Tag: wdbkfmgb

Chapter 29 is a sponsored chapter!! Thank you, Nebulae, for your support!

Trigger warnings: descriptions of suffering and depression.

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{Please read the original translations on SurrealSkyTranslations instead of supporting TL aggregator sites. Thanks!}

The little rabbit was curled up in the iron cage, his silver Zerg wings hung down feebly. However, his expression was peaceful and content, as if having a good dream.

No.19

【Is Deceased】

Having long prepared the “Little Goblin Ball” in the backpack, He Ruge’s heart trembled. He immediately activated the Goblin Ball on the little rabbit for fear of missing the three-second capture timeframe.

[Yes/No. Use “Little Goblin Ball” for No.19]

【Yes】

【No】

The red and white little goblin ball was suspended in mid-air, casting a gentle halo that enveloped the little rabbit.

[A high degree of favorability from the capture target had been detected! 】

[Capture successful! 】

The red cap from the top half of the goblin ball then vanished, leaving only the white hemisphere half of the ball. In the center of the white hemisphere was a small carrot symbol.

A miniature little rabbit laid in the white hemisphere. The little rabbit was sleeping soundly with his eyes closed, its two small paws grasping the edge of the hemisphere. It had silver wings that were too long to fit in the hemisphere, so the tip of the wings hung outside the Goblin Ball .

[Name]: Little Goblin Ball

[Quality]: Rare

[Evaluation]: What’s in the Goblin ball? A cute little rabbit! Whenever you are in danger, just shout “Go, Pikachu,” and you can wake Ruan Ruan and let him come out to help you~ When you are in mortal danger, you don’t need to summon the Goblin Ball and Ruan Ruan will come out automatically~

[Ruan Ruan’s Abilities]: “Attracts 100% attention” When the cute Ruan Ruan appears, regardless of man or woman, old or young, good or bad, their attention will be fully attracted by Ruan Ruan~

[Limitations]: Ruan Ruan has fallen asleep in the Goblin Ball. He is dreaming of his parents. Don’t wake him too often, let him have a peaceful and beautiful sleep~

The Goblin ball was returned to the backpack, but Little Rabbit’s corpse still lay in the iron cage. He Ruge suddenly experienced a surreal sense of dissociation, and he reopened the backpack to make sure that Ruan Ruan was still inside the Goblin Ball.

Being able to see mother and father in his dream, that should be the best ending for Ruan Ruan.

He Ruge pushed at his glasses frame in a complicated mood.

He still remembered the excitement of being surrounded by twenty little cuties when he first started this game. Unexpectedly…… there was only one cutie left.

He Ruge looked at the little white tiger in the cage, his feeling particularly complicated. Little White Tiger looked silently at the little rabbit in the cage. His blue eyes were filled with complex emotions that did not match his age. There was grief and depressions, but amongst these negative emotions, there was also a softness that had never appeared before.

A gentle and sad hue of blue.

Reminiscent of the sky above a church, or the waters of a solemn, still lake.

When He Ruge was faced with such a pair of blue eyes, it was no longer possible to describe the little white tiger as childishly fierce, because at this moment, the sharpness of his whole being had melted away like ice and snow.

He used the mouse to click on [Talk].

No.20

[He has also become a star. All of us will eventually become a star. I seem to have never told you what my name is.】

[Please always remember it.】

[My name is Xi Guican. If I die one day, it means that I have finally become a star and have returned to brilliance.】

Little White Tiger smiled at He Ruge.

The way Little White Tiger smiled was truly too cute, and He Ruge couldn’t help but take a screenshot.

Because Crow needed him for something, He Ruge left Room 214 and walked to the staff dormitory. As soon as he opened the door, he froze——

The dormitory was stuffed full of various laser weapons and energy bombs. Crow took off his mask and revealed a face that hadn’t seen the sun in so long that it was a ghastly pale. He sat on a large energy cannon and smoked. The smoke lingered in the room, and the scarlet ember light from the cigarette butt flashed in the dimness.

Crow

【You came. 】

[The higher-ups have already begun to check Golden Python’s identity. I was responsible for the search target who was on the second floor, and I must give an explanation. 】

[My explanation……]

He blew out a ring of smoke and said hoarsely:

[Is to bomb this laboratory. 】

    ＊

Xi Guican was lying in the cotton nest and looking at No.19 through the bars of the iron cage. The little rabbit was sipping milk tea. From his perspective, he could see tears falling from the little rabbit’s eyes and splashing into the milk tea. Drop by drop, the small water beads created tiny ripples.

They were like the energy bombs that blew up Golden Python in the night sky, when the outermost energy waves had not yet dissipated, and made ripples of light that remained suspended in the atmosphere.

When he looked up at the sky at that time, he suddenly remembered Golden Python’s wish, “To Fly high and far into the sky and become a star.” 

He really became a star.

There were many people who would never be able to achieve their dreams their entire lives. So, it was good. The moment he rushed out of the cage, Xi Xing should have been extremely happy.

His heart that had previously been frozen solid suddenly showed signs of cracks. Within his spiritual soul that had long since dried up, seemingly trivial amounts of foreign emotions poured in. 

They were others’ joys. Unreal joys.

But, Xi Guican felt moved by it.

Xi Guican had always believed that joy was a luxury only others could have and had nothing to do with himself. He lacked the ability to empathize, lacked the ability to perceive emotion, and the joys, sorrows, anger and emotions of outsiders were always covered with a veil, making them vague and surreal.

But at this moment, through that thin veil, Xi Guican was able to feel the soft and warm touch of joy.

Not fear, not disgust, not indifference. 

Nor was it the sense of despair he had previously experienced. 

That day, back then, the golden python had died in front of him. When his cloudy eyes lost their light and his large body suddenly collapsed, a suffocating despair spread out and enveloped his entire being.

For so many years, he seemed to have only experienced negative emotions. Despair, madness, collapse and suppression. 

Now, he was experiencing so, so many different emotions that it practically overwhelmed his perception.

It turns out that the golden python could leave the world this happily?

Obviously, this was just a game, but Xi Guican couldn’t help but take it seriously. Everything was too realistic, and he felt that he needed some sense of false comfort to numb himself.

Little White Tiger turned his head to look at He Ruge who was holding him. The young man’s eyes nervously looked upwards. His black eyes were unblinking, and bright, dazzling light reflected in those dark eyes like a starry night sky.

They looked so nice.

Little White Tiger quietly watched him for a long time.

He wanted to tell He Ruge that for people like them, death as an ending wasn’t the most terrifying thing. Rather, lingering aimlessly in the world until dying an unknown death was the most terrifying. That kid of quiet death gave people the illusion–

That maybe they never existed in the first place.

He wanted to comfort the person in front of him, but when Xi Guican recalled the moment he destroyed the Starry Sea Orphanage and broke through the cage, he realized that he wasn’t even happy at that time.

…because that day, the monster slumbering in his body had been released. It wasn’t him who broke through the cage that day. It was that monster. 

It was that monster who broke free from the restraints of reason, ruined everything, and also ruined himself.

That horrifying, slumbering monster was him, yet wasn’t him.

Xi Guican could feel that the monster in his body had become extremely weak, so weak that it only remained on its last breath as it lingered in his body. If there was a knife that could cross through the body, Xi Guican was wholly willing to gouge out the monster himself, just like cutting out rotten flesh from a wound, and separate the monster from his body.

However……

That monster was not rotten flesh. It was part of his heart, and every pulse of his left atrium, every breath that he took, was proof of the monster’s existence.

In fact, Xi Guican always felt that he was immersed in a swamp bog, with a dark night sky looming above his head. He meandered in the swamp for a long, long time, and when he was tired, the monster would appear, dominating his body and continue to wander aimlessly.

Clearly, he and the monster had lived mutually dependent on each other for so many years, yet when he finally left the swamp, he immediately wanted to cull the monster from his body, to rip the Zerg wings from his body.

He had walked out of Starry Sea Orphanage and walked to the Federation, only to find that the Federation was just another swamp. The sky above his head was still the same darkness. 

He was a wanderer who struggled in life. He had never belonged to any place, and no place welcomed him.

How did Xi Guican come to have this disease? In fact, Xi Guican had already vaguely guessed the truth.

But, so what if he guessed the truth. He understood these people. Even he wanted to destroy himself with his own two hands — he who was rotten from the roots, from the bones.

He knew, and only he knew, that he was never a monster created by the Starry Sea Orphanage. He was……

Born a monster.

No matter if he tried his best to be a normal person, no matter if he ripped out the Zerg wings with his own hands, the wounds on his body would still exist and never disappear.

Before encountering this game, Xi Guican had already been determined to die. He allowed himself to drown in the swamp, feeling the silt suffocate him as it filled his mouth and nose.

But, one day, in the hollow darkness, a ray of light suddenly penetrated the thick, dark clouds and landed on his face. He yearned for, loved, and desired to get close to this ray of light, but he knew that the light was only illusory, like a flower in the mirror, or a moon in the water. He can’t hold it with his grasp.

The beam of light shone on his face, his body, and the swamp. Following the light’s path, he reached out from the muck and plucked one star, and then another star……

Those stars then flew into the sky, and the dark night sky that had loomed over his head for so long was suddenly lit up by a plethora of shining stars.

They twinkled and shined like the song He Ruge was singing.

Twinkling and sparkling, a sky filled with stars hanging in the sky to shine. The faint starlight broke through the clouds, and sprinkled onto him from up high.

This was light. 

He Ruge was the light in his life, illuminating his dark world, illuminating the beauty hidden in the darkness that he has never discovered in the past.

Before meeting He Ruge, he always thought he would never be favored by fate. However, at this moment, when he looked up at the starry skies, Xi Guican realized that the stars above his head had always been there. But, they were blocked by the dark clouds that blinded his eyes, so he had never discovered the beauty of the world he lived in.

The first half of his life was spent sunken in the muck, so he also believed that the people and things around him were “debris in the same river”, “corrupted in filth”, and “unsightly.”¹ But now, fate was telling him that it isn’t like that. 

Those people were just stars that had fallen from the sky.

The golden python was like this.

The little rabbit was also like this.

So, did that mean…… he was the same?

Did that mean he was not rotten to the bone? That the filth on his body was just silt and dust, such that when he washed them away, he would also become a star in the sky?

Xi Guican looked on quietly at the young man in front of him. After a long time passed, he whispered: “All of us will eventually become a star.”

So, I will also become a star.

“I seem to have never told you my name.”

It used to be the name of despair and death.

“Please always remember it.”

Now that he had regained his emotions.

“My name is Xi Guican. If I die one day, it means that I have finally become a star and have returned to brilliance.”

It was you who picked me up from the swampy muck and sent me to the skies.

{Please read the original translations on SurrealSkyTranslations instead of supporting TL aggregator sites. Thanks!}

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Footnotes:

同流合污, 污秽不堪, 不堪入目: 3 separate idioms that describe the idea that those in the same circumstance behave similarly. In this case, it would be “those stuck in the swamp have the same filth”

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I wanted to at least get chapter 29 done before I released part 3, but also didn’t want to delay all the posts. Hence, I still ended up posting this now. A warning though QAQ This chapter made me tear up a little. If you don’t want to end on a sad note, I’d suggest waiting till chapter 29 is up (sometime within 2 or 3 days). 

Trigger warnings: prepare to be sad T^T

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{Please read the original translations on SurrealSkyTranslations instead of supporting TL aggregator sites. Thanks!}

The Medicine-Seeking Rat coughed a few times before he leaned in and whispered to He Ruge in a low voice.

Medicine-Seeking Rat

[Ruan Ruan …… doesn’t have much time left. I have some milk tea powder here. Use it as a placebo and make some for Ruan Ruan to drink. Children like to drink sweet things. 】

【Name】: Milk tea powder

[Quality]: Normal

[Evaluation]: This is a sweet milk tea powder, after drinking it, one’s mood will improve~

In front of the screen, He Ruge was shell-shocked.

What did he mean ‘Ruan Ruan’s time is running out’? He had just learned Little Rabbit’s name, had just watched the stars together with Little Rabbit. There were many, many things they had left to do together. Nothing had started yet. How could it be already ending?

【Countdown: 00:15:01 Seconds】

A bright red countdown timer hung from the upper right corner, refusing He Ruge the luxury of further contemplation. He grabbed the Little White Tiger and Little Rabbit and put them into the medicine basket, and then followed behind the Medicine-Seeking Rat with a mask on.

Medicine-Seeking Rat was a very, very old man. He walked extremely slowly, but steadily in every step. Many old people at that age would have a hunchback, but the Medicine-Seeking Rat did not; he stood with his back straight and his steps were also stable and precise. He was an old man who, if standing with his back towards you, would give you the image of “strict and decent”.

It was especially so with the white coat and gray hair, giving off an aura of a highly respected elderly doctor who otherwise looked out of place in the Starry Sea Orphanage. He should be at home surrounded by grandchildren in a living room decorated with “The Benevolence of a Doctor” and “Hands of Miracles” on the wall.

Why would the Medicine-Seeking Rat appear in Starry Sea Orphanage? He Ruge recalled back to the “Mysterious Infirmary” side mission. Since the last time, he had only made a bit of progress on the mission’s overall completion.

What was the Medicine-Seeking Rat’s secret? It was still all a mystery.

With Medicine-Seeking Rat’s lead, He Ruge made it back to Room 214 practically at the last second of the specified time.

Crow, who was guarding Room 214, looked at He Ruge in surprise.

Crow

[Go to the staff dormitory later, I have something to discuss with you.】

When Crow finished speaking, he turned and left.

He Ruge put Little White Tiger and Little Rabbit back into their cages. He initially wanted to express his gratitude to the Medicine-seeking rat, but at this time, the Medicine-seeking rat had already left without a sound.

[The side mission “Hide and Seek” is complete, you have receive the reward “Universal Door Card”]

[Name]: Universal door card

[Quality]: Rare

[Evaluation]: This is a universal door card that can open any of the doors in Starry Sea Orphanage

Such a useful prop! He Ruge, who was filled with worry and anxiety all night, finally obtained some sense of comfort.

However, the moment He Ruge looked at the little rabbit, his mood which had finally been lifted rapidly fell all the way back down. Little Rabbit had lost a lot of weight. He Ruge hadn’t noticed it before, but now, when he examined the little rabbit carefully, he found Little Rabbit’s appearance was no longer a plump jade. The silver Zerg wings on Little Rabbit’s body were like gluttonous parasites, robbing the little rabbit of his nutrients.

If one removed his fluffy fur, it was estimated that he’d become stick thin.

Indescribable sadness permeated his heart, such that if it gained substance, it would condense into a dark cloud and let down a pattering of rain in He Ruge’s heart.

To He Ruge, Little Rabbit was still special.

His existence was more important to him than the golden python’s. In He Ruge’s heart, the little white tiger was ranked first, and the little rabbit was second. Although the golden python death caused He Ruge to be sad for a while, after grieving, he was still able to be happy for him from the bottom of his heart.

Because he knew that the golden python’s wish was to fly amongst the stars, and death was his best ending.

However, the little rabbit was different.

What he yearned for most was never the starry skies. It might be a rain of candy falling from the sky- One, two, all his favorite lemon flavor.

He Ruge’s mood was a little depressed. He wanted to hug the little rabbit and speak softly to him, but this was only a game. He was in front of the screen while the little rabbit was inside the screen. The only thing he could do was open his backpack and make a cup of warm milk tea for the little rabbit.

The scent of milk tea floated into the little rabbit’s nose. Little Rabbit sniffed and then looked at the milk tea in He Ruge’s hands with sparkling eyes.

No.19

[Chi “Is this the medicine Grandpa Doctor gave me? It smells so good~”】

The little rabbit happily held the milk tea in his paws and drank it without blowing on it, resulting in him burning his tongue. The little rabbit stuck out his tongue pitifully. However, no worries ever stayed with Little Rabbit for too long, and pain seemed to be the same. The pain on his tongue soon flew away, and the little rabbit bowed his head again to drink the milk tea.

The warm steam blurred the little rabbit’s expression, and He Ruge could only hear the gulping sounds of the little rabbit drinking the milk tea.

When the little rabbit raised his head again, he had already finished off all the milk tea.

No.19

【Chi “”It’s sweet, not bitter”】

His ruby-like eyes shone with a film of water. The little rabbit looked at the empty cup reluctantly, and then reluctantly looked up at He Ruge and Little White Tiger.

No.19

[It’s sweet, I’m not bitter】

The little rabbit was fully curled up on the cotton nest. He watched He Ruge with his ruby-red eyes and said with a sweet, milky voice:

[I want to hear you sing a song.】

It was as if they’d returned to Room B6, He Ruge singing a song for that silly Little Rabbit who was overawed by something as simple as sunshine. 

He Ruge sang naively to the screen.

Silliness was contagious, and He Ruge had been infected by the little rabbit and also become a fool.

Even knowing that the bunny in the game can’t hear anything, He Ruge still sang a nursery rhyme to the screen: “Twinkle and twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are, up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky~” 

“Twinkle and twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are, up above the sky so high, like a diamond in the sky~“ _¹

    ＊

Ruan Ruan was a little rabbit. He wasn’t the fastest at learning to speak, but he was definitely the most diligent! Because once he learned a phrase, he would repeat it all day long.

For example, Mom, I love you~

For example, Dad, I love you~

During those times, Mother Rabbit would say that Ruan Ruan is a silly, bubbling little rabbit. But, Ruan Ruan never felt that he was silly. He believed he is very smart, because how else would he know that the day his parents said “we’ll be back soon” was a lie.

Otherwise, why would Mother’s eyes swell up?

But, Ruan Ruan was a considerate and understanding little rabbit. He tried hard to convince himself of what his parents had said and waited long for them to come back. He waited and waited for a long time, but his parents never came back.

But, it’s okay. He would change locations and wait for his parents to come back. However, this new place was dark and made him scared. Ruan Ruan was a little rabbit who was afraid of the dark.

Back then, when he still slept with his parents, there was always a night light by the bedside specially reserved for him.

It was a dazzling light, like a little star in the dark night.

He had been really scared, but fortunately, he met a beautiful siren. That siren would give him delicious fruit candies and would sing songs to him. Once he listened to the songs sung by the siren, his head would no longer hurt.

Ruan Ruan really liked the siren. He liked the siren as much as he liked his mom and dad. 

And if you like someone, you have to tell them.

So, the little rabbit told the youth before him very seriously, “I like you very much~”

“I also like candy~ Do you have any candy?”

He really liked Siren, and he also really liked candy. Yet, the young man in front of him showed an expression of not knowing whether to laugh or cry. He treated it as listening to a child’s joking words.

There were always so many uncanny situations in the world, such as how He Ruge ended up treating the Little Rabbit’s sincerity as childish words.

However, He Ruge was better than other adults because he never lied to children.

Ruan Ruan had asked He Ruge, will you come again?

The young man had smiled and said, he will.

Ah, he continued to come back the entire time. Siren truly was a very gentle and promise-keeping adult. He never promised something he didn’t keep, but rather only talked about it after doing it.

For example, taking Ruan Ruan to see the stars. 

Looking at the bright starry skies through the glass window, he spotted two small, shining stars. Though they were not the brightest nor conspicuous, their light was soft and gentle, like the light from the night light beside his bed in the past.

The two little stars flickered slightly, as if they were mom and dad’s eyes smiling at Ruan Ruan.

Do people really become stars after they die? Ruan Ruan had once asked Little White Tiger about this.

Then, Ruan Ruan discovered that not only do adults like to lie, but children also liked to lie. How could people become stars when they die? But, Little Rabbit was an empathetic little rabbit, and he always cooperated with everyone’s lies.

Sometimes, if you believed in certain lies for a long time, they would become a truth. For example, that Mom and Dad would come back soon, that people will turn into stars after death, that medicine is naturally sweet.

Ruan Ruan hated hardship. At first, when Siren fed him medicine, he believed Siren was a bad person. Later that night, he recovered from the illness and Siren fed him candy. Then, he believed that Siren was a good person.

“Bitter medicine can treat illnesses, silly little fool.”

He even said he was a silly little fool; even a little fool knew that medicine was bitter. Now, they’re using sweet milk tea to trick him into thinking it’s medicine. Then who exactly was the bigger fool?

But, the empathetic Ruan Ruan never revealed anyone’s lies. He was just really hungry, so, so hungry. After transplanting his Zerg wings, his stomach kept telling him he was hungry.

Thus, drinking a cup of sweet, hot milk tea was indeed a very joyous thing.

Ruan Ruan couldn’t wait to take a sip of the milk tea, and ended up scalding his tongue. The pain made tears come out, but Siren was still in a daze and didn’t come up to comfort him. Yes, Siren was Siren, not mom nor dad. Only moms and dads would say to him, “Pain, pain fly away”.

He lowered his head and drank milk tea in big gulps while secretly shedding a few tears under the cover of the steam. His salty tears fell into the sweet, hot milk tea, and it all tasted sweet.

And so, Ruan Ruan’s mood improved again. He drank the milk tea, and then looked up Siren and No.20.

It’s sweet, and he wasn’t bitter. But, he was very tired and wanted to have a good sleep. Maybe, when he wakes up from his nap, there will be no more worries.

Siren was singing to him in a soft voice. It was as if his mother was beside him singing him a lullaby.

The twinkling little stars were father and mother. This time, he believed it.

The little rabbit slowly closed his eyes and fell into a permanent dream.

{Please read the original translations on SurrealSkyTranslations instead of supporting TL aggregator sites. Thanks!}

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Footnotes:

Original: Twinkle and twinkle, sparkle and shine, the sky is full of little stars, hanging in the sky to shine, like many little shining eyes~ Twinkle and twinkle, sparkle and shine, the sky is full of little stars, the sun is sinking slowly westward, the crows are going home in flocks, the stars blink their little eyes, twinkling and shining until dawn~”

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Oh, my poor heart QAQ. I promise it gets better, though. Also, don’t forget the Goblin Ball that keeps making appearances in the earlier chapters!

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Note: For this chapter, I had removed a few sentences in translation because they would not have translated over well, and would instead bring down the overall quality of reading for the readers. The omitted phrases are all parts that would be considered redundant in English, so I felt that it was okay for me to omit them since the implications are still exactly the same. In Chinese, redundancy is common and still allows a passage to flow well because Chinese syntax is less strict in terms of punctuation usage. An entire paragraph in English might just be one sentence in Chinese, with independent clauses separated by commas. Thanks! Enjoy!

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{Please read the original translations on SurrealSkyTranslations instead of supporting TL aggregator sites. Thanks!}

Once He Ruge made up his mind, he picked up the little rabbit and the little white tiger who were standing on the windowsill.

No.19

[Chirp? “Are we going back?”]

[Chi “But, I want to sleep here”]

You

[There is danger here, we must return quickly, cannot stay here.】

Hearing He Ruge’s explanation, the little rabbit nodded like a small adult and obediently slipped into his arms.

The little white tiger was also nestled in He Ruge’s arms, and he looked at He Ruge with an expression of worry.

No. 20

[Roar “It’s dangerous outside”]

【I, I……】

[No.20 is worried about your safety]

He Ruge clicked on the dialog box. After Little White Tiger’s dialog box disappeared, a reply given by the game popped out for He Ruge.

You

[We are just playing Hide and Seek with the bad guys, don’t worry.】

Hearing this, the little rabbit nodded in mock understanding.

He Ruge opened the door of Room E15. Before going outside, he held down the space bar and used the secret observation skill. After confirming that no one was present, He Ruge spent one Little Heart and blocked the surveillance monitors in the corridor.

He then sneaked over and opened the door to the infirmary. The room was bathed in familiar warmth from the welcoming decor, and at the warm, yellow-light illuminated desk, the medicine-seeking rat was sitting on a book and reading with his head down. When he heard the sound of the door being pushed open, he raised his head and looked at He Ruge who had just entered the room.

Medicine-Seeking Rat

[Why are you here again? 】

He Ruge hadn’t spoken yet when the Medicine-Seeking Rat saw Little Rabbit and Little White Tiger in He Ruge’s arms and had a 180 degrees shift in attitude.

Medicine-Seeking Rat

[The little ones are sick again, ah. Bring them over so I can take a look. 】

The Medicine-Seeking Rat didn’t make a single fuss over the Zerg wings on Little Rabbit and Little White Tiger’s back as he gave them a thorough check up like usual.

Time was slipping by bit by bit, and although He Ruge was growing more and more anxious, he didn’t know what to do. Should he beg the Medicine-Seeking Rat, and let him bring them out of trouble?

Although it’s said a man’s knees are made of gold, if the Medicine-Seeking Rat was willing to help them, then it wasn’t impossible for He Ruge to kneel down and call him Father. Besides, it was just a game. 

It’s unfortunate though that there was no kneeling-down option built into the game. After all, a game is a game and there were too many restrictions, too few options, and little flexibility. If this were real life, He Ruge could utilize empathy and reason to convince the Medicine-Seeking Rat. He would promise to repay a favor ten times over. Or, he could make a scene (until the Medicine-Seeking Rat agreed to help). Even if he lost all his face, he’d do anything to achieve his goal.

If only he could enter the game and talk to the NPC.

Suddenly, He Ruge recalled the “Holographic Gaming Helmet” that he pulled out from the Pink Gacha ball – the item that was quoted at 8888.88 dollars.

He clicked on the backpack inventory and found the “Holographic Gaming Helmet” which was still awaiting payment.

Before, He Ruge had absolutely no intention of buying this item. The first reason was because the item was way too expensive! If it was 8 yuan, he would have gone for it without hesitation. 88 yuan, he could still buy it through gritted teeth. 888 yuan, if he closed his eyes and steeled his heart, he might still buy it.

But with 8888.88 yuan, He Ruge had discarded all thoughts about obtaining it. Therefore, he never thought about the practical purpose of the “Holographic Gaming Helmet”.

He initially believed that the helmet was definitely just a money-earning gimmick. He thought that it would only be used to unlock more interactions and strengthen the sense of game immersion, or increase ‘options A and B’ to ‘options ABCDE’, spending money to unlock alternate endings.

Now, He Ruge took a deep breath and asked himself:

You, this poor writer, are you going to be moved by this money extorting gimmick?

——Nonsense! Of course my heart is moved! ! !

——If I wasn’t moved, why would I consider the price! ! !

He calmly pushed up his glasses frames and expressionlessly closed the payment interface . Yes, purchasing was impossible. 8888.88 yuan, even if he sold himself he wouldn’t be able to afford it.……If he became filthy rich in the future, maybe he would consider it.

Poverty made him rational as He Ruge turned to look at the game screen again.

The Medicine-Seeking Rat in the game was fondly caressing Little White Tiger and Little Rabbit’s head. While the little white tiger avoided it with a look of disgust, Little Rabbit didn’t avoid it and instead allowed the Medicine-Seeking Rat to pat his head.

The Medicine-Seeking Rat was too short and even had to jump up to touch the little rabbit’s head. Thus, the little rabbit, who easily became familiar with anyone, lowered his head understandingly and allowed the Medicine-Seeking Rat to touch his rabbit ears.

In just a short amount of time, the little rabbit had already completely won over the Medicine-Seeking Rat.

Medicine-Seeking Rat

[Child, what is your name? 】

The Medicine-Seeking Rat sat between Little Rabbit’s paws and asked the little rabbit’s name in a loving manner.

No.19

[My name is Ruan Ruan. 】

Medicine-Seeking Rat

[Ruan Ruan is such a good child. Has Ruan Ruan been easily hungry recently? Always wanting to eat, but can’t seem to be full? 】

The little rabbit nodded vigorously.

Medicine-Seeking Rat

[It’s okay, don’t be afraid, Ruan Ruan. Grandpa will prescribe Ruan Ruan some medicine. When you take the medicine on time, Ruan Ruan will get better. 】

Hearing this, the little rabbit was very happy. He sweetly called the Medicine-Seeking Rat ‘grandpa’ and coaxed the Medicine-Seeking Rat into a smile.

No.19

[Grandpa, we are playing hide and seek right now. Can you play with us and help us? 】

Medicine-Seeking Rat was silent for a while. He looked at the naive little rabbit before finally nodding.

Medicine-Seeking Rat

[Okay, Grandpa will play with you. 】

The Medicine-Seeking Rat pressed a button on the light brain hanging around his neck and initiated the operations for a robotic arm. He sat on the palm of the robotic arm and two small wheels emerged from the bottom of the arm. It swiftly carried the Medicine-Seeking Rat to a separate room.

When the Medicine-Seeking Rat came out again, he had already transformed into a human form.

The Medicine-Seeking Rat’s human form was a chubby old man with white hair, gentle eyebrows, and a long beard. He wore a white coat and walked out unsteadily on crutches while carrying a mask and two baskets full of medicinal ingredients in his hands.

Medicine-Seeking Rat

[We’ll put the children in the medicinal baskets, and you will put on the mask. If someone asks who you are, don’t speak, just stay behind me. 】

{Please read the original translations on SurrealSkyTranslations instead of supporting TL aggregator sites. Thanks!}

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The title can also be translated as “Sweet Things do not Beget Suffering”

This chapter has not been edited yet. Please let me know if you see any glaring mistakes! Thanks!

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{Please read the original translations on SurrealSkyTranslations instead of supporting TL aggregator sites. Thanks!}

He Ruge was a bit dumbfounded. 

He watched as Golden Python soared into the sky on the screen, scrambling towards the expanse recklessly, flying over Floor E, into the area forbidden by Crow, and rushing straight towards the highest point!

Danger!

“No! Stop, quickly!” He Ruge yelled out instinctively. However, Golden Python didn’t turn around. He shot straight up to the sky, to a place so high even the flashlight couldn’t illuminate, into a field of darkness so thick it couldn’t be dispersed.

In the next moment, the sound of shattering was heard and a small hole appeared amidst the darkness as countless transparent glass shards sprinkled down from overhead. They rained down from somewhere far above, swirling and descending like crystal snowflakes falling in succession

No. 19

[Chirp “The big snake……flew away”]

The previously still defense system started to operate, and dazzling lasers formed a crisscrossed net. The shrill alarm blared rapidly, and accompanied by the noise of the weapon system operations, multiple cold-energy cannons appeared from the walls!

The descending glass shards were hit by the laser rays, and cobweb-like cracked lines spread out from the center of the shards such that the originally palm-sized shards disintegrated into smaller fragments that reflected the rays like glittering stars.

Shimmering shards sprinkled down. 

Amidst the dazzling rays of silted light, they laughed and danced, colliding into each other gaily and sparking a sound of jingling bells.

Two rows of energy cannons rotated silently, adjusting to a precise angle before firing a terrifying energy beam. Blinding white energy bombs cut through the darkness, like celebration fireworks being launched into the sky, and loud explosions followed——

BANG——BANG——BANG——

Dazzling energy light-waves shone through the night sky. The outermost ring of light waves rippled out like water and momentary turned the night sky into day.

The little rabbit was frightened into trembling from the sound of the energy cannons, but when he saw the light above his head, his expression of fear was replaced by amazement.

【Chirp~ “Waaa~ It’s so bright~”】

With such a brilliant light, the difference between the light beams and the flashlight was like fireflies compared to the moonlight.

The radiance shone down from a thousand miles away. When the rain of blood and scattered light fell onto the top of the carriage, He Ruge suddenly came to an understanding.

What the golden python flew towards was not darkness, but rather a dream of eternal splendor. Just like a moth drawn to flames, even if they were blinded, their wings burned, and bodies shattered, they were willing.

For the golden python, flying into the stars was his desired ending.

He Ruge controlled his character, and when the carriage passed Floor E, he jumped down with Little White Tiger and Little Rabbit in his arms. The door to Floor E was slightly hidden and unlocked. This door must have been purposefully left open by Crow for He Ruge.

[Countdown: 00:26:37]

The shrill, blaring sirens never stopped. He Ruge didn’t have time to deliberate. He opened the door and entered Floor E. 

He Ruge had previous experience of being on Floor E, as the medicine-seeking rat’s infirmary was on this floor.

Room E15 was the room at the end of the corridor of Floor E. He Ruge saw E15 immediately when he came through the door. Because he didn’t know what measures Crow took to evade surveillance, to be on the safe side, He Ruge used x1 Little Heart to block the monitors before taking the cubs to open Room E15.

Room at E15 was empty, containing nothing but four medical beds. He Ruge remembered that E13 was the medicine-seeking rat’s infirmary. Thus, he guessed that Room E15 is dedicated to patient care.

Room E15’s color is very similar to that of the infirmary’s, and at first glance, it’s easy to tell it was designed by the medicine-seeking rat. The architectural design of Starry Sea Orphanage was mostly based on cold colors, making one feel gloomy even across the screen. Meanwhile,  the medicine-seeking rat’s infirmary was one of the few warm colored places.

He Ruge’s tensed-up nerves relaxed slightly. The little rabbit in his arms also looked relieved, but Little White Tiger carried a complicated and somber expression from beginning to end.

There was a window in Room E15. He Ruge didn’t open the window, but rather put Little White Tiger and Little Rabbit on the window sill and clicked on the curtain with the mouse, opening a small gap.

The light waves from the energy bomb hadn’t completely dissipated yet, and the extremely faint ripple-like waves floated in the night sky like flowing clouds.

Little Rabbit dragged his heavy Zerg wings behind him as he stood up laboriously and raised his little head high. The tip of his nose was pressed to the window glass, and the beautiful starry sky was reflected in his ruby red eyes.

No.19

[Chirp~ “That’s Dad~”]

One little paw pointed to a star, and the other little paw followed, pointing to a star next to the first.

No.19

[Chirp~ “That’s mom!”】

[The stars are mom and dad’s eyes, blinking and smiling at me~]

The little rabbit smiled happily. Then, he pointed to the brightest star in the night sky and said cheerfully:

[That’s the big snake! 】

[He is the brightest and best-looking star~]

Little White Tiger, who had been sitting in silence on the window sill, followed in the direction of Little Rabbit’s pointing and saw the brightest star in the sky.

No.20

【……Yes. 】

[He is the brightest star. 】

[The side mission “Watch the Stars Together” is complete. Completion rate is 100%. Reward: “Xi Xing’s Blessing”]

[Name]: Xi Xing’s Blessing

[Quality]: Rare

[Evaluation]: The happiest moment in Xi Xing’s life was the moment he flew into the stars. He wishes to share his boundless happiness and contentment. When you are blessed by Xi Xing, you will recall good memories.

[Limitations]: Can only be used once

The outer appearance of this rare item was a gold star, reminiscent of Golden Python’s gold scales.

He Ruge tapped on the screen frame. The tears building in the black eyes had yet to fall before they were swept away by the sudden appearance of a new side mission.

[The side mission “Hide-and-Seek” is unlocked! Xi Xing’s behavior alarmed the people in Starry Sea Orphanage. The return passage via the carriage has been blocked. You must avoid all security and return to Room 214 within the time specified by Crow! 】

[Countdown: 00:23:21]

He Ruge: “……” I think this is purposefully making things difficult for people.

He doesn’t even have permission to go downstairs, how can he reach Room 214?! Is this broken game a devil?!

There was only 23 minutes left. It was a race against time to return. 

He Ruge frowned as he tried to find a way to beat the game. All assets and characters that he could use quickly flashed through his mind before he finally thought of the medicine-seeking rat in the infirmary.

If he had to choose one good and helpful person from Starry Sea Orphanage, then He Ruge could only choose the medicine-seeking rat. Besides, the medicine-seeking rat had helped Little White Tiger do a check up for free last time. Compared with the other staff members in Starry Sea Orphanage, the medicine-seeking rat was the only one in the muck who was not fully stained. 

Sure enough, everything must be compared in order to appear beautiful¹.

{Please read the original translations on SurrealSkyTranslations instead of supporting TL aggregator sites. Thanks!}

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Footnotes:

1. Only when two things are compared can you consider one to be ‘better’

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{Please read the original translations on SurrealSkyTranslations instead of supporting TL aggregator sites. Thanks!}

The carriage moved along slowly, and everything was a very novel experience. With the light from the flashlight, the little rabbit was no longer afraid. 

Little Rabbit looked about excitedly just like the time they finally left Room B6. His listless expression was thoroughly swept away.

No.19

[Chirp Chirp~ “Looking at stars~ Are there really moms and dads on the stars? “】

[Chirp~ “I will introduce you to my mom and dad”]

 Even Golden Python felt revitalized, as if newly awakening from a long hibernation.

Only Little White Tiger was as still as a mountain, nestled in He Ruge’s arms and looking at He Ruge with his blue eyes. There were a plethora of complex emotions swirling in his eyes.

He Ruge didn’t pay too much attention to Little White Tiger because Crow had warned that they must jump off the carriage when they reached Floor E. Thus, He Ruge was busy nervously counting the floors that the carriage passed, for fear of missing the floor number. He’s afraid that if they jumped to the wrong floor, he wouldn’t be able to cry even if he wanted to. 

While trying to keep track of the floor number, He Ruge recalled Crow’s words. 

Crow told them to see the stars in Room E15. Did that mean there was no one present in Room E15, and no surveillance? Though, He Ruge wasn’t afraid of surveillance cameras since he could block the monitors with Little Hearts.

He Ruge was mainly afraid of running into people. All of them were combat inept. Little Rabbit and Little White Tiger were cubs, Golden Python was a terminally ill patient, and he himself…… well, let’s not to mention that.

They hitched a ride from Basement Level 2 and had to pass six floors before reaching Floor E.

While He Ruge was busy remembering the number of floors passed, Golden Python suddenly spoke.

Golden Python

[I am very happy]

【Thank You】

[…..It would be so nice if I could just fly to the stars myself]

The Golden Python talked like he’d been injected with chicken blood (energetically), directly replacing the chatterbox Little Rabbit and chittered endlessly. His mental state was overly excited, almost as if he was overdrawing his bit of life energy and burning it to fuel his final brilliance.

He Ruge realized that this was Golden Python’s return to youth before death. Even if this was obviously just a game, He Ruge still felt sorrowful.

He had no relatives, had never participated in a relative’s funeral, and had never experienced the death of another. But, at this moment, He Ruge saw an illusion–

In the expansive, bright and starry sky, he wanted to hold a funeral under the stars for the golden python.

Silent grief filled the air as He Ruge listened carefully to Golden Python’s last words in this lifetime.

……If you could fly to the stars yourself?

He Ruge suddenly had a flash of inspiration. He immediately pulled out the “Invisible Wings” prop from his backpack and checked the restrictions/limitations on the use of the “Invisible Wings”. There were no other restrictions except “the weight carried by the wings cannot exceed four hundred jin.”

If he gives this item to Golden Python, does that mean Golden Python can fly by himself?

[Give “Invisible Wings” to Golden Python, Yes/No]

【Yes】

【No】

Although this was a rare prop, He Ruge still clicked [Yes] without hesitation.

[The prop has taken effect]

＊

At first, Xi Xing faced the prospect of death with utmost fear. He was still so young, his life had just begun, there were so many things he hadn’t tried yet. So, he was reluctant to leave the world. 

It didn’t matter if he lived in torment. As long as he could live, what were the Zerg wings considered? He had already endured so much suffering prior, which of them was not as painful as the process of transplanting Zerg wings?

However, destiny always liked to play jokes on him. His Zerg wings had been removed and replaced with higher-quality wings. But, as a result, the fusion failed. He was replaced with the worst-quality wings and still ended up a failed experiment.

He had been abandoned.

Xi Xing suddenly understood that the most painful thing in the world was not suffering in endless darkness, but rather having seen the light once before.

He despised his weakness and helplessness, and he despised the injustice of fate. However, the moment he heard the gentle and bewitching voice say “I’ll take you to go watch the stars”, all of his grievances suddenly collapsed like a punctured balloon.

Xi Xing heard the muffled mechanical noise of the carriage rising slowly, and in the long, dark passageway, the only source of light came from the flashlight as he was shrouded within its glow. It was a cold light, completely lacking in warmth. It could even be considered a bit piercing to the eyes.

The light from the flashlight shone carelessly on his face and seared itself into his sight.

Xi Xing once thought that he was among the group of people thoroughly abandoned by fate to fall into the endless abyss. 

He had Zerg wings, yet experienced “Struggling, but unable to escape.”

He was named “Star” (Xing).

Yet, his life is not a burning new star, but rather a falling comet, fleeting and vanishing into the endless darkness.

He kept falling, and falling, and falling. From the sky into the abyss, from the light into darkness, from a sea of stars into the muddy ground.

He thought he would die resentfully in Room 214 with only the insects under his skin excitedly throwing a feast.

However…… he was plucked up by fate from the silt and dust just when the curtain of death was looming overhead, and this falling star was once again sent up to the starry skies.

His soul became lighter. He couldn’t wait to leave this broken and rotten body, and a surreal joy enveloped him like a bubble.

“It would be so nice if I could fly to the stars myself.” After saying this, Xi Xing suddenly felt a mysterious power building around him, as if two hands were supporting his heavy body and lifting him up. Lifting higher and higher. Lifting him into the sky——

He was flying.

But he wasn’t using the Zerg wings on the body, but rather a pair of invisible wings. Those wings were extremely powerful and vigorous, with each flap sending him higher and higher into the sky.

A muddled call came from behind him, like someone was telling him to stop. But, he had been trapped here for far too long. He didn’t want to look back, let alone stay. So, he flapped his wings harder and rushed towards the sky.

He flew past Floors A, B, C, D, E…… He flew towards the top of the building and then used those mysterious and powerful wings to break through the glass roof, causing the alarms to blare crazily. However, Xi Xing didn’t pay it any mind. 

When shards of glass sprinkled onto the ground, he finally escaped that giant prison.

The night air poured into his lungs as Xi Xing took a deep breath and looked up at the starry sky above his head. At this moment, his originally cloudy eyes were extremely clear.

Look, what a beautiful starry sky. It’s as if a jewelry box was spilled out onto a black velvet blanket.

Behind him came the heavy sounds of energy cannons being fired, Deng——Deng——Deng——

The sounds behind him gradually became indistinct, while the starry sky above his head became brighter and brighter. 

At this time, an energy beam penetrated his body and shattered his flesh and bones to pieces. 

One particularly bright star was shining in the night sky and illuminated his gray eyes.

That pair of invisible wings continued to flap, flying through the blurred boundaries of life and death. He suddenly recalled many things, and the things he experienced in this short life rapidly replayed in his mind.

It appears……

That the happiest moment in his life was now

Because he was able to reach the starry sky he longed for, flying towards his endless happiness and joy.

{Please read the original translations on SurrealSkyTranslations instead of supporting TL aggregator sites. Thanks!}

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Footnotes:

Happiness and joy: English is limited on words that differentiate between different types of happiness. Here, the author chose to use one that characterized personal happiness and one that characterized satisfaction in life.

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Chinese Phrases Refresher: “Spicy chicken” is a Chinese homonym for “trashy” or “garbage”

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{Please read the original translations on SurrealSkyTranslations instead of supporting TL aggregator sites. Thanks!}

He Ruge wasn’t good at mixing into crowds, so he just quietly watched from behind the screen for a while before exiting the group chat to go write. Inside the small black room, he managed to write 2,000 words in one go, looking at the plump and full document in a daze.

Coming upon the realization that you were a monster, would your life change significantly?

That didn’t seem to be the case. Life still goes on, and words still have to be written.

Suddenly, a thought popped into his mind. Originally, he didn’t want to think too deep into it. However, that thought lingered in his mind and finally drove him to reopen “Family of 5 Lakes and 4 Seas” and say: “I have a question. Do monsters have parents?”

He Ruge had always had a lump in his heart. 

Why was he orphaned? 

This lump stayed hidden in his heart and would always leave a dull pain when touched, an undesirable and unexpected pain.

But, at this moment, he looked at the screen and suddenly held his breath. Countless unspecified anxieties appeared in his heart, both long and short:

If he was a monster, then did it mean that……

Did it mean……

He had never been abandoned.

Little JiaoJiao Wants to Become a Dragon: “A monster without parents, did they perhaps pop out of a rock? I am the second generation Interstellar.”

He Ruge’s emotions shifted only for the briefest of moments. His fingertips which were placed on the keyboard twitched as he slowly replied, his body similar to a block of frozen ice slowly being defrosted: “Okay, thank you.”

He rapidly blinked his dry eyes a few times before closing the group chat. A strong sense of exhaustion flooded over him like a tide, and He Ruge fell into a daze for a long time.

A long time later, he reopened the game and entered Room 214.

The little white tiger was sleeping. He Ruge’s gaze wandered along the outline of the little white tiger bit by bit, from his bud-like ears and delicate pink nose, to his thin and long snow-white tiger whiskers and his two overlapping small paws.

His heavy heart seemed to have been immersed in warm water, bubbling water from a hot springs, such that each time the little white tiger exhaled, a small bubble would emerge from the water.

He Ruge’s birthday is next month. He had once thought that when he’d saved some money, he would buy himself a cat for his own birthday gift.

However, He Ruge didn’t want that anymore. He wanted to raise Little White Tiger. He only wanted to raise Little White Tiger.

Why did he constantly desire to keep a cat? It’s because he is lonely. He didn’t want to live an ordinary and quiet life on his lonesome. It would be good even if just to hear a cat’s random meows.

But now, Little White Tiger was here to accompany him. Little White Tiger is very obedient. Whenever he was writing, Little White Tiger would just sit inside the game, not making any trouble. He also never got angry because of his (HRG’s) tardiness, and was even willing to hand him his own little tail when He Ruge is sad. Such a warm-hearted Little White Tiger.

Although this was just a game…. Fortunately, this was just a game.

He Ruge didn’t dare imagine the possibility that Little White Tiger was a real existence, that he was a creature that could age and grow old, experiencing sickness and eventually death. How sad he’d be if and when Little White Tiger died.

Just having it be a game is wonderful. He could grow slowly with Little White Tiger and watch him grow up but not see the appearance of Little White Tiger in decrepit old age. 

One day, when the game was over, he could close the game and click “Restart”.

And so, a milky Little White Tiger would once again appear on screen in room B6. This Little White Tiger was so terribly fierce and would bite everyone he saw, but wouldn’t bite the him who had removed his glasses.

They would return to the day they first met.

The corners of the originally drooping lips rose slightly. He Ruge pushed at his glasses frame. He became happy again, and He Ruge opened up the document to write with that contented expression. He unknowingly typed until late into the evening before finishing his takeout and logging into the game.

Little White Tiger had already woken up. He was holding the nutrient solution and chugged it down wontanly, but compared to the little rabbit who was gorging on the side, Little White Tiger still appeared elegant.

During the feedings back in Room B6, every time Little White Tiger drank milk, it’s like he was fighting a war, always afraid that someone would come and snatch it away from him. However, at this moment when Little White Tiger and Little Rabbit were eating together side-by-side, He Ruge suddenly had a thought:

Only those who’d been starved before would eat so quickly.

It was an inexplicable idea. Little White Tiger had never been starved by him before, so his thinking must be too far fetched. Perhaps, the speed at which Little White Tiger eats was determined by the game’s setting for the character, wanting to portray the momentum of “Swallowing Mountains and Rivers” and “Tiger Descending the Mountain” (reflection of being powerful).

Because of Little White Tiger’s previous impediment, He Ruge didn’t give Little Rabbit a second bottle of nutrient solution. Little Rabbit found it difficult to boost his energy. He didn’t cry or make trouble, and was instead curled up inside the cage languidly.

His quiet disposition was exactly the same as Golden Python’s.

He Ruge didn’t like such a quiet Little Rabbit. He would rather the little rabbit howl and cry and yell for sweets, not wanting those ruby eyes to lose their original luster.

What worried He Ruge even more was that even candy couldn’t lift up Little Rabbit’s spirits anymore.

Will watching the stars together make the family happy again?

He Ruge clicked on the floating button next to Little White Tiger and selected [Touch Head]. A youthful and slender hand appeared on screen and stroked Little White Tiger’s head gently.

Seeing Little White Tiger being petted in the game, He Ruge’s anxiety was alleviated significantly. The time agreed on by Crow and himself was tonight. However, they didn’t set a specific time, and He Ruge didn’t know when exactly Crow would arrive.

The time when Crow will show up was undetermined, but the side missions of ‘watching the stars’ must be completed during the time when stars can actually be seen.

It was eight o’clock in the evening, and the sky outside He Ruge’s window was already dark. The Crow inside the game may appear at any second, maybe within the next half an hour. He Ruge didn’t want to miss it because he wasn’t sure if by chance he missed Crow’s arrival, this spicy chicken game would arrange for Crow to appear a second time.

Thus, He Ruge left the game open on the computer and used his cell phone to write. He would look back up at the computer every now and then after just writing a tiny bit, making his work highly inefficient.

The little white tiger and little rabbit in the game seemed to feel He Ruge’s anxious state and also watched the unopened door.

Suddenly, the door was pushed open and Crow hurried in.

Crow

[Quickly, I tampered with this floor’s electrical power, but it will only last for one minute! 】

Crow opened Golden Python’s cage, and bursting with a huge inexplicable force completely incompatible with his thin frame, easily wrapped the nine-meter-long golden python around his body while carrying Little White Tiger and Little Rabbit, and ran away quickly.

He Ruge was momentarily stunned and when he finally reacted, he hastily maneuvered his game character to follow Crow.

Crow’s speed was so fast that he almost created afterimages. He rushed to the end of the corridor almost instantaneously and opened the mysterious door using his authority.

He Ruge, Little Rabbit, Little White Tiger, and Golden Python were all pushed beyond the door by Crow.

Crow

[When you see the “Delivery Carriage”, you must climb onto its roof and when it passes Floor E, jump off the carriage! Then, go to E15! You must come back within half an hour! 】

As soon as his voice fell, the door suddenly closed.

[Countdown: 00:30:00] (30 minutes)

All traces of light vanished. The world on the other side of the door was pitch black, een one’s own fingers could not be seen. Through the computer came the sound of wind whistling through a tunnel, and the Little Rabbit was chirping from fear.

No.19

【Chirp Chirp “So dark”.】

Golden Python

[Hiss “I don’t seem to have enough space”]

He Ruge bought a “flashlight” using x5 Small Hearts in the Love Mall.

The light from the flashlight dissipated the darkness within a one metre radius. What they didn’t see, they didn’t know. But, when they did see, they were startled. He Ruge found that the little rabbit nestled in his left arm, the little white tiger was nestled in his right arm, and the golden python was lying beside his feet..

They were standing on the only piece of flat ground. Just one step away was a bottomless abyss.

This was a tunnel perpendicular to and penetrating through the entire building, similar to a passage meant for elevators to travel up and down. The flashlight shone into the black square shaped tunnel, and the light that pierced through the dark was as thin as a thread in the deep darkness.

Even if the huge golden python was coiled into a mosquito coil, it still took up a lot of space. One-third of its body was suspended in the air, almost falling into the tunnel.

He Ruge hurriedly made way for the golden python, and the golden python carefully coiled into himself tightly. His coiling skills were superb, like a master of packaging (master of packaging: implying Golden Python coiled himself really tightly and optimized space. Think of tetris, or being very good at packing luggage). Only a sliver of his snake tail was left hanging in the air.

Golden python

[Where is this, why did you bring us here? 】

You

[I am taking you all to see the stars. 】

After hearing He Ruge’s response, Golden Python froze on the spot.

“BANG—”

From the bottom of the tunnel came the delayed sound of unloading goods, followed by the dull sound of running machinery. Using the light from the flashlight, He Ruge saw a huge iron block slowly moving upward.

This should be the “Delivery Carriage” Crow was talking about.

He Ruge prepared himself, and when the carriage was about to rise, he pulled the golden python with him and jumped onto the roof together.

{Please read the original translations on SurrealSkyTranslations instead of supporting TL aggregator sites. Thanks!}

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TL Corner: Oh dear. This chapter wasn’t supposed to take this long. Not sure what happened, but my document had deleted itself from existence and I had to start all over QwQ

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Don’t worry too much about the appearance of the new characters yet. Everything will explain itself later on.

A double release week! Enjoy!

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{Please read the original translations on SurrealSkyTranslations instead of supporting TL aggregator sites. Thanks!}

It appeared that he could complete the side mission by tonight. After He Ruge finished reading through Crow’s dialogue, he became curious about the mysterious door Crow had been talking about.

What was behind that door?

As today’s playing time had exceeded his daily average game time, He Ruge turned off the game and prepared to go find his close friend and do some writing.

When he opened up Penguin, he found that there was a friend request from “Kraken”.

He Ruge’s mood turned a bit strange. The head of the Kraken was a gray-purple Q octopus. Before today, he had never thought that there would be real monsters in this world, nor did he ever think that he might also be a monster.

“You are now friends with Kraken, you can now start chatting.”

Ruge: “Hello.”

Kraken: “I apologize. I was writing. Could you send me a picture of the red streaks?”

He Ruge took a picture of the red streaks on his ankle.

Kraken: “This is a bloodline pattern^[1] of our water tribe, but I’ve never seen this type of bloodline pattern.”

Kraken: “Picture .jpg.”

and his eyes were drawn to the other party’s tie: “Huh, when you all were deciding on the image for the final scene yesterday, didn’t you say that the crimson colored one is better? Why did you choose this one?

From the other party came a picture of a hand with light grayish-purple lines on the wrist. The purple lines twisted and turned, detailed with small circles.

When he saw the familiar lines, all the doubts in He Ruge’s heart dissipated. No scammer would so leisurely get this kind of tattoo on their hand. 

Kraken: “Your bloodline pattern is very dark, are you using a picture filter?”

Ruge: “No, what does the color darkness of the bloodline pattern symbolize?”

Kraken: “…The darker the color of the bloodline pattern, the stronger the strength. I feel like I was originally fishing around in the forum for a small fry, but ended up scooping up a big boss.”

He Ruge didn’t know whether to laugh or cry about this metaphor.

Kraken: “Are you also a JinJiang (JJWXC) writer?”

Ruge: “Yes, I have been writing for a year already.”

Kraken: “It should be due to you absorbing the power of faith^[2] from your writing that caused you to awaken. You said before that the bloodline pattern gives you good luck. This may be your natural ability. You haven’t fully awakened yet, so don’t use your abilities casually. The power of faith that you’ve absorbed must be slowly accumulated in order to fully awaken you.”

Kraken: “Every monster has a different awakening period. For example, the awakening period of the cicada type is very long and can be up to seventeen years. The awakening period is extremely important and most monsters only have one awakening period in their entire life.”

Kraken: “The more faith you accumulate during the awakening period, the greater the changes you will experience on the day of your awakening, like flushing your tendons and transforming your marrow^[3]. Accumulating faith during the awakening period is twice as effective as accumulating faith after.”

Kraken’s words seemed to have parted the clouds and revealed the light, and He Ruge, who was “on the verge of experimenting through mass buying lottery tickets”, was pulled back. It seems that the only way he could make money and support the family ^[4] was to obediently write more words.

Ruge: “Thank you for your scientific explanations. I haven’t introduced myself yet. You can call me Ruge.”

Kraken: “Hahaha, no thanks, just call me 8 Legs ^[5]. You can ask me if you don’t understand something in the future. I’ll add you into a small communication group chat for aquatic type monsters later. By the way, you don’t want to reveal your bloodline patterns to other people casually because bloodline patterns can reveal a lot of information.”

Kraken: “If you anytime you wanna write, you can also look for me.” ^[6]

He Ruge thought about his own writing speed. Under normal circumstances, his speed was 1,500 characters per hour. If he used himself as a unit of measurement and counted as 1 Ge, then “Emotionless Coding Machine” was approximately equal to 3 Ge’s, and “Kraken” was 7 Ge’s.

He Ruge revealed an awkward but polite smile.

Ruge: “Okay, I hope we have a chance to write together in the future.” No, there never be this chance. Even a crumb has its own stubbornness!^[9]

The group that Kraken pulled He Ruge into was called “Family of 5 Lakes and 4 Seas”. There were a total of seven members in the group. When He Ru Ge entered the group, the online members all bubbled up boisterously.

Little JiaoJiao Wants to Become a Dragon: “Welcome, welcome, it’s been so long since I saw a new person.”

Virtuous Tortoise: “Welcome.”

Your Old Mother: “Welcome Newcomer @Ruge”

Little JiaoJiao Wants to Become a Dragon: “8 Legs, come and introduce the Newcomer!”

8 Legs: “My colleague Ruge. He is still in the awakening period. Don’t bully him.”

Ruge: “Hello everyone.”

Little JiaoJiao Wants to Become a Dragon: “So, RuGe is also a writer. Recently, I don’t want to stay in the entertainment industry anymore. I heard that the Webnovel industry is quite relaxing, is it true @8Legs”

8 Legs: “False.”

8 Legs: “If you don’t have the talent, you will die. The Webnovel circle does not rely on one’s face to eat, but rather on talent.”

Little JiaoJiao Wants to Become a Dragon: “But you also don’t have the talent. You’ve been on the streets for seven or eight years now.”^[7]

8 Legs: “Who said I have no talent. My speed is 10,000 words per hour. If you could squeeze out a hundred words in an hour that’d already be amazing.”

Little JiaoJiao Wants to Become a Dragon: “Hey.”

8 Legs: “Jiao’er ^[8], be good for me. Isn’t it good to just quietly be a flower vase?”

Little JiaoJiao Wants to Become a Dragon: “……Hey.”

    ……

{Please read the original translations on SurrealSkyTranslations instead of supporting TL aggregator sites. Thanks!}

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{Please read the original translations on SurrealSkyTranslations instead of supporting TL aggregator sites. Thanks!}

Suddenly, Little White Tiger raised his head. His blue eyes were shining and his expression was firm as he walked resolutely towards He Ruge. A small paw hung onto He Ruge’s hand and the little white tiger turned sideways, letting his fluffy tiger tail gently land in He Ruge’s palm.

No.20

[Hou “If I let you touch my tail, will you be a little happier?”】

[Play with tail] (unlocked)

He Ruge’s eyes softened for an instant, he looked at the uncomfortable Little White Tiger, and whispered, “I will.”

Click [Play with Tail] with the mouse.

A slender hand touched the tail carefully. Unlike He Ruge’s hands and feet, the little tail was much more expressive and enthusiastic. The snow-white tail tip wagged and took the initiative to hook onto the young man’s index finger, and simultaneously hooked onto He Ruge’s heart.

No.20

[Number 20’s tail entangles with your fingers]

[Roar “You are mine”]

He Ruge’s heart trembled.

En, you are mine, too. You are my family’s little cutie.

After interacting with Little White Tiger, He Ruge was once again filled with love towards this game. The game abused him thousands of times, yet he still treated the game like a first love.

He Ruge remembered that he hadn’t had time to carefully examine the rare items he had drawn before, so he pulled out the “Fate’s Calling Card” from his backpack.

{Please read the original translations on SurrealSkyTranslations instead of supporting TL aggregator sites. Thanks!}

[Name]: Fate Calling Card

“Limitations: Although it can only be used once, the predicted destiny can be changed.”

This card is a predictive type prop. At first glance, one could already tell that this was a very precious item, and there was no restriction on the user candidate. He could use the Fate’s Calling Card to predict the future of Little Rabbit, Little White Tiger, Golden Python or even Crow.

It was just that he didn’t know exactly how detailed the card’s prediction would be. Will it detail even the reason for the character’s fated death?

The plot line of this game was complicated and confusing. If he could know the fate of one of the game characters ahead of time, he may be able to avoid some unfortunate events. Thus, he needed to carefully consider who to use the prediction card on and the timing of the use.

Should he use it now? And on whom?

The Little White Tiger was the game’s main focus, and his fate was actually mentioned briefly at the beginning of the game. Growing from a small monster into a big monster, destroying everything in Starry Sea Orphanage.

Little White Tiger will ultimately encounter difficulties, but those difficulties will definitely not defeat him.

The golden python’s outcome was most likely perishing from illness. There was no need to waste the prop on this type of easily guessed outcome. As for the little rabbit, even if the little rabbit died, he could still keep the little rabbit in the Goblin Ball.

As for Crow……After Crow repaid his favor, there would be no lingering bonds left between them. Crow’s future fate would therefore have nothing to do with him.

At present, no one seemed to require the use of the “Fate’s Calling Card.” However, He Ruge was afraid that he may have missed someone, and he used his fingers to count off the characters that have appeared in the game so far.

Yellow Ferret, Little White Tiger, Little Rabbit, Scorpion, Medicine-seeking Rat, Crow, Golden Python…

Crow

[Siren^[1], come out for a second, I have something to tell you. 】(Please read the ^[Footnotes]!)

Opening the door to Room 214, Crow shouted to He Ruge.

He Ruge, who suddenly recalled his own character, was startled. Yes, he’d missed one character. That character was his game self ——

Siren.

There were no restrictions for the Fate Card’s target. Since anyone could use it, then naturally “siren” could also use it

There was no fate more important than “siren’s”. This game had arranged a destined fate for each of the game’s characters, so what was “siren’s” fate?

He Ruge found it difficult to contain his excitement. Like researching who the “culprit of the crime” was ^[2], he typed “Siren” into the name column, and used his mouse to click confirm.

The dark violet Fate Card began to spin, and a mysterious and bright light enveloped the card.

[Identity]: Siren

[Fate]: A Koi’s fate, divine luck and profound fortune

Those who have this type of luck can change misfortune to good luck, find auspiciousness in times of distress, are blessed with long fortune, are sound and virtuous, have a good temperament, are dynamic and ambitious, can become famous when they seek fame, become wealthy when they seek wealth, and bring prosperity to their family.^[3]

[Plotline]: What you have lost is unimportant, only what you gain is the future^[4]

He Ruge: “???”

How did it become a pile of formal literary things? It was quite different from what he imagined it would be.

He Ruge exited the Fate Card’s interface and walked out of Room 214. The game character followed behind Crow.

Crow brought He Ruge over to the staff accommodations area with a solemn expression.

Crow

[I told you before that the door at the end of the corridor cannot be opened. Tonight, I will help you open that door. However, the world behind that door is very inscrutable. If you keep climbing upwards, it takes you to a place where you can see the stars. I can only give you half an hour. You must come back within half an hour. 】

[If you don’t make it back, then you can only stay there forever. 】

＊

Xi Guican looked at the sallow golden python and then turned to look at the little rabbit who had a bulging stomach. He closed his eyes and took in the scent of death in the air.

After tonight, the golden python and the little rabbit might pass.

The death of the golden python was expected. His body had hosted three kinds of Zerg wing energies. The wings were the core of power for the Zerg. Before the transplant was fully integrated, [the wings] would show no mercy on the new host and would madly absorb the nutrients in the host’s body. Only after the transplant was fully integrated would [the wings] begin to worry about the new host’s health and restrain themselves.

With the energy of three different Zerg wings gathered together, they would compete fiercely, eating frantically so as to not allow themselves to get the least amount of nutrients.

Thus, the death of the golden python had already been set in stone early on.

A dead experimental subject was deemed worthless. However, a subject with a successful transplant, even if it was Crow with his inferior Zerg wings, had the fighting power comparable to the Federation’s intermediate level fighters.

An intermediate level fighter who could activate mecha and fight alone.

It takes the Federation more than ten years to train up an excellent intermediate fighter, during which significant funds and faculty must be invested.

However, the mass-produced, transplanted experimental subjects were different. They had low investment costs and a high return value. The biggest cost for these experiments was actually for the transportation of the raw materials because the Intergalactic Wars already provided almost everything that was needed ——

The corpses of the Zerg on the battlefield, and homeless orphans resulting from the Wars.

Zergs had high strength but low intelligence. Their Zerg wings could easily rip through hard mecha armor, and the wings were their core of strength. Even if 99 subjects perished in the “Death God’s Wings” experiment, as long as just one survived, this experiment could be considered to have earned everything back.

Because Zerg wings could be used multiple times

Because there was a steady stream of orphans

In times of war, human lives were always the least valuable. ^[5]

Little White Tiger was a bit tired, so he lay down on the cotton nest in the iron cage, quietly watching He Ruge.

The young man was squatting in front of Little Rabbit, frowning slightly in helplessness and wondering whether he should feed him a third bottle of nutrient solution.

“Can’t give him another. Drinking too much nutrient solution, he will die.” Xi Guican stopped him.

Higher level Zerg wings required too much nutrients, making their appetites a bottomless pit and instigating the host to frantically take in food. It was a hunger that engraved itself into the marrow and will continue to exist and torment the host until the Zerg wings became fully integrated.

Xi Guican was also hungry at this time. He had clearly consumed a bottle of nutrient solution, but his stomach was still hollow, as if he had been starved for three days and three nights. This hunger was like a blunt knife, slowly cutting away at the string of reason.

Yet……

When he saw the person in front of him and saw those gentle and compassionate black eyes, the pervasive feeling of hunger suddenly disappeared.

Don’t worry, don’t feel sad.

Little White Tiger wanted to smooth out He Ruge’s tightly furrowed eyebrows.

“I’m fine.” I’m fine, so you don’t have to worry about me.

Ah, but what you are more worried about right now seems to be No.19’s Little Rabbit.

Little White Tiger said dryly: “Don’t worry too much, sometimes death is a release.”

The person in front of him was still unhappy.

Little White Tiger was irritated and blamed himself. He knew how to hurt others, but he didn’t know how to comfort a wounded person. Life had always taught him to hurt, to use violence to control violence rather than be gentle.

He is like an ant on a hot pot, anxious to run circles around the person in front of him. 

What does He Ruge like?

Little White Tiger thought hard.

——Seems to like me.

——Like my paws.

——Like my tail.

Little White Tiger took the initiative to place his tail into the hands of the person in front of him and asked with uncertainty: “If I let you touch my tail, will you be a little happier?”

The young man in front of him laughed, the smile blooming from the corners of his eyes.

Little White Tiger stared at the young man’s smiling eyes dazedly and couldn’t help hooking onto the man with his tail. It was as if he was simultaneously hooking onto a piece of happiness.

“You are mine.”

His hollowed soul seemed to have gained a sense of fulfillment.

A feeling of finally being satiated baptized his entire body and mind.

{Please read the original translations on SurrealSkyTranslations instead of supporting TL aggregator sites. Thanks!}

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TL Corner: AHHHH I love the comparison between XGC’s and HRG’s perspectives. Both used the hooking tail as a simile for their emotions and growing relationship. \(>///w///<)/

Don’t forget, though, that for HRG, this is still just a game, whereas for XGC this is a reliving of his traumas. Some were frustrated that HRG wasn’t doing anything to help and was just watching as the cubs were harmed. But, for HRG, this is just a RPG game on his phone. He isn’t really able to help more than he is doing right now.

Chapter 27 part 1 will also be up soon. A double release week! Also, I left Easter Eggs for the humans and bots stealing translations lol. If you can see them, plz don’t pilfer. Thanks!

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Part 2 is connected directly to Kraken’s original post. In case anyone needed a reacap, I included the post.

Original poster

№0

Wuwuwuwu~ I’m so excited right now, I can’t help but want to upload a post to celebrate. Everyone should just treat my later words as a fart. 

You can call me Kraken/Octopus, taken literally. My speed is 10,000. This speed doesn’t represent that the limit of my typing is 10,000 words, but rather that my brain speed is 10,000 words. I’ve been writing for ten years now, from the beginning confusing bullshit to the now barely readable content.

Before I came into contact with online writing, I had always felt inferior because my outer appearance was not as good as that of my friends around me. Most of my friends had entered the entertainment industry, but my appearance was mediocre and my acting skills were poor. Practically forcing my way in, after the show was broadcasted, I was scolded bloody by the audience.

I can’t afford to eat this bowl of rice called the entertainment industry. The heavens don’t deliver rice. I thought this might be fate, so I left the circle tragically and was abandoned for a long, long time.

One day, I accidentally came into contact with online writing. At the time, I just found it interesting and started it on a whim. But, what I didn’t expect, was that it was the turning point of my life.

I gained the love of my first ever reader.

It was a pure like, nothing to do with how sexy one was, nothing to do with gaining benefits. This is what we monsters have been pursuing our entire lives, the most pure and clean power of faith.

I was stunned silly at the time. 

I am not afraid of becoming the butt of a joke. Although I am a Kraken monster, only four of my tentacles were capable of moving at the beginning, and the other four were always treated as decorations because of my insufficient energy. However, after getting that additional tiny amount of faith, my fifth tentacle actually showed a slight reaction.

I hugged my four chubby tentacles and cried, cried until I couldn’t cry anymore. I have no talent, no acting skill, no writing skill, and no one hit wonder. I had written seven million words before unlocking my skills. What I am most thankful for is my racial talent which allows me to easily break through ten thousand characters per hour.

I’d been wandering the streets for eight years and changed countless vests. This year, I suddenly became popular! Now, even if I didn’t write everyday, there is still a steady flow of faith. It turns out that God really does reward hard work. That’s all, I’m really excited, I’m going to celebrate!

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{Please read the original translations on SurrealSkyTranslations instead of supporting TL aggregator sites. Thanks!}

№1

I thought it was a sexy original poster who was writing.

№2

You can be anything you want in a dream. Being a tentacle monster is quite good.

№3

Inserting a level, 649/6000, does the original poster take shortcuts?

№4

Hahaha is this post so stupid

№5

Original poster, which TV series did you perform in, speak, let’s hear it

    ……

Unlike everyone who was laughing, He Ruge read the post carefully, and the hand that was pushing at his glasses frames almost failed to hold the frame steady.

I think I believe this post is actually true?

He Ruge thought of the mysterious red streaks that were appearing on his body. Those red streaks had already shattered his worldview into pieces, thus, He Ruge readily accepted the setting of “monsters” and “obtaining faith through writing”.

He included his Penguin username into the post, and left a message: “Floor Owner, I recently experienced mysterious red lines appearing on my thighs and ankles. These red lines can increase my luck. For example, when rolling game items, I can always draw rare props. Whenever it starts working, it will glow and heat up. I am confused about these red lines. Can I  add your Penguin to discuss it in detail?”

After He Ruge replied, he waited a little nervously. 

The original poster didn’t show up. He/she might really be partying it up one hundred thousand days in the wild. However, there were many sunflower seed eaters who replied to He Ruge’s posts, such as:

“Really surprising. Back then, didn’t you upload a post where you thought that the strange disease was a golden finger?! It’s already been so long, haven’t you taken any medicine?”

“Green posts^[1] are green from beginning to end, admirable.”

“Hahahaha, this floor owner, are you trying to claim a koi spirit?”

“Kiss Kiss, our suggestion here is to take medicine early. Posting Penguin accounts won’t make you better.”

He Ruge: “……”

I’m not sick, really not sick.

He Ruge, who was being ridiculed by the group, left the forums silently. He logged into the game after lunch and fed the game’s experimental subjects with nutrient solution.

Little White Tiger’s condition could be considered quite good, but Little Rabbit and Golden Python were both in very bad condition.

Golden python refused to eat.

Golden python

[For me, intaking food is a huge burden. If I don’t eat, perhaps I may even live a little longer.】

Golden python was feeble when speaking, and his breath was as weak as floating air. 

He Ruge suddenly remembered that when he was doing the side mission “The Mysterious Infirmary”, there was a blood-red colored 15-minute countdown timer floating on the screen.

When the side mission “Watch The Starry Skies Together” appeared, He Ruge was a slightly relieved that there was no specific time limit for that mission.

Now, he found himself wrong, ridiculously wrong.

The unknown was the most terrifying. Having a side mission without a definite deadline was like having the sword of Damocles hanging over your head. Perhaps, the sword could fall at any second and sever the last hope.

He Ruge used the [Universal Medicine Spray] to spray Golden Python’s wound again. He wanted to at least give the python a slightly better quality life before his death.

Golden python

[Thank you, but there’s no need to waste such precious medicine on the dying person, it’s not worth it.】

Opposite of the golden python who refused to eat, the little rabbit was actually overeating. He drank one bottle of nutrient solution and then glug glug glug drank a second. But, after downing two bottles of solution, he was still shouting in hunger.

No.19

[Hungry, hungry…… So hungry, I want more.】

He Ruge was a little hesitant. Inside the game, the little rabbit’s abdomen was bulging obviously. If he drank another bottle, He Ruge was worried that his little belly would explode.

No.20

[Can’t give him another. Drinking too much nutrient solution, he will die. 】

Little White Tiger stopped He Ruge.

Although the little rabbit was a small crying bag, he was still quite sensible. Little White Tiger and He Ruge didn’t let him drink more nutrient solution. So, instead of crying nonstop, he hugged his long rabbit ears and licked away at his own fur.

The little rabbit who had finished licking his fur looked dismally at his bulging belly, muttering that he was hungry.

Looking at the uncomfortable Little Rabbit, He Ruge suddenly understood what was meant by ‘when a child gets sick, the parents feel heartache’. He used a piece of fruit candy to temporarily coax Little Rabbit.

Why do you feel hungry? Is it a consequence of transplanting Zerg wings? But, why didn’t Little White Tiger exhibit these symptoms?

He Ruge was puzzled, and he clicked on Little White Tiger’s status.

[Like]: No. 20 likes you very much, Goodwill 82

[Unawakened]: No one has discovered that No. 20 is a little monster, except you

A little monster.

Since the beginning, this game clearly stated that Little White Tiger was a little monster. But now, the second experiment had already passed, and He Ruge only found that the little white tiger was abnormally cute.^[2]

There was also this goodwill/favorability level. It’s only the second experiment, but the favorability had actually reached 82. It’s strange. The main task required a high goodwill level of 90. There were only 8 points left from the required favorability rating. This is totally illogical.

Was it really this easy to brush up to 90 plus goodwill?

He Ruge faintly felt that this game was hiding some big plan.

It had been a long time since he’d had a conversation with Little White Tiger, so he used his mouse to click on the intimate interactions option, [Talk].

No.20

[Roar, Roar “I’m fine”]

[Hou “Don’t worry too much, sometimes death is a release”]

[No. 20 wants to comfort you, but he is not that good at comforting people]

[No. 20 is upset at his own clumsy attempt at comforting]

Little White Tiger’s blue eyes dimmed. His tail circled around his four paws as he stared at his paws in silence.

{Please read the original translations on SurrealSkyTranslations instead of supporting TL aggregator sites. Thanks!}

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Thank you all for waiting! I hurt my wrist and had to take a few days break until it healed, and then…. I translated the WRONG CHAPTER, which is why this took a bit longer. Oops. On the bright side, Chapter 27 is already translated and I can probably do a double release in a week. 😀

If you can, please do support the author on JJWXC! This is the 2nd VIP chapter (also very lengthy). Enjoy!

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{Please read the original translations on SurrealSkyTranslations instead of supporting TL aggregator sites. Thanks!}

Crow was able to calm down from his madness, and he stared forward blankly, his pupils out of focus.

Crow

[……I remember now, I am Wu Yunlan. 】

A trail of tears fell down and wet Crow’s black feathers.

Crow

[Thank you for awakening me. In return, I can do one thing for you that is within my ability.】

[You have awakened Wu Yunlan’s memory and received the reward “Crow’s Repayment“]

[Name]: Crow’s Repayment

[Quality]: Rare

[Evaluation]: Kill a person, open a door…… There are many things that Crow can do.

『Usage Instructions: Type your wish in the dialog box

Limitations: The human heart is incapable of swallowing an elephant ^[1], you can only mention a wish that is within the range of Crow’s ability.』

 A dialog box emerged.

He Ruge had initially looked for Crow only hoping to get his permission to open the door, but now that this great opportunity had landed in front of him, it would be too wasteful for him to make such a simple request.

Gotta learn more about the god of side missions!

Worried that the game’s intelligence was not too high and could not understand complex content, He Ruge tried to express his wish as concisely as possible. After typing the wish in the dialog box, he used the mouse to click confirm.

You

[I wish to take No. 19, No. 20th, and Golden Python to go see the stars.]

Crow seemed to have heard something absolutely incredible, and he rattled his head, looking at He Ruge in surprise.

Crow

【……As you wish. 】

Once He Ruge received Crow’s promise, he let out a long sigh of relief. 

Then, he took a look at the time and found that he had been immersed in gaming for more than an hour already, almost exceeding his daily allocated game time.

Good times are always short lived…

He Ruge quit the game and locked himself in the writing software’s little black room, securing two thousand words before coming out of the room. He Ruge then opened up the writer’s forum to browse casually and saw that a mysterious post was floating about in the forum homepage.

#KrakenIsGoingCrazyOnTheInternet#

Original poster

№0

Wuwuwuwu~ I’m so excited right now, I can’t help but want to upload a post to celebrate. Everyone should just treat my later words as a fart. 

You can call me Kraken/Octopus, taken literally. My speed is 10,000. This speed doesn’t represent that the limit of my typing is 10,000 words, but rather that my brain speed is 10,000 words. I’ve been writing for ten years now, from the beginning confusing bullshit to the now barely readable content.

Before I came into contact with online writing, I had always felt inferior because my outer appearance was not as good as that of my friends around me. Most of my friends had entered the entertainment industry, but my appearance was mediocre and my acting skills were poor. Practically forcing my way in, after the show was broadcasted, I was scolded bloody by the audience.

I can’t afford to eat this bowl of rice called the entertainment industry. The heavens don’t deliver rice^[2]. I thought this might be fate, so I left the circle tragically and was abandoned for a long, long time.

One day, I accidentally came into contact with online writing. At the time, I just found it interesting and started it on a whim. But, what I didn’t expect, was that it was the turning point of my life.

I gained the love of my first ever reader.

It was a pure like, nothing to do with how sexy one was, nothing to do with gaining benefits. This is what we monsters have been pursuing our entire lives, the most pure and clean power of faith.

I was stunned silly at the time. 

I am not afraid of becoming the butt of a joke. Although I am a Kraken monster, only four of my tentacles were capable of moving at the beginning, and the other four were always treated as decorations because of my insufficient energy. However, after getting that additional tiny amount of faith, my fifth tentacle actually showed a slight reaction.

I hugged my four chubby tentacles and cried, cried until I couldn’t cry anymore. I have no talent, no acting skill, no writing skill, and no one hit wonder. I had written seven million words before unlocking my skills. What I am most thankful for is my racial talent which allows me to easily break through ten thousand characters per hour.

I’d been wandering the streets for eight years and changed countless vests^[3]. This year, I suddenly became popular! Now, even if I didn’t write everyday, there is still a steady flow of faith. It turns out that God really does reward hard work. That’s all, I’m really excited, I’m going to celebrate!

{Please read the original translations on SurrealSkyTranslations instead of supporting TL aggregator sites. Thanks!}

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A new character has appeared! Kraken/Octopus can also be translated as “tentacle monster”. I decided to stick with “kraken” to avoid potential misunderstandings (థ u థ) in the future.

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