz then kissed the corner of his mouth, saying nothing as he nuzzled softly against his cheek.
Yu Xi loved it. Like this, his human was so, so good and well-behaved.
He pinned down Kersz’s hands, rendering all of his limbs useless to him.
Like an archaic robot with communication issues, he continuously asked Kersz what he wanted him to do, and only detailed instructions and a precise description could get him to move.
When Kersz finally gave him that precise description, Yu Xi acted in his role as a good partner to humanity and resolved the problem on his behalf.
Kersz’s head was spinning as he heard Yu Xi murmur softly in his ear, something like “cute” and “beautiful.”
Was this really an accurate description of a space pirate like him?
This robot, Yu Xi, is really…..
Kersz looked into that pair of cyan eyes again. Yu Xi was humming, clearly in a very good mood.
Yu Xi personally washed his human and dressed him in clean clothes. Then, he took his human to bed.
He’s really…..
He gazed at Kersz’s face, then chuckled and nuzzled against him.
“I really missed you.” The warmth of a human made Yu Xi wish he could squeeze his entire body into Kersz’s arms.
This robot, Yu Xi, is really quite cute.
In the end, this was the only sentence to take form in Kersz’s head. There was really no hope for him.
But when he felt Yu Xi press closer into his arms, when he saw the look in his eyes after Kersz hugged him back, both pitiful and delighted…..Kersz didn’t think he was wrong.
Yu Xi had just been away from him for too long and lacked a sense of security.
And wasn’t Kersz happy too? Clearly, he had grown even more excited by Yu Xi’s mischievous remarks as he pretended not to know what he was doing.
With his arms full, Kersz was inexplicably happy.
Kersz would always think about what the future could be like at times like these, even if it was all just a fantasy inside his head.
Yu Xi spent the night cuddling his good human, and opened his eyes at the scheduled time.
The moment he stirred, Kersz woke up as well.
“I’m heading out.” Yu Xi kissed the corner of Kersz’s mouth. “I’ll come back again tonight.”
Kersz instinctively wanted to pull Yu Xi back down, but restrained himself.
Eh? Why did it feel like Yu Xi was heading off to work?
Yu Xi left with Tau, who had spent the entire night preparing food for Xiao Konglong. They then returned to their place of captivity, entering their respective cells.
When the space pirate captain came again to visit Yu Xi, he could sense that something wasn’t right.
The child’s spirits should have been low after going without food all day, and it should have sunk in that he was truly in a perilous situation.
But Yu Xi looked perfectly sated, as if he had just partaken in a sumptuous feast.
Satisfaction and regret intermingled in his expression.
He didn’t look at all like someone who hadn’t eaten all day.
When he spotted the pirate captain, Yu Xi said: “I was so hungry yesterday.”
The man: “You seem to be glowing with good health.”
Had someone secretly brought Yu Xi food? Were they afraid he would starve to death?
Did he still have such a kindhearted person working for him these days?
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Chapter 42 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 44
