Mecha Chapter 51: Catastrophe

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Sulo

 

Even though the energy emergency lights were on, and the cave was very bright, the students’ hearts were darkened.

A few days ago, they were students of Saint Miro Military Academy and they were not afraid of any difficulties. But what if a catastrophe were to occur? There was no time limit on this natural disaster and they were in a very desperate situation.

In the midst of the destructive particle storm from the universe… Not even the school or the Federation could send a rescue ship.

That’s when the communicator on Yuan Xi’s wrist flickered. He clicked on it. The caller was Luo ShaoTian and the signal was bad. He only heard intermittently that they found a place of refuge, then Luo ShaoTian asked about the situation there.

Yuan Xi took one look at the cave and the students who are looking at him anxiously because of the food shortage. He said, “We’re fine here.”

Then, the communication was cut off and the students’ eyes darkened again. What was the use of talking to someone else? They couldn’t expect someone else to send them food.

Yuan Xi talked to the two assistant leaders, Wang Jing and Wu Yong, telling them to count the number of students who had lost their share of food.

It didn’t take long and the results were in. There were seventy-three people in the group; twenty-eight mecha fighters and forty-five mecha makers; fifteen had lost their share of food. Most of them were mecha makers who were too slow and too weak to keep up. Their lives were at stake and it was impossible for them to ask the mecha warrior next to them, ‘I can’t run anymore. Can you help me?’

Luo XiaoLou was ashamed to realize that he hadn’t been carrying anything heavy. And what was in Yuan Xi’s hand… was not light either. But the awkward man, who was the master of the house, didn’t say anything.

You know, when he’s at home, he’s a complete jerk and he can’t wait to have a glass of water handed to him…

Luo XiaoLou was feeling a bit flattered. He admitted that he was too spineless under the oppression…

Yuan Xi and the two assistant team leaders looked at each other, and without changing their expressions said, “There’s nothing to worry about. On the way out, Wang Jing was responsible for carrying a month’s worth of food for five people. Wu Yong and I carried drinking water. Not much, though. Ten days’ worth of food for the rest of us won’t be a problem. In a training camp like this… there’s no way the school won’t have any precautions.”

These things were stored in the space buttons of the team leader and assistant team leaders. The average mecha fighter couldn’t store much in his space button. They would have limited space to store spare mecha parts or a large number of low-level energy boxes. There would also be room for a small amount of data.

This was common knowledge for almost all mecha warriors so not many of them actually used the space button to store food.

The team leader and the assistant team leaders had to sacrifice something for the team. When they heard the news, Wang Jing and Wu Yong were depressed. He’s got more space in his knob than anyone could imagine.

The students were suddenly relieved. They had just been scaring themselves earlier. Even if the storm lasts a month… If we save a little…we’ll still have enough food.

Of course, there was not enough for five. Yuan Xi glanced coldly at the food Wang Jing had taken out. He took the month’s worth of food that the school had given him and handed it to Wang Jing. But… he didn’t touch Luo XiaoLou’s food. Wang Jing looked at Yuan Xi with surprise. 

However, Luo XiaoLou’s food was stored in a lunchbox and only had a shelf life of seven days at most. They couldn’t bring much because of that.

“You… Do you want to keep some of it?” Wang Jing unconsciously used an honorific in front of Yan Xi. He himself felt it was a sign of respect and admiration for the senior mecha warrior.

Yuan Xi gave him a blank look and then waved his hand. Anyway, there was still Luo XiaoLou, who had a penchant for storing food like some kind of squirrel. He would never have to worry about starving.

Luo XiaoLou thought about it and watched as Yuan Xi threw more items at Wang Jing. To Luo XiaoLou’s utter amazement, Yuan Xi seemed to have suddenly become nice as he also donated the sleeping bag that he had never used before.

Wang Jing was even more surprised. Nutritional pills used to be something despised by the proud sons of the rich and powerful, but now it was a life-saver. As for the sleeping bag, he had just thought it would be great if someone would donate one when Yuan Xi gave his own.

After Yuan Xi took the lead in donating the food, the rest of the students started to move. It didn’t take long and they managed to scrape together eleven portions. Even if it was not enough, it was not bad at all. Wang Jing distributed the food and other supplies evenly. He handed it out to the students who had lost their stuff.

A moment ago, it was gloomy but now the atmosphere had come back to life. Everyone shared the joy of their new lives, discussing how to survive the ordeal.

Some began to look at the cave they were in. The cave was vast and extended all the way into the heart of the mountain. It was out of the reach of the energy lights and was pitch black.

When the two assistant team leaders went in to check it out, Mu Chen followed them.

That’s when… There was a shrill whistle outside. The talking students paused then began to whisper about the destructive power of the storm.

Yuan Xi frowned. He got another large rock to block the door. It was huge in his hand but it was as if it weighed nothing.

Luo XiaoLou was keenly aware of the way other’s eyes fell on Yuan Xi, especially the girls who were throwing him looks that were more and more of admiration and love. Luo XiaoLou’s feelings of jealousy inevitably arose for the man who was so popular with the girls.

He couldn’t help but whisper to himself. It’s just an illusion, isn’t it? Although he looks like a nobleman, so arrogantly handsome and elegant, perfectly flawless — but at heart, he’s an arrogant, twisted, irrational bastard. This is not the husband for you. Who can stand to cook for him every day, do the laundry, take care of the house and buy him sweets! And all that doesn’t include having to be crushed half to death in bed every day!

It’s too much for a man. Compared to Yuan Xi, I’m so much better off on my own.

Yuan Xi won’t even eat food cooked by robotic housekeepers. Once, Luo XiaoLou had invited Yates and Tian Li to dinner. In order not to waste food, he packed up the two dishes that hadn’t been touched but Yuan Xi still threw it all out.

Luo XiaoLou was in the middle of a full-blown, gut-wrenching critique of Yuan Xi until someone next to him pulled on his sleeve. Only then did he regain consciousness, though not very satisfactorily.

Luo XiaoLou turned around and saw Yuan Xi staring at him in amusement. He turned his head and lazily said, “It’s nighttime already. Don’t you think we need to get a snack or something? It’s been a long afternoon…”

Luo XiaoLou was still in a state of discontent. Now, he was bold enough to say, “But… as team leader… Aren’t you running out of food portions?”

Yuan Xi had a blank look on his face, “Isn’t there still yours?”

“I’m honored that you noticed it was mine.” Luo XiaoLou emphasized the word… and 125 shrank in fear. It was clear who had more say in the house. If Yuan Xi took Luo XiaoLou’s — and such an outcome was certain — would Luo XiaoLou rob it back?

“What are you making a fuss about?” Yuan Xi turned to look at Luo XiaoLou. With an innocent and confused expression, he said uncertainly, “Are you still angry about last night? I know I haven’t been helping you… but if you really need it… We can try. It’s been a few days, after all. We’ve never been out this long before. It’s written that prolonged repression is bad for the body……” At this point, Yuan Xi stopped himself. He’d already moved and his face was flushed. Luo XiaoLou looked like he was holding back a cry, his moist eyes full of pleading gaze…

Luo XiaoLou froze up before simply starting to prepare dinner. What a pity… Isn’t it true that humans are hungry for lust? Is this man so shameless that he’s got it all over his head? What’s this got to do with food at all?

The smell of the mushroom soup grew stronger and stronger, and the students followed Luo XiaoLou’s example and started preparing the food. After Luo XiaoLou had made mushroom soup before, many of them had also gathered mushrooms. When there were enough mushrooms to go around, a thicker broth like this was more economical and it tasted delicious.

It didn’t take long for the two assistant team leaders and Mu Chen, who had gone in to check things out, to return. Wang Jing said it was very deep inside but didn’t look dangerous.

Even so, they still set up alarms inside.

Mu Chen doesn’t say anything. He just quietly walked away and sat down.

That night… Because some people didn’t have enough sleeping bags, Luo XiaoLou and Yuan Xi didn’t seem out of place, as some people also had to squeeze in together.

It was definitely colder in the cave than on land, and Luo XiaoLou had woken up once in the middle of the night because of the cold. However, the area next to Yuan Xi was incredibly hot. Luo XiaoLou thought for two seconds, and without any will power, crawled into Yuan Xi’s arms.

The bossy, unreasonable man just frowned. He didn’t wake up, just hugged Luo XiaoLou tightly as he leaned in. It was the first time Luo XiaoLou had ever acted in such a manner when he was still conscious. He thought back to what Yuan Xi said about pulling on him and being tender. He suddenly felt a bit stressed.

Luo XiaoLou couldn’t sleep. He enjoyed the warmth and as he listened to the wailing sounds outside, he thought back on the past six months.

Luo XiaoLou and Yuan Xi’s position was near the entrance to the cave. His eyes unconsciously fell on the rock wall where the emergency lights faintly illuminated shadows.

After a while, Luo XiaoLou sensed something was wrong again. Why did he feel like he was being watched? He’s the only one awake right?

Luo XiaoLou noticed that the shadow on the rock he was staring at suddenly moved. Then it drifted inwards into the cave. It was a very strange shadow; the upper half of it resembled a human and the large lower body was… definitely not legs, and it also had huge wings.

Luo XiaoLou abruptly sat up. A cold sweat broke out on his head.

Then he was pulled back by Yuan Xi, who whispered in his ear, “What’s going on?”

Luo XiaoLou grabbed Yuan Xi. “There’s something. I just saw something in the cave.” His voice was low but his words were fast.

Yuan Xi wiped the sweat from his head, got up and went to check.

Luo XiaoLou shook 125 and asked, “Hey, didn’t you notice anything?”

125 flashed, “No. I can guarantee it. I can assure you that there’s nothing alive ten kilometers around us.”

125 didn’t have time to say another word because Yuan Xi returned. He went back into the shared and warm sleeping bag, and then whispered, “There’s nothing. You don’t have to worry so much. If there are dangerous things approaching, even if I’m asleep, I will be able to sense the danger.”

In fact, he chose the entrance of the cave, far away from the students, because of his childhood education and he couldn’t let his guard down.

Luo XiaoLou was not so sure if the shadow was just his nightmare.

Soon, the two of them were fast asleep.

The next morning, Luo XiaoLou’s biological clock woke him up at the right time. Yuan Xi had burrowed back into his sleeping bag, but his body was unusually warm as he held Luo XiaoLou in his arms.

Luo XiaoLou closed his eyes and did not push Yuan Xi away again. He just gently ran his fingers through Yuan Xi’s hair. He had to wake Yuan Xi up or Yuan Xi would be furious if anyone saw him like this.

Yuan Xi grunted comfortably. 

Luo XiaoLou then gasped. He actually felt something hot and wet licking his chest. Luo XiaoLou clenched his teeth to avoid making strange noises. God… this stupid cat… He’s such a pain in the ass.

They also spent the next day in the cave and as the storm continued into the third day… The optimistic students began to fret.

What if it really lasted a month? Even if their food lasted, their mission would, however, end. But things were not as desperate as they seemed. After another day and night… On the afternoon of the fourth day, the particle storm on the asteroid had stopped.

There was still no contact with headquarters, but they were out of danger for the moment.

 

While the others went outside to check on the situation, 125’s urgent voice came out, “Something’s not quite right out there.”