Chapter 31: The Past

Xingyu took a deep breath and knocked on the door in front of her.

Rapid footsteps sounded from within, and Qixue’s head quickly poked out. The moment she saw Xingyu, her expression softened, only to immediately cloud over with confusion.

"You're back?" Qixue whispered, opening the door fully.

Under the dim candlelight, the outlines of the dilapidated furniture were blurred, and the air was thick with the smell of mildew. Qixue bit her lip, and it was a long time before she spoke. "I... I’ve been waiting for you. Why are you back so late again? What would you have done if you’d run into danger?"

Xingyu remained silent for a moment before replying, "…I’m fine."

A silence stretched between them, as if an invisible barrier stood in the way. Qixue’s fingers twisted together restlessly. She looked up, trying to meet Xingyu’s eyes, but looked away at the last second.

"How was your day?" Qixue finally asked. "Did things go smoothly as an Agent? Did you have to do things you didn't want to?"

"It was alright," Xingyu answered curtly.

Qixue bit her lip, hesitated for a moment, and asked, "Can you... can you stop being an Agent?"

Xingyu didn't even answer directly; she simply shook her head.

"But... it’s just too dangerous!" Qixue’s voice trembled as she grabbed Xingyu’s hand. "I don’t want you to take risks. I can handle it!"

"Why must you be like this? Xingyu, is it me? Did I do something to make you angry?"

Facing Qixue’s near-imploring gaze, a subtle sense of reluctance stirred in Xingyu’s heart.

"No," she said, forcing her voice to remain calm. "You didn't do anything wrong. This is just my own choice."

Qixue’s shoulders slumped slightly, but she quickly forced herself to brighten up. "Right, Xingyu, you must be tired after walking back from so far away. I applied for new rations today; would you like to—"

"…Qixue." Xingyu interrupted her, feeling her throat tighten.

Every time she tried to communicate with Qixue, she fell into this same cycle. An idea occurred to her. Although she had already made up her mind, facing Qixue’s current expression, she found it unexpectedly difficult to voice it.

"I brought food back for you, too."

As she spoke, she pulled out the bag she had been hiding behind her back, revealing the carefully packaged meal. The moment the bag opened, the aroma of rice, meat, and vegetables wafted out, feeling completely out of place in the run-down room.

The pearly white rice was cold but still soft; beside it were perfectly seared, fragrant meat and fresh vegetables. At the edge of the meal, there was even an individually packaged caramel pudding.

"It’s a standard daily meal for an Agent. I wasn't very hungry today anyway..." Xingyu felt a pang of guilt, her eyes drifting to the side.

This meal was far more expensive than she had anticipated. A full 100 New Credits... and that was only after she had exhausted every bargaining tactic she knew.

She really wasn't good at haggling.

She didn't know how to speak bluntly, so she had used this method to hint: *I can live a better life than the one you are providing for me.*

"Ah..."

Qixue stared blankly at the food, as if witnessing something incredible.

Although they had moved into this house, which could barely be called decent, their lifestyle was almost identical to the past. Apart from living in a secure district and having a fixed address, they still lacked food and clothing. Their meals consisted only of canned goods requested from the Mutual Aid Alliance, and their wardrobe was limited to two pieces of clothing that had been mended countless times.

Xingyu unwrapped the lunch box and placed the meal and utensils in front of Qixue. She could see that Qixue was completely unfamiliar with these items, so she added, seemingly thoughtfully, "Why don't you use the spoon?"

Qixue took the plastic spoon with a dazed expression. Her movements were hesitant and clumsy, her eyes reflecting a mix of confusion and a faint, hidden shame. She mechanically scooped up a spoonful of rice and put it into her mouth, chewing slowly, but failing to swallow.

Qixue’s gaze remained fixed on the food, as if she were in a trance.

A teardrop fell onto the table.

Xingyu was suddenly flustered—she hadn't expected this reaction at all. *Was this... a bit too much?*

Xingyu looked around for a tissue, only to realize that such a luxury did not exist in this shack. Qixue, however, seemed unaware. Under the dim candlelight, her eyes filled with tears that shimmered with a faint glow. She didn't say a word, yet the tears fell drop by drop, appearing startlingly clear in the silence.

Finally, Qixue spoke.

"I'm sorry, Xingyu..." Her voice was so soft it was barely audible, every word spoken as if it took all her remaining strength. "...I understand what you mean now. It’s my fault for not being good enough... I’ve made you unhappy, haven't I? I will support you from now on."

"..."

Regardless, her objective had been achieved. Although she didn't like the sentiment, Xingyu did not refute it.

It was only when Qixue’s emotions had gradually settled that Xingyu spoke again.

"I want to ask you more about the Borderland Mutual Aid Alliance. Regarding that 'contract' you signed?"

Qixue pursed her lips and nodded.

"Yes, I’ll tell you... but I really don't know much."

...

"It was actually not long ago, about two or three weeks ago, starting from the day you fell ill.

Back then, we were still out in the further fringes of the wasteland. We couldn't find anything to eat. I don't know why, but you suddenly came down with a high fever. You kept coughing, and I... I thought you were going to die...

I always said we would be together forever, but seeing you like that, I was terrified. I didn't want to watch anyone else... leave. I was afraid you would die right in front of me...

So, I ran away.

But... there were others on the wasteland that day besides us. Two people caught me."

"I thought it was all over then. I figured this was the retribution for leaving you behind. But they didn't kill me... in fact, they gave me an opportunity.

They said that in the wasteland where we had always lived, there were strange things left over from many years ago. They were... the moving, glittering things we had seen before.

They said as long as I helped them find these 'parts,' they would guarantee we had food, clothing, and a place to live in a safe area. Most importantly, they said they could save your life! I thought, if it could save you, I would do anything.

So, I agreed.

Later, they made me write my name on a piece of paper. I don't know how to write, so they taught me how to draw those symbols. I don't even know if I drew them right.

I asked them who they were, and they said they were called... the Nine Rays.

That name was very unique; I remember it clearly.

You know what happened after that. I brought you here, to the Mutual Aid Alliance. It is indeed much better than it was before.

Every day, I still have to go back out to the wilderness for the things the Nine Rays want.

The Nine Rays is a large organization. Most people living here act according to their requirements. Whenever I find those struggling... parts, they give me money. With that money, we can apply for various things at the Mutual Aid Alliance.

The condition is that we cannot tell anyone else. If you try to tell others the details, you’ll find yourself suddenly unable to speak."

After finishing, Qixue watched Xingyu’s reaction cautiously.

Xingyu’s feelings were complicated. She had wondered before how Qixue, living in the outermost ring, could afford such an expensive protection fee. She had seen in Qixue’s information that her occupation was "Part Recycler."

Perhaps in this world, this really was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. But in her eyes... it was clearly a case of being sold and then helping the buyer count the money.

If there were "moving parts" in the ruins further out, they were likely products not commonly found in this world. Perhaps they were from a previous civilization, or perhaps they were high-tech items from somewhere unknown... In any case, they were definitely not common.

The Nine Rays appeared generous by providing work and a salary, but in reality, these rewards were likely insignificant compared to the value of the parts. Even these meager earnings were taken back by the Mutual Aid Alliance under various pretexts—rent, food, daily necessities; the prices of all essentials were carefully controlled.

Everyone's stress was meticulously maintained at the edge of what they could bear, just before the point of collapse, yet they were bound by contracts, forever unable to escape. They were forced to work even harder for the Nine Rays, all while remaining grateful for the Nine Rays' generosity and the Mutual Aid Alliance's protection.

In their eyes, having such an opportunity was a gift from heaven, unaware that this "gift" was the very shackle that imprisoned them here forever.

It was a meticulously designed cycle, and the end of that cycle was death.