Chapter 345:

[You’ve been a sorcerer for many years.]

[At last, you’re beginning construction on your very own sorcerer tower.]

[You’ve placed great hopes in it—planning to build a mobile fortress with both offense and defense, using everything you obtained from the Plateau of the Gods as its foundation.]

[Under your command, the long and tedious construction begins.]

[Combining goblin technology with sorcerer spell formations, countless automated earthwork golems go to work—diligently, tirelessly, building day and night.]

[During this time, you don’t need to supervise the process constantly.]

[All you have to do is provide the schematics and replace the energy sources.]

[You silently cultivate, hoping to break through to a fourth-ring sorcerer as soon as possible. Only then will you be able to use cross-planar spatial technology.]

[Life and death, the cycle continues.]

[Standing outside the world, you observe its end through your unique spiritual sight.]

[You’ve gained a deeper understanding of death.]

[While you cultivate, the brave one trains just as hard. Her undead bones grow tougher, and her soul fire, when burning bright, holds a strange kind of beauty.]

[With the evolution of her undead body and the refining of her sorcerer level, Sylvia Crowfield’s strength now exceeds others of her tier.]

[You compare in your mind and realize that with her current ability, she could take on certain high-level undead one-on-one.]

[You’re very pleased.]

[The lonely girl you met back then has grown strong enough to protect herself.]

[Even without you, she could walk the right path through her own will and effort.]

[Construction of the sorcerer tower takes a long time.]

[The materials required are far more than you’d imagined.]

[Fortunately, the automated golems also collect resources. You don’t need to worry too much.]

[You teach Sylvia, explain how to use more advanced spells, and guide the development of her soul.]

[Wanting to repay you, Sylvia begins hauling bricks. But because she’s not skilled at it, she’s quickly outpaced by the golems.]

[You comfort her, telling her that even going slowly still has value.]

[Sylvia switches methods to help.]

[She tries improving her cooking, gathering many fresh ingredients from nearby in hopes of making a hearty meal to help nourish you.]

[“Master Sorcerer, you’ve gotten thinner lately.”]

[The brave one is concerned about your health.]

[You’re touched. From the ingredients she gathered, you sort out the poisonous parts and throw them away.]

[Aside from her poor judgment on what’s edible, her cooking is actually quite good.]

[She also does other things.]

[When undead attack, she takes the initiative to protect you.]

[When the weather changes, she brings you clothes to keep you from getting sick.]

[As you wait for the sorcerer tower to be completed, your days pass peacefully and uneventfully—no thrills, no sudden dangers, just quiet time under the changing sky.]

Loneliness is a subtle feeling.

When you seek it out, it rarely strikes.

But in a single moment, it can hit like a bullet, piercing right through your heart.

Then your pulse slows.

The world loses its color.

Everything turns quiet black and white.

Xu Xi had experienced that before—

during his time crippled in the real world.

No visitors.

No one to talk to.

He could only rely on the internet to ease his bitterness in a silent corner of his life.

But ever since he received the Life Simulator, he hadn’t felt lonely in a long time.

“Gururu—”

“Gururu—”

The blood-colored moonlight spilled across the land, staining pale bones red and illuminating the murky world.

Cold winds echoed in the canyon.

Xu Xi cast several spells, blocking the chill and the disturbance to avoid affecting the brave one’s cooking.

“Master Sorcerer, your dinner will be ready soon.”

Her voice, simulated by soul fire, held a hint of concealed happiness.

She pinched the long-handled spoon with her fingers and stirred slowly, helping the bubbling soup blend its flavors into a complete dish.

The vegetables came from windbell flower stalks.

The meat was from a one-horned rabbit.

The dessert was a soft jelly-like sweet made from various fruit juices.

The after-dinner fruit was a sour pomelo.

The Crowfield-style dinner, now proudly served.

“Thank you for your effort, Sylvia.”

Looking at the carefully prepared meal before him, Xu Xi nodded slightly and took his first bite.

Under the blood moon of a cold night, the surface of the soup reflected rippling red light.

But it didn’t feel eerie—

not the crimson of blood, but a soft, drifting crimson glow.

One sip, and the taste was warm and rich—

a little sweet, a little tart, and very appetizing.

The vegetables were crisp, and the meat tender.

“This is very well done, Sylvia,” Xu Xi said, giving the praise she had long been waiting for.

“I’m so glad you like it.”

The undead girl stood calmly, her emerald eyes shimmering faintly, her own unique way of expressing emotion.

As Xu Xi tasted the food she had prepared, old memories stirred in his mind.

In the first year they met, her cooking had been just average.

But over time, that once-ordinary skill had quietly grown excellent.

Time is a mysterious thing.

It can rot what’s old and worn…

Or make something ordinary glow.

“Sylvia, you don’t actually need to prepare food every day.”

“…Why do you say that?”

She looked a little surprised.

Xu Xi sipped the last of the soup.

With the broth gone, the empty bowl was dyed crimson by moonlight.

“Because it takes away from your training time, doesn’t it?”

After so many years together, Xu Xi knew her well.

More than cooking, Sylvia loved wielding her sword.

Not for herself, but to better protect others.

From the past to the present, even a thousand years ago, Sylvia Crowfield had always believed in growing stronger for the sake of others.

Xu Xi smiled.

He wanted her to do what she truly loved.

“But…”

The dead branches crackled as they burned.

The flames illuminated the brave one’s haunting face—half bone, half human.

“Master Sorcerer, you’ve taken care of me all this time. If I don’t do anything to repay you… I feel uneasy.”

Hearing her response, Xu Xi smiled more genuinely.

It was true—he had cared for Sylvia many times.

But she had also helped him countless times in return.

There was no debt between them.

If not for Sylvia, he wouldn’t have completed his research on death and souls so early.

“Sylvia.”

“Yes, I’m here!”

“You’re a good person—but you have a very clear flaw.”

“Master Sorcerer, my flaw is…?”

She looked nervous.

Xu Xi reached out and gently pinched the human half of her face.

“Your flaw is… you’re too good a person.”

“You ignore yourself and always focus on others.”

Listening to his lecture, Sylvia wanted to protest—

that Xu Xi was exactly the same.

But the sensation on her cheek made her go quiet and obedient.

“…Yes, I’ll reflect on it.”