Chapter 84
In the stairwell connecting the second and third floors, the boy stood on a step halfway down, his head slightly lowered. He gazed at the descending staircase, as though if he just kept walking, he could reach the exit and attain the freedom he longed for.
But…
He looked down at the back of his hand, covered with brownish-yellow fur streaked with fiery red patterns—like the tormenting flames of his Crimson Blaze that had haunted him for so long.
A trace of struggle appeared in Number Two’s eyes. The foot he had been about to step forward with hesitated, and finally, he drew it back.
He wasn’t willing to accept this.
Fully transforming into a Crimson Blaze Tiger and surviving in the Blood Mist was a last resort. If he had the choice, he would rather keep his sanity.
Becoming the Crimson Blaze Tiger meant losing himself entirely…
But now, someone had appeared who could help him.
Whatever that person wanted, he was willing to agree—so long as it meant he wouldn’t be consumed by his bloodline power, that he could hold on to his identity and remain himself.
Eventually, the determination in the boy’s eyes solidified.
He turned away from the staircase that led downward, taking one deliberate step after another upward until he reached the third-floor exit and pushed open the door to the hallway.
The corridor was empty.
It was Number Two’s first time on the nursery’s third floor. Thinking about the mysterious and powerful caretaker, he couldn’t help but feel a bit nervous.
Swallowing hard, the boy clenched his fists and finally approached Room 301.
He didn’t know which room the caretaker lived in, so he could only try them one by one. However, as he stopped in front of the door to Room 301, he noticed something surprising—
The tightly closed metal door suddenly opened automatically.
Startled, Number Two jumped back a step, his expression tense and defensive, as though facing an imminent threat.
But when he looked closer, he found that the open doorway did not reveal the caretaker he expected to see. Nor was it a nanny robot emerging from the room.
What was going on?
Instinctively assuming a defensive stance, the boy froze in confusion. Did the caretaker know he was here? Had they opened the door for him?
Cautiously, he leaned forward to peek inside.
“Uh… um…”
Having never visited anyone else’s room before, Number Two stammered the moment he tried to speak. Realizing this, he pursed his lips, his expression tinged with frustration.
Be confident! Don’t let the caretaker think you’re weak!
After a moment of mental preparation, he took a deep breath, steadied his voice, and said, “May I come in?”
Though he managed to sound more composed, the fact that he was seeking help made his tone inevitably carry a hint of uncertainty.
Hearing no response, the boy spoke again, “Caretaker Su, I have something I want to discuss with you…”
After speaking, he waited.
However, after a long while, there was still no sound or movement from within.
The boy’s ears twitched slightly, sensing that something was off. Not one to be overly timid, he finally stepped forward and walked inside.
As soon as he entered the entryway, Number Two noticed something unusual.
This room…
It had no signs of being lived in.
He looked at the nearby shoe cabinet and lightly swiped a finger across it, only to find a thick layer of dust.
Frowning deeply, he ventured further into the room. After making a full circuit, he confirmed—there was no one in this dormitory.
The caretaker didn’t live here!
Number Two was dumbfounded.
If this wasn’t where the caretaker lived, why had the door opened just now?!
Recalling how his own room’s door had also opened automatically, Number Two hesitated before arriving at a conclusion—it must be a system malfunction!
Looking around at the empty Room 301 and recalling how cautious he had been earlier, the boy felt both embarrassed and oddly relieved.
He didn’t leave right away but instead sat down on the sofa.
Though he had a lot on his mind, he was still just a child in his early teens. His gaze wandered around the caretaker’s dormitory, filled with curiosity.
The caretaker’s living space was much larger than their rooms. In addition to the bedroom, there was a spacious living area.
The sofa felt even more comfortable than his bed…
Number Two lay back on the sofa for a moment before standing up to explore further. Soon, he arrived at the window.
Sunlight streamed in from outside. Though the view was limited to the high walls surrounding the nursery, it was still better than seeing nothing at all.
Tilting his head up, he gazed at the clouds drifting lazily across the sky above the walls, and a deep yearning grew in his heart.
One day, he would escape this cage…
But for now, the time wasn’t right.
Number Two reined in his thoughts and stopped looking around the room. After all, this nursery wouldn’t matter to him much longer.
As he walked toward the door to leave, he suddenly paused, his sharp ears swiveling toward the bedroom.
“Who’s there?”
He asked warily.
He had checked earlier—there was no one in the bedroom. So why was there noise coming from inside?
“Plop—”
A faint sound came from the bedroom again. Number Two didn’t rush in but cautiously extended his mental energy, probing inside.
What he discovered made him blink in surprise. He stepped forward.
The bedroom door automatically opened, and a small golden figure darted past him, landing on the bedside table.
The boy’s gaze landed on the creature sitting on the table—a tiny golden monkey with wide, grape-like black eyes staring back at him curiously.
Number Two tilted his head in confusion.
“Are you…?” He hesitated, considering the possibility. “Number Six? Did you fully beastify too?”
The little monkey stared at him innocently.
Though it didn’t respond, Number Two was certain he wasn’t mistaken. Despite how quiet and well-behaved the monkey seemed—so different from the mischievous Number Six—he had a gut feeling.
This little monkey was Number Six.
For a moment, Number Two felt a tangle of emotions.
“I didn’t expect you to end up like me…” he murmured, his gaze softening as he looked at the little monkey.
“Do you still remember me?”
He took a step forward, but when the monkey shrank back slightly, he stopped and squatted down on the spot.
“You probably don’t remember me, huh? Once fully beastified, you lose yourself and become a true animal…”
The little monkey observed him carefully. Seeing that he wasn’t moving closer, it stayed in place. But soon, its attention was caught by something the boy was doing.
“Want to eat?”
Number Two pulled a starfruit out of his pocket.
He wasn’t particularly fond of fruit. While this fruit was sweet and far tastier than anything he’d eaten before, he hadn’t finished it in one sitting.
“I remember you and Number Seven are both vegetarians, so you should like this.”
The little monkey climbed down from the bedside table and cautiously approached him, taking the fruit from his hand. It squatted nearby, nibbling on it.
Its eating habits were refined and composed, completely unlike how it had behaved in its humanoid form.
Watching it eat, Number Two found his mood lifting slightly.
“Do you want to come with me to find the caretaker?” he asked. “The new caretaker is really powerful. The reason I’m still sane is because of him.”
The little monkey glanced at him but remained focused on its fruit.
After a moment’s thought, Number Two added, “If he won’t help us, you can come with me. We’ll escape into the Blood Mist. Staying here, we’ll eventually be taken for experiments.”
The monkey continued chewing the fruit contentedly.
Looking at it, the boy couldn’t help but reach out and ruffle its soft fur. Then he stood and said, “I’ll go find him first. You stay here and don’t let yourself be seen.”
If the caretaker was willing to help, Number Two would come back for the monkey. If not, there was no need to expose Number Six as well.
The little monkey watched the boy leave, still munching on the star-chain fruit. After the bedroom door closed behind him, its figure slowly disappeared from sight.
Having learned from his earlier experience, Number Two moved next door. When the door automatically opened, he walked straight in and confirmed it was another empty room.
He left again and moved to Room 303.
Looking at the firmly closed metal door, he immediately knew this must be where the caretaker lived.
Taking a deep breath, the boy raised his hand to knock. But before his knuckles met the door, his heart started racing, and the fur on his tail bristled.
What’s going on…?
He didn’t understand, but he could sense danger. His body instinctively resisted making the knocking motion.
Just then, he felt something near his leg and looked down.
The little monkey had appeared at his feet without him noticing, its arms tightly wrapped around his calf.
“Number Six?”
The monkey seemed startled. Climbing up his clothes with agility, it perched on his head in the blink of an eye, using its small hands to firmly cover his mouth.
Muffled, the boy blinked in confusion.
He reached up to pull the monkey off his head. As soon as he managed to move it, the monkey pointed toward Room 303 and made a silencing gesture.
Could there be danger inside?
Number Two hesitated, then closed his mouth, glanced at the tightly closed dormitory door, and then at the little monkey in his arms. Finally, he sat cross-legged on the floor in place.
The little monkey made no move to stop him. It simply curled up quietly in his lap, calm and undisturbed.
How strange…
Number Two glanced back at the dormitory door behind him. After some thought, he figured the caretaker would eventually come out. He might as well wait there.
Sitting cross-legged with his arms folded, the boy kept his posture upright and alert.
Before long, the monkey nestled in his lap began yawning out of boredom, its small head nodding forward. Soon, it leaned against the boy and fell asleep.
Number Two gave the little monkey a brief look before turning his gaze back to the door, waiting patiently.
He didn’t find the wait boring.
On the contrary, moments of quiet peace like this—free from the torment of the Crimson Blaze—were rare and precious to him. He relished the tranquility.
Time passed slowly.
It was unclear how much time had gone by when the boy’s expression subtly shifted. The patience he had maintained so far was suddenly broken because—
He caught a scent.
It was faint at first, almost imperceptible, but the moment it reached him, it stirred his taste buds and caused saliva to gather in his mouth.
Unable to resist, Number Two swallowed and glanced at the still-closed door behind him.
Was this… the caretaker’s food?
Had the caretaker finally woken up and was now eating breakfast?
Although this timing seemed far later than the schedules kept by the other caretakers Number Two had known, well… this caretaker clearly had his own way of doing things.
And since Number Two was seeking his help, he couldn’t afford to be too demanding.
He comforted himself with the thought that at least the caretaker was awake and eating breakfast. This meant he would likely come out soon.
But…
What was the caretaker eating? How could it smell so good? It was far more enticing than the meat paste they usually ate.
Number Two swallowed again.
He had already eaten breakfast, but the aroma was making him feel hungry all over again. Worse, the scent only grew richer and more mouthwatering as time passed.
The little monkey sleeping in his lap also noticed the smell. However, it merely sniffed the air a few times before losing interest. Still full from the star-chain fruit it had eaten earlier, it wasn’t particularly drawn to meat.
Number Two frowned deeply and eventually forced himself to move further away from the door, trying to ignore the enticing aroma.
After all, he wasn’t the kind of person to lose composure over the smell of food. Absolutely not!
*
Inside Room 303.
Su Ci was leisurely eating breakfast. Since he had feasted twice the previous day, he no longer ate with the same urgency as before.
A-Yan sat across from him, recounting the growth progress of the seedlings and the promises he had made to the wolf cub and the others earlier that morning.
“A window in their rooms?”
Su Ci took a bite of roasted spider meat, chewing with a balance of elegance and speed. “It’s not impossible… Let’s see how they perform going forward.”
A-Yan nodded and then mentioned how the children had helped process the ingredients.
After he finished speaking, he heard Su Ci chuckle softly.
“No wonder,” Su Ci remarked.
A-Yan blinked, looking at him with a hint of confusion. Then he saw Su Ci fork a piece of roasted meat, inspecting it thoughtfully.
“This piece must have been cut by you,” Su Ci said.
The slice of meat was perfectly even in thickness and beautifully shaped. After being roasted and coated with sauce, it had developed a slightly charred, reddish-brown glaze that was irresistibly appetizing.
A-Yan studied the piece and nodded in confirmation.
“That’s why it tastes better,” Su Ci added.
Knife skills are one of the fundamentals of cooking. Clearly, the other three children hadn’t mastered this level of precision.
Looking at the faint smile on Su Ci’s face, A-Yan felt a mix of emotions. While the compliment pleased him, the thought of not preparing the absolute best food for Su Su made him feel a twinge of guilt.
He resolved silently: I should handle the ingredients myself whenever possible.
Su Ci observed A-Yan’s expression and could guess what was going through the boy’s mind.
Although the children’s knife skills were lacking, Su Ci wasn’t picky. After A-Yan’s preparation and cooking, the roasted meat still far surpassed nutrient paste and canned beef in flavor.
More importantly, Su Ci appreciated that A-Yan had the foresight to delegate tasks rather than overburden himself. Such wisdom deserved encouragement.
“What they can’t do well now, they can learn with practice,” Su Ci said. “Diligence makes up for shortcomings, and skill comes through repeated effort.”
He looked at A-Yan meaningfully. “After all, they’re human. They’re different from you and me.”
Not all spirits had the innate talent that they did. When dealing with other beings, it was essential to allow time for growth and avoid dismissing them outright.
A-Yan nodded, somewhat understanding the point.
“Yes, I understand,” he replied through the communicator.
He resolved to continue guiding the wolf cub and the others. After all, ingredient preparation wasn’t just about cutting meat. Besides, with the wolf cub’s strength and diligence, he had real potential to develop excellent knife skills.
Thinking about how he was different from the other cubs in Su Su’s eyes, A-Yan felt a surge of joy. A bright smile spread across his face, pure and endearing.
Looking at A-Yan, Su Ci’s mind once again conjured the image of the teenager he had glimpsed before…
After some thought, Su Ci asked, “A-Yan, have you remembered anything about your past?”
A-Yan froze at the question.
He gazed deeply at Su Ci. After a brief silence, just when Su Ci thought he might not answer, the calm, clear voice of the boy filled the room again.
“I feel like… I’ve known you for a long time.”
A faint look of confusion crossed A-Yan’s face. He didn’t recall any specific memories, but every time he looked at Su Ci, there was an inexplicable sense of familiarity that made him want to draw closer.
Su Ci observed him thoughtfully.
If they had met in the past, Su Ci would have remembered. A-Yan was unique; someone like him wouldn’t have been easy to forget.
But there was another possibility.
He had lost a portion of his memory.
Since awakening, Su Ci hadn’t been able to recall how he had ventured off-world or how he became a caretaker in this nursery.
Something significant must have happened during the ten thousand years he had been in deep slumber—something that had been erased from his mind.
It was possible that he and A-Yan had crossed paths during that time.
In fact, A-Yan’s origins had always been suspicious. How could a being like him—a spirit—end up in a human nursery?
Su Ci pondered briefly and then nodded. “Maybe we really did know each other before.”
A-Yan’s eyes lit up, his gaze intense as he stared at Su Ci.
Meeting his gaze, Su Ci said seriously, “And the real you may not be as young as you seem now.”
Hearing this, the light in A-Yan’s eyes grew even brighter.
“Really?” Though his synthesized voice remained steady, his expression clearly betrayed his eagerness.
A-Yan genuinely longed to grow up.
“Mm.” Su Ci nodded, noticing A-Yan’s impatience. He offered reassurance, “Take your time. We have plenty of time to solve this mystery together.”
Hearing this, A-Yan took a deep breath and nodded firmly. “Okay!”
This time, he used his original voice—a soft, childlike tone. But Su Ci no longer saw him as just a child. In A-Yan’s gaze, he could sense a deep yearning for recognition.
Thinking about it, Su Ci felt a pang of sympathy.
If someone with a mature soul were trapped in a body that couldn’t grow, how agonizing and frustrating must that be?
Moved by the thought, Su Ci pushed the plate of roasted meat toward A-Yan and said, “Eat. You don’t have to hold back for me anymore.”
In the past, whenever A-Yan ate, he would only take a bite or two before stopping. Su Ci had noticed but chose to accept it, understanding the gesture.
But now that food was plentiful, Su Ci didn’t mind sharing at all and hoped A-Yan wouldn’t overthink it.
Looking at the roasted meat placed before him, A-Yan glanced at Su Ci, then obediently picked up his fork and began eating.
The roasted spider meat was incredibly delicious! But even better was sharing it with Su Su.
One day, he vowed to create even better dishes, ensuring Su Su could eat to his heart’s content every day!
As A-Yan enjoyed the fruits of his labor, sipping a vegetable-flavored nutrient drink, a satisfied smile spread across his face.
But in the end, he didn’t finish everything.
Pointing at the remaining pieces of roasted meat, he asked Su Ci, “Su Su, can I give these to Lang Ze and the others? They helped cut the meat, too.”
“Of course, you can handle it however you like,” Su Ci replied, finishing the last sip of his nutrient drink. Satisfied, he left the table and walked toward the dormitory door.
The metal door opened slowly, revealing the hallway and a red-haired boy sitting cross-legged with his back to the door.
Though facing away, Number Two was clearly alert to his surroundings. As soon as he sensed the change in light, he turned around quickly.
The first thing he saw was a pair of long, slender legs standing in a relaxed posture. Instinctively, he tilted his head up and met the calm, dark eyes of the caretaker.
“Caretaker Su…” Number Two scrambled to his feet, hurriedly hiding the little monkey behind him. “I…”
The boy’s demeanor had completely changed. The previous aggressiveness and irritability were gone. Even after waiting outside for so long, he didn’t seem upset.
Su Ci gave a slight nod. “Come in.”
Number Two’s words caught in his throat.
Watching Su Ci’s retreating figure, he hesitated before leaving the monkey outside and following the caretaker into the room.
Room 303 was distinctly different from the other two rooms. Number Two noticed this as soon as he entered. More importantly, a strong aroma of roasted meat filled the air.
Swallowing hard, he forced himself to stay focused.
Following Su Ci into the living room, he watched as the caretaker sat casually on the sofa and then gestured for him to speak. “So, what do you need from me?”
Number Two took a deep breath, staring at him. “When I fully beastified before, you were the one who helped me regain my senses and return to my human form, right?”
Su Ci nodded.
The confirmation made Number Two even more nervous. “Thank you…”
“You’re welcome,” Su Ci replied nonchalantly.
The red-haired boy pressed his lips together tightly, mustering the courage to ask, “Do you have a way to help me stay sane permanently? To stop being controlled by my bloodline power?”
“There is a way…” Su Ci leaned back, watching him lazily. “But why should I help you?”
Hearing this, Number Two wasn’t surprised. Deep down, he had expected this response.
He stared at the caretaker, trying to suppress the shame rising within him. In his mind, he kept repeating, No one else will know. No one will know.
His face flushed bright red as he lowered his voice and said, “I… I can let you touch my tail!”
As soon as the words left his mouth, a loud crashing sound came from the dining area of Room 303, shattering the quiet.
“Who’s there?”
Startled, Number Two whipped his head toward the dining area, only to see a chair lying overturned on the floor.
