Chapter 73

She tried with all her might to hold onto the other person's hand, while sobbing as she tried to call out their name.

"Theresa!"

Finally, she called out the other person's name, but all that greeted her was the shattering of the scene; everything around her turned to dust and then to specks of fluorescent light with the sound of breaking.

"Congratulations! You've rediscovered some things you had temporarily forgotten. Don't you feel a little relieved?"

The Doctor turned around and found himself back in the room bathed in the glow of the setting sun.

The woman who claimed to be Wraith sat quietly in the chair, gently stroking the cover of a beautifully bound book.

"It's you? What do you want? Didn't you say you were going to disappear?! Why do you keep appearing in my dreams every now and then?!"

The Doctor rushed forward, grabbed the other person by the collar, and roared.

"You're very agitated. It's clear that the prolonged lack of sane energy supplements has already had some impact on you."

"As for why I didn't disappear, but instead returned..."

The Wraith looked up, revealing its somewhat indifferent face as it stared at the Doctor.

"Didn't you call me back?"

"What are you talking about! How could I possibly summon someone like you!?"

"Really?"

The Wraith slapped the Doctor's hand away, then stood up and snapped its fingers.

The surrounding scenery changed once again.

On the desolate wasteland, swarms of bizarre, scarlet insects fought fiercely, leaving blood and severed limbs scattered all around them.

The Doctor recognized it as a mimicry creature created by Zuo Jian during their chess game.

"How does it feel? It's been a long time since I've regained control of the battle by simply issuing commands."

"You should thank them. If they hadn't created such a realistic chessboard, we probably wouldn't have seen each other again for who knows how long."

"But speaking of which, my suggestion that you find someone... well, while there's a slight difference, might actually be a better solution."

The Wraith sat upright in a chair to the side, her slender legs crossed, and then took out a photo of Laurentina.

"Laurentina and Zuo Jian, right... Interesting individuals. I suggest you ask them if they can scale up the insects, or rather the creatures, on the chessboard to a size suitable for combat."

"Then inquire about the required resources and the production rate. If everything goes as I expect, you will have a force even more powerful than those Sarkaz mercenaries."

The Wraith pasted Laurentina's photo onto a map on the wall, and then began to scribble and alter it with a paintbrush.

"First Victoria, then spread the spoils to..."

"... I refuse."

"I don't know what you're up to! But I do know... you've been plotting against me all along, haven't you?!"

The Doctor rushed forward, grabbed the Wraith by the collar, and pinned her to the ground.

"That guide was also part of your pre-planned scheme, wasn't it?! And then what? Wake up, learn everything about this land! Find Zuo Jian and Laurentina, and then what? Continue following your plan?!"

"What if one day, you have to abandon them?! You have to tell me! Should I abandon them without hesitation?!"

The Doctor roared at the other party, while at the same time recalling the smile on Zuo Jian's Zuo Jian when he was chatting with Laurentina's body.

Very similar... very similar...

That smile was exactly like Theresa's.

"From the outcome, abandoning such an existence is undoubtedly a very significant blow."

"However, if abandoning external forces can save you when you are under serious threat, then it is undoubtedly worthwhile."

The Wraith spoke, its eyes showing not a ripple of emotion whatsoever.

"Ha, really? That's a rational and constructive suggestion. Good, very good! I've seen through you now!"

The Doctor got up, turned the doorknob, and prepared to leave.

"Since that's the case, I'm not going to follow your plan! I don't care about any disputes or trivial matters!"

"I'll leave them once I get to Victoria! Then I'll find a place, change my name, and live my own life!"

"From now on, no matter what you say, I will not follow your instructions! I will live a wretched life like an ordinary person until I die!"

She shouted at the Wraith, then turned and prepared to leave without looking back.

"To merely survive? That's a luxury, Doctor."

The Wraith got up and dusted itself off.

"If you want to live like an ordinary person, you must first learn how to be a petty person, and then, like a petty person, coldly observe the fate of others."

"Like a petty person, watching idealists burn and fall to the ground like moths drawn to a flame."

"Like a despicable person, he mocked those who went to their deaths, ridiculing their foolishness."

"You can't have a shred of sympathy, nor can you turn a blind eye; you must laugh at them. Otherwise, the moment you show even a hint of sympathy, it means you'll never be able to remain indifferent."

"It's so noisy! I don't need your reminders! I don't care about anything else! I just... I just don't want to be led by the nose by you!"

"Is that so? I've seen plenty of temperamental guys like you, but in the end, they all return to me dejected, picking up their weapons again under the gaze of regret."

"Doctor, I hope you don't end up like them."

"Of course not! And please don't appear in my life again!!"

"Yeah..."

The Wraith smiled and lowered its head.

He then tossed a key to the Doctor.

"Take this key to the room. After you leave, lock the door. Then, I won't show up until you open the door yourself next time."

"Doctor, I'm glad you have your own opinions, and I sincerely look forward to it and wish you well."

"You can spend the rest of your life in the ordinary life you desire."

She looked at the Wraith behind her, and whether it was her imagination or not, at that moment, the guy who had always had a cold face actually showed a hint of a relieved smile.

"I hope you never come back to see me again."

"May you never get involved in conflicts and live the ordinary life you desire."

"..."

The Doctor didn't answer, but silently closed the door and then locked it with a key.

The sun has set outside the window.

The Wraith turned its head and looked at the darkness that had enveloped the small room.

Room.

She raised her hand and lit the candlestick, watching the amber light tint her white hair with a touch of gold.

"Although I offered similar blessings to every single one of those who left."

"But those guys, without exception, knelt before me once again, filled with endless regret."

"Without exception to date."

"Doctor, this is a heartfelt blessing."

"Go, like a free bird, never look back, fly out of the vortex of conflict, and never be drawn back in."

The Wraith whispered, but her voice was so soft that only she could hear it.

(Although, I know everyone wants to see the Doctor and Zuo Jian merge, then transform into Zerg and continuously mass produce units to destroy Terra.)

(But if I really do that, what am I supposed to write next? I can't just finish it at lightning speed, can I?. jpg)

(And also.)

(Shark is so cute! How could I abandon her!)

Chapter 33, The Doctor, Shark, Orca: A Three-Person Control Group (Confirmed)

"Doctor-- "

Wow!

As the shouts from the side grew louder, the Doctor suddenly looked up and then looked at the large, watery eyes beside him.

"She was sleeping quite soundly, it's almost noon." Laurentina leaned against the window with one hand, then yawned and continued driving the lander.

[By the way, you woke up a little late this time. Is there anything wrong with you?]

Zuo Jian asked with some concern.

"No, it's nothing."

The Doctor turned his head, not wanting to look into the other person's concerned eyes.

"Speaking of which, where are we?"

Seemingly remembering something, she turned her head across the Zuo Jian and asked Laurentina.

"Sigh, I didn't expect you to still be awake after all."

Laurentina looked at the Doctor, who still seemed dazed, but his mind seemed to have returned.

[Barring any unforeseen circumstances, we should arrive in Victoria before tonight.]

"... Huh? So fast?!"

The Doctor was taken aback, then started calculating on his fingers.

"But, if nothing unexpected happens, shouldn't there still be some left..."

"It's just an overnight drive, ha--yawn."

Laurentina interrupted her, then responded with a sleepy look on her face.

[She didn't sleep at all last night; she was driving the whole time. I tried to persuade her, but she seems very determined.]

Zuo Jian sighed. However, given Laurentina's personality, wasn't this actually a sign of concern for the Doctor?

After all, the sooner the Doctor can arrive in Victoria, the less hardship he will have to endure of sleeping outdoors.

Ah, my Laurentina, what a kind child she is, showing such care for fellow travelers who were originally strangers.

"Yes, after all, it's so that the Doctor can get to Victoria as soon as possible. The thought of wasting the precious evening if I fall asleep makes me feel ashamed and unhappy, don't you think, Doctor?"

Shark in the driver's seat turned its head and looked at the Doctor with a warm smile.

The latter felt a chill run down his spine.

"Ahhh, yes... yes... I'm so grateful that Laurentina is so considerate of me!"

[Right, so even though she sometimes seems impatient, she's actually a very kind girl.]

Zuo Jian hearing this, Zuo Jian also gathered around the Doctor and began to describe all of Laurentina's good qualities.

That manner was exactly the same as how relatives in the Flame Kingdom brag about their children during festivals.

"Yes, yes, yes... yes, yes..."

To this, Doctor could do was nod frantically, like a chicken pecking at rice.

After all, behind Zuo Jian's eyes was Laurentina's gentle smile.

Damn it... I was just a little reluctant... I felt a pang of sadness at leaving someone as familiar and gentle as Zuo Jian...

... Laurentina...

Did you foresee this, so that I could leave without any regrets?

You're too gentle! (gritting teeth)

How can there be a woman in the world with such an insane possessiveness?

All he did was chat with her spirit a bit more, rub against her body a little more, and eat a few meals of food she prepared.

Is it really necessary?

Is it really necessary?

Of course, given her habits, she would only complain to herself a couple of times at most.