IBO -Chapter 53 Clues – Previous Timeline

This novel contains sensitive and taboo content like R*pe, Mu**er etc. Read only if you are comfortable.

“What’s Big brother doing? He really seems scared of that bug…”

Song Fu peeked through the crack in the door and saw Song Yiran’s pitiful form, running for his life with the bug chasing him.

Song Yang also found it strange, but his view of Song Yiran was heavily filtered. “No way, right? Big brother is so amazing, how could he be afraid of just that bug?

He’s probably just playing with the bug, isn’t he?”

This kind of ladybug was very common in the galaxy, and its combat strength was weak—so weak that even Song Yang could handle it.

Back when they were starving with nothing to eat, they had considered hunting this kind of bug, but there wasn’t much meat on it. The energy spent catching it wasn’t worth the energy the bug could provide.

Song Fu believed Song Yang completely. Big brother is so strong—there’s no way he can’t beat a bug like this.

So, Big brother must just be playing with the bug… right…?

The three little ones huddled together, peering through the door crack to watch the battle outside. But as they watched, something felt wrong.

Big brother seems like… maybe… could it be… he really can’t beat that bug…?

Song Yiran used his body to block the door, glaring fiercely at the bug, trying to scare it off with his eyes—but it had no effect.

The bug was getting closer and closer. Soon, it would be face-to-face with him. He could even smell the insect-like scent of the ladybug…

“Damn it! I’ll fight you!” Song Yiran gritted his teeth and headbutted fiercely.

He hit the ladybug squarely, and it fell onto its back, flailing helplessly like a turtle that couldn’t right itself.

Song Yiran was moved to tears. He had finally succeeded in counterattacking. “Yes! I did it! 555, did you see that? I did it! I defeated it!”

“Congratulations! But let me remind you—it’s about to flip back over. I suggest you finish it quickly.”

At that moment, the room’s door was opened from the inside. Song Yiran quickly turned, “Close the door! I’m here, don’t be afraid! Big brother will take care of this awful bug soon!”

Song Buli was about to explain, “But Big brother…”

Song Yiran, thinking the little ones didn’t understand the situation, hurriedly interrupted, “Kids, be good! Go back inside! This bug is dangerous!”

Song Fu poked his little head out, “ Big brother, this kind of bug…”

While educating the little ones, Song Yiran kept an eye on the bug. It had gotten back up and was about to fly again.

He couldn’t worry about much else. He quickly pushed the little ones back into the room. “Kids, stay hidden inside and don’t open the door.”

Song Buli gave Song Yang a look. Song Yang immediately understood and quickly wrapped his body around Song Yiran’s hands.

In the instant Song Yiran’s hands were restrained, Song Buli leapt onto Song Yiran’s shoulders, then lunged, knocking the flying ladybug to the ground.

Song Buli pressed down on the ladybug, immobilizing it.

Song Fu ran over on his short little legs and jumped onto the ladybug as well. Together with Song Buli, they used their weight to subdue it.

The evil ladybug was defeated. Song Yang released Song Yiran’s hands. Song Yiran stared dumbfounded at everything happening in front of him…

So… this evil bug’s combat strength is that weak?

He couldn’t even beat it…

But the little ones could easily subdue it…

Which means his combat strength isn’t even as strong as theirs…

Song Yiran’s spirit shattered. How humiliating.

He had added so much drama for himself—risking his life, blocking the door, thinking he could fight but protect the little ones…

Ahhh, so embarrassing! So embarrassing!

555 came over as well. “Song Yiran…”

Song Yiran thought 555 was here to mock him. He didn’t have the energy to argue anymore. “Go ahead, laugh if you want…”

“No, I’m not here to laugh at you. Song Yiran, you’re very brave!” 555 shook his head.

Song Yiran was shocked. “Huh? 555, have you changed? Where did your sarcasm go? Don’t you always make those sharp comments about me?”

555 patted Song Yiran on the shoulder, speaking very seriously. “You were scared of this ladybug, even chased all over the yard by it, and didn’t dare to fight back. But even so, you chose to use your body to block the door to protect the little ones from being bullied by it.

To protect the little ones, you even overcame your fear and gave that bug a headbutt.

Although I still don’t understand why you’re afraid of a ladybug, everyone has things they fear—and you overcame yours to protect the babies.

I think you’re a brave person!”

“…Are you really the 555 I know? Hurry up and tell me—did you possess 555’s body? Give 555 back to me right now!”

“You’re hopeless, absolutely beyond saving!”

Song Yiran deliberately let out an exaggerated sigh of relief. “That’s more like it. This is the 555 I’m familiar with!”

With one sentence, 555 saw straight through Song Yiran’s act. “Have you not been praised by anyone for a very long time?”

“…”

“You keep avoiding my praise and even deliberately steer the conversation toward me instead. Why do you do that? Has someone suppressed you in this regard before? Or do you think you don’t deserve that praise?”

“…555, sometimes I really wonder if the way you usually act is just a disguise. You seem a bit too smart…”

Song Yiran sighed. It was as if all his emotions were completely exposed in front of 555.

Song Buli’s voice pulled Song Yiran back to reality. Standing on top of the ladybug, Song Buli tilted his head and looked at him. “Big brother, do you need me to beat up this bad bug for you?”

“I want to help too! The bug is bad! The bug bullied big brother! I want to help big brother get revenge!” Song Fu said indignantly from the side.

Song Yang also ran over to the ladybug and pressed down on its long antennae with his little paw.

So… how should they deal with this bug?

It didn’t seem to have caused them any serious harm. Physically, there was no real damage—though Song Yiran had certainly been traumatized mentally.

The ladybug was still struggling, its legs constantly slapping against the ground. But every time it moved even a little, Song Buli would kick it once, and the bug would immediately go quiet.

After a while, it would start struggling again—then get kicked again—then quiet down for a bit.

Over and over, in a repeating cycle.

Song Yiran sighed. Forget it—better to let the bug go. “Thank you, my darlings. Big brother’s anger is gone now. Let’s release the bug.”

“Okay~” Song Buli and Song Fu lightly hopped off the bug, and Song Yang released its antennae.

Not long after, the bug flew away. Song Yiran stood there, watching its figure gradually disappear into the sky.

Having wings is really nice! If he had wings too, he could fly to so many places.

After dealing with the ladybug, the babies went back to playing with their toy yellow duckies in the yard, and the courtyard once again filled with the “di-duo, di-duo, di-duo” sounds of the little ducks.

Meanwhile, after bringing back the package from the doorway, Song Yiran curled up in a corner of the yard to chat with 555.

555 couldn’t quite understand why Song Yiran had let that bug go.

“Why are you so soft-hearted? That bug bullied you so badly, and you still let it off! That’s not how kindness works. When someone bullies you, you should retaliate tenfold, a hundredfold!”

“I just think that bug wasn’t that bad. At most, it chased me all over the yard…” Song Yiran defended himself weakly.

555 didn’t buy it at all and rolled his eyes. “And you have the nerve to say that? Who was the one knocked flat onto the ground by that bug? Who ended up with a mouthful of dirt after getting slammed down? And who was crying in front of me, screaming for help?”

“Hehe… who was it? I don’t know~” Song Yiran put on an award-worthy act of playing dumb, trying to muddle through.

555 sneered. “Oh, yeah—who was it?”

“Hehe…” Song Yiran looked at the sky, the ground, the grass, the babies—anywhere except at 555.

555 changed the subject. “Forget it. Let’s not talk about that anymore. Let’s talk about how you avoid praise.”

“…I think we should maintain a bit of a sense of boundaries. Boundaries—you know what that is, right?

Between humans and systems, it’s better to keep some distance. Digging into everything isn’t necessarily a good thing.” Song Yiran pressed his lips together; he really didn’t want to discuss this.

555 remained unmoved. “Our system is responsible for safeguarding the host’s well-being. That is my duty.”

“I’m very healthy, really! My body is extremely healthy—good appetite, strong digestion! Healthy to the point it can’t get any healthier!”

555 stared at Song Yiran with his beady little eyes. “Song Yiran, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Physical health doesn’t mean mental health. Protecting the host’s psychological health is also within my scope of responsibility. I’ve praised you before, and you didn’t avoid it then. So why are you avoiding my praise this time? Is it because this praise was especially solemn? Do you believe you don’t deserve such earnest praise?”

“I… I…” Song Yiran couldn’t answer.

The answer was obvious. 555 asked another question. “Song Yiran, what kind of person do you think you are?”

“…I think… I am…” It felt like something was stuck in Song Yiran’s throat. “I’m… a useless person…”

“Why do you think that?”

“…555, can you stop asking…?” His voice carried a sob.

“Song Yiran, rotten flesh prevents a wound from healing. Only by cutting away the rot can the wound heal again. Avoidance is useless—the rotten flesh will still remain where it is. I know this process is often very painful, but I will always stay with you.”

Song Yiran took a deep breath and laid his entire, unfiltered self bare before 555.

“I’m a useless person. I couldn’t save Mom. I couldn’t save Dad. I could only watch helplessly as they closed their eyes right in front of me.

I wanted to fulfill Mom and Dad’s final wish—to live well, to grow up properly—but I couldn’t even do that.

When I was little, I was molested by a male teacher, and I was so stupid I didn’t even know what was happening. After coming to the interstellar world, I was assaulted by another man—I was beaten to the ground and couldn’t even fight back.

Because I wanted to save money, I bought a second-hand four-legged ladder and almost got seriously hurt.

I can’t do anything right. I can’t do anything right! I’m just… I’m just a useless person…”