I'm not a hero, but I didn't say I couldn't beat you.

"Center, system self-check."

[The current system aging degree is: 97.63%. It is estimated that the normal operation of the space station can be maintained:…………]

【………………】

[Switch back to personality mode——]

[It seems that I can only go so far, Walter. 】

The central system of the space station said to Votel with a wry smile.

"Really...Thank you for your hard work. Over the past 300 years..."

Under the dim lights of the space station, Votel looked at the gradually recovering planet and said to his only remaining best friend.

【What's the trouble for me? Over the years, you are the only one who has really worked hard. 】

Through the only remaining equipment, the center observed Votel, looking at his appearance that had not changed for hundreds of years.

It was still the same virtual appearance that he helped him generate when he was just born.

But since when did this appearance cease to be “virtual”?

It can even touch reality.

"Me? I just set the timer alarm clock and carried out a task that spanned more than 300 years and was repeated more than 50 times. I'm afraid the total working hours are not even one percent of yours."

Walter sighed and looked back at the camera in the corner of the ceiling.

"But later on, you became more and more humane. Is this considered evolution?"

[Perhaps it is just that the aging system has difficulty maintaining the debris clearing process of the personality system. 】

"Really, but isn't this good? It's better than Mr. [Zhong Shu] who didn't even understand the joke."

It seemed that he understood the teasing in the other party's words, and his central system felt helpless.

Since about a year ago, it has been difficult for him to maintain the normal operation of some systems. After all, unlike Walter, he cannot maintain it through hibernation.

He must observe the planet all the time without interruption to avoid sudden disasters that completely destroy everyone's wishes, and silently maintain the operation of the space station for as long as possible.

And now, his mission is complete.

He can finally rest.

[Forget it, Zhong Shu, just Zhong Shu, but do you really not consider it? My proposal. 】

"There's no need..."

Walter shook his head, and then looked at the blue planet in the distance.

"Now that the fire has returned to the earth again and survives tenaciously, there is no need for us old-era gadgets to exist. Just watch them here."

【yes? 】

"Yes. And, am I really the same person I am now?"

【………】

Walter's words were melancholy, as if he was lost in the past.

"I abandoned two continents and half of the fire, like a cold executioner, doing endless multiple-choice questions. If disaster is born from despair, then the despair of the creators has brought me this A miracle, and this miracle of mine has to bring disaster to some people.”

"I still don't quite understand the proposition left by the doctor."

Walter moved slowly towards the room where he would stay in silence for a period of time every time he woke up.

Do you wish you could reach the future? But where is your future?

Maybe this is it.

tired.

So let's end it here.

"Doctor, the task you assigned me has been completed. Although civilization has been eradicated, there are only dozens of tribes scattered on the remaining continent struggling to survive. But this fire is indeed continuing to burn. On."

"Just as you had hoped, even if they have never known the past civilization and no longer pass on the previous knowledge, they have indeed continued the fire."

"At least they still speak our language, right?"

Standing in front of the sealed asylum, Walter quietly looked at the doctor inside and spoke slowly.

"The Center is [old], and I have no intention of returning to the planet, so I will stay here with you."

"After all... it would be too pitiful for you to stay alone in this lonely space station! That guy Zhong Shu is so rigid again. Although he is much better now, his behavior cannot be changed after all. Maybe this is also the underlying personality you designed when you created him? Maybe it's just because you think it's fun to tease serious virtual beings. Then you really have a bad taste."

In the empty room, the target was silent, the system was silent, and there was only Walter, like a nagging old man, constantly telling about his hundreds of years of experience.

Although I always said that I just got up on time to complete the task, but slowly I sorted it out, and unknowingly found that I had experienced a lot.

Although excluding the time of sleeping, I haven't been active for long.

"You once warned me that if I encountered a sudden awakening while sleeping, I must be alert to erosion from [disaster], but until the mission was completed, I did not encounter such a situation. It seems that you really I have endured all the [disasters] well.”

"It's just that I still don't understand, what kind of future do you want me to go to?"

He is still confused.

Even though he was vaguely aware of it, his personality structure and his thinking logic seemed to be very different from other virtual life forms.

He also has the possibility of going further.

But he couldn't understand why he should go further?

Now that the mission is completed, he seems to have lost the meaning of being here.

Tools that are useless should be thrown into a dark little house.

Then as time goes by, it turns into dust.

"Oops! Forget it! Why do I feel like an old man! The center must have led me astray!"

Walter shook his head cheerfully, and then placed a bouquet of flowers grown in a culture room, a cup of coffee that was re-opened hundreds of years later, and a memory crystal in front of the containment chamber.

"Well, that's the final farewell, good night, Doctor."

then.

The space station returned to silence.

Duration of this hibernation: unknown.

The witnesses of the story have returned to sleep, and the creator of the story has long since passed away.

Only the witnesses from the future are left, silently witnessing the "end of life" named [Votel].

The loneliness of space, the stationary space station, and the minimally functioning central hub with blinking indicator lights.

Since then, time has lost its meaning.

Damage, aging, failure, short circuit——

Compared to Votel, who is kept in a protective cabin, the space station, or the center, will definitely be annihilated in the long river of time earlier.

[System restarts...]

[Self-test...failed...]

In the empty space, a small sound came.

The ancient machinery is struggling to initiate its final plan.

In order to send his "friends" back to their hometown.

"At least, in the end, I still want you to see with your own eyes everything that you have preserved."

The final process was started and all the energy was exhausted, just to send a certain protective cabin back to their hometown through the only well-preserved return capsule in the space station.

[The return capsule has been ejected]

[It is expected to enter Earth orbit in 15 minutes and seconds and land in 7 hours and 43 minutes]

[Estimated landing location: Eastern coast of the main continent]

"Farewell, then, my friend."

In the last virtual screen, a blurry figure flashed, as if looking at the departing star in the distance.

[The final process has been completed]

【System shutdown】

【Thank you for your use——】

Hub, all threads are offline.

The last ray of light also disappeared.

Until one day, it completely collapsed and then turned into a meteor and returned to its homeland.