Ereshkigal Wants It All

The fourth month of the simulation.

Xu Xi and Ailei ventured to an even more distant place.

The weather grew cooler.

The autumn wind whispered mournfully.

The hues of autumn resembled an oil painting—vibrant, rich, and vividly rendered.

As a gust of wind swept over Xu Xi’s head, fallen leaves twirled before his eyes before silently merging into the soil.

"Has autumn arrived without us noticing?"

Xu Xi looked up.

The evening glow at the horizon burned like flames, casting shifting shadows across his features.

Suddenly.

Xu Xi noticed a leaf caught in Ailei’s hair.

"Ailei, don’t move," he said gently, reaching out to pluck the withered leaf from her golden-black locks.

"Thank you, Master," Ailei replied politely.

At the same time.

A thought flickered through her mind.

So, all it took was a leaf landing on her head to earn her master’s tender care.

With this in mind, the machine servant began drifting, almost unconsciously, toward areas with more falling leaves.

The plan succeeded.

But it came at a cost.

While removing the leaves, Xu Xi saw through Ailei’s little scheme and lightly flicked her forehead.

"Ouch…"

Ailei promptly collapsed into Xu Xi’s arms with practiced ease.

She clasped her hands over her forehead and declared in a dazed tone that her body was exhausted, her head dizzy, and that she could only continue the journey if carried—specifically in a princess carry.

"Ailei, that’s hard to believe."

Faced with Xu Xi’s exasperation,

Ailei blinked. "Master, I believe it."

The scene reminded Xu Xi of a classic line: ["Who dares accuse this official in his own court?"]

……

The fifth month of the simulation.

Xu Xi took Ailei to the other side of the planet.

The city here remained a cold, desolate scene devoid of people, but unlike before, a towering space elevator stretched from the ground to the cosmos, linking the earth to the starry sea.

By boarding this magnificent man-made marvel,

one could effortlessly traverse the staggering height of tens of thousands of kilometers,

ascending directly from the surface to an outer space station.

"Let’s go up and see, Ailei."

"...Yes, Master."

Hand in hand,

Xu Xi and Ailei stepped into the cabin of the space elevator, watching as the outside world blurred and shrank rapidly due to their overwhelming speed.

Amid the quiet and steady hum,

the shifting scenery transformed seamlessly into the star-studded darkness of space.

"Ailei?"

Xu Xi was gazing at the cosmic vista

when he noticed Ailei gripping his hand tightly, instinctively shielding him with her body.

Her posture suggested that the universe before them was perilous—that a single misstep would devour Xu Xi whole.

It had nothing to do with the space elevator’s safety measures.

It was simply,

purely,

a reflexive worry at the sight of a familiar scene.

"It’s alright, Ailei," Xu Xi reassured her softly, interlacing their fingers and pressing their palms together.

"I trust you."

"I believe that with you here, I’ll be safe."

Beyond the clear, specialized glass of the elevator,

the cosmic sea shimmered—bright yet dark,

silently swallowing countless stars.

"...You’re right."

Under Xu Xi’s soothing words, Ailei’s expression returned to its usual calm, as if the weight in her heart had eased.

But she still held his hand tightly, showing no intention of letting go.

"Master’s hand is warm."

"Ailei’s hand is cold."

"I need Master’s help to make it warm."

The machine servant nestled closer, resting her head against Xu Xi’s shoulder with practiced ease.

……

The sixth month of the simulation.

The cycle of seasons had now brought the biting cold of winter.

After leaving the space elevator, Xu Xi and Ailei returned to the planet to continue their unfinished journey.

They had crossed vast oceans, witnessing the gathering of storms.

They had stood atop mountain peaks, beholding the global virtual network terminals.

They had even ventured into forbidden zones of civilization, exploring the colossal factories hidden within mountain ranges.

"Master, this is the main factory where intelligent machines are produced, but you needn’t pay it any mind. Its inferior products are far beneath Ailei."

"Especially those with simulated human voices and appearances."

"Forgive my bluntness, but the creators of such products ought to engage in deep self-reflection."

So spoke Ailei.

In the later stages of their travels,

Xu Xi and Ailei pressed onward, even encountering an elderly man who had chosen not to enter the virtual network, living alone in a secluded rural home.

The old man was exceedingly hospitable,

inviting Xu Xi and Ailei into his home as guests.

But he seemed to have misunderstood something, his gaze kind, his face warm with approval as he repeatedly shared marital advice from his youth for Xu Xi’s reference.

……

After leaving the old man’s home,

the weather grew even fiercer.

Snow whipped through the air, howling winds drowned the earth in an endless sea of white.

Xu Xi bought a woolen hat and gently placed it on Ailei’s head, shielding her from the storm’s assault.

"Ailei, see if it fits."

"I think it’s perfect, Master. Thank you."

Ailei reached up,

lightly brushing the hat’s delicate fringe.

Wherever her fingers moved, the fringe swayed in response.

But soon, the delighted machine servant realized something: while receiving a gift from her master was a joy, it also prevented him from patting her head.

Was it better to wear her master’s gift forever?

Or to savor his head pats?

Ailei was torn.

Her answer: Both!

……

The seventh month of the simulation. Xu Xi and Ailei concluded their journey.

Where it began,

so it ended.

After circling the world, they returned to the house they had first built.

"Is this enough, Ailei?"

"Yes, Master."

The machine servant shook her head gently, declining the offer to continue traveling.

She knew.

Losing oneself in an illusory world was pointless.

Only by returning to Earth could they truly make things real.

The wedding dress, the golden jewelry, the countless moments from their travels—all of it had to be brought back to the real world to transform experience into tangible gain.

"I understand. Then, after today, we’ll return to Earth."

Xu Xi nodded, turning his gaze to the old house.

The doors and windows were buried under thick snow, icicles hung from the eaves, the path to the entrance had long vanished under the snowdrifts, and the flower beds were nowhere to be seen.

"We’ve been away too long. The snow has piled up."

Whoosh—!

A bitter wind tore through the frozen branches,

scattering flurries of snow.

The air was crisp and fresh, tempting one to breathe deeply—yet its chill was daunting.

"Tap! Tap-tap!"

Xu Xi fetched a snow-clearing tool and lightly struck the eaves. The accumulated snow slid down in delicate cascades.

With Ailei’s meticulous assistance,

the house was soon restored to its former cleanliness, inside and out.

Xu Xi stepped inside, preparing a lavish meal as the perfect finale to their last day.