Chapter 416: Who Bears the Heaviest Sin?

"Master, please allow me to help."

"Then I will trouble you, Ele."

The fireplace was lit.

It radiated the warm flames of winter.

The fire was so intense, like a small, winding Dragon, leaping and dancing within the hearth.

The orange-red firelight illuminated the room, lighting up the kitchen not far away, as well as Xu Xi and Ele, who were preparing ingredients inside.

This time, it was Xu Xi who was in charge of the cooking.

The Mech-Servant assisted on the side, observing Xu Xi's culinary techniques with a serious expression.

She wanted to grasp the true essence of glowing cuisine from it.

But unfortunately.

The Mech-Servant still gained nothing.

"Sizzle—"

"Sizzle—"

The flames scorched the bottom of the pan, making the hot oil sizzle. Xu Xi quickly finished a dish, and Ele stepped forward to plate it.

The two divided the work in an orderly fashion, their movements clean and efficient.

Soon, the dishes they had completed together, along with dessert, were placed on the small wooden table in the living room.

The warm sun slanted, shining brightly through the window.

Outside, the wind and snow howled.

Inside, the fireplace burned.

Movement and stillness, cold and heat, accompanied by the aroma wafting from the dishes, blended into an inexplicable sense of peace.

"Master, please eat more; your body needs to replenish its nutrients."

Xu Xi had just sat down.

Ele immediately piled up a small mountain of food in his bowl.

Xu Xi couldn't help but laugh.

No matter how much time had passed, Ele's habits had never changed.

In the early stages of the fourth simulation, Ele had used the same method, piling up a small mountain of instant food cubes that left people speechless.

"Thank you, Ele."

He thanked the girl softly.

Xu Xi smiled and likewise placed food into Ele's bowl.

He chewed on the smooth, juicy meat.

He bit into the crisp, delicious vegetables.

With their backs to the fireplace and facing the snowy view, the two figures slowly savored this final meal of the simulation under the glow of the setting sun.

Their dark silhouettes were stretched long and slanted.

They were swallowed by the setting sun and submerged by the night.

At the same time, there was a faint echo.

At the dining table, Xu Xi and the Mech-Servant chatted about memories that belonged only to them while they ate.

As they chatted, the topic turned to the Ten Deaths Before the End from before.

"Master, you've experienced so many deaths; are you really okay?"

Ele's tone was very worried.

"Rest assured, I am completely fine."

Xu Xi shook his head.

His voice was calm and gentle, soothing Ele's heart.

"Ele, to me, death is not the true end, so I take it in stride and never feel fear."

"But you… you retain the pain of death."

"Actually, it's not so bad," Xu Xi said, reaching out to rub Ele's hair. "A Mortal's body is too fragile, so when I was killed by the Neutron War Star, I didn't really feel anything."

"…"

Feeling the warmth on the top of her head.

Ele lowered her eyes and once again skillfully leaned into Xu Xi's embrace.

She knew.

Xu Xi was telling the truth.

But that didn't mean it was right.

The Neutron War Star was too fast, so when impacted by it, human pain nerves were far slower than the speed of death.

But in the fourth simulation, Xu Xi's ten deaths were not all caused by the Neutron War Star.

Especially the last death.

Xu Xi had once been forced to endure pain due to the Mech-Servant's willfulness, suffering through days in the Medical Pod.

"…I'm sorry."

"…Master."

Resting her head in Xu Xi's arms, the young girl's eyes blinked; they were a deep blue like the galaxy, bright silver and brilliant.

Under Xu Xi's surprised and astonished gaze.

The Mech-Servant spoke the following words in a flat tone:

"Master, Ele's sins are too heavy; I must make amends."

So.

The question is.

How to make amends?

"In the past, I filled your life with pain, so…"

"In the days to come, Ele will always stay by your side to atone for my sins and make you happy."

"I only ask that you…"

"Always look at me."

The night was long and leisurely.

The fireplace flames fueled the Mech-Servant's declaration.

Making those words even more scalding: "It was you who awakened me, you who gave me my name, and you who allowed me to live in this world."

"It was you who constructed everything in my world."

The Mech-Servant silently hugged Xu Xi tighter.

Feeling that warmth, feeling that long-lost reunion.

"I always feel that it is I who bear the heaviest sin…" Xu Xi said after a long silence.

…

The next day, at dawn.

When the sky was just beginning to brighten, Xu Xi and Ele walked out of the house and set foot on the road back to Earth.

"Master, please hold my hand."

The Supreme status tore through space and time to arrive.

Ascending.

Transcending.

Cracking the surging tides of infinite space and time.

Ele seemed to be in a very good mood, a clear smile on her face. She held Xu Xi's hand with one hand and opened the passage to leave the simulated world with the other.

That massive space-time rift hung high in mid-air.

It was dark gray.

It swallowed the thousands of swirling winds and snow nearby.

Not until Xu Xi and Ele walked into it did the rift slowly close, returning to the original sky.

"Ding—"

"The simulation is about to be forcibly terminated. Please return to the simulated world to ensure the normal progression of the simulation."

Xu Xi entered the Sea of Possibilities.

Once again seeing the vast, immeasurable tides of space and time.

But he did not stay long.

Instead, he followed Ele out of the Sea of Possibilities and returned toward Earth.

The simulator panel flickered incessantly, and the familiar warning tones sounded repeatedly, but in the end, all the warnings turned into a concluding message.

"Ding—"

"You have exited the simulated space-time. This simulation has been forcibly terminated. Simulation evaluation is calculating, simulation rewards are being generated."

"Achievements reached: None"

"Simulation summary: None"

"Simulation evaluation: E"

"Please select one of the following three rewards. It will be issued immediately upon selection."

"1. Egg Fried Rice (Slightly Glowing Version)"

"2. Gold Ring selected from the mall"

"3. Winter fleece hat"

After returning to reality, the life simulator completed its settlement quickly and provided three reward options.

"No wedding dress?"

"That makes sense; after all, it was returned afterward."

Xu Xi was thoughtful, his gaze sweeping over the simulator panel, feeling that the three rewards this time each had their own value.

He found it hard to choose.

He could only let Ele choose for herself.

"Master, please give me the ring," Ele answered quickly, crossing her hands in front of her lower abdomen and bowing elegantly.

"Okay, wait a moment."

As Xu Xi confirmed the reward, the gold ring from option two quietly appeared, leaping silently into the center of his palm.

It was the same as the situation in the simulated world.

The Mech-Servant picked up the gold ring and tried to put it on, but she couldn't get it on no matter what.

In the end, at Ele's request, and under the collective gaze of the other four girls, Xu Xi helped Ele put on the gold ring.

Some were lost in thought.

Some had a sudden realization.

Others frowned tightly.

"Thank you, Master," only Ele had a radiant smile on her face.