Meteor Fall Master in the 'Starry Abyss'
Chapter 269 - 090. Thin strip of water

Chapter 269: 090. Thin strip of water

Li Aozi walked for a long time, and the tavern of the Red Squad remained utterly silent.

Narrow Space Mirror leaned against the sofa, looking down in deep thought, continuously pulling at her purple-grey hair. Her colorless eyes reflected in the turbid alcoholic drink, profound and hesitant.

It was a long while before someone spoke up to break the silence:

"Big Sister, that guy’s completely insane, right?"

"Yeah, yeah," someone by the side also said lightly, "Going to space is absurd enough as it is, and Big Sister is a veteran pilot from Sky Ring’s Air Force, where high-altitude flight is absolutely forbidden. Yet, that guy still fantasizes about using a nuclear bomb to blast himself into space—fiction wouldn’t even dare to write it like that, right?"

"Does he think he’s playing a virtual game? He doesn’t value his own life at all. How tight is the security of the Houjo Clan? Even the regular forces of the Red Arrow can’t breach it. Fighting against the Houjo Clan is impossible; stopping wars is our goal, but defeating the Houjo Clan... it’s unthinkable, so Big Sister, please don’t be foolish..."

"You idiot! Big Sister naturally knows this, she definitely won’t listen to that madman’s advice."

The plan thrown out by Li Aozi was simply too crazy and shocking; it surpassed their understanding, so everyone couldn’t help but start laughing at each other, mocking and joking around to ease the shock they had experienced.

Humans can’t possibly reach the cosmos.

It wasn’t achieved in the old era, it’s not possible now, and it won’t be in the future.

Maybe there’s never been such a thing as space, just more Ersha above the Ersha we know; the Sun is probably just a myth peddled by charlatans—stories that even the children of today would not believe.

Not to mention that someone like Big Sister, who received a higher education and comes from a pilot and soldier background, how could she possibly believe such crazy talk?

"Prepare the motorcycle."

Narrow Space Mirror said.

"Uh, boss, where are you going?"

"To see an old friend, I’ll be back soon."

Narrow Space Mirror casually stood up, picked up her motorcycle helmet, stepped out the door, and onto the motorcycle, accelerating with a twist of the throttle and immediately plunging into the vast wilderness.

The artificial Sun poured down its chilly light, not warm at all—just a disingenuous glow. Narrow Space Mirror sped along the country roads, with the motorcycle’s strong horsepower and balance, she effortlessly crossed the ridge and entered the abandoned highway, charging straight into the mountain tunnel at the edge of the city.

’...Gretto Yegg, someone I deeply respect. With his great strength, he never wishes to harm anyone, but when danger comes, he steps forward without hesitation.’

In the dim tunnel, Echoes of Li Aozi’s words suddenly rang in Narrow Space Mirror’s ears.

The guy had left a strong impression on her; they had only talked for less than half an hour, yet Narrow Space Mirror found she could even recall the tone, demeanor, and expression in Li Aozi’s eyes as he said those words, as if it were a video segment, indelibly etched in her mind.

Gretto...

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Outside of the slave territory, on the north side of Outer World, 14 years ago.

"I plan to go to military academy and become a pilot. One day, I will leave this godforsaken neighborhood and become one of the noble elite."

At 14, Narrow Space Mirror completed a smuggling deal. She had messy long hair, a cheap cigarette dangling from her lips, wore a tracksuit, and a baseball bat laying at her feet. She nonchalantly jabbed the big boy next to her, who had come out from Outer World with her, and teased:

"Hey—what are you thinking? With how frail you are, little chick, stop just being a porter. Join the military with me; you could even serve the country."

"Me?"

13-year-old Gretto Yegg was slim and delicate in stature, holding a cat as skinny as he was. Faced with his friend’s question, Gretto Yegg only kept his head down, caring for the injured cat in his arms, carefully removing the thorns from its body, then bandaging its wounds. As he stroked its back, he turned his head and said, as if it were a given:

"I want to be a doctor."

"Cool—being a doctor is an elite occupation, but engineer is also good. You’re pretty smart, after all. Once we make big money and are able to study, you can be a doctor. If I join the military and get injured, you can treat me."

As Narrow Space Mirror spoke, she took a harsh drag from her cigarette, letting the nicotine dull the pain of her injuries.

"Mirror, if you join the military, do you want to kill people?" Gretto Yegg shrunk back a little in timidity, "We’ve already killed ten people. Let’s not kill anymore."

"Nobody wants to kill anyone, I just want to live a comfortable life," said Narrow Space Mirror lazily. "I want a stipend of 4 million Zhu a month, to have beef and vegetables every meal, and fruit—you ever had fruit? I heard there’s a fruit called durian, incredibly expensive, even the big shots can’t always afford it."

Gretto Yegg’s large palm rested on the cat’s head, gently stroking its little skull as he said casually,

"I haven’t thought about it, durian, with ’lian’ in the name, sounds like it should be a pretty fruit, doesn’t it?"

"Dunno, but when I get the money, I’ll definitely buy a durian, give you a piece, give the teacher a piece, the rest is all mine, no one’s allowed to snatch it."

Narrow Space Mirror rubbed his bruised and purple left eye, took another drag of his cigarette, and sitting next to the trash can, suddenly asked,

"Doctors don’t earn as much as soldiers, do they? Why don’t you join me at aviation school!"

"I’d rather not."

Gretto Yegg gave a bitter smile,

"You know, Mirror... If someone called out to me for help and I was powerless to assist, it would make me feel terrible. And on the battlefield, there might be people calling out for help everywhere. So, studying medicine will make me feel better."

"Dammit! You’re doing this again."

Narrow Space Mirror flipped him the bird,

"You’ve been like this since we were kids, I’m so fucked. If it wasn’t for me, you’d be dead by now, you know that?"

"Doesn’t matter, you’d fight for me," Gretto Yegg shrugged and said sheepishly.

"I’m gonna kick your ass, you think I’m lightning or what? You cry out ’Ah, Narrow Space Mirror, save me’, and with a single thought, I’ll fucking teleport right in front of you. Can angels do that? Not even angels can, and I can, I’m motherfucking better than angels, so why the hell am I still hanging out with you."

Narrow Space Mirror, with no filter and cursing like a sailor, gave him a kick, but the guy just grinned foolishly.

"After all this talk, when you’re in danger, you know I’ll still rush to your side."

"Rush to your sister! Goddamn, why do I get saddled with a holy mother idiot like you, an innocent naive little shit. I must have been really unlucky in my past eight lives, telling you."

Narrow Space Mirror glanced at him contemptuously, smacking his lips, and muttered,

"—Alright then, here’s the deal: save up enough money and you join me at military school. I’ll become a pilot, you’ll be a battlefield doctor, this way, I can watch your back, and if I get hurt on the battlefield, you have to treat me, got it?"

"...I don’t want to fight."

Gretto Yegg’s gaze wandered.

The cat relaxed in Gretto Yegg’s embrace, gently touching his palm.

"What kind of talk is that... Since ancient times, when have the People of Sky Ring not fought wars? The whole world knows we’ve always been like this."

"Just because it’s always been that way, does it make it right?" said Gretto Yegg, holding the cat, his gaze downcast. "We’re poor, that’s why we can only go to the cheapest military schools, to join the worst-treated units of the National Defense Army. Aren’t other countries’ soldiers just like us?"

"Huh? What do you mean by that?"

"The ones commanding the wars, they’re all the big bosses and high-ranking officials, but why is it that it’s poor suckers like us who end up killing each other?"

Gretto Yegg glanced at Mirror and said,

"I don’t want to be ordered by those big shots, to fight against poor people from another country. When the war is won, the glory goes to the old men and the corporations. Only the blood and scars are left for poor folks like us. If the war is lost, it’s us who die, and we get cursed as butchers by the enemy, cowards by our own people."

"I don’t want you and me to become monsters like that."

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"The dumbest kid, but sees more clearly than anyone, the strongest body, but refuses to inflict any violence on others. Truly foolish, truly a shame. Like a blue whale, roaming the deep sea, bothering no one, living peacefully with the world."

Narrow Space Mirror couldn’t help but mutter,

"Without you, I’d be totally screwed, partner."