Chapter 27 "Let's just call her Liuying"

The ashes of the Zerg fell like snow.

The once endless flapping of wings and the commands on the communication channel have now melted into the drifting snowflakes.

Firefly heard the laughter of the people who survived the disaster, saw the black wreckage of the knights, and smelled the hot air.

But the tears could not be stopped from dripping down her cheeks, hitting the white petals of the gentian and then soaking into the soil.

In a trance, she seemed to see new buds breaking through the soil and blooming into the most beautiful flowers facing the morning sun.

Snowflakes fell on An Ming's shoulders. Under the sunlight, every inch of the boy's body seemed to be coated with a light golden color.

The damaged armor told of the danger of the battle, and the two cracked green swords were stuck upside down in the soil beside them.

"I heard that people can even distinguish the footsteps of the person they love. I used to think it was a lie in novels," An Ming turned around with a smile and looked at the fireflies running towards him with gentle eyes.

In the warm sunshine, An Ming's cheeks were covered with golden cracks that would disappear into the flower beds with a slight touch.

He is burning the blood of the star god with his mortal body, and eventually his body will completely collapse.

"fraud..."

"fraud!"

Liuying's emotions collapsed instantly. She wanted to hug An Ming's arms, but was afraid of hurting his body again. She could only stand there and let her tears water the gentian blooming at her feet.

"You promised to give me a home."

"You said you would marry me when you came back!"

"It's agreed--uh..."

"Don't go...Don't go, don't go--"

All the pretense of strength melted away at this moment. Liuying was reluctant to blame An Ming anymore. He was her hero, the great hero who saved Grammer.

An Ming wanted to reach out and touch the firefly, but he had just taken half a step when he weakly knelt on one knee among the flowers and could only stare at the firefly with reluctance.

Yes.

There are still too many words that have not been said and too many unfulfilled dreams.

It's time to say goodbye.

Lisianthus flowers will bloom along the road.

So is the future of Firefly.

"Liu Ying."

"I love you."

An Ming seemed to have returned to the midsummer when he first met the firefly. Every day since then has been happier than the happiest dream.

It’s great to meet fireflies.

An Ming's body gradually became transparent, and the golden cracks turned into pieces of crystal fragments, which flew away to higher places with the wind.

Tears splashed on the petals.

Liuying threw herself into An Ming's arms and hugged her lover tightly.

"An Ming... An Ming, An Ming——"

"I love you!"

Liuying wanted to kiss Anming with tears in her eyes, but in the sunlight, only glittering fragments were left, warmly passing across Liuying's cheeks, like a lover's final farewell.

Only the firefly stands alone among the blooming flowers. The departing fragments are like the gathered light of fireflies, brighter than the stars in the last moment of their lives.

The girl was still standing on tiptoe stubbornly, making a kissing gesture towards the sky, with big tears running down her cheeks to her neck.

The warm wind blows through the white gentian flowers.

Another midsummer is here.

There is no peaceful summer.

[End of simulation]

...

...

【¥%%%@——? ? ?】

3 month 1 day.

I met a strange boy, but it must be him who pulled me out of death.

The remaining warmth in my chest is very comfortable. I don’t hate this feeling, but can a cyborg really feel this tenderness?

When will we meet again?

7 month 12 day.

The training is hard, but that is the fate of being a cyborg.

If he knew the truth, would he look at me that way?

Why do you feel fear...

4 month 3 day.

All of Model A’s companions have died. Perhaps one day, I will also die in a corner where no one cares, leaving only cold wreckage.

5 month 30 day.

Deprived of the right to pilot Molten Knight, the symptoms of entropy loss were further aggravated.

The doctor in the medical department told me that it was a miracle that I was still alive today, and that an unknown energy was constantly healing my body.

...Is this the gift you left for me?

6 month 1 day.

The congressman assigned me a new task, to go to the academy to meet a boy named An Ming and become his driver instructor.

I knew that becoming a pilot meant death, but if I could leave the mountains, would I have a chance to see that boy?

I admit that this is selfish.

But I don't care.

6 month 24 day.

It turns out he is An Ming.

I don’t know how to describe my mood at that time.

Joy, surprise, or sadness?

I will personally lead him to become a Molten Knight and embark on a path that will inevitably end in death.

7 month 13 day.

Firefly.

Firefly Firefly Firefly

I like this name.

7 month 14 day.

Ate cake roll with Anming.

Although it’s a bit bitter, it’s still delicious!

5 month 7 day.

An Ming is very powerful. Even I can’t beat him.

But in this case... we have to go to the mountains.

Why do you think so? Becoming a Molten Knight is An Ming's dream, and I should support him.

8 month 19 day.

Don't want him to die.

8 month 20 day.

We went to the mountains together, and the process of piloting the Molten Knight went surprisingly smoothly.

Maybe I'm thinking too much, An Ming is fine!

9 month 17 day.

Fell asleep holding An Ming!

My chest is pounding. Could I be sick?

Although I am shy, I am very happy.

Is this the love mentioned in the novel?

I like An Ming...?

10 month 12 day.

He always says something weird after Molten Knight transforms, like setting the sea on fire, or just leaving and no one will get hurt.

Are all boys so childish?

Well, I don't hate it, it's actually quite cute.

6 month 3 day.

Stupid An Ming!

How can you confess like that? It doesn't give people any time to prepare.

stupid stupid stupid!

But I definitely love An Ming too!

In the future, I will get married and have children, and I can also open a cozy cake shop on the roadside, so that I will have endless cakes to eat every day.

7 month 15 day.

After the war started, I often had nightmares, and I would wake up from dreams of losing you.

You always hold me tight and say we will be together forever.

I don't want to lose you.

? moon? day.

I will never forgive you.

I will never forget you.

I love you forever.

...

...

The warm wind blew up a strand of silver-gray hair, and Liuying wrote her last diary.

The wind blew the pages forward, and on the first page were printed the rules that the transformed people should follow.

Her beautiful eyes, like the glow of the sunset, trembled slightly, her long eyelashes fluttered, and Liuying stood there in a daze. She didn't remember anyone having added such a smear here.

The first rule of cyborgs: always be loyal to the Empire.

Rule 2 of Cyborg: No information may be leaked.

The third rule of cyborgs: no emotions.

...

These regulations were crossed out with a straight black line, and new text was added behind them.

Always be loyal to yourself and love yourself before loving others.

Trust your heart and follow its decisions.

Be brave to love.

Tears blurred Liuying's eyes, how could she not recognize the owner of the handwriting?

That person once said to her:

"Just call me Firefly."

"As warm and sparkling as a firefly."