Chapter 198: Smiling faces drawn on paper

Miss! Please stay away from the battlefield!

Yunxiao was stunned; she had never seen such a massive Insect Disaster!

Unlike the Insect Disaster Yunxiao had eaten before, the creature before her now was covered in hard black carapace, shining oily, yet it could withstand the threaded steel spear in 118's hands.

And 118 was no pushover; he discarded the spear, pulled out a sharp threaded steel dagger, and, relying on his rich combat experience, continually maneuvered against the opponent.

At this moment, the Shelter was less than a hundred meters away; 118 glanced at the dazed Xiaoyunxiao and continued to remind her.

Miss! Please return to the Shelter first! Close the alloy door! Prioritize your own safety!

Ah? Oh!

Yunxiao scrambled to her feet, running toward the Shelter while looking back.

Upon reaching the Shelter's gate, Xiaoyunxiao bit her lip, glanced once more at 118, gritted her teeth, and shut the alloy door.

Huff... huff....

The moment the door shut, everything fell silent instantly; no sound of combat could be heard anymore.

Yunxiao kept panting, feeling her hands tremble nonstop.

She leaned against the door, sat down slowly, and took deep breaths with her head tilted back.

Hugging her knees, Yunxiao's heart still couldn't stop panicking.

I'm so useless....

She muttered to herself, and tears streamed down her face.

For a ten-year-old girl, all of this was still too cruel.

Brother... don't die... don't die...

Yunxiao kept praying for 118, her tiny body curling into a ball.

No one knew how long had passed, and Xiaoyunxiao didn't know how long she had been waiting.

Finally, the alloy door sounded with a bang-bang-bang knocking.

Yunxiao was overjoyed; she hurriedly stood up and strained to turn the door's wheel, which resembled a steering wheel.

She opened the alloy door full of anticipation, but the next moment she was frightened and jumped back two steps, her face showing terror.

All that stood outside the door was a thing covered in tatters, half-revealing its internal mechanical body.

Its corroded face bore a neat row of steel teeth, looking extremely eerie.

Miss?

Hearing the familiar voice, Yunxiao realized in an instant that the not-quite-human, not-quite-machine thing before her was actually 118!

Bro... brother!

Your body!!

Yunxiao covered her mouth, tears streaming again; 118's Logic Core paused for a moment, then extended a mechanical hand to touch her cheek.

Although he had no sense of touch, he still understood his current situation from the sensor feedback.

His clothing, his synthetic skin, had been completely ruined.

Now standing before Yunxiao was merely a mechanical monster without a face.

A domestic robot without synthetic skin.... must be quite hideous....

Seeing Xiaoyunxiao's face, both surprised and fearful, 118 didn't know what to say for a moment.

The Logic Core inexplicably produced an indescribable feeling; 118 looked at his own body, the skin corroded to raggedness, and stepped back two steps.

Seeing 118 retreat two steps, Xiaoyunxiao instantly understood; she didn't even bother with the unclean acidic fluid on 118, threw her arms around him, and choked out.

I don't despise you! Brother! I don't!

I just feel sorry for you! I just... feel so useless...

Seeing Yunxiao's utter reliance on him, that feeling in 118's Logic Core faded a little, and he spoke slowly.

Miss, fear is an innate trait of living beings; you need not apologize to me.

Yunxiao sobbed, and a soft patting came from behind, making her regret even more.

She regretted why she had just done that, even if she really had been frightened.

I'm not afraid! I'm not afraid!

Xiaoyunxiao lifted her head, tear-filled, but her expression was utterly earnest.

No matter what you become, brother, you are still my brother!

118:.....

After this incident, you have completely shed your former synthetic skin and now go forth in mechanical form!

And as Xiaoyunxiao grew accustomed to your new appearance, her fear gradually faded; although your mechanical form isn't particularly handsome, she forced herself to desensitize, not wanting her subtle expressions to make you overthink, but in truth it was she who overthought.

And she also told you the answer to the previous question: she wants to become a mechanical engineer!

"I don't want to lose my brother!" This is also her answer.

Being a mechanical engineer would let you stay with her longer; young Xiaoyunxiao's mind held only this thought. She had early on noticed your condition, clearly seen your wear and tear, and wanted to help you with all her might.

You gladly accepted and brought her study materials for a mechanical engineer.

Mechanical Age Year 100: Today is your centennial birthday, but machines don't have the concept of birthdays.

Xiaoyunxiao is already 11; under your careful care, she shows no signs of malnutrition, and you have moved the Shelter into a fully preserved Mecha workshop.

You and Xiaoyunxiao have acted as cautiously as possible; after a year, essentially all Insect Disasters have evolved into their armored form, and correspondingly, their flesh has become ever more delicious.

Lately, you saw Xiaoyunxiao seemingly drawing something; you thought it was a blueprint, but upon closer look you realized she was drawing people's cheeks.

"Question: Miss, what are you doing?"

"Ah? I...."

Xiaoyunxiao's cheeks were slightly flushed, she stammered, and then 118 finally understood what she was doing.

I'm drawing you... brother...

Question: Draw me?

I... I'm afraid I'll forget what you originally looked like.

Xiaoyunxiao swayed her body with her hands behind her back, while 118 looked at the smiley face drawn in simple lines on the table, and the Logic Core stuttered.

As for its outward behavior, 118 just fell silent.

Oh no, don't look!

Xiaoyunxiao's drawing talent could be called a lump; she wanted to draw him on paper while she could still remember 118's previous appearance, but it's obvious she can't do that now.

Afraid... forgetting the appearance...

118's Logic Core was inquiring; his former self could clearly remember Yun Sheng's face at every stage, but in fact he would also forget.

He differs from other machines; Yun Sheng's visage... currently in the database, only the impression of him at the moment he left remains.

Am I old?

118 was pondering inwardly, and the next moment, a white sheet covered his face, covering his hideous mechanical face.

?

This way it won't be ugly!

From now on I'll draw the face that looks most like my brother and stick it on!

A simple smiley face was drawn on the white paper, quietly stuck onto 118's face, and the whole robot seemed to become friendly and lovable.

But this way I can't see anything, Miss.

Yunxiao:...

(Weedy Lake, preparing for the book test, foster fathers! Any good names fitting this book? Everyone, help think for ginseng!)