Who Bears the Weight of Sin

"Master, please allow me to assist."

"Then I’ll trouble you, Ailei."

The fireplace ignited.

A warm winter flame blossomed.

The fire burned so fiercely, like a sinuous little dragon writhing and leaping within the hearth.

The orange-red glow illuminated the room, the nearby kitchen, and the figures of Xu Xi and Ailei working inside, preparing ingredients.

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

The mechanical servant stood by as an assistant, watching Xu Xi’s culinary techniques with a serious expression, hoping to grasp the essence of radiant cuisine.

But alas.

The mechanical servant still gained nothing.

"Sizzle—"

"Sizzle—"

The flames licked the bottom of the pan, making the hot oil crackle. Xu Xi swiftly finished a dish, and Ailei stepped forward to plate it.

The two worked in orderly division, their movements neat and efficient.

Soon, the meal they had prepared together, along with dessert, was arranged on the small wooden table in the living room.

The warm sunlight slanted slightly, brightening the window.

Outside, the wind and snow howled.

Inside, the fireplace blazed.

Motion and stillness, cold and heat, mingled with the rising aroma of the dishes, blending into an inexplicable tranquility.

"Master, please eat more. Your body needs nourishment."

As soon as Xu Xi sat down,

Ailei piled a small mountain of food into his bowl.

Xu Xi chuckled.

No matter how much time passed, Ailei’s habits never changed.

In the early stages of the fourth simulation, Ailei had used the same method to stack a mountain of instant food that left onlookers speechless.

"Thank you, Ailei."

He softly expressed his gratitude to the girl.

Smiling, Xu Xi also placed food into Ailei’s bowl.

Chewing tender, juicy meat.

Biting into crisp, refreshing vegetables.

With their backs to the fireplace and facing the snowy scenery, the two figures slowly savored the last meal of this simulation under the fading sunset.

Their dark silhouettes stretched long and oblique.

Swallowed by the dusk, drowned by the night.

Along with faint echoes.

At the table, Xu Xi and the mechanical servant ate while reminiscing about memories unique to them.

As they talked, the conversation turned to the original "Ten Deaths to the End."

"Master, after experiencing so many deaths… are you truly alright?"

Ailei’s voice was laced with worry.

"Don’t worry, I’m perfectly fine."

Xu Xi shook his head.

His voice was calm and gentle, soothing Ailei’s heart.

"Ailei, for me, death is not the true end. So I take it lightly—I’ve never felt fear."

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

"It’s really not so bad." Xu Xi reached out and ruffled Ailei’s hair. "A mortal’s body is too fragile. When I was killed by the neutron battle star, I didn’t even feel anything."

"…"

Sensing the warmth on her head,

Ailei lowered her eyes and, with practiced ease, leaned into Xu Xi’s embrace.

She knew.

Xu Xi was telling the truth.

But that didn’t mean it was right.

The neutron battle star moved too fast—by the time the pain signals could reach the brain, death had already arrived.

But in the fourth simulation, not all of Xu Xi’s ten deaths were caused by the neutron battle star.

Especially the last one.

Because of the mechanical servant’s willfulness, Xu Xi had been forced to endure agony, suffering day after day in a medical pod.

"…I’m sorry."

"…Master."

Resting her head against Xu Xi’s chest, the girl’s eyes fluttered—blue as the galaxy, bright and shimmering.

Under Xu Xi’s surprised gaze,

The mechanical servant spoke in a flat tone:

"Master, Ailei’s sins are far too heavy. I must atone for them."

So then.

The question arose.

How would she atone?

"In the past, I filled your life with suffering. So…"

"From now on, Ailei will stay by your side forever, repenting and ensuring your happiness."

"Please…"

"Always keep your eyes on me."

The night stretched on.

The fireplace’s flames lent fervor to the mechanical servant’s declaration,

Making those words burn even hotter:

"You awakened me. You gave me a name. You allowed me to live in this world."

"You are the entirety of my world."

The mechanical servant silently tightened her embrace around Xu Xi.

Feeling that warmth, that long-awaited reunion.

"Sometimes I think the one weighed down by sin is me…" After a long silence, Xu Xi spoke these words.

…

The next morning, at dawn,

As the sky brightened faintly, Xu Xi and Ailei stepped out of their home and began their journey back to Earth.

"Master, please hold my hand."

The highest stratum tore through spacetime.

Ascending.

Transcending.

Shattering the endless tides of time.

Ailei seemed to be in high spirits, a clear smile on her face as she clasped Xu Xi’s hand with one of hers and opened a passage out of the simulation world with the other.

A massive rift in spacetime hung suspended in the air.

Deep gray.

Devouring the surrounding blizzard.

Only after Xu Xi and Ailei stepped inside did the rift slowly close, restoring the sky to its original state.

[Ding—]

[Simulation will forcibly end. Host must return to the simulation world to ensure proper progression.]

Xu Xi entered the Sea of Possibilities once more.

Again, he beheld the vast, immeasurable tides of time.

But he did not linger.

Instead, he followed Ailei out of the Sea, returning to Earth.

The simulator’s panel flickered incessantly, familiar warning tones ringing repeatedly—but in the end, all alerts condensed into a single closing message.

[Ding—]

[You have left the simulated spacetime. This simulation has been forcibly concluded. Evaluation in progress. Rewards generating.]

[Achievements unlocked: None]

[Simulation summary: None]

[Simulation rating: E]

[Host must select one of the following three rewards. Choice will be granted immediately.]

[1. Egg-fried rice (faintly glowing version)]

[2. A gold ring chosen from a store]

[3. A winter fleece hat]

Upon returning to reality, the Life Simulator quickly completed its calculations and presented three reward options.

"No wedding dress?"

"Ah, right. We returned it afterward."

Xu Xi pondered, his gaze sweeping over the simulator’s panel. All three rewards held their own value.

He couldn’t decide.

So he let Ailei choose instead.

"Master, please give me the ring," Ailei answered swiftly, crossing her hands in front of her waist and giving a graceful bow.

"Alright, just a moment."

As Xu Xi confirmed the reward, the second option—the gold ring—materialized silently in the palm of his hand.

Just like in the simulation world,

The mechanical servant took the ring, trying to put it on but failing.

Finally, at Ailei’s request, under the collective gaze of the other four girls, Xu Xi helped Ailei put on the gold ring.

Some seemed thoughtful.

Some seemed to suddenly understand.

Others frowned.

"Thank you, Master." Only Ailei’s face bore a radiant smile.