This Isn't a Life Simulator, I Told You! Section 9

It looked like he was there to "collect bodies" for these people.

It was quite surprising, and also... amusing.

In a place where he could be killed at any moment, where even dragging back a corpse carried the risk of death, going to "collect bodies" for strangers... it was truly amusing.

But Xi Wang just felt that "the dead should be treated with dignity"... It was just collecting bodies, what was so funny about that... Yeah... it was just normal body collection...

But... this isn't right, this isn't what should be done at this time...

Xi Wang dragged the corpse again, thinking this in his heart.

He knew very clearly that this wasn't the time to do this, that this wasn't the time for his "compassion to overflow"...

But there was nothing wrong with doing these things, was there...

Ignoring life is wrong, wantonly taking life is bad, killing is wrong.

The dead should be respected, and bodies should have dignity.

Aren't these... not wrong?

Aren't these "taken for granted" in the world?

"Hoo..."

A faint breath interrupted Xi Wang's jumbled thoughts. He realized the middle-aged man in his hands was not yet dead.

Xi Wang quickly dragged him to the side, tearing his own clothes to use as bandages, wanting to stop his bleeding—even if it was futile.

"Hoh... Hoh..."

Just as he was about to move the man's arm away from his wound to check its exact location, the man weakly made a sound, as if trying to warn him of something.

And Xi Wang once again felt the approach of a "sharp object." He shifted to the side, and a small blade pierced his shoulder from behind.

If he hadn't reacted, that small knife would have directly stabbed his nape—his unique sense for "sharp objects," honed by the Priest's torture, had saved his life once again.

Looking back, he saw the girl, huddled in the corner, seemingly so desperate she was waiting to die, was the one who had ambushed him. She seemed to have found the small knife on one of the corpses he had dragged back earlier.

Xi Wang was very confused, not understanding why she would suddenly do this.

But immediately after, the feeling of a "sharp object" approaching came again, this time from the front.

Still instinctively shifting his body to avoid the blade from directly piercing a vital spot, the stinging sensation was incredibly vivid. Even though it hadn't hit a fatal area, it still made Xi Wang feel as if he had been directly stabbed in the heart.

It was the person who had just been dragged back, the one who hadn't yet breathed his last. He had hidden a pair of scissors in his bloody, mangled wound.

And now, the scissors had pierced Xi Wang's stomach, just as he turned around.

"...Why?"

Xi Wang murmured.

Xi Wang didn't understand why this was happening.

He had dragged the man back, he had wanted to help him.

He was just doing something normal... why would they do this?

Xi Wang could feel something in his understanding of the world about to shatter, like glass full of cracks, ready to break completely with a gentle touch, ready to fall into the abyss with a slight push.

"Ha... hoh... ha..."

Even with blood gushing and blocking his throat, he still managed a couple of laughs, as if mocking Xi Wang's continued naivety, his unchanged beliefs. The hand holding the scissors even tried to twist them in Xi Wang's stomach, wanting him to feel more pain.

Unfortunately, he no longer had the strength; his life had reached its end.

All he could do was sink into the distant darkness with regret and madness.

The girl behind him hadn't given up. Xi Wang had to turn back to restrain her actions. As for the scissors still lodged in him, he didn't care much anymore... The pain he had experienced before no longer made him feel anything.

Looking at the girl before him, who was madly shouting, "Die, just die! I'm going to die anyway, so what does it matter to you? The sooner you die, the sooner you're reborn!" and seeing her still unfocused, still despairing eyes, now with an added touch of madness, Xi Wang understood.

She had simply... in an extreme environment, couldn't bear the pressure and had gone mad.

She had simply, unable to escape the mire herself, wanted to drag others down with her... even if doing so wouldn't save herself, and would even lead to others' deaths, it would bring them some comfort.

"I'm not the first to die, I can die a little later" - such self-deception and self-comfort could make one feel a bit better.

This madness was temporary; once in a safe place, with appropriate comfort and guidance, the person would quickly calm down and return to normal.

Her thread of reason had simply snapped under the pressure of the environment.

She had simply been... defeated.

Just like those children who only poured their resentment and bitterness onto him, she had simply been defeated.

He could understand, he could understand... right?

But... it still hurt his heart... it still made him feel bad...

Being able to understand... doesn't mean forgiving, right?

The tiny bit of gold in his pupils was spreading, and the strength in his hands was increasing little by little.

Like you said, since we're all going to die anyway, why shouldn't the first one to die be you?

Xi Wang could clearly feel that a certain understanding within him, a certain past conviction, had completely shattered at this moment, falling into the abyss and turning into dust; a certain taut string had also snapped and broken at this moment.

He knew clearly that he was "turning bad," and he knew clearly that he was heading in a direction he couldn't accept.

But... he didn't dislike it, nor did he want to dislike it.

He must have gone crazy, probably broken.

It wouldn't be bad to fall and go mad like this anyway, it didn't matter anymore—he really wanted this.

His throat worked, swallowing back the blood that was rising again. In a daze, Xi Wang seemed to feel that sweet taste mingled with the scent of blood once more.

"No..."

Xi Wang whispered to himself, refuting the girl's mad words, and also refuting his own thoughts that were gradually descending into madness.

Elysia was still looking forward to him... Father Enrique still wanted to help me appeal my case...

He couldn't give up yet... persist... persist a little longer... hope would come.

So, he had to live.

The gold in his pupils remained at a suitable level, similar to Elysia's blue-pink eyes.

He absolutely had to live.

No matter the cost, no matter what he did, he had to live.

Xi Wang accepted the changes within himself, even though these thoughts had already half-entered the realm of an "evil person" that he had once most unwillingly accepted.

She wanted to save me.

Xi Wang pinned the girl's body down and pulled the scissors he had stuck in his own stomach.

They would save me.

He pressed down, applied force to his wrist, grabbed the girl's wrist, and used her hand to cover her mouth, making her only able to let out whimpering sounds.

Therefore, I must persevere.

He tightly gripped the scissors in his hand, piercing the girl's neck. The familiar scent of blood filled the air, taking another life—not by force, not out of anger or resentment.

It was just a normal act performed after careful consideration, for a very simple, very straightforward purpose... probably.

But... I want to live, so please die.

Chapter 9: [Genius]

"Hey, Al, you're back? We were just about to start, why don't you watch?"

Glancing at the young man entering the room, someone who was likely an observer said flippantly.

"Hm? Sure, it's a good way to relax."

The young man called Al also nodded with a smile, skillfully pulled over a chair and lay down on it, resting his legs on the instrument table and gently swaying.

"Was this mission easy? That's why you're back so soon?"

"You're asking that again, you know. Be careful, or you'll get a warning from the client. Many clients don't like people prying into their missions."

"It's not because this mission was special, like a side gig?"

"How could it be? To be honest, we actually lost money on this one."

Al shrugged, appearing somewhat helpless.

"Killing someone so famous was a huge risk for us! And in the end, we only got a batch of [Consumables]. A massive loss! But those people will handle things afterward, and we've established a connection with them, so it's not a total loss."

Then, as if remembering something, the corners of his mouth turned up, and he said cheerfully.

"From now on, we won't have to find half of the consumables. Those guys will give us some, which is enough to train this bunch of trash."

"Calling your future employees trash is pretty harsh."

"What else are these death row inmates if not trash? This is just giving them a chance to warm up."

Al sounded disdainful.

"Alright, alright, I know you're amazing... Here, you take this one."

"Good heavens, trying to slack off, aren't you?"

"Hehe~"

Hearing his colleague's flippant voice, Al raised an eyebrow but didn't say much more. After all, it was just a few words exchanged.

He glanced at the observation window, confirming that everyone in the room had arrived, and then picked up the microphone to speak directly.

"Alright, everyone's here, we can begin."

An electronic voice, processed for clarity, echoed in the room simultaneously.

After the "staff" locked the doors and left, leaving only those who needed to be "tested" and the consumables, Al's lips curved again, saying with a hint of amusement.

"Now, everyone, please feel free to do your best. Of course, as usual, only one person can come out."

After speaking, Al signaled his colleague to turn off the microphone, while he himself continued to recline in his chair, leisurely watching... no, admiring what was happening inside the room.

"This batch of trash looks pretty decent this time."